Basically, think of the worst shopping experience you have with your kids – which, incidentally for me, is most times when I shop with my girls. They are 2 and 4 and love to play hide and seek under the clothes racks. They think it’s especially hysterical to have me ‘chase’ them through the store, using my whisper yell for them to ‘come here!’

Now, cast that vision aside and NEVER have to endure it again. Oh, hell yeah!

OK, back to the beginning. What is Wittlebee? It’s a shopping service where you receive a customized box of children’s basics each month for $40. Stylists have chosen adorable clothes that are still wearable for girls and boys. Wittlebee specializes in infants to 5 years old (too bad they don’t specialize in the 40 year old mom category, too!) but I hear they are thinking about expanding their stock up to 12 years of age. The clothes are logo free which, for some people isn’t a big sell but for others, it’s a huge selling point.

I hate logos. I hate them for myself but I detest them for my daughters. It smacks of big corporation manipulation to me. How did one mom put it, the Princess Industrial Complex? So true. I don’t want my child to be the next walking billboard for Ariel, Thomas or Yo Gaba Gaba either. Those characters get enough screen time.

Yes, this makes me a fuddy-duddy. And I’ll freely admit that having a Cinderella t-shirt might just make getting dressed in the morning a little less fraught. But still. A well placed tutu and pink tights more than makes up for it in our house.

Wittlebee’s website couldn’t be easier to use. You sign up, tell them what colors you like and if your child is a “diva” (yes!) and if their dressing style is “total chaos” (also, yes!). Those were just my answers. You can choose between preppy, happy, troublemaker, whatever is clean – they just need to know how to properly customize.

At first, I thought that $40 a month was a lot for clothes and it is. Here’s how I rationalize it: no driving, no parking hassles, no in-store dramas, no decision making about what is and is not appropriate for wearing. See, my daughter is an expert fashion lawyer trapped in a 4 year old’s body, so the ‘discussions’ we have exhaust me.

I have 2 girls, like I said they are 2 and 4, so I’m not certain I can swing $80 for a box for both. I’ll have to think on how to navigate that one. But let me tell you, I’m tempted. Just for the lack of drama alone I’d fork over $80 a month.

Of course, my older daughter might have come up with a solution. See her up there at the top of the post squeezing herself into the 3T clothes? I got a size bigger than my 2 year old needs and, as luck and determination would have it, the clothes fit both girls. Almost.

I know, I could shop without my two baby rascals, but honestly, who has time? There is only so much I can pack into the few hours I have to myself while they are at school. Shopping is not where I want to spend my time. I’d love to defer to experts. Maybe that makes me weird, but I suspect I’m not alone.

So, Mama’s (and Papa’s who reaaaalllly want to impress the Mama’s in the family with a recurring monthly ‘let me make your job easier’ present…Mother’s Day IS right around the corner ya know) get on over to Wittlebee and check it out.

Put it this way, you’ll be shopping anyway – your kids will grow! – why not make it easy on yourself. I just signed up for a monthly box even though the folks at Wittlebee sent me a box to review. It worked. Like crack. In case you need a little generous incentive yourself, those lovely souls at Wittlebee would like to offer you a discount. Until June 1st, get $10 off your first order with this coupon code: MHMB.

So let your fingers do the shopping!

photo credit: Modern Home Modern Baby and Whittlebee

So, here’s what I found for ME (yes, me, not my young lovelies) at Pottery Barn Kids. I’m telling you this in case you still have hints to drop for upcoming Mother’s Day. Or you’ve got to get your mother something from the grandchildren and G-Ma, as a woman and mom, might just love some jewelry!

I’m not usually a girly-girl. I don’t typically like frilly things. And I don’t wear much jewelry because, well, frankly, I don’t remember to adorn myself. But I like adorning myself.

A mom’s take on dog tags. The Silver Name & Date Tag Necklace is so very simple. I think this is my favorite.

The Gold Pearl Chain Charm Necklace. Who wouldn’t love a little footprint?

The Gold Scroll Birthstone necklace is the most frilly among these and while the scrolly script letter isn’t my taste exactly, I do very much like it paired with a birthstone. Plus the script letter seems so 1980s to me and as I understand it, that decade is back in!

And for simplicity’s sake, the Birthstone Bead Necklace is an understated mommy necklace. You don’t scream, HEY HERE ARE MY KIDS AND YES I WENT THROUGH HOURS OF PAIN. Just a simple pop of color, the birthstone is enough reminder.

And if you aren’t a necklace girl, then how about this lovely Silver Personalized Birthstone Bracelet. It’s a lot more simple and sophisticated than a charm bracelet but still has all the juicy memory markers attached.

