My cousin Caitlin is super cool and hip, so when she and her husband showed up to visit my girls with gifts in hand, I’m not going to lie – I was excited.   Along with a much needed bottle of champagne and an adorable Melissa & Doug toy for the Bean, she brought us this little music box that I think is the coolest thing since sliced bread. 

Made by Tree by Kerri Lee, the music box is simple perfection.  It is only 4 inches wide and 8 inches tall, but packs a lot of style and craft into its small package.  Ours is a lovely, soft sage green and plays Hush Little Babv…turn the knob to hear the song, and read the back to make sure you get the lyrics right. 

This is such a creative gift for a new baby, and one that we’ll treasure for years and years to come.  Cait, this is a public thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness – we love you!

Who doesn’t love Melissa and Doug toys? They’re affordable, classic, and well-made. And, a huge hit with the kiddos.

I have to thank AVM for this idea, though. The Dervish came upon Lovey’s M&D Birthday Party at a playdate when both were around 2, and was floored. I mean, who doesn’t love a birthday party?

This one comes complete with (wooden) candles, toppings (which allows it to double as pizza), and slices that velcro (and stay) together, but also pull apart easily enough as to not encourage your Dervish to hurl the whole kit and caboodle against the wall.

It’s also gender neutral, which makes it a fail-safe gift for kids 2-4. I mean, even though we already have one, I’m sure The Dervish would be thrilled with another. Or, the pizza kit. It’s one of the few toy sets we have where all the pieces remain together and interest never wanes; there is always occasion for a party or a picnic in Preschoolville.

Thanks M&D, you rock!

If your situation is anything like mine, your cabinets and drawers are overrun with art work by your toddler.  Aside from her at-home creations, each day, Lovey brings home finger paintings, crayon drawings, and other masterpieces from school.  I’ll be honest with you.  With some of what I see, not a whole lot of effort goes into this so-called “art” (yes, I’m critiquing a three-year-old’s artwork, what of it?).  But more often than not, there is real beauty in her work.  We have framed some of Lovey’s best stuff for our playroom, but some of the other stuff – the first time she drew our family, the first picture she signed by actually writing her name, or beautiful swirls that just make me happy to look at – that we display in our kitchen.  There we have hanging My Art Show by Alex (my FAVORITE source for arts and crafts supplies for Lovey).  We have a rotating art show that Lovey curates, it saves our fridge from looking like a disaster, and it fosters her creativity.  Win-win-win.

The Dervish is rather…particular. When it comes to her clothing, however, and specifically how it feels,  she has a list of non-negotiables:

• The fabric has to be soft, and NOT itchy or scratchy
• It can’t be confining, but it also can’t be too loose
• She had better not feel any tags rubbing against her
• It can’t hang funny, hold static, or restrict her movement (if it gathers at the bicep, don’t even bother)

You probably think I’m annoyed by this. I can’t be –I’m the same way. The difference is, I’ll handle the discomfort and wear the item again, and be irritable all day. The Dervish collects all of her annoyance into a single, feral howl, and tears at herself until she is freed from her fabric prison.

Which is why, when she told me she wanted to be a princess for Halloween, I was a little nervous.

Because I’m not that bright, I took her to a well-known store that carries THE princess dresses. Every one I looked at had gathers, or elastic or fabric I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing (a sure sign of no-go for my Princess and the Pea).

So I searched online for ‘non-itchy princess dresses’ and found Little Dress Up Shop.

We’re talking princess dresses (the very same princesses your Dervish will want to be), fairy dresses and wings, discounted sets, accessories, and dance clothes (including tutus!). Free shipping, too. 

You might be saying, “I have a little boy and he’s not into princesses.” And that’s cool. Because Little Dress Up Shop also has boy gear (including superhero capes!).

You CAN play rugby in a dress.

So The Dervish tried on her lovely (and machine washable!) pink princess dress (she put it on herself – no complicated zippers or doodads). And didn’t cry. And kept it on. And was soooo excited to wear it for Halloween (the first one she ever completed in costume). And the day after. And the day after that. And Veteran’s Day. And most Tuesdays.

Kind of makes you want to be three again, huh?

Psst, you can. And if any of you want to show up at my house wearing this, you just might convince The Dervish to sit on the potty. Think about it, at least.

Every once in awhile, you come across a truly gorgeous piece of jewelry that makes you feel taller, more beautiful, more confident, and a darn good dresser.  Then you find out that local moms are responsible for actually handcrafting this jewelry, and you love it a little more.

