Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my big Baby girl, Adriana!!!

Can't believe you are Six Years Old!!!

World Breastfeeding Week

How can you celebrate world Breastfeeding week?

1. Inform some pregnant friends on the importance of breastfeeding their babies.
   
1. Breast milk is superior to formula. Formula should only be used as medicine if mom cannot breastfeed her baby!
   
2. Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. It gives infants all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses - such as diarrhea and pneumonia, the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide. Breast milk is readily available and affordable, which helps to ensure that infants get adequate sustenance.
   
3. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. – World Health Organization (WHO)
   
4. A lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life contributes to over a million avoidable child deaths each year. – WHO
   
5. The American Pediatrics Association (APA) suggests breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months.


6. WHO strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. At six months, other foods should complement breastfeeding for up to two years or more.
   
2. For best start to Breastfeeding


1. breastfeeding should begin within an hour of birth;
   
2. breastfeeding should be "on demand", as often as the child wants day and night; and
   
3. Bottles or pacifiers should be avoided for the first 6 weeks.
   
3. Benefit For Mom
   
1. It reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
   
2. Helps women return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster.
   
3. Lowers rates of obesity.
   
4. The practice when done exclusively often induces a lack of menstruation, which is a natural (though not fail-safe) method of birth control.
   
4. Long-term benefits for children
   
1. Beyond the immediate benefits for children, breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health.
   
2. Adults who were breastfed as babies often have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol, as well as lower rates of overweight, obesity and type-2 diabetes.
   
3. There is evidence that people who were breastfed perform better in intelligence tests.
   
5. Why not infant formula?
   
1. Infant formula does not contain the antibodies found in breast milk and is linked to some risks, such as water-borne diseases that arise from mixing powdered formula with unsafe water (many families lack access to clean water).
   
2. Malnutrition can result from over-diluting formula to "stretch" supplies. Further, frequent feedings maintain the breast milk supply.
   
3. If formula is used but becomes unavailable, a return to breastfeeding may not be an option due to diminished breast milk production
   
4. Formula companies are not regulated well.
   
6. Find a support group – for highest level of success I highly suggest getting involved before the birth of first baby!!
   
1. La Leche League International (LLLI), full disclosure I am a LLL Leader
   
2. Lactation Consultant
   
3. WIC office
   
4. If you are Catholic, Catholic Nursing Mother's League is a great option.
   
5. There are many more support groups ask people you know who are supportive of breastfeeding.
   

Our Lady of La Leche, Pray for Us!

Change of Plan - Movie UP

Today we set out to go to the movie theater and see the movie "Cloudy with the Change of Meatball." It looked like a very funny movie but on our way to the theatre my car started playing tricks on us. We decide to go back home, make our own popcorn and watch the movie "UP." I am so not a Disney fan so I was sceptical. To my delight this is a movie we will probably get for Christmas. I think will watch it again for move night this coming Saturday. Looking at the USCCB review it is A-I (general audience), we generally only watch A-I movies! I was taking a chance on "Cloudy with the Change of Meatball" with at A-II (adults and adolescents) rating but I think it turned better. WE will still go to Spec Pond because it isn't very far!! I also got to do a little more homeschooling preparation being at home so truly worked in our advantage!!

Quote of the Day

If you don't leave Him he won't leave your.
--St. Josemarie Escriva

The Easiest Menu Planned Ever

Two-Week Menu Planner

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Breakfast	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon	Egg Sandwich Cereal Yogurt Smoothie Bacon
Lunch	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies	Mac and Cheese PB & Jelly Sandwich Humus Sandwich Veggies
Snack	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus	Egg Salad Sandwich	String Cheese Trail Mix Bar Veggie & Humus
Dinner	Hamburgers Summer Squash and Beans	Eggplant and Stuff Shells with Green Beans	Hamburger Chicken Sandwich	Chicken Parmesan in Candee's sauce	Pesto	Tuna Casserole	Warilla's BBQ

Dinner

Steak Salad

Hamburger s and Hot dogs

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

For week one all dinners are leftovers from my Mother's Blessing other than Sunday because we had Mémère over!! Awesome, so easy!!

Today's Project

Today I decided to make a "Niall Family Patron Saint" poster. The blank spaces will be filled with the new babies patron saints. We also have to add Saint Nicholas the patron of our marriage!! I think this will help us remember the Feast Days of our Patron especially because we forgot James' Feast Day last week and the stories of out patrons!!

Wallace and Gromit - 2 Thumbs DOWN!!

That is TWO THUMBS DOWN!!!

We watched our family movie on Sunday night instead of Saturday this week. We had the Mother Blessing on Saturday and everyone was over tired!!! Our Sunday was slow with an early dinner and a visit from Mémère. We watched Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It was pretty scary and really didn't have a moral. I usually try to preview movies but lately it has been hard for me to preview. We never would have watched it had I previewed it. It wasn't morally bad just didn't have a point. The vicar was portrayed horribly which is sad and there really wasn't any good (like good vs evil). Yes there was a really bad guy but the good guy wasn't really good. Anyway, we will never watch it again and I would not suggest it to anyone out there!!! Just plan dumb!!!!

I do always check rating on United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

There rating system is as follows:

A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
A-IV**
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was an A-I which is our standard for the children. But you can't allows go by the rating previewing movies is a must, for us!!!

Any one else have thoughts on this movie!!

Baby Kisses!

When I was pregnant with James I took a really cute picture of little Adriana hugging and kissing my baby belly. I decided this morning that I would get another picture like that with each and both of the children.

The picture below is my favorite one but they are all cute!!! Enjoy!

One Month Left or so They Say!!!!

I can't believe that my guesstimation date is one month from today. I have been told by many I don't look like I'm due in a month. I guess there is some good in that comment. The negative is I have gone two week over due with both other children so many that goes along with the size of my Baby Belly!!

James' Belly Time

I love that James talks about the baby in Mama's belly. I don't really know how much he understands but he'll tell you all about. Kisses, hugs, and all!! It is too cute!!!