Saturday, December 31, 2011

Hannah at 15 Months - Pouring Coins



Hannah loves playing with the coins from my wallet. With supervision, she likes to pour them from bowl to bowl, stack them, and tries to sort them by type (which she's not very good at but will improve with practice).

I post short videos like this to remember what she was like at different ages. I know they don't appeal to everyone, but I'm sharing them for family and those interested in H's progression.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Financial Breakdown of an Injectable Cycle with IUI

Since it looks like this Femara cycle was a bust, we were faced with a choice - 
try Femara again, or switch to injectables.

I wanted to give my ovaries one last chance (and give us a month to prepare ourselves for the cost of an injectable cycle), 
so we decided to try Femara again and then pursue injectables for cycle 3 
if we are not successful with cycle 1 or 2.

I stopped by the financial counselor on my way out of the fertility clinic and 
got the cost breakdown of ONE cycle on injectables.

Hold on to your chins ladies, because they're about to hit the floor.

Physician Fees:
Endocrine Management (wtf is that!?)  - $885
Follicle Scans (4 at $301 a piece) - $1204
Blood Draws (4 at $13 a piece) - $52
Insemination Fees - $233
-----------------------------------
Subtotal: $2374

{oh we're not even close to being done.}

Laboratory Fees:
Estradiol Hormone Level Test (4 at $77 a piece) - $308
Sperm wash for Partner's sperm - $180
or Donor Sperm Vial - $520
-----------------------------------
Subtotal
$488 with partner's sperm
$828 with donor sperm


Total fee for 1 Gonadotropin Injectable Cycle:
With partner's sperm: $2,862
With donor sperm: $3,202


I'll give you a moment to comprehend spending that much 
before I point out that price does not include the cost of medication
with is estimated at between $1,500 and $3,000 a cycle.

So our total cost for 1 cycle would be between $4362 and $5862.
But have no fear, they include 1 free pregnancy test...  

It better be a digital test.  
and it better be made of gold.  
and I hope it performs a choreographed 
happy dance when you get a bfp.

Thanks goodness that we have insurance that will cover a good portion of the cost, 
and fingers crossed that the Femara works and 
we're able to spend that money on cute baby stuff instead. 

Monday, December 26, 2011

Craft Your Christmas Cards



This is a way of displaying those holiday cards and letters we all receive.
This would also be a great way of storing birthday, baptism and baby shower cards.

If you use a coupon you could easily complete this project for under $10!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Crafts with Hannah



Lightbulb stickers on felt tree cut outs - a really cute craft idea for a 15 month old+

Friday, December 23, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 13



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Thursday, December 22, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 12



Worst thumbnails ever on this channel.

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 11



Photos by Sam Furlong swns.com

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 10



Hans Christian Andersen's version of The Little Mermaid:

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Monday, December 19, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 9



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Creative Cookie Cutters



You don't have to go out and buy Christmas cookie
cutters - reuse your cutters from other holidays.
It just takes a little imagination!

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 8




Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Saturday, December 17, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 7



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Friday, December 16, 2011

Meeting CottonBabies & BumGenius creator Jennifer Labit



http://www.cottonbabies.com
http://www.bumgenius.com
http://www.jenniferlabit.com

SECONDARY CHANNEL: DailyLush
WEBSITE: http://www.bubblelush.com
FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc tring to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary cloth diaper diapers bumgenius bum genius aplix velcro snaps jennifer labit how start diapering

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 6



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Thursday, December 15, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 5



Why we do IUI - Intrauterine Insemination - Artificial Insemination instead of just trying to conceive naturally. Why we use FertileCM from Fairhaven Health if we're doing IUI.

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 4



The likelihood of conceiving twins on Femara is even lower than the chance of conceiving twins with Clomid. Combine that with the fact that all of my previous ovulatory medicated cycles have only resulted in one dominate follicle, I'm not expecting to conceive multiples - but Hannah is!

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Toy Review: Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads

I purchased this item with my own money. This is not a paid or sponsored video.  But if Melissa and Doug would LIKE to sponsor me, I'd totally be open to that. :)


This is my video review of the Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads.
Lacing beads were encouraged for 1.5 year+ in
Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years
by Elizabeth G. Hainstock


~~ LINKS ~~

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 3



My daily medicine regimine during this medicated cycle.
  • 1500mg of Metformin
  • 3 capsules of FertileCM
  • 1 Baby Aspirin
  • 1 Prenatal Vitamin
  • 3 pills of 2.5mg Femara (7.5mg total once daily)


LINKS BELOW

Metformin & PCOS: http://bit.ly/tp0geu 

FertileCM (Cervical Mucus): http://bit.ly/sc4mRj 

About Femara: http://bit.ly/sbQnv3

My Prenatal Vitamin: http://bit.ly/uGZSbs

Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc trying to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomid clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 2



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc tring to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomd clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Monday, December 12, 2011

DailyLush Vlog: Cycle 1 Day 1



Welcome to my new channel - a daily vlog of my journey through infertility.

