SuperBaby {Review}

I Love SuperBaby!  

SUPERBABY

12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years

By Dr. Jenn Berman

Foreword by Alan Greene, MD, author of Raising Baby Green

Straight from the Publisher:

Raising a superbaby is not about creating an überbaby: a perfect, genius who will get into all the right preschools and colleges. Instead, it is about raising a child who is empathetic, resilient, and is emotionally intelligent. It is about nurturing a baby to help her reach her full potential.

The first three years of life are the most important in a child’s development: babies start forming attachments, developing a sense of self, and learning to trust. During this time, there are critical windows of opportunity that parents can take advantage of—if they know how. In SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years (Sterling / September 7, 2010 / $24.95) Dr. Jenn Berman gives parents the knowledge they need to make the most of these windows for their child’s optimal mental and emotional growth.

In each chapter of SuperBaby, Dr. Jenn focuses on one of twelve areas that greatly impact a baby’s development. These include respectful communication, responding to cues, creating security and predictability, the importance of touch, promoting language development, sign language, foreign language, the importance of play, reading, screen (tv) time, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals, and eating & nutrition. You’ll learn:

• ! Easy steps to reduce resistance and avoid tantrums
• ! The two “Qs” parents need to know about to promote language development
• ! The truth about learning toys and videos
• ! How to use play to develop key social, intellectual, and emotional skills
• ! When and how to start reading to your child
• ! The three ASL signs that will make your baby’s life easier
• ! The seven most important ingredients to avoid in your child’s food
• ! How to teach good sleep habits from the start
• ! Simple ways to reduce toxic chemical exposure at home

Dr. Jenn shares important research, her clinical experience, and her personal stories as a mother of twins. She has also included “From the Experts” sidebars from leading experts such as Dr. Harvey Karp, Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. Jane Nelson, Jim & Charles Fay, Dr. Tanya Remer-Altmann, Dr. Scott Cohen, Ruth Yaron, The Campaign for Commercial-free Childhood, The Alliance for Childhood, Healthy Child Healthy World, the Environmental Working Group, and many others. Filled with tables, lists, helpful scripts, recommended books, and resources, SuperBaby is a book you’ll refer to again and again for common sense and research-based advice on successful, real-world parenting. 

{MY REVIEW}

Seriously, this book is AMAZING... Not just amazing in lower case letters, but AMAZING in capital letters! Before BJ was born, I was never around kids much, aside from my high school students.  Sometimes, my students can act like kids (haha), but I have never really had to take care of an infant.  When I got pregnant, I was nervous because I wanted to raise my child to be an upstanding citizen, but wondered if I would do a "good" job because I have never taken care of babies.  In fact, I'm still nervous about whether the decisions I make are the right ones.  However, after reading SuperBaby, I feel a little more at ease.  

I learned some great tips in the book that I plan to try, and even if it doesn't work, it's worth a shot.  For example, I'm now set on my mom teaching BJ Japanese... Dr. Jenn says that bilinguals have higher IQ's, increased creativity, improved math ability, and more. (page 144)

She also writes about "how to avoid the eight biggest mistakes parents make" regarding communication (page 104) and the "ten rules of effective praise" (page 27).  There are so many things to think about that I think I am going to have to read this book again, but it's so worth it.  Of course, there are some things that I don't necessarily agree with, such as purchasing an organic mattress, but the things I disagreed with were just because I can't really afford to buy all organic cottons and foods. (Terrible, I know, but it's the truth.)  In reality, if I could, I would, but I can't.  So instead, I'll try to raise BJ to be the best human being he can be, and I think Dr. Jenn's book gets me off on the right track.

*EDIT*

DUH, I forgot to mention, you can purchase this book from Amazon.com. :-)

Disclaimer:

I was not paid to write this blog nor compensated in any way.  I did, however, receive a free copy of SuperBaby to review.

Safeway GC Winners + More

I'm here to announce the TWO WINNERS for the $50 Safeway Gift Card!

Congratulations goes to...

Mami2Jcn and Heather!  I will email you shortly and you will have 48 hours to respond. Congratulations!!!

