Filed under: Pregnant celebrities, Blogs, Rumors, In the News

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, according to the world wide web, yet another celebrity is pregnant. This time it's good time gal Minnie Driver. Well, she seems like she'd be fun to me.

The media, per se, hasn't mentioned anything about Minnie having a bun in the over, but those on the blogosphere--yes, I said it, BLOGOSPHERE--are twittering over the possibility. See, this is how rumors get started. Then Perez Hilton gets a hold of it and the next thing you know if she's not pregnant Minnie will get that way.

So, perhaps you heard it here first--sort of. I personally won't believe it until I read it from Perez's lips and it is then authenticated several lax days later by the Internet Movie Database.

Hey--I was right about Gwen Stefani being pregnant!

What I find interesting about all the speculation and blog talk (yes, I said that too) is our fascination not only with pregnant celebrities but the very idea--the concept--of them being pregnant. Is it that we want to once and for all see that they're just like the rest of us gals ? Is it that we want them to seem more human? I don't know. But the fascination is...well...fascinating.

And look, if Minnie Driver is pregnant, then somebody owes me a pizza.

Pic of Minnie by nick farnhill.

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Filed under: College, 10-12 years, Pre-teen, Creative projects, In the News

Remember how when you were a kid you loved animals and you wanted to be a veterinarian when you grew up? well, for one little girl, growing up was apparently taking too long.

Ten year old Courtney Oliver of Olympia in Seattle, Washington completed an online training course which would prepare her to be a vet. Depending on which blog you read, she is a vet, has certification to be a vet, or neither. Last thing I heard she had completed a college training course to become a vet and needed to be supervised by a professional and her mother at all times while caring for animals (other than her own, I would imagine).

According to Yahoo Answers (so helpful!) Courtney is not a vet and does not have a degree to practice. Rather she completed on the online training necessary to receive a certificate to become a vet technician.

It would seem the media is once again getting ahead of itself, and poor Courtney too! But hey--she has more experience than I do. I wouldn't know how to help birth kittens. If Courtney wishes to be a vet when she grows up she's at least on her way. I like a woman who knows what she wants--even if she's not a woman (or a vet) yet.

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Filed under: Elementary school, Recalls

Last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of RR Donnelley Screening Materials Educational Assessment Blocks. Today, they have added a whole bunch more products to the list due to violations of the lead paint standard.

This time, they are recalling about 185,000 reading and math aids. These include a Magnetic Dry-Erase Board, Student Crown, Puppet Thinking Crown, Angled Ruler, Magnetic Number Line, Target Mat, Double Nine Dominoes, Mimosa Measuring Tape and Two-Sided White Seamstress Flexible Tape Measure.

These were sold by SRA of Columbus, Ohio, Glencoe, of Columbus, Ohio, and Wright Group, of Chicago, Ill. from July 2003 through October 2007.

If you have any of these products, you should immediately stop using them and contact RR Donnelley for information on returning the products for a free replacement item. RR Donnelley is directly contacting schools that purchased the reading and math aids.

For detailed information on the recalled products, including pictures, visit the CPSC Web site. If you still need more information, contact RR Donnelley toll free at (888) 240-2730 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site.

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Filed under: Recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of some more drawstring clothing items due to their failure to meet CPSC guidelines (pdf) regarding such things. This time, it is Apollo Active Wear velour jackets, which were sold with matching pants.

The jackets are hooded, zip up the front and have a front pocket. The word "DIVA" is prominently featured in rhinestones across the front of the jackets. They were sold in children's sizes small, medium, large, extra large and 4, 5, 6, and 6x and were available in blue, red and beige. On the jacket's neck tag you will find the words "Apollo Active Wear" and either style number 5033gk or 5033gg.

About 14,0000 of these sets were sold exclusively at Marshalls Stores nationwide from August 2007 through November 2007 for about $15.

If you have them, you should immediately remove the drawstring from the jacket's hood to eliminate the hazard. Of, if drawstringless hoodies aren't your thing, you can return it to the place of purchase or Apollo Jeans for a full refund.

For more information, call Apollo Jeans collect at (212) 398-6585 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m ET Monday through Friday.

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Filed under: 2 years, Toddler, Speech

Okay, I've got a burningly important question for all you parents out there. You know how the cow says "moo", the sheep says "baa", the lion says "rarrrr!", the doggie says "woof", and so on?

Well then, what, for the love of GOD, does the giraffe say?

No, really, I'd love to know if this has come up in your household ("What giraffe say, Mommy?") and if so, what answer you gave.

While Riley first asked me, I made up a weird sound -- kind of a gurgling "Eeee" noise -- which my husband scoffed at, declaring that I sounded like a dying gerbil. "Riley, giraffes do this," he said, and stretched out his neck as long as he could while making a slow, dramatic chewing noise, as if he were working over a fist-sized wad of gum. "Chomp . . . chomp . . . chomp."

So that's what the giraffe says in my house. "Chomp . . . chomp . . . chomp." It's kind of gross, really.

