Smart Mommy

Kendrick got this puzzle back in August, as a birthday gift. He wasn’t able to spend much time solving it back then since we were staying at a friends house and there’s not much space in the bedroom.Then,three or two weeks ago, he started taking it out of the box and spread it all over our bedroom floor.He spent every afternoon, after school putting each pieces one by one,but he did it without any pressure, he will stop whenever he feels like,then work again if he wanted too. Then last night, finally he put the last piece and he was so proud of himself because he finished the whole puzzle all by himself, without any help from his big brother and cousins.

Solving this puzzle showed a lot about his personality, how much patient and goal oriented he is and his focus is surely undeniable.I’m so proud of him and guess what,he’s asking me to buy him an apple ipod shuffle as a prize,in which I replied, he need to accomplish something more than the puzzle before I get him that, lol!

When you find out you’re pregnant, your world changes. Suddenly, everything you do, eat or plan carries with it the concern for how it will affect your child. You’ll learn about ways to help protect your baby’s health with things such as folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects, prenatal tests to look for fetal complications and cord blood banking, that willstore your newborn’s cord blood,as a medical resource for your family and can be usedto potentially treat life-threatening diseases down the road. However, one of the best ways to have a healthy baby is to keep you healthy. Here are tips:

Diet
It’s true you’ll be eating for two, but that it doesn’t mean double your caloric intake and eat whatever you want. Instead, use your pregnancy as a time to focus on your nutrition Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? Is your diet light on fat and high on whole grains? Make sure you get enough iron so you don’t become anemic. Keep your bones strong by drinking milk and eating calcium-rich foods. Limit refined sugars to avoid the potential for gestational diabetes.

Exercise
If you’ve always been a fitness fan, keep up the good work and stay active, just be sure to ask your doctor about modifications you should make to your routine. If you don’t usually exercise, now is the time to begin. Start with something easy and that is considered low-impact, such as walking or swimming. Exercising will increase muscle tone, build your stamina and begin a habit you can continue after childbirth.

Hydration
Drinking plenty of water is important whether you are pregnant or not. It helps regulate your digestive system and keeps you hydrated. Water is also much healthier than alternatives such as sodas or teas, which can be high in sugar, caffeine, or other chemicals. These drinks can actually cause dehydration and shouldn’t be counted in your daily fluid intake. Tracking your daily intake can help ensure you’re getting enough H2O for you and baby.

Sleep
Make sure you get about eight hours of sleep a night. Good sleep fosters good health; it allows your body to rejuvenate for the next day. Make a habit of going to bed around the same time every night so you wake up rested. While pregnant, lie on your side to keep the baby’s weight from putting pressure on your back or blood vessels in your legs.

Overall health
Keeping yourself healthy not only promotes your own health, it can prevent certain complications for your baby and promote a healthy delivery and success in the first days of your child’s life. According to theNational Institutes of Health, a healthy weight, diet, exercise regime and other lifestyle decisions help both the mother and fetus.

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This article was written by Alan Cassidy, an active writer within the blogging community covering maternity and childbirth, and always advocating for infant and children’s health. Connect with him on Twitter @ACassidy22