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.

I Can't Stand the Rain...

Dear Junebug,

You make rainy days look so darned cute it causes me to forget how much I hate it when it rains...

XO

Mommy

First trip to the ZOO!

Dear Junebug,

There were tigers, elephants, giraffes, monkeys and more but I can't say that any of those animals impressed you more than the water features at the LA Zoo. You were screaming "Agua!" non-stop. Any pool of water, fountain or waterfall drove you into a screaming fit of excitement. You've since learned a lot more about animals so maybe next time you'll actually notice we're at the ZOO!

XO

Mommy

P.S. you did look ridiculously cute in your little giraffe dress and bejeweled Circo sandals.

I love you Gaga!

Dear Junebug,

You might have a lot of toys, tons of clothes and a lot of everything. But there's one thing you have that I hope someday you will understand is more valuable than anything Mommy and Daddy could every buy. You have SIX great-grandparents who were still alive to see you born. Both your Great Grandma Ricci (Gaga Gigi) and Great Abuelita Alba (Gaga Aba) have come to see you this year and are completely obsessed with you.

We love our Gagas!

XO

Mommy

Mommy Tips: Operation Organization!

My husband calls it insanity. I call it essential. When we moved into the new house, getting these closets organized was my first order of business. Having a baby can send your brain in a million directions and if your environment is chaotic, there's just no space for peace. So... I let my neurotic need for organization take over the nursery AND the playroom! Best resources? The Container Store of course! and Target...