Ian James, a doctor at the Centre for the Health of the Elderly at Newcastle General Hospital said the use of dolls in care homes for the elderly can help reduce disruptive behaviour.

“There are a number of reasons for the powerful effect of the doll in reducing some of the challenging behaviour,” he told Reuters (in a story about “reborn babies”) by telephone.

“People are comforted and are so much calmer and quieter — you just have to be there to witness that.”

“It’s a familiar role from time when they were busy and happy,” his co-researcher Lorna Mackenzie said.

I’m scared of the future and old age. I don’t really want to know how life might be 30 years from now or 50 years from now if I’m lucky enough to still be here and healthy. Maybe it’s crazy and hectic and all too much insanity sometimes but it sure beats frailty and dementia.

Yes, we’re busy and we’re happy.

Hrmph.

1. Baby 411 (after birth advice)
2. Baby Bargains (buying guide)
3. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp [Watch the DVD; it's helpful to see the techniques demonstrated]
4. Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy [Hilarious]
5. Nursing Mother’s Companion [I read in cover to cover.]
6. Why Motor Skills Matter
7. The complete and authoritative guide caring for your baby and young child birth to age 5″ by the American Academy of Pediatrics
8. What’s Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life by Lise Eliot

To those, I add:

1. Dr. T Berry Brazelton’s Touchpoints Birth to Three
2. Dr. William Sears books
3. Some people also like Louise Bates Ames books (children at each developmental stage)
4. The Continuum Concept (attachment parenting theory)
5. Good Nights (family bed)
6. Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense (positive approach to feeding kids)
7. Super Baby Food (feeding kids from first food and more)
8. So That’s What They’re For (breastfeeding guide)

I started getting dressed but couldn’t find my bra. I looked under the comforter again and had Stephen look under the pillows. I even checked under the bed and looked again in the drawers and bathroom. No bra.

“Where’s my bra?!” I demanded.

Stephen shrugged as I continued looking around for both the bra and my mind.

Then he asked, “What’s a bra anyway? Those maju* covers?”

*Maju is our family word for breasts, breastfeeding, and breast milk.

**I later found the bra behind the nightstand where it had flown during Stephen’s shenanigans.

Inspired by Karen Cheng

And still a slinging mama. Here I am using my “home” sling which is a TaylorMade waffle weave stretch cotton sling.

]]> http://www.cottontimer.com/2008/06/22/in-our-arms/feed/ http://www.cottontimer.com/2008/06/16/introducing-megan/ http://www.cottontimer.com/2008/06/16/introducing-megan/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:31:03 +0000 Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2008/06/16/introducing-megan/
Born last Monday
3.78 kg (8.3 lbs)

From Liveducks.com:

Wild ducks need to eat the green foods that grow naturally in their environment in order to maintain good health and a normal lifespan. Their ability to fly and retain natural instincts for survival depends entirely on the foods they eat. By feeding wild (or dumped domestics) you are contributing to their early death, shortening their lives ten-fold.

From On a Short Leash: Did you hear about that Buddhist couple who’re never more than 15 feet apart? Well, we tried it. By David Plotz and Hanna Rosin in Slate