Rate, Comment, and Subscribe to help grow the channel and make it easier for other women going through infertility to follow along and know that they're not alone.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc tring to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomd clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Schedule a Girls Night In Bake Club


Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

The sad truth about my life as a new mom is that 
I have yet to find that work/life balance.
Between being a mother, wife, and employee, 
I rarely find time to be a friend.  

Unless I pencil 'girl's night' into my schedule it's the first thing to get cut when things get hectic.  Aware of this I've started making a conscious effort to have a monthly girls night in - and so far it's been great.

My Girls Night In is a bake club.  
I started it with two of my local friends and we take turns hosting each month.   
(We're always free to invite other women to join us - 
because we all know a friend in need of a night off.)  
The hostess selects a recipe she's been dying to try but is intimidated by, and provides the ingredients.
The guests bring light snacks and wine to munch on while the confection is in the oven.

The twist is that even if there are five of us, we only make one dessert.  
We each try a small serving at the end of the night, and divide the rest of the dessert into each girl's Tupperware container.  She can share with her husband when she gets home or bring it for lunch the next day, but this way each girl isn't forced to eat an entire cake.  

After all, it's not about bringing food home, 
it's about getting back to yourself for an evening, 
and reconnecting with the women that bring out the relaxed side of you.


Besides, when making this much frosting, you're going to need 
a few extra set of hands to help unwrap all that butter...

So call up those friends you haven't seen in months, 
pick the yummiest recipe that you've yet to try, 
and start your own bake club.  

It's just as fun as it sounds, 
Plus it's an event that's easy to plan for - all you need is a clean kitchen and a few wine glasses.
 Set a precedent that the dishwasher is loaded 
before anyone can leave so that clean up is a breeze.

It's low stress, low cost, and ... kind of low calorie.
Perfect.


Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

Follow my Daily TTC Journey - NEW CHANNEL!



'll be posting a short video each day over on the DailyLush. Come subscribe and follow my journey to our second baby. http://www.youtube.com/user/dailylush

The first and second half of my cycle will be summarized in a video here on theBubblelush for those of you not interested in a daily vlog.

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

Free Royalty Free Music by http://www.danosongs.com

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc tring to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomd clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Friday, December 9, 2011

TTC Baby #2 - Episode 6: The End of Provera



I'm so excited to start this journey! CD 1 here I come! :)
I just finished a 5 day course of Provera to induce cycle 1.
I also discuss Hannah's newest party trick that lead to me buying new makeup. Fun Times!

MAIN CHANNEL: Thebubblelush 

OTHER CHANNEL: DailyLush 

FACEBOOK: Carla TheBubblelush

YouTube Keywords: Carla thebubblelush the bubblelush carlathebubblelush dailylush daily lush Chris Hannah vlog vlogs vlogger vlogging blog blogs blogger blogging Video Blogging family mom mother ttc tring to conceive infertility fertility getting pregnant with pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome ovary disease disorder femara inducing period provera breakthrough bleeding withdrawal low progesterone from breastfeeding letrozole clomd clomiphene citrate journal new second channel

Saturday, December 3, 2011

YouTube: TTC Baby #2 - Episode 5: Game Plan



The discussion I had with my Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE aka Fertility Specialist) about starting my first medicated cycle.

I'm starting a 5 day provera regimine in order to stop the abnormal uterine bleeding caused by low progesterone from breastfeeding.  Two to Seven days after the last provera pill I should start cycle day 1.   On cycle day 3-7 I'll take 7.5mg of Femara.

The cycle that we conceived Hannah I started cycle day 1 on Thanksgiving, the IUI was on December 11th, and our BFP was on Christmas Eve.  This cycle might just start on December 11th, which would mean a Christmastime IUI.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Play Kitchen Series: Green Options

Other Posts from this Series:

This is not a sponsored post, but I'm in love with Green Toys.
"Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet."
Hannah got some Green Toy Cars for her 1st Birthday, and I'm excited to buy her a set for her new kitchen.

