the worst presents your child will get this holiday season

when i was two years old, my aunt got me drums for my birthday.

she didn't yet have any children of her own.

so a few years later when my cousins were born, my mom made sure to get them the loudest, most annoying toys in existence.

now i find myself a parent and the proud recipient of toys i want to smash with a hammer.  naturally, though, my children only become attached to the presents i hate the most.... meaning i'll have to chase down the person who bought them with a hammer.  i kid!  i kid!  (mostly. by which i mean i will hunt them to the ends of the earth.)

well, the holidays are upon us.  and all the evil toys you've managed to talk your children out of/hide when they weren't looking/pawned off on other people's kids/donated to goodwill will now make their way into your home, whether you like it or not.

here, for your enjoyment, a few of the things i'd like to set fire to the most:

The Ugly Sweater

the ugly sweater usually comes from a relative, meaning you'll have to wrestle your kid into it long enough to take a picture for great-aunt tilly.  if you're lucky, you will get a matching set for you, the kids, your spouse and possibly your dog.  and i have a feeling you'll be lucky this year. apologies to fido in advance.

The Lego Set of Doom

good lord, do i hate these freaking lego sets.  the box may say "ages 4 and up!" but it doesn't matter, because they can only be assembled by someone with an engineering degree.  each lego set shows a picture on the box of a bulldozer/thermonuclear reactor/actual working velociraptor that will take approximately 7 working days to finish.  

bonus: once completed, you are not actually allowed to play with, touch, or even look at said thermo-bull-raptor because it will fall into one million pieces and you'll have to start the entire process over again.

The Loudest and/or Most Breakable Toy Ever

some toys are loud.  some break repeatedly.  but most of the toys my children get possess both of these qualities.  does a toy fire engine really need to be as loud as an actual fire engine?  toy manufacturers seem to think so.  

the "level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss" is 90-95 decibels. the "level at which pain begins" is 125 decibels.  every toy in my house that makes noise is approximately 126 decibels.  volume switch? not necessary! you'll lose hearing soon enough and then it will be a non-issue!

even better is the toy that breaks, over and over and over again.  it's the gift that keeps on giving! think you just fixed the shovel on that toy excavator?  think again!  "didn't i just fix barbie's magic wand?" you did.... but look! magic! it broke again!  WHEE!

The Evil Catalogue Insert

my husband and i have become toy-opening ninjas.  as soon as the kids rip their gifts open, we swoop in, mission impossible style, to extricate the accompanying catalogue before our children can set their greedy little eyes on them.  because once they do.....

.....expect the actual present to lie forgotten and neglected on the ground as your kid pores over the millions and billions of OTHER things they could have gotten but didn't.  thought you got them exactly what they wanted?  WRONG!  it was exactly what they wanted until they saw additional options.  options that you, clearly being the horrible, awful, meaniepants parent that you are, didn't think to get them.  i hope you're happy.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

...and giving, and giving, and giving.  you got the racetrack!  good for you!  it was the last one on the shelf and you knocked over that parent pushing a stroller to get it!  hooray!  oh wait, i'm sorry - did you think that you got the entire racetrack?  nice try, amateur.  

the latest toy company trick that has me cursing the heavens are those which promise an entire world, only to deliver a lamppost from that world.  maybe a mailbox.  possibly just a shoe.  because who thinks to check the fine print when the shiny picture on the front will do?

don't worry, though - you can assemble the toy you actually wanted once you upgrade and buy the Street Kit, People Kit, Car Kit, Upgrade Kit, Gold Star Kit and Best Parent Ever Kit, all for only $49.99 apiece!  oh, except that Best Parent Ever Kit - those are sold out.

blabla kids - stuffies, mobiles and more

www.blablakids.com

you've seen their soft knit stuffed animals clutched by tots everywhere you go. you've eyed their mobiles in chic boutiques. you've even possibly been silently coveting their tiny finger puppets. "but where are all these things coming from?" you ask. "i must have them for myself! i mean, my child!"

