I'm a full-time mummy

Finally can't resist and succumbed to the temptation of creating the "I'm a full-time mummy Fan Page" for my blog on Facebook!

It came about when one of my blog reader (Thanks to mamapoekie for the inspiration!) who asked me through her comment whether I have a Facebook page and I replied that I don't think I can handle too many accounts at the moment!

. . . . . (please wait while I put my foot into my mouth)

Okay, okay... I just can't resist it any longer! I thought over the idea of creating the Facebook page and what benefits & good it does for my blog and it came down to these few reasons:

* a great platform for my loyal followers to come together for my website

* gives more footing in search ranking

* able to track the number of interactions my page has with fans, view key demographics like sex, age, and location, and more

* a variety of customization options when choosing to communicate with my fan base

* able to communicate messages and posts directly into my fans’ homepages

* it’s completely free!

* Facebook allows users to Comment, Like & Share any update, link, photo, video etc. This has the opportunity to turn viral depending on the popularity or interest in the subject.

* The process of becoming a fan is simplified – NO friend request to be ‘accepted’ or to view your page. Just the decision to become a fan and at the click of a mouse the avenue of communication is open to you both.

Another article on the benefits:

* Unlike profile and group, both of which are limited with maximum 5000 friends and 5000 members, fan page is unlimited, a fan page can get as many fans as it can

* Fan page can be searched or found by search engine, it is powerful, imagine whatever you post in fan page will be indexed by google,doesn’t it mean more traffic to the page and also target business website or blog?

Now how to create a Facebook page for your blog? I'm just going to put in those steps that I managed to screenshot for your guide, you can actually surfed around the Net for tutorials to do this as well. So here goes:

#1: Login to your Facebook account. If you don't have an account, you need to create one first by going to Facebook home page.

#2: Now go to Facebook | Create a Page option. You will see there are 2 page options to choose from, "Official Page" or "Community Page". Choose the one on the left.

#3: Select the 2nd option which is "Brand, product or organisation" and look for "Website".

#4: Key in your page name. In my case, of course I key in my blog name which is "I'm a full-time mummy".

#5: Check the box under "I'm the official representative of this person, business, band or product and have permission to create this Page." and click the "Create Official Page" button.

#6: From there onwards, you will be prompted to add your info, such a picture for your page profile, basic and detailed info and so on.

Now what good is a fan page if you can't import your blog RSS into it right? Honestly, I'm kinda tired having to copy my posts link to my personal Facebook profile whenever I publish a new post. So, doing this especially under my own blog profile is good for me!

Option 1: Via Facebook Notes

#7: Now, what you do is go to "Edit Page", look for "Notes" and click at the "Edit" option. Look out for the option to "Import a Blog" and key in your blog URL. Check the box at the end before clicking on the "Start Importing" button. (I actually have to search around for more tutorials as it cannot detect my RSS link and I finally found the solution which is to just key in my blog URL)

#8: If your URL is correct, you will see the preview of your imported blog. Just click at the "Confirm Import" button.

Option 2: Via NetworkedBlogs on Facebook (** FYI, I USED THIS OPTION!)

A note of thanks to a bloggy friend, MieVee for highlighting the differences between these 2 options. I'm using the 2nd option  based on this tutorial after MieVee's tips and we'll see how it works out when my next post is up!

Of course, the final step is to "Like" your own fan page and then start spreading the news that you have your own Facebook page now!

For me, I added a new social icon on my blog sidebar so that you guys can just click on the button (2nd from left) to follow "I'm a full-time mummy Fan Page".

Hope the above tutorials help!

Now come and start liking "I'm a full-time mummy Fan Page" already!

See you in Facebook! 

Have you ever wondered how much nutrients is your toddler getting in his daily food intake?

Well, wonder no more!

Go and try out the "Tot It Up" tool to get a general overview of your child's diet and analysis of the balance of foods needed.

Based on Ben's meals today, I keyed in the portions and below is the analysis report:

Looks like everything is fine and dandy except I need to increase the intake under "Milk, cheese & yogurt", "Fruits & Vege" and possibly look into the water intake for Ben. My boy guzzles water like nobody's business! But then he's always running around and up to something and active all the time, so I guess it justifies the amount of water he had daily.

As for physical activity, there's not much choice given in the list, though I'd love to add in reading, drawing, playing at balcony, listening and dancing along to music to the activities.

Go and try out the tool now!

And let me know the results you got!

According to this article I read, the natural age of weaning is to be between two-and-a-half and seven years.

Yeap! You read that right!

Between two-and-a-half and seven years!

My record as of today, is 17 months and 3 weeks+.

Read the excerpts below which I took from the same article:

Anthropologists estimate the natural age of weaning to be between two-and-a-half and seven years, based on developmental factors and with comparisons with other mammals. According to the World Health Organisation, the worldwide average for weaning is four-and-a-half years.

Many mums are told their milk doesn't have any goodness once their baby is older. In reality, it's not possible for the nutrients in breastmilk to "switch off" once infants reach a certain age.

Breastfeeding a toddler can provide 31% of his daily energy needs, 38% of protein, 45% of vitamin A and 95% of vitamin C. Breastmilk is packed with unique antibodies for immune system development and there are many studies showing toddlers who are breastfed get sick far less often.

Many people feel that breastfeeding past a certain age will make kids overly dependent or clingy, but research has shown the opposite to be true. Children who form a secure attachment with their mother become more independent and can more easily form attachments with others.

Breastfeeding a toddler can make it easier for mums too. With a quick feed you can soothe a sore knee or a tantrum, or get a child off to sleep! Plus you'll reduce your risk of anaemia, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancers.

It can sometimes be hard to imagine how you can breastfeed away from home with a toddler. But in reality it can be easier than feeding a small baby. Toddlers can go a lot longer between feeds. Even if you are out for a few hours you may not need to feed and, if you do, it can be very quick.

I just love the part "Breastfeeding a toddler can provide 31% of his daily energy needs, 38% of protein, 45% of vitamin A and 95% of vitamin C." That just makes me feel awfully good! Of course, I don't have a clue how much percentage is the nutrients in my breastmilk before I came across this article but it feels good knowing I'm still giving Ben all these wonderful and awesome goodies through my breastmilk!

And I definitely agree with "Breastmilk is packed with unique antibodies for immune system development and there are many studies showing toddlers who are breastfed get sick far less often." cos I can see how rare Ben gets sick (touch wood!) and even when he did fall sick, he recovers so quickly and there are times we didn't even notice what's wrong until he's almost on the way to recover fully.... this is generally because he is active all the time and doesn't show much signs of being sick at all.

I thank God for the ability to still produce breastmilk for Ben and that we are all healthy and happy!

Ben, mummy promise you,

I will breastfeed as long as you still wants it!

Oh, btw if you are free (if not, please spare a couple of minutes),

do read up on this really truly inspiring article on the power of breastmilk!

Happy weekend to all of you!