Britney Spears Give Birth to a Baby Boy

What's up with this? I thought that Brit was having a girl and that she thought that she was "so blessed" for having a son and a daughter? Were we duped? Did she know that she was having a boy all along? So many questions and no real answers. For all I know, she could've just given birth to the first full-sized man! According to Celebrity Baby (who claims that they have confirmed info from the reliable Access Hollwood: "The baby boy was born just before 2 am on Tuesday, September 12th, just as the National Enquirer reported. Baby is reportedly 19 inches long and weighed in at 6 lbs, 11 oz (same as big brother Sean Preston, 11 months, did at birth)! Kevin text messaged friends early this morning with, "Break out the cigars! We got a baby boy in the house!"

It's all so confusing...and yet incredibly interesting. I love hollywood gossip.

18-Miler Tomorrow

I can't believe that the day has come for us to finally run 18 miles! Absolutely crazy. I am a little nervous since my leg has been bothering me for over a week now and I am not sure if it will hold up for the whole 18 miles. I am not even clear on what is causing the pain. Sometimes it's in my hip and sometimes it's my hamstring and then sometimes it's my knee. What's up with that?! Anyway, I am going to stretch a lot tonight and will be going to bed early to rest up.

To be honest, the most stressful part of marathon training is the fundraising part. For those of you who don't know, my place in the NYC marathon is guaranteed only by the fact that I have promised to raise $2500 for charity. I have chosen to raise money for Team for Kids to help fight childhood obesity - a great cause, indeed! In any event, fundraising is not an easy task.

If you feel inclined to help out, please click on the link https://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/5531.1.082834958674165202 and type in my last name (Arnot) and my registration number (3395).

You can also purchase a shirt from www.cafepress.com/runnerchick. Proceeds from shirt sales also go to Team for Kids. Every little bit help! And don't forget...it's all tax deductible!!!

More Baby Chic from Girl Charlee

If you follow fashion, then you probably know that retro is always in. Magazines like GQ, Esquire, Elle and Vanity Fair always feature a nice spread of beautiful models sporting vintage designs from some past decade. Whether it be the roaring 30s or the sexy 70s, these retro style outfits are strangely familiar and definitely in vogue.

Thanks to Girl Charlee, your tot can also partake in the retro revolution. This chic online boutique features one-of-a-kind children's apparel made from real vintage fabrics which are sure to match the uniqueness of your child. The clothing designs are also retro. Not only is the fabric vintage, but so is the design. Each outfit is designed to reflect the era from which the vintage fabric came from. Very cool.

The vintage dresses and bottoms are incredibly adorable for baby and toddler girls. As a mother of a 15-month old boy, I must say that I have fallen in love with the baby lounge set in the umbrella print. And if you want to talk about eye candy, then must check out the baby undies, which are a fashionable way to cover up your tot's frumpy and lumpy diaper. Sweet and delectable for both boys and girls.

Girl Charlee also features an assortment of hip gifts for moms and dads. Hey, if you are into urban chic, then have to outfit the entire family - not just the baby! Check out more retro styles at www.girlcharlee.com.

Little Showoffs - Bringing the Art of Showing Off to Another Level!

Isn't it funny how quickly our babies learn to showoff? My son could barely hold up his head when he started seeking attention for the small "talents" he was quickly acquiring - smiling, cooing and sticking out his tongue were among the first talents he mastered! Now that he is walking and able to say things like "quack quack" and blow kisses to complete strangers, he has brought the art of showing off to entirely different level. But really, I can't blame him... after all, my husband and I are equally (if not more) guilty of participating in our own share of parental bragging.

So, it is not surprising that, as a mother of a 15-month old showoff, I fell in love with the super soft 100% tees designed by Little Showoffs. This online boutique offers up a full range of fun and expressive baby and adult tees and infant onesies in a variety of vibrant colors, fabulous styles and attention-grabbing prints.

Make sure to check out all the fun garb - including baby caps, mommy and daddy tees, doggie tees and sibling shirts! As a New Yorker, I must say that I am partial to the city slickers line. The city slickers baby and toddler shirts are super cute for cosmopolitan kids, especially when paired with the karate pants. I also love the daddy tee and daddy's little girl tee... scrumptious!!!

Truth be told, I am not the only one who is raving about Little Showoffs... and I don't mean to name drop, but you should know that many celebs and their celeb offspring have been spotted wearing the Little Showoffs line. Gwyneth Paltrow, Debra Messing, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Garner are among the A-listers who have outfitted their kids in these fun and lively boutique tees.

Check out the entire line at www.LITTLESHOWOFFS.com

Half Marathon - A Success!

Well, last Saturday marked the inaugural NYC Half-Marathon, sponsored by Nike...and I ran it in 2 hours 16 minutes. Some may say that the time isn't great, but I am still very proud of myself. I finished the race with grace and plenty of energy to spare. In fact, I felt (for the first time) like I could actually run 26.2 miles! I didn't crash or hit the wall, and I wasn't the least bit sore the next day. It seems that our training program is working well - now the next test is this weekend's long run of 16 miles. Yep, that's the longest ever! The scary part is that I am going to be out of town and I have to run the long run alone (i.e., sans husband). Needless to say, I have packed my ipod full of entertaining and booty-moving tunes. Let's hope that I can run the 16 miles with as much ease as I ran the 13.1 miles!

