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I was recently introduced to Polka Dot Pear, a company that specializes in creative stationary, announcements, invitations, and other related items.  But what sets Polka Dot Pear apart from the rest is that all of their products are completely customizable.  Try getting that when you order your Christmas cards from Walmart or Shutterfly!  It won’t happen!  That’s just one of the things that sets Polka Dot Pear above the rest.  The design team at Polka Dot Pear will work with you to create a unique and custom invitation, announcement, or stationery that will be sure to stand out from the rest.

Aimee from Polka Dot Pear contacted me and was nice enough to offer their services for my son’s 1 year birthday invitations.  I spent a lot of time scouring their website trying to find the perfect layout.  Polkadotpear.com is very easy to navigate, and they offer full-color photos of their designs.  With so many options, it was difficult to make a decision.  There were so many designs I liked!  I finally decided on a layout, shown below:

I liked this layout because it allowed room for a large photo to be showcased across the top, and I love it’s simplicity.  I knew it would be perfect for a birthday invitation. 

Once I had selected a photo to go with the invite, I contacted Aimee at Polka Dot Pear and she took it from there.  I mentioned my ideas for color scheme and the birthday theme I had chosen: sock monkey.  Within only a couple days of communicating and proofing, we had the final product!  And here it is!

Let me mention that I have altered the invitation’s information and photo for privacy.  The actual invitation is done in a matching font and is perfect!  This is just to give you a general idea.

As you can see in the before and after, the design team beautifully transformed this into a unique, one-of-a-kind invitation based on my suggestions.  Going with the sock monkey theme, they added the clever wording announcing “our little monkey” is turning 1.  I love how the “1” is big and bold.  The blue monkey in the corner perfectly adds a pop of color to contrast the red and ties in with the color on my son’s shirt and the sky in the picture.  Polka Dot Pear is so good with the little details!  I was extremely happy with this proof and gave Aimee the okay to proceed with printing.

At this point I want to mention how great the customer service was with Polka Dot Pear.  Aimee was quick to reply to my emails, and took all of my suggestions and wishes into consideration.  I wanted to make some changes to the invitation after they sent the first proof, and they gladly made them and even offered ideas that I never would have thought of.  It was obvious they wanted me to be very satisfied with the end product.

It took only a couple days from final approval for them to ship, and I received them within a week.  Upon opening the shipping box, I found the invitations to be beautifully packaged in a white box tied with a ribbon.  The invitations and their envelopes were neatly stacked inside and wrapped in tissue paper. 

I am so impressed with the quality of the invitations!  The colors are vibrant and the matte finish of the photo paper  makes the photo pop.  On top of that, the photo is mounted on a heavy duty, luxury paper to give it a more elegant look and feel.  Included with the invitations were gold foil lined envelopes, which are very classy addition!  The overall size of the invite is a little larger than 5” by 6” and the envelope is a custom fit.  These invitations are meant to “wow” your guests when they receive them in the mail.  I have gotten nothing but great feedback from the guests I have sent them to.

Overall, I have been extremely satisfied and impressed in every aspect of Polka Dot Pear.  Their products and service can’t be beat.  I would highly recommend using their services for any announcements or invitations you may need in the future.  You simply can’t beat custom!  Thank you, Aimee and Polka Dot Pear for allowing me to try your product!

IntoBaby is into Polka Dot Pear!

******NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A POLKA DOT PEAR PRODUCT******

Polka Dot Pear is generously giving away a $25 credit towards the product of your choice!  To enter the giveaway, follow these instructions:

• Required:  Leave a comment including your favorite Polka Dot Pear product- Can be viewed here
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Follow @intobaby on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in an extra comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” IntoBaby on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” Polka Dot Pear on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
• Earn 1 extra entry:  Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
• Earn 2 extra entries:  Write a post on your blog linking to this page and to the Polka Dot Pear website and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

• All entries must be submitted by midnight on Tuesday, September 14th,  2010.  No late entries will be accepted.
• Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
• Winner will be contacted via email the morning of September 15th, 2010
• Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
• This contest is open to U.S. residents only

Come back and visit us again soon at IntoBaby!