your prayers have been answered! i bring you: blabla. lovingly handcrafted by expert peruvian knitters (no, really!), blabla brings a snuggly softness to all of their fantastic products. blabla brings their signature simple, vibrant style to handmade stuffed animals, brightly colored knit mobiles, even backpacks, finger puppets, blankets and clothing!

all blabla products are made from natural fibers, making them extra cuddley. their modern design coupled with the feel of something that's already been lovingly worn in make them perfect presents for little - and even bigger - kidlets.

blabla's stuffed animals are prized possesions and their 100% cotton clothing is mom-tested and baby-approved. their whimsical knit rattles come in a wide variety of designs, from fruit and vegetables to a medley of songbirds to a giraffe in a hat (a favorite in our house. yeah, i don't get it either.).

who says you can't buy friends? purchase a few new ones for your tot from blabla and they'll never be lonely again.

jj cole outdoor blanket

www.babiesrus.com

this weekend was another typical san francisco weekend - each day started out damp and covered in fog and ended up gorgeous and sunny.

we had a sweet baby picnic at mission dolores park (meaning it was fun and full of children, not necessarily full of sweet babies) but found ourselves wholly unprepared for the wet transitioning to dry weather.

my husband thought that this was an opportune time to buy a waterproof-poncho-that-unzips-and-doubles-as-a-blanket. of course. i, on the other hand, wanted something better. and by better, i mean cuter.

my friend julie had the best outdoor blanket i've seen by another of our favorite companies, jj cole. makers of little dictators favorite the bundle me, jj cole brings us this fabulous outdoor blanket. it comes in three different and sassy patterns (pink stripes, retro blue dots and green stripes) and measures at a generous 5' x 5'. the built in inserts mean it's easy to fold. ready to go? the blanket packs up into a compact messenger bag with a built-in handle.

this great outdoor blanket is sturdy, attractive and portable. the durable outdoor fabric means you can take your blanket anywhere. from the sandy beach to the damp park, simply wipe it clean when you're done and ready to go. now if only it was so easy to clean your child...

melissa & doug: wooden knob puzzles for little hands

www.melissaanddoug.com

while my son is still calling me (and my husband, and the dog, and a bagel) "dada," my friend's little boy knows what all the animals say. my friend will ask, "jakey, what does the cow say?" and he'll confidently reply, "MOO!" hmm. maybe i need to focus more on these things.

melissa and doug are here to help neglectful parents such as myself. a twenty-year-old company started in doug's parents' garage, melissa and doug make safe, quality toys for children. among their most popular: these great wooden puzzles that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

our favorites are their jumbo knob puzzles. designed for little ones still perfecting their grasp, the wooden puzzle pieces have giant knobs in place of handles, so they're easy for baby to grab and put back. or throw. or bang together loudly while your poor dog is trying to nap.

the smiling animals have baby-friendly faces and the sides are smooth and safe. melissa and doug subject all of their toys to rigorous safety testing, and these are no exception. you can choose from a variety of the jumbo knob puzzles, from farm animals (moo! baa! cluck! goat noise!) to jungle friends to cars.

looking for something a little more sophisticated? melissa and doug also make puzzles with everything from maps to the alphabet, and great magnetic puzzles where the pieces literally "stick" in place - no more wandering puzzle pieces waiting for a sleep-deprived parent to step on them.

melissa and doug even sell puzzle storage cases, specifically designed to keep their products organized and out of sight. because you might as well have one part of your life organized.

glug - cool clothes for baby

www.glugcollection.com

with all the one year old's birthday parties we've got going on these days, i realized that i'm going to have to give a few cool gifts to give myself. yet sometimes, even i find myself at a loss for gifts.

