"Research shows..."

I read the other day that (and I'm paraphrasing here) that in one study children who ate only instant oatmeal for breakfast ate 80% more calories throughout the day than children who ate a veggie omelet and juice for breakfast (steel-cut oatmeal fared a little better). The conclusion was that it's important to include protein at breakfast.

Um, ok?

I'm ok with having protein for breakfast, but I have a few problems with this report, especially with the concluding statement. Did both meals have the same number of calories? Same amount of fat? Did they try adding protein powder to the oatmeal? How many kids were in the study? What were their eating habits before? Did the study conclude that we need protein at breakfast, or was that the magazine's inferrence? How do they account for steel-cut oatmeal's difference?

This is just one example of the millions of health-related blurbs we get bombarded with every day, each with authoratative "research" behind it. Too often I get sucked in, but this time I just got annoyed. And I had to share.

Talk amongst yourselves...

Meeeem-rieeeeees

I saw this on Susan's blog and it looked like fun. Participate if you like. Ignore it if you don't.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don’t want to play on your blog, or if you don’t have a blog, I’ll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Atty's feet smell like cheese

They do! It's the strangest thing. I guess it's because he sweats milk-based formula. Oh, and he has started smiling. This is especially fun. And he's cooing and gurgling more.

He had his 4-month checkup a couple days ago, and they said he's just perfect, which of course we already knew. He also got more shots, which he didn't like very much. But he's taking it like a trooper.

Blessing Day

Atty was blessed over the 4th of July weekend. James's mom and my sister Susan and her family were able to come in from out of town, and we were happy to have our friend Brian K. join us in church for the blessing.

He was blessed with a keen sense of humor, that he would not suffer any long-term effects from his prematurity, that he would grow physically and spiritually, and that he would accomplish the goals he sets for himself. At first we thought he would cry through the blessing, but he stopped fussing as soon as James started talking. Good boy. :)

After church we had lunch in our friends the Lewises' back yard, since our living room is too small to accommodate everyone. Plus there was room and toys for the kids to play on, which was great until the sprinklers came on and trapped my nieces Aubrey and Ella in the playhouse. Luckily they both survived the ordeal.

Here are more pictures from the luncheon:

Atty and Nana

Susan and Alice

Atty looking confused and Grandma Poulson smiling behind him

New Photos

Sorry for the long blog silence. I just kept forgetting to transfer photos off the camera. Here are some of my favorites from the last few weeks:

Three-month birthday, chillin' with dad

Looking precious

Sporting a "Magnum P. I." look, courtesy Carrie & Devin North (shoes from Marian W.)

Wearing a piggie onesie I embroidered

In the pram