Packing for the hospital

What did you pack for the hospital when you had your baby? For Toby's birth, we brought tons of unnecessary things—like a mix tape, a tennis ball for massaging, even a movie. You never know what you'll need, right?

But we didn't bring a few necessary things. After Toby was born, I just hung out in the hospital gown, but I felt a little naked in it. It would have been so nice to have something more comfortable to wear.

Well, the maternity collection HATCH just came out with a HATCH-to-Hospital Box, which is a gorgeous package of a soft nightgown, a cozy robe, a black brief, and cashmere socks. The pieces are so luxurious and would make you feel pampered during the hospital stay.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful baby shower gift from a few friends? You'd feel cozy and comfy, while you're resting at the hospital and taking care of your sweet little one.

P.S. All about pregnancy...

(Top photo from the first days with Toby. HATCH photos by Julia Robbs for Cup of Jo. Thanks, Julia! HATCH is one of my beloved long-term sponsors)

What should we name our baby?

Seriously. Our second baby is due in less than a month, and we're stuck. Will you weigh in?Read More >

Toby's straw hat

The other day, Toby and I were walking back from a music class when it started raining. We ducked into a J.Crew store and went to the kids area to see if there were any toys to play with. Instead, he immediately spotted this straw hat. I took him over to the three-way mirror, and he was beside himself with how cool he was. It was the first time he has taken any interest in his clothes at all (usually he just wants to stay in his pajamas).
Needless to say, he is now the proud owner of said hat:)

P.S. Do your eyes light up when you see your child? And the adorable reason kids cover their eyes when hiding.

6 tricks for photographing goofy kids

Poof! Kids reach a certain age and suddenly don't want to be photographed. They hide from the camera, they sulk, they goof around when you tell them to smile. But! My photographer friend Alpha has figured out ways to get her adorable (and spirited!) niece to interact with the camera. As part of a three-part photography series sponsored by Canon, Alpha agreed to share six handy tips for photographing older children...Read More >

Conversations with a two-year-old

Have you seen this hilarious video? Matthew Clarke, the dad who created the video, says: "If you take the words of a two-year-old and put them in the mouth of a grown man, suddenly the malevolence and intimidation really shine through." Made me laugh.

Hope you're having a good long weekend!

P.S. Toby in conversation, and how to talk to little girls.

Summer's here!

After a never-ending winter, New York has finally enjoyed a stretch of balmy weather. Aren't you excited for summer? We went to Washington Square Park the other day and waded in the fountain. The water was sparkling clean (officially) and Toby was in heaven splashing around.
And to top it off, we saw a rainbow:)

Hope you're having a good day. Stay dry in all this rain!

P.S. The full Cup of Jo Guide to NYC.

Toby's 3rd birthday party (or, the Lazy Parent's Guide to an Awesome Party)

Toby's third birthday is next weekend, but since my mom is in town this weekend, we decided to have his party early. It was such a wonderful afternoon! Here are a few photos, if you'd like to see...Read More >

Six tips for photographing your child

My photographer friend Alpha always takes beautiful photos of her nieces (remember this?) and since our new baby will be arriving in less than two months, I thought I'd ask for her advice on photographing wriggly babies and toddlers. As part of a three-part photography series sponsored by Canon, Alpha agreed to share six handy tips...
Read More >

Kids trying new foods

Have you seen this slow-motion video of kids trying new foods? It's hilarious. Whenever Toby doesn't like something, he'll just open his mouth and just let it fall out, which always makes me laugh since he clearly doesn't have any concern about what happens next or who (me) has to pick up the food. Toddlers!

We're traveling back from San Francisco today, so I'll see you tomorrow with photos! Have a good one. xoxo

P.S. How to eat like a French child.

(Via DALS)

Motherhood Mondays: Co-sleeping

My lovely friend Leigh co-sleeps with her husband and three children—meaning, they all sleep together in a family bed—and I wanted to ask her a few questions. Here’s what she told me…Read More >

Frozen yogurt for toddlers

What a brilliant idea: Put a chopstick in actual yogurt and freeze for happy kiddos.

(By The Hazel Bloom)

Motherhood Mondays: On being your child's touchstone

Did you read this amazing discovery in the New York Times...Read More >

What have you learned from your mom?

Mother's Day is two weeks away, so I'd love to ask: What has your mom taught you?