Tell me, what does your pint-sized giraffe say?

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Filed under: Image of the Day

It's hard to believe that the first 31 days of the new year have passed in such a dizzying manner. January is often like this, on the first day we vow to make amends for the previous 365 days and use the next batch for higher and better purposes. But time truly does seem to fly and here we are on the last day ready for the excitement of which picture has won the Image of the Month honor.

This month we had some great shots to choose from and the decision was not an easy one, but after much deliberation the ParentDish staff has chosen the above image, Space Baby, as our winner. Our winner, Wuby Z, submitted this fabulous picture that inspired much chat amongst our staff members. We were all blown away by the lighting, the pose and the many thoughts this picture inspires. Thanks so much, Wuby Z, for your contribution. As recognition for this image you have the honor of downloading the IOTM badge and featuring wherever you feel feel so inclined!


ParentDish is also excited to report that the February Image of the Month award will be saucier than ever since we are including any and all readers in the voting! Yes, that's right. The ParentDish staff will whittle the Image of the Day winners down to hand full of pictures and then we will feature a poll where our readers will have the option to choose the winning picture. So start getting your friends and family pumped right now because in just 28 days, give or take a few, you will have input for who gets the lucky badge!

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q20/Caloden/?action=view&current=IOTMbutton2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q20/Caloden/IOTMbutton2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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Filed under: Going into labor, Hospitals, Weird but True, In the News

A twenty-five year old gave birth to her first child in her driveway after being sent home from the hospital where she was told the pains she had been experiencing were "false labor."

Charryse Brooks wasn't due until February 22nd, but insisted her husband return her to the hospital after the contractions and pain got stronger. She only made it to the driveway.

"She looked at me, right in the eye, so calmly, too. She said, 'Tim, the baby's here,'" said her husband, the Rev. Timothy Brooks.

The new dad caught the 4-pound, 3-ounce newborn girl in the leg of the sweat pants his wife was wearing and rushed them back to the hospital.

Because she's obviously a very calm person, (No drugs and "the baby's here"?!) I'm guessing Charryse didn't slap the nurses who pooh-poohed her earlier.

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Filed under: Teenager, In the News

I love to shop at Goodwill and other thrift stores. You just never know what kind of great bargain you are going to find. For example, a shopper at the Goodwill store in Salem, Oregon got a BMX bike that originally sold for over $200 for just $6.99! The only problem with that little transaction was that the bike wasn't exactly for sale.

It seems that seventh grader Cody Young didn't understand the rules of the thrift shop - if it's on the floor, it's for sale. He didn't have a bike lock, so when he and his buddies went shopping at the Goodwill, he brought his bike inside the store and left it near some other bikes that were for sale. You can see where this is going, right? When he was ready to go, he discovered his bike had disappeared. Another shopper with an eye for a deal had purchased it and was long gone.

Goodwill spokesperson Bob Barsocchini initially said they were unable to determine the identity of the person who bought the bike, but that they would do everything they could to help Young recover it. When the local newspaper picked up the story, that buyer saw it and in an admirable show of good will, agreed to return it. In return for doing the right thing, the store is giving that person a $100 gift certificate for Goodwill. Maybe they will buy Young a bike lock with some that reward money.

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Filed under: High school, Teenager, 15-19 years, In the News

Should 17-year-olds be able to vote in their state's primary if they will be able to register and vote in the general election in November?

My local paper had an interesting story today about a teenager in Houston who has been writing his elected officials to get a law changed in Texas to allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary. Jeff Liu will be 18 this year and able to vote in the presidential election, so he would like his vote to be counted in the primary earlier in the year, before he turns 18.

I had never thought about this issue, but I find it very interesting. According to the article,11 states allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they'll be 18 by the general election. However, Texas is not one of them.

According to Jennie Bowser, a Colorado-based policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Virginia allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary if they will turn be eligible to vote in the general election.

Unfortunately, this teen will not be able to vote in the Texas primary in March, but I support changing this law and think it's great this teenager brought it to the attention of the press.

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Filed under: Pregnancy and Birth, Newborn, Baby clothes

My friend is expecting a baby in a few months and I talked to her this morning about a baby shower. She's due in March and because it is her third child and her third girl, she needs almost nothing when it comes to baby supplies. She has tons of clothes and blankets and all the other things a new baby needs. Because of that, she says she would feel uncomfortable having a baby shower.

I think this is just wrong. To me, a baby shower isn't just about getting stuff, but is also about celebrating this new life. It is a day for her to feel special and pampered and for her friends to share in the excitement of her new child. I want to give her a shower, but I don't want to make her uncomfortable and force her to receive gifts she doesn't need or want.

What do you think? Should I throw a "no-gifts" party and hope the guests abide by it? Or perhaps a party where guests bring gifts for a charity of her choosing? Or should I just forget about the whole thing? I don't think she should be denied a party just because she's done this twice before. What do you think?

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