Noah's Room

Hey everyone!

Welcome back and thank you for coming by to view the living & dining room reveal last week! This week I wanted to share a bit of my son's room. I wanted to focus mostly on one side of his room because I honestly haven't decided to put anything above his crib. The reason is because he's a toddler and if I add any artwork, he may actually touch it & knock it down! -  I know other moms can relate to this.

I thought about some vinyl stars again, but just felt it would appear too cluttered. I already think it has a lot and that's due to the open West Elm Parsons shelf we added. BUT don't WORRY...the shelf is securely bolted to the wall! So remember, I would not recommend adding this to a toddler's room unless it is securely bolted, so safety first! My son is also NOT a climber thankfully!

So here it is, his little space that he enjoys and I think his favorite part is the table + 2 stools we got him from Sprout Kids. We also added two more chairs from Oeuf NYC which I absolutely love! We chose the Eco-Friendly Bear Play Chair set of 2 in Birch. You can also add these fun play stickers to your purchase as well! However, if you're feeling creative you can certainly purchase some craft paint & paint some faces yourself! Hope his space inspires you! 

-images by jen ramos

Resources: 

'lion book ends' not available but recommend these or these. 

Oeuf Nyc Bear Ear chairs set of 2 via Barneys

beaumont white book ledge via Land Of Nod.  

Star Lamp by Fromage La Rue 

sensory play space divider by Edu2Toys

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Kids Clothing Available!

 Hey guys, we have been going through a lot of changes in the last day or two. It's been very tough and at times stressful. Unfortunately, I also decided to close down my Cocoa & Hearts kids shop because I was spreading myself too thin.  But we have a BIG SALE there and all tees & sweaters are now 30% off, everything must go! 

Also, many moms have asked about Noah's clothing & if I was selling the items that no longer fit him. I've been meaning to do this for a long time now! he will be 2 years old next month, and I finally got around to posting some online for sale. Finally. Please visit that sale here.

-post by jen ramos

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Creative Toys for Kids: edu2toys

Hey guys! I wanted to highlight a new learning toy we got recently.

edu2toys is a company based out of Lithuania that believes in the power of creative education. They understand that each child has his or her own unique greatness. So, they developed tools & toys that nurture & empower kids to become their best self! I'm totally down with that! 

As a mom, I find myself wondering what types of activities to do with my toddler.  I've tried playing ball, coloring & even making a spider out of a craft materials, he wasn't that interested.  Throughout the 'trying'  I found myself wondering if I was doing something wrong? -   I've had better luck when he & I painted together & read books.  As a mom, I am realizing more & more that early childhood is an important stage of development where my little guy is exploring & curious about every single thing!  He's obsessed with looking into everything.

I came across edu2toys & I love that they believe that developing creativity in our children is a duty to be shared by both teachers & parents. So true! They also explain that in order to understand children we need to try & listen closely to what they say, their facial expressions, the look in their eyes & even analyze their drawings.  KIDS tend to communicate via emotions, shadow play, music, art of sculpture, storytelling, drawing, drama and a multitude of other verbal and non-verbal means of self-expression. So, my husband I wanted to bring more creativity into Noah's play area where he would be able to express himself more....so, we chose a few items from edu2toys.

The one I'll be sharing with you today is the - Sensory Play Space Divider.  It's a modular space divider.  It helps develop sensory skills & also imagination! You can also use this to divide an area in their room and create activity zones & quiet reading time.  I love toys that help Noah develop skills, for example this space divider is valuable because it helps with:

• fine motor skills
• self-expression & imagination
• communication skills
• aesthetics

You can do a lot with this space divider such as folding the panels in a circle to create a house! We did that for Noahs's room & we also got the felt wool berries - which I LOVE!! I must admit, he hasn't quite mastered the creativity aspect of it, but I think the more we practice.... the more he will understand that play time is about imagining & creating! 

 Check out more cool toys and tools on edu2toys

-pics by jen ramos

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New Sweatshirt for the kids!!

Hey guys, I know many of us are anticipating Thanksgiving for some time off......but I wanted to give you a heads up & let you know we launched a new design in a sweatshirt! Check it out here in our kids shop : Cocoa & Hearts. - perfect timing as the weather is already getting chilly! - This unisex sweatshirt is only available in gray & in sizes 2T-4T for toddlers!

