Souvenir from Jaipur?

Dear Junebug,

When I put this little Indian outfit on you and a bindi you could've easily been mistaken for any of those little children from Jaipur, India. You are such a genuinely happy little baby. How did Mommy get so lucky?

XO

Me

P.S. that's not really a bindi... it's nail polish. Sorry bout that.

Little Treblemakers...

Dear Junebug,

You've been spending every Saturday morning at the Little Treblemakers music class. It's very cute and very fun. You've learned a lot of songs and little dances which has been great entertainment for everyone. For Halloween your teacher Patti got everyone little pumpkins and you were very excited.

XO

Mommy

Animals!

Dear Junebug,

I can't wait for you to go to India so you can see all the monkeys and tigers! Monkeys are EVERYWHERE! Then again, so are the cows (they're holy). Tigers were a bit harder to come by. We saw this one while on safari. Daddy jumped out of the jeep to get these pictures... not a great idea but at least you can see it for yourself. Nobody would've believed us back at the hotel either so it's good we had this proof. Mommy was shaking in her boots. Being this close to a real live tiger in the wild is scary! RAWR!

XO

Mommy

The Indian babies...

Dear Junebug,

While we were on our trip to India I couldn't believe how beautiful the children were. In fact, every single face I looked into reminded me of you. They have these gorgeous brown saucer eyes as deep as the ocean. And despite how little they have in terms of material things they are so full of joy. You have so much in common with them even though you come from two completely different worlds. I can't wait to take you there some day so you can meet them all.

XO

Mommy

Mommy Tips: Safari Style...

I'm attempting to channel a little bit of Katherine Hepburn on safari... Of course I forgot to read the fine print which said you are not supposed to wear white on safari, it scares the animals away. Oh well. Sometimes you gotta suffer for fashion! Best place to buy safari pants? Theodore's!

Mommy and Daddy went far away...

Dear Junebug,

Your Daddy and I are very protective over you and we can't stand to be away from you. Right around you turning 18 months old we decided that it was finally time for us to go on a trip together and leave you home with Nanny and your Grandparents for the first time. This was very very difficult for us to do. And we didn't just go on a quick little trip, we went FAR away... to a land called INDIA. It was a beautiful, magical place. You stayed home and didn't skip a beat. Mommy was so stressed about it but so relieved to know that your routine is so strong that we don't ever have to worry about going away. We're so lucky that you are such a good baby and we're so lucky that you have such great people around you who love you and know how to take care of you. It took us 33 hours to get home and I was so desperate to see you that every minute was an eternity. Next time maybe we'll take a trip to Santa Barbara!

XO

Me

Mommy Tips: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

Maybe it's luck, maybe it's training... I can't say for sure but I started sleep training Junebug at 4 months old according to the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. This book came highly recommended by several friends. When you start reading about how harmful sleep deprivation can be to a child, you really start to take it serious. A few days of suffering through letting her "cry it out" resulted in a child with a very healthy and robust sleeping schedule. She sleeps about 12 hours per night and hasn't woken up in the middle of the night in over a year. By the way, baby isn't the only member of the household that needs sleep! Mommies and Daddies need sleep BAD. This book helped us create a routine that has caused peace, calm and sanity to our home. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Spend vs. Splurge: Ballet Flats

Dear Junebug,

Patent leather ballet flats. Well... the Old Navy ones run us about $12.99 vs. the Baby Bloch at a cool $49.95. I'm torn on this one. Although I bet I know what your Grandma (Ama) Helene would say if I bought the Baby Blochs - "Oh, you total idiot!"

XO

Mommy

State of the Union: 18 Months

Weight: 27 lbs.

Sleep: 6:30pm to 6:30am (laying in crib until 7:00am)

Eating: Oatmeal or Eggs, Toast, Fruit for breakfast, Chicken and veggies, cheese quesadillas, macaroni and cheese for lunch, apples and bananas, string cheese for dinner. Snacks on homemade smoothies, fruit, cheerios and elmo crackers.

Activities: running around, dancing, carrying jibber-jabber conversations, coloring all over the walls, starting to understand consequences, learning to give baby kiss-kiss, watching Sesame Street, obsessing over Elmo and making friends at the park...

Mommy Tips: Effortless Style!

I love this pic of Gucci Westman. She makes being a Mommy look so effortless! Here's the takeaway... for an instant, flawless, classic look make sure you have a couple of good striped tops in your closet and a great pair of skinny jeans. Here's another secret: you don't have to be "skinny" to wear skinny jeans. If you still have a little post-baby tummy just get a t-shirt that hangs a bit lower.