a birthday recap...



Happy 3rd Birthday, Millie!

The little gals' birthdays are 8 days apart. Some might call that poor planning on the parents' part, others might say no planning at all (if you chose the latter, you would be correct).... which officially makes the first half of October a BIRTHDAY BONANZA at Casa Baby Meets City.

I must admit I do enjoy party planning, but two weekends of birthday parties and a whole lot of prep makes me think quite strongly about a little thing known as the joint birthday from here on out. What do you think? Is it cruel and unusual punishment? Comments, theories and suggestions welcome...

This year, however, they got their own celebrations. Vivian's included dinner at our apartment with a few friends and a birthday cake, with grandparents on both sides participating by i-chat and Facetime (we are a modern, high-tech family, after all). She was teething that week, so between her fever, watery eyes and general crankiness, it was a rockin' good time.

This will come as no surprise to anyone, but the Tot requested a dinosaur-themed birthday.... and away Mama went to Pinterest, Etsy and Google, oh my! After a little research, I quickly learned there is a LOT one can do with prehistoric creatures.

But first, a moment for my first born, Amelia "Millie" Perrin (I'm "divulging" names on the blog in honor of their birthdays this year -- and quite frankly, "Tween S" doesn't have much of a ring to it). Millie has truly grown so much in this last year... I don't know if it has to do with having a younger sibling, but she just seems like such a BIG GIRL all of a sudden. In the last few months, she has developed an opinion about everything, enjoys "helping" in the kitchen and for the most part, plays really well with Vivian and is very protective of her. Millie has a really sweet disposition, her laugh is infectious and GOOD GRIEF does this girl have some energy. As any parent of a toddler can attest, she has her moments, but life truly wouldn't be the same without her.

Now, on to the dino party! Thanks to Zazzle, Oriental Trading and a few different shops on Etsy (including Emily's Shop, where I found Millie's reversible dino/daisy dress-- too cute!), I was able to find party supplies like personalized "thank you" stickers, invitations, cupcake liners, and party favors. Recipes and party food ideas came courtesy of Weelicious and Pinterest. We had so much fun!

"Dino feet" as you entered the party space 

I split the food up by "Herbivores," "Carnivores" and "Dessertivores"

Dino toys come in handy for decorating!

"Volcano" cake with personalized "Millie is 3" cake topper from Zazzle

Wall decal which I personalized myself (from Zazzle)

This photo wall is just wrapping paper! The pictures against it turned out really cute...
(party hat from Oriental Trading Co.)

Well, here's where it all went downhill (temporarily) - she cried when we sang her "Happy Birthday"!

Adorable "thank you" stickers which I put on her goody bags to friends
(from Zazzle)

Happy Birthday to my sweet 3 year old!
(mask from Oriental Trading Co.)

** Please note there were actual people at the party, I just didn't feel comfortable plastering other kids up on the blog without their parents' permission.

** Please also note that I wanted to "take to my bed" and sleep for a few days after 2 weeks of entertaining, but as the old saying goes, there's no rest for the weary... or mamas.

As a result of this birthday bonanza, it appears I now have a 1 and 3 year old on my hands. Wow... time is flying by, and I'm doing everything I can to slow it down as much as possible.

Happy weekend!


Disclaimer: I was provided with product from Zazzle for purposes of this review. I purchased everything else myself, and as always, opinions are my own.

7th generation's new baby care line (& a giveaway!)

Isn't it funny how becoming a mother makes you look at the world differently -- I find myself inspecting every little thing now, especially when it comes to what my children put in their tummies and on their skin. I read labels from start to finish, and then read them again because in most cases, I've never heard of half the ingredients.

Simply put: I'm very careful about what my children eat (although let's not be crazy, they had fish sticks for dinner... though they were organic!) -- AND what goes on their skin. With all the choices out there, it can be hard to find a product that is pure and natural, good for your precious one and the environment.

That said, I'm so excited to spread the word about Seventh Generation's new baby care line, which includes sunscreen, foaming shampoo and body wash, diaper cream and body lotion.