so what to take to the birthday kids...... plastic toys? hmmm, they've got a lot of those. blocks? they've got those, too. how about clothes? but not the dorky little man sweater sets your mom's friend gets you. no, you want something that says, "i'm your cool aunt! i'm the one you'll call when your mom says you can't do stuff - and i'll say you can! because i'm cool!"

glug baby was founded by a husband and wife team who wanted clothes for their young daughter stylish enough for hip parents but still whimsical enough for tots. and they've totally succeeded.

glug baby makes great tees, dresses and skirts that are as comfortable as they are cute. they have a fresh, modern style that's perfect for your hipster child as they prepare for a life of trend setting. they have clever graphic designs for boys (monkey face, tiger head, giant ant) and girls (flirty bird, abstract dandelion, sassy owl).

we love all their designs, but my favorite is the little shirt with a picture of sf's ubiquitous sutro tower that says "local" underneath it. perfect for flaunting your child's native status when traveling around the city.

cordoba building blocks from haba

www.oompa.com

from one of our favorite websites (oompa) and one of our favorite companies (haba toys) comes the cordoba building block set.

these brightly colored wooden blocks are a fantastic gift (thanks, shar & brian!) and another great thing for you to play with while pretending to play with your child. i mean, let your child play with. and teach him how to share with you.

cordoba building blocks, for ages 1+, come with sixteen patterned and color saturated pieces in all different shapes and sizes. not only are the blocks small and smooth enough for baby to hold, but their different features - rattles! bells! jewels! - will keep you both entertained. every piece is decorated in non-toxic, child-friendly paint, so you don't have to worry when your child inevitably tastes a few pieces.

the blocks all fit together easily and can stack up into endless combinations for your little builder.

need more? the cordoba set matches perfectly with haba's sakrada building blocks as well as their fantasy block set. you know, just in case you can't build a skyscraper tall enough with only one set of blocks.

haba's cordoba blocks are so cute, in fact, that you don't have to worry about picking them up when friends come over. they even look good strewn across your child's floor. which is where they will inevitably end up. especially if it happens to be my child's floor.

fisher-price peek-a-blocks

www.target.com

everyone has that toy that they bought under the guise of "this is for my baby!" when really, it's for them. ("mister floofy pants the stuffed rabbit? oh, that's my son's. yes, i know it's in my purse. yes, i know my son isn't here. leave me alone.")

this time, however, i didn't even have to pretend, because this awesome present was purchased for my son by my sister. fisher-price's peek-a-blocks are one of the coolest kid's toys i've ever seen. peek-a-blocks are small blocks with easy-grip tops and bottoms but clear sides to see the surprise inside.

the alphabet peek-a-block set we were lucky enough to receive has 26 blocks (one for each letter) with a clever and cute object inside for baby to gaze at. the representations are fun and quirky and offer just the right level of interaction.

"u for umbrella" has a little plastic umbrella inside with small "rain" pellets that move around when you shake it. "m for monkey" contains a smiling little monkey that actually swings on his trapeze. "t for train" allows you or baby to twist the locomotive through a mountain over and over again. "a for airplane" takes flight with a spring-mounted plane while "i for ice cream" has a rainbow flurry of sprinkles that dance around the cone.

unfortunately, the pictures really don't do the peek-a-blocks justice. you'll obviously have to purchase them yourself to see just how much fun they are for you - i mean, baby - to play with.
*thanks to aunt stephanie for the fabulous blocks!

