Differences in Development

Infants and Mothers by T. Berry Brezelton, M.D.
Published: July 1, 1983 by Delta
First Published: November 28, 1969
This is another one of my mom's parenting books. Given that it was published a little over a year before I was born, I have to imagine this is one she read before or just after I was born. It is a little comforting knowing that I'm doing the same thing she was 30 years ago, especially since she's not actually able to be here for my parenting journey.

I do love the idea behind this book. It takes three babies, an average baby, a quiet baby, and an active baby, and let's you see their growth and development broken out each month over their first year. I love that it shows you the milestones to expect, but the way it's written it shouldn't make you feel like you're baby is behind, since the point is to show how different babies can be. It's actually readable, and more like a story, compared to something that just fact after fact.

Not only does it show different types of babies, but different lifestyles as well. One baby is the first child, one is the second, and one is the third. Also one mother goes back to work, while the other two stay home. Again, this helps show the wide range of experiences your child might potentially go through, that wouldn't be as easy to see if it was just one child.

More than following the babies, there's also a good amount given to the mothers. You get inside the mind of each mother so you can see what they're thinking. No mother is perfect either, and there are definitely times where the mother does something less than ideal where the narration comes in to say how it could have been handled better.

The book definitely has a lot going for it, and yet so much of it is outdated it's really hard to enjoy. For example, as each baby leaves the hospital they are handed to the mother in the front seat to hold on the drive home. I realize this must have been normal then, but reading it now, it just screams danger to me. There's others too that I noticed, like putting babies to sleep on their stomachs or starting solid foods around 2 or 3 months. But if these are the ones I noticed, I have to imagine there's others I didn't pick up on. It makes it hard to be able to follow any advice given because it's likely no longer considered safe.

I do wish that this book had been updated more recently, because I think it's a really interesting idea. And while it's hard for me to recommend it as a parenting book, I do think it's interesting to read and see just how much practices have changed in the past 30 years.

3/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Getting Together With Your Baby

The First Six Months by Penelope Leach
Published: February 12, 1987 by Knopf
When I went through my old children's books sorting the ones I wanted to keep, we also found my mom's old parenting books. Without my mom here, I thought that reading some of the books she must have read when raising me could a way of getting parenting advice from her. Although technically this book was published after I was born, but just before my brother's, so I'm guessing he was the reason she read this one. This is the first of her books I've read, although technically she also had a copy of Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, which I had already purchased and read on my own.

Except I didn't quite connect with this one. I think I went into it looking for more practical advice, and instead it was more of an emotional read. Even so there were a few helpful tips I picked up. I also really enjoyed the overall sentiment of the book, mainly that you can receive advice and hear what the experts have to say, but you are the only one who is actually an expert on your own unique, individual baby. It's definitely a confidence builder.

I also really loved the format of the book. Every other page or so there are these full size black and photo photos of babies. And actually those photos were probably my favorite part of reading it.

I was a little disappointed that I did quite feel for this book. My mom does have another Penelope Leach book, her more known Your Baby and Child, which I'd still like to read. Funny enough, I hadn't heard of Penelope Leach before I saw my mom's books, but as I've started to read other baby-rearing books I've noticed her mentioned several times. Hopefully the next book of her I read I'll appreciate her the way others seem to.

3.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Seven Natural Laws for Breastfeeding Mothers

Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
Published: December 1, 2010 by New Harbinger Publications
First Published: September 15, 2005
I almost sat down to write this review while in labor waiting to leave for the hospital. But then decided my last few moments at home without a baby could be better spend. (I guess I'm not that dedicated of a blogger.) In a way it's probably better this way, now that I'm able to give my point of view from the other side, where I've actually been able to apply its advice.

Like many parenting books I've read so far, this feels quite repetitive. But again, I'm sure it's that way intentionally to get its point across. So much of what is in here reads a bit like common sense. After all, it's hard to establish breastfeeding if you're not spending time with a baby or if you don't make a point to actually feed them.

