MobiSante has developed an ultrasound scanning device that can be operated from a smartphone. So instead of simply showing your co-workers printouts of your gestating baby, you can give them a live image!

Well, maybe not. It does cost $7,495. Just put it on your wish list for now.

Link -via OhGizmo!

Don't rebuke your children for marking up the walls! They're following in a rich tradition that spans human history. Archaeologist Jessica Cooney has determined that finger marks left in the soft stone of a certain French cave complex were made by children. She can tell because the marks are so small that they could have only been inscribed by young kids. In fact, she's able to trace markings to individual children, which can be identified by age and gender:

The researchers suspect that eight to 10 people, including four kids aged 7 or younger, were behind the ancient finger flutings. Children left marks in every chamber. One of them was apparently just 2 or 3 years old and may have been helped by a grown-up. "The most prolific of the children who made flutings was aged around 5 — and we are almost certain the child in question was a girl," Cooney said.

Cooney said that child's markings appear on cave ceilings more than 6 feet (2 meters) high, which would suggest that she was held up or put on someone's shoulders to make the marks. One chamber was so marked up by children that it may have served as a "playpen of sorts," she said.

Video at the link.

Link -via Glenn Reynolds | Image: Cambridge University

Amber Miller wasn't one to let mere full-term pregnancy (well, 39 weeks) get in the way of completing her eighth marathon:

When the baby hadn't been born by Sunday, she got clearance from her doctor to run half. She completed it with a with a half-run half-walk approach, drinking lots of fluids and eating a lot along the way. She finished in 6.25.50, much slower than her usual marathon time, but still content. [...]

She felt her first contractions within minutes of finishing the race and gave birth to a healthy baby boy a few hours later. Although running all the way to labor is rare, champion marathon runners have trained aggressively during their pregnancies:

Marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe ran 22km a day while pregnant and resumed training weeks after the birth of her first child. She won the New York City Marathon in 2007 just 10 months after delivery. American marathoner Kara Goucher, who gave birth to her son last year, also trained while pregnant, running 130km a week at times.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-photo-finish-woman-gives-birth-after-runni-001,0,6661609.photo -via Stuff | Photo: Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune

Our first child was born at a teaching hospital, so my wife and I have a sense of what this is like. I eventually just told the medical students to leave. But Marni Kotak, an artist in Brooklyn, doesn't have a problem with strangers seeing her bring her child into the world. Her birthing will take place in an art gallery as part of an exhibition:

The month-long exhibition is set around her due date, although according to her own words she feels it might happen on the opening night. The gallery will run on extended hours from 11am to 6pm, and Marni will spend some time there every day. She lives just around the corner, so even if it comes in the middle of the night, she can easily come.

Visit the link to see pictures of the birthing room that Kotak has set up at the Microscope Gallery.

Link -via The Mary Sue | Gallery Website | Photo: Bushwick Daily

Are your kids constantly stealing clean laundry and blankets to build tents and forts? Mine are. Etsy seller CoolSpacesForKids must know some kids guilty of doing this too. Check out her beautifully simple and yet sweetly adorable Tablecloth Play House.

Did you just have a "Why Didn't I Think Of That" moment? I know I did when I saw this tablecloth playhouse.  I also wondered how long it took for the kids to knock that bowl of apples off the table.  I hope the bowl is made out of plastic.

Link via Babygadget

Kids who are staying at Seattle Children's Hospital are finding messages written to them in huge letters when they look outside their windows. Ironworkers assembling the frame of a new building outside the hospital have been spray painting greetings to the kids on steel beams:

And sure enough, there on a reddish-brown beam was a message an ironworker spray-painted only a few days ago. Its big bold letters said simply, "HI JULIAN."

A couple of rooms away, Zac Graling, a 16-year-old being treated for leukemia, looked out at another beam bearing the message, "HI ZAC." [...]

The new building's skeleton is alive with greetings to Kitty, Colby, Kyle and Istvan. To Violet, Seth, Josh and Austin. To Rachel, Adam, Gillie-Jane and Christofer.