SwaddleDesigns: blankets, burp cloths and lovies

www.swaddledesigns.com

one of my best friends - who's pregnant herself - asked me for new baby gift suggestions yesterday. i was forced to reveal to her some of my favorite "can't fail" baby presents, knowing full well that she'd be the recipient of most if not all of them. i've already shared two: the bundle me and trumpette socks.

there was one go-to gift, however, that i had yet to post. my knight in shining armor, swaddle designs. they have great gifts that would please any mom-to-be.

swaddle designs makes THE best swaddle blankets. don't let anyone talk you into getting anything else. we swaddled cole until he was almost 5 months old, so believe me when i tell you that i am the swaddle master, and the swaddle designs blanket was my savior.

swaddle designs swaddle blankets are big enough to actually wrap up your little one snugly without any middle-of-the-night jailbreaks, and cute enough to use just as a regular blanket. they are made of pre-shrunk cotton flannel, come in lots of patterns and styles and are even available in certified organic cotton for little green babies.

swaddle designs also makes sturdy but sweet burp cloths (that match the blankets, of course) with a super-absorbent center panel and stylish fabric stripes. they're perfect for cleaning up little messes and are attractive enough to break out in front of childless company.

and there's more! swaddle designs gives us little lovies - for the uninitiated, small fuzzy security blankets for your tot to tote on trips. theirs have a silky satin border for baby to snuggle with and a touchy-feely middle. at 14"x14", the perfect size to take to bed, to grandma's house or, let's face it, everywhere.

the good news? my friend now has a great baby present to give. the bad news? she will not be at all surprised when she gets her baby presents from me. sorry, jen!

small audience - tees for tots

www.smallaudience.com

one of my closest girlfriends had a little boy back in march. but when she was pregnant, she didn't want to find out if she was having a boy or a girl... and one of her reasons was "i don't want people to get me all sorts of dorky baby blue or pink clothing."

i feel your pain.

thank goodness there are companies out there like small audience. based out of southern california, small audience makes vintage-inspired tops and hoodies for your sassy baby. all their shirts are hand-screened with clever designs like "i know the bouncer" (pictured) and "ice ice baby" with a picture of a soft-serve ice cream cone.

all of small audience's shirts are made of super soft cotton with a vintage wash to give your tot that old-school vibe. inside out hems and raw edged sleeves add to the comfort of most of their styles while a roomy fit ensures your baby will be at comfortable as he is cute.

small audience sizes start at 3/6 months and go all the way up to 4T, so there's no reason not to keep your child looking cool as they get bigger.... and cooler.
*thanks to danielle, jake and gil for the sweet shirt!

push around buggy by step2

www.amazon.com: Push Around Buggy

the excitement of first birthdays! all your little baby friends that just a few months ago were rolling around on the floor are suddenly, amazingly, terrifyingly mobile. they want to Go Places! and Touch Everything! and Move Really Fast!

while this milestone birthday means crawling for almost all, cruising for most and walking for the elite, it most definitely means mobility in any way, shape or form. and what's the best way to accomplish this? by being pushed around in a car, of course!

the push around buggy by step2 is every one-year-old's dream. luckily for me, it's also every parent-to-a-one-year-old's dream. the smiling plastic car has a solid handle attached at parent height for you to push your little one up and down the halls of your house or even down the street. there's a steering wheel that moves, a little horn that beeps when pushed and, best of all, a seat belt to keep active curious babies securely in place.

when not in motion, the push around buggy has a generous trunk in front that baby can open and close and hide numerous toys in. that'll keep your baby busy for a guaranteed five minutes. also, for those aspiring princesses, the buggy is also available in a lovely shade of pink. perfect for stuffing my little ponies in the trunk.

the buggy is a good size - big enough for your tot to ride in, but small enough to hide in a closet when playtime is over. as baby gets bigger and more independent, the buggy's handle is removable, so you could let your little one out to explore on his own..... within eyesight, of course.

oh, by the way - can't find your car keys? try looking in the push around buggy's trunk.

no added sugar - sassy clothes for tiny tots

www.noaddedsugar.co.uk

my son's first birthday is right around the corner, and i knew his coolest presents would come from my girlfriends.

a fedex arrived on my doorstep the other day, and the return address said "no added sugar" - and that the package was coming from london.