I recently stumbled upon a pamphlet at my routine eye exam that said babies age 6-12 months get a free eye exam.  I picked it up and read through it, trying to find what the “catch” was.  But there wasn’t one.  I even asked my optometrist about it and he confirmed that is it a great, free program that he would recommend.  I made an appointment for my 11 month old before leaving that day.

The program is called InfantSEE.  InfantSEE works with a participating optometrist to provide no-cost vision assessments for babies age 6 to 12 months.  Most parents, including myself, wouldn’t even think of having such a young baby have an eye exam.  However, there are rare cases in which a baby may be experiencing some type of eye problem that isn’t noticeable until a routine eye exam. 

So play it safe and find a participating optometrist in your area by visiting www.infantsee.org.  In order to qualify for the free examination, your baby cannot be over 1 year old. 

I will write about our first eye exam after our appointment!  Schedule yours today!

Need a little help shopping for a first birthday gift?  Here is a quick list of five gender-neutral ideas at a variety of price ranges to help get you started.

1. A wagon:  Though on the higher end of the price range, there is no gift more classic than a little red wagon.  Radio Flyer makes several different models to choose from, including classic steel, wooden all-terrain, and plastic ultra-comfort with canopy.  The birthday boy or girl will love getting rides in their wagon, and when they are older, will love pulling it around the yard.  That’s what makes a wagon a perfect and timeless gift for any one-year old.
2. Pull-alongs:  Maybe a wagon is out of your price range or you don’t have the room.  If so, pull-along (and push-along) toys are another great option.  If your baby isn’t walking already by the age of one, they will be shortly.  Get them a toy to pull or push right along with them!  Some of my favorites are: the dancing alligator, the corn popper, the wooden chomp push toy, and the pull along zoo.
3. Rocking Horses and Ride-ons:  Let’s face it, your baby is really becoming a toddler and needs some activities that let them practice their movement.  You can find rocking horses at all price ranges to fit the budget you are looking for.  Some of my favorites that won’t break the budget are the Little Tykes and the Step2 rocking horses.  If you’re looking to spend a little more money, I recommend the classic wooden Derby or Radio Flyer rocking horse.  If you’re looking for an alternative ride-on toy to the rocking horse, you can’t beat the adorable Wheely Bug!
4. Books:  Your baby will soon be trying to imitate your words (as if they haven’t been already!)  Books are a fun way to get some cuddle time in and captivate their attention.  Board books are going still going to be the most durable type at this age.  A great book for this age is First Words.
5. Clothes, clothes, and more clothes:  If you were lucky enough to have a baby shower before your baby was born,  you probably got showered with lots of clothes that wouldn’t even come close to fitting your baby anymore.  Of course, clothes are the most practical of gifts on this list, but because of that you can’t go wrong with buying them!

Follow this list and you really can’t go wrong with the first birthday gift!  Happy shopping and happy birthday!

And it’s amazing how quickly time passes! Have you started thinking about your child’s education? Read about how homeschooling has been amazing and freeing for our family!

What gifts do you find to be great for baby’s first birthday?

Well, my husband and I finally had “the talk”.  We both had been beating around the bush for quite some time as to when we’d try for baby #2, but the conversation eventually surfaced.  I had secretly been hoping that we’d try for another baby in the near future, but I wasn’t sure how my husband would feel about it.  Come to find out, we are completely on the same page.  I have since quit breastfeeding and am birth-control free.  It’s all in God’s hands now!

Is anyone else currently trying for baby #2?  For some reason, I am feeling more apprehensive about the possibility of getting pregnant a second time around.  When we decided to try and get pregnant the first time, I didn’t think twice about it.  I didn’t bother with tracking my ovulation cycle or demanding sex every day.  My mentality was more like “it will happen when it’s supposed to.”  And go figure, I got pregnant 2 weeks after going off of birth control without even trying! 

So why am I a little more nervous the second time around?  My first concern is that I haven’t gotten my period even though my son is almost 11 months old and has been mostly for over a month.  Is it really normal to go that long without getting a period?  I know that breastfeeding can drastically change the natural cycle, but 11 months worth?  It was only within the past week that I have completely stopped breastfeeding, but until that point I only fed him maybe once or twice a day.  Is that enough to hold a period off?  So not getting my period yet has been a little bit of a scare for me.