Before I sign off... I want to remind everyone that I am running the NYC Marathon for Charity and I am looking for donations. All proceeds go to Team for Kids to help provide physical activity programs for children and help reverse the increasing rate of childhood obesity. To donate, go to https://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/start.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/donations.htm
and type in my last name - ARNOT - and my registration number - 3395. And yes, all donations are tax deductible!

You can also help support the cause by purchasing one of my sexy running shirts at www.cafepress.com/runnerchick - Proceeds from each purchase goes to Team for Kids

Still Running and Still Fundraising!

So, we had our longest run ever last weekend - 15 miles! I am not going to lie and try to convince you that it was easy and enjoyable. In fact, it was the hardest run I have ever done. I was already feeling tired and unmotivated right at the start and everything went downhill from there. The good news is that I hung in there and I was not even sore the next day. We have a half-marathon this coming weekend (the Nike NYC Half Marathon) and I am actually looking forward to it. I figure that I have somehow gotten stronger - mentally - from last weekend's run. This marathon thing really is a rollercoaster ride both mentally and physically. I will be so proud of myself once I cross that finish line on November 5th!

In addition to my running program, I am also fundraising for Team for Kids, an organization that endeavors to beat childhood obesity. I have committed myself to raise $2500 and need your help. You can make a direct contribution by going to the Team for Kids website and typing in my registration number: 3395.

I am also selling funky running gear through Cafe Press. All profits are being donated to Team for Kids. Check out the line at www.cafepress.com/runnerchick and buy what you like - it's all going to a good cause!

Mangos - A Sweet Fruit and A Cool Invite

The story is sweet and the product is sweeter. Mango Ink, an online trend-setting stationary boutique, really did begin with a love for mangoes, entertaining and invitations. And just as the Mango Ink story is about life - beginning with a boy who falls in love mangos and ends with a man who falls in love with a woman who loves entertaining just as much as he does - Mango Ink products are also about life. Regardless of your stage in life, Mango Ink has a stationary to suit you. Whether you are hosting a grown-up party, planning a wedding, announcing the birth of a child or just happy that it's Summer, you'll be sure to find what you are looking for at www.mangoink.com.

You can choose from a cool line of Mango Seeds, which allows you to personalize your stationary by sending in a photo and your own words (as the Mango Ink motto goes: "Your words, your photos, your personality, we just add the mango juice to sweeten it up.") or you can select an exclusive design from the line of Mango Notes. All notes are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper and professionally hand-mounted on white, high-quality 5.5" x 4.5" note cards.

Either way, you can't go wrong! All the stationary is so hip and incredibly memorable... What a great way to celebrate every stage of your family's life.

A Do-Run-Run A Do-Run-Run

So, we are on week 8 of marathon training and now the fun really begins! This Saturday is our first really long run - 13 miles! This will be the longest distance that I have ever run and I may be crazy, but I am actually looking forward to the grueling grind around Central Park in the scorching NYC heat. I guess I'll have to bring lots of GU (which I, oddly enough, love and crave...especially the vanilla flavor) and drinks lots of fluids (which, for some reason, I hate doing). At least I won't be alone in my 13 mile journey this Saturday. My husband, who is also training for the marathon, will be running with me. I must say that I love the time we spend training together, and I really love the shorter runs when we can bring our son in our running stroller. On most days, our son is in good spirits and we all enjoy the run. On the days that "in a mood," running isn't as much fun.

Anyway, there's not much else to report. My husband and I are (knock on wood) in good spirits and good health, and are super excited about this weekend's run.

Couture for Little Girls

You know your little girl is a princess and you also know that she shouldn't have to settle for anything less than fabulous. So, why should she have anything other than a couture-inspired wardrobe? That's right - move over Baby Gap and make room for hottest thing to hit the world of baby girl clothing - Loopy! This line of clothing is not only fun to say, but it's super cute, too.

Some of my favorites come from the Loopy City collection with its flavor of "ballerina." Stylish and sassy, this collection is perfect for weddings and special events.

As if cuteness wasn't enough, these little girl garments are incredibly well made - by hand, no less! In fact the story is quite quaint. The entire collection is hand made by individual seamstresses and knitter throughout Britain. The creator of the collection, Nancy Krzyzanowski , brings comes from a solid fashion background. In her former life, she worked with luxury brands such as, Chanel, Celine, Cartier and C. Jourdan. That said, it's not surprising that she decided to design a line of 'couture for little girls.' Check out more Loopy at www.loopydesign.com where you can buy online or find "brick and mortar" stores where you can find the Loopy line.

Running the Marathon and Need Your Support

The time has come for me to become a true New Yorker - I have decided to run in this year's NYC marathon. As much fun as it is to watch the marathon whirl by from the sidelines, I think that it would be even "funner" to run the 26.2 mile journey through the greatest and grandest city in the world!

