I’ve been reading, okay I starting reading and ended up skimming, The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. Interesting ideas. I don’t agree with all of them; the biggest disagreement I have is pacifiers. She says to let the baby suck on her fingers or thumb and that her baby did it and has perfect teeth and didn’t develop any dependence however a child will develop dependence on a pacifier. Folks, I was a thumb sucker. It took a lot of work on my Mom’s part to break me of that habit and let me tell you, my teeth were bad. Definite buck teeth. I wince every time I see a baby with it’s thumb in it’s mouth.

Holly was sucking away at her thumb when we had our 20 week ultrasound. I plan on doing every thing I can to prevent thumb or finger sucking and if that means a pacifier, fine. I’d like to get breast feeding established first and then I’ll feel okay with handing a pacifier over to my babe.

I can see where Tracy was coming from, the whole self-soothing thing, the fingers and thumb are part of the baby’s self. Ya, still disagree. I’m going to try my darndest to keep Holly from being a thumb sucker!

Anyone else have a pacifier vs. thumb/finger sucking opinion?

I finished my diaper bag and it’s HUGE. Conor and I have been referring to it as a monstrosity. I do not want to be the mom that carries every thing but the kitchen sink. This sucker came out big, much bigger than what the picture led me to believe. I guess we have a new beach bag/overnight bag… good thing I love the fabric and the bag overall. I’m now on the serious prowl for a suitable diaper bag although I’m thinking of just designing one the way I want it and sewing it up. Can I do it? We’ll see… 

PS: this is the modern diaper bag from Amy Butler’s Little Stitches book.

Baby seems to be getting bigger since I am. She gets the hiccups 2-3 times a day and I still get lots of contractions that are starting to get a little crampy… only 6 more weeks!

On an exciting note, my SIL Elizabeth gave birth to Felix yesterday. He’s a super cutie, go check him out on Liz’s blog.

33 weeks and counting!

On Monday I made Blueberry Muffins.

On Tuesday I made Blueberry Jam.

And on Wednesday I made Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes.

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
from Martha Stewart Living June 2009

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. coarse salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 ounces (3 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for griddle
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 cups (1 pint) blueberries

1. Whisk together flour cornmeal, 2 tbsp. sugar, the baking powder, salt and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, milk, butter and egg. Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined (mixture will be lumpy).
2. Preheat oven to 200F. Heat a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Toss blueberries with remaining 2 tbsp. sugar. Brush griddle with melted butter. Spoon batter onto griddle 1/3 cup at a time. Sprinkle with sugared blueberries, about 2 tbsp. per pancake. Cook until edges are set, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter and blueberries adding more butter to griddle and keeping prepared pancakes warm on a baking sheet in the oven.

My Notes: Do butter the griddle even if it’s nonstick. Pancakes will get bigger when blueberries are dropped on them.