Folding cloth diapers 1976

Folding Cloth diapers, a thing of the past. 1976, picture taken by Kaoru Kikuchi, pen pal from high school from Japan. Only had two kids then, Cami and Summer one year.

Teaching Babies at 4 to 6 weeks to Coo!

My mother Colleen taught me to teach tiny babies to coo back at the person cooing at them in the following manner. IT WORKS! I HAVE DONE THIS WITH ALL BABIES!



First: Place the baby all comfy and fed and happy and clean in your lap holding your left arm (or which ever one you use most) under their neck and head to support. They should be sitting slightly at an angle and facing you.



Next: Place their arms in front of their chest and hold their little fists with your thumb and middle, ring and pink fingers. Leave the index finger to tap them on the chin as you coo to them.



Thirdly: Placing your face right in front of theirs and making eye contact, coo in a sing songy voice at them. This takes a little while for them to catch on, you, a human are making spiritual contact with them and communicating. I move my head and open my eyes wide with a huge smile to let them know I am soooo interested in them and what they may have to say.



Last: When they frown and look at you and you put your index finger on their chin to touch lightly and pull down a little on their jaw so they somehow feel that is where the sound will come out, babies will begin to coo back. First in soft low tones, then when they realize, that you will mimic what they are doing, they get bolder and can really seriously coo loudly! SUCCESS! Keep working at it but not for too long as they do tire easily. Maybe 5 minutes at the first try.



This is the beginning of conversation between adults and babies and can be practiced more and more to help the infant learn earlier to relate! It is thoroughly joyful and stimulating for babies and the adult cooing. At first, this exercise must be done for a very short while, as it is intense and tiring for the young and newborn infants. The adult must be aware of the comfort level of the infant and not push it because their attention spans are so short. But with practice, this can become a treasure of time together, especially for the mother or caregiver and the newborn.

Of all my babies (6) and all my friends babies, there has never been a baby I couldn't get to coo back. It is thrilling and everyone who witnesses it cheers and can not believe this to be possible. Then when I show the mothers they can do it too, it is awesome. This is an amazing tribute to the intelligence of our Creator! That He should want us to communicate with these little innocent beings sent from His presence at such an early age! I believe this communication at this early age helps to form the protective and trusting bond a child has with parents for a lifetime.



First blog in two years! Wow. I am on again. More to come with pictures and proof of earliest cooing communication.

Baby Authority: May 2006

Mothers Day May 2006 Ammendment

We enjoyed Brooks and Jacki's company today also. It is delightful for them to come and visit for a day. We enjoy getting to know our wonderful daughter in law Jacki each time we meet again. She is the bright spot in Brooks' life and ours too! Sara and Jacki and I had a nice discussion of the importance of families staying on track throughout their lives! Heaven, Heaven is our goal! And we do have a bit of heaven here on earth in our home with our great, kind and loving children. They are so smart and considerate and fun to be around.

Baby Authority

Mothers Day and Birthday May 14, 2006

Happy day today with family coming after church. I received so many nice gifts already! The new book "Mafia to Mormon" by Mario Facione was given to me by Blake and Lindsey. I couldn't put it down. Stayed up all night reading it. It is a fantastic story about a mafia guy in Detroit, who was into black marketing of heavy equipment, among other scams. He is a second generation mafioso, and turned his life around and joined the Mormon church. He gave up everything and lost everything he had in order to join and stay in the church. He had not committed some of the more horrendous crimes against humanity, like murder; so that is why I think he was allowed to join the church. It is a fast, informative read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I love getting together with family for Sunday dinners or anytime dinners. We learn so much more about each other and enjoy one anothers company. I love to have the little grandkids around too. Lexia has chastized me properly for not posting on my blog and wants me to write about raising children and how I did it. So I need to be more diligent.

A lovely Willow girl showing the sign of love was given to me by the Woods, Summer and Clay and Lily and Macy. We enjoyed playing button, button with Lily and Macy. A game which has been passed down from my family to my children to my grandchildren and taught to us by my mother Colleen McCray. Little two year olds enjoy this game so much and the rest of the family does too! It is simple but very endearing.

Baby Authority

One can hardly spoil a baby. They are so needy and full of love and trust, for all those around them. A study in the early 50's stated a baby could die for lack of love and attention.

When we come into this world we need assistance, as a tiny helpless infant. As we get ready to leave this world, we also need help and attention. We do not come into this world on our own, nor do we leave it on our own. Someone always needs to help us at both the beginning and end of our lives. In birth, others are there to welcome us in and cheer us in our endeavors. In death, we are not really alone, someone is always there to help prepare our bodies for burial. We are not all that independent in, at least, these two aspects of our journey on earth.

First Post!

Babies are the cutest thing in the world! Just got back from tending my 5th grandchild, Sadie 6 months. We were fast friends from the start. I was to babysit her while her parents traveled to FLA for 4 days. It was her firt time away from parents. She was great. Didn't miss them much because we were such good buddies. But she did have a few days to get used to me at her home before they left, When they returned, however, at the airport she recognized them right away and kept burying her head in her mothers chest to show her affection, and then smiling her huge gummy grin! Love to see her and all babies with their parents. It was such a treat.