"well, that's interesting," i thought. "someone's sending me sugar-free candy from the united kingdom. how..... weird."

then i opened the package. inside was a sleek white box with a bunny-and-crossbones logo. (a good omen if there ever was one.) and packaged neatly inside bunny-printed tissue paper was the most awesome baby shirt i have ever seen. printed across the front was the sweet phrase "lock up your daughters" - with the word "lock" in gold sparkle, no less. awesome.

no added sugar makes edgy and sweet clothes for babies and little ones up to age 8. their silk screened designs come on buttery soft premium jersey cotton with a thick luxurious feel. the envelope neck makes for what no added sugar appropriately and accurately calls "no tears dressing."

no added sugar was created by a london mom who felt there was a distinct lack of cool baby clothes - so she ended up designing her own. eight years later, her designs are carried around the world in stores like harrod's and fred segal. while they have a fantastic online store front, those of us in la, new york, san francisco and a few other select us cities are lucky enough to buy their products in person.

we love our new shirt. now the only problem we have is deciding if it's appropriate or not for a one-year-old's first birthday party.
* many thanks to aunt jen & uncle mike for the awesome present!

monday mommysaver: radio flyer walker wagon

www.amazon.com: Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon

the pre-walking stage is about as exciting as it gets around here. between cruising from couch to couch and occasionally forgetting that he can't quite stand on his own yet, i'm realizing that this is the least mobile my son will be for, say, the next million years.

that being said, even though i know it'll be the end of any remaining peace i may have, i'm really excited for cole to start walking. while he's perfectly happy with the little plastic walker we have at home, my friend jen highly recommends the radio flyer walker wagon.

radio flyer's walker wagon has been a bestseller for 25 years, and it's easy to see why. it has a durable build and is made of natural solid wood. as jen says, its solid design helps keep things stable when your little one's pulling up to use it as a walker. the front bumper will help save baby, furniture and (hopefully) even your dog from being bumped into, while the sturdy molded tires have enough grip to keep baby from sliding around when on the move.

the removable wooden sides keep things interesting as your child gains more confidence walking. when the sides are on, they make a perfect space for your child's favorite toys, bouncy balls, blankies or (hopefully not) your dog.

the radio flyer walker wagon makes a great gift for that special toddler-to-be in your life. and just in case my parents are reading this, i love you. and don't forget your grandson's first birthday is coming up.

the going to bed book by sandra boynton

www.amazon.com: The Going-To-Bed Book

ah, bedtime stories. who doesn't love a good bedtime story? we read before every nap and before bedtime at night. however i've discovered something: babies have surprisingly short attention spans. who knew?

lots of books i love have been nixed off of the bedtime reading list, including anything that's not a board book. (incidentally, we asked our friends with a 2 1/2 year old when we could graduate to "real" books without getting them torn to shreds. their answer? "we'll let you know.") also off the list? anything with too many words on each page, anything too long and anything that drives me crazy. sorry, but when you read the same book 3, 4 or 5 times in a row, you'd better find it enjoyable.

beloved illustrator and author sandra boynton brings us "the going to bed book," a whimsical tale of animals that live on a boat (of course), brush their teeth (naturally) and exercise (um... okay) before going to bed. her lively illustrations of dogs putting on pajamas and elephants exercising on boat decks keep little ones riveted while her short but sweet rhymes tell a silly going to bed story perfect for right before sleep.

the going to bed book is a perfect addition to baby's library and is a tale you'll both love to read over and over again. because i can promise you, if your baby gets his way, you will be reading it over and over and over and over again.

puppy pacifier clips by north american bear co.

www.hunkydoryonline.com

ah, pacifiers. a mother's best friend and worst enemy. when cole was a colicky baby, i remember pulling his pediatrician aside and asking in a whispered panic, "how soon can we give him the pacifier?"

then, of course, after a few months of that, i started thinking, "crap - now i'm going to have a 5 year old with a pacifier." for the record, we went off it cold turkey at 6 months and never looked back. but while we had it, man, was it a lifesaver.