Not only will I be running the marathon as a personal challenge, which I will be writing about on this blog throughout my training, but I will be running it for a worthy cause - to fight childhood obesity. I have always been concerned about this growing epidemic (after all, children are our future and it is our responsibility to ensure that we teach them how to live happy and healthy lives) and have become increasingly passionate about it since becoming a mother myself last year.

That said, I will be running to raise funds for the Team for Kids, which is the youth-services arm of New York Road Runners that provides fitness programs for 15,000 children in New York and across the country who have little or no access to physical education.

While my personal success in the marathon depends on my training and determination, my commitment to raise $2500 for the New York Road Runners Foundation depends on others, which is why I'm asking you to support my efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible contribution will help pay for the supplies, uniforms, events, and transportation that make the programs happen and truly give youth a running start. I encourage you to consider a minimum gift of $1 per mile (or $26.20), though no donation is too small (or too large!) and all are appreciated.

Please take a moment to go to www.teamforkids.org and click on "Contribute," where you will need my entry number: 3395. The NYRR Foundation will inform me of all contributions, so I can send you a well-deserved thank you after the marathon.

At the end of 26.2 miles, I will be exhausted, but also grateful for and exhilarated by the support that I've received through your generosity.

All the best and thanks for your support! By the way, keep coming back to my blog to keep track of my training progress.

Cheers,
Nada

A Sneak Peek At A Brand New Clothing Line For boys

Boys get the bad end of the stick in fashion most of the time and the designers behind this brand new label - Colin Maguire - have combined both comfort, style and a good cause.

The designs found on Colin Maguire tees were created by kids residing at The Children’s Inn at NIH (www.childrensinn.org). The National Institutes of Health provides the latest treatment options for seriously ill children. The Inn at NIH offers a place like home for these brave children and their families. Colin Maguire’s partnership with The Inn at NIH supports the Inn financially, but it also helps to share the spirit of these special children and their loved ones with children across the country.

The shirts are 100% super-soft cotton with contrast stitching and distressed hemlines. They are currently available in sizes 18-24 mos, 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T. Long-sleeve “layered” tees are available for fall and many short-sleeve styles are on the way. New artwork is submitted regularly allowing for the launch of a new tee shirt every month! All come with unique “About the Artist” hangtags.


10% of the profits from the sale of every tee is given to The Children's Inn at NIH

Giddy Giddy

I tried to come up with a creative title for this blog entry, but I couldn’t seem to find anything that described these designer hair clips better than the company’s own name – Giddy Giddy. These super-sweet, handcrafted clips are the creation of self-proclaimed “craftaholic” mom, Teri Dimalanta. Needing both a creative outlet and a practical way to tame her baby girl’s unwieldy mohawk, Teri began designing her own hair clips. And thanks to entrepreneurial spirit, she created Giddy Giddy – a line of cute and quirky clips for little girls. From flowers to gumdrops to pink popsicles, these clips are the epitome of eye candy.

Check out the entire collection at www.chloeinstyle.com.

Bling Baby Bling

It’s true - your kid can never be too young to appreciate the value of bling. While the other babies are crawling around in powder blue or pink onesies that are covered in mystery stains, your baby could be sporting the latest in high-end baby fashion – 100% cotton onesies complete with Genuine Swarovski Crystals by Mama & Bambino. The "Red Sox Fan" onesie is super cute and the “I Love Daddy” onesie makes a great Father’s Day gift.

And if you are in the market for some bling for yourself, then you should check out Mama & Bambino’s “Mommy Tank.” Available in black, light blue or hot fuschia pink, these tanks are fully embellished with Genuine Swarovski Crystals. A-listers like Katie Holmes, Angela Basset and Gwyneth Paltrow are all owners of the sexy, bling-inspired tanks.

While you’re at it, make sure to take a look at the “Bambino’s Who Lunch” dining set. Rather than rummaging around the diaper bag for a fork or spoon (which is probably crusted with yesterday’s lunch or some old teething biscuit crumbs), the “Who Lunch” set has everything you need to feed your baby. This is where fashion meets function. Upon opening this pack, you will find a place for a fork and spoon on one side, and a pocket on the other that holds a disposable bib, placemat and hand wipes (all included!)

For more bling baby paraphernalia, visit www.mamaandbambino.com.

Yoga Baby

I am big into yoga – it was my saving grace both during and after pregnancy. I am convinced that my labor wouldn’t have been as bearable as it was if I had not practiced yoga throughout my pregnancy. And it was yoga that helped me get back into shape…post-baby.

While I am by no means a yogi, I am quite familiar with most of the poses – downward facing dog, pigeon pose, goddess pose and, of course, child’s pose. While going through the sun salutations the other day, I suddenly realized that all the poses that we were doing in class are “poses” that my 12-month old baby does at home. That’s when I came to the conclusion that yoga is innate – we are born to salute the sun. But seriously, if we began practicing yoga as children and carried on with our practice throughout our lives, I truly believe that we would live happier and healthier lives.