PLUS...you will get a FREE Hot Pink heart print with each sweater purchase! 

available at cocoa & hearts

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Real Life: Balance

Being a mom & running a business is HARD work. There aren't enough hours in a day to do both as well as I'd like. I admit it. There are days I wish I had my nanny even longer, but then I'd never spend time with my son. It's all about perfecting balance I guess.....& that, I am still working on. Today I looked down at my little guy & he was wearing this t-shirt I designed. Says "mom & dad are my heroes" .... It made me smile. ...that maybe he thought I was doing just great... That in his eyes, I was HIS HERO.  

It made all this hard work today...feel a little better.

Follow more on my instagram.

T-shirt from my shop -  Cocoa & Hearts

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Hey Moms, Check out the new shop!

Hey everyone! I have been working on some new things theses days, my apologies that I am not on here as much. However, for those not following on social media, you can now see the new Kids shop I've launched!

The t-shirts are for KIDS (boys & girls) 10 styles in the launch collection! We just LAUNCHED today! Shop for your kiddos give them as gifts ...Check them out at Cocoa & Hearts & take advantage of our launch discount code.

-pic by sage and sparkle

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Cocoa & Hearts News

Hey everyone! Hope this Monday is going good for you! -  I thought I'd pop in & update you on this NEW Kids t-shirt line we are putting together!!  We are actually re-doing our entire Cocoa & Hearts website + re-branding it.  The Cocoa & Hearts site will no longer be paintings, but you can go to Made By Girl if you're looking to have me paint an original painting for you. Sound good?

The new Cocoa & Hearts logo will look like this (below) & we will be seeking out a few K-I-D-S brand ambassadors. That means.... we will send them a few t-shirts in exchange for some cool pics on social media, tagging us & letting others know where to find the line!  The kids will be carefully selected based on your social media account, follower count etc.  Excited to introduce this to all of you! I know this is a different route and I may have many people un-follow me or stop reading the blog all together...because you you preferred to see home decor....& that's ok. When I first started Made By Girl, I had only 7 followers, so I understand what it's like to be at ZERO pretty much (if I have to be).  BUT, I really hope to have your support through this in any way, especially all YOU moms!

As I mentioned before - we'll be launching about 8-10 t-shirt designs to start with. Can't wait to see which is your favorite.  Sizes will range from 18 Months old - 4 years of age. Please don't forget, if you'd like be notified of the launch date - SIGN UP to our mailer at Cocoa & Hearts.  XO

-post by jen ramos

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Revealed: What's Next

Hey guys! I am finally REVEALING the main reason why I haven't been on my blog much.
For those of you who've been with me since the beginning in 2006 - and remember my first post ...it may seem odd that I've been taking such a BIG break from blogging!  But like everything else in life, this too gets a bit boring.  Sometimes we just need a break, a refresher.... to re-think what else we'd like to try & hopefully accomplish in our lives.  So, here's a small look into what I've been working on lately.

Ever since Noah popped into the mix - I've been thinking more & more about clothing for KIDS.  I LOVE TO CREATE.  I love painting, drawing, designing & coming up with new ideas & concepts. In fact, both of my businesses were about ART that I created for people's homes.  So, after contemplating this for quite some time,  I decided to try my hand at a market that is completely saturated & competitive.  I'm talking about kids apparel. 

Trust me, I realize I am taking a BIG risk in jumping into an industry that is already full of wonderful talent. Even with the same hesitation & fear many of you felt at first... I am ready & here I come!

As I said, this is a NEW market for me.  My head keeps going back & forth between fear & excitement.  I had forgotten what this fear felt like after running my previous business, Made By Girl for over 10 years.  Throughout that time, I remember many women emailing me & asking how they could start their own businesses. They always wondered if they would be able to put aside their own fears & introduce their business ideas to the world.  I often wonder what many of those women ended up doing.  Well, here I am, back at the 'starting line' with another adventure ready to be introduced. 

