Oh Baby ....

Gift Bag Giveaway

2009-03-18T12:49:00.002-05:00

We're on thecradle.com ! You can ENTER to WIN the same gift basket that the celebs like Tim Allen, Kimmora Lee Simmons, and so many more receive . WE ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE in the Celebrity gift bag giveaway! sign up here http://tinyurl.com/cyr486

St.Patricks Day

2009-03-17T21:50:00.001-05:00

81 + degrees in Iowa In MARCH no less . It was a Gorgeous day!

Sharing a Bed with Your Child

2009-03-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

Q&A: Sharing a Bed with Your Child

Michele Borba answers your parenting questions right here on her blog. If you have a parenting problem or question leave a comment on this post and you may have yours answered. I created a situation. I have no idea how I am going to solve. My daughter is almost 2 years and still sleeps with me most nights. She will usually fall asleep in her crib for a couple of hours and then she is calling for me.I don't like to let her yell because she will wake up her sister. She has never been a good sleeper. Durning her first year I tried everything to get her to sleep. Finally I gave up and started bringing her to bed once I started back at work. I need a good nights sleep. She is a twister and a turner. She plays with my hair in the middle of the night if she can't sleep. Help!! -Lana Oh, the trials and tribulations of co-sharing a bed with a 2-year-old. It always seems like such a great idea in the beginning (after all, our kids do sleep better and so do we when we're all nestled in together). The problem hits when the kiddies start becoming movers and shakers and tossers and turners (or in your case hair twirlers and pullers). Then it's the parent who loses sleep. How to get them OUT of our bed and back into their own is one of the questions I'm asked most these days. So know there isn't an easy answer. And the "bed switch" will take fortitude on your part. You MUST stick to the plan you choose and not back down. The trick to any behavior plan is to make the child know you are serious and mean business. They will test you so don't give in. There are two basic techniques. You choose which works best for you and your situation. The gradual wean. Get a sleeping bag and put it on the floor next to your bed. Each night you gradually pull the bag closer to the door and out of your room until the child is finally in her bed. This one takes a while. Cold turkey. You would need a set of ear plugs for this one. You matter-of-factly state, "You're sleeping in your own be." and then you put the child back in her own bed. Yes, you will hear her cry but what actually happens is a slow gradual decline of her crying once she knows you're serious. Do not go back into that room if she cries. Once she knows you will she wins and you lose. This is best to start on a Friday night, and not on a work night. Some parents actually invite a sister or mother to "sit" in the house for two nights while they go and stay at a motel or the sitter's house to speed up the process.

Meanwhile for either one or two you make sure you are establishing clear and lovely nighttime routines (like I'm sure you are, right?). The soothing bath. The bedtime story. The massage. Research says those rituals prepare the child for bedtime. Stick to the routine. Also, make sure the bedroom and bed are seen as comforting and special to the child. Play up the "big girl room." Let her "decorate" by moving things around or add an inexpensive comforter. Reduce anything in the room (shadows, noises, light, temperature) that may rob sleep. Fears start up around two and many parents actually move the bedroom to a small alcove or area closer to their room if the child's room is too far from their own (and increasing the scare factor).

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

2009-03-08T13:22:00.001-05:00

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Posted using ShareThis

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

2009-02-26T13:12:00.001-06:00

Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Posted using ShareThis

Register to WIN !!

2009-02-26T10:26:00.003-06:00

You could be the envy of all your friends at the next baby shower you attend by winning these adorable pink and blue baby shoes by Toot Skooters! These “Baby Skoots” are all leather and made to fit your child’s feet like a glove to make walking a breeze. Toot Skooters was recently selected to be a part of our Winter 2009 Celebrity “BUMP” Bag.

For a chance to win this incredible giveaway, just post a comment below (make sure you provide us with a valid e-mail address so we can contact you if you win). Hurry! Winner will be chosen from all eligible entries on Monday, March 2nd. Click Here for official rules.

. EXCLUSIVE TO JEWELS AND PINSTRIPES BLOG READERS: To celebrate this giveaway, Toot Skooters is also offering a 25% off discount on your next online order. Just enter “JP25” at checkout to receive your discount.

Sofias ear tubes

2009-01-30T16:19:00.005-06:00

Fia has been having a problem with fluid in her ears for SUCH a long time now. It is effecting her hearing, speach, eating , growth and so on and so on... you know how it goes. She will point to her ears and tell you she has a "bop bop", meaning bo bo. She is 2 now and FINALLY we got someone to listen. She had tubes put in today. Boy was it FAST !!! They took her into the surgical suite and seriously, after they gave her some happy gas, it took about 7 minuites ! I couldn't believe it!! She didn't even cry once. Such a big girl. All week we would say "are you getting your bop bop fixed?" , and she would point to her ears and say "yep". So sweet, but so sad that she was excited about getting this done, and she's only 2 ! Well all went well and she has been up and happily running around all day. Not 1 tear. I LOVE YOU BABE !

We are So Proud!

2009-01-30T16:12:00.002-06:00

We’ve Been Selected!!

