Blog: Exercising With Baby

It's tough to stay committed to exercising without a baby in tow, so when one is actually in the picture things get a bit more difficult. The Babies Online Blog offers up some suggestions for mom and baby workouts.

Blog: "The Lactivist" Falls Silent

So what has become of "The Lactivist?" Jennifer Laycock, a woman who has blogged about lactivism, breastfeeding, pumping and parenting since 2005, has been silent for more than a month. This has a self-admittted blog stalker very concerned.

Blog: Baby Registry Tips

From Suite101.com:

"A common thread among most parents who create baby registries is that they are first-time parents. In many communities, baby showers are typically thrown for the first addition, but not necessarily a second or third. Also, parents with older children either don’t need or want to create a registry. First-time parents must rely on the opinions of others or use their own judgment when choosing items to place on a baby registry."

Here are two important tips to keep in mind.

Unique Baby Shower Themes

When you are planning a baby shower, you want it to be fun and memorable for the mom-to-be and all the guests. You must check out these unique baby shower ideas on Posh Baby Blog.

Wether you want to go more traditional with the Bubbly Ducky Brunch Baby Shower (pictured) or a little more modern with the Bling Baby, Modern Due Date or Modern Alphabet, you are bound to be inspired by these adorable themes.

Blog: Wading Pool Etiquette

It's always annoying when parents let their toddlers run roughshod over other kids - whether it's at a playground or a pool. Some parents are always much more attentive than others. In Parenting Magazine's The Parenting Post blog, Mighty Maggie writes about a recent problem at a wading pool:

"I assumed this little girl's mother was around somewhere, but possibly making sure a smaller sibling wasn't getting trampled by the big boys going to war on each other with squirt guns. I didn't mind my little helper, until she suddenly decided to take off for the other end of the pool with the bucket Jack had just been filling and dumping on himself. Jack looked after her with his hand outstretched. I quickly gave him another toy and wondered again about the mom. Did she not see her kid make off with a one-year-old's toy?"

Read the entire post here.

13 Things to Do With Your Toddler

We stumbled upon this great list on Wani's World. Here are the first five:

1. Read a book - it's so important to start instilling a love of books early on in their lives. Find books you remember from when you were a kid, or find new ones to fall in love with together.

2. Take a walk - get outside and enjoy nature and explore it through the eyes of your child.

3. Snack - don't use food as a babysitter (at least not all the time) - sit down together and use that time to talk together about your day.

4. Draw on your sidewalk w/ chalk - kids love it and its fun to have such a huge canvas.

5. Make up a story - my three-year-old has really gotten into this lately - one of us will start a story and the other will help with key parts - its so neat to hear what he comes up with.

Click here for the rest of the list.

Blog: Blogging About Baby

From Lil Sugar:

"Twenty-first century moms are faced with a new Hamletian dilemma: to blog or not to blog? As soon as that stick shows a positive parents start planning, taking notes and trying to capture memories of the exciting milestone moments. Many have traded in the baby books of yesteryear for websites and blogs dedicated to their pregnancy, childbirth and baby or family photos. While some families update sporadically as a way to share photos and special experience with family and friends, there are some mommies like Heather Armstrong of Dooce who blog full time. What's your take? Do you like the idea of blogging about your child?" [ Vote ]

Related: The Downside to Baby Blogging

Blog: Why are Baby Names So Difficult?

From Silly Goose Baby:

"The boy name wasn't too hard. Really, it wasn't. The girl name is the one that's given us trouble from the very beginning. We seem to have established a pattern with the first two and it's getting difficult to keep it up. Plus, there should be a law against naming pets people names. About 4 of the names I would have seriously considered would be shared with dogs I know. I just can't do that." More...

Blog: 10 Amazingly Funny Baby Pictures

Here are the other nine.

Blog: Cloth Diapers and Savings

Several Baby Blog Addicts have told us they use cloth diapers. We wonder if they've ever sat down and added up the money they're saving. No? Well, a guy in Spain did. He says he saved $1,923.89 during the first two years of his child's life. Not bad.

The Downside to Baby Blogging

As Baby Bloggers (and Baby Blog Addicts) we put a lot of information out into cyberspace. People we don't even know read our blogs and know our whole story. Who hasn't stumbled upon a new, random blog - maybe a friend of a friend's friend - and zipped back to the beginning to get all the background information? Most people are harmless. Others may have agendas. A column in today's Wall Street Journal tackles the topic of privacy and the downside to blogging about your child.