For me, this is yet another medium to express my art.  I am super EXCITED about these hand-drawn designs for kids tees I created.  I really think other moms will love them too!  The t-shirts are all screen-printed & we will be launching ONLY 8-10 designs to start! We will ACTUALLY be RE-branding the Cocoa & Hearts website & launching it into this new brand. Hope it doesn't cause too much confusion! If you want to know the launch date + news updates -  feel free to sign up to the newsletter here.

I hope you will welcome this NEW & fun kids brand we are launching SOON - from one MAMA to another, THANK YOU in advance!!!!

-images & post by jen ramos

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Hansa Plush Toys for kids

Now that I'm a mother, I keep my eyes open for interesting baby toys. 

One toy company I love is Hansa.  It was originally created for exclusive European collectors & each Hansa plush animal is handcrafted from portraits of real animals. What I love about the Hansa animals is how realistic they looks. I know many interior designers who use these wonderful plush toys to create one-of-a-kind spaces for kids! From the VERY large ones to the smallest.  My little Noah is about to get his own space soon, right before his birthday in mid February.

I love the idea of adding a Hansa toy to his collection! As if you couldn't tell, the face & body of each animal/toy is carefully sculpted & sewn inside-out to create its unique features, minimizing visible seams.Making each animal unique, just like in real life!  Every Hansa animal comes with a "Toys that Teach" tag describing each animal's lifestyle, habitat,  gestation period, care of their young & eating habits. The company uses this to try & educate children about these beautiful creatures, & appreciate the importance of our co-existence with all animals!   

Pretty cool - huh? If I had to choose, My favorites are the little zebra & the baby giraffe.  How about you? Any Hansa Faves?

 

-post by jen ramos

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Gift Guide: Kids Must-Have Books

Christmas is around the corner.  

Have you shopped for your grand kids or your own children yet? On the off-chance that you haven't yet, have you considered gifting them books? I LOVE books & my son loves them too!

Book are one of my fave gifts to give.  They are just TIMELESS & so special.  I remember when I was a little girl...my dad would always buy me all  kinds of books, even if I wasn't old enough to read them. I would be amazed just staring at the pictures on the pages.

Here are some must-have titles for kids books right now.  These are sure to be a hit in any child's life! Happy Holidays!

Celestino Piatti's Animal ABC 

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

LEO A Ghost Story 

Tough Guys (have feelings too)

Max The Bravo

The Mighty Lalouche

Leonardo The Terrible Monster

Stripes & Spots

Potty 

The Color Monster 

Night Animals 

Wolfie The Bunny

Where The Wild Things Are

The Story Of Ferdinand

The Day The Crayons Quit

Penguin In Peril 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Olivia (saves the circus) 

-post by jen ramos

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Kids: Joovy Spoon Walker

My mother has been mentioning the word "walker" ever since our son was born.  I admit, when I heard that word, I went into caution-mode.   I really believed walkers were dangerous & always thought "no one uses those anymore!"   I admit, I was against it.  But after consulting with several moms - it seemed most of them have used either a jumpers or a walkers for their own kids. Everyone had a good experience, but they did tell me to always watch the child & not leave them unattended. Well, mom was right. 

After deciding that I would get a walker - I figured  get something that has clean lines and looks modern and is also functional. Enter Joovy.  A friend of mine (also a mom)  introduced me to Joovy & recommended their Spoon Walker.  I looked it up & it was exactly what I had envisioned if I was EVER going to follow mom's advice about getting one.  So, the people over at Joovy sent one our way & its adorable!! We decided on the Charcoal Spoon Walker  & when we received it here are a few things I noticed:

• It combines two essential products into one (highchair & walker)
• It has a large tray which can be used for eating 
• The design blends perfectly into our home decor (yay!) 
• The tray has a removable insert for easy-cleaning or put in dishwasher
• It's big enough for child to play with their fave toys
• it's a bright high gloss, which cleans easily too.
• It has a wide base for great mobility & stability. 
• The seat pad is supportive & comfortable, machine washable. 
• The wide base ensures that little fingers wont get pinched on the side of the tray if your toddler bumps into a wall.
• It has a soft and padded high seat back.
• It has three height positions.
• It folds flat for easy storage and travel.
• It's entirely BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free

So to be fair, my son is 9 months old & is still getting used to it.  At first he was only moving backwards ha! But recently he finally started moving forward but VERY SLOWLY.  Looking forward to seeing him use it to it's full potential.  I highly recommend the Joovy Spoon Walker for your toddler.