I come from a medical background and consider myself to be pretty educated in women’s anatomy and physiology, which includes the reproductive system and how it works.  I know what it takes to get pregnant and the signs of ovulation and everything in between.  Yet, I still went out and purchased the ebook “What to Expect Before You’re Expecting” and have been reading it every night.  It’s all stuff I know already.  But I find myself wanting another baby, and quick just like the last time.  I’m not sure what my obsession is this time in having to read about it, but it is what it is.  I spend a good part of the day searching the web on menstruating after baby, ovulation, and getting pregnant with baby #2.

Probably the most extreme thing I’ve been considering is purchasing an ovulation kit.  But not to keep track of what days to have sex.  Honestly, I think my husband and I have sex often enough that we won’t miss the egg.  I simply want to get one for peace-of-mind that everything is still in working order.  However, I don’t want to turn into one of those people who is so obsessed with getting pregnant that they take pregnancy test after pregnancy test when it isn’t necessary.

I guess the thing that worries me the most is that many women who didn’t have any problem conceiving their first baby find they have problems conceiving a second.  Sometimes it due to the physical change that takes place to the uterus after already carrying a baby.  Or maybe it’s the chemical and hormonal change.  Or it can even be age.  I personally know a few women who have only been able to have one child and no matter what they do, can’t have a second.  I don’t want this to turn into a fertility argument of “well they should just be happy they have one”.  Save that for another day.

I just find that knowing we’re ready for baby #2 seems a little more daunting of a task than the first one.  And I guess I want to know if I’m alone on this one or not.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted!

What has been your experience with trying for baby #2?

When was the first time you realized you loved your baby?  Many women would answer that they fell in love with baby the day they found out they were pregnant, or maybe even the first time they heard the heart beat or felt movement.  Or maybe even when they saw the ultrasound picture.  It seems that most the women I’ve ever met were head-over-heels in love with their baby before baby was even born.  You know the type, or maybe you were even one of these women.  They would talk to their baby and rub their pregnant belly, or sing to them, and talk with extreme excitement as the due date drew nearer.  I like to say they were born with the “mom gene” and are just naturals at the whole baby thing. 

It was people like this that made me feel like there was something extremely wrong with me.  During my pregnancy, I never really felt a close bond to the baby.  I can’t even say that I felt love.  How dare you say that is what many of you may be thinking.  Well, the truth is the truth.  I can honestly say I never felt a strong emotional bond with my unborn baby.  In fact, it worried me at times.  Why was I so different than all the other pregnancy women that I’d ever met who were totally infatuated with their unborn baby?  What was wrong with me that many times I felt overwhelmed and not excited to be pregnant?  Inside, I was secretly asking myself will I love my baby?

If you are pregnant and feeling the same way as I did, know that there is not something wrong with you.  I think more women may ask themselves this question than we think, but for some reason it is kind of taboo topic.  I didn’t want to be labeled a horrible, heartless person by telling people what I really thought when they asked if I was excited to have a baby.  Yes, my husband and I had planned on getting pregnant and yes, we wanted a baby, but I just wasn’t feeling an attachment.  Does my story sound similar to yours?

If you’re feeling unattached to your unborn or newborn baby, don’t dismay.  It may take time.  Did you genuinely love your spouse the very first time you met them?  Or even before you met them?  I think I can safely guess “no”.  It’s takes time to know someone and to love them, and although a baby is a very special person, it can take more time for some to grow love and affection towards them.  Some women love them before they are born, and some after.  Neither is right or wrong.  For my specific situation, I didn’t feel that strong, intense motherly love until after he was born, and maybe even a few days after he was born.  Meeting your baby for the first time is a very surreal experience, and it may take some time to feel a bond.  But you will love your baby, even if it takes a little time.

