Have you ever bought your child a game for their learning system to have it tossed aside? There are some games that surprise you because they are easily beat or can’t hold the attention of a fly. Renting these games would allow your child to test drive these games without spending the money on another boring game.

SmartyRents.com is an educational video game rental company that features games for LeapFrog and VTech systems. With games for eight different systems, you are sure to find something your child will enjoy. Parents can choose from four different rental packages to best suit their needs. Choose between 1-4 games at a time. It is fun to look through the different games with your child and build up your want list. SmartyRents is similar to Netflix and other mail order rental companies. There are no late fees and they are shipped free to your home!

SmartyRents wants to share their services with you! I will be giving away three-month packages for 5 readers! This will be a great way to try some games for your kids and not worry about spending any money!

TO WIN

Visit SmartyRents.com and tell me what game your child would like.

*You must have your own game system.

I also have a promo code worth 1 FREE month of the 1 Game at a Time package or $9.99 towards the package of their choice.

Promo Code: d89444
Expires:  12/31/10
One Game at a Time Package (Value $9.99)
First Time Customers Only

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Giveaway will close September 15 at 12pm EST.  Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Open to US only!

I received a trial period to review the services of SmartyRents.

Are you running a giveaway that you think my readers would enjoy? Feel free to share it! I will be promoting your links here every Monday. Enter them with the Contest Prize name and last day to enter in (parenthesis) so everyone knows what your offering and what time they have to do that by. If you are hosting an Adult Rated giveaway please put “ADULT” in the title. If it is not then I will delete it.

When we had Myles 4 month check up, I knew the food question would come into play.   Personally I have my own reasons for introducing solids when I do. It’s pretty simple. I  want my child to be ready. I also want my child to have a variety of  HEALTHY foods. The healthiest food I can offer right now is 100% breastmilk. At Myles 4 month check up, the pediatrician and I discussed introducing solids. He suggested waiting until at least 6 months. I told him that I don’t believe he’ll be ready by 6 months. He wholeheartedly agreed! He said we are definitely okay with delaying another month or two.

We usually delay solids until 6 months. We breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. At that point, we look for the signs that baby is ready to start solids.

• Sitting up without support.
• Lost the tongue thrust.
• Willing and able to chew.
• Eagerness to try food.

Once we start to notice these signs, we start to try different foods. It is a milestone that is by far the messiest! That is one reason I am in no rush to start solids before the baby is ready. Now  a lot of people say that we can start solids at 4 months. Which seems funny to me! Myles is not even sitting up WITH support! He definitely has a hint tongue thrust and can’t chew. The only food he is eager to get close to is the breast.

I will probably start making solids and freezing them sometime in the next two months. I like to have a good variety on standby when we begin introducing solids. When I do start making solids, I am investing in a Beaba Babycook. After checking this must have baby item out at the EVO conference, I have put it on my list. I love preparing my own baby food. It is so much cheaper and better than store bought food. But that is another story!

Now the question of the day!

When did you introduce your own baby to solids?

When Myles was born at 35 weeks, we knew what to expect. We were told that he could have developmental delays and learning disabilities. We were prepared for an extended hospital visit and complications with nursing. Since that remarkable day, he has proven everyone wrong. Obviously we did not get through everything without some hiccups. He had jaundice, high respirations, issues with breastfeeding and more. But we overcame them all. We took things hour by hour and then day by day. Now he is 5.3 months actual age and 4.1 months adjusted age.

At every appointment, we have great visits. He got to stop being compared on preemie growth charts as of his 4 month checkup. When we go over his development charts, he has appeared to be on the lower scale of full term babies. But he was in that scale. Because I knew a lot of people who did have babies within a month or two of having him, I find myself comparing. Yes I know, the ultimate NO-NO. Especially since these babies are full term babies. But when I hear babies that are a month younger than him doing things, it’s hard.

I think the hardest part was today. I went to the WIC office and there was a lady  with a baby the same age as Myles. She excitedly ask if he was trying to get around the house yet. I shook my head. Then she said, “Oh well is he rolling everywhere?” Once again I shook my head. Truth be told, he has rolled from tummy to back a handful of times. I know he can do that and I was so excited when he did do it. I recall setting my girls up in the boppy at 4 months to support them while sitting and then by 5 months, they were sitting on their own. I try to put him in the boppy and he just doesn’t have the head control yet.

Another thing that I know is that he will do it in his own time and boys are generally slower than girls. He gets plenty of tummy time. He isn’t even close to doing mini push-ups yet. He gets tired easily when holding his head up. So it doesn’t last long.I know I should be happy that he is doing so well but at the same time I want to cry. I know that God has it in his hands and if there was a true reason to worry, the doctors would be on top of it. I guess I just got used to being one of the moms that had babies doing things early and it’s hard being on the other end of the spectrum.

Eight years ago, I went in for a prenatal exam. I also had a pap smear since it had been a year since I last had one. The following week, I received the news. The results came back abnormal. I was told that it meant I had HPV and that we would follow up after the baby was born. For the next 8 months, I panicked and wondered what it all meant. My questions went unanswered at the doctor office. I switched doctors after I delivered because we moved out of town. When my post postpartum pap smear came back abnormal, I asked that they proceed with treatment instead of waiting. The doctor thought it best we just repeat pap smear in another 3 months. So I waited. February 2004, I had a LEEP performed that removed most of my cervix. Why? Because doctors chose not to include me in my treatment plan and diagnosis.

In 2004, I moved to Utah and found my current doctor. After his initial exam, he sent for my records. That was when I was told that they had to remove most of my cervix due to high grade dysplasia. Since that exam, we have been nervous about having healthy full term pregnancies and growing our family. As you know, I have went on to have 3 beautiful and healthy children. I continue to have abnormal pap smears over the years but with close doctor supervision, I have been blessed not to have any further invasive treatments done.

The HPV vaccine is available for girls and women from 9-26 but what about other women? There are still ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer even if you can’t get the HPV vaccine. The two tools that are readily available are:

• Pap Test is a screening test used in gynecology to detect premalignant and malignant (cancerous) changes in the cervix. Pap testing should begin at age 21.
• HPV Test is a test that is conducted from the same sample as the Pap test. It identifies women with high-risk HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer.

The HPV test increases the ability to identify who is at risk of developing cervical cancer in women 30 and over. When you go into your next pap test, be proactive and ask your doctor for the digene HPV test in addition to your regular tests. Why not?? They aren’t taking any other blood or samples. It’s from the same sample so there is no reason not to ask.

If both tests come back normal, you might not need them repeated for 3 years. Consult with your gynecologist further on frequency of testing. If either of the tests come back abnormal, it enables your doctor to monitor and treat anything that needs to be treated. This can help you prevent cervical cancer from developing. Keep in mind that HPV testing isn’t completely necessary for women under the age of 30. HPV infections in younger women tend to go away on their own. If you are under 30 and have an abnormal pap test, the best thing to do is to discuss the best option with your doctor.

In addition to talking to your doctor about your options, prepare and educate yourself. The digene HPV test site has a lot of useful information. The web site’s focus is on early detection and prevention of cervical cancer through HPV screening. It includes survivor stories, insurance information, and a lot of valuable resources. So I want you to schedule your annual exam today if it’s getting close or overdue! Check out the site and go to your exam prepared. Then remind all your friends and family members to get their own exams and tests today!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”