-post by jen ramos
-in partnership with joovy

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My Baby Boy Room Ideas

I've been imagining Noah's nursery for several years now, and although he doesn't officially have his own room, he will one day soon!  Right now he shares a space with us in a side area of our room.  Living in the City requires sacrificing space & oftentimes people will share their space with their children for a several months until they can figure out another (more-convenient) arrangement.

In the next couple of months I hope to CREATE a few digital-nurseries & then choose, execute & start working on it in REAL LIFE. That's my plan.  I've come up with option number (1) below, which includes some of my own new ABSTRACT art. Hopefully as he grows, he'll be inspired to incorporate his own art into the space.  All in all, I wanted the room to feel modern, creative with bright pops of color! One other feature I really want to add is the black- striped teepee from Land Of Nod.  I can already picture myself reading to him inside this cozy little teepee ! 

Another decor item I'm also considering is a neon sign.... in a blue-ish tone.  I love the effect the neon lighting gives off in a space. It adds such a cool effect!  However, I haven't decided what I'd like the neon to say.....hmmmm.  I remember wanting to have a child for as long as I can remember. Adopting Noah was a dream come true, and he is so loved.  But I'm stuck on what the sign should say.... Any ideas??? Maybe his name, Noah? Or maybe something else like 'dreams come true' or "You are Loved".  

I'm currently looking at a company called Endeavour Neon for the sign, so we shall see.   Books are so prominent in my home, I want them to be a BIG part of Noah's life. So, I figure start adding them to his space & that should hopefully generate interest in them! I can literally keep going on decor...but you get the idea. Stay tuned for another nursery down the line!

Curious....what do you think the neon should say?

1. delaney rug in 8"x10" via pottery barn kids
2. teepee via land of nod
3. snow rabbit via ooh noo 
4. set of 2 or 4 blue abstract art via made by girl (coming soon)
5. modern alphabet blocks white letters via ooh noo
6. boys rule print via mini learners
7. custom neon signs via Endeavour Neon 
8. mini zebra print via made by girl 
9. new issue book case via Land of Nod 
10. Andy Warhol's Colors book
11. bow tie blocks via Land of Nod
12. WHERE THE WILD Things Are book via amazon
13. Personalized name kids book via Pottery barn kids
14. sort and tip truck via pottery barn kids
15. rainbow stacker via Land of Nod


-post by jen ramos

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REAL LIFE: OUR (TOO LONG) RV TRIP

Traveling with my family last week was not easy.  I'll be the first to tell you that being in such a small space with my husband (for too long) is not always a good idea.  I love him, but damn.... we can get on each others' nerves in such tight quarters!  I also discovered on this trip that RV'ing (as they call it) just isn't for me.  I guess I'm more of a city girl who likes to dress chic & sip on cappuccinos.... I ADMIT IT.

Nonetheless, I decided to go because I thought it would be a good idea to experience the back roads, farms, fruit markets and the beautiful animals we don't see in the city.  I guess you could say, I wanted to be rugged for a bit.  On this trip, I realized I'm too much of a city-girl to go rugged more than 4 days. Our trip went for 9 days. Tooo long.

In the meanwhile, we also traveled with our 7 1/2 month old son.  He wasn't a handful, he was ACTUALLY two.  We had to make stops every time he was to be fed & changed. To be fair, he has a good temperament and isn't a huge crybaby but he certainly got irritated being in the car seat too long.  Car seats are wonderful & horrible at the same time, right?  Because he's still under 2 yrs old,  he has to face towards the back of the vehicle, so he doesn't get to see much out the window. Like a friend told me recently, when you take kids with you, it's no longer a vacation but a trip.  Don't get me wrong, I thank God for the time off, but hoping for a vacation next time.