the worst part about the necessary evil of the "paci" was how often it would end up thrown on the floor, in the dirt, at the dog or in a mud puddle - you name it. which would leave me or my husband scrambling to find a clean one buried at the bottom of the diaper bag. better yet, i'd be driving in the car on a long journey only to have my son spit out the paci into the depths of the car seat. now how am i supposed to find it with one hand while stopped at a stop sign?

north american bear company, maker of many snuggly soft toys for wee ones, brings us these great puppy pacifier clips. they have brought their popular ollie dachshund (obviously a favorite in our home) and turned him into baby's best friend. in four adorable styles - golden lab, grey schnauzer, brown & white terrier and, of course, ollie dachshund - north american bear company will make sure that your pacifier's not going anywhere.

each baby-safe plush pooch has a sturdy clip on the side to attach securely to baby's clothes while the other end of the gingham check ribbon loops around the pacifier with a strong velcro closure. the puppy is soft and lightweight enough to not bother baby and even gives him a friend to hang out with... or munch on. besides, why settle for an ugly plastic pacifier clip when you can have a loyal and trusted friend guard it for you?

the blanket lady

www.blanketlady.com

more baby showers = more baby shower presents. but what to get for that someone special? when it's your good friend having a baby, buying them a diaper genie just won't do.

from my friend talia comes "the blanket lady"! don't let her - ahem - "rudimentary" website fool you. the blanket lady makes beautiful personalized gifts for your little one or someone else's lucky baby. the blanket lady will create a luxurious customized blanket using your baby's name as a pattern. want more? you can choose from over 50 colors to mix n' match for your own personal touch.

customized blankets from the blanket lady are double sided, super soft and generously sized at approximately 25” x 46”. not only is the pattern made up of baby's name, but you can put baby's full name and birth date on the bottom. as an added bonus, blankets are machine washable and dryer safe – no shrinking or fading. perfect for those new moms who don't have time to hand wash or drip dry!

believe me when i say the picture does not do these blankets justice - i've seen one of them in person and can attest that they're a really nice quality - soft, but still with a good heft to them. perfect for carrying around in the car, to the park and especially on playdates - you'll always know which one is yours!

bebe au lait, a.k.a. hooter hiders

www.bebeaulait.com

bebe au lait nursing covers, née "hooter hiders" are a breastfeeding mom's best friend. apparently the sassy original name was met with less-than-enthusiastic customer response, so now it's same product, new marketing. (i'll admit, my mom thought the term "hooter hiders" was gross, but my mom is a genteel southern lady. most of the time.)

this is a great present for your new mom friend who's convinced (like i was) that she's never, ever going to breastfeed in public. i carried this thing around in my diaper bag for weeks without using it, pretending that i'm also a genteel southern lady who would never do such a thing. then i remembered two things: 1) i was raised in northern california and 2) i have no shame.

even if you may secretly love your gigantic new-mom boobs, you probably don't want to share them with the public at large. bebe au lait nursing covers are generously sized aprons that are not only big enough to cover up baby, but will ensure that you won't be flashing your neighbors during brunch at the world's smallest topless revue.

the neck straps are secure and adjustable, there's a small discreet terrycloth pocket for clean-ups and the rigid neckline allows you and only you to see what baby's up to. having the top bow out for eye contact with baby in addition to being machine washable are two of bebe au lait's greatest qualities. they even have a new "simple" line made of organic linen and cotton. no wonder they've won so many awards!

bebe au lait's nursing apron is the easiest way to discreetly breastfeed while you're out and about, and for some reason, dads really push the public breastfeeding. so if your husband won't shut up about how it's "not a big deal," use one of these and discover it really isn't. just don't tell him i told you so.

carter's super duper sale!

www.carters.com

i love carters. their clothes fulfill all of my requirements:

