Rice Sock A rice sock is very simple and just what it sounds like, it’s a sock filled with plain rice. The rice sock is heated in the microwave and becomes a really great heating pad. In labor it can be used on your back, aching muscles in your arms or legs, to warm you up, or even to help with some pubic bone pain as that baby is coming down into your pelvis....

While it’s true that much of the food that you eat does travel into your breast milk, you don’t need to eat dairy-free unless your baby has a diagnosed milk protein allergy and your doctor advises you to abstain. In fact, even if your baby does have a milk allergy, you may not need to skip eating dairy. Essentially, most babies will not react to any of the foods in their mother’s diet, occasionally, some will....

Even if you don’t live in an area considered high-risk for earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters, it’s good to explore the possibility of getting even minimal insurance, just in case. Check to see exactly what coverage you have, and talk to your agent about what you may need to get and how much it will cost. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program for communities that have adopted and enforced flood plain management ordinances....

As soon as you are officially dating or can find an appropriate moment to mention it, you should get it out into the open. You don’t want to get involved with a man who has negative feelings about children. All men will have some reaction that may seem a bit odd, but that is not the same as having them say they hate rugrats and would never have them in their home....

If both you and your partner eventually want to get back to full-time work, you will be able to do so sooner. If you make it through the first few years, your kids are more likely to have a close relationship, playing and sharing with each other. You may suffer from morning sickness during the period when your toddler or pre-toddler becomes very clingy. You will have two babies at the same time, which means double the diapers and balancing a child on each hip....

Numbers and Counting Recognize and write numbers (anywhere from 0-10 to 0-30)Name ordinal numbers first through tenthShow sequencing to 20Demonstrate 1 to 1 correspondence to 20 by pointing to each object as it is countedCount to 10 by 2’sCount to 100 by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’sCount backward from 10 Sorting and Classifying Create sets and sometimes label them with the correct numeralJoin and separate sets of objects into equal groups and/or into sets of 0-10 or 0-20 (sometimes also asked to label sets with correct numeral)Sort and classify objects using one or more attributes such as position, shape, size, color, the number of corners, etc....

To succeed in school and in life, literacy is necessary. It’s no wonder, then, that so many parents work hard to ensure that their children learn to read as soon as possible. Some parents buy phonics DVDs and flash cards and start teaching their kids to read almost from the day they bring them home from the hospital as newborns. Learn to distinguish when early reading is a sign of giftedness or just the work of diligent parents....

But the language thing – surely that couldn’t be my fault? I talked to him all the time, repeated back his babbling sounds, did everything parents are supposed to do to encourage language development. And still he wasn’t talking. Was I a bad mother, or was there something seriously wrong with him? I wasn’t even sure which one I was rooting for. I just wished he’d start acting normal. The Pediatrician Gets Involved I remember Andrew’s two-year checkup, because it was the first time his delayed language came up as an issue....

Clomid was once the first-line choice for treating infertility associated with PCOS. But studies show that letrozole may offer significantly higher rates of pregnancy in people with PCOS. Other research suggests that in some cases, a combination of Clomid and letrozole is effective, at least for inducing ovulation. But the study was small and did not evaluate live birth rates. Femara is also commonly used in cases of Clomid resistance....

The Weeks Leading Up to the Holidays It can take time to make new friends and form a sense of community when you move to a new place, but it can be especially difficult during the holiday season. Luckily, having children can also be the key to meeting new people quickly, and as they jump into new activities and sports, your family is also immersed in a ready-made community as well....

For example, if my daughter is thirsty she doesn’t truck out to the well, she turns the tap. (Actually she heads to the fridge for a cold soda but that’s a different issue ;-) When my son wants to chuck uneaten lima beans, he doesn’t bury ’em in the back yard (they might grow more), he sneaks them into the trash. End of story. At least as far as he’s concerned....

Effort: Easy - no sewing required Materials: Black top hat White shirt Black bow tie Black pants (male) Black skirt (female) White gloves Black cape Magic wand Deck of cards Stuffed white rabbit (like Beanie Baby, etc.) Tips: You can get a black hat at any costume store, or make one out of construction paper. You can also roll up a piece of black construction paper the short way and tape it to make the wand....

15 to 20 minutes Materials Small jarsBowlsCoins Directions Extensions Begin again with larger items and try to predict when the overflow will take place.Fill two identical jars to the same level and compare the results of putting in a large item in one and small items in the other.

Making mudcloth is an age-old African art form. Now your kids can add a new twist to this ancient craft.Materials Needed: · 1/2 cup brown tempera paint· 1/2 cup blue tempera paint· 1 cup dirt· Old mixing bowl· Old spoon· Strainer· Newspaper· A piece of white cloth· PaintbrushWhat to do:Step One: Begin by “cleaning” your dirt. Put the dirt into the strainer. Run water over the strainer and sift the mud into the mixing bowl....

Here’s a simple recipe for an edible salt dough: Add two cups of salt to two and a half cups of boiling water, then stir the liquid into four cups of flour in a big bowl. Knead on a floured board, shape, and bake for two to three hours in a 250-degree oven. Check often after two hours and bake until just slightly golden. Cool thoroughly, then paint with acrylic paints....