How to be supportive in the midst of infertility

As part of an online discussion, a woman recently asked advice columnist Carolyn Hax how to be supportive of a friend undergoing fertility treatments.  The woman is questioning how to bring up the topic to her friend and what to say that would show her friend she cares.
Here are some good tips from Carolyn:

   The most important thing is that this woman genuinely cares about her friend and has listened well when she opened up.

    Keep in mind that this is a very serious topic for the friend, so avoid harsh or seemingly flippant conversation.  Treat the topic as you would any other serious health issue.

    A good way to bring up the topic is to say something like, “I think a lot about you and wonder how your fertility efforts are going, but I’m not sure how or even whether to ask. Would you like me to check in, or let you bring it up when you’re ready?”

    Keep the conversation centered on your friend and ask what she needs.

My baby is 3 months old. How does a baby's sight develop

My baby is 3 months old. How does a baby's sight develop? At what stage can they identify light and dark? At what stage can they identify objects?
Your baby is seeing lots of things now and has been for a long time! Before he was born he could detect light and could turn himself toward a light source near your abdomen. At birth he could see your face; by now he can follow you across the room with his eyes. He recognizes you and is likely to put on his best coos and wiggles when he first sees you. If you're sad or distracted, he'll pick up your subtle expressions. He's learning more each day about depth and distance as he discovers his hands and what they can do to make life interesting. He'll try to grab reachable objects but is unlikely to be successful at this age; he needs more practice getting his eyes and hands to work together. He'll work hard to make objects move, such as kicking his feet if a piece of yarn tied gently to them makes a mobile move. Vision is one of the best ways for him to learn about his world. If you have any questions about your baby's vision, have his health care provider check it for you. Otherwise enjoy his visual exploration!

Will & Jada Smith: Willow, 13, Needs You To Be Parents, Not Friends

Will and Jada Smith — a source close to you revealed to TMZ that you think it’s fine for Willow to lie in bed with a 20-year-old guy because she’s ‘mature.’ Sounds like you two are trying to be your daughter’s pals when you should be protective parents.
Will and Jada Smith — are you actually Willow Smith‘s parents, and are you involved in her life? In what universe is it OK for a 13-year-old girl in a tiny tank top to be lying in bed next to a shirtless, 20-year-old guy, Moises Arias?


Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith Need To Be Parents To Willow Smith, Not Her Friends
Moises starred in Hannah Montana and is a friend of the Smith family, and the photo posted on his Tumblr and Instagram accounts has set off an appropriate uproar. After all, there’s a world of difference between the maturity and life experience of a guy, 20, and a girl of 13. Both Moises and Willow are at ages when hormones can wreak havoc on decision-making and actions!

Why they’d be hanging out together on a bed with no adult supervision in sight is a mystery to parents everywhere, even if it isn’t to you.

Shall I put this bluntly? Boys at 20 are horny creatures, even if they are family friends, and even in this case, if Moises is the best friend of your son, Jaden, 15.

Sources connected to your family have told TMZ that you believe Willow is “very mature … enough to make her own decisions, as long as they don’t clearly cross the line.Let me tell you something — NO 13 year old is mature! They are all immature. Willow is a baby, even if she is the daughter of two huge Hollywood stars, and has already had hit singles.

Being a celebrity does not confer maturity. Will Smith, you told the AP in an interview that you’re “trying to release the sense of ownership” of your kids. “With our kids, Jada and I believe that it’s their lives and we are helping them with their lives. And they’re not our property. They are people that are deserving of our respect and consideration in the same way that any human being should be.”

Will Smith: Willow & Jaden Are ‘Not Our Property’
Will, I think it’s great that you respect your children and don’t see them as “property,” but you still need to see them as kids who need guidance and boundaries, because they are young and immature. It’s your responsibility as parents to parent Willow and Jaden, so they are instilled with values and direction and so they don’t make stupid mistakes that can hurt them for life.

Most parents would say that it’s a stupid mistake to have their young daughter hanging out on a bed with a guy who’s 20 years old. You really don’t know what could happen.

In 2012 alone, 305,388 teen girls made a stupid mistake and ended up getting pregnant and giving birth, according to the United States Department of Human and Health Services.

As parents, you want to make sure that doesn’t happen to Willow.