Here are their options:
__________________________________

__________________________________
__________________________________


__________________________________

__________________________________


__________________________________
__________________________________



If you'd prefer FELT toys over recycled plastic, Ikea has some great options in their Duktig series, and at $8 each, you can't beat the price.
__________________________________
__________________________________

__________________________________

__________________________________
__________________________________




If you have a non-wooden play food or kitchen accessory that you'd like to add to the pinterest board, feel free to suggest them in the comments or you can try to PIN it to the board.  All ideas are welcome and the board is public.



Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Play Kitchen Series: Wooden Accessories

Other Posts from this Series:

Yesterday I featured Melissa & Doug wooden food sets, but today I want to acknowledge other companies that offer wooden food and kitchen accessories.

Three companies whose toys I'm impressed with are Plan Toys, Educo, and KidKraft.   HABA also has some great options.

Each company has a different range to their product line, but one way to compare them is to look at them side by side:

Toasters

Educo
_______________________
Kidkraft
_______________________
Plan Toys
_______________________


Coffee & Tea Sets

Educo
_______________________
Kidkraft
_______________________
Plan Toys

_______________________

I love the little honey bear by Educo, 
the natural wood grain tea set by Plan, 
and the pretty pink Kidkraft toaster.  
(The Kidkraft mixer is pretty cute too!)
_______________________
There are also mixers, plates, and food from these four companies on the pinterest board.
I'm sure I've overlooked some great companies, so I want to invite you to pin any sets that I've overlooked onto the public board linked below:

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

6 Things I Took Away from the Sister Wives Finale

I know that not everyone loves the show Sister Wives, and I completely understand why it's so polarizing.  However I'm sucked in and watch every episode.


This season's finale showed the homebirth of Solomon - Wife #4's first baby with Kody - and there were a lot of positive things I took away from it:

1) Post Date - or Overdue - Delivery.
I know how stressful it can be to find yourself 2 weeks overdue.  I also know how annoying it can be for people to ask you every 30 seconds if you've had your baby yet.  While placenta function can deteriorate after 40 weeks, with proper monitoring most caregivers are comfortable going to 42 weeks.  Robyn was 2 weeks past her due date with Solomon, and both Janelle and Christine discussed going past their due date as well.  Public exposure to the idea that a 'due date' is an approximation and that the baby can come slightly before or after that date is a good reminder.

2) Natural Home Birth.
It's a given that home birth isn't for everyone, and I know first hand how amazing epidurals can be, however I liked Robyn's commentary that birthing this baby was what her body was built for.  I think it's a good reminder that natural birth is just that - natural, and while you might not choose it for your delivery, it's nice to hear if it IS something you want to pursue.

3) Quiet & Calm Delivery.
I'm amazed at how still and focused Robyn was during the delivery.  All too often we see the image of a sweating & screaming woman that isn't coping well with the pain.  Robyn was amazingly controlled and calm during the final pushes.

4) Delayed Cord Clamping.
Robyn and Kody decided to wait until after the placenta had been delivered before cutting the cord.  While this might not be something you're comfortable with, it does bring up a discussion topic for your birth plan:  When to cut the cord and do you want to donate or bank the cord blood?

Chris and I were torn on this issue.  On one hand we really wanted to donate Hannah's cord blood to the hospital's public bank in case another child needed the stem cells or in order to further research.  Both of those things are important to us.  However we also wanted to wait to cut the cord until it stopped pulsating to ensure that Hannah received that final iron rich blood volume.  There was some discussion of whether or not we could do both, but at the end of the day we were unable to donate because of the infection I developed during labor.  (hospital policy)

There is a new study by Swedish researchers that look at iron concentrations and rates of jaundice with delayed cord clamping.  If it's something you're interested in pursuing, I suggest reading this article:  LINK

5) Surrogacy
While how you grow your family and which fertility treatments you pursue is a deeply personal decision, I SO appreciate that Robyn and Meri discussed surrogacy during the episode - if only just to start the conversation within the general public and to open the door for some education on the topic.  I know what an amazing gesture it is to have someone offer to be your surrogate when dealing with infertility, and knowing that someone loves you enough to make such a sacrifice for you is heartwarming.  I admit that I cried during R&M's discussion.

6) Change of Heart
I remember how emotional Robyn's pregnancy announcement was - especially for Mariah (Meri's daughter who has watched her mom welcome many children from her sister wives, but has not carried another child to term).  It was honest, and real, and I thought that both Meri and Robyn did an amazing job of understanding Mariah's reaction.

I understand that pregnancy announcements can be tough to see and hear when infertility is involved.  It was nice to see how Mariah's emotions had developed over the course of the pregnancy though, and I'm pretty sure that somehow Mariah was even more excited than Meri to hold Solomon - and Meri was very excited about this baby, so that's saying a lot.