All in all, the sights I saw were as beautiful as any movie & the places we visited were SUPER fun. I learned a few things along the way, if you decide to  travel in an RV + baby, it will require a few things:

• patience
• a good amount of baby clothes
• if you're traveling in the cold, pack warm attire
• Organic baby food to-go like Ella's Kitchen or Happy Baby
• portable baby tub like Puj - that folds & hangs to dry easily
• a comfy car seat that is easy to remove like the nuna PIPA
•  Pre-fill bottles with water or pedialyte to carry around if you're child is thirsty
•  Do not plan too much, because trust me, most of the trip will be spontaneous and you may be disappointed. 
• have lots of possible destinations as back ups, in case plan A fails.
• download cartoons or kids learning videos on an ipad or whatever for your child to watch during his/her traveling time in the car seat. 
• always charge phones, iPad, etc. 
• With an RV it's better to opt for plastic dinnerware because renting the ceramic dishes etc. like we did, wasn't a good idea. Why? because with every bump all you could hear are dishes & I was fearing the cabinets opening. Although the dishes are in a safety box, still...it was annoying for the baby to hear as he slept.
• bring plenty of bottled water for everyone - which baby can also drink from. 
• Forget bringing your entire wardrobe. Almost all RV parks have laundry & while you are there you can do a quick load. 
• if it's cold, I'd suggest bringing a small portable heater. You never know when you may need it.
• stay organized, put things in specific places so you don't spend most of your trip wondering where you're shoes are etc. 
• Do not overeat. Not for anything but... being on the road too long with a baby you will be sitting around a lot. The kitchen should be used to cook meals. We used it almost every single night. 
• We decided to cover the cloth RV seats with towels we bought at a Walmart after i spilled some water on one section then sat down on it. Got up to discover i had a dark spot on my jeans from the dirt that collects on the RV cushions. Gross. So, cover those things up! This is perfect when you have to place some baby items on the seats. 
• Use the main RV bed as the baby changing station. But make sure to never leave your infant alone!

-post by jen ramos

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REAL LIFE: Bonding with Noah

Hello everyone, hope you had a great weekend!  

I used to wonder what it was like being around other moms in baby classes..... today I got to experience that.  It was such a joy being there with my little guy & bonding with him.  He was quiet at first, looking around, then slowly opening up & starting to smile. 

It's cool to see the other kids & their personalities...then compare them with your own.  As we were 15 min into the class, he spit up 3 times onto his socks, & a little on his pants! That is why he's wearing a bib in every photo!  Ha.  - Then he farted & I thought "yikes, did he just poop?"  - luckily no! All in all, it was REALLY sweet watching him smile up at me while I blew bubbles & clapped my hands... It was also cute seeing him stare in awe at the other children.

The classes are held at the Y, & they have many to choose from depending on your baby's age. I definitely recommend the 'babies together' classes!
 

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New at Made By Girl

Please excuse my absence, but I am mostly updating on my instagram these days. I'll be trying to figure out if I want to take my blog in a different direction and post more personal posts. Wonder if that would be of interest to people out there.....hmmm.

On another note, we have a cute new print called The "Um, Ok" Bunny, but it's already sold out!  BUT, you can pre-order it here! - Great for kids rooms!

 Check it out below!

-image by jen ramos

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GAP BABY: MY PICKS

Baby Gap is one of my go-to places to shop when I'm looking for cute & whimsical baby clothing. Since Noah was born, I've shopped there & I love their selection!  They have the cutest illustrations on their jumpsuits and onesies. 

I find that a lot of baby clothing stores can be a bit tacky...meaning too bright & colorful. Not at Baby Gap, they're kids clothing are simple, yet still fashionable & fun!  These are my FAVE picks for both boys & girls this Summer. 

 

-Post by jen ramos

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Baby needs a Crib

As Noah grows older.... he'll need a new crib. Currently he is sleeping in a bassinet, which we love! So, next month my husband & I will be on the hunt for a crib. But not just any crib, a Mini-crib. Because we live in a New York City apartment, things can get pretty tight. We have chosen to stick with a white crib - since the background wall is black & would provide an interesting contrast. Right now we have narrowed down our selection to 5....below are our picks.  I'll be honest, we are leaning toward #2, the Baby Letto.

I would love to hear what crib you have. Do you own a mini-crib? How long did you use it?