Blog: Baby, Sleep and Pillows

When can you give your baby a pillow to sleep on? When should you give your baby a pillow to sleep on? What kind of pillow can you give your baby for sleep? PickNicksBrain.com has answers.

Blog: Reviewing "The Baby Borrowers"

From Momnibus:

"I did feel badly watching those poor babies crying as the “parents” struggled with attempting to soothe them. How the real parents sat by I don’t know, I could never do it. I think I would’ve been intervening for every tear. I’m going to take a guess that they haven’t ever helped with a real baby in their lives, ever. Babysitting might be a nice start for them…but not my kid." More...


From The Mom Crowd:

"When I first heard of this show, I felt skeptical about its overall premise, but I thought I would give it a look-see. The first episode introduced us to the couples and showed them preparing for the arrival of their baby, as well as a glimpse at their first day with the child.
I’m not gonna lie. Watching this was painful. And I am capable of watching a lot of painful stuff, y’all. I started off taking notes, but stopped after a few minutes. From that point on, I was trying very hard not to gouge my eyes out with my pen." More...

Blog: Hand-Me-Down Undies: Yay or Nay?

From iVillage.com:

"Kids grow so fast, and for parents of two or more children, hand-me-down clothes are great time- and money-savers. But is it a good idea for parents to let their younger kids use their siblings' outgrown underwear?" More...

Blog Designer Spotlight: Made Digital

Made Digital's tagline is "Designing memories that last...and so much more!" And designer Theresa Marie is right. She is one-stop-shop for designs, like:

• announcements and invitations
  
• custom scrapbook pages and albums
  
• business items like logos and business cards


• and our favorite, blog headers and complete blog re-designs

Ready for a new look on your blog, but don't know where to start? Check out Made Digital's blog portfolio and reasonable prices. You can get a new header for just $35 or an entire redesign package for just $47.

Blog: Tim Russert Taught That Parenting Matters

From Parentdish:

"In an interview with Matt Lauer, Luke Russert, the son of the recently deceased journalist, Tim Russert, demonstrated the kind of poise, good humor and love for his dad that spoke volumes about his upbringing and his parents." More...

Blog: Parenting and Sex

From The Poop:

"I believe it wasn't long after I learned how babies are made that the most disgusting thought occurred to me: My parents probably had sex at least once. And "once" was just assuming that my sister was planted in our house by some deity as a Job-like trial for me. In that moment, the fantasies I had -- that I was in fact the child of royalty, adopted by commoners to protect my identity until the day I could be reunited with my "real" parents and assume the throne -- became infinitely more appealing." More...

Web Spotlight & Blogging Tips from Tip Junkie

Tip Junkie is a site that compiles great tips and creative ideas from people like you! Fun activities for the kids, delicious recipes and creative decorating tips are just of few of the tips you'll get from Tip Junkie. Your own blog posts can even be added as tips on Tip Junkie. Just check out the Submit a Tip link in her blog's sidebar.

My favorite post and a great one for all of you Baby Blog Addicts is Blogger Questions & Tips. From "Is it worth putting advertising on my blog?" to "Do you like music on blogs", this is a great list of 18 blogger tips that you don't want to miss.

Website Spotlight: Popsqually & Company

Check out Popsqually & Company for some adorable designs for birth announcements, birthday party invitations and even calling cards. She's also running a FREE Stationery Giveaway for some adorable notecards and coordinating address labels. The contest ends this Saturday, May 17 and the drawing will be on Sunday.

And don't miss her refer-a-friend-program too where you can earn more free adorable stuff.

If you don't see what you are looking for, custom design service is also available.

Welcome All Blog-Hoppers

If you got to us through Mommy Fest, WELCOME! Our site, BabyBlogAddict.com, focuses on parenting tips, humor and baby news. It's a fun supplement for the parents who are up at all hours trying to keep up with their friends and the antics of their children on their growing list of favorite baby and family blogs.

Check out what we said in our first Baby Blog Addict post on May 19, 2007 (almost one year ago...hey, we may need to have our own BBA Party next week!) Here's a link to some fun blog addiction stories we've heard along the way. Feel free to send yours in to us too.

It's great to "meet" all of you!