This is an untraditional Momgenius post in that I’m recommending a product that is JUST for you, Moms.  It doesn’t clean anything up, it doesn’t store anything, it doesn’t make your life easier.  This jewelry makes you pretty.  And we don’t put that high enough on our priority list, do we?

Designs by Rali was founded by Rachel Leslie and Ali Hurwitz, Norwalk area moms with a passion for jewelry and an eye for beauty.  They started out creating fun and affordable jewelry for their friends, and have now expanded their business to home parties and boutiques.  They are on the brink of greatness, and it’s high time that you treated yourself to something gorgeous.

Go ahead, check them out.  You know you want to.

Thank you,  Graco, for allowing my household to sleep.

When I was pregnant with The Dervish, I registered for the Angelcare monitor and never got around to getting it.  No big deal, I thought. Instead, I just checked on her 55 times a night, sometimes waking her up when putting a hand on her chest to check for breathing. Infants, when they sleep, sleep so very soundly, it’s crazy-making.

It wasn’t until Atticus was born that I stopped this practice (at least where The Dervish was concerned).

But, as babies do, Atticus had his own agenda, and it boiled down to acrobatics. Since he wouldn’t sleep away from me, he slept on my chest. He didn’t sleep well. When I finally fell asleep, I slept so deeply that Atticus was able to attempt a feat of newborn gymnastics without my waking. It was the end of the co-sleeping I’d never wanted to do in the first place.

My son screamed at me from carseats, bouncy seats, sleep positioners, and of course, his back until he was a sweaty mess. And I had a breakdown. We were all exhausted, and he couldn’t be prevented from readjusting himself  to his belly. The poor thing was beyond overtired, and spent the better part of his days and nights howling, trembling, inconsolable.

And we gave up. And took shifts watching him sleep. Even though he rolled over at two weeks and could do a pushup by six, I was (and still am) petrified of SIDS.

And then a seasoned mother of three tummy sleepers recommended the Angelcare monitor. *

The first night we used it I had a lot of trouble falling asleep. Until the alarm sounded. Atticus had scooted too far away from the sensor. Which assured me that the monitor took its job very seriously, and was highly sensitive to lack of movement.

We have slept better ever since. The alarm still sounds occasionally, but only because Atticus already uses the full expanse of his crib and could probably scoot the length of the house if bars didn’t hold him in.

I always said my kids would sleep on their backs, in their cribs, from day one. 

Kids have a way of stomping on “I Never”, though.

The Dervish fell for a sleep positioner and partial swaddle. From day three, Atticus had no intention of staying asleep for more than an hour unless given free reign, and his insomnia was in danger of hampering his development.

Now, he flings dimples at me far more than the frustrated, irrational tears of sleep deprivation. I daresay he is happy. Most of the time. Something that, as a parent, I am not used to.

I still worry, because I usually believe the AAP when they make recommendations. But Atticus has all but told me I have no choice but to trust his judgement.

I will breathe a sigh of relief when he turns one. But in the meantime, the Angelcare monitor helps us all sleep at night. That and having adopted the zen attitude I’d previously reserved for staving off fears of various apocalyptic events.

Nine and a half months to go.

*IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Graco does not recommend that infants sleep on their stomachs and does not state that their product will make such positioning safe.

Well, I’m officially done with being pregnant.  T-minus-seven weeks to go, and I’m ready for this baby to get here already because the unbearable discomfort that joyfully accompanies the end of pregnancy has begun.  My one saving grace (aside from the pint of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food Ice Cream I manage to polish off every third day) is my Boppy Pea in the Pod Prenatal Pillow.   Shaped like a slightly odd kidney bean (my husband calls it my “comma”), it’s a great option for women who want the support for their back, hips, and pelvis without the desire for a stuffed apparatus large enough to relocate your significant other to the guest room.  Sadly, for my first pregnancy I didn’t have one of these gems, and my nights, from about 20 weeks pregnant on, were horrible.  With this miracle, I actually sleep through the night, and I have noticed a marked difference during the daytime hours in the decreased back and pelvic pain I feel with this pregnancy in comparison to my last.   Better late than never, right?  Any little bit helps.  Get one, moms-to-be, you’re going to love it.

I’ve been going back and forth for days now trying to figure out which of my awesome new products to recommend to you all, and haven’t been able to decide which one is better than the next.  In a fit of genius, it came to me: recommend all of the products, and the site from which they came!  So, ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to present my favorite baby and kids website to you: Diapers.com.