Some of the new line highlights:

- First complete line of USDA-certified biobased baby care products
- Endorsed by Healthy Child, Healthy World
- Products are gluten-free
- No synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens (all ingredients of concern)
- Tear-free, no worries about getting in eyes
- Non-toxic, biodegradable formula
- Made with natural ingredients that come from plants and minerals
- Extra-virgin olive oil to moisturize and protect

*Having tried the line myself, I also want to add that the scent is fresh and light without being too "perfume-y" (which I hate in bath products)

Bath time!

Additionally, I sat in on a very interesting call last week with representatives from Seventh Generation, The Motherhood and founder of Liddle Kidz Foundation (a children's health and nurturing touch organization), Tina Allen. We discussed Seventh Generation's commitment to safe products and the benefits of baby massage, which is known to deepen bonding between mother and child, improve communication, contribute to development and helps baby to sleep better.

Here's a quick video on the benefits of infant massage:




Now, ready for the exciting part? I'm giving away 2 Seventh Generation baby care gift baskets via Rafflecopter (see below), worth approximately $50 each! Woohoo!

2 easy ways to win:
-- Follow Baby Meets City on Facebook
-- Follow Seventh Generation on Facebook

I'll pick a winner next Thursday, November 15th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I was provided with compensation and product by The Motherhood and Seventh Generation. Opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

how you can help...

I have to admit something. I thought all the hoopla over the approaching storm last week was a bit overblown. Sandy is such a nice name, after all -- I mean Olivia Newton John, for crying out loud! In fact, I was sure we had another Irene in our midst (last year's tropical storm that didn't end up amounting to much).

What a mistake I made. Though my neighborhood in Upper Manhattan was extremely lucky with no loss of power or water, I unfortunately can't say the same about other parts of the five boroughs. Lower Manhattan lost power for a week (some buildings still don't have heat or water), and Staten Island and the Rockaways in Long Island were mercilessly hit -- there is loss of life, flooding, countless homes destroyed and many, many families left trying to pick up the pieces.

I've never been so wrong in my life.

It's particularly hard when devastation strikes so close to home, but equally inspiring when you see so many people helping their neighbors -- and that is what I have chosen to dwell on in times of struggle. There's a quote by the beloved Mr. Rogers that I find comforting:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

At the risk of just repeating the same info, I want to refer you to some local listings by other NYC bloggers that have done a great job of providing pertinent info on how to donate goods, money or your time.

Won't you help?

Mom in the City posted 30 Ways NYC Families Can Help After Hurricane Sandy.

MomTrends is partnering with Baby Buggy on a diaper drive for families with young children.

Stroller Traffic offers a comprehensive list of donation ideas, including giving to K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Conditions) -- I wasn't familiar with this charity, but am so happy to know about them.

Mommy Poppins highlights 5 Ways to Help Out -- somehow I missed that the New York Aquarium ENTIRELY flooded -- ugh!

Thanks to Motherhood in NYC and The Mama Bird Diaries for their thought-provoking posts sprinkled with humor. We have to remember to laugh even when the world is a mess, right?

Lastly, between today and Friday, November 9th, please bring diapers, baby formula, baby food and blankets to any New York Kids Club location.

NYC will come back -- it always does. But a large part of the resilience of this city is due to the people who live here. Let's all do our part, shall we?

the cover of this week's New  York Magazine

my baby's one!

Baby Sister turned one this month. ONE! How did that happen? It seems like just yesterday that I was announcing her arrival. This year has positively sped by, and while the old saying is true, time really DOES fly when you're having fun... in terms of raising more than one child, I might extend that phrase to include "... especially when you have a toddler at home." We simply couldn't obsess over every little thing Baby Sister was doing as we had the other eye on a constantly-on-the-move Toddler S.

Alas, while her first year of life seemed to zip past us in a heartbeat, here are a few things I can distinctly tell you about my Little One, my Heart, Vivian Ella (I've decided to share my daughters' names on the blog on each of their birthday posts this year).

Vivian can be rather serious when she wants to be:

And curious, very curious:

She's a happy go lucky kind of gal:

And her blue eyes are bright and sparkling:

Don't let that look fool you; this kid has spunk.

And, dare I say it, a bit of a mischievous streak...

Her hugs are simply the best.

And I could spend all day being completely ridiculous, just for a glimpse of that smile.