That said, I am a huge advocate of baby-and-me yoga classes! What a great way to bond with you tot while also helping your baby tap into the yogi within him or her. And why not do it in style? Thanks to Lotus Children, you can outfit you offspring in the coolest yoga wear around. The “omesie,” “baby om pant” and “yoga t-suit” are all must-haves for your tot’s yoga wardrobe. And when your baby has outgrown the baby om pant, he/she can graduate to Lotus Children’s great toddler line of yoga attire.

Namaste.

Father's Day - Coming June 18th

Whether he's a dad or a dad-to-be, he deserves a present for Father's Day...which is coming really soon! June 18th is just around the corner, so don't wait until the last minute to start thinking about what to get the dad in your household.

Check out the line of Funky Stork products at The Funky Stork Shop - You'll find Father's Day tees, hats and mugs as well as some fun stuff for you and your tot. Make sure to check out our most popular Father's Day items - our "Great Dad" line and our "Cute Baby - Cute Dad" products. They are perfect for new and expectant fathers!

Cool Gear For Babes

Whether you are shopping for a hot babe (aka expectant mom) or a cute babe (aka baby), you'll undoubtedly find what you are looking for at Meringue Boutique. They carry a large selection of women's, maternity and baby gear, which is all very stylish. I only wish I knew about Meringue Boutique when I was pregnant - they have some fabulous evening dresses that flatter the pregnant belly as well as some super comfy and super sexy sweats (no this is not an oxymoron). But alas, I am not pregnant anymore. That said, I am a new mom who loves her retail therapy! Thankfully, Meringue Boutique has a ton of cool baby stuff to satisfy my retail needs - all very decadent and very cute! Check it out at www.meringueboutique.com.

Crazy About Photos!

I have never been a picture person, that is, until the birth of my son. Suddenly, everything is picture-worthy! His first smile, then his second smile, and his third smile...well, you get the point. At about the same time I realized that I had a photo addiction, I also discovered that I had a picture frame addiction. So began my pursuit for stylish frames that could both showcase pictures of our little bundle of sunshine and match the decor of very cramped Manhattan apartment.

My pursuit ended with the discovery of Sticky Prints. Started by a picture-crazy, space-saving, certified stay-at-home mom, Sticky Prints are stylish frames with a magnetic backing. This means that you can create your own baby gallery on your refrigerator, filing cabinet or any other magnet-friendly surface. Simply brilliant!

The frames are sold individually as well as in sets of three. The seasonal and limited addition sets are super cool, and the personalized frames are a perfect gift idea. Check out the entire line at www.stickyprints.com - Psst...they add new designs to their collection every month!

Froo Froos From Fabby Gabby

In case you haven't heard - a froo froo is a handmade tutu. Where have you been? All the coolest princesses are wearing them these days! Yes, I am talking about a tutu that is fabulously fluffy and perfect for little girls who insist on wearing only the most royal pieces of clothing. I have seen many froo froo-wearing princesses enjoying their kid's hot chocolate at Starbucks or simply hanging out in Central Park. They love the attention and they love the glam - and honestly, who can blame them? If I wasn't a 29-year old wife of an attorney and mother of an 11-month old boy, then I might consider sporting a froo froo myself.

But if you are looking for something for your babe to wear on a non-froo froo day, then you should check out Fabby Gabby's line of onesies, tot tees and mom & baby sets. Super cute and super chic!

Go Organic with BABYBEARSHOP

There are a million and three reasons why you should go organic when it comes to skin products for you and your baby. Allergies, environmental preservation and cancer prevention are just a few that immediately come to mind.

Thanks to the founders of BABYBEARSHOP, there is now a luxuriously natural line of products that are made with organic and, whenever possible, Fair Trade ingredients.

The Mama Belly Oil and the Cheeky Baby Butter are two incredibly scrumptious BABYBEARSHOP products you should try.

The mama belly oil has a perfect combination of chamomile, lavender and red mandarin oils to help protect your blossoming belly from being marred by stretchmarks. It's also great as a massage oil for babies who are older than 3 months. Super sensual and super sweet.

The cheeky baby butter is essentially a shea butter baby creme. It's excellent for baby massage and can also be used for eczema, baby acne, diaper rash. You can also use it on your own bod - it's a great hand and foot moisturizer. All you have to do is scoop out a teensy bit (a little goes a very long way) rub in clean hands until it melts like butter and then apply. Better yet, get your hubby to do it for you! After all, you deserve a little TLC.

Check out the rest of BABYBEARSHOP's organic skin care line at www.babybearshop.com. And make sure to try their lip balm - it truly is delectable!

Preggers and Proud Gives Us Another Great Shirt For our Collection

My husband always says that you can never have too many t-shirts. I think that he may be onto something here. They really can be an expression of you and they often say something about where you are in your life. Maybe that's a little too profound for our discussion of t-shirts. That said, I truly believe that a t-shirt is more than just a garment. If you share my incredible respect for "the tee," then you'll be happy to know that Preggers and Proud has some pretty cool pieces to add to your collection. The coolest thing is that Katie Holmes and Gwyneth Paltrow have been seen sporting the "HOT MAMA" tee.

There is even a baby and dad line, which are super cute. Our good friend, Julia Roberts, had her kids wearing the "Mama's Got My Back" shirts...too sweet!

