Has enthusiasm for breastfeeding gone too far?

Original article here
LOL I snorted a few times reading this.

Like handbags, bikini waxes, and romantic comedies, breastfeeding is one of those things dads have always been happy not knowing much about.

We might appreciate how breastfeeding boosts our kids' immunity (and our wives' physiques), but on the whole we've remained blissfully ignorant about exactly what happens under the blouse or blanket at feeding time.

But no more.

Increasingly, dads are taking an active and involved role in all aspects of parenting. We change nappies. We learn Lamaze. We hold forth on the pros and cons of cord bank registries. I once heard a guy boast about his newborn's Apgar Score like he'd won the World Cup.

I'm as hyper-involved as any new dad, but I never thought I'd have much role in breastfeeding, which is, I figured, pretty much entirely a mother-child transaction.

Then I had my first kid.

In the delivery room, I was there to witness the moment my son latched on for the first time. I studied La Leche League literature and kept a close watch on the nursery to guard against unapproved formula feedings. I stood by as the hospital lactation consultant performed a hands-on demonstration of proper positioning.

All of which was fine, really. Unlike my own dad and countless previous generations of fathers, I was determined to be a full and equal partner in childrearing. If that meant I had to learn first-hand about the laxative properties of colostrum or stand by as a gigantic Russian nurse groped my wife's woman-parts, so be it.

But then came our visit with the groovy pediatrician.

Soon after bringing our son home from the hospital, my wife and I went to see our neighborhood family doctor, a local legend known for his celebrity daughter and affinity for holistic, alternative care.

Much to our dismay, nursing was not going well. We couldn't be sure the source of the problem - blocked ducts? nipple confusion? - but the result was that our baby wasn't eating. We hadn't slept in two days.

Holding our weeping, starving son in the doctor's shabby-chic waiting room, surrounded by fashionable couples and those thousand-dollar strollers that look like lunar landing modules, we looked like victims of a violent crime.

After a quick exam and quiz on nutrition, the doctor got down to business. He had my wife unbutton her shirt and instructed her how to use her forefinger and thumb to "express" a dollop of milk onto his finger.

And then he licked it. "Sweet," he said. Whereupon he extended a finger to me. I declined.

It's been eight years since that encounter and it still disturbs me in a way I find hard to explain. It wasn't lascivious - both my wife and I got the distinct sense the doctor had all the best intentions and was simply taking the most direct, least prudish route possible to diagnose our problem. He was simply doing what groovy pediatricians do.

But still. To my surprise, my horror at the event wasn't shared by my Baby Bjorn-wearing, Diaper Genie-packing brothers.

One friend, an altogether sane and well-adjusted father of two, casually mentioned that he sometimes squirted a bit of banked breast milk into his morning coffee (a habit his wife didn't exactly support - "That's our night out!" she cried.)

I've heard about groups of mothers who have no qualms nursing each other's kids. Go online and you can find adult testimonials on the cancer-fighting properties of breast milk along with recipes for a beverage known as a "lactuccino."

Another couple recently relayed a story that demonstrates how comfortable some dads have become in the finer points of breastfeeding. A month after the birth of their first child, they hired a sitter and headed out for their first date as parents. But upon pulling into a multiplex parking lot, mom found that the time away from home had left her engorged, leaking and highly uncomfortable. No way would she be able to sit still for two hours, she said. After some tense negotiation, the husband agreed to duck into the back seat of the car and relieve her distress himself.

Not only did he get to see the movie, he said, his hair had a silky sheen for weeks afterward.

Far be it from me to judge, but I think this qualifies as going too far in being an equal-partner dad. I'm ready to nurture my kids and assist my wife in ways previous generations would have found ridiculous. I will sterilize parts of the breast pump and warm up bottles for late-night feedings.

But sampling the merchandise? That's just gross.

(Christopher Noxon is a freelance writer. Any opinion in the column that is issued every two weeks are solely those of Mr. Noxon. You can e-mail him at cnox

on@sbcglobal.net.)