It was a good reminder that even though the initial announcement might sting, we're not upset about the baby, we LOVE babies!, we just sometimes need a minute to be sad for our situation, and it has nothing to do with how excited we are for your pregnancy.


Sister Wives is on TLC and the Season Three Finale aired on November 27, 2011.

Play Kitchen Series: Melissa & Doug Toys

Other Posts from this Series:

Melissa and Doug have a lot of great play food and accessory options and are some of the cutest sets on the market.  Below are some that you might consider adding to the play kitchens we discussed yesterday.

Melissa & Doug's Safety Statement
___________________________________

Accessories:

Melissa & Doug Kids Toy Shopping Cart - $70
Hannah loves rolling her {vintage from my childhood} shopping cart up and down the hallway.  Even better - I've taught her to 'clean up' her toys by putting them in the shopping cart and pushing the toys back to her room.  Best Trick Ever.  For that reason alone, the M&D shopping cart might just be worth it's weight in gold.   Unless you like picking up toys all day long...
___________
Kitchen Accessory Set - $30
This 8 piece set includes a fry pan, a sauce pan and stock pot with lids, a wooden slotted spatula and wooden spoon, and an oven mitt.  Hannah is ALL about wearing oven mitts when we're cooking, and I like that the set is made of wood.  The red color might clash with some pink kitchen sets, but that might not be a big deal to you.
___________________________________

Basic Food Sets:

Food Groups - $20
WOOD  - Bread, Meat, Fruits&Veggies, and Dairy
are all featured in this 21 piece set.
___________


Dry Goods Set - $20
WOOD  - This 9-piece wooden set of dry goods includes tuna, ketchup, spaghetti, soup, sugar, crackers, salad dressing, mustard and cereal.
___________
{link}
Fridge Foods Set - $20
WOOD  - This 8-piece wooden set include orange juice, waffles, milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt, frozen vegetables and butter.
___________

Sandwich Making Set - $20
WOOD - This 16-piece set includes all the fixin's you'd need to make a sandwich and velcro to hold the pieces together.
___________
Cutting Food Set - $20

Cutting Fruit Set - $20

WOOD - These sets feature Velcro-like closures that provide a nice 'crunch' sound when they're sliced.  These sets are a great way to introduce your child to fractions - the loaf is cut in fifths, the cantaloupe is cut in fourths, the tomato in thirds, the pear in half, etc.

___________
Play-Time Produce Farm Fresh Vegetables - $20
Play-Time Produce Farm Fresh Fruit - $20

These are molded plastic and might have some questionable contents if your child mouths the toys.  The package is clearly marked 3+, so if your child is younger, you might look into a wooden alternative.
___________________________________

Specialty Food Sets:
Stir Fry Slicing Set - $20
Although this set includes a wooden spoon, knife and a large bowl which would be great additions to your kitchen, this set isn't food heavy.  However, if your family prepares stir fries often, your child might like to mimic that.
___________
Grill Set - $20
If your child loves lacing beads, 
this set would be a great addition to your playroom. 
___________
Sushi Slicing Play Set - $20
Pickled ginger and wasabi!  Swoon. 
___________________________________

Desserts:

I never realized how many dessert sets M&D carried.    For the sake of brevity (which is laughable considering how long this post already is) I'm only going to feature three sets that I might consider buying Hannah.

Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Set - $30
This set would encourage eye hand coordination, balance,
and 'Clean Up!' as we put all the pieces back in the container.  
___________
Wooden Doughnuts - $20
Six doughnuts and 12 toppings are included in this set.  I would prefer in the toppings could be used in matching games, but it appears that each topping is different.  However, there are not a many small pieces, so this might be a good set for younger children.  For these reasons, I'd rather buy the brownie or cookie sets.
___________

Wooden Bake & Serve Brownies - $20
Alternatively, I think the brownie set could be used in numerous ways.  Six brownies and 18 toppings (six each of three patterns) are included, as well as a tray, box to contain the pieces, spatula, knife, and oven mitt. This set appears to be a great deal.
___________

Slice and Bake Cookie Set - $20
12 cookies, 12 toppings, cookie sheet, spatula, knife, and oven mitt.  
Similar to the brownie set in it's usefulness and value.
___________________________________

Felt Food!

I'm a sucker for felt food.  It's cute, soft, relatively chemical free, and - perhaps most importantly - it doesn't hurt to step on when your child misses a piece during clean up.