But even with these criticisms I still found it quite helpful. There was a lactation consultant in the hospital that did come visit me, but at that point we had pretty much figured it out, due in some parts to this book I'm sure. Much of the advice I received at the hospital I found myself nodding my head to, since I had already read about it myself. Plus there were a few tricks in the book no one mentioned to me that have already been helpful.

At the time that I'm writing this review, our baby is only a week old, but so far breastfeeding seems to be going really well. In some ways you could attribute this to the book, or it just could be a lot of luck, but whatever the reason, it seems to be working. Hopefully we're able to continue it through the next year, but who knows. All I know is that we've gotten off to a strong start and again while I wouldn't give the book complete credit for that, I have to imagine it's helped.

4/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

The 5 S's

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvery Karp, M.D.
Published: May 27, 2003 by Bantam
First Published: May 28, 2002
If there's one thing I'm most worried about going into having a baby it's how to deal with lack of sleep. Which is why getting the baby to sleep as long as possible and through the night is so important to me. Even before I was pregnant I knew I would read this, and it was only reinforced by others telling me about it once I became pregnant.

Yes, there's a dvd version too, but if you know much about me it isn't that much of a surprise that I chose to go the book version. I realize it is more of a time investment, but I think reading it makes it stay with you a little more, at least that's the way it works for me.

The book is a little repetitive, but I think that's kind of the point. I will tell you that after finishing the book and hearing the same method told over and over, while in slightly different ways each time, I can't imagine forgetting it. Even so I've folded the corner down on a few pages that I know I'll want to go back and reference. (Which is a big deal for me since I normally hate folding corners since it "ruins" a book.)

Everything in this book made sense, and while I can't put it into practice yet (at least not at the time I'm writing this review, by the time it's posted I should be in the middle of it all), I have high hopes for it. It's definitely a book that means more once you're able to put it into practice, and hopefully months down the road I'm raving just as much (or even more) about it.

4.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Mailbox Monday (101)

It's another weekend's end, and I'm still here, and linking up with Mailbox Monday!
From Goodreads
Song of Spider-Man by Glen Berger
Knowing what a disaster the Spider-Man musical turned out to me, I'm quite intrigued by this. But even if it weren't about such a train wreck, I think I'd still be curious to read all the behind the scenes details of a Broadway musical.

Falling from Horses by Molly Gloss
I've actually never heard of this author before, but she actually seems to be pretty popular. It's a historical fiction (always a plus for me), that takes place in the 1930s. From the cover and title, it's obviously about horses, but for more than that, it's about a young man trying to make it in Hollywood as a stuntman riding horses. I'm not sure I've ever read anything like this before, which definitely has me intrigued.

Purchased
Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher & Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
I've actually already finished reading this one, and really enjoyed it. I'll have my full review up in January, but it's definitely one that I felt was beneficial, and that I'm hoping to be able to put to use.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Mailbox Monday (98)

I'm thinking I just might get to my 100th Mailbox Monday post before the baby arrives! It'll be close, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. For now though, these are the books I've brought into our home this past week.
Purchased
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Mauren Johnson
Like every other Clare book that comes out I had to go and purchase this as soon as it came out. Now I know these have all be released electronically as short stories, but since I still refuse to own an ereader this is my first chance to read them all.

Borrowed From a Friend
The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Yet another newly released YA book. While these books wound up not being quite what I expected, I did overall enjoy it. Plus the last one ended on quite a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see how the trilogy ends.

From Paperback Swap
The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvery Karp, M.D.
Out of everything I'm most apprehensive about having a baby, loss of sleep is on the top of my list. I've always been one who needed a ton of sleep, and I'm not quite sure how I'll be able to function without it. But I have heard great things about this book and how it can actually get babies to sleep. I'm really hopeful about it, and hopefully not only do I enjoy reading it, but find it to be useful as well.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

You Find the Truth in a Child's Eyes

For any long time visitors of the blog you probably know exactly what's coming. Especially when I tell you the Backstreets Boys released their newest music video for their newest single, "Show 'Em What You're Made Of." So of course, I'm sharing it here today, so you all have the privilege of watching.