One of My Favorite Ads..

This was out about 2002 and Mike and I STILL laugh about it. Classic.

At The Good Ol' Hockey Game...

Mike scored some tickets to the hockey game last night, and luckily Uncle Wyatt was available to babysit the kids, so off we went. The tickets ended up being really good ones, (not surprising for company tickets) we were ten rows away from the ice.

I took some pics for Mr K to see what Rexall looks like. Hopefully Mike's turn at the tickets will come up soon (it was someone else from work who took us on their tickets) and then we have 4 tickets and can take Mr K as well.



I know Mr K would love it, but I was really hoping that the guy a few seats over doesn't have season tickets, what a drunken loudmouth! I mean, he DID have us laughing, but I would have had to say something if I took K there. Some of his comments included:

"McTavish sucks balls!"
" Get off your knees, you're blowing the game" (ok this one I just about cried with laughter tho)
" Staios! You suck! Two minutes for being on the ice!"

Some of those I really don't want to have to explain to my four year old LOL.

The List Is Out!

I love the list of baby names in Alberta, I wait for it every year (what a geek). I can't help it, after choosing unique names for the kids, I am so curious to see if they are getting more popular or not. I know there are a few of you who love this list too, so here you go


Alberta Top Baby Names


Mr K's actually fell from previous years, but the Princess's name has almost doubled (from 15 to 27). Oh no! LOL.

I actually found my name one year, but only that one year LOL, and spelled exactly like mine too.

Warms the Cockles of Me Heart

SMART husband. Brought these home and a KitKat. Damn.

It's Effing Cold Out There!

Yah, nothing like -30 and a windchill of -46. This would be Mike's shoveling job this morning. I looked out the window to see a wee bit of shoveling done, then footprints to the van... I had to laugh, I don't blame him, that is freaking cold.
Dinner last night, not so fancy, but I made Cajun pork, and it wasn't too bad. Basically breaded pork sirloin pieces with Cajun seasoning in the flour then fried...I could do without them but Mike really liked them. Then our favorite veggies, roasted red peppers with zucchini...mmmm. Then cheese casserole.

And my newest love, seasoning with a built in grinder, nothing like freshly ground Cajun seasoning, all for the price of 3 bucks at Superstore. I need to see what other kinds they carry.


And that is it. Today will be spent finding all sorts of things to do in the house, good thing I am loaded up on paints and crafty things for the kids. The basement still has all the seats from the van so maybe we will have a few "trips" to the moon or the museum...do some baking...

Mmmmmm TV

Nice snowstorm that blew in today, holy smokes. We haven't even looked at the sidewalk, Mike was hopeful and cleared it this morning, but now its so bad that you can't tell where the sidewalk is in comparison to our lawn, its all the same height. Have fun shovelling hon! I think we get worse wind out here, it seems to drift...I would hate to think that its really THAT much snow that we are getting.

Our weekend project....setting up the new TV. It's too big and too ostentatious and too loud and I love it. :) We rented some Blu-ray movies for tonight to try out the Blu-ray player and I can't wait! The new Harry Potter and the newest Die Hard...frick I am worse than a man, I really am. I can't WAIT to get the kids to bed and watch all 58 glorious inches of Bruce Willis. (wait, that sounded quite dirty.....)

So thanks to my brother and dad who went to the States to pick up the tv's and Blu-ray's for everyone, and Dad for paying for the larger part of it. You are looking at the rest of my lifetime of birthday presents from my parents, but I think it was worth the trade. Hell, they don't even have to call me on my birthday anymore if they don't want.