Melissa and Doug currently carries three felt food sets:


{link}
Felt Play Food - $20
I love that it includes white and wheat bread, a pita pocket and a sub sandwich roll.
___________

Cookie Decorating Set - $20
Perfect for a pretend version of Christmas sugar cookies.
___________
Pizza Set - $20
With 42 pieces, this set might be a little much for your child to keep track of, but it would be a great set for fractions, and 'same vs different' exercises.  
___________________________________
Pinterest


All of these accessories and food sets, and MORE, 
will be included on a Pinterest board.  Just click the link below:



Monday, November 28, 2011

Maggie Gyllenhaal's Pregnancy Announcement


Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and husband Peter Sarsgaard have announced the pregnancy of their second child.

Maggie is best known for 2002's Secretary and 2008's The Dark Night.  {IMDB and Wikipedia links.}

Sarsgaard is one of those actors whose name I can't connect to his face, but when I see a picture I think 'Ohhhhh - him!'.  I know him from 2005's Jarhead and 2009's An Education.   {IMDB and Wikipedia links.}


The couple is said to be 6 months pregnant.

Their first child, daughter Ramona Sarsgaard, was born on October 3, 2006.




[Life&Style]
[Photo - Yahoo Movies]
[Photo - PopSugar]

Play Kitchen Series: Wooden Kitchen Sets

Other Posts from this Series:

Portland Craigslist is going to issue a restraining order any day now because I am literally stalking the kid's page for wooden kitchen postings.  THREE listings have already been swiped between the "yep it's still available!" email and the time I get to their doorstep.  It's amazing what moms will go through for the perfect Christmas present, and Craigslist has been beyond annoying, but that rant is for another entry.



There are numerous options for wooden play kitchens at the $150 and under price point.

However, before I list those, I want to post a picture of the Pottery Barn Kids option which, at $747 for the three pieces, is ridiculously priced, but you have to admit that it IS pretty cute.



Other cute, but overpriced, sets include two from Land of Nod:

What's Cookin' Kitchen Appliances
$478 for the two pieces

Guess Who's Pretending to Come to Dinner
$199 each piece = $597 for the three piece set
___________________________________

Okay, moving on to viable options:

Ikea Duktig Mini Kitchen
IKEA has a sleek sink/stove/oven kitchen for $99 with an optional microwave hutch for $39.   Total is $140 (I included $2 towards lingonberry soda and a hot dog, but if you want the Swedish meatballs, it might cost more).
___________________________________

Educo - My Creative Cookery Club
I wasn't familiar with Educo toys before I started research for this blog, but there is something endearing about the little set with it's green accents.

___________________________________

Melissa & Doug Wooden Corner Kitchen
I'll talk more about Melissa & Doug later this week, however, their little corner kitchen deserves a spot in today's post.   I love all the storage space, the gender neutral colors, and the fact that the sink is removable for cleaning.  Fabulous.
___________________________________


Wonderworld Eco-Friendly Cooking Center
I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of this kitchen.  I don't like the boxy faucet and chunky knobs, but after reading an Amazon review that the blue and orange accents were foam, I crossed this set completely off my list.  Hannah is in this weird gnawing phase where even her flip flops aren't safe from her teething gums.  There is no way I'm spending $150-$170 on this kitchen for it to have bite marks the next day.
___________________________________


Maxim's Enterprise Kitchen Center 
This kitchen just doesn't do it for me.  I appreciate the gender neutral colors and I like the microwave, but I'm not a huge fan of the hanging bar above the sink (I'd prefer a shelf), and I don't like the fabric curtain in the storage area.  At $100-$130, I think you can find a better option, but to each their own.
___________________________________
TreeHaus Wooden Play kitchen
This kitchen is available on overstock.com and in most Bed Bath and Beyond stores for $80-$100.  This is also the set that Chris and I purchased as back up in case craigslist doesn't come through for me.  I like the natural wood, and it doesn't look flimsy or cheap.  The down side is that I think I'd eventually like to add a fridge or pantry for extra storage, and it'd be hard to match the wood tone.
___________________________________

Kidkraft
KIDKRAFT has the market cornered on wooden kitchen sets.   They have sets in all shapes, configurations and colors, and all are at fairly reasonable prices.  My favorite though, and the one that keeps getting 'stolen' from me on craigslist is:

The Pink Retro Kitchen and Refrigerator
I like the storage space under the sink, I love the refrigerator, and frankly it looks strikingly similar to the Pottery Barn set, but costs a fraction of the price.  
___________________________________

All these sets, and MORE, have been wrangled into one spot - a pinterest board.  You can visually compare models side by side and find links to purchase them once you've found your favorite. 
Just click the pinterest link below!


___________________________________

Today's post was the first in a week-long series all about 'green-ish' play kitchens and accessories.  Tomorrow I'll be taking a look at Melissa and Doug food sets.


ShareThis

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...