Ruby Raven Reynolds Makes Guest Appearance On Good Day LA

Yesterday marked the end of, Good Day LA’s co-host, Jillian Barberie’s maternity leave.

She gave birth to her first baby, Ruby Raven Reynolds at the beginning of July and headed back to work yesterday probably to coincide with the beginning of the NFL season and new school year.

As a surprise to the new mommy, her co-workers sent a camera crew to her house so that she could see how hubby Grant and Ruby were doing.

The newborn is very laid back. She sat sedated in her dad’s arms the whole time, not even cracking a smile for the camera. They tried to get her to smile, but gave up enventually after many tries.

Jillian has a nick name for her already, calling her ‘cookie puss’, when she appeared on the screen.

The new mom is still breastfeeding, commenting that there was a bottle of freshly pumped milk in the fridge and telling the baby not to say hi because it would start her milk flowing.

Yesterday before Jillian hosted the beginning of the NFL season, Ruby was a little thrown off by seeing her all glammed. She has spent the last 3 months with no hair extensions in and no makeup on and that’s what her daughter has come to know as her mom.

The newborn was a hit with the other newscasters so I would be willing to bet this will not be her last time on the show.

To see the whole video please visit the Good Day La’s site.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck Talks About Pregnancy Weight Issues

Elizabeth glowed with her protruding belly backstage at the Snoopy Fashion Show. The girls on The View spoke about Britney Spears post pregnancy body and pregnancy weight in general.

I have voiced my opinion on this subject many times in the last few weeks, stating that a woman should take care of the baby first and her shape second.

Elizabeth spoke about a personal experience she had while doing photos for a shoot.

“Don’t worry, they will probably airbrush your arms so they don’t look so big. Make sure you stand sideways so that people know you are pregnant in all photos so that you don’t look like you have gotten..uh fat.”

I believe that someone would tell her this because when a pregnant celebrity does a press shoot for anything, they always do the obligatory side shot to show that they are pregnant.

Is is the public that wants women to return to their original size so quickly or the Film and Television Industry? For the record – Britney looks good for a mom of two. The outfit was probably more appropriate for a performance earlier in her career, but no one should criticize her for coming out and being what most wanted her to be.

PHOTOCREDIT:B. Raglin/WIREIMAGE.COM

3D Animation of Natural Childbirth

This video demonstrates how the baby is delivered naturally. The 3D is done very well and I think it shows what is happening accurately.

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Fetal Development Video

Dream Screen by Lamaze

When you are looking for a crib toy for your infant, it is important to find something that will grow with them.

The Lamaze Dream Screen is perfect for calming your baby into a restful sleep and it is recommended for birth – 18 months.

The captivating dual motion screen plays soft music when activated by you or your baby.

I like that you can customize music for baby by connecting your MP3 Player to the Dream Screen. I wish this feature was offered on more products.

Nothings worst than loving a toy for your child, but having to put up with the cheesy music can sometimes be tiring.

This great toy comes in the classic version and the Winnie the Pooh version as well.

I would be interested in hearing from any parents who have the Dream Screen for their baby.

Please leave a review in the comments section.

$39.99 at most retailers

Brain Damaged Baby Becomes Neuroscientist

When Caitlin McOmish contracted mumps as a baby, her parents were told their daughter had irreversible brain damage and would never lead a normal life.

Twenty-seven years later, Dr Caitlin McOmish has completed a PhD and become a promising neuroscientist, whose recently published research examines physical and mental stimulation on the brain.

Not only is she leading a richly fulfilling life, she is giving something back.

Caitlin had been a perfectly normal baby until 13 months of age, when she contracted mumps from her older sister Elsbeth and then developed meningitis.

“She was critically ill for at least five days and her life was very definitely hanging in the balance,” Mr McOmish said.

“She lost the ability to walk, she lost the ability to talk, and to cuddle her was like holding a bag of rice. She seemed to be completely unresponsive.”

Caitlin McOmish suffered brain damage and was diagnosed with epilepsy.

For the next two years, she either screamed inconsolably for hours on end from headaches or would blank out, frozen in what are called absent seizures.

At times she had 30 seizures a day.

Caitlin was placed on medication but her parents were told she would never be normal and there was little they could do.

They refused to accept the prognosis. So they invented an intense physical and mental exercise program to try to heal her brain, beginning with daily swimming lessons, gross motor exercises and listening to classical music.

They sent her to a bilingual school, where many of her lessons were in french.

Her seizures gradually reduced. In fact, she has not had one in 5 years and no longer takes medication.

Dr Tony Hannan, who heads the Howard Florey laboratory, says Dr McOmish’s recovery fits with what his team is discovering about the difference environmental enrichment has on brain disorders.

“I think her personal story is extraordinary and I think she personally illustrates this extraordinary plasticity of the brain,” he said.

“The brain has this innate capacity to repair itself, so if you give these mice increased mental and physical activity, there are particular areas in the brain where there’s a boost in the production of brain cells.

The human brain is SO amazing. I hope this story shows parents that hard work can pay off – regardless of what you have been told. We wish Dr. McOmish well. She will be an inspiration to many for years to come.

SOURCE

No Love In Germany

Germany’s birth rate is sinking despite many years of tax breaks for parents and plans to expand kindergartens to help working parents, statistics released Monday show. Last year’s tally of live births in the nation of 80 million was 672,700, a drop from the previous year by 13,100, the Federal Statistics Office said in Wiesbaden. The total fertility rate of a German woman alive today was calculated at 1.33.

That is the average number of children that would be born to a woman between ages 15 and 49 if she followed the current behaviour in that age group. The rate declined from 1.34 last year.

The German government has voiced concern over the low birth rate, but opinion remains divided in Germany about how to encourage more births or if it is even possible to alter the birth rate by any government policy.

Germany has a long-standing tax rebate for children and education is free. The government has agreed to expand kindergarten provision, which would help families where both parents work.

Maybe they should speak to the Russian region of Ulyanovsk. They have declared Sept. 12 “The Day Of Conception,” and anyone in the region who has a child exactly nine months later will win money, cars and other prizes.

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