Friday I went and saw 27 Dresses with Amanda and Brandy, and it was exactly what I wanted it to be, mindless chick flick. Which is a good thing after all the trouble we went to, to go and see it. Firstly, I arrived at the 7:40 movie at 7:36 thanks to an accident on the way and busy traffic around the theater. Pull into the cinema and no parking for miles. Then I notice that the entrance is literally crammed with people, right to the doors. Look at my cellphone and its totally dead, and my car charger is broken. So I was like Eff this, and went to the nearest payphone, called Mike, told him to call the girls and let them know. I call him back and my ass was directed BACK to the theater where they were waiting. We finally figure out its playing in St Albert, drive around there lost for a while. End up finding the theater, which was probably the most grungy, falling apart theater I have seen in a while. The seat in front of us was half hanging backwards, all broken, and there was a mound of popcorn at our feet. OH! And a bug flying around! The good news was that is was 17 bucks for the ticket, popcorn,pop and a chocolate bar. It was worth the grunge.

So I digress. I had picked up a couple gardening magazines at Safeway and I am just drooling with anticipation. I need to find a job to pay for my habit tho, I have champagne tastes on a beer budget.

And what else... oh yes, speaking of great dads, mine lent me his old Minolta camera so I can fiddle around with SLR and see if I really do want to buy one, or just get a nice point and shoot. Its film, so that's SO hard to get used to, not instantly seeing the picture.

Umm.. I am missing craft night cause there is no way I am driving on these roads in the dark, that sucks, I was looking forward to my magazines, and a latte and some chatter....sigh.

Have I mentioned I am so done with winter?

Felt Wallet

I was going to do this for Craft night, but I had time on my hands today so I whipped it up. The Princess chose the rabbit applique instead of iron on intials, then I had the buttons to match. So I stitched the sides, glued on the rabbit and did the button up. For some reason the gluestick stuck like a mofo, the materials must have just meshed well, I was rather shocked and thought I would have to sew it on.

I started Mr K's with these awesome shiny gold initials and he didn't want it! I was all like, FINE, my initals are KJ too, nyah nyah but didn't bother finishing it for myself lol.

And if anyone else is like me, I had a MILLION cards that The Princess could put in her "wallet" I have tons of used giftcards, business cards, she had a blast pretending with them.

Now That's Interesting...

So I like looking at my hits counter, its neat to see where the hits come from world-wise. I looked this afternoon, and saw one that was different, so I went to details. It ended up being the Victoria (Australia) Police network, and they had visited my post about the Violence Against Women.

I am really curious if my blog was tagged by a spider/bot whatever thingy, (see how technical I am) and sent to their attention because of those words......interesting..... Usually I can see that a google search for random things brought up my blog, then the person clicked on it, read my blog etc. This was a direct hit right to my blogpage.....weird.

Goes to show you tho why I don't use the kids real names or any pictures of them, or my address or personal information, you never know who is looking!

Oh, AHEM, and why I am a decent, law-abiding citizen ;)

Mushroom Prints

Yes, I have a lot of time to blog today. The kids are completely immersed in playing on the seats that we removed from the van (Wyatt borrowed it). We put them in the basement, and so far the kids have been to the moon, Mars (Venus was too hot, I was informed) and on a schoolbus for a field trip. Why didn't I think of that before? Just haul (painfully, I might add) the seats out, lug them downstairs, and voila, kids occupied for the entire day, and copious amounts of web surfing for me!

These were just damn cool and I have to try them this summer. Click on pic to see the webpage.

Slap My Hand...

...when this stores online shopping is a go....its like the "best of Etsy" in one store.... (click the pic)


I covet the amethyst necklace by Lynette-McCullough.....some of the jewelry on that site is just fantastic. I like her mermaid necklace too....way too awesome.

Mmm I would love to browse that store.....no granny dishcloths or slippers LOL! Not that there is anything wrong with those...

Challenge Grant to End Violence against Women

UN Foundation to donate $1 for every signature to UNIFEM
online campaign

WASHINGTON DC / New York (January 22, 2008) - The United Nations Foundation announced today its support for the “Say NO to Violence against Women” campaign. The Foundation will donate $1 for each the first 100,000 signatures to the online campaign that is run by the UN Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM. The contributions will go to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

“Recent UN research has demonstrated the shameful scope of violence against women around the world, where one in three women are subject to some form of coercion or abuse in their lifetimes,” said Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation. “To turn the tide on violence, the international community must work together to stand up for the human rights of women and that’s what UNIFEM’s “Say NO” campaign does. It allows people everywhere to go on record and stand up for a world free of violence against women.”

