Phthalates

I already knew I was not going to use your typical baby products bought at the Pharmacy or Grocery store now with the new information released on phthalates it just reinforces my decision. Our reason at the beginning to chose products that are more natural then the typical ones found in your pharmacy our drug store were as follows: both Geoff and I have sensitive skin which probably means baby will have sensitive skin; mass manufacturing companies tend to put to perfume and dies in there products; I don't believe in purchasing a product knowing it was tested on animals; buying organic is better for the environment. Now we add to that list phthalates free.

Phthalates are derived from phthalic acid and are used in many ways: the dominant plasticizer in PVC; as a solvent in perfumes and pesticides; as a finishing lure in nail polish, adhesives, caulk and paint; in the production of low end sex toys (if you own a rubber sex toy that did not say phthalates-free always use a condom to protect yourself from your toy); modern electronics such as computers, cell phones and MP3 players; and in beauty products to stabilize fragrances.

According to the interview I was listing to on CBC radio last night there is no law in Canada or the US at this time that forces manufacturers to disclose if they are using Phthalates in beauty products including those for children and babies. CBC also reported regarding phthalates: "In the study, they were found in elevated levels in the urine of babies who'd been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products"

Now why should we as parents be concerned; well in laboratory testing it was proven that phthalates cause damage to the reproductive system. I know I would like my son one day to be able to give me grand kids.

So the moral of this story is read labels make sure everything you buy is phthalates free; don't trust labels because they don't need to disclose if they use phthalates; don't buy PVC toys especially ones that will end up in the little ones mouth.

If you want to read up more on this subject here are a few interesting articles I found:

Wikipedia Definition

Phthalates found in Baby Care Products Linked to Infant Deformity

How to avoid Phthalates

CBC news article re Phthalates and baby products

CBC news article re Phthalates and obesity

CBC news article

it's 3am and I'm starving

I am officially 34 weeks along. 6 more to go wow. My frequent trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night are calming down from 8 to about only 3 on average however a new habit is forming - hunger.  Almost every night I wake up around 3am starving and craving carbs.  This probably started about 2 weeks ago.  If I do not physically get up and eat i am unable to fall asleep again. Is it stress, is it baby, is the fact I am eating smaller meals due to heart burn who knows.  I think it all of them combined.  Tonight on the menu is homemade rosemary bread with butter.  

Well almost done my bread so I should be back off to bed.

Snow Day

My first day of my last month before my maternity was to start turned into a snow day.  We dug out the car and started driving to work however I got stuck trying to go up the hill under the bridge at Greenwood.  It kinda freaked me out considering that the bus in front of me could not get up the hill either and cars were fishtailing all over the place.  We figured it was best for me and baby to stay home for the day;  Geoff took over the wheel and got us home safely.  What would have been a 5 min drive on a beautiful day took 30 mins.

I decided to make the best out of my day at home...

1 st project:  finishing putting our custom mirror together.  Almost done just need to let the paint dry and then place the hanging brackets on the back. (Before any of you freak out the paint we are using is zero to low VOC and I called mother risk and they said it was perfectly safe to paint as long as I wear a mask.)

2nd project: Baking, I made 2 kinds of coconut macaroon style cookies, rosemary bread and in the bread machine there is sunflower seed bread.

3rd project: cleaned up email, google reader, finished adding the last few items we need to our registry, filled stuff electronically.

4th project: dishes; this quickly got changed into unclogging a sink that took about an hour.  We used 1 cup backing soda and poured vinegar on it until it stopped fuzzing chased it down with boiling hot water and then used the plunger to clear everything up.  Repeat a few times until problem solved.

5th project: dishes once again...