You Are What You Eat And Drink

The Story of Cinnamon in America

When shopping for your family, you have to be diligent to insure that you are really buying what you think you are buying. After reading about the benefits of the everyday spice Cinnamon, Oma took to the habit of drinking a hot cup of cinnamon and honey every morning.

However, imagine Oma's surprise to learn most cinnamon sold in supermarkets in North America comes from the less expensive variety, Cassia which is actually a cousin of cinnamon. Due to the presence of a moderately toxic component called Coumarin*, European health agencies have warned against consuming high amounts of cassia.

Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), sometimes called true cinnamon, has a long history. It originated in Asia, mostly Sri Lanka and India. Now, cinnamon shrubs are grown in almost every tropical region of the world.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known. It was mentioned in the Old Testament. In the book of Exodus, God instructs Moses to make a holy anointing oil out of cinnamon, cassia, olive oil, myrrh, and hemp.

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, there were power struggles among European nations over who would control Ceylon and the lucrative cinnamon industry. In the early part of the 19th century, other countries began growing cinnamon and it became available to everyone.

Today, Ceylon cinnamon is produced in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean, while Cassia cinnamon is mainly produced in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Although related, cinnamon and cassia are not obtained from the same plant. They should be treated as separate foods, both from a nutritional and a health standpoint. Ceylon cinnamon is typically more expensive than any of the cassia versions, and it is also the cinnamon more closely associated with potential health benefits involving blood sugar regulation. 

Oma special orders her Ceylon cinnamon from Jimbo’s. Jimbo’s is a natural foods grocer with locations in San Diego/Del Mar and Escondido. For 25 years, Jimbo’s has proudly supported local organic farms.

Organic means food is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. Organically grown foods are higher in nutrients, including antioxidant vitamins, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Over 95% of Jimbo’s produce is organically grown!

Both honey and cinnamon have been used to heal for centuries, on their own and as in combination. In Chinese medicine, following Yin and Yang principles, cinnamon is used to cure conditions of cold (excess Yin) as it is considered to be Yang (heat). In this case, honey is seen to be neutral, in balance.

Oma enjoys her cup of “Cinnamon and Honey Tea” every morning. In addition to the health benefits of this concoction, this simple beverage serves as a reminder to pay careful attention to the sustenance you choose for your body. 

* Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations.

Reef Indy Smiles

Oma loves it when Baby Reef Smiles!

 

Dad and Baby Reef Enjoying Their Sunday

Many babies treat their parents and grandparents to their first smile when they're between six and eight weeks old. (Reef Indy is seven weeks old.)

By encouraging Reef Indy to smile, you are helping him develop self-esteem. It lets Reef know that his feelings are important and that he can affect his environment. It's also important for his overall brain development.

At around one or two months, babies will gradually start to respond to environmental stimulation. Here are some tips to coax a baby grin:

• Choose a period when your baby is relaxed. A hungry baby isn't inclined to smile.
• Take your baby in your arms with his face very close to yours. Remember, at this age your baby sees best at 8-12 inches away.
• Smile widely at his and offer a warm "hello" in that sing-song pitch parents do so well.

October is SIDS Awareness Month

 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Did you know that 80-90% of SIDS-related deaths are due to unsafe sleep practices?

ALWAYS:

• Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
• Use a crib that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
• Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
• Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
• Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.

NEVER:

• Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface.
• Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.

Nothing else should go in the crib with your baby
no blanket, pillow, bumper pads or toys. 

 

What SIDS Is and What SIDS Is Not

SIDS Is:

• The major cause of death in infants from 1 month to 1 year of age, with most deaths occurring between 2 and 4 months
• Sudden and silent - the infant was seemingly healthy
• Currently, unpredictable and unpreventable
• Determined only after an autopsy, an examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history
• Designated as a diagnosis of exclusion
• A recognized medical disorder listed in the International Classification of Diseases, ( 9th Revision)
• An infant death that leaves unanswered questions, causing intense grief for parents and families.

SIDS Is Not:

• Caused by vomiting and choking, or minor illnesses such as colds or infections
• Caused by immunizations
• Contagious
• Child abuse
• The cause of every unexpected infant death

Hewlett-Packard (HP) Non-Support Continues

Read Part Two of this Saga by Clicking Here

Read Part One of this Saga by Clicking Here

Bad - HP 3005 PR USB 3.0 Port Replicator- Ignominy  

8:00 a.m - Finally found time to call the special number Tina, my HP Help Expert gave me.  I was hoping to get my HP 690650-001 SPS-Assy USB 3.0 Port Replicator up and running quickly.

