Christmas is hilarious with a toddler in tow. It’s fun to watch them figure out what’s going on, and once they catch on to the whole concept of presents, they can’t contain their excitement. We have been laughing at our son’s confusion about gifts. He seems to think that everything under the tree is fair game. Last night he opened up his uncle’s girlfriend’s present when we weren’t looking and she wasn’t even there. It’s also funny how he handles the presents he receives. Once he opens up his toys, he tries to play with them all at once. Last … Continue reading →

With Christmas a little more than a week away, you might be planning how to dress your baby for his or her big Christmas debut. If this is your baby’s first Christmas, her wardrobe is a big deal. Will she wear a “Baby’s First Christmas” shirt, a dress, or a Santa suit? She’s going to be in a lot of photos, so choose wisely. My philosophy on special outfits is “keep it simple.” Sometimes, something understated and elegant will actually have the biggest impact. I love to see layered and accessorized outfits featuring a blend of neutrals and a touch … Continue reading →

Last night my husband and I perused the toy aisle in Walmart, looking for ideas for our son’s Christmas present. He is just over a year and a half now, and pretty much anything that has wheels or involves horses is sure to get him excited. The problem we’ve been facing is trying to find a toy that will not only reflect his favorite things, but will also be age appropriate and hopefully so for a long time. We don’t want to get him something that he will outgrow in 3-6 months. It should at least last until next Christmas … Continue reading →

I’ve been brainstorming a lot lately about our Christmas tree. With a toddler in the house, whom we affectionately call our “little monkey,” there are extra precautions to be taken to make sure that our Christmas tree is safe, both to and from our child. We don’t want our tree hurting our son, and we don’t want our son hurting the tree. The easiest way is to create a physical barrier in the form of a play yard baby gate, which can be wrapped around the tree. The only problem with this, though, is it is not exactly visually appealing, … Continue reading →

Last Halloween, we did not go trick-or-treating. My son was only 6 months old and we did not think it would go over well. Plus, it might have looked pretty silly to ask for candy when it was clear we would be the only ones eating it. This year, however, we will be taking him trick-or-treating with both sets of grandparents. Some of our friends and family will have treats that are toddler friendly and we think that our son will get into it now that he is old enough to grasp the concept. We are also working on “please” … Continue reading →

Yes, I’m on a Halloween kick these days. School’s in, fall is in the air, and I smell candied apples and Tootsie Rolls just around the corner. The last couple of years I’ve tried to dress my daughter and I up as a Halloween duo. I don’t know that I’ve succeeded that well. Last year’s farmer and pig pairing wasn’t too bad, though. I wanted to dig up some ideas for this year and I thought that I’d share them with you! Five Mom and Baby Halloween Costumes 1. Leaf and pea pod For cutesy goodness for a newborn, you … Continue reading →