Finally - A Pregnancy and Parenting Site for Expectant Fathers, New Dads and Single Parents

A new generation of dads wants to learn how to raise their babies, and they're using Web 2.0 to do it. These "Alterna-dads"- guys who still have messy hair and sport concert tees- want to get involved in the baby-raising game. These men are surpassing all previous cohorts of fathers and are actively seeking out pregnancy and parenting resources that can help them become the ultimate player in fatherhood. They're posting on YouTube, reading blogs, and scouring MySpace for tips on their 40-week long pregnancy journey.

For a generation of men that is equally sensitive and Internet addicted, it makes sense that Web 2.0 would replace Dr. Spock for pregnancy and parenting advice. The new tech boom coincides with a legion of soon-to-be father getting more involved in raising their babies. The reality is that it's now a world in which men talk about "their" pregnancy and consider themselves as active participants in the pregnancy process.

It is precisely this shift in fatherhood reality that inspired Nada Arnot to create TheFunkyStork.com in 2005.

"My husband wanted to do research when I was pregnant, but didn't find much that spoke to the GQ generation of men who were going to be dads," Nada Arnot says.

A recent re-design of TheFunkyStork.com has drawn tons of attention from "Alterna-dads" and "Alterna-moms," for that matter. TheFunkyStork.com has been expanded to also speak to the men who are now new fathers. Both expectant fathers and new dads can find a wealth of printable guy-friendly checklists, view YouTube videos and read a blog that is written by an LA-based father. Tech-savvy dads can also keep track of health issues, fashion trends, celebrity baby news and US government recalls by subscribing to an RSS Feed.

"Our dads still love the traditional articles we have for new and expectant fathers," Arnot notes, "but they are also gear-heads and are looking for additional online tools to learn about their impending fatherhood. TheFunkyStork.com offers them everything that they want and need to be active in pregnancy and parenthood."

About TheFunkyStork.com

TheFunkyStork.com is a pregnancy and parenting site for the modern expectant fathers, hip new dads and sexy single parents. Launched in October 2005 by the Urban Lion Corporation, the recently released build of the site features a blog, RSS feeds on important baby news, YouTube clips, articles for expectant dads and a "toolbox" for new fathers with helpful tips and information.

For More Information Contact: Nada Arnot at thefunkystork@yahoo.com.

Thefunkystork.com is a premium online pregnancy and parenting resource for the modern expectant father, hip new dad and sexy single parent.

Jennifer Lopez’s hubby has a new nickname - 'Burp Whisperer'!

Washington, Mar 14: New dad Marc Anthony is so smitten with new born twins that his wife Jennifer Lopez and her staff have nicknamed him the 'Burp Whisperer'.

Anthony is so hands-on with newborn Max and Emme that he has been volunteering to change their nappies and tend to the tots day and night.

"I'm so excited. I'm so hands-on with them that the household developed a nickname for me. They call me the Burp Whisperer," Contactmusic quoted Anthony, as saying.

Anthony, meanwhile, praises his superstar wife, claiming having twins was inevitable - because everything she touches turns to gold.

He added: "I told Jennifer, nothing you do is small. Everything you do it on such large scale. The first time you give birth, you give birth to twins." (ANI)

Toddler Development and Milestones

Overview

During the toddler years, your child will make huge strides physically, intellectually, and emotionally, whether it's learning how to make friends or potty training. Here's a look at what's to come.

Physical milestones

Throwing and kicking a ball (12 months)
Soon after her first birthday, your child will show interest in ball play -- first by throwing, then by kicking at age 2 (catching comes around age 3 to 4). To help her along:

• For throwing, start by rolling a small soft ball back and forth between you, moving farther and farther apart with each pass. Soon, she'll want to throw it.
• For kicking, show her how to use her feet instead of hands to roll a ball back and forth between the two of you.
• For catching, have her roll it up a small incline to catch on the way down.

