A large part of joining in the conversation in the online parenting community, is reading all of the great conversation that is going on in the blogosphere. We are always sharing cute, funny, informative, and inspiring stories that we’ve read with each other, so we thought it would be a great idea (right?!) to share some of our favorite posts from the previous month with all of you. Every month we will be giving these bloggers a monthly “nod” - all while sharing their stories with you. We hope you enjoy the stories we chose below.

Lindsay Lebresco: Hormone-colored Days - “Baby’s First Petition Drive”
I love the quote from Gandhi “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” so it was with that in mind, that Jagger (at 3 months old) and I drove down to City Hall when the vote for Philadelphia’s smoking ban came up.  He had a little onsie on that said “I have the right to be smoke free” and I’m hoping to instill in him that same sense of activism that Kim has instilled in her son.

Melissa Parlaman: Balancing Motherhood -”Poopy Diaper in the Cookie Line”
I thought this post was hysterical! I love the Superwoman reference & I can totally feel her pain when you experience a temporary feeling of panic when you know you don’t have your diaper bag when you really need it.

Erin McHugh: Blissfully Domestic - “S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your Food Budget” 
As a young woman who is planning a wedding, buying a house and still trying to keep up with the Jones’s (a little bit- I have somewhat of a bag/shoe fetish) I am living on a tight budget. One of my favorite pastimes is cooking so when I stumble upon this blog about stretching your food budget it was right up my ally. I try to go grocery shopping only once every two weeks, but my fiancé is a 6.2” athlete who requires A LOT of food, so I usually end up grocery shopping once a week (sometimes more!). This blog opened my eyes about how to stretch my food budget!

Kristin DeLoach: BananaBlueberry - “What are the rules of the Easter Bunny”
Being relatively new to the “holiday characters” club (in the sense that this is the first year my daughter is old enough to get excited and remember the holiday characters/legends such as Santa, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, etc), I was faced with the same exact dilemma at Easter –how do you explain the who, what, when and where and more importantly, make sure there are no holes in your explanations?! I’m in the same boat as Nicole on this one…

Jon DeHart: DadThing - “101 Sites for Men, Husbands and Fathers”
Being among a lot of mommy bloggers, this was helpful for me to find some reading I could connect with a little more as a dad.

Tracy Myerson: NYC Moms - “Flying by the Seat of My Pants”
No matter how fast life moves, I think this post helps remind us all that we have to slow down and appreciate the things that ground us. All the little things that occupy our time may come and go but friends and family are forever. Without these people in our lives where would we be? I love the little reminder at the end about spending time with your kids, talking with your significant other, and calling a long lost friend. I’m going to make that call tonight….and I hope I receive one too!

Kim Lefko: Tales from the Crib - “Making the Big Announcement”
This is such a great story and one that many people can relate too. However, the twist the story takes leaves you laughing pretty hard. Very Clever!!

Be sure to check back next month for our April nods.

I had the pleasure of attending a Baby Expo in San Antonio, TX in the beginning of March. If I heard it once, I heard it a million times- “Do they make that in adult sizes?” Yes, that was the question of the weekend. Parents seem to want the same soothing and comfy experiences that their offspring are getting. It makes sense right? There was a lot of other great feedback and funny remarks we heard at the event. I attented the event along with Kelley Maxfield, from our Direct Marketing department, and she had an interesting take on the event. Kelley is joining us as a guest blogger with her point of view. (what can I say- there weren’t any celebrities in San Antonio!). Now heeeeere’s Kelley!

Whether you like to admit it or not, you’ve probably seen an episode or two of Antiques Roadshow (oh yes, as far as guilty pleasures go, this show is right up there with Project Runway). Aside from anticipating the guests’ reactions from the value of their new found Kämmer & Reinhardt doll or glorified paper weight, the fun is in guessing what some of these unusual yard sale bargains and cherished heirlooms are and how they are used.

As expectant parents, the guests attending the 3rd annual Healthy Baby & Child Expo in San Antonio, Texas this month, applied that same curious enthusiasm towards discovering the world of baby gear. For some newcomers, our exhibit featuring the Touch Free™ Diaper Pail looked like a futuristic toilet with automatic-open lid just the right size for a potty training toddler (one guest even commented that this was a great idea for his own toilet – is it so hard to remember to put the toilet seat down!), and our imonitor™ digital video monitor could have been the perfect spy kit (no, Meet the Fockers fans, this is not intended for spying on the in-laws during those unexpected visits).

Good guesses, but here’s when the expert appraiser would step in, or in our case, a Graco representative. Did you know our sweetpeace™ Newborn Soothing Center has an MP3 connection to let you play Baby’s personal playlist or that our imonitor™ vibe monitor actually vibrates so you can hear and feel your baby’s call?  There’s even a vibrating mattress pad in some of our Pack ‘n Play® Playard’s (wish mine did that!). From understanding the basics to mastering the top-of-the line innovations in baby gear, there are a lot of choices and we can help.