I’m so angling for the dog tags or the bracelet! If you happen to know my husband and he asks you what I might like for Mother’s Day, please, feel free to say, “I know just the thing!”

photo credit: Pottery Barn Kids

Ah, those were the days, right?

Well, Spiro Bouncer has reinvented the wheel … er, teeter totter. Not only have they come up with a space-age-esque totter that looks like it belongs on the set of the Jettsons, they’ve added a padded seat and those awesome pads to the bottom that look like giant bouncy balls.

So, not only is there an added element of bum protection should one kid go flying off to do something else, there’s also an added element of “bounce,” regardless of how fast or slow they’re tottering.

Another thing this totter does that the old-school playground can’t? It spins!

The Spiro Bouncer can be used indoors or out and can accommodate children up to 55 lbs on each seat.

Of course, this isn’t the cheapest teeter totter you’ll ever buy … but it’s so cute!! Priced at $99, the Creative Kidstuff site promises it takes just 15 minutes to set up.

What do you think? Worth it?

photo credit: creative kidstuff

Some of them are referred to as “Hooter Hiders,” while others just plain nursing covers – but whatever they are called, they allow for you to have the freedom to move about town and nurse your baby as needed while accomplishing the day’s tasks – which wasn’t always the case.

We’ve rounded up a few of these chic “hooter hiders” so you can decide which is best for your needs, so having a baby doesn’t result in you living out your days as a hermit while you tend to their breastfeeding needs.

Thankfully, in recent years a few fantastic companies have developed nursing covers that allow you to do just that, without resulting in you giving up your modesty. In addition to that, they’ve made them aesthetically pleasing, so you can look chic while filling the tummy of your little bundle of joy.

You’re welcome.

Bebe Au Lait is the company in the feature photo above and they have a patented Rigiflex neckline that allows for you to see your baby and baby to see you while you nurse. They have a variety of patterns (as seen below) that are fashionable and appealing to any mom’s taste, so you can feel comfortable while out and about nursing your child in public.

Itzy Ritzy covers are eco-friendly nursing covers made with the green mom in mind. They come with a bone-in rigid neckline so you can see baby. The covers are all fully lined and the patterns have a modern feel. All covers are made in the United States.

The Peanut Shell covers, like the others, have the bone-in neckline which help you see baby. They offer a 97% cotton and 3% spandex material making the covers very soft to the touch. There are varied designs, colors, patterns, neutrals as well as bolds.

These are only three of many chic breastfeeding cover companies that offer a discreet way to be out in public while meeting the nourishment needs of your little one so you don’t have to be a hermit – just pick up a beautiful “hooter hider” of choice to allow for some modesty while you “do whatcha gotta do.”

Main Image: Bebe Au Lait ; all additional images from their respective vendor sites as linked above.

All of these qualities lend itself to a solid foundation for raising a family. It sounds perfect, right?

So why not wait until your late 30’s or early 40’s to have your children? There are certainly a lot of logical reasons in favor of waiting. My mother had 5 children between the ages of 23 and 29. I didn’t have my first child until I was 32.

Honestly, I don’t think I would have made a very good mother when I was still in my 20’s; I was still too self absorbed. I had my children when I was ready. I think that time is different for every woman.

Deciding to get pregnant in your late 30’s or early 40’s brings with it a lot more things to consider and the entire process may require more thoughtful effort on the part of the parents trying to conceive.

Fertility can become an issue due to aging reproductive organs, making it more difficult to conceive. Fertility drugs or in vitro fertilization may have to become a part of the equation. Suddenly, what once was fun evolves into a chore, and this strain can cause issues in the relationship between the couple.

Once the couple gets pregnant, health considerations need to be taken into account. That prenatal genetic testing that you so adamantly would have declined a few years back is now an absolute must. The possibility of conceiving a child with an incurable genetic disorder, such as Down Syndrome or Trisomy 18, has become a higher probability.

Now you have to consider what you would do if the tests come back positive. Will you be alive long enough to care for this child throughout it’s entire life? Will you be able to afford it financially? Can you do it emotionally and physically? How will this affect your future children? How will this affect your marriage? Will you carry the pregnancy to term? Will you terminate the pregnancy?

If everything is well with the baby, that is fantastic. Now, you have to take into consideration what effect pregnancy might have on your own advanced maternal health. Will you develop gestational diabetes? Will you risk developing preeclampsia? Will you have issues carrying the baby to term? Of course, these issues can happen to any woman of any age but as we get older, we are usually more susceptible to developing various ailments.

