Ovulation occurs when a woman’s ripened egg, or ovum, is released from one of two ovaries, making the journey down the respective fallopian tube and into the uterus. By this time, the uterus lining has thickened to prepare to protect the egg if it becomes fertilized and turns into an embryo. If the egg is not fertilized, it is absorbed into the uterine lining and then expelled along with the lining during menstruation.

If an egg is fertilized by a sperm, it implants into the uterus and pregnancy begins! Some women experience implantation bleeding: light bleeding that occurs when the egg implants. This often happens 6 to 12 days after fertilization, sometimes right around the time a woman would be expecting her next menstrual period, and is nothing to be concerned about.

Women are born with 1 to 2 million follicles, or immature eggs, in the ovaries. By puberty, only about 400,000 remain. With each menstrual cycle, approximately 1,000 follicles are lost, with only one maturing into an egg.

In healthy women, both ovaries can release eggs, but they do not alternate consistently, with the right ovary releasing an egg one month and the left releasing an egg the next month. Even healthy women can occasionally have cycles in which they don’t ovulate, and they will still get their period on schedule. This can be caused by stress, rapid weight loss or gain, illness, change in diet or exercise routine, or medications.

Having sex a few days before, during and directly after ovulation is the best way to try to conceive. Because you can ovulate without a menstrual period, or have a menstrual period without ovulating, calculating from period to period is not always reliable, but it is one easy and free method. There are several different methods that can be used to predict when you are ovulating and to determine your next ovulation date.

• Ovulation Calculator

• Natural methods to track your fertility, which include charting your basal body temperature, cervical mucus and cervical position

• Over-the-counter or prescription ovulation predictor kit.

Finally, some women can actually feel themselves ovulate. They will experience a sharp pain on one side of their abdomen, or experience a feeling similar to menstrual cramps. This is called “mittleschmerz,” literally translated from German to mean “middle pain.” For some, this pain is fleeting, for others it can last a few hours.

Using one or any combination of these methods will help you predict your time of ovulation.

Author: Dawn Allcot

Once your baby has outgrown the jarred or homemade baby food, it can sometimes become difficult to figure out good balanced meals to feed your baby. Some baby’s may become picky, or sometimes it may be you that is picky, but you still want to feed your baby well.

Toddlers have very small esophagi so it is crucial to remember to give them soft foods that they can easily chew and eat in small bites. You don’t want to give your toddler tough meats or foods that they will have a hard time eating on their own. You also have to remember to always cut your toddlers food into very small pieces so that they do not choke on it.

Many times the food you feed your family you can also feed your toddler. Mashed potatoes, soups, mashed up peas, french fries that even toothless babies can gum, and cooked carrots are good for a toddler to eat. They are soft and can be squished in your toddler’s mouth before they swallow.

Toddlers can also eat small bites of spaghetti that you make for your family, or small bites of burritos or enchiladas. You want to make sure it is all cut up into baby size bites and isn’t too spicy for kids. Grilled cheese sandwiches cut into tiny pieces that your toddler can gum are a great idea for a quick and easy lunch. You will probably want to cut off the crust however.

Once your toddler turns two you can begin introducing peanut butter and hotdogs into his diet. You want to avoid peanut butter before two because it could cause your child to develop allergies to nuts that could be deadly. Always make extra sure that you cut hotdogs into very small pieces.

Breakfast for your toddler can include eggs, small pieces of cut of sausage, cold cereal with or without milk, or oatmeal. Snacks can include soft fruits such as kiwi and melons that your toddler can gum or chew.

Smoothies are always good for toddler. Blend up fruits and veggies and let your toddler drink these as a way to sneak in that extra serving of healthy fruits and vegetables everyday. Here is a recipe for one of our favorites!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
2-4 strawberries
1/2 banana*

Directions:
Blend all ingredients together, adding water if desired to make thinner. Pour in your toddler’s sippy cup and serve.

*For variety bananas may be substituted for Kiwi’s or you can use all three!

by Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes

Wonderfully simple to do and oh so impressive!

You don’t need a $40 Easter egg decorating kit with pages of instructions to impress your family and guests this Easter – achieve sophisticated elegance with colors taken directly from nature. Simply decorated from a myriad of plants and flowers, you can create a beautiful range of natural colors and textures. Try this technique – it’s simple enough to do with young children.

Ingredients
Gather together eggs, an enamel or stainless steel pot, vinegar, cheesecloth, a rubber band, and plant materials such as onionskins, blueberries, pecan hulls, parsley, beets or dandelions.

Directions

1. To prepare the dye bath, fill a pot with two or three cups of plant material. Barely cover it with water (more plant material produces stronger colors.) Simmer for at least 30 minutes. Add water and stir as needed. The dyes can be made several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Strain and heat the dye before using it.
2. Use hard-boiled or blown out eggs. Carefully wash the eggs with soap and water. Allow them to dry. Wipe the eggs with vinegar.
3. To decorate the eggs, moisten small leaves and grasses, one at a time. Press them firmly against the egg. Hold them in place by wrapping the eggs in a six-inch square of cheesecloth or nylon pantyhose. Pull the cloth tight against the egg and secure it with a rubber band. Immerse the egg in a container of warm dye. Some dyes are stronger than others. The process may take only a few moments or several hours. Dyes derived from yellow onionskin, red onionskin, and blueberries all provide quick results.
4. Unwrap the eggs, drain, and let them dry upright.

What a magical and unpredictable process. Each lustrous egg is a unique surprise. Some of our favorites were the results of happy accidents. Enjoy discovering!

About The Author
Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that’s jam packed with family ideas, visit togetherparenting.com/.
info@togetherparenting.com