“Thanks to this fantastic challenge grant, every signature will bolster our cause to make ending violence against women worldwide a top priority”, said UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman who champions the campaign. What’s more, it will help provide critical resources for local initiatives that are supported through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women – whether it is working to prevent human trafficking, assisting survivors of domestic violence or helping implement laws against rape.”

People can sign on to the campaign at www.sayNOtoviolence.org.

“The more people join, the stronger the message that there is an ever-growing movement of people who are demanding decisive action to put a stop to what is probably the most pervasive human rights violation”, added acting UNIFEM Executive Director Joanne Sandler. “This generous donation will provide an additional strong incentive for people to sign up to the campaign.”

The “Say No to Violence against Women” campaign was launched November 26, 2007. To date more than 18,000 people worldwide have signed the call that urges an end to violence against women and encourages support to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. This Trust Fund, managed by UNIFEM for the UN system, supports innovative initiatives by governments and non-governmental organizations to end violence against women. Since its establishment in 1996, it has helped fund some 250 initiatives in 120 countries.

"Each day, each hour, each minute, a woman in the world is a victim of violence," said Wirth. "Taking this simple step, signing on to the campaign, sends the message that enough is enough and the cycle of violence must stop now."

For more information about the campaign visit www.sayNOtoviolence.org or www.unfoundation.org.

##

About UNIFEM
UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women’s human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war. More information: www.unifem.org

About the United Nations Foundation
The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems and also works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity. For a complete listing of UN Foundation grants and programs or to learn more about the United Nations Foundation, visit www.unfoundation.org.

Press Contact
Katherine Miller
(o) 202.778.1622
(c) 202.247.7280
(e) kmiller@unfoundation.org

Nanette Braun
(o) 212-906-6829
(c) 917-6671696
(e) nanette.braun@unifem.org

They are only at about 20,000 right now, so send the info to those who you know would sign up!

Why Moms Don't Lose Weight

Due to the fact that I opened the dishwasher this morning, and blankly stared inside, only to realize that what I MEANT to do was to open the top of the coffee pot (at least the coffee pot is above it on the counter, hey, we all make mistakes) I am skipping my treadmill. I didn't, to my great relief, throw coffee grinds in and start the dishwasher, so I think I am fit enough to watch my children today. After downing some caffeine from lukewarm coffee, of course, the coffee pot is brewing (god, I hope that was the coffee pot) and I am waiting in great pain for it to be done. But I don't think my legs would cooperate with a morning run, and I think somehow the treadmill would end up on top of me, like those awful commericals with the forklift on top of the worker. Its not the kids I am worried about, Treehouse would take care of them all day,and they could scrounge food from the cupboards like the feral children they are, but that would just be really bad way to start my week.

But that lead my morning mind to thinking, in its haze, about how lack of sleep just undermines my health in so many ways. I've noticed it, in the fact that I can directly track my weight loss (and gains) with my amount of sleep. The Princess was sleeping almost through the night in September till about November, and that's when I was my most successful. Since then, no sleep, no motivation. When she doesn't sleep, its all I can do to dope myself with caffeine and try not to eat sugared food all day to get a fake energy boost. If you add in a day with a playdate, then there's just no chance of any exercise happening because it takes every minute amount of energy to get them dressed and out and be relatively in a good mood for them all day. And the mood part is a huge part of it, it takes a lot of damn energy out of you to be chipper and happy for your kids, and not cancel their playdates and suffer through them, when you are surviving on 4-5 hours of broken sleep. (And I will now edit and add that my friends and their playdate's don't suck.lol. )

There are articles out there on the topic of course, like this one and this one.

