Mouth to mouth feeding your baby?? Acceptable or Natural?

Recently GMA aired a segment on  Alicia Silverstone mouth feeding her 10 month old son by Premastication or pre-chewing.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/alicia-silverstone-baby-feeding-mouth-mouth-video-spurs-16027885?tab=9482931&section=1206836&playlist=2898870

This controversial video has sparked a lot of heat to whether or not "pre-chewing" is an acceptable way of feeding your child.  Now, without passing judgment, or at least sounding like I am, here are my thoughts and opinions on this.

1) I've done a LOT of what I would consider to be "un natural" things while raising my kids for the past 14 years! I've licked my thumb and wiped foreign gooey substances from their face, I've had to use my OWN hands to wipe snot from their noses and even help them poop when necessary! They've thrown up, spit up and shit on me at times and yes I've even had the joy of TASTING their vomit! What can I say, it happens!

2) I'm not sure what purpose "Premastication" actually serves? Understandably, while breast feeding you're feeding your baby from your body. Giving your child all the natural antibodies and nutrition they need.  But coming from your own mouth just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me? Isn't that what formula and food processors are for?

3) The medical disadvantages include a wide range of diseases that can be transferred from mother to child while premasticating. Diseases from infected parents to their infants including HIV-AIDS from their saliva and open mouth ulcer, as well as possibly hepatitis B virus and Helicobacter pylori.

4) Then of course there's the controversy over "kiss feeding" your child! Personally, for me, this is not something I would have ever done and sure as hell would NEVER want their Dad to have participated in.  Using my tongue to push the food in my baby’s mouth seems to be crossing the line of what's acceptable when it comes to any part of me touching another part of my child. Or anyone else's for that matter!

I don't think this is just a matter of what is appropriate because we all have different versions of what we consider to be acceptable especially when it comes to raising children.  I mean, am I wrong for thinking this is an unnecessary breeding ground for bacteria and gems being passed from you to your child? Of course they're going to get germs from EVERYWHERE as they grow up but I for one prefer it doesn’t come from my own mouth!

Basically, when all is said and done this is NOT a form of feeding I would have done or will ever do! I'm all for breast, bottle, utensils and good 'ole food processors! 

Your wedding dress is nice in a hidious sort of way

We've all been through that awkward moment! You know, the one where you're DYING to see a picture of your friends final choice for her wedding dress. You're either leaning over a computer screen or opening an email waiting for the unveiling of this dress when BAM! There it is...the most hideous thing you've ever seen!

I mean what do you say? Definitely not YES to the Dress! Do you fake the expression that is so clearly obvious on your face or do you give them your opinion? I mean of course they must LOVE this dress if it's the one they've chosen...right?  So do you give them the honest truth? I say you smile, say something nice and keep your mouth shut about how you really feel.

Giving YOUR opinion of THEIR dress is probably not the best idea.  Even if she's asking for your feedback, trust me, she's already made up her mind.  Of course she wants you to love it just as much as she does! Whatever you do DON'T let it get out that you secretly hate the dress either.  This will only backfire because now she knows not only do you hate her dress but now you're a liar!

So next time you're in this situation suck it up, put on a fake smile and tell her how pretty she's going to look. It's her special day. Let her feel special no matter what she's wearing =)

Love was just enough

I love you as the bright as the snow shines after a winter’s storm...

From the moment I saw you my life changed forever

So small and innocent and full of wonder

You looked at me with your eyes wide open

For all you ever need and wanted was mine to honor

A gift from God so precious more priceless than a gem

I used to ask myself “How did I get so lucky, I don’t deserve this prize”

I’m just a kid myself how will we ever survive?