And Preggers and Proud also has a charitable edge - For every shirt that is gifted to a celebrity, a home for pregnant teens in Santa Barbara get five! That's cool.

Classic Treasures for Our Stylish Babes

Right from the time that we discovered that I was pregnant, my husband and I shunned the mass-produced, generic baby products that you find in any department store. We didn't want our small New York apartment to be cluttered with Winnie-the-Pooh and Disney embossed products. Where in the big book of having babies does it say that you have to surrender all sense of style in order to be good parents? Sure, it may take a little longer to find the hidden treasures - but hey, who doesn't enjoy a good scavenger hunt?

Well, my friends, I have come across another gem - Teacups and Tadpoles. Teacups and Tadpoles is an e-boutique that specializes in very fashionable (and functional) styles for baby boys (a.k.a. tadpoles) and baby girls (a.k.a. teacups). You should also check out their other stuff, like their diaper bags and diaper wallets, car seat covers, and play mats.

Here are two of my favorite T&T goods:

The Cowboy Layette Set by 3 Marthas
The is a perfect gift for your little buckaroo. This 100% cotton layette set by 3 Marthas is a must for the cowboy in every little boy.

You can buy these items separately or you can buy it as a complete set:
- Cowboy Newborn Onesie (7-12 lbs.) - a "must-have" for infants
- Cowboy Burp Pad - perfect size for "rounding up" the mess
- Super Soft Flannel Cowboy Receiving Blanket (44"x44") - perfect size for snuggling


Ducky Tubbie and Bath Puppet
This vivid yellow little Ducky Tubbie & matching Bath Puppet is great for bath time fun. The Ducky Bath Puppet is the perfect size for play while soaping up your little ducky too! The fun continues when its time to dry off your clean little one with the Ducky Tubbie made of super soft & durable cotton terry.

There are so many more things to check out at www.teacupsandtadpoles.com. You'll be hearing more about them from me in the future - they are really fabulous!

Help Stop Gapiosis!

Gapiosis: The space between the sock and the bottom of the pant, often accentuated by being held in arms or by being placed in a carrier or stroller.

Sweet little baby legs all over the world are being exposed to the chilly air because of gapiosis. Protect their sweet little legs from wind burn and chill with BabyLegs!

BabyLegs ...

• Make diaper changes a breeze
• Protect soft knees from harsh surfaces
• Keep legs warm year round
• Provide light weight sun protection
• Make EC'n & potty training easier
• Jazz up any dance class
• Make a fun fashion statement with styles for every occasion

Feet remain free to allow for successful crawling, walking and dancing. BabyLegs also help keep socks on! They fit most kids from newborns to size 10. BabyLegs will warm your little ones for a long time. They're fun to use as arm warmers too!

Start Thinking About Father's Day!

Women love cuddles and men love praise. Maybe that's over-simplifying things or maybe it's old-fashion, but I do know that my hubby loves it when I tell him how much I appreciate him. Trust me, life in our household is much easier when I am praising and not nagging! That said, I still have strong nagging tendencies...sometimes it's cathartic to be a bitch.

With Father's Day coming up, I thought that you girls would be interested to hear about a fun and cute gift that you could get the "new father" in your household (or, if your child is still in utero, then you might want to get this for your expectant dad). A shirt, mug or apron that tells the world that he's a great dad will do wonders for his ego! And he'll also love the fact that you think that he's a great father! You can get these shirts and other funky items at The Funky Stork Shop.

Monkeemoos Gives us a Little Fashion Help for our Boys

Don't get me wrong - I love my son. He's cute and he's cuddly and he has personality! But let's face it, dressing a baby boy isn't half as much fun as it is to dress a baby girl. I am always amazed by how many adorable outfits there are for girls and how sparce and plain the baby boy section is.

Finally, there is a fashion-forward line of clothing that has that has thought about our previously plainly-dressed sons. Monkeemoos.com is an online boutique for baby boys. Their clothes scream personality with their funky and fun graphics. They have super-cool shoes, bibs and burpies, as well as a timeless classics collection. Talk about eye-candy! Everything about this boutique says adorable and, most importantly, it says BOY! Thank you Monkeemoos for giving us fashion-fiend parents a place to shop for our sons.

R&R Makes Things A Little Easier for Parents - Hint: It's a Bag with Fins!

We all know how essential diapers bags are when you are out with a baby. We also know how vacuous a diaper bag can be - how many times have you had to unpack everything in a desperate search for your tot's binky or some other baby essential. Or sometimes you don't even need all the space that your regular diaper bag affords and yet you find yourself lugging it around anyway.

Our friends at Reef and Reed have also found themselves in a similar conundrum. Industrial designer turned father, Gene, the creator of Reef and Reed Shoulderbags with Fins™, wanted a bag that was not too big and not too small. It needed to be practical (easy to find and hard to lose), but also fun and stylish. After many trips to the local aquarium, he came up with the perfect idea - A Shoulderbag with Fins™.