The first one annoyed me a bit, but I realized that it would be good if new moms could take the article from the viewpoint of NOT stressing about those "11 lbs" ( HA I wish) and just waiting until they started getting more sleep, instead of trying to lose it and being discouraged. It probably all ties in to nature, how we need that extra weight to breastfeed, and the lack of sleep keeps us sharp and on edge from predators or some related malarky.

We all know that healthy sleep habits = healthy life, but its pretty hard to implement when you can't control the fact that your kids may not let you sleep. And if there's anything I have learned, its that you can't fight your child's sleep habits. I have one sleeper, and one non sleeper.The Princess seems to be able to survive on 8 broken hours of rest, where Mr K, since about 14/15 months, sleeps a solid straight 12 hour night. I swear their personalities are a mitigating factor in this as well..

Or I could just be grasping at this because I am too freaking tired to even think about exercising, and its a nice handy excuse ;).

Coffee ready must drink.

I Have A Hot Date...

...with my treadmill tomorrow morning. The Jambalaya and the cream puffs for dessert turned out waaaay too well. I let you know if I survive tomorrow if it was worth it or not.


Aaah sigh back to normal eating now for the week...and think of what to make next weekend.. Mike was so awesome entertaining the kids while I puttered around both days concocting and creating in the afternoons. Not like he didn't benefit from it with good food, but still, I really appreciated it. I feel relaxed and ready to tackle my week after such a nice weekend.

Until my blood sugar crashes tomorrow morning.

Shits N Giggles

This was a prize that Mr K picked up from the carnival today. And Mike & I can't stop laughing.

A Taste of Italy...

I thought I would tackle some Italian foods this weekend, and they turned out fantastic. Dinner was a hit with everyone, and Mr K had the most fun with his new word, polenta. He wandered around saying "poooooo-lentaaaaaa" after dinner LOL, it really is a fun word.

So the poooo-lentaaa, I made it with parmesan and basil which was really tasty. I didn't realize that it should set for a good 4 hours so I threw it outside for about 1/2 hour, that did the trick. Nothing like -20 to set food. Then because I wanted them round, I used a glass to cut them out.


This just made me laugh. Mike was being an ass with the camera. Let's just say there were, key word being were, also unflattering pictures of me getting various items from bottom cupboards. My jeans put plumbers to shame. BUT it shows the lovely new apron that Melissa made me for Christmas! Martha never looked this good I tell you.
The Italian seasoned rib-eye....fennel,oregano with artichoke marinade. Throw them into the oven on broil (the polenta is SOOO good crisped on the outside) for about 7 minutes each side.
The finished product, polenta with an artichoke/sundried tomato topping, fresh tomatoes and the steaks. The recipes are really long and I am too lazy to type them out, let me know if you want them and I can send you them.


My dessert totally was a flop, I miscalculated the stooopid gelatin and didn't have enough. ( or it was the two glasses of wine blurring my vision as I read the recipe... hmmm...note to self....) So it was pumpkin pudding on a graham crust instead of pumpkin squares. Still tasted good, but I won't make it again for all the effort it was. Floppity flop flop.

Tomorrow night is Jiffy Jambalaya and I can't wait! MMmmmmmm....

More on the B-DAy Party

So I've managed to pry a bit more out of Mr K about the little boy at preschool and it just made me more confused about what to do LOL!

I had asked Mr K about him, and if he played with him, and he replied "He's a really rude boy". And K says he plays with other kids, not this little boy. Now I still don't know who he is, but I guess Mike does, he worked from home a couple afternoons this week and picked up K from preschool as a surprise. So Mike's polite version of this kid is that he's um, a wee bit out of control.

Ok, so now how do I go about explaining the intricacies of not going to a party just because you are invited? Now I feel stuck, because its not ok to go to a party of someone you don't like, just because a party would be fun (and K has made it pretty clear that he doesn't like this boy) . I mean, K is 4, this is getting into more heavy thought than need be at this point for Pete's sake!