1) cute
2) cheap
3) hold up to multiple washings
4) easy sizing in 3 month increments for little ones

they make the best onesies and side-snap shirts for brand new babies (sorry, gerber, but your quality control sucks) and cole's closet is literally stocked with their footie pajamas. if only they came in adult size, i could wear them on weekends and..... oh, pardon me - i got distracted for a moment.

best of all, carter's stores have the most amazing sales if you can catch them - and you can!

shirts for $3.99? pj's for $5.99? two for one rompers? (because rompers are awesome, let me tell you!) and almost every thing in the store is on sale RIGHT NOW. that's right, time to stock up at carter's during what they appropriately call their super duper carter's sale.

warning: their website leaves, shall we say, a little bit to be desired. you're much better off going in person. so find a store near you with the carter's store locator and shop away!

new parent checklist by knock knock

www.knockknock.biz

okay, the baby's waking up.... we've got 2 1/2 hours before he has to be home for his next nap. and off we go!

now all we have to do is feed him, change him, put him in "outdoor" clothes, pack a meal, pack a bottle, pack a bib, some cheerios, a sun hat in case it's sunny, a warm hat in case it's cold, a hoodie, a lightweight hoodie, a fuzzy heavyweight hoodie, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, bags to put dirty diapers in, extra socks, a spoon to eat with, a spoon to play with, toys, toys for the car, toys for wherever we're going, pacifiers, a blanket, a book, burp cloths, oh, and of course your house keys.

i'll admit it - one time i got 45 minutes away from my house, baby and dog in the car, when i realized that i had left my diaper bag at home. in my open breezeway. with my housekeys inside it. visible to all passers-by. that's why the "new parent checklist" from knock knock is a great gift for new moms and dads.

the "new parent checklist" is as useful as it is funny. categories like "nether regions" (diapers, changing pad) and "food" (formula, bottles, breasts) help ensure that you'll bring everything for baby, while lists such as "from your old life" (keys, cell phone, sunglasses) and "seemingly obvious" (diaper bag, stroller, baby, brain) will make sure you've got all your bases covered.

while you're at it, take a peek at knock knock's other cool stuff like babysitter checklists (titled "don't kill the kids") and couple's doorknob signs (including "not tonight i've got a headache," "don't forget what you're trying to remember" and "i took money out of your wallet - thanks a lot."

now that you've got your new parent checklist, are you ready to go? great. we now have five minutes to go to the park and get back in time for our son's nap.

my dad rocks! (in a onesie)

www.amazon.com: Rebel Ink My Dad Rocks Body Suit

father's day is sunday! where did that come from? holy moley. time to get a present - and fast.

fortunately, rebel ink's "my dad rocks" onesie is here! let your little one show dad just how much he's loved before the teenage years when your kid can't bear to be seen with you.

amazon.com, my go-to site, has a bunch of cute onesies that if you play your cards right might be able to be delivered by saturday, like this one and this one. (of course, if they're not here in time, dad will still love it a few days later. and will probably dress your dictator in it for every subsequent family outing. consider yourself warned.)

p.s. san francisco moms: want to get this in time for sunday? rebel ink's "my dad rocks" onesie is available at little fish boutique in west portal. happy shopping!

the rookie mom's handbook

www.amazon.com

being a new mom is hard work. and not what a lot of us expect. (what? was it unrealistic to think that my son would put himself to bed every night?) sometimes moms wake up in the morning and think, "what the heck am i going to do today?"

the rookie mom's handbook has a list of 250 activities to do with - or without - your little dictator. designed exclusively for first-time moms, the handbook contains helpful tips like "7 reasons to leave the house each day, " which believe me - you may need at first.

the rookie mom's handbook is thoughtfully divided up into sections of what to do according to baby's age, from "taking baby steps" to " now we're cruising." suggestions range from getting in touch with mommy friends to venturing out to a baby-friendly movie.

as the authors say, sometimes as a new mom it's hard to think and you need to be told what to do. and they tell you.