Here are ten things I've learned from my mom:
* Always be on time when picking someone up at the airport; it means a lot to people.
* There's something life affirming about a gin & tonic before dinner.
* If someone has cooked a meal, wait until they start eating before you take your first bite.
* Clear nail polish looks surprisingly beautiful.
* If people are rude to you, it's usually because they're having a bad day, so be empathetic and don't take things personally.
* Sprinkle sea salt on top of cookies before baking them in the oven.
* Nothing is better than reading a really good book, except maybe having your hair played with when you're falling asleep.
* Talk to kids like they're adults. They're smart and will love it.
* Everyone is secretly a big nerd.
* You're never alone.

A supporter of Cup of Jo and of all things love, the fragrance Coach Love, a warm woody floral, has re-launched their beautiful Facebook app to celebrate moms this Mother's Day. You can share what you love about your mom, along with a photo. It's a sweet way to recognize moms together. Post yours on Facebook, if you'd like.

So, I'm curious: What has your mom taught you? How to choose a lipstick? How to roast a chicken? How to ask for a raise? How to be a kind person? I'd love to hear their words of wisdom...
(This post is sponsored by Coach Love. All words and ideas are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Cup of Jo possible)

Seven month belly shot

Alex snapped a few belly shots last night. I'm 31 weeks, which means I'm about 7 months along. The baby has started to lurch around in my belly, I'm starting to feel enormous, and we've been washing teeny onesies in preparation. We're getting close! One surprising thing is that the baby feels so heavy, which is apparently normal for second pregnancies. But if I walk more than three blocks, I have to lug my belly up with both hands. My friend jokes that it's like carrying a bag of groceries, which sadly rings true:)

Have you seen the tumblr The Pregnant Husband? Made me laugh out loud a million times.

Hope you had a great weekend. xoxo

P.S. Great book for mothers-to-be, and a pregnancy survival guide.

Toby and the violin

Recently Toby became randomly obsessed with violins. Alex and I were trying to figure out where this new fascination came from. A street musician? A Dora the Explorer episode? Thin air? However it started, Toby's love of the violin is a real thing. He draws pictures of violins. He pretends that his books are violins and holds them up to his neck. Every evening, instead of watching a kids TV show, he asks for bluegrass videos on YouTube. (Annie is his favorite.)

Last week, Alex suggested we find him a miniature used violin on eBay. At first I thought it sounded crazy and extravagant (he's only two!), but Alex really thought it was worth it. So we ordered this teeny violin (it's 1/8th size), and Toby was psychotically excited about the impending arrival ("The brown package here yet, Mama?" "You think today the violin comes, Mama?" "We open it with scissors, Mama?") until it arrived this past Friday. Honestly, I have been amazed by how much Toby has played with it, and he even insists on carrying it with him in the stroller and gently cuddling it while we read bedtime stories.

Anyway, it has been such a fascinating turn-of-events. Maybe when he's a bit older, if he's still interested, we could sign him up for some lessons.
The giddy moment we realized that the case could double as a backpack!

Do your kiddos play any instruments? (Do you?) I wish I did!

P.S. The magic of Central Park and a lullaby that actually works.

Cutest sweatshirt

Love this little sweatshirt from Australian etsy shop Paul & Paula. That's all :)

Birthday cake planning

Toby's third birthday is coming up next month, and he's obsessed with it this year. Needless to say, we've daydreamed a LOT about the birthday cake. Since I'm not a big baker, I wasn't sure what to make (last year, we just served strawberries!). But at the playground the other day, my friend Maureen revealed a genius idea...
Read More >

My two boys?

Yesterday Toby took his girlfriend for a ride on his motorcycle (aka a lion statue at the playground). These two kill me, they really are in love!
And I had another sonogram at the hospital this week. How sweet is that profile?! I can usually keep it together, but when I saw this little face, I started crying at the doctor's office. I cannot wait to hold this little one in my arms. So the big question remains: Does this look like a boy or a girl? :) (I'm strongly thinking boy.)

P.S. This baby's first sonogram, and Toby's funny-looking sonogram.

Mother's Day gift idea

Have you guys heard of brag books? They're accordion-style books featuring eight photos, which you can carry in your handbag. They would make a lovely gift for Mother's Day, don't you think? We made them for Toby's grandmothers, and you could also make copies for beloved babysitters and teachers. They take about five minutes to create, and they're so sweet and heartfelt.
What do you think? See Pinhole Press's complete Mother's Day Gift Guide for more ideas, and get 25% off all photo books with the code BOOKLOVE, good through April 16th.

P.S. A Toby notepad:)

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo. Pinhole Press is one of my beloved long-term sponsors. This is a sponsored post, although all opinions are my own.)

Motherhood Mondays: How I changed my mind about baby showers

When I was pregnant with Toby, I initially didn't want to have a baby shower...
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