Sad Eyes

My poor baby boy has been sick since last week. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but it started the day after CJ got the H1N1 nasal vaccine.

I know I am paranoid, but my always happy baby is super cranky, hasn't slept in a week and is refusing to eat his solids! This is not the baby I know!!

He is so beyond congested that it took him 45 minutes to drink his bottle last night and he pretty much screamed all night long. He has been running a fever for three days now. What gives??


I was having my morning tea and eating my breakfast and I looked up to his little eyes staring at me. They looked so sad.

Don't worry, I already phoned the doctor. Wish us luck!

Oh Plah!!

No, haven't taken any French lessons lately. But this might be my new favorite phrase!! For those of you who might have been as clueless as me, "Oh Plah!" is French for "Here you go!"

This eco-friendly, stylish bracelet for mom doubles as a fun, safe teether / toy for baby!!

With everyone trying to be as eco-friendly as possible these days, the brilliant people as Roundhouse Design came up with a super chic way for us moms to stay stylish and prepared for any situation. Like being caught on a line in the store with a restless baby. Instead of reaching for those dirty keys hand over that cute bracelet!!



What you should know about Oh Plah:

• Each bracelet is constructed of medical-grade thermoplastic - non-toxic, bacteria resistant, and free of lead latex, PVC, BPA, and phthalates.
• It meets or exceeds safety testing standards.
• No small parts means safe for even the tiniest baby.
• Extremely durable yet flexible, standing up to frequent chewing without looking worn or damaged.
• Easily cleaned with soap and water, and dries quickly so that it can be worn again right away.
  
• Great as a nursing reminder (switch wrists to remember which side comes next).
• Made in the USA!

Oh Plah! is available in six different colors and styles and retails for $19.99 - $24.99.

Roundhouse Design practices a closed loop cycle with its Full Circle Recycling program so when its time, Roundhouse will even pay to have your Oh Plah! shipped back to have it recycled into new products!!

How did we like it?

Cooper is definitely style conscious. He loved it! I have to admit that I am fond of it myself. Here is the bracelet we were given to try:

Isn't it cute? Well Cooper started in on it right away:



I even "tasted" it myself. It really has no taste what-so-ever. There is no plastic smell like lots of the teethers I already own. Overall, I am really pleased with this and it makes me feel good that it is totally safe for him, which is most important. It doesn't hurt that it is totally adorable too!!

You can visit www.roundhousedc.com for more information or to purchase your own.

Sleep

A rarity in our home.


Sleep has become one of the most coveted joys for us.




I never imagined it would be something I cared so much about...





until I had two children who refuse to sleep!


If you have good sleepers cherish those moments!

Ok, I am going to drag myself into the shower now. Have a great day!!

Tea For Two

So the Holidays are officially upon us. I am starting to make my list, of recipients...oh and my "wish list" for Santa too!

I know, its not even Thanksgiving yet, but the stores just put you in total panic mode!!

I don't even know what I am wearing for Thanksgiving yet!!

Well, I am so thrilled that the lovely Lisa, owner of PinkRoses1220 on etsy contacted me.
She makes these amazing Afternoon Tea Jackets in the absolute yummiest fabric:

She sent one along for me to try out and let you know what I thought.
Do you want to know?

Can you guess?

Take one look at these beautiful creations and you will know what I thought even before I slipped this jacket on!

LOVE IT! I wasn't sure it would be flattering on me, but oh how I love it.
It is adorable dressed up over a little black dress or paired with jeans and a tee-shirt.

I was so excited that I could hardly wait to wear mine out and about.
Guess what? Other ladies loved it too!!

These are handmade with the most beautiful fabric. So super soft.
The best part is there is only one button so if you are pregnant, thinking about it or know someone who is...this is a great find!
Oh how I wish I had one of these jackets when I was preggers!!
Well I am so happy that I have one now.

This "headless horseman" pic is me. Yeah, I know...I had no makeup on and I am in serious need of a trim. But I wanted you to see how I wore it out:

I have on my little J.Crew city cord capris in a dark brown and I think this is such a cute little outfit.
I love these jackets, they are so versatile.


Shop owner, Lisa is super sweet and a pleasure to work with.
Check out her site to see for yourself

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkroses1220

K'Nex-ing With Sesame Street & Your Kids!!

I have always been a Sesame Street fan...way back 33 years ago, I am so loyal!

