...that is what little boys are made of! hint hint...
Yep, that is right, we are having a boy! Both Mike and I had the feeling that it was going to be a boy and amazingly, we were right!
Although I didn't have a preference either way, now that I know, I am SO excited! It seems even more real now! Life has been so hectic since we found out that I haven't even had a chance to buy my first 'boy' item. It seems like it should be something special, something very 'boy-ish'... maybe a pet frog or a dump truck.
June 23, 2009 - Clackamas, OR - As women become more concerned about the ingredients in the personal care products they use while pregnant, and on their children, Earth Mama Angel Baby has set a new standard for truly toxin-free, natural products. All Earth Mama Angel Baby products are now rated a "zero" on the Skin Deep database (www.cosmeticdatabase.com), a guide to cosmetics and personal care products from the Environmental Working Group. (Earth Mama Angel Baby's USDA Certified 100% Organic line of teas is not listed in the Skin Deep database, which is only for personal care items. The teas are regulated by the USDA.)
"We know of no other company that manufactures products for pregnancy or baby care with an entire product line rated a zero," said Melinda Olson, CEO and Founder of Earth Mama Angel Baby. "We continually source new raw materials and work on formulations of products that can replace current ingredients with newer, safer ingredients as they become available," she added.
Olson explains that science and chemistry have only begun to catch up with the demand for toxin-free products. Because ingredients that preserve and emulsify the products are necessary to prevent bacteria and mold growth, finding safe, organic raw materials that solve these issues is a constant challenge.
"Preserving products for shelf-life is obviously necessary, and we are not satisfied unless the chemistry used is as safe as possible," she explains. "In some cases, certified organic ingredients are just not available, so we change our formulations as they become available, or as better alternatives are found."
"I'm proud to have come this far," said Olson. "It has been a long process, but we will continue to keep sourcing and working with the best new materials available, and our goal is a 100% certified organic product line, certified to the highest standard now available, the USDA NOP."
Earth Mama Angel Baby is currently working in tandem with the Organic Trade Association and the American Herbal Products Association to create a version of the NOP standards appropriate for personal care products. The USDA NOP was developed to certify organic food, making some personal care products impossible to certify with this standard.
A Gold Member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and one of the earliest signers, Earth Mama Angel Baby is fully compliant with all phases of the compact, which include registration of all applicable products in the Skin Deep database with detailed ingredient information. Users who search the database can find independent ratings on the ingredients used in products of both compact signers and non-signers as well as see the status of companies as compliant or non-compliant with the Campaign's standards.
To use the database, simply go to www.cosmeticdatabase.com and type in the type of product you wish to search, or a company name. Searches and information are free.
About Earth Mama Angel Baby®:
Earth Mama Angel Baby was founded by nurse, herbalist, and concerned mother Melinda Olson. Her mission is to treat the common symptoms of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care with pure, safe herbal remedies. Her knowledge of traditional herb medicine combines with evidence based research to help soothe and comfort mamas and babies naturally. All Earth Mama Angel Baby® products and teas are formulated without harsh chemicals, toxins or preservatives, and have the best safety ratings in the exceptional Skin Deep toxicity database. Proudly pure, Earth Mama Angel Baby® products are made only with worry-free ingredients: no 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde, phthalates, or toxins of any kind. That's Mama's PromiseTM.
Contact: Sheri Wallace, prmama@earthmamaangelbaby.com for interviews, photos or samples.
9866 SE Empire Court
Clackamas, OR 97015
503-607-0607
I am really excited about one of my newest purchases that I just received in the mail yesterday!
I bought these adorable toothfairy pillows - shaped like a tooth and have a tooth pocket in the back - from a new etsy store called "Skiptomylue".
The pictures really don't do them justice but you still get an idea of how cute they are. I knew that K-man would love the baseball pillow and the owner, Danielle Lue, let me pick out the fabric for V-girl's pillow.
No more plastic ziplock bags for my kids, they now have a special pillow! I wonder if that will impress the tooth fairy? I think it is a pretty good possibility!
There are a lot of other great items in her shop, like these adorable bibs and burpies:
Only 1.5 weeks more and I find out what we are having! These are already on my list!
Thanks Danielle, I love my pillows! http://www.skiptomylue.etsy.com
Sadly, I can not take credit for the great treat idea I used for City of Ember. All credit goes to Heather Ann Melzer.
Since food is scarce in the City of Ember, they eat out of the cans the food comes in. Since kids are rarely excited about green beans, I emptied out the cans and filled them with ice cream sundaes.
The treats were a big hit! I think Mike and I liked the movie more than the kids but they still seemed to enjoy it. I am not sure if they were a little young or if maybe they just prefer gross, gas humor. :)
Although we saw Bedtime Stories in the theater, the kids wanted to do a movie night at home. It was kind of an impromptu decision - we were sitting there Monday (Memorial Day) evening and K-man said, "I thought we were going to do a movie night". We made a mad dash to the video store and the convenience store and were lucky that I was able to find treats.
Based on this scene, we knew that gumballs were a must!
Luckily, I was also able to find "s'more" moon pies to go along with the scene where they camp out on the balcony and make s'mores.
Glass baby bottles are making a big comeback. They are the safest option for your baby as they do not contain chemicals (no BPA or any other dangerous chemicals that have been or are yet to be discovered). Glass bottles are easy to clean and sterilize. They retain their heat longer than plastic and last longer. And if that wasn't enough, glass bottles are environmentally friendly and can be recycled.
The biggest complaint about glass bottles is that they are heavy and are breakable. Which is true, but glass bottles have come a long way. All of the glass baby bottle options below come with a protective sleeve. Most of the sleeves are silicone (1 is thermal) and all of the sleeves help protect your baby, the bottle and your floors.
Here are some different choices for Glass bottles:
BornFree Glass Bottles come in 5 oz and 9oz sizes and offer a silicone sleeve. According to their website, "with the new innovative air vent that helps eliminate colic symptoms". These are the same great bottles BornFree has been known for making for years but now in glass.
Wee*go Glass Baby Bottles are 9 oz bottles that come in the colors seen above. They offer a silicone sleeve and all parts of the bottle are "food grade, FDA approved and recyclable."
Munchkin: Mighty Grip Glass Bottles are available in 4 oz or 8 oz sizes and in pink, green or blue. According to the Munchkin website, "made with sturdy, natural glass for worry-free feeding, Munchkin's bottles include sleek lines, easy-to-grip sides and a vented nipple system that helps prevent gas and colic." The silcone sleeves are sold separately and also available on the Munchkin website.
Evenflow Glass Baby Bottles available in 4 oz and 8 oz size and in a variety of colors. Another bottle standard that has been proven for years but now available in glass!
Sweet Pea Glass Baby Bottles are offered in 5 oz and9 oz with a variety of colored covers. Both safe and stylish!
Skiliskin Glass Baby Bottles an 8oz bottle available in aqua, pink, gray and white.
Coddletime Borosilicate Glass Baby Bottles are available in 9 oz and come green or oranage. "Our signature nipple is wide, soft, stretchy, and easier for baby to latch onto. It mimics breastfeeding action, and prevents nipple confusions".
Momo Glass (quartz) Baby Bottles are available in 4 oz, 5 oz and 8 oz sizes. With every 3 pack of bottles you buy, you get one thermal cover.
Medela also offers a version of their baby bottle in glass. Unfortunately though, for now, they do not offer any type of protective sleeve.
For more information on the chemicals found in many plastic baby bottles, check out this report.
Although I plan on breastfeeding my babies there are times when breastfeeding is not an option. It is so nice that there are such great choices out there now.