All we had was love and it was just enough to get us through

Days, months and even years would pass by

Before you’d say the little words that the truly made me cry

“I love you mommy” was all it took to turn my gray skies into blue

My love will never falter although at times it may seem

That my heart has changed and things aren’t the same

It’s only to protect you from things you haven’t seen

I pray for you every night that God will keep you safe

That you never lose that wonder you had the first time we met

For that one day you will know how much I love watching you grow

To see all what you will become

From now until forever and for all the years to come

  ~To My beautiful daughter Victoria~            

Letters to Santa

I think letters to Santa are one of the cutest things about the holidays.  The creativity and work that goes into them from those adorable little hands melts my heart every time.  Believe me I'm not normally a sappy person but come on, how could that not make your heart swell up with joy?!  I've saved a few of those letters over the years and just love looking back and being reminded of how innocent and magical their little thoughts and wants can be. If you save them just be careful THEY never find them!

Does anyone send "real" holiday cards anymore?

From as far back as I can remember, one of the most exciting times of the holidays was going to the mail box to see what holiday/Christmas cards were there! I loved opening them and see what pretty sparkly glittered card would be inside. Or finding a cute family picture in front of a fire place or someones pet's running on the beach.  As I got older I looked forward to reading the "Family Letter" about what has happened over the last year with the kids, jobs, new home etc..

We would save EVERY card we received and hang them up around the mantel, next to door frames and even in the cute card holders you could hang on the wall. Not only did it help make things look festive but it was fun to see all the cards and family pictures from over the years.

Recently, after going through whats left of my decorations, I noticed how few cards I have anymore! I realized that this is a tradition that seems to be dying with the digital age of E-Cards, Facebook and a multitude of other online ways to send a card.

Yes it's "green" to send virtual holiday wishes and yes it's obviously much quicker but I think we as a society have seriously lost touch with what used to be real communication! There is something much more personal and "real" about a hand written holiday/Christmas card rather then just choosing from a generic list of text and pressing send! My late Grandmother has probably written more letters, Christmas, Birthday, Sympathy and get well cards then Hallmark has!

I admit I'm not always on top of sending cards so I don't write this to point any fingers or pass judgement.  More than anything, Holiday's or not, I wonder how many people still "write" anything?

Blind Date Disasters!

From one of my fabulous readers:

Sounds close to a horrible blind date I went on, but this guy cried during his confessional, then took out his wallet and pointed out pictures of his entire family. Then he tried to reach for my hand across the table and told me he prefers to wear thong underwear. Seriously. Then, he went to the bathroom, and I should have escaped, but I sat there like a dumb ass. He walked out of the bathroom, made eye contact with me, smiled and flexed his arms the entire way to the table (like noticeably up in the air flexes). He got into the booth, on his side, and proceeded to climb OVER the table to my side and tried to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I freaked out! He walked me to my car, tried to kiss me good night, but I dodged it. Then, he called for two weeks, but I never answered. At the end of the week, he left me a message screaming at me saying I lead him on and his mother had been really excited to meet me!!!! LOL! You can't make this stuff up. True story!
Oh! And I forgot one of the best parts! When he shared his thong preference, he asked if I wanted to see. He ignored my plea, pulled up his shirt and his pants down slightly, and revealed a silky leopard print piece of something. Then, he says, "oh, and my belly button is pierced too!" Of course, he proudly flicked that a few times for me too. This opened up a can for my sarcastic soul, and I made extremely snarky comments about it throughout dinner, but he just laughed and said I was "soooo funny."

The Fat, the Skinny and the mislead perception!!

I want ALL of you to know something...YOU yes YOU are beautiful no matter what size you are!! Whether you're a size 0 or 28+ DO NOT let society tell you that being a certain size is what defines who you really are because it's NOT!! Yes being healthy is important but that's not what this is about.  This is about living your life and feeling great about who you are no matter how much you weigh, how light or dark you are, whether you have thin hair, short hair, long hair or NO hair.  Attitude is everything and when you change yourself from within that true beauty will shine bright on the outside.  Don't let what others percieve you to be control who you WANT to be! So let yourself GO...go on that cruise, go to the beach, walk on that trail, travel to where you want to go, wear those high heels if it makes you feel good BUT most of all LIVE YOUR LIFE and don't let anyone else live it for you! xoxoxo