Baby Shower Celebration: Sponsor Spotlight: My Day Registry

What better way to celebrate the birth of a child than to register the day as his or her very own. I have saved this very special sponsor for last. A way to close out my Baby Shower Celebration with a bang. I realize these giveaways have gone on a lot longer than planned. After having 6 other children you would have thought I would have known that there was no way I was going to have decent computer time with a newborn. I hope you have enjoyed all the great Baby and Mommy giveaways that have been a part of my Baby Shower Celebration. Now, to spotlight my last sponsor. 

"MyDayRegistry is a unique online registry that allows you to dedicate and register a specific day to recognize a special person or event in your life. It's a great way to let family and friends know how much they mean to you and makes for a creative and thoughtful gift that lasts a lifetime! "

What a wonderful and unique gift to give someone for the birth of their baby. 

"When you dedicate a day to yourself or a loved one, you receive a beautifully framed certificate as proof of registration and ownership."

Every certificate is printed on a beautiful high quality parchment paper and personalized for your special occasion in modern calligraphy.

The certificate is then set in a contemporary floating frame of your choice—a perfect conversation piece for the home or office!

Of course, registering the birth of a baby would be awesome, a wonderful welcome into this world. But there are so many other occasions you could choose from. 

Wedding Day

Anniversaries

Birthdays (especially milestone birthdays like Sweet 16)

Mother's Day (how about 1st Mother's Day)

Father's Day( yep, 1st Father's Day would be special too)

Graduation (preschool, high school, college, etc)

And the list goes on and on. What special day can you think of that you would like to commemorate? Would you want to register a day for yourself? Would you register the day for someone special in your life? 

The possibilities are endless!!

Not only do you get to register the day in one of three registries (your state, your country-United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia, or worldwide) and receive an awesome certificate like the one pictured above, but you also get to create your online profile.

"Every registered owner receives an online profile that can be personalized with pictures, video, and more!

Every owner's exclusive title and ownership rights are recorded in the official International Day Registry database."

Head on over to mydayregistry.com and check it out. 

And then stop by next week for my review and a great giveaway. Just a little hint, there will be more than one winner!!
(And if you are a blogger, stop by here to join in with my Free Blogger Opp)

The Baby Shower Celebration has obviously been extended so please ignore the dates on the image (I just didn't have any time to make a new one) It was extended because of several unforeseen circumstances. 

Free Sign Ups for Baby Shower Celebration-The Miracle Blanket

Join with me in my Baby Shower Celebration. The next giveaway is going to be for a really neat, innovative swaddle blanket called, The Miracle Blanket. 

You can sign up for free, no fees at all. All I ask is that you help get the word out about my giveaway to help celebrate our baby boy.  I ask that you post the giveaway with Rafflecopter on your blog when it goes live on May 10th. In addition, I ask that you post on Facebook and/or Twitter 10 times during the event. If you agree to do this you can sign up and receive 1 Free link on my Rafflecopter form. You may choose Facebook or Twitter.

In addition, if you share about these Free Sign Ups on your blog or Facebook page I will give you a second link (again, Facebook or Twitter).  However, this is completely optional.

Sign ups are open until May 8th at 8pm.

You can check out the form for the complete details. For more information about this specific giveaway's product you may check out my Sponsor Spotlight post for Miracle Blanket.

Click here to sign up to participate in my Baby Shower Celebration Miracle Blanket event

edit: just a note that there has been a slight change in the requirements. I am no longer requiring you to post 10 times on Facebook or Twitter during the event. I do ask that you post about it on Facebook, Twitter and/or Google+ the day it goes live to get the word out. Then, share to your heart's content. However, the more it is shared the more potential entries. 

Aden + Anais Swaddle Review and Giveaway

About a week ago I shared a little bit about aden + anais

I was sent an organic oasis swaddle from the organic muslin collection. I was thrilled to find out that the organic collection swaddles were designed especially for sensitive skin, seeing as I have very sensitive skin as does Amelia. So, better to be safe than sorry, huh.  

Check out this awesome swaddle blanket:

      

I wanted to show how big this blanket is. In the above picture it is laid out on my bed which is queen sized.   

I find it highly meaningful that as baby Harold is being swaddled he slowly calms down. I have surely learned a lot about swaddling with this baby. Too bad he is our last. Would have loved to have known these secrets 19 years ago with Floyd. 

The aden + anais swaddle blanket is made of natural cotton muslin which makes it a highly breathable fabric, perfect for this warming time of year. I discovered that this fabric truly is quite durable for being so delicate. It doesn't look like it would be so durable. But as I tested out the stretchiness while swaddling the baby I realized it is very well made. And soft, it is so soft. When I was reading information on the aden + anais website I discovered this material gets softer with repeated washings. I just love this blanket. 

