A Girl Named PJ

mother’s day gift guide: practical gifts

May 4, 2012

Earlier this week, I shared my favorite personalized jewelry for Mother’s Day. But maybe you aren’t into all that bling. With that in mind, I’ve curated a list of more practical Mother’s Day gifts for new moms.

For the tired mom who relies on caffeine to get through her day (but hardly has time to take a sip)… a mug warmer to keep her cup of coffee piping hot.

For the four-eyed mom who works long hours on the computer… hipster-inspired specks from Warby Parker.

For the preppy mom who daydreams about lounging by the pool this summer… a monogrammed tote bag by Lands’ End.

For the disorganized mom who can never find her favorite tube of lipstick… a LESS & MORE cosmetic organizer.

For the French-obsessed mom who loves to read… a copy of Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman.

Now you tell me… what is on your Mother’s Day wishlist?

a tail of two brothers (pun intended)

May 3, 2012

When we first brought Levi home from the hospital, our dog, Briscoe, was wary but curious of the new little creature in the house. He quickly warmed up to the baby, though, and felt comfortable enough around Levi to lick the milk off his face after feedings and join him on the floor during tummy time. I couldn’t wait to see the two of them grow to become the best of buddies.

Sadly, the state of their current relationship is best illustrated in the photo above. Levi is now interested in the dog and eager to interact, but Briscoe wants nothing to do with him. JB and I don’t think the problem is jealousy. A couple of months ago, Levi accidentally grabbed and pulled Briscoe’s fur when they were near each other on the floor, and Briscoe let out a terrible cry. Now the dog keeps a safe distance from the baby. It appears he is partly afraid of Levi and partly over the novelty of having a brother.

It breaks my heart.

However, moments like the one captured in the video below give me hope that Briscoe may once again warm up to the baby and that a bond between my two boys may just be possible after all.

Do you have a dog or a cat? How does your pet react around your baby, toddler or child?

mother’s day gift guide: jewelry

May 1, 2012

Mother’s Day is this month! Moms, do you hope to receive a gift from your spouse (on behalf of your child, of course!) to mark the holiday?

I’m a firm believer that you can never go wrong with the gift of jewelry, especially if it’s personalized or bares some significance to the occasion. The sentimentalist in me loves to attach meaning to things, and what’s more meaningful than a new mom’s first Mother’s Day?

Here’s my part-fantasy, part-reality jewelry wishlist. You’ll notice a common theme: They all have something to do with Levi! I wouldn’t mind receiving any of these baubles in celebration of my first Mother’s Day… hint, hint…… READ MORE!

another milestone

April 27, 2012

Why sleep when you can sit up in your crib instead?

This week Levi mastered a new skill: Pushing himself from his tummy into a seated position. I think he was motivated to get himself onto his bum after seeing a friend do it at a play date last week. Now, this friend can also pull himself to standing, but if we’re being honest… I’m okay with Levi not doing that yet. I fear he’ll no longer feel like my little baby once he’s vertical, and I’m not ready to give that up yet.

Of course, I know the choice is not mine, and I obviously don’t want to hold back his development. But maybe we don’t have to rush that milestone. I have no worries that Levi will eventually be up on two feet and then will be walking, so why not stay on on all fours for just a little bit longer?

Can anybody tell that I’m starting to get anxious at the thought of my baby guy turning one in just a few short months? I’ve really been trying to not think about it, although I do have to start planning his first birthday party. My parents and in-laws have been nagging –erm, asking — me about it since February! Perhaps I’ll begin brainstorming this weekend…

I also write for Lifetime Moms:

Gender-Reveal Parties: Touching or Tacky?

And a big thanks to Courtney for including me in a round-up of posts about working moms.

hamsters holding hands

April 26, 2012

Before my family got our first dog, my parents let me and my sister have pet hamsters. Now I cringe at the thought of keeping rodents as pets, but they were all the rage in the mid-80s. I chose two of my favorite names for my pair of hamsters, Ricki and Renee. (I went to day camp with a girl named Ricki, and Renee was the name of my first babysitter.) My sister probably called hers Hammy or Fluffy, names more appropriate for a pet hamster.

I may have outgrown my affection for those little critters, but I think we can all agree that cartoon hamsters (and even squirrels, for that matter) are pretty darn adorable. That’s why I have the board book Hamsters Holding Hands on my wish list for Levi’s ever-growing library. Little ones can count to ten with playful hamsters rendered in cheery citrus hues:

One hamster wants to play
Two hamsters shout hurray
Three hamsters with a pear
Four hamsters in the air

{Hamsters Holding Hands by Kass Reich}

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