"Each day we do another one — at least one," said Tim Hettich, a superintendent with subcontractor The Erection Co., made up of Ironworkers Local 86.

Link -via Ace of Spades HQ | Photo: Alan Berner, Seattle Times

(Video Link)

The 18-month old daughter of YouTube user grizzdais knows actor Brad Pitt on sight! And he is totally cute and the object of her affections. Does George Kennedy get this kind of fan adoration? No, although I flabbergasted as to why.

-via The Uniblog

Do you know who this doll belongs to?

This very special Operation Military Kid doll, with a picture of a soldier, showed up at the Cedar Rapids airport last November. The airport tried to find the owner, but the doll remained unclaimed. Now the doll is now being transferred into the custody of the Department of Corrections.

The Department of Corrections in Iowa has decided to adopt a no doll left behind policy, at least in this instance.

Those with the Department of Corrections aren't giving up on finding the doll's owner.

"There's a family out there possibly a young child that's missing this doll and it's very important to that family and to us to try to get it back in the hand of that family," says Fred Scaletta with the Department of Corrections.

Who knew a airport and a state agency could have such a big heart? I am keeping my fingers crossed that this doll finds his way safely back home.

Link

Tatiana and Krista Hogan are a pair of conjoined twins joined at the head. Because their brains are linked together, they may share a mind, according to some scientists. They certainly share some sensory information: Tatiana can see through Krista's eyes and Krista can see through one of Tatiana's eyes. But beyond being the source of scientific fascination, they're also little girls who are growing up. And they just started kindergarten:

“They love school,” says grandmother Louise McKay. The staff at the school have gone out of their way to make the girls comfortable, including setting aside a quiet room if they need a break and retrofitting a special toilet, she says. “They have a really nice team behind them, they’re helping us out trying to figure out ways of accommodating Tati and Krista so they’re comfortable at school.”

The girls have certainly caused a stir. One girl, especially, followed them around the first few hours, clearly curious. They quickly formed a friendship. “Every morning she waits for Tati and Krista to get there, and takes them over to play finger puppets,” says McKay. “They’re laughing and giggling."

Link -via Marginal Revolution | Photo: Brian Howell

(YouTube link)

This is The Mini Band, composed of 8- and 10-year-olds. Here they perform Metallica's "Enter Sandman" at the Bucklebury Beer Festival. They have a Facebook page. Link -via Buzzfeed

Kindergartener Christopher sent a letter out to the TV studio of Mister Roger's Neighborhood asking if he could visit, and received a response back that--as his mother described--left him "beaming."

Dear Christopher,



You are growing and learning so many new things every day. Now you are 6 years old, and you're learning how to type. You did a fine job on your letter! I know it can take a lot of practice to be able to type well. I'm proud of that way you're growing, and I hope you are, too.


Despite rejecting his request, the letter written by Fred Rogers himself was so touching that Christopher's father sent out another letter to thank him. The thank you letter received more kind words from Mr. Rogers, who will forever remind us that it's a beautiful day. -Link

Don't be too proud of this obstetrical terror you've constructed. The Pregonaut knew exactly what to do with her extended belly last Halloween. And yes, it does fire a beam of destruction. Click on the link to see it in action.

Link -via The Mary Sue | Mother's Blog

(YouTube link)

Someone's got to teach little Katie the important things in life, like how to play ball. The dog is a patient teacher, and Katie is both a willing and adorable student. -via Arbroath

Life magazine looked back through its archives for weird inventions, including this baby soother. It's shaped like a human breast and vibrates to the rhythm of the human heart on the assumption that the form and cadence are familiar and comfortable to babies. Jokes aside, this actually sounds like a plausible hypothesis -- or at least enough to generate sales. I've got two young children, and I tell you, some parents will buy anything.

Link -via Gizmodo

Everyone thinks their child will grow up to be spectacular, but few can even hope their child will have such a drastic impact on the world as these famous authors in photos from when they were children.

If you think this photo looks rather Kafkaesque, you're right...quite literally. In fact this is young Franz Kafka in 1888 at the age of five.

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