Betina and I went to a baby shower this weekend that my daughter Tara gave for a girl she knows who is young and unwed, quite the norm these days. But I am not one to talk, I was 16 and with child back in 1976. The difference is now it is normal and there is even a show on t.v. about it, more than one come to think about it. If only they had had a show back then, I would have told my story. Come to think of it they have. It's called that 70's Show.



Anyway back to the baby shower. I can't believe all the new "necessities" there are these days. If only they had had them when I was having children. I'm joking really. I don't see how anyone even survived infancy and childhood with out all these gadgets. Things to keep baby on it's side, baby monitors. sterilizers ect. I mean how is it that my kids without all those accessories survived. Was it just luck? Again just joking. While I think most of it is over the top there are products out there that I really do appreciate. Disposable diapers for one. Most of the time with my first child I couldn't afford them there for a gift card for diapers is my standard gift. I would like to see them made out of something easily decomposed though. And baby wipes, man do I like them...If memory serves they came after diapers and I loved them because I gag very easily. Diapers have come a long way too. The power to absorb nowadays is nothing short of amazing! And for me it's great because if at all possible I try to get my grand kids to wait until the parent or parents return. I suspect and have caught them encouraging their children to do the do do while at Granny's but I have more spoiling power so I don't feel too threatened, and the absorbing is so great it doesn't hurt to wait a little while. I have been known to call the kids back from recreation just to change the really stinky ones. After all I've been changing buts a long time and I never did like it. Does any one?



Baby monitors are cool too. I don't use them for baby's though. Spying on the older kids 5-8 years old is fun. They think I can read their minds. Try it..you'll laugh your head off.



My advice to young mothers is not to listen to advice. Follow your own instinct. Try to breast feed though. Boy could I go on a rant about that! Mostly I get upset that girls who really can't afford formula and very easily could breastfeed don't. Come on, the Creator of us made us to do that and science has been able to prove what a perfect food it is for baby. Best of all it's free! But then every good gift from God is free. It kills me that companies would put profit ahead of what is best for children but I guess that's the way it always has been. And girls, I do realize that there are circumstances that prevent breastfeeding but if possible at least give it a real good try. Every one is talking about health care and how to pay for it. well breastfeeding gets children off to a really wonderful start for free. And mom's out there, my daughter has had trouble in today's economy feeding her children fresh fruit. She started buying frozen and eating it in salads and just as an afternoon treat. The kids like it still partly frozen. It has my good idea seal approval for whatever that's worth.



Any way, I don't think we need all those new a sparkly things for baby. Hugs and kisses are what baby need most, and its free.