Founded in October of 2004, Jewels and Pinstripes is a premier designer of luxury gift bags, specializing in creating VIP thank-you bags for charity benefits and high profile events. In early 2007, Jewels and Pinstripes began creating celebrity baby and pregnancy (BUMP) gift bags . The baby bags and the adorable contents regularly attract the attention of leading media outlets including The View, People Magazine, Extra, Us Weekly, Pregnancy Magazine, OK! Magazine, Celebrity Baby Blog, Mommies with Style to name a few. Jewels and Pinstripes always donates a celebrity baby gift bag to auction to benefit a children's charity. In 2008 Toot Skooters submitted our signature leather baby crib shoes to Jewels and Pinstripes, And our shoes were chosen. We are very proud to be partnering with them in the giving of the “Baby Bump Bag”. An example of those receiving the first “Bump Bags” for 2009 are Tim Allen and wife Jane Hajduk,(home Improvement), Maxine Bahns and husband Patrick Watson (The Mentalist), Howie Dorough and wife Leigh Boniello (Backstreet Boys)

Tips & Tricks

2008-12-31T11:54:00.003-06:00

We all know it's hard to get our kids to eat right. Sofia is the worst. But getting much better. So how do we sneak in the healthy stuff without having to make them feel like dinner is a chore? I asked some other moms what they do, and here is what they suggest:(I have tried them, some DO work ) My tip: Never let your child eat alone. They ALWAYS need to feel that meal time is a time to eat and share time together. Take a bite fron THEIR plate to let them know that they are eating what YOU are eating. REMEMBER ... If it tastes bad to you, (ex :Jarred baby food ;) ) It most likely tastes bad to them as well. Misty's tip: Puree or cut squash, carrots, zucchini or spinach into small pieces and hide in sloppy joes or meatloaf. Spaghetti is also great for hiding veggies. Tori's tip: When Tori is making dinner but her kids want something to eat right away, she serves them foods they normally would turn their noses up at, like carrot and celery sticks . Katy's tip: Limit snacks, and when snacks are served, make them veggies. Tara's tip: Give whole wheat pizza crust a try. Make it even healthier by sneaking in some colorful veggies and maybe even some chicken breast and spinich. mmmmmmm carols tip: Hide pureed or grated apple or mashed bananas in oatmeal or cream of wheat. She also recommends the books The Sneaky Chef by Missy Case Lapine and Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Gramma's tip: What tastes bad to one may taste good to another. ALWAYS encourage your kids to try new things, and remember, if they don't like peas.... they may REALLY not like peas !! Give these tips a try and if you have a tip to add, PLEASE leave it here on my blog ;)

ADD ME

2008-12-29T14:34:00.001-06:00

COME ON GUYS! ADD ME , IT WON'T HURT, I PROMISE ! :)

Merry Christmas !

2008-12-29T14:23:00.010-06:00

Wow ! Christmas was crazy !! But it was great. Everyone was happy. My Daughter had just had surgery the Monday before, so here I am with 2 little ones, AND I turned 40 this week !! ARRRRGH. There is a reason I was young when I raised my kids. They are such Beautiful little angels though. This too will pass ;) Here are a couple of pics of the girls on christmas...

A little about me...

2008-12-18T15:21:00.008-06:00

Hello…. My name is Billi. I live in rural Iowa (BRRRRRR) and I am married to Scott . We are the very PROUD parents of 5 children: Tara, 19, Kris and Kyle (the twins) 16 , Cody 15 and Alex 15 . We are also so happy to be the proudest grandparents of 2 very beautiful little girls, Sofia 2 and Andrea 5 months. They are the Love of my Life. I always say .... "when she took her first breath, my heart started to beat again" So this has been quite an eventful year ! It all started in March when I saw that Sofia loved her animals so much that I decided to draw them for her. Everything has absolutely snowballed since . I have designed and imported my own line of baby crib shoes as well as my light up toddlers shoes. I carry a high quality leather mary jane with soles that light up when the child takes a step. These come in in 2 styles/colors for girls as well as a boys & girls sandal. I also carry my adorable leather baby moccasins in pink and blue. All have Velcro closure for easy on & off and are orthotically perfect for the beginning walker. I also have my signature T Shirts that I have had my drawings/pet caricatures screen printed on to. Children absolutely LOVE the pets and refer to them as their "friends". These drawings are part of the illustrations that will be featured in a short story that I am writing and "Lucky" is the beginning of a line called Zoo Skooters that will be promoted in zoos in the mid west.

Tiny Toes

2008-11-24T12:10:00.005-06:00

Hello ! I wanted to pop in to say BRRRRRR. I can tell that Christmas is just around the corner. I'm Not always one to "bundle up" , But the time has come !! I wanted to remind everyone that Toot Skooters shoes are not only soft , comfortable, & cost effective, but they are WARM on the tiny toes as well ! Stop in and take a look @ www.tootskooters.com !

Oh Baby !

2008-11-20T11:57:00.000-06:00

We are a new blog dedicated to pregnant moms to be, toddlers , children and.... arrgh pre-teens to teens. My name is Billi Jo. I am the proud mother of 5 children and 2 absolutely gorgeous grand daughters.I stil have 4 boys at home , twin boys aged 16 years, my baby age 15 and my husbands son age 15. My oldest is my only daughter and the PROUD Mother of our Beautiful baby girls. I am grateful to her every day! I have recently opened a business inspired by my beautiful Grand Daughters. Sofia, aka "Skooter", is now 2 and the newest addition Drea, aka "Baby Love", is 3 months . I sell leather light up mary janes and toddler T Shirts for the most part on my web site. My children and now my Grand Children have always been what my world pivots upon. I am also a Registered Nurse. I have seen it all, heard it all, and been through alot. If there are any questions that you need to ask regarding your pregnancy, your child or their developement, I will be happy to try to help. If you have a story that you'd like to share , please feel free to blog it. I am always looking for a smile :) & don't forget to look at our site at www.tootskooters.com .... Yes it was named after Sofia