And there's the other part, I don't want to "label" this child in K's head, because K hasn't come right out and said "I don't like him". I don't like putting words in my children's mouths or ideas in their heads. He has simply said he's rude to kids, rude to the teacher, and that he doesn't play with him. So I don't want to say "Oh, K, well, that means you don't like him so we don't go to the party", because then bingo, Mom's put that thought into his head. And to be honest, I don't like that saying, I would rather teach him that sometimes we aren't able to play well with certain people, that we have others that match us better for friends.

And stupid me sat right beside K's preschool teacher today at the winter carnival and didn't even think to ask her about the boy, whether perhaps there's a learning disability, or he's just having a hard time getting used to a preschool environment etc. Honestly. The sugar from the mini-donuts clouded my brain obviously. Look man, there was a unicycle and bright lights and this old Irish guy with a top hat juggling on it....I was thinking of other things.

See, I'll just sort through all this for the first time with him, then by the time The Princess is in preschool I will know what to say and do LOL! I still have a couple weeks to RSVP, so I think I will talk to the teacher, and go fairly early and watch them on the monitor and see what's what.

Aaah, if only everyone else in the world had such trivial things to worry about...oh...what a world it would be....;)

Birthday Invite From Preschool

I am sure that SOMEONE else must have gone through this. Mr K came home with an invitation to a fellow classmates birthday party on Tuesday after preschool. Which would usually be a cause for excitement for me, that he's making new friends and generally things are going well there.

But, I have no clue who this kid is. I have been in the classroom, not last month, but I have NO idea who this child is. Never even heard of him, never met him while volunteering, zip. I scanned today the nametags out for the kids, and I didn't see this child's name.

Not only that, but its a McDonalds party. And yes, I know I can't shield him from these forever, but they are on my bottom three most loathed places for parties, only trumped by Paintball for adult parties and anyplace that involves a shower of some type and the accompanying games.

So of course, Mr K is soooo excited. I have no idea who this kid is, why K is invited, and I am that kind of person that just feels guilty at saying no.

The sap part of me thinks maybe the little boy doesn't have any friends yet and invited the kids from his preschool class (and there go my bloody heartstrings being tugged) because he doesn't know anyone else. Then I get all teary-eyed and sad for this little boy who has no friends. Drama queen me.

The other part of me can be so anti-social when she wants to be and doesn't want to meet new people. This means I have to go and TALK to another parent, meet them, and see who this boy is. I have my few parents that I know. A's mom is my favorite, shy, quiet nice woman who I got to know by trading parenting days. She's like me, just kinda goes, smiles at everyone, and picks up her kid. They actually probably all think I am a snob. At least *I* am not the one who drives the Lexis SUV, I mean, is it REALLY necessary? (like my blatant classism there? ) Oh F, you just watch, they will be the Lexus ones.

I guess I will try and find out more about this kid....but I just find it weird. The kids I would invite from preschool over here, I have talked to their parents, known them for a few months, and know that K gets along with them well. Not an invite out of the blue.....

DHA and A.D.D.

From my Dr Sears Newsletter...

DHA and A.D.D.

Studies have shown that children with ADHD tend to have low blood levels of DHA and arachidonic acid, two key brain fats. Perhaps this is why other studies have shown that children who have been breastfed are less likely to have ADHD, and the longer the period of breastfeeding, the less the likelihood of having ADHD. The reason seems to be that breastmilk is high in important fatty acids, such as DHA, GLA, and ALA, arachidonic acid, and others, but prior to 1997 most formulas contained none or little of these fatty acids. Studies at Purdue University in Indiana suggest that many boys with ADHD have low levels of the omega fatty acids DHA, GLA, and AA in their blood, and tended to have lower levels of ALA and LA precursors in their blood than boys without ADHD, suggesting that these children were unable to make the fatty acids their brain needs from the fats in their diet. The boys with ADHD who had the lowest levels of DHA, GLA, and AA, exhibited the most anxiety, impulsivity, hyperactivity and conduct disorders. The researchers suggested three possible explanations for their findings: the children's diets were deficient in essential fatty acids, the children had a metabolic problem that prevented the body from converting dietary nutrients to essential fatty acids for the brain, or various lifestyle and dietary factors reduced the level of essential fatty acids available to the brain. For more information on ADD and ADHD
Click Here.

