Kate Gosselin Talks Parenthood in Cookie Magazine

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Kate Gosselin, the head of TLC’s popular Mega Family, talks to Cookie Magazine about parenthood and raising 8 children.

According to Kate, lots of rules and routines makes being a mom to a set of twins and a set of sextuplets easier.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q: What about your children makes you laugh?

A: I laugh at them all the time. They are just so cute that I can’t help it!

Q: What is your favorite family ritual?

A: I feel most happy when we are getting ready for church on Sunday mornings. It is a ritual that works and goes smoothly—for the most part—and I love when our routines are down to a science.

Q: What parenting issue do you and your partner disagree most about?

A: How to make the punishment fit the crime.

Q: What is your parenting role: good cop or bad cop?

A: Neither of us are bad cops, but if you are asking who is firmest, that would be me.

Q: What do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about?

A: How much I miss my kids and wish I had endless hours with each one.

Q: What do you wish you had done before you had children?

A: Slept more!

Q: What is a typical Saturday morning in your house like?

A: We all sleep late—or at least play quietly, right, Alexis? And then we have Mommy’s homemade pancakes or waffles around 9:30. After we eat, I clean up and we play and laze around. That is, if our busy schedule allows for that luxury.

Kates:

• …guiltiest pleasure?
  I treat myself to a spa treatment every month—but wish it could be weekly!
• …ideal getaway?
  Hawaii. With the kids, without the kids … I don’t care. It’s paradise!
• …favorite clothing item?
  Anything summer wardrobe and anything that makes me look thin.
• …current reading material?
  The Bible and a book on how to be the best mommy I can be—but I can’t remember the title, sorry.

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Marisol Nichols Welcomes Baby Girl

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Congratulations to 24’s Marisol Nichols and her husband, director Taron Lexton, on the safe arrival of their first child.

Rain India Lexton arrived this morning at 2:18 a.m.

“We are all doing great,” the new parents said. “She is beautiful and gorgeous and more amazing than we ever imagined.”

PHOTOCREDIT: Michael Doven VIA PEOPLE.COM

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Pregnant Mom Gets Married While In Labor

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Even though the baby was on its way, a pregnant bride fought labor pains, got married and even attended some of her wedding reception before giving birth.

Emma Lowdon’s contractions began as she tied the knot with her partner Sean Allum, 35, but she was determined to finish the service.

The 36-year-old squeezed some time in at the wedding reception before being rushed to a hospital delivery room.

Baby Josh arrive five weeks prematurely weighing 5 pounds, less than 24 hours after his parents’ wedding in Ashington, Northumberland, England.

Hospital staff renamed the maternity room the Honeymoon Suite just for the occasion.

The new mom told the Newcastle-based The Journal,

“We did consider canceling the wedding after my water broke on Tuesday, but I was absolutely determined that I would be married and I would be Mrs Allum before the baby came.”

SOURCE

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Study Reveals Why Smokers’ Babies at Greater Risk of SIDS

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As we have reported on many occasions, babies of smoking moms are more likely to be born prematurely and have low birth weight, grow slower, and be at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

When babies are born too soon, their lungs aren’t as developed as full-term babies (born 38 to 42 weeks after the mother’s last menstrual period, or LMP). So preemies’ lungs often don’t function as well and they’re more likely to have breathing problems.

Looking at the oxygen levels of premature babies born between 28 to 36 weeks (both those of smoking and non-smoking moms), researchers found that the infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a hard time coping when their oxygen levels dropped – their heart rates rose and they had pauses in breathing that lasted longer and were harder to recover from.

This, say the researchers, may offer insights into why babies born to smoking moms are at greater risk of SIDS.

Even though the Back to Sleep campaign has reduced SIDS by 50%, it still remains the leading cause of death in babies 1 month to 1 year old, and still claims the lives of about 2,500 US infants each year, usually between 2 and 4 months old.

To help reduce the risk of SIDS for babies of all ages, make sure everyone who takes care of your little one – in and out of your home – follows these extremely important safety precautions:

• Unless your doctor says otherwise, always place your baby to sleep on the back – never on the belly or the side. Doctors now know that putting babies to sleep on their sides also puts them in danger of SIDS because of the risk that they’ll roll onto their bellies. (But it’s perfectly normal and OK for older infants, usually around 4 to 7 months, to roll onto their sides or bellies by themselves as they sleep.)
• Lay your baby down on the back on a firm mattress in a crib or bassinet – never on a pillow, waterbed, sheepskin, or other soft surface that your baby’s face can sink into.
• Never put your baby to bed with blankets, comforters, quilts, pillows, or plush toys.
• Don’t put your baby to sleep in your bed. Instead, keep the crib or bassinet in the room where you’re sleeping. You can bring your infant to your bed for nursing or comforting, but return your baby to the crib or bassinet to sleep.
• NEVER let anyone smoke around your baby both during pregnancy and after your baby is born.
• Consider putting your baby to sleep sucking on a pacifier.
• Breastfeed, if possible.
• Keep the room temperature comfortable and don’t over bundle your baby.
• Get early and regular prenatal care during your pregnancy and make sure your baby gets regular checkups throughout infancy.

SOURCE

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Kids Kustoms Pimps Your Trike!

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Kid Kustoms introduced the coolest tricycle in Vegas this year.