For the teeny still inside you, the video does feature Brian and AJ without their shirts. Considering they're in their 30s and 40s they all look pretty awesome. I even happen to think Nick looks better right now than ever.
But on a more serious side, the song is about the message they want to send to their children. (Since yes, all except Nick are now fathers!) There's several inspirational lines, include my favorite:

"You gotta stand for something
Even if you stand alone,
Don't be afraid
It's gonna be alright"

While I don't have children yet, I still can imagine a lot of these ideas are things I want to pass on to them. The idea that the sky is the limit, that they need to go out and show the world what they're made of.

What are some values that you want to pass on to your children?

One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

Bringing up Bébé by Pamela Duckerman
I remember being intrigued by the book when it first came out. Yes, I might be a little baby obsessed, but I'm also a little France obsessed, so it seemed like a good fit. So even though I'm not pregnant and don't expect to by for a while, I somewhat guiltily picked up this French parenting book.

The book itself has somewhat of an unexpected format. Instead of reading as a parenting book, it reads more like a parenting book meets memoir meets cultural study. (And in fact reminded me of a lot of my favorite parts of Petite Anglais, an actually memoir about an Englishwoman raising a baby in Paris.) I'm not a mother, but in general, I do see a lot of her critiques of American parenting, and unfortunately could see myself doing them. But even so, I still think most her French tips seemed made a lot of common sense.

One section I found really interesting, was the section on creches, a French government run daycare system, and more specifically the lunches they serve. They're serving babies and toddlers a four course meal everyday! They start with a vegetable, then a protein as their main course. My favorite part was the next, a cheese course, and finally a dessert mainly made of fruit. I love that they are starting babies on exciting cheeses, to get them to truly appreciate them. At one point the author brings her toddler daughter back to America where her mother is excited to feed her granddaughter macaroni and cheese. Except her daughter refuses to eat it, saying, "That's not cheese!" I loved this, because that was me as a kid, and even now, since I've never liked macaroni and cheese. Instead I was the 6-year-old who suggested we serve a pear and blue cheese salad at our end of the year girl scout celebration.

I thought this book was really enjoyable. And while there's a few practices I would love to use with my someday kids-to-be, I didn't just enjoy this as a parenting book. I think even if you're not thinking about kids anytime soon, but instead are curious about the culture in which the French raise their children, you'd appreciate this.

4.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Real Advice, Real Family, Real Love

Secrets of a Jewish Mother by Gloria Kaen, Lisa Wexler, and Jill Zarin
I liked Jill Zarin when she was on Real Housewives of New York. At least I liked her, as much as you can when you're Team Bethany. So when I saw this book I was excited to pick it up. (I may have also been excited about the fact it was 90% off at a Borders closing sale, but that isn't really the point here.)

I did want to like this book, but overall I wasn't a huge fan. I thought that the title was clever. But reading over and over "This is what a Jewish mother does... This is how a Jewish mother does it... Every Jewish mother does this..." just got really repetitive, and in some ways made me resent the phrase Jewish mother. I'm Jewish and I felt this way, so I can only imagine what's it's like for someone whose not Jewish who reads this book.

I did enjoy the personal stories within and the different viewpoints, since it was written by Jill, her mother and sister. In a lot of ways think this would have been better as a memoir with more family recipes included. (Although the recipes included don't seem very appetizing.) Unfortunately it was much more of a self-help book, and within each chapter there are lists of questions to get you thinking about the topic their discussing. I do get what they're trying to achieve with these lists, but in some ways it just felt too preachy.

This is the first book I've read by any real housewife cast member, and in some ways it makes me want to stay away from the others. Although maybe next time I'd be better off choosing more of a memoir. (I'd probably want to start with Kyle of Beverly Hills, but the better choice would probably be Carol of New York who would an author first, housewife second.) I think that unless you're absolutely in love with Jill and you're Jewish, this might be one you'd want to stay away from.

3/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!