You have got to check out all the great blankets available from aden + anais (along with their other wonderful products). Their contemporary prints are adorable and all their blankets are made of cotton muslin. 

And don't forget to check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

  

As a part of my Baby Shower Celebration aden + anais has offered a great giveaway for my readers (that's you).  One of you is going to get a Classic Collection 4 pack of your choice. 

Just fill in the Rafflecopter below. 

I have to mention that I know I do not usually have so many entries on my Rafflecopter forms. However, these wonderful ladies are helping to share my Baby Shower Celebration and I offered them a spot or two on said form. Remember, you don't have to fill in every entry (there are only 2 mandatory entries) but each entry you complete increases your chances for winning and I would love for you to follow these great ladies who are helping me. 

This giveaway runs from May 6th through May 19th 11:59pm

Disclosure: I received  the organic oasis swaddle for free as a part of my Baby Shower Celebration. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and will be good for my readers. 

Free Sign Ups for Baby Shower Celebration

Baby Shower Celebration

Free Blogger Sign Up

Okay, it only just dawned on me that I have been sharing all these other Free Blogger Opportunities, but I haven't been sharing my own on my blog. Not real brilliant. Anyway, if you are looking for a FREE blogging opportunity in which to increase your numbers you might consider joining in on my Baby Shower Celebration Events. The current one is accepting sign ups until 8pm tonight. (However, if I forget to close sign ups because I am taking care of children feel free to sign up.)

I am looking for some bloggers to help promote my Baby Shower Celebration Giveaways. My Baby Shower Celebration has been extended due to some unforseen circumstances and I would like help spreading the word that it is still on. For the current giveaway for Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets, I am asking simply that you post the Review and Giveaway Post by May 6th and share on Facebook or Twitter at least 10 times during the Giveaway. In return for your help promoting this giveaway I will give you your choice of Twitter or Facebook link on the Rafflecopter form.

Sponsor requirement: Your blog must have an Alexa ranking of 500,000 or less (Sorry, this is their requirement. I have a couple more giveaways coming up and I don't think there will be such a requirement)

Sign up until May 4th 8pm
I will send HTML code for the giveaway by 10pm on May 5th
Have post up by May 6th at 6pm
Giveaway runs May 6th 12:01am through May 19th 11:59pm

Prize: 4 pack Classic Muslin Swaddle {49.95 value}
Giveaway is open to US

Required:
You must have a family friendly blog
You must post the giveaway and submit a direct link to the giveaway (form WILL be provided)
You must join the Tots and Me Celebrations and More Facebook Group
You must have an Alexa rank of 500,000 or less

Optional:
If you share about this Free Blogger Sign Up I will give you a second link on the Rafflecopter (Facebook or Twitter)

I will supply the blog post which will include a review, pictures and the Rafflecopter form.
I will send it to the email you provide and include it on the Facebook page

There are a couple more Baby Shower Celebration Reviews and Giveaways coming up.

To sign up fill out the form by clicking here.

Baby Shower Celebration: Sponsor Spotlight: Miracle Blanket

I discovered another unique and innovative way to swaddle a baby. It is called miracle blanket.

I realize it doesn't quite look like a blanket when you first glance at it does it. And yet, when you see the result, it looks like a baby wrapped in a swaddle blanket (which it is of course). 

The creator of Miracle Blanket is Mike Gatten and he came to develop this blanket out of desperation. He and his wife were looking for a solution to calm their colicky baby. This is what they discovered in their research:

1. Swaddling is the most helpful ingredient in every effective calming method,
2. Holding your baby on your forearm, face-down (or face-forward) while rocking or jiggling him (gently) seems to enhance the calming effect, and
3. Using a pacifier and making a loud shushing sound in his ear further adds to the effectiveness.

He then discovered he needed to find a way to keep a baby swaddled to prevent twitching and flailing that didn't involve complex folds, arm pockets, adjustments for different size babies, buttons, Velcro or straps.

So the Miracle Blanket was born.