Will and Jada are “lazy parenting,” believes psychologist Cooper Lawrence, author of The Cult of Celebrity. “They don’t want to appear ‘uncool’ and want to be their kids’ friends, rather than an authority figure.” Teen psychologist Dr. David Gottesfeld questions Willow’s “maturity.” “She may be very mature, but what does that mean? She’s mature as a 16 or 17 year old? Able to make her own decisions until she crosses the line? Is that their line? How will they know?”

“There’s a big difference in maturity between a 13 year old and a 20 year old … A gap of seven years is extraordinary for kids growing up … How do they handle the inevitable sexual urges and mores (if they have any) when they arise, as they wear little clothing?” points out Dr. Gilda Carle, 30-Second Therapist for the Today show. “And of course, where are their parents to guide them in their decision-making? Parents need to give kids boundaries.”

Yes, they do, Will and Jada. You may want to avoid conflict and the typical arguments that parents have with their teens, who are pushing to be independent. But hands-off parenting, or what you call “releasing the sense of ownership,” is really just abdicating your responsibility to say “no” to teenage activities that are inappropriate, at least, if they are unsupervised.

Shall we also raise the point that Willow appears to have attended the Coachella Music Festival, which is rife with partying and various substances, solely with her brother and their friends?

Will and Jada, it’s time to step up and be Willow and Jaden’s parents, before it’s too late. They’ll thank you!

Sterling Bank’s shareholders increase share capital to N16bn print

Shareholders of Sterling Bank Plc on Wednesday approved the bank’s plans to raise new capital through a private placement.

The private placement is expected to shore up Sterling Bank’s share capital to N16 billion from the existing N12 billion.

According to News Agency of Nigeria the shareholders gave the approval at the bank’s 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos.

According to the shareholders, the private placement should be raised by the creation of an additional eight billion ordinary shares of 50k each.

The shareholders also approved the payment of 25k dividend per share declared by the bank.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Farouk Umar, President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, said that the shareholders would support the capital raising exercise.

Umar said that the bank needed to increase its share capital to finance value creation projects.

He also said that enhanced shareholders’ funds would increase the bank’s lending limits.

Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said that the capital exercise would improve the bank’s return on investment.

Nwosu said that the bank would not be able to finance big business with a small capital base.

“If our capital base is not robust, we will not be able to finance big businesses.

“ISAN support for the bank’s robust financial muscle stems also from the need for Sterling Bank to be repositioned toward benefiting from the anticipated business of government’s transformation agenda,” he said.

Looking Good During Pregnancy Week by Week

Wondering why you're suddenly sprouting thicker hair and sweating up a storm? Or whether it's safe to hop in the tub or highlight your hair? Browse these pregnancy beauty tips and tricks for answers on everything from covering up those break-outs to baby-safe ways to pamper yourself.
First Trimester

Weeks 1 and 2: Hot Tubs and Fertility
Trying to conceive? The only time things should be hot is when you're in bed — so skip the hot tub and sauna which can lower sperm production and impact fertility.

Week 3: Acne Treatments During Pregnancy
Got more pimples than a high school marching band? Don't lock yourself in your bathroom.

Week 4: Highlights and Hair Dye During Pregnancy
Most experts agree that when it comes to hair coloring, safe is better than sorry. So wait out the first trimester before heading back to the salon to retouch those roots.

Week 5: Tanning Beds During Pregnancy
Are you a fan of the tan? Well, it's time to take a break from those tanning beds, which can raise your body temperature to a level that could be harmful to your developing baby.

Week 6: Hair Growth During Pregnancy
For many expectant moms, pregnancy means hair that's lush, shiny, and downright luxurious (makes you want to audition for a shampoo commercial — doesn't it?).

Week 7: Nail Polish During Pregnancy
Feel pitiful without a pedicure? Manic without a manicure? Relax — it's perfectly safe to polish your nails while pregnant.

Week 8: Pregnancy Skin Problems
Pregnancy can cause some pretty wacky complexion stuff, from excessive oiliness to excessive dryness, from acne to blotchiness, and most strangely, to chloasma, "the mask of pregnancy."

Week 9: Bra Size During Pregnancy
Your bigger-by-the-minute twins might seem a bit scary to you — and a little exciting to your partner (too bad you won't let him touch!).

