Weekly Link Roundup: 8/29/2008

This weeks Link Roundup for August 29th, 2008 contains info about recalls, SIDS, handling unsolicited advice and kids diving injuries. Enjoy!

• Recall Buzz: Tracking Recalls so you don’t have to
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: New Clue
• Beware the Know It Alls: How to Handle Unsolicited Baby Advice
• Kids’ Diving Injuries Top 6,500 Yearly
  

And Then She Smiled

During the first few weeks we brought LG (little girl) home, she pretty much just slept, ate and pooped. To be honest, she wasn’t alone in that routine, it’s really all we had time for as well.

As we approached 2 or 3 weeks, she was a lot more alert and awake. It was during that time that we noticed a little smile every now and again. It was just a little crack of a smile, but our pediatrician and parents alike played the part of Major Buzzkill and told us it was “likely just gas”.

We move forward a couple of weeks and the smile became more noticeable (and less gas powered). It was the funniest, cutest and one of the most rewarding moments as new parents. But the smiling sessions were brief  and on her terms, we could not induce them.

Well, times have certainly changed. We are at the 12-week mark now and I don’t think a waking hour goes by where she doesn’t crack at least one smile. And the smiling bouts are usually coupled with belly laughs and squealing; It’s pretty amazing.

Photo Credit: ntr23

Weekly Link Roundup: 8/22/2008

This weeks Link Roundup for August 22nd, 2008 contains info about smiling babies, gummy bears, sleep apnea and a link between dogs and snoring. Enjoy!

• Baby’s Smile a Natural High for Mom
• Enhanced Gummy Bears Fight Cavities
• Sleep Apnea May Be Deadly
• Kids With Dogs May Become Snorers

Weekly Link Roundup: 8/15/2008

This weeks Link Roundup for August 15th, 2008 contains info about: Viagra, healthy grilling, fast food and your child’s weight and a great list of How-To Videos from Lifehacker.com. Enjoy!

• Watermelon: A Natural Viagra?
• Marinate Meat for Healthy Grilling?
• Healthy Fast Food for Kids a Tall Order?
• How to keep youth at a healthy weight
• Top 10 How To Videos

The Love Scale is out of Balance

I was inspired to write this short post after reading a great article at Building Camelot by Tyler titled “How Becoming A Father Will Make You A Better Man”.

I was reminded of a conversation I had with my mother-in-law in the weeks after our daughter was born. She asked if I have a better appreciation for my own parents now that I am a Dad. I agreed with her completely but it made me think of the balance of love between parent and child.

The part that had me inspired to write was this:

You Will Learn What True Love Is

I’m convinced that anyone without children doesn’t have an idea of what true love really is…not that there isn’t a desire to know or that you’re capable of knowing true love, but it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to see your own heart, living and growing outside of your body every day. When you see your children grow up and learn even the smallest of things, it melts your heart. And just when you think you can’t love them anymore, they come running up to you with a little card or painting they made for you and you can actually feel your heart growing inside your chest. It’s an amazing feeling and one that you can’t appreciate until you become a father.

True love is at the core of being a good father and a better man. It drives you to make better decisions for yourself and for your family. True love becomes the foundation for building your own modern day Camelot. The true love you have for your children will create a passion for improving your career, friendships, relationships and your overall well being. It’s amazing the effect of true love will do to even the toughest of hearts.

I think the “Love Scale” is tipped dramatically towards the love the parent has for his or her child. It’s not that the child (whether the child is a newborn or middle-aged) is unwilling to love the parent absolutely; I just think the child is incapable of doing so.

It wasn’t until we had our first child that I realized how much you could love another human being. Don’t get me wrong, the love is certainly not a one-way street from parent to child; I think the child loves the parent as much as they know how. They just can’t fully understand the love their parents have for them until it is time to love their own child.

Would you agree or disagree? Let us know what you think!

Photo Credit: neurmadic aesthetic

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