Here are the instructions from the Miracle Blanket website showing how easy it appears it is to use the blanket:

Step One: Lay the blanket on a flat surface with the foot pouch at the bottom and lay baby between armflaps with tops of shoulders slightly above top of blanket. Step Two: Fold the armflaps over the outside of your baby's arms and tuck them snugly under her back on each side. IMPORTANT: You should lift the baby's bottom to be sure the armflaps are flat and snug under baby's back. Step Three:Pull the footpocket up over the feet. NOTE: Some babies' feet may not reach the foot pocket yet. This is okay: It will be there for them as they grow. Step Four: Fold the right side of the blanket over your baby's belly and tuck it under the left arm pit (her right). This flap should wrap all the way under the baby's back. Step Five: Wrap the left side of the blanket over the top of her belly and all the way around her until you run out of blanket. This is where it is important to pull the blanket snug. THE BLANKET MUST BE PULLED SNUG. If you would like to see this in action, here is the link to the Miracle Blanket site where they share a video of a baby being swaddled in it. Head on over to there site and check it out. Here are the FAQs And the benefits of using The Miracle Blanket  Check out the various colors/patterns along with their other products Right now you can take advantage of their special- $5 off the regular price and buy any two Miracle Blankets and get an additional 15% discount on all the Miracle Blankets in your order. What are you waiting for, head on over and check it out. You can check them out at their website: www.miracleblanket.com And on Facebook and Twitter.

Don't forget to stop back during the Baby Shower Celebration for an opportunity to enter a giveaway for your own Miracle Blanket.

The Baby Shower Celebration has been extended so please ignore the dates on the image (I just don't have time to make a new one) It was extended because of several unforeseen circumstances. So stay tuned for more great Sponsor Spotlights, Reviews and Giveaways.

Baby Shower Celebration: Sponsor Spotlight: Aden + Anais

Well, I have been introduced to another great company that specializes in swaddle blankets. Like the Swaddle Design blankets that I already reviewed, these muslin swaddle blankets by Aden + Anais are large in size, perfect for swaddling. Here is a little bit about how this company came about directly from their site,

"As a young woman growing up in Australia, our founder Raegan Moya-Jones was introduced to many traditional practices of motherhood. One of them in particular-- swaddling babies in generously sized, gentle muslin sheets-- amazed her. Even the fussiest babies seemed to sleep more peacefully in muslin. Despite the hot days and the cold nights, muslin swaddles helped keep babies comfortable. And, most importantly, the very act of swaddling seemed to build a bond between mothers and their babies. 

When she moved to the U.S. and started her own family, Raegan couldn’t find any swaddles like the ones she remembered from home. The only swaddles available were too small. Or made of much-too-thick flannel. Or, simply, unattractive. 

And so, aden + anais was born. And within months of hitting the market, aden + anais swaddles starting popping up in magazines, on blogs for new mothers, in virtually every celebrity gift registry, and in stores around the country.

Today, aden + anais, has brought the legacy of muslin together with fashion forward design to create a line of products that are as stylish as they are useful; and as simple as they are beautiful. We believe in muslin-- the way it looks, the way it feels, the way it works-- to improve the lives of babies and their mothers no matter who they are or where they live. 

The proof is in every product we make. "

You may ask, as I did, why muslin though? Here is an answer, again from their site,

"The lightweight muslin also permits air to circulate around the baby's body, while still providing comfort and warmth without the worry that the baby may overheat in moderate weather. Cotton muslin is also a workhorse fabric, in that wraps woven from this natural fiber stands up to repeated washings only becoming softer -- and better -- with age. "

Sounds great, doesn't it?

They have a wide variety of swaddle blanket in such cute collections of designs. You can purchase single blankets, 2 pack, 3 pack or 4 pack sets depending on what collection you prefer. There is the classic collection, the cozy collection, the organic collection or the bamboo collection. 

Here, check out a some of the blankets they offer:

Classic collection

Cozy Collection

Organic Collection

Bamboo Collection

Their products have expanded beyond swaddle blankets though. They also carry sleeping bags, bibs and burp cloths, towels and washcloths, dream blankets, and security blankets (issies). All of which are made with muslin except the terry hooded towels.

You can check all of their great products out at their site. And don't forget to check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Don't forget to stop back during the Baby Shower Celebration for an opportunity to enter a giveaway for your own Aden + Anais product.

The Baby Shower Celebration has been extended so please ignore the dates on the image (I just don't have time to make a new one) It was extended because of several unforeseen circumstances. So stay tuned for more great Sponsor Spotlights, Reviews and Giveaways.

Picky Sticky Review and Giveaway

The Baby Shower Celebration has been extended into April due to unforeseen circumstances.

A few weeks ago I shared a little bit about Picky Sticky

These milestone monthly onesie stickers are great! I have so far used 3 of the stickers. The pack I chose had a "0" month for newborn, and while I didn't get to use it on the day of baby Harold's birth (because I hadn't received them yet) I used them as soon as I could. 

Don't you just love the cute little dinosaur.

Each month the dinosaur is different.

