It seems that these days we must research everything before using it, especially when it comes to the products that we use with our precious little ones. Up until now I have only breastfed my little girl...no bottles at all. I know at some point I may have the need for a bottle though, so today I began researching to find the best brand and kind to use. As I did some digging online, it came to my attention that there are some very interesting studies being done on the safety, or lack there of, when it comes to 95% of the plastic baby bottles that people use. Are you curious as to what I might be referring to?

It's been found that many popular brands of plastic baby bottles leak BPA when heated. This is a toxic chemical that is used to make the plastic. Everything I have read links BPA to things like obesity, certain cancers, diabetes and more. This is a chemical that is not healthy for any of us, but especially infants and children. There are many people switching from plastic bottles to glass bottles....a choice I'm strongly considering and one I urge you to think about as well.

Ever since we had Kaelyn we hear so many people tell us who they think she looks like. It seems that my family tends to think she looks a lot like I did as a baby and Scott's family seems to think she looks a lot like him as a baby. When Scott and I look at her we see certain features that remind us of each one of us. We've held baby pictures up to her as I am sure many parents do when they have babies...it's just been such a fun thing to do.

Many people who are not family also like to give their opinions as well. It's fun to hear what people think outside of the family as well. I recently came across a really great tool on the My Heritage website that I thought could give it's "opinion" just for fun. It is called the Look alike Meter. I placed a picture of Scott, Myself and Kaelyn in the meter and based on the faces it detects who the child looks most like. I know this is not a scientific tool by any means, but it was still fun to see what it said as a result. After putting in our pictures I got the following result. I really thought it was neat that this tool came to the conclusion that Kaelyn looks like Scott and I equally!! I guess every body is right when they say that she looks like me and Scott!!

One of the biggest pieces of advice that I haven't always been good to follow since having Kaelyn is "make sure to sleep when she sleeps". Kaelyn has been such a wonderful sleeper from the moment we brought her home from the hospital that I haven't had to do that too often. However, today I was absolutely exhausted. Between taking care of her, cleaning the house and having company here some of the day...I really needed a little down time to just relax. Almost four months old now, she is not sleeping during the day nearly as much, so at 12:30 when she laid down for her afternoon nap I decided it would be the perfect time to do the same. Wow, did it help! I woke up refreshed and ready for the rest of my day. It wasn't a long nap, but a much needed one at that. I feel I am a better wife and mother when I am rested and not running on empty. I may have to follow the advice of all of those smart people who told me to sleep when she sleeps more often.

I recently came across a very funny song, the "Mom Song" sung by Anita Renfroe. If you've never heard it, you definitely have to check it out...hilarious! She sings everything a mom says in a 24 hour period over 2 1/2 minutes! Anyone, whether you're a mother or not, will thoroughly enjoy this song...

A while back I wrote about the things I've researched and learned when it comes to babies and their naptime routine. I had learned so many tips in just the first few months of having Kaelyn and did my best to share them with other mothers who were wondering and going through the same things I was. Now, over 3 weeks later, I am still following those tips and very happy I hung in there!! Kaelyn is on more of a routine, one that she kind of just settled into on her own. I tried to keep things consistent each day...having feed time, wake time, and sleep time throughout the day in that order! At the very first sign of sleepiness, I lay her down in her crib and within 5 minutes she is out! It's a wonderful feeling to be getting into more of a routine...my baby is happier and so am I! I know there are so many different opinions on what's right and what's not when it comes to naptime routines, but I just wanted to share with you the experience that I've had and it's amazing results! I am enjoying the consistency of knowing when she will sleep, eat, play etc. It makes life much easier and more enjoyable!! You can read up on some of the tips and things that I have found useful by visiting a previous post I wrote last month.....Baby Naptime....Useful Tips.

With that said, I must say that I am not the type of mother who believes that you must have a strict, written in stone, type of schedule. I believe children need consistency, but think it's important to be flexible at the same time...especially when they're young like my daughter is. Most importantly I have learned that it's important to follow the motherly instinct that we all have. If you follow that, you'll be just fine!!

There are a lot of great recipes that I grew up with...one of these that I just had to share is a homemade taco recipe that I ABSOLUTELY love!! Do you ever get tired of the store bought taco shells?! I know I do...that's why this recipe is GREAT! It calls for some ingredients like crisco which wouldn't be something you'd want to cook with all the time...but every once in a while it makes for a really yummy meal that the whole family will enjoy!

To make the taco shells you need to do the following:
Take a box of Hot Roll Mix and mix it like says on the box. Don't add the yeast in it, just throw that part out. Roll out into a circle on a floured cloth. Fold over and drop into hot grease (three sticks of crisco). Boil and turn mid way through.

To make the meat mixture you just brown up 2 pounds of hamburger, adding in a pealed and grated potato. Then drain the grease and add taco seasoning.

Serve with: taco sauce, cheese lettuce and anything else you like to eat on your tacos. Enjoy!!