• Monthly Archive:: April 2011

    My toddler is frustrated. Not that that’s an unusual occurrence, but it’s because she can’t quite bicycle as well as her older sister. Granted she is not yet 3 years old, but she takes her inability to master new things right away very personally (don’t we all?). When we took the girls out for a bike ride around the neighborhood, the little one was having difficulty grasping the concept of keeping her feet on the pedals; she just wondered rather loudly “why it won’t go?” So we resorted to her dragging her feet (literally and figuratively) as my husband pushed her from behind. Needless to say, his back was killing him before we made it down the street. For parents with aching backs everywhere comes [&hellip

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    Baby monitors have come a long way since the days of scratchy walkie talkie-type gadgets that could pick up your neighbor’s juicy phone conversations. Because the rooms in our humble home are relatively close together, and also because I had very “vocal” babies, no monitor ever truly wowed me enough to bother with. Now in stores, there’s a monitor that isn’t only a listening/viewing device, but a modern-day keepsake.  Baby Moments Digital Video Monitor has the ability to capture up to 50 photos at a time, so you can download them to your own computer and share with co-workers, friends and far-away family members. Then, when the video monitor isn’t being activated, you can use this multitasking tool as a picture frame to show off [&hellip

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    I know it’s spring because our cat is a bit more kooky than usual. Blame it on those warm breezes wafting through the open window, beckoning her outdoors to play…but she can’t because she’s an indoor kitty (sorry, Peanut). Nevertheless, my daughters think her frequent pouncing and jumping into mid-air before barreling down the hall is a riot. But I know she’d much rather be outdoors soaking up the sun and fresh air, and I feel a little guilty that I’m such a stickler for keeping her housebound (we live in woodsy setting across  from a pond, and we fear that, if given the chance, she’d head out the door and never look back. Plus, I’m afraid of a resident hawk who’d swoop down and [&hellip

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    My 1st grader is zipping through Junie B. Jones. Having recently developed a voracious appetite for reading, she is devouring nearly every book she can get her hands on…and I couldn’t be more delighted. Since my husband and I are true bookworms, we’ve happily passed along this gene and helped cultivate it over the last 7 years. There are times, of course, when my daughter would rather snuggle up with one of us than read alone, but because we’re hoping to instill more independence in this little girl who we’ve affectionately nicknamed “Glue,” it helps to have a companion for reading time. That’s why the line of book-inspired plush dolls from MerryMakers is a real plus for newly minted readers. From picture book favorites like [&hellip

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    It’s too soon to start planning for Kate Middleton’s baby shower–her wedding day isn’t even here just yet–but it’s certainly fun to imagine her as mum-to-be some day. No doubt her baby’s nursery will be outfitted in royal finery, and her bundle of joy clothed in the lushest, most soft fabrics. But something tells me that when it’s time to step out with the future prince (or princess), the future Queen of England will be doing so in style. If we could be so bold as to suggest a couple of our favorite baby products, we’d put these on her baby shower wish list. To help navigate those London city streets with a little one, the Cybex Callisto is the way to go. This highly [&hellip

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    When I was pregnant with my firstborn, my co-worker ventured their guesses as to when I would go into labor.  Much to my chagrin, one guy was banking on May 5th and went so far as to yell out “Cinco De Mayo Baby!” whenever I’d waddle down the hall. (My actual due date was May 19th.) Turns out it was more like Memorial Day Babe, as she was born at the start of the long holiday weekend. Trying to figure out when a pregnant buddy or family member will give birth is a great way to build the momentum of the Big Day, and to further up the ante, there’s a new online game that gives even more of an incentive to come up with [&hellip

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    A mom friend once posed the following question: “Is it awful if I answer my husband honestly about what I’d like best for Mother’s Day: to be left alone?” Ava Gardner she was not, nor am I that friend. But truth be told, it is nice to escape the mom label every now and then, be it in May or any other day for that matter. If you think you’ve come too close to adapting the full mommyhood routine, take a closer look at that bag you’re carrying. Is it loaded down with diapers, wipes, Goldfish and every other imaginable kid-friendly contraption? Be honest. If you could use something that’s a bit more you–or perhaps the “you” before there were babies in the picture–consider the [&hellip

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    Trying to carry a baby bundle around with you is never an easy feat. I remember when I took my newborn daughter out to grocery shop for the first time, with my older daughter in tow. After I thought I had given up that baby weight after childbirth, only to be lugging her around in a front carrier, I knew we would have a bit of a sweaty struggle as the spring days turned into summer. Now moms toting their baby with them in those sticky, humid days ahead of us need not worry. The Baby K’tan Breeze Baby Carrier relieves that feeling of being too hot to handle, thanks to its breathable part-mesh, part-cotton fabric. It’s a combo carrier/sling with a double-loop design, so [&hellip

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    With April already half-over, it makes me realize that May is just around the corner. A busy time in our family, both my daughters have birthdays this month, as does my sister. But of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t remember one of the more popular holidays that month: Mother’s Day, of course. While I’d like to think the day is all about me (ha, ha!), I can’t forget about my own mother and mother-in-law. When I’m on the lookout for gifts, plush is always a fun choice and the more endearing and soft, the better. How can you resist the new assortment of cuddly friends from Fiesta? It’s hard to suppress a smile when receiving the lovable “I Love You” Polka Dot [&hellip

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    There’s nothing I like more than a nice, long soak in the tub after a long, hard day. (Well, I can think of a few more things, but let’s keep things clean–literally!) In our old house, we had a claw footed tub that was the perfect place to wash away the day’s cares. And that was B.K. (before kids). Today, I’m lucky if I can manage a nightly shower without falling asleep. Perhaps my association with tub time as being “quiet time” dates back to when I was little. I fondly remember that  the bath was the ticket to all our childhood woes: temper tantrums (although I was told I was an angel with few bad moments), nasty head colds and, in the teen years, [&hellip

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