Babies

Baby Shower Game: Nursery Rhymes

My Aunt Shirley made up this game!  It is definitely a good one to keep you on your toes.  If you haven't been around babies in awhile it will definitely make you think.  When I played at my cousins shower, I only got 3 right! Yikes.

~With Angela O'
Nursery Rhymes
"Who" or "What" is it?

 1.  Stuck a feather in his hat

 2. Eating her curds and whey

 3.  The clock struck one, and down he run

 4.  (Her garden) grow(s) with silver bells, and cockleshells, and pretty maids all in a row

 5.  I frightened a little mouse under her chair

 6.  Went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone

 7.  Kissed the girls and made them cry

 8.He's under the haystack fast asleep

 9.  Sings for his supper

 10.  Lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them

 11. Could eat no fat

 12.  He went to bed with his stockings on; one shoe off and one shoe on
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 Nursery Rhymes
"Who" or "What" is it?
*With Answers*

 1.  Stuck a feather in his hat
a.  Yankee Doodle Dandee

 2. Eating her curds and whey
a. Little Miss Muffet

 3.  The clock struck one, and down he run
a. The Mouse

 4.  (Her garden) grow(s) with silver bells, and cockleshells, and pretty maids all in a row
a. Miss Mary Quite Contrary

 5.  I frightened a little mouse under her chair
a. Pussy Cat Pussy Cat

 6.  Went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone
a. Old Mother Hubbard

 7.  Kissed the girls and made them cry
a. Georgie Porgie

 8.He's under the haystack fast asleep
a. Little Boy Blue

 9.  Sings for his supper
a. Little Tommy Tucker

 10.  Lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them
a. Little Bo Peep

 11. Could eat no fat
a. Jack Sprat

 12.  He went to bed with his stockings on; one shoe off and one shoe on
a. Deedle Deedle Dumpling

Baby Shower Game: All in the Family Celebrity Trivia

For showers and parties I tend to gravitate towards making them unique.  Baby showers I especially am not fond of the over-used games found online.  Recently, my cousin had a baby shower which was themed "The Modern" and the colors were Black and Grey with a very small splash of pink.  I created this trivia game and would like to share it with you for your your parties.

~ With Angela O'

All in the Family Celebrity Trivia

 1) North West is the girl baby of which celebrity couple?  

 a. Kim Kardashian & Kanye West

 2) Who is Kate Hudson’s mother?

 a. Goldie Hawn

 3) Who is Liza Minneli’s mom?

 a. Judy Garland

 4) The two girls Harlow & Sparrow are adopted granddaughters of whom?

 a. Lionel Richie

 5) Paris, Prince, and Blanket are whose children?

 a. Michael Jackson

 6) Who named their children as an extension of their own names? The children are Willow and 

 a. Will & Jada Smith

 7) Rumer Willis is the daughter of which two people?

 a. Bruce Willis & Demi Moore

 8) Jack Quaid, kid who played Marvel a district one tribute in the movie of The Hunger Games is the son of which two people?

 a. Dennis Quaid & Meg Ryan

 9) The actor, Ethan Peck who played in the hit television sitcom Ten Things I Hate About You is the grandson of which star who played Atticus Finch in the movie classic To Kill a Mockingbird?

 a. Gregory Peck

 10) Zoe Kravitz who played in the movie X-MEN First Class is the daughter of which famous rock star and The Cosby Show actress?

 a. Lenny Kravitz & Lisa Bonet

 11) Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa is the daughter of whom?

 a. Elvis Presley

 12) The fashion designer Stella McCartney is daughter to whom?

 a. Paul McCartney

 13) Who is the father of Carnie & Wendy Wilson of the 1980’s group Wilson-Phillips?

 a. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys

 14) These male country music stars kept the family line going with Senior, Junior, and the III.  Who are they?

 a. Hank Williams Sr., Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III

 15) Musicians Stephen, Ziggy, and Damien are the sons of which famous Reggae musician?

 a. Bob Marley

DIY Baby Bumpers




Did you know that in some states traditional bumper pads are actually illegal to sell due to their lack of air flow babies get?

There are two alternatives:

1.  Mesh bumper pads that allow air to flow (but are kinda ugly)

2.  Wonder Bumpers (that cost usually over $300 to fit an entire crib)


The cards have been dealt and my friend's project has been completed and ready to share with the world!!  

Homemade Customized Wonder Bumpers for less than $95!!!


Thanks to my dear friend and guest on this blog Tracy Cook, you will now know how to make your own stylish baby bumpers!

Materials Needed:

  • 3/4 inch Self Adhesive Foam Tubular Pipe Insulation
  • Thicker Cotton Fabric or Felt (Choose one or two designs)
  • Coordinating Ribbon or Lace
  • Scissors
  • Measuring Tape
  • Hot Glue Gun (Don't worry...it is on the inside so baby can't get to it)

Step 1: Gather the materials.



Step 2: Measure the tubular foam.   Here we have shown 16 inches which is the half size for a standard crib.  Half size bumpers were convenient for this mommy because she did not want the bumpers to be too close to Finleigh when she needed to drop the crib into a big-girl bed.  However, you may choose to have your crib bumpers at full length of 32 inches for the 32 inch rails.  It is simply personal choice.


Step 3: Cut down the tubular foam to your specified size.  Remember 16 inches or 32 inches.  Whichever is best for you and your baby.

Step 4: You should end up with a pile like this.


Step 5:  Cut the fabric to the diameter of the tube.  Begin by putting the fabric on one side of the slot but be sure to leave some excess at the end.   Remove the adhesive film.  Wrap it around the foam, tucking the fabric edges into the open slot down the center of the tube.  The fabric should adhere to the adhesive.  Once done you may cut the fabric to the length of the tube leaving about one inch to one and a half inches of spare fabric at each end.