The company, who is known for its head turning stroller, upped the ante by offering the worlds first trike conversion kit.

The Trike is available both as a stand alone piece, and as a conversion kit that replaces the front end of the Roddler with a simple 2 bolt application. Crafted from the finest materials available and certain to become a family heirloom, the trike features a host of accessories they will save their allowance for. From interchangeable fenders with functioning brake lights, to custom pedals, headlights, exhausts tips and grips, you can make sure no two trikes are alike.

Price:

• Trike $1200
• Trike Conversion Kit $500

I am in love with this design.

Pansies need not apply – this trike was clearly designed with Bad Ass Toddlers in mind!

More information will be available on Kid Kustom’s official website soon.

SOURCE

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Norwegian Princess Welcomes Baby Girl!

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Norway’s Princess Martha Louise gave birth at home to a baby girl on Monday, to be named Emma Tallulah Behn, the royal palace announced.

Martha and her husband Ari Behn already have two daughters, Maud Angelica born in 2003 and Leah Isadora born in 2005.

“The birth took place in the couple’s home,” the palace said in a statement, adding that the mother and baby were both well.

Martha Louise, age 37, is the daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja and fourth in line to the throne after her younger brother Crown Prince Haakon and his two children.

SOURCE

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Constance Marie Arrives at Yes! On Prop 2 Party

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An expectant Constance Marie Arrives at Yes! On Prop 2 Party.

The former George Lopez star, 43, and her fiance, yoga teacher Kent Katich, recently told US Magazine.com exclusively that they are expecting a baby girl in February.

“I am feeling good now,” the five-months pregnant actress tells Us. “But the beginning was rough! Instead of ‘morning sickness,’ they should call it ‘all day sickness!'”

PHOTOCREDIT:Granitz/WIREIMAGE.COM

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Jim and Michelle Duggar Expecting a Girl!

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The Duggar family revealed today that the newest member of the family, expected on New Years Day, will be a girl!

“This will give us 10 boys and eight girls,” her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, confirmed Monday to TODAY’s Ann Curry.

Actually, it will be just nine boys to eight girls in the family’s Arkansas home. The family’s eldest son, 20-year-old Joshua, was just married to Anna Keller, also 20, over the weekend at the Buford Grove Baptist Church in Hilliard, Fla. The family gathered in the church parking lot to bring Curry up to date on the wedding and to talk about tonight’s debut of the Duggars’ new reality show, “17 Kids and Counting.”

On Mother’s Day, Michelle revealed to her surprised family that she was pregnant again, just nine months after giving birth to the 17th Duggar child, Jennifer.During today’s interview Ann Curry noted that the family is very traditional, even old-fashioned. Yet, they are the stars of their own reality series on TLC, a very modern form of popular entertainment.

“We’re just a big family. We want everybody to know that we can have a fun time even though we’ve got a large family,” Jim Bob said. “We love going places together, doing things together. Some of the [TLC] shows will talk about our trip to the TODAY show and how much fun our big family had in New York City.”“We just want to encourage families to hang in there and realize children are a gift from God,” Michelle added, saying their goal is “to just encourage families to have fun and enjoy life and to love the Lord.”

The next big Duggar decision is coming up is what to name the new baby when she arrives. It’s a given that her name will begin with a J, and Joshua, John-David, Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah and Jennifer are already taken.

“My dad wants Julie Grace,” young Josiah reported. “I think Jessie’s a lot better.”

Michelle suggested the family would have to put the issue to a vote. Michelle Duggar is 42. She has two sets of twins and has been pregnant for 12 years of her life. When asked if the couple would like more kids, Michelle replied,

“We would love more. We really believe that each child is a gift from God. We would love to receive more gifts if the Lord sees fit. I guess we’ll just wait and see.”

Related Articles:

• The Duggars To Star in 17 KIDS AND COUNTING
• Michelle Duggar Talks Pregnancy Cravings
• Michelle Duggar Expecting Her 18th Baby
• Duggar Family Buys A Tour Bus

SOURCE

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Giveaway: Teutonia Handmuff

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Teutonia, the German stroller company, launched their fully customizable stroller into the North American market a few months ago.

Teutonia offers parents the choice of stroller chasis, wheels, seat preference and some of the coolest accessories.

One of my favorite accessories is the Handmuff. Moms who live in a cold winter climate will appreciate the greatness of this muff.

Your hands will love to be buried in the two-sided, fleece-lined t-handmuff with weatherproof shell. It snaps right onto the handle of every teutonia stroller chassis, ensuring warm, dry hands for mom, dad or whoever is pushing.

The machine-washable handmuff comes in black only.

While this accessory was created for Teutonia strollers, it also fits onto most strollers that have rounded stroller handle.

GIVEAWAY: We are offering one Growing Your Baby Readers the chance to win a Teutonia Handmuff.

To enter our giveaway please e-mail us at giveaways@growingyourbaby.com , with the subject ‘Teutonia’.

Giveaway closes Friday September 26th, 2008

Giveaway Rules

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Hollywood Moms Attend March Of Dimes “Celebration of Babies”

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Yesterday celebrity moms attended “Celebration of Babies“at The Beverly Hilton in support of The March Of Dimes.

The Charity luncheon recognized “celebrities and prominent individuals who are celebrating the birth of their children and who are role models for the March of Dimes Commitment to love and hope of babies.”