Proud Mommy

I have a small garden with four tomato plants. They get full sun for a few hours a day and I water them generously every day. The plants are green and healthy and producing lots of tomatoes but they are splitting before they ripen. Had the same problem a couple years ago and was never able to figure it out. Any idea what I'm doing wrong???

I have a chicken recipe that calls for dried rosemary and I don't have any (honestly, I don't particularly care for it). The recipes calls to saute chicken in butter and olive oil and remove chicken from pan. Saute, shallots, garlic, add white wine, chicken broth and thicken, etc. Any suggestions for a substitute for the rosemary? I have dried basil, oregano, parsley, dill... Just not sure what will complement this dish.

I know it's an odd question but my husband wasn't paying attention to what he was doing the other night and put the sour cream in the freezer instead of the fridge! I wanted to use it tonight and found it in the freezer. Do you think it's ok? It hasn't thawed enough yet for me to try.

Well it finally happened. My 29 mos old escaped his crib. Afterwards we lowered the mattress to the lowest level (which dropped it about 3" more) and he can still climb out.

His crib converts to a toddler bed so we're all set there but I just don't know how to go about it. Do we just put him to bed like normal in the toddler bed? I know he'll get up and play (even if it is dark!). How do you teach him it's time for bed and he needs to stay there? I've read the advice that says you have to stay in there quietly and just keep picking him up and putting him in the bed until he stays. Yeah right, I know my son will not go to sleep with me sitting in his room.

I've got a baby gate in front of his door for now. I put him in for a nap about ½ hour ago and he's climbed out and was playing, now he's opened the door and has discovered he can't get out! I know he's tired and needs a nap but he won't stay in bed! HELP!!! I just don't know what to do!

My CD-rom drive is no longer reading anything (I've tried bavious discs and nothing). Is this something that can be repaired?

If not, how difficult is it to replace? I've never done it before but I'm very mechanically inclined and very computer literate. With so many options, how do I know what to replace it with? I really only need a basic internal CD-rom drive. My computer is already equipped with a DVD/CD writer as well.

I'm short on funds so I really don't want to pay someone to do it. I've also had too many bad experiences putting a computer in the hands of others.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I'm looking for a good recipe for something with pasta, cheese, meat (maybe sausage), tomato, etc.... Something beside lasagna or baked ziti.

Any ideas? I've tried allrecipes.com but haven't really found anything interesting.

Has anyone tried generic brand liners like Parent's Choice @ Wal-Mart. Have you had any problems with them? They are substantially cheaper but I still don't want to "invest" the $6 if they don't work as well (yes, I'm that cheap!)!

When moved your child from the crib to toddler bed did you

1.) Open his/her bedroom door after you went to bed so he/she could come get you if needed?

2.) Keep the door closed through the night and use a monitor?

This is an on-going debate with my in-laws and I'm just wondering what others do.

What is the difference between preschool and Nursery School?

When I had my first son (now 2) I knew right away I wanted another child (even before I gave birth). With my second I had some complications with delivery and thought that would be my last. Now that he's 7 mos. old I'm starting to think one more wouldn't be so bad!

I'm looking for some good, convenient, healthy things to feed my 2-yr old son for lunch. I was using the Gerber Graduate meals but they are in the #7 plastic and the prices have gone up substantially so I'm trying to do away with them. I have an infant too so I'm looking for something convenient that I can just give to him if I have to be tending to the baby at the time (he eats very well on his own).

I've been giving him canned soup (draining the liquid), chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fish sticks, tuna salad, etc. Other than the tuna these are the healthiest choices but I don't have time to cook him a meal for lunch everyday! I try to have left overs from the night before but my husband usually finishes everything off!

I always give him plenty of veggies and fruit with whatever I serve.

Any ideas are much appreciated!

Has anyone tried this? ( http://www.pedeggpro.com/?directLoad&uid=2AD6DEA5F... )

I get terrible caluses on my feet and wonder if it really works.

I started my 6 month old on rice cereal earlier this week and I was just wondering at what point everyone else added fruits and veggies. I looked back at my notes from my 2-year old and for some reason I had him eating just cereal for a month before adding other stage 1 items to his menu. Not really sure why I did that, as I don't think it was necessary!

After weeks of listening to the debate of whether or not BPA in baby bottles is bad or not I decided to err on the side of caution and purchase new bottles for my child.

They interviewed the owner of Born Free baby bottles, leading you to believe this is one ofyour only options. I got on line to do some research. Now don't get me wrong, my babies health and safety is worth any price, but the cost of these bottles prompted me to do further research and I thought I'd share my findings.

Born Free offers both glass bottles and BPA free plastic bottles: Glass bottles are $11 ea / Plastic $7 for 2. The nipples are 2 for $7

Nurture Pure offers Glass only at $11 for 3 and 3 nipples for $3.50

Gerber offers 2 BPA free plastic bottles ~ Clear View and Fashion Tints - I haven't been able to find them so I don't have prices (I know they are alot less expensive than the others). When I called they offered to mail coupons.

My husband and I are having severe problems with snoring. I think he suffers from sleep apnea. Would a GP treat this or should he go straight to an ENT?

My husband and I are trying to determine which to go with. My son is 2 and we're not quite ready for potty training yet but are trying to get prepared. Just wanted some general input.

Or at least one knowledgeable chef!

I've got a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner and need to know how long per pound to cook it to medium/rare and at what temp. oven.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Can you freeze a 1 lb. block of cheddar? If so, for how long?

Help! Trying to decide on which bottles to buy...

(Ok, and before anyone starts to lecture me on breast feeding ~ I know, and I'm not able to do so.)

I currently have Avent bottles and I hate them. They leak constantly and I'm tired of wrestling with them!

I'm interested in the Playtex Ventair bottles but not sure if they work well to mix powdered formula or if I used pre-mixed formula can put them in a bowl of hot water to warm it (not sure how that disk thing in the bottom works).

I'm also looking at the Playtex Drop-Ins system but have the same concerns with those!

I'm open to any other suggestions too!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

I plan on breastfeeding my newborn but want to pump also so that Daddy can help out, and also so I have a supply for when I'm not at home. I don't plan on going out much, but I'm a modest breastfeeder and not comfortable in public.

My question is... If my newborn nurses every couple hours (like my 1st), when is the best time to pump in between feedings? Immediately after? Just before? Somewhere in between?