Vivi adores her Big Sister, but knows how to stick up for herself when Toddler Mayhem rears its "I refuse to share/I enjoy being disagreeable" head.

I think she might possibly be brilliant (a mother innately knows this sort of thing, you see).

But whatever she decides to become, or which roads she travels, or how she dresses, or with whom she loves,

I will always love you with my whole heart, my Sweet. Happy 1st Birthday, Vivian!

Thank you, Stickybellies, for helping me document my daughter's first year of life in such a fun and memorable way!

boo at the zoo bronx zoo review

(Say that 3 times fast)

Recently, I was contacted by Time Out Kids to participate in a new guest blogger series. Such FUN, and of course, I was only too excited to participate. We ran through a few ideas on events and eventually came up with "Boo at the Zoo," currently happening on weekends through October 28th at The Bronx Zoo. This was a perfect fit for our family, as a certain toddler in the house is kind of OBSESSED with animals right now (Am currently trying to DIY a tiger costume; wish me luck on that...)

Read about our fun day here -- and if you're looking for a Halloween-related activity this month, I highly recommend the "Boo" experience!

On a side note, I put the girls in their new outfits from Baby Nay for our zoo excursion. I love this brand -- the outfits coordinated perfectly without being too matchy-matchy. You can immediately tell the quality is a cut above, and in the words of one Toddler S, "this dress is so comfy!" I also secretly (er, not-so-secretly) wish they would make Baby Sister's shirt in an adult size.

A few of my favorite shots from the day, courtesy of photographer Marielle Solan:

rockin' babies party in their cribs

If you've taken a look at my blog, you know I love a children's book review. And if I'm writing one that isn't NYC-themed, then it simply must be unique. Rockin' Babies is just that -- a book you'll likely enjoy just as much as your child. Co-authored by Dr. Jenn Berman and her mother, award-winning lyricist Cynthia Weil, Rockin' Babies was written with your little rock star in mind.

Winner of the 2011 Purple Dragonfly Award for Best Board Book, I love this book as a baby shower or 1st birthday gift. The play on words and colorful illustrations that coincide are really amusing. I particularly love the line about rockin' babies that are "hounded by the paparazzi," i.e. Mommy & Daddy. I laugh out loud every time we get to "Rockin' Babies party in their cribs" (that would be Baby Sister!).

I'm excited to be partnering with Dr. Berman and Ms. Weil on a Rockin' Babies Swag Bag giveaway. Among other things, this giveaway includes Baby Banz sunglasses, a Rockabye Baby cd and Trumpette socks... perfect for your little rock star!

See Rafflecopter below for 3 easy ways to enter. I'll announce a winner on Monday, October 22nd.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I was given a Rockin' Babies Swag Bag for purposes of this review. Opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

the mother of all collaborations

Last week, I attended the launch party of a truly perfect collaboration between Bravado Designs, designer extraordinaire (and new mom!) Rebecca Minkoff and the non-profit organization, Baby Buggy. Held at the lovely Allison 18, I got a chance to catch up with my NYC blogging friends and learn a little bit more about this worthy effort to aid new mothers in need.

Here's the dish:

To celebrate their 20 year commitment to mothers, Bravado Designs teamed up with Minkoff and Baby Buggy, a non-profit organization founded by Jessica Seinfeld, which provides essentials to needy families with children ages 0-12. Minkoff has designed a limited edition nursing tank for Bravado, and 20% of sales will go to Baby Buggy. Additionally, for every nursing tank purchase, a nursing bra will be donated to a mother in need. Studies have shown that if a new mother  has access to breastfeeding support and attire, she will be more likely to breastfeed herself. Minkoff's nursing tanks come in 2 designs and are available on Bravado's website and also Diapers.com.



Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

I'm so happy to help spread the word about this partnership. It was lovely hearing from Jessica, and truly inspiring to learn how many struggling families (over 5.6 million!) have benefited from Baby Buggy since it began in 2001. Born out of the tragedy that was 9/11, their "Love. Recycled" motto has grown exponentially since then. If you live here in NYC or LA and would like to donate gently used or new gear and clothing to Baby Buggy, click here for how to do it.

Disclosure: I was not provided compensation for this post. I did receive a gift bag at the event. All opinions, as always, are my own.