This is not to say that a woman in her 40′s cannot get pregnant and have a perfectly healthy baby. It is very likely that that is exactly what will happen. But when you are of advanced maternal age, these are just some of the things that you need to take into consideration when trying to conceive.

Did you have a child after 40? Did you have any issues compared to the pregnancies that you had when you were younger?

Photo Source: StoryvilleGirl

Now, when I go shopping with her, she’ll come out of the dressing room and simply ask, mutton? With her British accent, it’s beyond endearing.

No mutton dresses lamb for me! Guess I’ll have to settle for dressing my two daughters in these adorable looks and remain a little more appropriate for a mother of 40. Wait, no, I don’t have 40 kids! I should say a 40 year old mother. But somehow that sounds worse. God, when did I turn 40?!?

Two Tie Surf Lily Dress

Kangin Stripe Playdress (by the way, wouldn’t you love to have a dress in your wardrobe you call your ‘play dress.’)

Sanur Floral Sporty Dress

Moon Orchid Trapeze Dress

A few of the dresses are made by Tea Collection, a wonderful line of clothing for kids. I warn you, though. Whatever you do, do NOT click through to Tea Collection’s girls or boys new arrivals page. Don’t do it. You will be quickly parted with your money.

It’s like they just reach into your wallet from the screen, pulling out your cash and depositing adorable clothes for your kids that will, I’m sure, quickly be outgrown. Urgh.

top image: Giggle.com

Get a haircut

Head to the salon and get those locks trimmed up because when baby arrives, a free hour will be hard to come by. So splurge a little by going to a salon that offers a scalp and neck massage for a bit of additional indulgence.

You’ll be thankful that you took the time now to get a cut so when you do have a free hour to pop out with your honey for a quick bite to eat without baby, you’ll still look put together. Just don’t forget to change the shirt with the spit up on it.

Mani Pedi

A manicure and pedicure is a nice indulgence to take with your favorite good book. Head for some quiet time in your own head while getting beautiful – it will be a rarity in those first few months of newborn life, so enjoy the clarity of thought now.

Lunch with Your Girlfriends

You may still have lunch with the girlfriends when your little one comes along, but it’s a different dynamic when you have a diaper bag and infant carrier to tote around with you. Your focus and attention isn’t quite what it used to be and you don’t get to savor that fantastic meal from your favorite local lunch spot like you once did.

Make some time for an extra long date with your favorite girlfriends for an uninterrupted chat fest that doesn’t include baby talk. You’ll thank me later.

Go to the Movies

This may seem silly – but it becomes a rarity when the kids come along. You never realize how easy it was to just pick up and head to the movies prior to having that first child. So, do it a few times before you have to pay for a sitter to make it happen.

Date Night

Indulge in a few quality evenings with your significant other. When baby comes, you’ll enter a new phase in your relationship and it will be new, exciting and terrifying all at the same time. You’ll be looking to the future, yet reminiscing about the days gone by – so indulge in a few fun date nights.

Find some great restaurants that don’t include a kids menu, go to a play or concert together, stay up much too late walking on the beach – do things you may not get to do easily once you have a child to consider.

Having a child is a momentous occasion – but if this is your first child, trust this mother of three when I tell you that you’ll miss those carefree days. Even though you are so unbelievably excited for the days ahead with the addition of your family on the way and there is nothing you’ll trade for it, there is merit in savoring those last few days before that first bundle of joy arrives.

And, If this is your second, third or fourth child…etc… the above suggestions still have merit, and you know I have a point. So get a sitter. Or Grandma.

Time’s a tickin’.

Image: ChepeNicoli

One of those decisions was to decide if we would feed our little ones breast milk donated from another mother if for some reason my milk did not come in. Being that I was going to deliver so early, and the fact that there was a lot of stress involved in my strict bedrest, highly medicated scenario, it was possible that we would experience complications.

We also knew that we were looking at the possibility of very sick children and breast milk, when they were able to tolerate feeds, was the best option for their very fragile bodies. So, if my milk didn’t come in, donation was a real consideration for us. Thankfully, it all worked out and I was able to provide milk for those little 2lb feisty gals who are now thriving two year olds driving their mama batty.

But, what if I hadn’t been able to? At the time, I was surprised to find out that there were mothers out there donating their hard earned breast milk to mothers like me who were faced with the possibility of not being able to feed their children who, for obvious reasons, could benefit from that donation.

Who knew? Not me.

And in the fog of those months in the NICU, I didn’t do my due diligence to find out how I could donate my “Ol’ Bessy” supply of milk, because it turns out that the hospital pump made this mama produce some serious milk – and I so regret that I didn’t look into donation, because I did have extra.

