Keepsakes & Such
I am a thirtysomething mother of 3 (15, 3.5, and 1.5). I am a former teacher, turned SAHM, turned WAHM with my newest endeavor, Keepsakes & Such. If you or someone you know is pregnant and in need of a super cute baby shower gift check out Wishes For My Baby...a definite crowd and mommy pleaser! Ā뇀Ə䰈ƑSyndicate
Great New Mom Community Called CafeMom
It has been around for about a year and I am just now checking it out. It is huge!
It is quick and easy to join. You can give as little or as much information about yourself as you feel comfortable. You can join groups, or create a personal journal, or just post your thoughts. Check it out!
Toys For 2yr and 4yr Old Boys
I really, really, really try every year to be so organized in my gift buying and giving for two reasons: I hate spending a lot of money at one time and I hate shopping on Christmas Eve. However, I generally wait and buy gifts in December and sometimes November and more years than not I am shopping on Christmas Eve!
This year though I have a plan and I am sticking to it!
It is already November so I kind of blew that part, but I do plan to have all shopping completed by the end of November... This is what I have so far-
For the2 year old and 4 year old boys:
Bikes and Helmets. I probably will try to make it out the day after Thanksgiving to fight it out for the best price on those.
Something to add to the Thomas train set we have like a crane or another train.
Tinker toys (they played with some last weekend and loved it!)
Light Bright
Both of these are great for the imagination and also help with fine motor skills...plus they are two classics that everybody should have!
Maybe some remote control cars????
Give Yourself A Little Mindless Entertainment With Big Fish Games
Think Pink and Buy Pink
Here is a sampling of what you will find:
Right Bank Babies Victoria Pink Print Dress
10% goes to American Cancer Society
Red Envelope Pink Leather Card Case (www.redenvelope.com)
10% goes to Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund
Buy great stuff and give back at the same time...how cool!
N is for Newt and B is for Bear- T's With a Purpose
I admit I don't own one yet, but they just look awesome. They are alphabet T Shirts for kids made by biome 5. You can check out their website here. The colors are awesome, the graphics are too cool. When the child looks down they can read the word that just happens to be printed upside down for that very purpose. Check them out.
Mattel Toy Recall
Check the article on the latest toy recall here.
Thank God for hand-me-downs! I have not bought a new toy in a while simply because we get hand-me-downs from their bigger cousins. We have a birthday coming up this month so I am going to pick and choose my gifts wisely. Really, what makes them most happy is the sprinkler (is it my day to water?), pots and pans (drums), my gigantic exercise ball that I have not used lately, DADDY!!!, and climbing in and out of kitchen cabinets. Maybe we can give up toys altogether???
Probably not.
Road Trippin'
My huband and I took several weeks two summers in a row long before marriage and kids and just drove. We went from GA to West Coast and back and saw whatever we wanted to see. We tease and say "That was back when we were in love!" We miss that freedom!
If you are lacking the freedom to just take off and drive, or if you just don't have the time or courage to do the road trip thing with small children like my husband and I, check out this game called Discovery Channel® American Road Trip
It can help you show your children the world until you can muster up the energy and courage to take a RoadTrip yourself.
Summer is coming to an end and the heat is unbearable so pop some popcorn, turn down the lights, and have a family road trip from the comfort of your couch.
Enjoy!
Have A Snow Day
My big guy Finn made a snowflake even though I don't think he has ever seen real snow in his short 3.5 years.
Check it out it really is neat. Click on the picture below to go there and create your own unique snowflake.
Who Gets To Have A Baby Shower and Who Should Host It?
Baby Shower Etiquette
Who gets to have a baby shower?
Baby showers are definitely appropriate for first-time moms, but what about moms having their second, third or fourth baby? Are they also entitled to a baby shower?
Each child is special and unique, so I think it is appropriate to have a shower for baby #2, 3, or 4. Moms may already have the basics, but it never hurts to throw a party for an expecting mom to show love an support.
Themed showers are a good idea if it is for baby #2, 3, or 4. Maybe something to pamper the mom or to include the other siblings or even a couples shower so dad can be involved this time.
Now that we know (or think we know) who gets to have a baby shower, let's figure out who can give a baby shower. It used to be a social faux pas for family members to throw a shower for an expecting mom, but not any longer according to Baby Center's Baby Shower Planning and Etiquette. I certainly wouldn't throw a shower for yourself and I certainly wouldn't ask someone to throw you a shower, but if somebody offers, heck yes! Have a shower!
To Game or Not To Game? That is the question!
I for one hate cutesy baby shower games. We are all grown-ups (hopefully!). If games are your thing I am sure you can find a million of them posted on the Internet. I do, however, have a suggestion for a great baby shower activity. It is my personal baby shower product called Wishes For My Baby. It is a great gift even if there is no shower, but at a baby shower it is a fun, meaningful activity. Each guest has the opportunity (they don't have to of course...nobody should ever be forced to write against their will) to write a special "wish" or message to the new baby on a card. There is a place to include their name and the date. This gift ends up being a beautiful and meaningful keepsake for the new mom and baby. I love looking back at my baby book and seeing which of my parents' friends and family gave me cerain gifts. Wishes For My Baby is even more special because it is a message directly to the baby from friends and family. Some guests will choose to be light-hearted which is great and others will be deep and sentimental which is also great. The message comes directly from the guest to the baby and that is the beauty of it. The cards are then kept in a cute keepsake tin for the baby to keep all of his or her life.
Wishes For My Baby, The Must-Have Baby Keepsake Gift, Don't Have A Baby Shower Without It!
Come On Moms, Let The Dad Help
Little do guys know that having a baby is new to us too! We don't know what to expect or what to do when the baby is screaming his head off and refuses to sleep for 18 hours straight! (oh, the memories!) But we are the moms so we do it because that is what moms do.
Encourage your guy to be involved for his sake, your sake and the baby's sake.
Moms have to cooperate too. It won't work unless you relenquish some of your parenting power. You don't have to do it all!
I just ran acros this book by Scott Mactavish...I have not read it (my baby having days are over if all goes as planned), but I found this wonderful exerpt from his book, The New Dad's Survival Guide : Man-to-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers
If you are pregnant I would strongly suggest looking into this witty, first-hand advice that Scot Mactavish's book has to offer. At least print out the exerpt for your husband. The more he knows, the more involved he feels, and the better it is for everyone. You can buy it at Amazon following the link below.
The New Dad's Survival Guide: Man-to-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers
This book looks great and seems to lay it out straight for guys. Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting is a life-changing experience so you might as well not fight it, embrace it. A book and other people's experiences will never have you fully prepared for your own baby, but I imagine it can get you started.
Here are some links to dad-friendly sites: (let them know they are not alone!)
http://www.babycenter.com/dads/
http://www.greatdad.com/
http://www.drmoz.com/momdadbabyblogs.html#DadBlogs
http://www.dadgear.com/index2.cfm?CFID=4792034&CFTOKEN=93013450 (be the coolest dad on the block)