These hand designed stickers are super cute and so easy to use. They come packaged in a cellophane package and each month's sticker is on it's own backing. 

They come off very easily and are a cinch to apply to your baby's onesie. As they are transparent you can choose whatever color plain onesie you think will complement your design. When you are done taking your pictures the sticker comes off easily and can even be reused. I decided to put mine on a sheet of computer paper onto which I will then write any special memories as they happen in the coming month. I plan to keep the papers in baby Harold's baby book. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with to reuse your stickers. (It is almost Earth Day after all).

There are so many designs to choose from. Check out the Picky Sticky site. There are choices for boys and girls and even neutral stickers for those who prefer NOT to know the gender of their baby beforehand. In addition there are First Milestone Stickers and Belly Stickers for pregnant mommies. I think these would make a wonderful baby shower gifts and right now they are on sale (the sets that are usually $19.95 are currently $12.95).  They also offer free shipping for orders over $20.00

Don't forget to check Picky Sticky out on Facebook and on their blog.

Of course, as a part of my Baby Shower Celebration you have a chance to win a set of your very own Picky Sticky Monthly Milestone Onesie Stickers. Just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. I have to mention that I know I do not usually have so many entries on my Rafflecopter forms. However, these wonderful ladies are helping to share my Baby Shower Celebration and I offered them a spot or two on said form. Remember, you don't have to fill in every entry (there are only 2 mandatory entries) but each entry you complete increases your chances for winning and I would love for you to follow these great ladies who are helping me.

Disclosure: I received  a set of Picky Sticker Monthly Stickers for free as a part of my Baby Shower Celebration. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and will be good for my readers.

Baby Shower Celebration: Wubbanub Review and Giveaway

A few weeks ago I shared a little bit about the WubbaNub

We have been using this cute little giraffe WubbaNub with baby Harold off and on since he was born. I want to make sure he doesn't just come to me for soothing when he needs to suck. The children love to give him his WubbaNub when he is sitting in the carseat fussing. Hannah wants to make sure he is not crying, it is so cute. Grandma is also a big fan of the WubbaNub. She kept saying that she had never seen anything like it and it was so cute.

At this point we still have to hold the pacifier in his mouth, or continually put it back in, in order for him to keep sucking. He tends to spit it out after just a few minutes. If I need grandma to keep the baby calm while I am trying to get work done she will use the WubbaNub. She will keep sticking it back in.
It was quite cute. One day she noticed he was holding it in himself because his thumb was in the back hole of the nipple and he was trying to suck his thumb.

I do not use it at night as it has not been needed. He nurses to get to sleep and then sleeps until he is hungry again. When we first brought him home I tried sticking it in his mouth while he was in the crib, but as I mentioned, he would just spit it out so I would have to get up and put it back in anyway. I do love the ease of finding it due to it being attached to a stuffed animal. Even today, I was able to quickly grab it out of the diaper bag because I knew to look for the giraffe.

I am sure when he gets older I will get to see if he will hold onto the giraffe more to help keep it in his mouth. I love the concept, but right now he is not that big of a fan of a pacifier. 

I love that the stuffed animal is attached to the same Soothie pacifiers that they use in the hospitals. I have always liked these pacifiers because they are all one piece. There is no separate nipple piece that will detach from the plastic part. I never knew until recently that these very pacifiers are available to purchase. I always thought they were only available in the hospitals. 

While I do like our WubbaNub, there are a few areas of concern I wanted to mention. I have not yet discovered how to easily wash the WubbaNub. Yes, we love that there is a stuffed animal attached, but that makes it a little difficult to clean. I have to make sure to hold the giraffe above the water while washing the pacifier. And I haven't quite discovered how we are supposed to wash the giraffe if it gets dirty, because I wouldn't think a pacifier should go through the washing machine with laundry detergent. I assume if it gets dirty I will have to surface wash the animal. 

And while this is a cute little product I don't know that I would  go out and get one every time the pacifier gets worn out. 

I would love to see a way to detach and reattach the pacifier from the stuffed animal. One, so the stuffed animal can be washed when needed. And two, so we are not just buying a really expensive pacifier which would have to be replaced in its entirety if the pacifier is ruined.  

That said, I still think the WubbaNub is a cute little item, especially cute for a baby shower gift or just as a splurge. If you would like to purchase one for your own little blessing or to give as a baby shower gift head on over to the WubbaNub Website to search for a place to buy one. Of course, as a part of my Baby Shower Celebration you have the chance to win a WubbaNub of your very own. Just fill in the Rafflecopter form below and remember, you don't have to fill in every entry, but the more you fill out the better your chances are of winning. 