Week 10: Maternity Clothes
Sooner or later, every pregnant woman enters that period of fashion limbo: You're too big for your jeans but too small for maternity wear.

Week 11: Make a Belly Book
You may not believe it now, but someday you'll enjoy looking at pictures or video of your pregnant body — and so will your child.

Week 12: Teeth Whitening During Pregnancy
While there are no proven risks to tooth whitening, it's a procedure that definitely falls into the better safe than sorry category.

Week 13: Stretch Mark Treatment
The truth is, 90 percent of all women will develop stretch marks during pregnancy. (The other 10 percent have fabulous genes or especially well-toned and elastic skin.)
Second Trimester

Week 14: Work Clothes During Pregnancy
Right about now you're probably most comfy in a pair of cozy sweats, worn loose and low. Unfortunately, your boss might not appreciate that look around the office.

Week 15: Tattoos and Pregnancy
Thinking of commemorating your pregnancy by getting a tattoo? Think again.

Week 16: Lackluster Hair During Pregnancy: Bad Hair Day?
Many lucky women get the hair of their dreams during pregnancy, but lackluster hair is an equally common side effect of pregnancy

Week 17: What to Wear During Pregnancy?
It's time to raid your partner's closet for oversize shirts and sweats, and your gal pals' attics for maternity clothes that are gently used and begging to be borrowed.

Week 18: Skin Changes During Pregnancy
No need to adjust your television set — or dash to the dermatologist. Your strange skin symptoms are all normal, and all temporary.

Looking Good During Pregnancy

There's no reason not to look your best for these nine months – you've earned it, you deserve it, and you need it! So whether you want fashion tips on maternity wear basics (and beyond!), want to know what's safe when it comes to hair treatments, or need a fast solution for a particularly vexing beauty challenge (brittle nails got you down, too?), you'll find advice for all these and more here

How 'baby brain' can help mother bond with a child: Scientists discover that becoming forgetful during pregnancy has a purpose

Plenty of women will tell you that becoming a bit forgetful and emotional is part and parcel of pregnancy.

And now scientists have confirmed that not only does so-called ‘baby brain’ exist – it actually has a purpose.

According to psychologists, changes in the brain during pregnancy are designed to help mothers prepare for bonding.

A study found that pregnant women show increased activity in the area of the brain related to emotional skills.

The finding suggests that hormones activated during pregnancy fine-tune the intuition which helps a woman understand her baby’s needs from the moment the child is born.

Results of the study – led by Dr Victoria Bourne at Royal Holloway, University of London – will be presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference today in Birmingham.

Dr Bourne said: ‘Our findings give us a significant insight into the “baby brain” phenomenon that makes a woman more sensitive during the child bearing process.

'The results suggest that during pregnancy, there are changes in how the brain processes facial emotions that ensure that mothers are neurologically prepared to bond with their babies at birth.’

The research team examined the neuropsychological activity of 19 pregnant women and 20 mothers whose babies were nine weeks old on average.

The women looked at images of adult and baby faces with either positive or negative expressions.

The results showed that pregnant women used the right side of their brain more than those who had already had their babies.

More...

    Mother-of-three is turning into a living statue as rare incurable disease causes her muscles to stiffen, leaving her in excruciating pain
    New daily 'super pill' could save millions of lives by preventing heart attacks and strokes, experts claim

The right side of the brain is typically associated with emotion, while the left is linked to logic.

The study used the chimeric faces test, which is based on images composed of half of a  neutral face and half of an emotive face combined.

The resulting doctored photo allows researchers to tell which side of the participants’ brain is used to process positive and negative emotions.

The results showed that pregnant women used the right side of their brain more than the new mothers did, particularly when processing positive emotions.

Katie Price breaks silence on shock six month pregnancy and reveals she ''wants more kids'

Former glamour girl Katie Price has opened up about her shock pregnancy.

Earlier this week news emerged the mum-of-four was six months pregnant with her fifth child, conceived just months after she gave birth to Jett.

Katie only realised she was expecting again after falling ill with stomach pains while on holiday in Cape Verde in April with husband Kieran Hayler and her children.

“The day we flew home, we all got into the house at 1am and I thought the first thing I’d do when I woke up was a pregnancy test. When I did it came up positive,” she told Now magazine.