Oma got to Hugo who told me that I had the wrong department (of course). He does not know why Tina sent me to him.  Oma was on hold for 30 minutes then Hugo transferred me to tech support at 800.334.5144.  Yup that is the same number I started out with.

Shruthi asked me all the same questions regarding the issues I was having.  I have answered these question numerous times with numerous people.  After Shruthi heard my story, she stated she would have to put me on hold so that she could collect information from the senior technician.

I asked to speak to the senior technician personally. Shruthi could not do that however, she was going to put me on hold so that she could get a supervisor. Shruthi promised it would be no longer than a three minute wait.

9:01a.m. placed on hold

9:06 a.m. Shruthi asked me to wait a minute.

9:07 a.m. Mathew came on line.  He is a Supervisor Case Manager.  After hearing the entire story again regarding my HP 690650-001 SPS-Assy USB 3.0 Port Replicator, he placed me on hold so that he could get more information.

When he returned, he stated that the replicator would will not the run the laptop power; the laptop power cord would have to be connected to run the laptop. 

Mathew connected with my laptop to trouble shoot.  

• 9:27 AM You have granted full permission to Technician. To revoke, click the red X on the toolbar or press Pause/Break on the keyboard. 
• 9:27 AM Checking configuration... 
• 9:27 AM Checking configuration... 
• 9:27 AM Connecting... 
• 9:27 AM Connected. A support representative will be with you shortly. 
• 9:27 AM Support session established with Shruti. 
• 9:27 AM Remote Control started by Shruti. 
• 9:33 AM Shruti has ended the session. 9:33 AM Remote Control by Shruti stopped.

He worked on the settings for the display but made it worse. Now my second monitor had poor quality of display and did not match what we were doing on the laptop.  Mathew was not sure why it was doing what it was doing and frankly Oma got scared. After all - Mathew had previously informed me that he was a Case Manager and not a computer tech!

After a discussion with Mathew and Opa - Oma decided that the HP 3005 PR USB 3.0 Port Replicator does not work at all!

We are shipping it back today and demanding our money back!  It is a shame that Oma could not be reimbursed for all the time wasted on this fiasco!

Should Baby Reef Indy Wear Sunglasses?

While enjoying Fun Family Friday, I noticed that baby Reef Indy was closing his eyes while outside with his Opa. Reef just loves being walked outdoors, but he always squints or closes his eyes. It is very sunny in Southern California, so Oma started wondering if it was ever too early to introduce Reef to sunshine.

Oma learned that it is a good idea, because exposure to ultraviolet rays may raise his risk for cataracts and other eye problems later in life. However, it is advised that if the baby resists, you shouldn’t push it. A visor or a hat could also be utilized to keep the sun out of his eyes and might be a more workable choice than shades for babies, toddlers, and even some older kids.

Not just any sunglasses will do, though. Putting low-quality sunglasses on your child is worse than his wearing no glasses at all. That's because poor-quality sunglasses can cause your child's pupils to dilate – therefore letting more UVA and UVB rays in – without offering protection.

When choosing sunglasses, buy a pair with a label saying it blocks 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Labels that say the glasses meet ANSI (American National Standards Institute) requirements or block UV absorption up to 400 nm (nanometers) mean you're getting this protection, too. You can trust the labeling in reliable stores, but not necessarily with a vendor on the street.

Oma learned that baby sunglasses come in various styles and are designed with the baby’s specific needs in mind. Unlike adult sunglasses that come as one size fits all, baby sunglasses come in various sizes to ensure a good fit for every baby's face.

Oma rummaged the internet. Baby Banz Sunglasses - Age 0-2 boosted rave reviews. 

Reef Indy's New Baby Banz

They have:

• Plastic frame 

• Plastic lens 

• non-polarized 

• Lens width: 60 millimeters 

• Silicone Nose and Brow Piece is embedded into the glasses for added comfort 

• Material: 82% Polyamide 18% Spandex 

• Neoprene elastic strap matches chosen color of sunglasses and allows for flexibility, breath-ability, and comfort 

They were super cute too. Oma bought a pair for Baby Reef Indy. I will let you know how he likes them.

All*You - Grocery Circular Roundup

If you like shopping for deals at the grocery store, but have limited time, this free computer app might prove both fun and helpful! (I tried it and enjoyed both its ease and productivity!)

What is Grocery Circular Roundup?

Saving on your groceries just got a whole lot easier! Grocery Circular Roundup lets you browse both coupons and your local grocery circulars online, or search for deals and coupons based on your weekly shopping list. We designed it with one thing in mind: to make saving on groceries quicker and easier.