Baby Shower Celebration: Sponsor Spotlight: Swaddle Designs

I have mentioned before how I struggle with swaddling. I have reviewed another product that has helped me in this regard. But I was intrigued by these awesome blankets by Swaddle Designs. One thing I have always noticed about "receiving blankets" that you buy in the store is that they are way smaller than the blankets that the hospitals use to swaddle newborns in.  I finally realized that these smaller blankets are the reason I can not swaddle. Enter Swaddle Designs. 

Here is a little bit of information about Swaddle Designs from their website.

"SwaddleDesigns was founded by Lynette Damir, a registered nurse and mother of two young children. While visiting families with new babies, Lynette found that parents struggled with swaddling because they didn’t have the right kind of blanket (the blankets were too small or too thick) and the new parents could not remember how to make a good secure swaddle. Lynette understood that parents needed a large, square cotton blanket and they needed help when trying to learn how to swaddle. Lynette designed the The Ultimate Receiving Blanket with 123 Swaddle® instructional tag sewn to its edge, so new moms and new dads would have the pictorial instructions at their fingertips when they swaddled their baby. Lynette’s blanket has helped hundreds of thousands of new parents learn how to swaddle."

Baby Shower Celebration: Sponsor Spotlight: Picky Sticky

In case you haven't noticed by reading my blog, I really like to take pictures. I have always been a big picture taker, my mom always thought I took too many pictures. I love having the memories. When I was pregnant for Floyd (who is now 18 years old) I read a great idea for taking pictures each month for his first year of life, preferably next to or in something to show how much he had grown. I loved this idea and used it for both Floyd and Krystal, placing the pictures in these photo frames:

I then decided that I would continue the tradition with our little girls (and now our little guy). Unfortunately, because I had to wait a while to get film developed I struggled to figure out which picture went with which month. (In fact, I still have pictures to develop of Tabitha and I am hoping I can remember which pictures are which.)  It was then that I saw another great idea on various blogs. I saw people using signs to mark each month. The thing was, I wanted to keep it possible to frame the pictures as I did above and I couldn't fit putting a sign next to the children. Then I saw the idea of putting the age right on the clothing. That would obviously work with the way I wanted to frame the pictures. But how to implement this idea? I didn't want to write on the clothing. So, I let the idea go by the wayside. Then when I was pregnant with baby Harold I found this great company that made month milestone stickers. The company is Picky Sticky and here is a little bit about them from their website.

"Picky Sticky, the Original Creator of Baby Month Onesie Stickers offers a fun way to record your little one growing right before your eyes. Our milestone monthly onesie stickers offer you an array of bright and fun designs to match your style. Picky Sticky onesie stickers make a great baby shower gift. Give them to friends and family and month by month they can share their photos keeping you up to date on thier growth. It's a fun way to keep in touch. Each set of Picky Sticky's comes in an individual cellophane package with a card that details how they can be used. If giving them as a gift we also offer the ability to leave a short message to whomever is receiving them during check out (free of charge)...Babies grow so quickly. Capture every change along the way. Month by month simply stick a Picky Sticky monthly onesie sticker to your child's onesie or t-shirt. Take a picture to capture each stage and be amazed at how much your little one changes."

"Capture each of your childs special milestones by sticking a Picky Sticky baby month sticker to a onesie or t-shirt, take a picture and cherish the memories."

Here are some of their great designs:

Baby Shower Celebration: Nursing Mom's Giveaway (Undercover Mama and Bamboobies)

I have had the great opportunity to review two awesome products for nursing mommies. 

   

I have been very pleased with these products. You can check out my reviews of Undercover Mama and Bamboobies to see how much I liked them.  Now you have the chance to win both an Undercover Mama Nursing Shirt and a $16.99 credit from Bamboobies to use for your very own Bamboobies (regular or overnight) or toward anything else at their site. That is a prize pack worth $42.00! 

Of course, being a part of my Baby Shower I have to include a game. It is not mandatory to participate in this game, but you will earn extra entries.

So, how about an Unscramble the Nursing Terms Game? All of these terms have something to do with nursing. We want to make this fair for everyone, so please put your answers (the unscrambled words) in the Rafflecopter Form, NOT the comment section. Don't worry if there are a couple you can't get, I'll still let you have the entries, but please do try.

Ready...

Please unscramble these words

cmoolrsut

regngeoemnt

lefomrik

inildmkh

thalc

nemtad nunsigr

gpuimnp

oblflato ohld

And you can still earn entries by playing the previous two games.

To enter the giveaway for the Nursing Mom's Prize Pack just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. Your do NOT have to complete all the entries, but doing so will give you better odds of winning.