It's true - It really is the perfect addition to the day-to-day diaper bag. Instead of rooting around in that big o'l diaper bag of yours, the R&R bag is perfectly-sized to carry your most important stuff – just drop your keys, cell phone, credit card and sunblock into your fish, and you and baby are good to go! If you are on vacation, then just drop your room key into your fish and you are set for the day!

They're safe and practical - plus you'll catch the big fish trend that's set for this summer. Available in six styles, so we're sure you'll be able to Find Your Fish™. I personally love the Tomato Clownfish Bag - But that's only because I have a thing for Nemo. Check it out, you'll see what I mean.

Outfit Your Baby Like a Star with Personalized Garments from Tiny Sprouts

While many things about TomKat are questionable, one thing is for sure - Father Tom and Mother Katie have a great sense of style. Both are known for their looks and their fashion sense, and they have made it clear that they want their daughter, Suri, to carry on their fashionable tradition. Already is already decked out in the cutest high-end baby paraphernelia, according to Rachel Florio, celeb trend expert. Topping the list of Suri's possessions: A customized hand-embroidered baby blanket by Tiny Sprouts.

Tiny Sprouts has more than blankies, they also offer onesies, pjs, nightgowns, bibs, bathrobes and more. The coolest thing is that all of their embroidery is custom made by hand & all of their garments are hand-dyed - With that kind of treatment, your baby will look and feel like a celeb baby.

You can also customize everything about anything you buy. You choose the product, the color of thread & what you would like on it...and they'll ship it to you for free! It really is that simple!

Check out the entire line at www.tinysprouts.com.

Deep Thoughts on Mommyhood

I'm the first to admit that I am not crazy about kids. Don't get me wrong, I love my son, but I still have a hard time relating to other munchkins. That said, as my son gets older, I find that I am warming up to the broader community of children.

There are a lot of other things that have changed since having a baby - I find that I have a much more positive outlook on life and that I find incredible humor in the silliest of things. I also find that I am much more laid back than I used to be. Don't get me wrong, I am still incredibly Type A - but to a lesser degree. My son has taught me that I can't control everything...especially him! If he wants to sleep through the night, he will. I can't do anything, not even Ferber, to force him to sleep or not sleep. He has a mind of his own. If he wants solids one day and none the next, then he'll make it known. Short of stuffing a spoon in his mouth, I am at his mercy. He's small and cute, but his personality is getting larger every day! (That's him in this picture - it was his first swing ride!)

Oddly enough, I miss the days that he depended entirely on me. Don't get me wrong, he's only 11 months old. So, it's not like he's packing his bags for college yet. It's just that he doesn't need me the way he used to - he can entertain himself, move around and hold his own bottle. When I stopped breastfeeding him when he was 7 months old, I was overjoyed by my renewed sense of freedom. Now, I find myself longing for that dependency again.

Who knew that I (of all people) would be going through a sort of separation anxiety as my son nears his first birthday. Oh, motherhood is truly an enlightening experience! Enough of my "deep thoughts"...I think I am going to do something "rebellious," like eating Haagen Dazs for breakfast. Not quite the same as skydiving, but it's still a thrill!

Pregnant, Not Fat!

If you are in your first trimester, then you probably know what I am talking about. You don't quite look pregnant, but you definitely don't have the svelte body that you used to have. Up until I was about 18 weeks pregnant, I looked like I had a bad case of the "gunt" - you know, the ponch that sits in your lower abdominal region. It's the worst kind of belly ponch. I felt desperate to explain to everyone, including strangers, that I had a bun in the oven and that I had not pudged out. I don't know why I cared so much, but I did. So, if you are like me, you will be happy to know that we have a couple of t-shirt designs that effectively explains to everyone that you are working to repopulate the world and that you did not eat more than your share of chocolate cake.

You can find our "hot shirts for her" at our mothership website, www.thefunkystork.com and at www.cafepress.com/thefunkystork. You'll also find the rest of our clothing line at these sites, including some cool shirts for your dad-to-be and hip onesies, bibs and shirts for your baby.

Lexie Rose Saves the Day for Fashion-Forward, Car Seat Toting Parents

Car seats - essential, but pretty darn ugly. They get even worse when you transition from the infant car seat to the monstrous toddler seat. As if it wasn't bad enough that we had to lug a stroller, diaper bag, toys and baby around! You would think that car seat manufacturers would have put some more thought into aesthetics. Oh well. I guess I should just be grateful that the seat is safe and will protect my baby.

That said, I am still fixated on appearances...which is why I was overjoyed when I came across Lexie Rose. Named after their daughter, this line of seat covers are super cool, chic and comfy. They are universally-sized to fit most infant and toddler car seats and they don't interfere with any transportation safety regulations. And to top it all off, they are also washable! So don't worry if your tot spits up or spills something on the cover - it'll all wash off!

Check out all the styles at www.lexierose.com. My personal favorite is the diva dot print!

In the unlikely event of an emergency over water...

We drive long distances, we live in busy cities, we walk around at night, we fly all over the world... The reality is that we do not live in a particularly safe world. I always knew that, but (possibly due to my naïveté and belief that we were all invincible) I never gave much thought to how the whole safety issue. That said, I am much more safety conscious now that I am a parent.