How do you get started?

Start by entering your zip code and clicking “Update.” The first results to appear will be items on sale at stores near you, as well as coupons. You can sort the results by store, category (bread, meat, pasta, etc.) or both.

You can also search for deals on specific items and brands on your shopping list by clicking the "Search By Item" tab. Type your grocery list or individual items by type (cereal) or brand name (Cheerios) to see what's on sale near you. Hit return after each item. When you click “Find Savings,” you’ll see all the stores in your area with deals on the items you searched, followed by specific deals organized by category.

Click here to go to All*You Grocery Circular Roundup

Education Is Very Important for Your Little Star (Part 3)

This is the last installment of the three part interview Oma conducted with the founder of Little Stars Academy of Temecula. This is a must read as Jessica’s advice is both prolific and profound!

See Part 1 here See Part 2 here

 

Question Three of Three:

Oma: Is there any advice you have for a first time Oma and Opa? What can a grandparent do to prepare their grandkids for school?

Jessica: The advice that I would give to any parent or grandparent to help prepare a child for school is to NEVER EVER think that it is too early to start educating your child. As soon as a baby is born they are ready to learn and I have seen so many times that if you wait until they are 5 to try to teach them it is too late!!!

Talk to your child. What? Crazy you say but I actually had kids in my class who I could tell had never really been talked to by their parents. I talked to my son all the time as a baby. Did he answer me? Nope but it filled the hours when we were alone in the house together. J And guess what? When he started talking not only did his vocabulary grow on a daily basis but he spoke in complete sentences. This is so important. When you ask your child a question like “Would you like some milk?” Please expect an answer like “Yes mommy I would like some milk”. Just yes or a nod is not acceptable. Expect them to talk and they will learn to talk. Give them everything without having to speak and they won’t learn to speak. It is so simple.

As for baby talk…just don’t do it. When your child is learning to talk and says a word wrong, politely tell them the right way and move on. Don’t harp on it but don’t ignore it because you think it is cute. Bad habitats are hard to break! We all know this. My husband and I have been asking our son the same question every night since as soon as he could talk. We ask him, “What was your favorite part of the day?” I love the answers that come out of his mouth. Sometimes it is just as I would expect, Going to Disneyland or playing at the park and then sometimes it is what I would consider the most insignificant part of the day like going to the store and then there is the all-time favorite “Spending the day with you!”. You and the people who you allow the privilege of spending time with your child become their first teachers so choose wisely.

Read to your children! Read to them a lot. Make it part of your daily/nightly routine as soon as they are born and it will become a habitat that sticks. My bookcase of children’s books was full before my son was born because it is just that important. Children have to hear stories in order to learn how to read. It is just that simple. Maybe you say okay fine but what do I read? My first recommendation would be to read rhyming books. The ability to rhyme is a strong predictor for success as a reader because kids who can rhyme truly understand the way words work and that makes them good readers. My second recommendation for books to read to your child are books that you get enjoyment out of which means you need to read it before you buy it. Did you like it? Did you enjoy reading it? The more into the story you get, the better the child will like it. When your child is old enough to talk you need to ask them about the story and just talk about what happened. Just doing that is HUGE!

Give kids exposure to new experiences. You do not need money to do this. Visit the park, grocery store, museum, or anywhere really and set out to make it a learning experience. Comment on the birds you see or the color of the clouds. It really doesn’t matter what you are doing. Maybe getting the tires changed on the car, you could talk about how a car has four tires. Lets count them, 1, 2, 3, 4 then compare…a motorcycle only has 2. Exposure to letters, print, and numbers is important. If you are going to watch TV make it educational and watch it with them to a certain extent. TV can be great to put on while you are making dinner but you better know what that TV is saying to them. If you are hoping it is teaching them something then you need to at least follow up and say “So what was the letter of the day on Sesame Street today?”

These are things that grandparents and parents can do but you know what I love most about what grandparents can give to their grandkids is a stress free environment full of love. Life can get busy for parents when they have bills to pay, kids to take care of, houses to clean, jobs to maintain, and more and kids feel all of that. What I love most about when my son is with his grandparents is that he doesn’t have to feel any of that. They put everything aside for my little boy and just make him feel loved. They say Yes I will play with you now, read to you, or go on a walk with you. Spoil them….definitely but not with toys or gifts….with love and attention. Being with grandparents should feel safe like a home away from home. Grandparents need to share their stories and experiences with their grandkids so they learn their values as well as those of their parents. Kids learn life lessons through experiences and the more they have with quality people the better off they will be!