The 35-year-old said it came as a shock, but her and hubby Kieran were absolutely over the moon. It wasn't until the following day she realised she was six months gone after going to see the doctor for a scan.

Justin Bieber Likes Yovanna Ventura Because He Thinks She’s ‘A 10′

Justin has an eye for hot women and his new flame, Yovanna, is no exception! The Biebs has been telling his boys that he likes spending time with the sexy fitness model because she’s ‘a 10,’ a source reveals to HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.
If you’re not smoking hot with an amazing body, you can forget about ever being with Justin Bieber! Yovanna Ventura‘s sexy face and figure has got the Biebs totally hooked! He’s been raving about her to his friends, telling them that she’s one beautiful dime piece, a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.


Justin Bieber’s New Girlfriend Yovanna Ventura — He Thinks She’s ‘A 10′
The 20-year-old singer is all about the ladies and he loves being adored by all different kinds of beauties – especially models! And his new chick, Yovanna, 18, fits his type to a tee.“She’s gorgeous and there’s no secret he likes to surround himself with beautiful women,” a source close to the Biebs tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY. “It’s one the perks of being Justin Bieber.”

“Nine times out of 10, you will see him with a 10,” the source continues. “That’s just how he rolls.”

We have to agree that Yovanna is stunning, but we think she’s nothing compared to Justin’s first love — Selena Gomez!

Introducing Yovanna Ventura
If you thought Yovanna was just beauty with a body, think again! As HollywoodLife.com previously reported, Yovanna is quite a go-getter.

The girl has one serious and impressive resume. For starters, she’s bilingual, and we all know that Justin loves exotic women.

Secondly, she’s a fitness model, which explains why her body is toned to the max! She has a huge fitness following on Instagram, with more than 200,000 followers who look to her for workout and diet advice. You go, girl!

So what do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Is Yovanna the one for Justin or is she just another sexy fling? Let us know!

Rihanna shows off butt cleavage in very low slung dress at Met Gala afterparty

I'm sure she thinks we are all already bored with seeing her titties and wants to give us something else to talk about. The singer wore this very low slung gold dress that showed her butt cleavage to last night's Met Gala after-party. No bra, no pata. Rihanna, dia iz God oooo. See more photos after the cut

Kim and Kanye are reportedly already married

Their official wedding date is May 24th, but Life & Style is reporting that Kim and Kanye have already tied the knot quietly.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are officially married, a source close to the couple tells Life & Style Weekly.
It was reported earlier this week they would be getting their wedding license over the coming days, ahead of the official ceremony which is rumored to be taking place in Paris on May 24.
Now, a source tells Life & Style Kim and Kanye are officially Mr. and Mrs. West. “Kim and Kanye are now married on paper. They got their license in California over the past few days," the source said. "Kim and North are on their way to NYC now

New Music: Solid Star - Super Eagles

Here is the much anticipated official Super Eagles 2014 World Cup song by Solidstar. The video will be dropping very soon. Enjoy below

Get Closer Naija, Its Only Natural!

There’s a movement currently going on, and it’s all about being Natural and Nigerian! Are you a Nigerian? Do you really love Naija? Prove to us that you are truly Naija by doing the everyday thing the Naija way.

Every day from today to the 9th of May, Closeup will put up a question and you need to respond to the question in a Naija way.  Continue...

All entrants will be rewarded with either a FREE ticket to Closeup exclusive event or a chance to feature LIVE on radio with popular on-air personalities. The Contest is on!!

 Here is the first question; 'Imagine you just won a Grammy, write us your acceptance speech the “naija” way. Write and upload here https://a.pgtb.me/xkCfGT to WIN.

 Check out www.facebook.com/Closeup for more details. #getclosenaija.

CAN releases 180 names of abducted Chibok schoolgirls

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, today Sunday May 4th, released the names of 180 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

According to a report by Vanguard, CAN is also asking for N50m damage as trauma compensation for the girls, plus overseas University on Government scholarship for each girl from the federal govt.

A statement signed by the Christian body gave reason for the attack on Chibok girls’ high school.
"Chibok is 90% Christians. Majority of the girls abducted are Christian! Why did Boko Haram visit Chibok Local Government? Why didn’t they visit so many other Local Government Girls Secondary Schools in Borno State?”
See the names of 180 abducted girls as released by CAN after the cut...


The names as released by CAN.