I thought that I was pretty much covered since we bought the usual things, such as a car seat, baby monitor and a bunch of child proofing products. But after talking to a friend of mine, I realized that there was at least one more crucial thing we needed to do: We needed to organize our emergency contact information. After all, what if something happened to my husband and the hospital was trying to reach me. The hospital would have to root through his wallet in hopes of finding the proper phone numbers, etc. I don’t even know if my husband has anything in his wallet with our home number on it.

So, to make a long story short, we came across an organization called Emergency Contacts. Their mission is to make it easy and convenient for people to ensure everyone in the family carries enough information to ensure fast communication in the event of an emergency. Emergency Contact offers annual family memberships for $34.95. The memberships include:

1. A complete family ID kit
2. A 24/7 emergency call center
3. Secure and convenient online member account access

The ID kit is different from any other type of personal identification. It doesn’t have personal, private information about you, your family or your emergency contacts, rather your information is stored on an encrypted database so it remains secure and private. This means that your profile is never accessed by anyone except our emergency agents and only in the event of any emergency.

I know it’s not pleasant to think about the worst-case scenarios in life, but now that you are a parent you really should think seriously about the type of contact information your family carries. The Emergency Contacts membership is good because everything is already organized for you. It’s affordable and hassle-free. For more information check out www.emergencycontacts.com

Elegant Baby Adds Flair to Baby Products

If you haven’t noticed, pregnancy and parenthood is hipper and sexier than ever before! Our good friends Gwyneth, Britney, Ben (Affleck) and Brad (Pitt) have proven to the world that parenthood can be quite fashionable. In fact, it’s a great excuse to go shopping and Elegant Baby is a great place to start. They really know the importance of adding flair to the functionality of baby gear – After all, they have been around for 40 years.

You can get a bunch of personalized gifts and keepsakes as well as cute blankets, nursery accessories and bath time essentials at www.elegantbaby.com. My favorites are the polka-dotted piggy bank, sea squirties and the indispensable medical kit.

The sea squirties are as much fun to use as they are to say. They will quickly become your baby’s favorite bath time toy.

It’s never too early to teach your tot the value of saving money. The polka-dotted piggy is a fun way to squirrel away your coins and it’s a great accessory in any nursery.


We have two of these medical kits – one in our nursery and one in the under seat bag of our stroller. The kit is equipped with all the basic stuff you need to care for your baby, including a:
- Medical spoon
- Nasal aspirator (which is particularly useful since our tots won’t grasp the concept of blowing their noses until they are around 3 or 4 years old)
- Plastic coated nail clipper (another useful tool since baby nails grow faster than weeds)
- Digital thermometer
- Water-filled teether (need I say more?)
- Comb and Brush

Check out the entire Elegant Baby line at www.elegantbaby.com.

Keeping Baby Feet Cute One Step at a Time

I don't know about you, but my favorite parts of my baby are his feet. His little toes and his chubby ankles are beyond cute - they are almost edible! And for the last 11 months, I have allowed my son to wiggle and crawl around barefoot as much as possible. His feet seem to have a personality of their own and it's always a joy to watch them explore and react to their new environment. But now that he has started to stand and is on the verge of walking, I realize that the carefree, shoe-less days are nearing an end. The time has come to finally put shoes on my baby.

To avoid restricting my son's feet in the hard leather, orthopedic-like shoes that I wore as a baby, I set out to find shoes that are comfy and cute. I was happy to see that there were a lot of soft-leather footwear out there and I was particularly impressed by the cute styles offered by Cute Baby Shoes (CBS). Holding true to its name, Cute Baby Shoes offers a wide range of colors, styles & designs to suit your baby's unique style. I am particularly fond of the bumblebee shoes, which, in my opinion, are beyond adorable. In fact, my son’s feet may even look cuter in these shoes than they do barefoot!

And if you have a baby girl, make sure to check out CBS’s Mary-Jane style shoes in cool brocade fabric. These should be available at www.cutebabyshoes.com in mid-May.

But you should know that Cute Baby Shoes are more than just cute. There is actually a functional element which makes them even more appealing than other shoes on the market.

1. CBS shoes feature a layer of padding to cushion baby’s first steps, yet still feature all of the benefits of soft soles.

2. All of their shoes have black suede soles, which keep them looking newer longer. No more dirty foot outlines showing on the bottom of their shoes.

3. Gentle ankle elastic is wrapped with smooth leather - not cut off, exposing the raw leather.

4. Their breathable leather uppers are soft and flexible, and keep feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

5. They are lined with soft cotton fabric, which means no dye transfer on baby’s feet or socks.

6. Unlike some other brands, CBS has not saturated the market. This means parents buying our brand know their babies are unlikely to be wearing the exact same shoes as the baby next door. Parents purchasing a boutique item want the item to be unique, fun and fresh - Cute Baby Shoes offers that!

CBS shoes are so cute and practical that they were able to convert a barefoot fanatic like me! Check out their entire line at www.cutebabyshoes.com.

Ju-Ju-Be Bags are Smarter and Sweeter than Candy!

