Raising Sam

What is it?

This toy strap from Pippalily is a must-have for every parent. Strap keeps baby’s favorite toys, teethers and pacifiers off the ground and in one place by attaching to the stroller, car seat, or diaper bag, etc.  The adjustable Velcro end accommodates to almost any baby knickknack.

Why I love it:

I use these straps to keep all of Sam’s toys and teethers in one place while on-the-go; I have one attached to my diaper bag, stroller and car seat.  We kept losing Sam’s toys whether in the stroller or in the car.  His toys would end up all over the place!  Thanks to these straps I always know where to find his toys and keep them off the ground. (more…)

Having a baby bump and being a new Mom are very different experiences.  As a pregnant woman I had romanticized fantasies and idealized images of motherhood.  Maternity was all about ME and my bump.  Life consisted of buying lots of cute maternity clothes, taking pregnancy pictures, planning baby showers, picking out adorable baby outfits, and daydreaming about what my baby would look like. Would he have big brown eyes like me, or his Dad’s full lips and bright smile?  Would he be intense like me, or fun-loving like his Dad?   I could hardly wait for my dream of having my sweet wide-eyed baby boy cooing and smiling up at me, turn into a reality.  Plus I was super prepared – I had read all the books, even highlighted and taken notes – I was ready. (more…)

Note: For many of you seasoned Moms Sophie may be old news, but not if you are new to the mommy world!

The other night my cousin and I were taking Sam for a walk, and as we were about to leave, I handed him his beloved teething toy, a giraffe.  My cousin asked why I was giving Sam a squeaky toy from the pet store.  “A dog toy from the pet store? Are you kidding me?”  This toy has a name as well as fame!  Her name happens to be Sophie and she comes from the French Alps and is a far cry from a pet store toy!  After all what squeaky toy costs $25, was handcrafted in the Haute-Savoie Region of France from the sap of the Hevea Tree, and it took 14 manual operations to create her? Huh? Tell me?

Sophie is exclusive, she is a designer toy, a celebrity with a history and . . .most important of all . . . babies love her! (more…)

Recognize this book?  I’ll bet you do and I’ll also bet you got 12 copies of it, kept one and re-gifted the rest and are now reading it over and over again.

I have a love-hate relationship with this book.  I’m sorry let me rephrase that, as it’s technically not even a book but a “touch and feel collection of activities” for baby. I’ll start first with the love.

pat the bunny was read to me as a child, and it became one of my all-time favorite books, which brings back warm fuzzy feelings from my past. (more…)