AND

Breastfeeding Builds Brighter Brains
We can't promise that breastfeeding will make your child a Nobel Prize winner, but research shows that babies who are breastfed are smarter when they get older.

Children who were breastfed have I.Q. scores averaging seven to ten points higher than formula-fed infants. It's important to remember that these numbers represent averages for hundreds of children, not the effect of breastfeeding on a specific individual. So, if you want to raise the intelligence level of an entire generation of children, breastfeeding would be a simple and cost-effective way to do it.
Studies have shown that children who are breastfed get higher grades in school, even after other influences on school performance are taken into account.
The intellectual advantage gained from breastfeeding is greater the longer the baby is breastfed.

Smarter fats. One key ingredient in breastmilk is a brain-boosting fat called DHA (docasahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid. DHA is a vital nutrient for growth, development, and maintenance of brain tissue. Autopsy analysis of brain tissue from breastfed and formula-fed infants shows that the brains of breastfed babies have a higher concentration of DHA, and DHA levels are highest in babies who are breastfed the longest. Infant formulas made in the United States do not contain DHA. For more information on building brains with breastfeeding

Ok, other than being really creeped out and sad about the autopsy analysis of baby brain tissue (eff) that was interesting. I do like that they address the issue that people always rebut with "Well, really, WHAT is only 7 IQ points!! Its not even an argument or worth it! " (oh yes, the times I have read that rebuttal to these studies) I like that they address it in a community approach manner, its NOT the individual child, but imagine what, as a generation, the difference would be in its entirety.....and a reminder that it's averages as well. A lot of pro-breastfeeders toss it around like its a given your child will be smarter by that 7-10 points, but really, its an average from studies. Still a hell of a good average tho! I'll take those odds, thank you kindly :) Even if its a mere 4 points for my kids, but I mean, AS IF my kids are underachievers.I bet they are on the upper end of those bonus IQ points. (ok you know I am kidding. sorta. LMAO. Please, like I am THAT mother)

I do think they have something tho....those fatty acids are damn important for us, and feeding infants formula that is lacking them isn't going to kill them, of course, but there are just things that man cannot fathom duplicating either....nor come close to...besides being pro-breastfeeding I just find all this damn fascinating, from what we start feeding our children at birth (and what we should and shouldn't) with to what we eat now (and what we should and shouldn't lol) ..its all so interesting.

Cooking Spree

Not sure why, but I am on a cooking spree lately. It has nothing to do with healthy habits, HA, perhaps I just got into the habit of always making something in December and haven't stopped since. My masterpiece was yesterday, roast pork with whole green beans, homemade biscuits and homemade gravy. (I hear you thinking, WTF Martha Wannabe.) I know, its sick, I'm sick. I think it might have to do with the fact that I am sick and tired of winter food already (stews,chili,etc) and really want different tastes. Or I really am just messed up.

I made Chocolate Mousse recently and it was fantastic.


Chocolate Mousse

1 cup SemiSweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Water
1/2 tsp Crushed Instant Coffee Granules

4 Egg Yolks
4 Egg Whites
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar

Melt chocolate chips and water over hot(not boiling) water.Stir in coffee.
Beat egg yolks until light colored. Add to chocolate mixture, beating to ensure there are no lumps. Remove from heat and cool.

Beat egg whites until stiff,then add sugar, beating until stiff again.Fold into chocolate mixture, then chill in sherbets or fruit nappies. Chill Several hours. Serve with whipped cream garnished with grated chocolate.


Today I am not so inspired to do much, I have a headache that hasn't gone away since Monday night, I feel like I am getting the flu but its not quite kicking in. Blech.