So what should you do if you’re pregnant and not feeling in love with your baby?  First of all, don’t panic or think there is something wrong with you.  There isn’t.  Secondly, if you would feel better talking to someone about it, then talk to someone about it!  Tell you spouse or a trusted friend how you are feeling.  You may be surprised and find that they have felt the same way and they can help you through.  Lastly, try to enjoy every minute of your pregnancy and know that someday you will be amazed that you even questioned if you could love your baby.  Because you will!

How do I know for sure?  Because I once asked myself many times will I love my baby?  And I do, more than anything else in the world.

Have you ever asked yourself “will I love my baby?”  When did you realize you loved your baby?

Forget those cheap, plastic baby hairbrushes with synthetic bristles!  The Ambassador Wooden Baby Hairbrush is a quality hairbrush that has enough charm to become a great keepsake years after baby is grown. 

The features of the Ambassador hairbrush make it easily stand apart from the rest.  The head and handle of the brush are made from a light colored natural wood.  The bristles are boar bristles.  If you have never used a boar-bristled brush before, you need to give it a try!  The bristles are firm but not coarse, and gentle enough to use on baby’s head.  Boar bristles are great for keeping hair looking its best as they help distribute the hair’s natural oils. 

Another great thing about Ambassador, for those environmentally conscious, is that everything in this brush is environmentally friendly.  The wood used in the brush is from non-endangered trees, and the bristles are sheared from the animals like wool is sheared from sheep.  Even the box the brush comes in is made from 100% recycled materials. 

But don’t buy this brush to environmentally friendly!  It’s a great little brush for baby.  It’s the only brush I have used for my son since birth.  The wooden brush is very tough in that it has held up against months of letting him bang it on the floor and chew on it.  I know this brush will last for a lifetime of babies!  And that’s why I’m into the Ambassador Baby Hairbrush!

For breastfeeding moms, especially those first-timers like myself, it can be hard to know when to wean baby from the breast.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing until at least the first year of baby’s life.  However, everyone has a different preference and every baby is different.  So how do you know when it’s the right time to wean?

Here are a list of different scenarios of when mothers have decided to wean.  Maybe one is similar to yours and will help you make your decision of when is best for you and your baby.

• Self-weaning:  Some babies end up weaning themselves from the breast.  For one reason or another, they lose interest in the breast and, depending on their age, opt for the bottle or sippy cup.  The great thing about self-weaning babies is that you can stop breastfeeding guilt-free and follow your baby’s cues.  However, if baby weans earlier than you’d like, you can always continue pumping until reaching the age you desire.
• 6-months:  The 6 month milestone is a common age parents wean baby.  By 6 months, baby is ready to start getting a greater source of nutrition in solid foods.  However, remember that breastmilk or formula still needs to be a large source of their nutrition at this age and beyond. 
• 12-months:  As mentioned earlier, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding during the first year of baby’s life, and beyond if you so choose.  At 12 months, baby can also switch to drinking cow’s milk.  The one year mark seems to be a very common goal for breastfeeding mothers to reach.  At one year, baby reaches the toddler stage, which marks the beginning of a whole new independence for baby.  Many moms choose to wean at this big milestone. 
• Teething:  The onset of teething is often a breastfeeding deal-breaker for mothers.  At some point, most likely, you’re going to get bit.  And if you’ve ever had it happen to you, you know it might be enough to call it quits. 
• Returning to work:  For those re-entering the workforce, continuing to breastfeed becomes a whole new challenge.  Pumping can be a real drag, especially if you work somewhere that doesn’t have a facility specifically for the purpose.  If you are returning to work and you know pumping isn’t for you, don’t feel guilty.  That time you had at home with baby to breastfeed, whether 6 weeks or 6 months, was beneficial health-wise and financially. 
• Vacation:  Whether going on a vacation with or without baby, some mothers use this time to wean.  Some mothers find it easier to use a bottle when away from the home.  And if baby isn’t with on vacation, many would rather not mess with having to pump and store.  In fact, it might not even be an option.
• Drying up:  For whatever reason, whether it be stress or simply normal functioning of the body, some women’s milk dries up.  If you don’t want to mess with restoring your production, it may be time to call it quits.

No matter when or how you decide to wean baby from the breast, don’t let another mother’s opinion sway you from what you know is right for your particular situation.  The important thing is to do what is right for you and your baby.