So I was super thrilled to have an opportunity to review one of K'NEX new building toys as part of the Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection. This new collection lets children build and then play with their favorite Sesame Street friends, including Elmo, Cookie Monster and Ernie. With four individual sets to choose from, kids can build and rebuild over and over again.
Thanks to K'NEX and Team Mom, Casey and I were able to test out the "123 Brownstone Building Set":

(Here is a picture of what we received)



Needless to say, Casey really enjoyed his part.

He played...

and played...

and played some more!

Ta da!!!


It was actually fun for the both of us. He was familiar with the characters from the show since he watches it. We are already a fan of K'NEX, we have some of their building sets. The plus side for me is they totally interchange with what we already have so that makes me happy. My prior investment just doubled!

So, how did we like it?

We loved it! Totally age appropriate for my 4 year old. Pieces were big and chunky so they are easy for his little hands to manipulate.

Although our children have quite the imagination, which we love, the set does come along with additional building ideas which is nice for me since I am not as "creative".

There are lots of parts so it is really easy for them to build and rebuild over and over. It lends itself to hours of building and playing, which is nice so they don't get tired of it after one use.

Each set also comes along with a "Play & Learn" activity sheet which features educational and fun activities designed specifically for preschoolers and their parents. I really appreciated this because it extended his "toy" to me and allowed me to be a participant. We went over sorting, making patterns, counting and color recognition, etc.

You may or may not know it, but these toys are wonderful for:

• Physical Development: hand-eye coordination
• Social/Emotional Development: encourages imaginative play
• Language Development: talking about their creations can enhance their language skills
• Cognitive Skills: sorting and making patterns encourages thinking & problem-solving skills

These wonderful sets are for ages 2-5.

They are priced from $9.99 - $19.99. Each set is totally interchangeable and designed to coordinate with each other.

You can find them at Target, Walmart or Toys "R" Us.

Want to win some serious prizes???

K'NEX is currently hosting a contest of their own. Grab your video camera and your favorite K'NEX buildingset get started.
The prize is $1000.00 worth of K'NEX Building Sets!!
The "Make a K"NEXion" Video Contest rules are located here.

Thanks again Team Mom and K'NEX!!!

Rockin' Out In The Car With My Kids

Every single day since Little Man's B'day party...we have been listening to this in the car:



Thanks to my very thoughtful girlfriend...who either wants to make my kid happy or drive me insane! But seriously, I have found myself singing along happily with my little guy in the back seat. The only downfall.... he has his favorites which he likes me to play over and over and over.

Kids just don't get tired of it like we do. So if you are searching for a fun alternative to Raffi and the other kiddie crooners, check this out.

I know you can find it Here and probably at other stores that sell kiddie cds. Have fun!

Glass Baby Bottles

Baby bottles are pretty much my life.

I am pretty much an expert at packing them up. Cleaning them. Mixing in them...oh yeah and feeding in them!

My life literally revolves around baby bottles...at least for the next year or so.

So with all the growing concerns about BPA I have definitely been researching and using what I feel is safe for my baby.

You may remember a post I did back in March about green to grow and their products.

I use their plastic bottles and love them.

They asked me to try out their glass bottles to see how I liked them.

As far as packaging and design go, you have to give it to them. Definitely one of the more stylish bottles on the market!

So, as far as performance here is what I have to say:

I was always concerned about glass breaking and chipping so I use some, but not all glass bottles.
These are really nice. They are easy to grip and you really don't need a rubber sleeve (those things make me nuts!).
A little heavy when the bottle is full, but my boy guzzles so its not like I am holding it for long!

I boil my bottles, so glass definitely retains that heat. Any glass bottle does the same.

Honestly, I feel like the bottle is cleaner. I love my plastic BPA free bottles. I can't live without them. Glass for some reason really feels like it comes clean (I'm just a freak about clean stuff in my kids mouth!).

I did try the regular neck bottles, which are totally fine, but I am a "wide neck" person. See, I formula feed and its easier to get the formula in the bottle when its wider...but that is the only reason. The bottles work well and they travel well too.
I like to fill my bottles with water and stash them in my diaper bag when I am out and about...no spills. I can not tell you how priceless that is. I have ruined many a bag full of stuff because of leaky bottles.

So, again, I am a fan. I like the company and all it stands for. The product really speaks for itself. Safe, reliable and affordable.

You can go here or www.greentogrow.com to check them out or place and order.