For those of you who aren’t aware of this fantastic online mecca, Diapers.com has everything you could possibly need for your little one.   Everything from diapers (cloth, disposable, organic, you name it) to clothes (Robeez and Zutano, to name a couple of brands) is easily purchased with a click of a button and delivered to your doorstep.   Here are a few of my latest and greatest finds:

• Gerber Spill Proof Water Spouts:  I don’t know about your kid, but the Bean would prefer to drink out of whatever I’m having versus whatever is in her pink princess cup.  These nifty little sippy cup tops fit right onto any average-sized water bottle, making my Bean feel grown up while keeping both of us dry.  These are also great to keep in your car or bag for “Oops, I forgot the sippy!’ moments that we seem to be having a lot of lately.
• Foogo Leak Proof Straw Bottle: Continuing with our thirsty theme, this Foogo bottle by Thermos is great.  It holds enough liquid to satisfy a little one on a hot day or a long trip, and keeps said liquid cold forever.  Your kid needs to be able to use a straw to get much use out of this, but mine loves the straw and the pop-top that provides hours of entertainment.  Oh, and this bottle hasn’t leaked like that no good Foogo sippy that I bought a few months back.
• Burt’s Bees Insect Repellent:  I hate the Bean to get bitten by little, nasty bugs, but hated the thought of spraying her with chemicals just as much.  Enter Burt’s Bees, an all natural brand that has developed a good-smelling herbal insect repellent that is good for the whole family.  We all used it this weekend, and escaped unbitten!
• Kee-Ka Organic Body Suits: The bean doesn’t wear these anymore, but they make great gifts – and are as cute as can be!

Now that you know what you want to order, let’s talk price.  Overall, I’ve found diapers.com to be reasonable and on par, with say, Target stuff that isn’t on sale.  The convenience of having it shipped – usually within 24 hours – makes any price differential worth it to me, though.  First-time customers usually get $10 off, other promotions abound, and you get free shipping on any order over $49.

This summer, be sure to make your life a little easier and check out this site.  Please report back with any other great finds!

If your little one is anything like my Bean(pole), it’s not always easy finding clothes that fit well.  We search high and low to find pants with a long inseam, but typically Beanie is walking around like a little plumber, with her onesie or diaper peeking out above a waistband that is just big enough to slide down her tiny little hips.

I’ve tried grosgrain ribbon belts (and will shamelessly admit that they have usually entered our lives via a pair of preppy pants or shorts), but they are too slippery-slidey and always end up….off, somehow.  Imagine my delight, then, when I stumbled upon the Myself Belt when buying some cool daycare labels.

This belt is many things: it’s cute, functional, thick enough to hold up the pants, and gives kids the opportunity to open and close the belt themselves via velcro.  The Bean loves fastening hers, and smiles with a glimmer of pride when she completes the task.  They are easier than a standard belt, too, when it comes to diaper changes and general undressing. 

There are a couple of things I would change about the belt, however, if I was queen for the day.  First, despite the true sizing (XS to XL, with measurements given on the website), I’d like a little more velcro on the closure side to make the belt  more adjustable.  Second, I would like the belt to have a secret button that I could push when The Bean gets a little too involved in her self-belting: sometimes, we have things to do and need to get a move on.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I’d recommend giving this belt a try.  It comes in a variety of colors and patterns for girls and boys, and sells for $14.99  It’s a small price to pay to keep your kid’s pants up for the whole day.

At this time of year, no one is looking their best unless they have just gotten back from a week in Jamaica.  Skin is sallow, pasty, dry…ugh!  I’ve tried lots of exfoliating systems and masks, and while I’ve liked most of them I just don’t have the time/patience/memory to use them regularly anymore.  That’s why I adore these Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads from philosophy.

philosophy describes their product with words that seem to come directly from the angels themselves:

“These daily peel pads are designed to exfoliate and replenish the skin while prepping it for additional treatment product. Convenient and easy to use, these daily mini peel pads help protect the skin from free radical attack while providing excellent moisturizing and emollient properties that leave skin smooth and radiant with our antioxidant enriched formula.”

What they don’t tell you is this: with a quick swipe of the little pad, your skin will be back to it’s glowing, pre-mommy self within mere days.  The pads could not be easier to use, and couldn’t deliver better results.  They aren’t inexpensive (they’re found at Sephora for $35 for 60 pads, which is about a two month supply), but I bet you’ll find that it’s worth a little less than a dollar a day to bring back your youthful, vibrant glow until the sun comes out again.