Step 6: It should look like this when you are done.  



Step 7:  Now take one fabric covered tube and place it on the crib rail.  Have your hot glue gun heated and ready to go.  Next you will need to add some hot glue to the inner portion of the tube where the excess fabric is located, then tuck the fabric ends inside.  Yes you will be doing it while the covered tube is on the crib.  This seals the bumper and prevents the fabric from fraying.  Take care to not get the excess glue on the crib rails.  Repeat this step to seal off the opposite end of the bumper.   Once complete with this one rail, repeat step 6 for each of the crib rails.  IF you have chosen to use two different fabrics then take the first fabric and do every other rail like below.  Then follow by adding the second fabric to the remaining rails.  **Note the glue should be on the inside so that the baby cannot access it**



Step 8:  Once complete tie ribbon to the tops of the bumpers.  The bow ends should be on the outside of the crib rails so the baby does not pull them.  TaDa!  Beautifully done.  See how mommy Tracy used the two different fabrics in a coordinating way?  Pink solid with a white and pink print.

BabyWatch - O'nly Glamorous for Our Future Offspring

In passing, both online and physical I have heard quite a few ladies complain of nice baby gear.  Specifically, making fun of the baby product and decor from places like Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and other high-end retailers.  True that the items can be rather expensive for someone who is going to quickly become too big for them but still they are so beautiful.  However, none of those women complained about the price, they were complaining about the type of parent that would actually have a nursery that looks so fancy-pants.  Whether or not they believed their personal parent category was "super-mom" or "anti-mom", it had no relevance on the topic.

It is honestly no surprise that I have had a Pinterest board that circles around little ones and families for years.  The way I like to create, organize, plan and share...Why would you expect anything else?!  It doesn't matter if it is for my best-est of friends, nieces, nephews or eventually us.

But what a lot of people don't know is that I have never been a fan of traditionally cutesy baby things.  I am happy for all those out there who do like the traditional style because that is what makes that person happy and that parent will know what is best for their baby.  But for me...let's set the record straight before it all starts.  When envisioning our future little ones duckies, buggies, and baby animals just are not going to be a highlight in our nursery.  Seriously, dump the little price and princess talk. 

Our future babies will be beautiful, bold, glamorous, tough, and handsome. They will be the diamonds, opals, pearls and onyxes of our eye and their nursery should reflect that. They will be Emperors and Empresses, Dukes and Duchesses.  So forget to swallowing pastels and bring in the deep colors, mix it up a little.  

Honestly, that goes for any baby gathering as well...showers, what have you.  Oh please, it has got to be tasteful.  Not a fan of stuff thrown together.

Call me pretentious if you want at least I know what I like. (And at least I don't hate on other mothers who don't match my sense of style)

~ With Angela O'

SOME EXAMPLES OF AWESOMENESS:



Dark Colors!!!









You Have No Right To Meddle

I've come across a lot of discussions regarding individuals or couples trying to meddle in someone else's birthing practices.  Specifically, the naming of the child.  Let's set the record straight.  Unless you are the parent who is physically giving birth or the other parent who physically conceived the kid that will be born you have absolutely zero right to meddle or get mad about the identification title of the child.

This goes for mothers and fathers of the carrying couple or individual, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone on the street.  Now, everyone has an opinion and one should learn how to politely offer their opinion to the carrying couple/individual in a non-aggressive way so that it is on the table.  This includes hostile or passive aggressive.  And be done.  Period.  Don't excessively complain to another soul about what that couple/individual is naming their child.  It is sick and annoying and just darn disrespectful to the two who will be responsible for raising their child.  

Some of you may say, "well what if that name has been in our family for years??  Well then that should be an exception??"  NOT!  Zero exception.  Unless you are carrying that child in your abdomen or have conceived that child you have zero say.  Period.  Now I will be up front and tell you that I have married into a family where the Irish bloodline is strong and the names are stronger.  The men share not only the first, last and suffix but the middle name as well.  The only, and I mean thee absolutely ONLY way that it is acceptable to chose the carrying on of the name is if that the carrying or conceiving parent desires to pass it on.  If both of them say "over my dead body" then you better believe it and back down because it is not your child.  I am absolutely positive that individuals in my family are reading this post, and are moments away from fainting or blowing a gasket.  Well you can rest assured that my husband and I have chosen to continue the male succession when the time comes for the fourth to reign.  But regardless, it doesn't change the facts at hand.  If we had chosen to be done with the naming game then everyone else would have no choice but to respect that. Period.

It is the same principal if one gets irritated that a child did not get named after their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, or any other member of their extended family.  If you did not conceive or carry the child then you have zero right to meddle.  Please be respectful of the parent-to-be and learn to support them rather than be a negative-being.

This has happened so many times in front of my eyes that it is sickening.  It's not like you have an indirect relationship with the people and will never meet their creation so think before you speak.

P.S.  If there is one parent who wants to carry on a family name and parent two does not, then they have to work it out for themselves.  In an ideal world, parent two would honor the wishes of parent one and just be respectful and caring of the sentiment.  However, if it is not resolved and parent two wins the situation....Leave it Alone! Unless you are: Parent One or Parent Two!

Newborn Date Night kit

When you have great friends that have become brand new parents, it is common to feel a little helpless in the first few months as they are adjusting to a new routine.  One way to help them feel a little bit in the norm is to provide them with a stay-at-home-date-night kit.  Recently, a pair of our Austinite friends had a baby and the poor little guy was so fussy that we didn't see them after leaving the hospital again till the first six weeks went by.  So we dropped off a little surprise basket at their doorstep to wish them well.  Try it sometime, it's fun!