Pushing and pulling (12 to 18 months)
Once your child's a confident walker, he'll discover the joy of dragging or pushing toys along. And all the while he'll improve his coordination, since he'll be walking forward while occasionally looking back.

So offer him some pull or push toys to play with, or make your own by attaching a string to a toy car (make sure to supervise or limit the length of the cord to 12 inches to avoid a strangulation hazard).

Squatting (12 to 18 months)
Up to now, your baby has had to bend down to pick things up off the ground. But soon, she'll attempt to squat instead. To help her along:

• When she starts to stoop over for an object, show her how to bend her knees to squat.
• Let her practice. Line up a few small toys on the floor and have a "treasure hunt," where she has to go from one item to the next and pick them up - a perfect activity for cleanup time!

Climbing (12 to 24 months)
Toddlers climb up on the kitchen table (or your desk or the bed) for the obvious reason: Because it's there. Kids this age are trying to find a balance between risk and challenge. Of course, you know that the challenge of climbing up the bookcase isn't worth the risk, but the average toddler's ability to reason isn't in line with his physical prowess. Climbing is an important physical milestone, though. It'll help your child develop the coordination he needs to master skills like walking up steps. Ways you can help:

• Provide safe opportunities for climbing. Toss sofa cushions or pillows on a carpeted floor, or let him loose at a toddler-friendly playground.
• Anchor bookcases and other pieces of furniture to the wall, even if you think they're too heavy to topple. Clear shelves of things that could fall on him - or that could tempt him to climb.
• Limit access. Keep chair seats pushed under the table, and take a closer look at the stove: Could your child get to it by climbing up shelves or cabinets?
• Set up gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. It's the only way to keep your child from attempting that irresistible - but dangerous - ascent. To help your child learn to climb the stairs safely, practice together by taking him up and down while holding his hand.

Running (18 to 24 months)
Some kids seems to go from crawling to sprinting in two seconds flat. Others take more time. How come? Because kids fall a lot when learning to run, and some are just more willing to risk it. To encourage your child:

• Play tag where falling won't hurt too much, such as on a grassy lawn or a sandy beach.
• Chase your child - this is one time you can actually encourage him to run away from you! - and then switch and have him run after you.
• Try racing, especially if older kids are willing to play along.

Potty training (24 to 36 months)
Potty training is one of the milestones parents look forward to the most - no more diapers! But keep in mind that the age when kids are ready for it varies widely. Signs that it may be time:

• Your child peers down at her diapers, grabs them, or tries to pull them off when they're soiled; or she squats or crosses her legs when she needs to go. These actions show that she's mature enough to understand how her body works.
• She shows an interest in things that are potty-related - wanting to watch you go to the bathroom or talking about pee-pee or poo-poo.

If these apply to your child, and she can get on and off the toilet and pull her pants down, then give toilet training a shot. Help her associate the about-to-go sensation with using the potty. As soon as you notice the usual signs, give a quick prompt like "Let's use the potty" as you guide her toward it. For more tips and strategies, check out our Potty Training guide.

Jumping (24 to 36 months)
Between 2 and 3 years, toddlers learn how to jump off low structures, and eventually how to jump from a standing position. Both of these skills require bilateral coordination, or the ability to use both sides of your body to do something different. How you can help:

Go curb hopping. Holding your child's hand, stand next to her on a curb or a low step and say, "One, two, three, jump!" then jump down simultaneously.

Practice leapfrogging as a prelude to jumping from a standing position, which is more difficult than hopping off a step. Show your child how to get down into a half-squat position and throw her arms up while she hops. Gradually she'll figure out how to jump from a standstill.

Psychological and emotional milestones

Prereading (12 to 36 months)
Most toddlers love storytime. It's a chance to snuggle with Mom or Dad, gaze at colorful pictures, and hear interesting sounds. But it's more than just a cozy activity - your child is also learning the earliest of reading skills, including:

• How books work - we open them, the story is inside.
  
• We read from left to right.
  
• Books can tell a story.
  
