violetblue's Profile

I selected Montessori as a response, but it's a public school Montessori.

Another Charlie's Soap user here-- for all our clothes and cloth diapers. Their web site has some helpful hints on washing as well. I love their tag line: "if you want flowers, go pick some!"

I bought the Baby Bjorn Babysitter for my first child and am still using it for my second. I like the three settings. A newborn can rest in it without slumping. It's very easy for the baby to make it bounce, and the wooden bears and balls are easy for the baby to spin once he or she can reach. It folds completely flat, which is useful for storage in between kids. The fabric seat removes easily and washes well-- I thoroughly tested that out due to my daughter's explosive poops as a tiny baby! We didn't end up using the chair all the way until my son was 2 because he had a tendency to climb to the top of the seat and bounce. My daughter may be different. We'll see.

And how about the end paragraph where the guests started criticizing the hostess for her eco-sins in decorating? I am concerned about environmental issues and over-consumption and am working to correct things in my own household, but I certainly wouldn't want to hang out with those people!

I've also found the Sears' Baby Book and the Weissbluth sleep book helpful. To these suggestions, I would add: T.Berry Brazelton's Touchpoints: Birth to 3, which focuses on the different stages of development and gives some good coping strategies. With my second baby, the free diaper bag from the hospital included Kathleen Huggins' The Nursing Mother's Companion, which I've consulted a few times--even with it being the second time around. Also, someone gave me Great Books for Babies and Toddlers by Kathleen Odean--a guide to children's books. I myself had a book baby shower for the same reasons of already getting hand-me-downs and not wanting too much random stuff. We're still enjoying the books we received. I would totally throw some books for the baby in with the parenting books. I could give a big list of those, but I think that's another whole topic!

My three-year-old would love the owl to wave in his baby sister's face and make her laugh.

The French oven for weekly roast chicken or for variety: poulet en cocotte.

Chances are slim that I'll win, but nonexistent if I don't enter at all.

stickers to entertain the older child

So difficult to choose a favorite. I think I would have to go with the London tote--brings back memories of my two years living there as a child.