I wish that I had more gift cards to giveaway so that everyone who voted for BJ could win something. :-/ Maybe some day when I'm a billionaire. Hehe. Until then... There are only two winners. Sorry!  But you still have time to enter my giveaway for the 250 DieCut Business Cards!  :-P  And you could still vote for BJ, hehe. He still hasn't won. :-( Makes me sad but he's the cutest and cuddliest boy in my heart. <3

BJ has been pretty fussy lately.  He woke up at 11:30 pm last night and stayed up crying for a good 30 minutes, then woke up 2 more times.  We don't know if it's due to constipation or  teething but something's keeping him from sleeping through the night.  At least he's a happy baby during the day... hehe. Still, though, I woke up at 6:50 this morning because I was so tired... and I'm supposed to leave for work by 7!!  I was not on time today. Haha. My students were waiting outside my room for me. WOOPS. 

Anyway, I felt like "SuperMom" on Sunday and finished all of my mommy-house chores... which means I can blog tonight! Woohoo! Giveaway and reviews coming soon. :-) Congratulations again, Mami2jcn and Heather!

Failing at Blogging... Sigh

Okay, Blogger, you can say it... I am FAILING at blogging. Seriously, though, I think of you every day. EVERY day. I miss you, too.  More than you realize.  I promise I will come back to you!  In fact, I am coming back to you TONIGHT to announce a winner for my $50 Safeway Gift Card Giveaway!  See you then.

Loooove,

Tracepoo and BJ

Hectic - First Antibiotic and Constipootion

Ugh, this week has been sooooo hectic. This past weekend, BJ got an infection in a small cut on his finger so he had to take his first antibiotic (cephalexin).  Funny part is, he really liked drinking it.  Probably because it was the pink antibiotic that tastes a little like bubble gum and he didn't drink anything that was sweet until then.  I'm glad he didn't spit it out!

Drinking the antibiotic was fine, but for some reason, he developed constipation after that and didn't poo for 2 and a half days.  Poor guy was really cranky and uncomfortable so I had to stay home from work on Monday to be with him.  Because of that, I've been playing catch-up all week at work.  Sorry I haven't been blogging much but I'll be sure to catch up over the weekend!

Still plenty of time to enter my two giveaways.  Thanks to everyone who has been entering. :-)

Happy 6 Months BJ

I know I said this yesterday but I can't believe BJ is already 6 months old!  He's been getting a lot more playful lately, which is great, but it's been harder to watch him.  Look at the predicament he got himself in to the other day:

Don't worry BJ's Grandparents who are probably reading this; He was fine.

Not saying that we never watched him before, but now we REALLY have to watch him. lol. HJ turned away for one second and BJ slid down towards the bottom of the bouncer.  I think he might be getting too big for it but he's not quite strong enough yet to sit on his own.  To make matters worse, he doesn't really like to sit in his BebePod for too long; not sure why. Maybe we should try this:

Haha, Kidding.

Seriously, though, I think he's in a transition period where the tiny infant furniture is too small for him but the toddler furniture is too big.  I'm sure he'll grow into the toddler stuff soon, considering how fast he grew into the other things.

Tomorrow is his 6 month doctor's appointment, which means SHOTS!  We'll see how it goes.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $50 Safeway Gift Card and 250 Die Cut Business Cards!!

Love you BJ!

UPrinting 250 Die Cut Business Cards {GIVEAWAY}

"Time Flying" has been a constant theme in my blog.  BJ made 6 months today, and it's been such a fast and fun ride.  Happy 6 Months to my one and only cutie, BJ!  I love him:

I'm excited to offer my readers another giveaway!  Thank you to UPrinting.com for providing this fun giveaway for 250 Die Cut Business Cards!  UPrinting is a company that prints greeting cards, calendars, brochures, and so much more.  They even have a variety of business card designs, from the original shaped business cards to a more modern card, with either rounded corners, square cards, or slim cards.  Check out all of the great designs by clicking here.  

As a side note, I will be provided with 250 Die Cut Business Cards from UPrinting for hosting this giveaway, and I am truly excited about that!  I am a little embarrassed when I have to write out my contact information on a piece of scratch paper.  Want to purchase your own business cards, or other printed products?  Check out UPrinting's Website.  

Even better, want a chance to win your own set of 250 Die Cut Business Cards?  Check it out below:

250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner

2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)

Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle

Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated       

Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides            

Limited to US residents only  18 years old and above

Here's How to Win:

Mandatory Entry:  Go to UPrinting's Website and tell me one other product you would like to create and why.  (Please make sure your e-mail address is either in the comment or in your profile.)