How do you/did you decide to wean baby?

This weekend I discovered what may be one of my favorite items for baby: the Dropper Stopper.  For a while now, my mind had been devising a device that could attach from a bottle, sippy cup, or toy onto a high chair or stroller to keep these items from hitting the floor every few minutes.  While shopping at a specialty store over the weekend, I found that someone already had the same idea and had created the Dropper Stopper.  And what an awesome little device it is!

The design is simple:  A fairly short strip of elasticized material with built-in snaps on each end to secure to your items of choice.  The Dropper Stopper may be a simple concept, but the design is well thought out.  The end that attaches to a high chair, stroller, etc has 4 different snaps to make it easy to fit whatever item you’ll be anchoring it to.  The other end forms a “T” at the top of the strap.  This is where you attach the item you don’t want falling on the ground.  This is is more elasticized than the rest of the Dropper Stopper to allow more stretch to fit a variety of items, from pacifiers, to bottles, to stuffed animals.  The inside of this end of the strap also contains a non-slip material to help hold bottles in place. 

I used the Dropper Stopper first during a long day at the mall, and I’m telling you, it is worth it’s weight in gold!  I attached my 10 month old’s sippy cup to the stroller.  My son had easy access to his sippy cup whenever he wanted it, and when he’d drop it, it would simply hang next to the stroller and off of the ground until I picked it up or until he pulled it back in.  I am such a believer in this item I think it should be something on every baby registry! 

We bought the Dropper Stopper at a specialty store for $9.99.  I thought it was a little high priced for a simple piece of material, but the pricing on the website said $13, so now it looks like I may have gotten a deal.  But now after using it, I may even consider buying one for $13.  It is so worth it!  There are a variety of very cute materials to choose from, and for $13 you’ll never have to worry about picking up a dirty sippy cup off the mall floor again!  IntoBaby is very into the Dropper Stopper.  Do yourself a favor and get one…or two for that matter!

What do you think of the Dropper Stopper?

When registering for baby items before the birth of our son, we totally overlooked the need for an umbrella stroller.  We opted for the big and bulky “travel system” instead, and although that stroller has it’s time and place, an umbrella stroller is almost as much of a necessity.  A traditional stroller is great for offering the most comfort and storage for long outings,  but an umbrella stroller is much more quick and convenient for the smaller and quicker trips.  While on one of these quick excursions, my husband and I decided to pick up an umbrella stroller, specifically the Especially for Kids Umbrella Stroller in Shamrock.

We purchased the stroller at Babies R Us for $29.99, which is in the lower price range for umbrella strollers.  There were a variety of great colors to choose from, including shamrock green, grey, red, chocolate, and even a floral and striped design.  For the price, you get a lot of great features with the stroller.  It folds very easily and compactly and has a built-in handle for carrying.  It also comes with a removable canopy and visor to help protect from the sun.  A small mesh bag hangs in the back to act as storage for a few basic essentials, which is a great option when simply taking a quick trip somewhere.  The handles are gripped and the stroller also has a footrest. 

We have been very pleased with the stroller.  It rides very smoothly and our son, who is over 20 pounds, fits securely and enjoys the ride.  My husband is comfortable pushing the stroller, even though he is relatively tall and the stroller sits lower to the ground compared to our traditional stroller.  It is extremely easy to fold and pack away and has been a great space saver.  On top of all of that, the stroller is very cute and stylish.

The only thing I would change about the stroller is the harness.  It is a 3-point harness, and I would much rather have a 5-point harness for extra security.  Our son hasn’t had any problems staying secure in the stroller, but a 5-point would just give me a little more peace-0f-mind.

Here is the quick breakdown of the pros and cons:

Pros:  Great price, removable canopy, quick and easy folding, carrying handle, storage bag, smooth ride, comfortable handle grips, variety of colors, stylish

Cons:  3-point harness

The Especially for Kids Umbrella Stroller is the perfect little umbrella stroller for the price!  If you don’t have an umbrella stroller yet, or didn’t register for one, you should.  They are a very easy and convenient piece of gear to have for baby.  You won’t regret it!

What’s your thought on umbrella strollers?