Sure babies are cute, but there are things about them that aren’t so great. They poop, pee and need a lot of stuff. And the last thing you want is to be out-and-about without bottles, toys, diapers and wipes. Fortunately, there are a million diapers bags on the market to help us stay organized (or at least attempt to look organized) while toting our tots around town. And better yet, we are no longer forced to sacrifice our pre-baby chic image by carrying our baby gear in anything with a Disney character on it. The real challenge, however, is finding a diaper bag that exudes style while also being practical and super functional.

Look no further! Ju-Ju-Be, a high end line of baby bags and accessories, has effectively put the FUN in FUNction. As colorful and delectable as our favorite childhood candy, Ju-Ju-Be has
partnered with DuPont to create the first line of TEFLON® treated diaper bags that repel stains. Ju-Ju-Be is also the first to include an antimicrobial treatment to kills germs, mold and fungus. Bacteria won’t have anything to grow on because Crumb Drains™ make sure that the leftovers can be left behind. Smart pockets mean that our new life as a parent is easy while memory foam changing pads keep little baby comfy. With quiet magnetic closures, baby can sleep soundly ... and that makes everyone happy.

With a variety of fashion forward prints and subtle but sassy solids, mom gets to show off her style as well as her smarts. The best part is that there is also a dad line of Ju-Ju-Be bags that help men look particularly studly while they are out with their offspring. And we all know how sexy it is too see a dad with his baby! Enough said…check out www.ju-ju-be.com for more juicy details.

The Perfect Gated Community

If you share our situation - a small apartment and a very mobile baby (translate: crawling everywhere) - then you will definitely appreciate what I am about to tell you about.

As new parents, we were overjoyed and amazed by how fast our baby was able to crawl. It was really cute, that is, until it got to the point where we spent all our time chasing after our son and telling him "no" and "careful" and other words of caution. Initially, we were morally opposed to the idea of a playpen. After all, our baby is not an animal! Well, we got rid of that way of thinking very quickly! That said, we still weren't blown away by most playpens that are on the market. They were really too small and they seemed really wobbly.

Just when we were about to give up our search, we came across the l'il playzone at onestepahead.com. It's great! You can buy attachments to make it as large as you want; you can dismantle it and store it under a bed; you can bring it to the park and set it up as a confined, members-only playground; etc... Our son loves it, especially when we join him in the "playzone."

So, if you are looking for something to keep your tot contained and content, then you really should check out the playzone. And if you are worried about the idea of cooping your kid up in a pen, then you should know that the playzone is more like a "gated community" than an animal cage.

Big Event this Weekend!

Hey NYC Moms!
Rumor has it that there is going to be a big shindig for moms and tots this weekend (Sat April 8th) in Sydney’s Playground (66 White St between Broadway and Church St). It's being hosted by Big City Moms and TONY Kids. You can RSVP through the Big City Moms website. I am not sure if you can purchase tickets at the door - but it may be a possibility. The cost is $15 per family.

I sounds like it could be a lot of fun and it sounds like a perfect initiation into parenthood!

Welcome New Moms!

It’s been a long time since our new moms groups have ended. I am sure that things have really changed for all of us as we adjust to our new lives as “moms.” I was thinking about my new identity as a “mom” the other night and how my day-to-day routine has changed. For the first couple months, my job as a new mother was to make sure that my baby’s basic needs were met – if he was hungry, I fed him; if he was tired, I rocked him to sleep; if he was wet, I changed his diaper…and so on. I don’t know about you, but life with my baby is much more enjoyable now that he is a little older and a lot more interactive. But while I may be able to change a diaper with my eyes closed and recite nursery rhymes in my sleep, I have a ton of new questions about motherhood and babyhood. If nothing else, the reality (and permanence) of being a mom is really sinking in.

So, after spending some time thinking about the reality (and permanence) of being a mom, I decided to embark on a new project…a group for semi-new moms. Since some of us have returned to work (or will be returning soon), I thought it would be best if the group were an online forum. This format will allow you to participate whenever you have time whether it be from your desk at work or from home while your baby is sleeping. Of course, you can also use the forum to post an invitation for a real-life outing for other moms. The idea is that we stay in touch, even if it is virtually.

Here are some issues that may be interesting to explore/discuss in the semi-new moms group:
- Is your baby sleeping through the night? If so, how did you do it?
- Are you still breastfeeding? If so, when do you plan to start weaning?
- Have you introduced solids yet?
- Have solids made your baby constipated? If so, what are you doing about it?
- Is your hair falling out?
- Are you using contraception?
- What about the pill and breastfeeding?
- What are you doing for Halloween?
- Rating the mom and baby classes around town (e.g., yoga, gymboree, new mothers luncheons, Kidville, etc.)
- …you get the point…

And since we live in the “Big City,” I thought that it would be appropriate to title this forum “Moms in the City.” If you are interested in participating in the group, then start posting!

Also, if you are both a semi-new mom and an expectant mother (or know of an expectant mother), make sure to send your partner to www.thefunkystork.com In case you haven't heard, www.thefunkystork.com is a website dedicated entirely to the modern expectant father. It has plenty of articles on pregnancy as well as lots of information for new dads.