Extra Entries:  Leave a separate comment for each additional entry you complete:

1.  Follow my blog, A Maui Mommy, via Google Friend Connect.

2.  Like UPrinting via Facebook and say that "A Maui Mommy" sent you on their wall.

3.  Follow UPrinting via Twitter and tweet them publicly that you were sent by A Maui Mommy.  Leave the link to your twitter in the comment.

4.  Like A Maui Mommy via Facebook and say hi on the wall.

Giveaway opportunity ends on September 27, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.  

One winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail.  If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be chosen.  

Good luck, everyone!

Disclaimer:  This giveaway is open to US Residents Only. You must be 18 years old or older.  In addition, I have been provided with 250 die cut business cards for hosting this giveaway.  I was not paid or compensated in any other way.

Apparently, My Blog is Stylish

Hooray!  My blog has won an award.  Thank you to Ladii Aponte at "Through My Eyes", who awarded me with the "Stylish Blogger Award".  Thank you Ladii~!  You're AWESOME.

Okay, so... to officially accept this award, I am supposed to reveal 5 secrets about me or my blog.  Here we go:

1.  I am a high school business teacher, but that was never my dream job.

When I was young, I wanted to be an emergency room doctor and "knew" I was going to be one.  I wanted to save people's lives.  When my other friends would say they wanted to be teachers, I would laugh and say I could never do it because I wouldn't be able to control kids. Weird how things work out.  I LOVE everything about being a teacher now, and I like to think I can "control" my classroom, hehe.  I have a wonderful job, and I can honestly say I am working my dream job. :-)

2.  BJ does cry sometimes, but I highlight his smiles.

What can I say... he's a baby, right?  Yes, BJ does cry, but I'm too busy making sure he's not crying to take pictures of these moments.  I am so thankful because he actually doesn't cry that often.  In fact, I don't remember him sobbing much lately.  He's actually a really good baby.

3.  Although HJ and I are from the same island, we met in college on a different island.

Not much of a secret to my close friends and family, but yes we didn't meet until college, even though we're both from Maui.  What's even funnier is that we had mutual friends before we met, but hadn't heard of each other until that day.  It's kind of weird how it all works out.  Who would've known that when we met that day in the back of his best friend's pick up truck, seven years later we'd be married with a baby!

4.  I don't really know who reads my blog.

When I first started this blog, I sent out an e-mail to many of my friends and family linking back here.  However, not many of them are avid blog writers/readers, so they don't always comment. (Hi Family! Hi Friends!)  Therefore, I don't really know who reads my blog.  Every once in a while, someone will talk about something I mentioned here, but for the most part, I have no idea.  I would like to say hi to all of them... Shout out to all Maui/Hawaii Peeps! :-D

5.  I read everyone's blog that I follow.

Yes. You read right.  I follow everyone who follows me, plus others whom I feel write about exceptional things, and I read every one of them in my google reader.  Sometimes, it can take me an hour or two to get through all of them, but I read what everyone wrote since they took the time to write it.  I hope people will do the same for me.  Plus, I love reading blogs.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Okay, all done!  Thank you again, Ladii Aponte, for the award! 

Now it's my turn to pass on the award.  Here are five blogs that I feel are stylish and deserve the "Stylish Blogger Award".

1.  The Constant Search for More

2.  Footprints

3.  Every Mom Has Her Day

4.  Adventures of a Wee Mason Man

5.  Future Bound

Congratulations~!  Now off to eat dinner with HJ, BJ, and my parents.  Have a wonderful 3-day weekend everyone.

Hair is Growing Back

I was in a reflective mood today and decided to look at BJ's pictures from when he was born.  My focus immediately went to the change in BJ's hair. You see... when was first born, HJ and I were happy because BJ had so much hair and it was really long.

Then, for some reason or another, we noticed that he started to go bald.  I realize the phrase "going bald" connotes an image of an old man, but hair-wise, he got pretty close to an older gentleman's head.

I think it's finally starting to grow back now that he's almost six months old.  It took a while.... Some babies that were born around when BJ was born have a FULL head of hair.  Although BJ looked cute as a baldy, I'm ready for him to start getting a full head of hair, too.  However, that would mean extra money spent on hair cuts... hmm. Now I don't know what's better. Haha.

Did you guys remember to sign up for my giveaway?  If not, click here. :-)