1. Emerson mini-Crib via pottery barn kids   2. origami mini-crib via babyletto 3. stokke crib via baby earth  4. alma mini crib bloomBaby 5. westwood design 3-in-1 via buybuybaby

-post by jen ramos

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STORKSAK Changing Bag

Everyone knows that a must-have item for every new mom is a diaper bag.

As cliche as that is....it is a must. Last week I wrote about cool diaper bags here, and with that said, I  decided on a StorkSak changing bag. Luckily for me, they sent me one!

To be honest, like I mentioned in my previous post, there are some really UGLY diaper bags out there – functional, sure, but without a lot of style.

So before my StorkSak arrived, I was using an over-sized purse but it was tough because nothing was organized. I literally had to just throw everything in it & good luck trying to find anything!

So when I received my StorkSak diaper bag, I was really excited – a really well designed bag with a lot of features that looked more like an upscale purse than a zoo on my shoulder.  They also run quite a bit cheaper than designer bags, as I mentioned in this post. For myself, I decided on the Bobby bag in black, but also comes in cappuccino.  It’s made from a quilted nylon (surprisingly I did not choose leather) and has a nice clean look.

Inside, the cubbies & pockets are all easily accessible.  And guess what?!?  It comes with a padded changing mat (a must have in NYC), a pacifier case, and a matching insulated bottle bag that has a Velcro handle so it can be attached to the stroller. It also has a removable, adjustable cross-body strap with built in stroller straps - perfect for a hands-free outing!

       Check out their full collection of changing bags here.

-post by jen ramos

Removable, adjustable cross-body strap with built in strollerstraps - See more at: http://www.storksak.com/product.php?shopprodid=16&variantid=39#sthash.3QodkVnm.dpuf

Removable, adjustable cross-body strap with built in strollerstraps - See more at: http://www.storksak.com/product.php?shopprodid=16&variantid=39#sthash.3QodkVnm.dpuf

Removable, adjustable cross-body strap with built in strollerstraps - See more at: http://www.storksak.com/product.php?shopprodid=16&variantid=39#sthash.3QodkVnm.dpuf

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MamaRoo is the way to go

Before baby came into the picture my husband & I were not into BIG baby things. So, when we first saw the MamaRoo - we both looked at each other & said, "no way." 

Well, fast-forward a month later (baby now in the picture) & that "no way" became "yes way!" On the recommendation of a friend whose a mom & my own mother, we were convinced that the MamaRoo was the way to go for comforting our baby when we couldn't hold him.  This infant seat basically swings from side-to-side & bounces up-and-down just like we do when we are holding him. 

As fate would have it, the people over at 4 Moms contacted me & said they'd gift Noah a MamaRoo - so I said YES!! I'll try it. 

I admit, we had no idea where we would put this thing.  We certainly didn't want our home looking like a baby palace...we tend to be clutter-free types.  This was going to be a challenge.  When we received the MamaRoo, Noah immediately LOVED it.  And honestly, it wasn't as humongous when we saw it in relation to everything else in our home.  Here he is (below) asleep in my work studio.  This thing gets him to SLEEP pretty quickly & I am now able to concentrate on other tasks.  Seriously, I don't know what we would've done without this.

Here's a bit about the seat & what it does:

• sways back & forth, side to side
• can do 5 unique motions
• can be controlled with your smartphone
• has built-in sounds & P3 Plug-in
• Can play your own music from your smartphone 
• seat fully reclines really well
• reversible toy balls for your baby to look at  (Noah is still figuring these out)
• reversible newborn insert, (I recommend this for added support!)
• several colors to choose from, (we chose the classic black)

'BABY' onesie from hello apparel. 

Have you tried the MamaRoo? What do you think?

-images by jen ramos

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ZARA KIDS

I didn't even know Zara had a kids section, until a friend of mine mentioned it.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I visited their online kids store.  I decided to order a few pieces & I'm in love with the quality & stylish pieces they offer.  I gathered a few of my fave items for little boys (of course), that I have, or hope to get for Noah.  The clothes are really nice, and about mid-range prices...

Have you shopped Zara Kids yet??

Below is my little guy wearing the tee-pee pants from Zara Kids , one of my favorites.  He's also sporting some cute little 'batman' super-hero shoes from Sahnda Marie Kids

.  

Have a nice weekend! Happy Good Friday.

-Post by jen ramos

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