Fast forward a few years, and a great friend of mine recently decided to pump an extra month after weaning her son so she could donate breast milk to a baby in need. I was so touched and honored to call her my friend because she took the time to do the research, to contact the company and figure out how to pay it forward.

She said she did it with our girls in mind because she remembered them and the babies like them who would need that “liquid gold” to fight the good fight in the NICU.

So, I figured I could make up for my lack of donation back then by breaking it down for those of you who might be curious (and still producing), in a quick and dirty fashion.

Here are the details from Helping Hands Milk Bank:

1. If you are generally healthy, do not take medication regularly, your baby is healthy, you do not smoke and you have a freezer that meets the freezing specifications (most freezers do) – then you will likely qualify for donation.
2. It’s an easy health screen process to qualify. Donor screening is done at no charge to you. You get a blood test and a cheek swab for a DNA profile. They use the DNA profile to cross match your donations as you send them in to ensure there is no mix up.
3. You can donate previously pumped milk (milk you stored prior to being screened) as long as it’s no older than 10 months and falls in line with their pumping guidelines.
4. Nearly all breast milk donated goes to sick babies in the hospital, many in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

For those of you who have an overabundance of milk, or just the extra will to pump a little longer, like my friend, this is a fantastic cause to donate to. You will be supplying babies who need those extra immunities to fight for their lives, and that is no small thing. I applaude you for considering it if you are in a place where you can do it, or if you might be in the future.

Have additional questions? Ready to take the next step? Head to the Helping Hands Milk Bank to find out more.

Images: Helping Hands Milk Bank 

OK, I’m from the South, can you tell? Every time I think about warm weather, I hear this song and I want to sway in the summer breeze.

This summer, we are headed to the beach! I can’t wait. Of course, we live in San Francisco, so technically there is a beach here, too, but it’s cold. Definitely not your typical beach experience.

So off we go to warmer climes. As a bon voyage ‘happy’ (as my mom calls random gifts for no reason), Stephen Joseph sent over a hooded butterfly towel and matching flip flops. Even though summer is technically not here yet, and our trip is more than a month away, we are getting ready!

The hooded towel – which works perfectly for bath time, too, y’all – is a fav. Already I’ve had to parcel out it’s usage. With one towel and 2 girls, well, you understand.

So, what we’ve had to do is this…one girl gets the towel, the other one has the shoes. This seems to work well. For now. Until one girl gets both.

The towel, the butterfly, has a hood and two little hand pockets. It sells for $25.99. My girls love to flap their wings wildly while their naked bodies streak up and down the halls. Certainly things will change come beach time, but for now it’s all fun and giggles when we do this.

I will say that the towel isn’t as fluffy as some towels can be. I don’t remember the thread count, but I’ve felt thicker, fluffier towels in my day. Of course, this doesn’t matter a hill of beans to the girls.

The flip flops are utterly adorbs – as the kids say. With little butterflies over the toes and such bright colors, how can they not be. They sell for $12.99. These, I can see, will be quickly worn to nubs from over-use.

I was going to wait until I had all of my summer beach goodies together to tell you about the these, but honestly, since they make a nightly appearance at our house I thought I’d just go ahead and sing their praises.

And, with celebs like Katie Holmes, Sandra Bullock, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani, Brooke Burke and Denise Richards (just to name a few) as huge fans, you might just want to check these out.

Muchos gracias, Stephen Joseph!

photo credits: Stephen Joseph Gifts

There is a store in Paris – and if you are headed to that wonderful city you MUST go to this store – called Merci. It’s just amazing. I could have filled a whole separate luggage bag full of their offerings. I didn’t. But I could have.

However, if you are stateside like me and still want to pepper your home with amazing French finds, check out Cachette. While it’s not run by the same owners as Merci, Cachette has a similar sensibility. Wanna see what I’m talking about?

First off, for the kiddos:

I’m in love with these learn to draw animals. My girls are 2 and 4, so drawing for them is a, shall we say, exercise in abstraction. But they love to watch me draw and I cannot draw! So, maybe I’m thinking these would be good cheat sheets for me while my girls learn how to draw?

Decoupages sheets – great for cutting and telling random stories with. There are probably many uses for paper cut outs that I’m not thinking of – maybe you know?

If only I spoke French, because this box of thread games is unbelievable. When I was a child, I knew how to twist thread into all sorts of shapes. Now, well, I shall just say that I lost that childhood knowledge – boo.

