Title Suggestions: Do You Have “Mom Hair?”

Toddler squats, living longer but sicker, and do you have mom hair? It’s episode 70 of the Mama Natural Show.

—

First, stop….drop….and squat.

That’s what toddlers do.

They squat!

The ease and perfection of form in which they squat is mindboggling…

At least to us adults who have a hard time bending down just to touch our toes.

Sure, one might argue that toddlers are closer to the ground.

They’re also more flexible. And they have age on their side.

However, squatting is one of the best forms of fitness….for ANY age.

Here are a few inspirational toddler type squats you may just want to fit into your day,

Like when…

Eating or drinking….

Or walking in the rain….

How about when listening to music…..

Or while gardening….

Try to stop, drop and squat at work….

Or at play…. Look at those rolls!

Or for inspiration while creating a masterpiece….

Try “exercising” a little affection….

You might simply want to show offf…

Truth is we could learn a thing or two from toddlers….

One is fitness!

And two, stop and smell the roses….

Relearn to squat today!

Does a body good!

—

This next story affirms why people in the U.S. need to get active….to start moving.

It appears that America’s 2012 Health Rankings highlights the fact that we are indeed living longer – but sicker.

Deaths from heart disease and cancer are down.

Recent medical advancements have indeed saved lives.

But obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behavior are on the rise!

24 measures of health were factored in this study’s state-by-state rankings, including:
• Tobacco and alcohol abuse
• Exercise
• Infectious disease
• Crime rates
• Public health funding
• Premature birth rates
• And more
Vermont tops the list for the 6th consecutive year as the healthiest state to live.

Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Minnesota round out the top five.

While Mississippi and Louisiana tied at the bottom, due to tobacco consumption, binge drinking, lack of exercise and obesity.

Some notable improvements over the last year include:

• New Jersey – up 9 places on the list
• Maryland – up 5
• And Alabama, Colorado Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Rhode Island each moved up 3.

–

With the life expectancy in the US now at 78.5 years of age, the question we all should ask ourselves is do we want quantity or quality of life?

According to a new study, having children not only adds quality to one’s life but also quantity.

The surprising results indicate that parents live longer than childless couples.

This includes parents of all kinds: adoptive, foster, and biological.

The data links the changes in the parents’ behavior and lifestyle to a longer life.

Parents experience fewer accidents, circulatory diseases, cancer and exernal causes than childless couples.

They also apparently experience less stress than childless couples.

[Seriously? Spend a day with a mom!]

The study suggests that people with children have a greater social support system.

And that giving up sleep for a few years, perhaps makes a body stronger.

[That which does not kill us...]

—

It’s time for our community news.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate the miracle of birth! We have 2 lovely birth announcements and a real Christmas miracle.

Viewer Beth’s little miracle arrived on September 8th, a bit earlier than expected.

A home birth was planned, but at 35 weeks the baby stopped growing.

After waiting a couple weeks, Beth’s midwives decided to call in the big guns.

Beth was whisked off to the hospital.

Surprisingly, her team of doctors and nurses welcomed the midwives and doulas to create as natural birth as possible.

A birthing tub was used until the c-section was deemed necessary by ALL parties present.

Beth welcomed a daughter Audrey Elizabeth with the help of this amazing team of support.

She practices breast-feeding, cloth-diapering, co-sleeping, and baby-wearing.

Congratulations to Beth, Audrey and family.

–

Melissa and her wife welcomed their little miracle girl Aurora Elizabeth under midwife care.

Laboring at home for a while, Melissa was able to get some laundry done and even bake cupcakes for the staff.

Finally around 2AM, they headed to the birthing center, where she continued to labor, and labor, and labor.

In the tub. In the bed. In the shower.

Melissa was fully dilated but still only 70% effaced.

Having to resist pushing was more painful than actually pushing….

Finally, it was time. And after 4 pushes, baby Aurora was delivered. Melissa said she felt “like an electric charged lioness goddess creature”

I know the feeling, mama lion. Rawr.

–

Now, a little Christmas miracle from viewer Lizz.

Seems Lizz has beaten the odds. She welcomed her son Tommy four years ago on Christmas Day. And as we reported back in the Spring, December 25th is the least common birth date of the year.

[If you don’t count Leap Day, which only happens every 4 years]

The likelihood of giving birth on Christmas day is rare.

But what’s amazing is Lizz did it TWICE.

That’s right.

Three years later, Lizz welcomed her daughter Lily on December 25th.

Seems Lily wasn’t about to let her brother Tommy have all the glory; she came three weeks early just to hit the date.

The holidays bring many joys to us all.

For Lizz and her family, the miracle of birth – TWICE – are all the presents any parent could want.

Happy Birthday Tommy and Lily.

And God bless us all, every one – during this holiday season!

—

Finally, to cut or not to cut – that is the question.

The costs of motherhood are plenty. For some of us, this means bags under eyes, stretch marks, droopy boobs, the fragrance of the day being “au la spit-up.”

But no mother wants “mom hair.”

The helmet-ish, frowned upon, hormonal whack it off reaction to being a new mom.

And yet, one of the first things we want to do is chop our hair!

It makes sense… we question the time it takes to wash, and dry, and style long hair with only 2 hours sleep.

We tire of the Grab. Yank. OUCH….from baby’s tiny little hands that go STRAIGHT to mom’s hair.

Some moms find ways to cope. Like Beyonce. Her topknot or braids keep baby’s hands away while staying sleek and elegant.

Other moms whack it. Like Alicia Keys. She sported a new ‘do shortly after she became a mom. Coincidence?

Of course, Alicia looks beautiful. But for many of the rest of us, we have a couple kids and end up with hair like a Golden Girl.

Me? I did things in reverse, getting the chop right after I got married, then growing it long after childbirth. I actually find it easier now because I can tie in bun or braid without having to style it.

This brings us to our QOTW: Do you have mom hair? How did your hair change after you had kids?

–

Finally, I want to give a shout out to our beloved editor, Stan, who has edited around FIFTY episodes of the mama natural show.

Yes, it may seem like Mike and I do all of this on our own, but Stan has been burning the midnight oil behind the scenes, sourcing photos of breastfeeding moms and cute babies and adding all the shine and polish and effects to our show.

Sadly, Stan is moving on to some awesome new projects. Stan, we are so grateful for all your talent and efforts in making this show what it is. Thank you.

Mamas, hit that like button to show Stan some love. And don’t fret, the show will go on, it may just be a little less beautiful for a while.

Thinking you could use some of the photos in the Stan folder

There you have it, episode 70 of the mama natural show. Merry Christmas and happy new years. We’ll be back on January 3rd.