• Stories have a beginning and an end.

To encourage your child's love of reading, try to:

• Read aloud.
  
• Let your baby play with his books so he gets familiar with them.
  
• Keep it brief. Little people have little attention spans, and ten minutes - even five minutes - is a long time.
  
• Ask questions. Have him find simple things, like the baby's eyes or the pretty flower. Your goal is to bring what's happening on the page into an interaction between the two of you.
• Follow your child's lead. If your tot grabs the book from you to explore it on his own, let him - just hold him on your lap and cuddle with him as he looks.

Gaining independence (18 to 36 months)
Most babies don't see themselves as entities separate from their parents, especially their mothers. This changes quickly sometime in the second year, when they become aware that they're individuals, and are more insistent on doing things on their own. Here's how to give your child room to grow:

Allow more time in your schedule for her to do things herself. If she wants to put on her own coat, shoes, etc., getting out of the house will take that much longer.

Include her in your chores. Let her hold the dustpan, or send her around with a rag to dust furniture legs.

Be patient. At first, letting your child use a fork or pull on his pants will drive you crazy. But let her try and don't step in.

Your toddler's growing independence comes with a stage that can, at times, be exasperating: She'll assert her independence by saying "no" all the time. Your impulse may be to show your child who's boss, but you'll have better luck if you:

Say yes to your little naysayer whenever you can - in other words, when it isn't unsafe, inconvenient, or unreasonable.

Be firm when necessary. When you have to get your way, do it as quickly, deliberately, and calmly as you can. Once you've physically put your toddler in her car seat, you can explain your reasoning in simple terms - you can tell her that it's dangerous to ride in a car without one.

Using simple sentences (18 to 24 months)
Ever since your child said his first coo, he's been working toward this moment: By combining gestures, isolated sounds, and words, he can now speak in simple two-word sentences. You're thrilled, and he's thrilled: Now you can have a conversation (of sorts)! Be patient, though - even though he knows certain words, he may not fully understand their meaning for a while. To encourage his talking:

• Don't finish your toddler's sentences for him; doing so will only add to his frustration.
• Remember that he'll still resort to crying when he's too tired, hungry, cranky, or overwhelmed to use words.
• Give your child lots of opportunities to speak, especially if there are older kids in the house, too.
• As your toddler becomes more verbal, make sure you model good speech rather than correct his pronunciation or his grammar. Children who are interrupted and corrected can feel like giving up.

Learning empathy (24 months)
At this age, toddlers may begin to make the first connections between their own feelings and behavior and those of other people. This is the foundation for interacting with others and building friendships. To help your child's developing empathy:

Don't try to fix it when he feels bad. Help your child learn to cope by identifying his emotions for him - whether he's sad because his favorite toy broke or someone else is crying - and reassure him that it's okay to feel the way he does.

Watch your own emotions. Don't be shy about telling your child when you're angry, sad, or disappointed - but make sure that you're not overreacting to the situation, which can make your child feel anxious or scared.

When she seems to be regressing

It can be disconcerting when a toddler appears to be regressing in some way. For instance, your chatterbox may suddenly do nothing but point and cry; your avid walker may reach up and demand to be carried. All of this is normal. Toddlers are developing so many skills they can become overwhelmed. What to do when your tot regresses:

• Acknowledge her feelings. If she can't tell you what's bugging her, see if she can show you.
• Rather than seeing it as good or bad, see it as a signal. When a child regresses, she's usually telling you that she needs comfort. Let her snuggle up with you, or read her a book. She'll likely behave like her normal self soon.

You might worry if your child is delayed in reaching a milestone. But some kids are simply late bloomers; some just master certain skills before others. However, if you're concerned, speak to your doctor.

Summary

A toddler is constantly learning how to do new things. Give yours loving support, and as often as possible provide a little freedom for him to strive for independence. And don't worry if he occasionally "unlearns" a skill - a little regression is just part of the process in the toddler years.

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!