Then for the artisan items that have that je ne c’est quoi:

Who knows what it tastes like, but the Gooseberry & Elderflower jam looks just amazing.

If you are super thrifty, and yet like a crafty, gorgeous presentation, try out these envelope sealers. I’m certain they could be used on anything, but imagine using them on already used envelopes! That is, if you snail mail enough to have used envelopes. Or lunch bags.

Cotton napkins on a roll, like paper towels. Only they are cotton. As in cloth. And, washable/reusable. And compostable. Good for the earth AND your table AND good enough for your mother to use!

The one thing that I wish they carried was this drink called syrop – it’s like a concentrate of iced tea and lemonade that you can mix with water. When we were in France, I mixed it with sparkling water EVERY DAY and became addicted to it. Now I can’t find it anywhere. Maybe I should ask Cachette if they could stock it? (Or maybe I just did – he he he)

I could go on, but maybe it’s best to just send you off to their site so you can peruse for yourself. Tell me, what do you see that you like, hmmm???

Oh, and I haven’t officially bought anything from them yet, so I can’t speak to the customer service or anything, but I AM putting together my official wish list…Mother’s day isn’t that far away.

Thanks to Daily Candy for introducing Cachette to me!

photo credits: Cachette

The above pictured is the Stokke Stroller Pink Pixel Summer Kit. It comes with the following:

• Sunsail
• Parasol
• Hood with hood ventilation
• Terrycloth seat cover
• Rear textile cover

The below Stokke Stroller Winter Kit comes with:

• Storm Cover for ultimate weather protection
• Handmuffs for the parent pushing the stroller (my favorite part!!)
• Insulated hood
• Sheepskin rim

The Stokke strollers are a sleek and stylish strollers perfect for a mom in the city or one who likes to stroll an outdoor, but paved area. The seasonal add-on accessory kits are a perfect addition to their basic stroller. If you had to choose one to invest in, I would choose the winter version if you’re living in the north regions and the summer version if you are fortunate enough to live in sunny Florida.

What’s your favorite stroller? 

Images: Stokke

And I’m totally jealous.

Why eBabytracker Is Fantastic:

It keeps track of everything pertinent to your baby’s day-to-day life:

• Track feedings. It allows you to enter in when baby ate, including breast feeding details like which breast and for how long. If you were/are a breastfeeding mother, you know how important this is and how easy it is to forget which side you left off on last feeding!
• Enter in diaper information. In the first few days/weeks, doctors will have you track this information. If you have premature babies (like we did) or special needs children, this can be an extremely useful part of the application if you’re trouble-shooting a dietary or health issue.
• Monitor sleeping patterns. Log nap and sleeping times and begin to find patterns in an effort to create a regular, and hopefully somewhat predictable, routine.
• Log medicine information. There is a place to keep track of this information, which can be extremely useful when you find yourself on a regular regimen of medication for a period of time.
• Keep memories. If you are a big memory keeper, they have an “Event” keeper where you can log your daily event and take a picture of that event. This is great for those of you who are bloggers or scrapbookers participating in 365 day events – you’ll have a photo for each day easily with this part of the app.

I only wish this app had been around when I had our kids. It would have simplified so many things in our life with newborns, especially when the twins came along. My loss is your gain!

Photo: eBabyTracker

What We Love About the RTB Socks:

• Eco-friendly Creation: RTB’s are made from 100% recycled “pre-consumer” yarn (ie: never been used, created from something that never made it to a manufacturer, trimmings, scraps.etc..RTB’s are repurposed recycled materials) and eco friendly soy-based ink.
• Designed to Stay Put!  The designers have multiple design points to keep these little socks in place – ribbed panels at ankle and arch and cuffed at the top with anti-roll down in mind.
• Fashionable and Function. Makes diaper changing and potty training a cinch, unlike tights. Beautiful designs dress up any plain outfit. Breezy day isn’t a concern with an extra layer of RTB socks underneath.
• Meeting Special Needs & Protection Crawlers’ knees are buffered with the socks as they navigate your carpet of hardwood. If you have a child with special needs in harnesses or braces – RTB’s are a great protection layer for their skin. They have an entire section on their website dedicated to information on this topic and testimonials from parents who’ve seen success using their socks in conjunction with harnesses and braces. Where most baby clothing items left parents limited in function, RTB’s created ease. Brilliant!!

Overall Rock-a-Thigh Baby Socks are a great consideration for baby, toddler and preschooler and through the ages. They offer a ranges of sized through age eight! Rock-a-Thigh Socks provide fashion, function and ease for the first time, and are well worth the $14 investment.

Head to their website for more information!

Image: Rock a Thigh