Baby trade shows or expos are an excellent resource packed with educational seminars, health screenings, games, entertainment, beauty makeovers, maternity fashion shows, taste tests, giveaways (some say the size of the goody bag received at the admissions desk is a tell-tale sign of the amount of loot you’ll take home), and one of the few places to receive hands-on demonstrations and knowledgeable information from the actual people who make baby gear products (shout out to all Graco employees who have volunteered this past year). If there’s a show coming to your city, it’s worth the visit. Come see us April 12 & 13 at Baby Celebration L.A. at the Los Angeles Convention Center!

Do you find yourself, as a parent, always putting a positive spin on things with your kids? You say what you know is right instead of what you’re thinking. (first example below) We have to set the good example, after all. But one time, JUST ONE TIME, wouldn’t you like to say what you were really thinking? Here are some of mine:

Said instead: Let’s look in there together. See, no reason to be afraid!
I was thinking: Unless your Aunt could squeeze herself in there, there’s nothing  scary in your closet.

Said instead: They’re good for you and help you grow up big and strong!
I was thinking: To be honest, nobody likes brussel sprouts - I wouldn’t eat them either.

Said instead: I know you’re upset. Let’s sit down and talk about it.
I was thinking: How are you going to run away from home when you’re not allowed to cross the street?

Said instead: It’s time to practice your violin. Wow, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”– that’s my favorite.
I was thinking: Let me grab my noise cancelling headphones.

Said instead: You know we don’t approve of violence in this house.
I was thinking: I think you’re right, I probably could beat up Billy’s dad.

Said instead: Please remember to use soap in the shower – it’s good to get squeaky clean.
I was thinking: You still stink – what happened? Did the smell scare the soap away?

Said instead: How would you feel if someone played a practical joke like that on you?
I was thinking: Next time, fold up a straw and stick it in the water fountain like this, the water will really shoot out and squirt the next kid right in the face!

Said instead: I’ll turn your night light on, okay?
I was thinking: The dark is nothing to be afraid of. I’ve been in it since I married your mother.

Everybody’s got at least one. What’s your “Said Instead?”

We are happy to announce that little Allie Joy Sleep arrived at 12:44pm yesterday and weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and 22″ long- right on schedule. 

Amy is feeling great (and looking good too, I might add) and getting some much needed sleep in the hospital before she heads home (where there will be a lot of “Sleeps” but nobody will be having any!)

Congratulations Amy and Stefan and big brother Tyler!!  Best Wishes to you and your beautiful family of four.

“See how it opens here?  There’s usually a treat inside. These are so much better than the other ones you can’t open. Plus, the chocolate inside these is better than the stuff that comes inside those…”

This is a picture of Kaye Hansen’s (Executive Assistant here at Graco) grandniece and grandnephew enjoying Easter down south.  Her family keeps in touch via Facebook - that’s so 2008 of you, Kaye!  She’s cool and they’re cute!

Every Wednesday we’ll be sharing a photo showing off a little bit of wonder in the lives of our extended Graco family of customers, employees and friends.

Wednesdays is usually reserved for a quick photo displaying the wonder of being a parent, however we thought the wonder of giving birth was certainly significant enough to alter our blog schedule.  :)

Today’s the day!  Amy Sleep (blog contributor), has scheduled to have her baby via c-section this afternoon.  (you can read all about it in her “I’d like to schedule my baby, please” post from last week.)  Yes-schedule.  She’s a busy woman, people!  In fact, on her way to the hospital, she is planning to drop off thank you notes for the office shower we held for her last week.  (This last minute errand was not on her Outlook calendar but apparently she really wants to squeeze it in).  I would have been ok with a late thank you note (actually I would be cool if she e-mailed me a mass thank you but that’s just me- my mom, on the other hand, would be waiting in the lobby of the office for that stack of thank yous).  The funny thing is, Amy thinks she’s busy now. Babies don’t care about Outlook calendars.  I have to hand it to Baby Sleep-he or she’s conscientious enough to not pop out before today. 

We’ll keep you posted- look out for another update - this one will hopefully have pictures of Baby Sleep!

There is something that has amazed me about each ultrasound I’ve had (two with Punkin’ Bear and two so far with BrotherSister). It’s not that you doubt that you’re pregnant, because you have the pitter patter of little feet and bops of little hands inside your tummy to remind you of that. It’s just an overwhelming mix of joy, excitement and to some extent relief to see those 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. It’s a fun experience as you try to determine “Who’s chin does he have” or “Oh, that’s definitely your nose” (this level of detail has been made possible with the 4D ultrasounds).It’s a glimpse into who this little person is that you’ve been nurturing and feeling for months. 

And for many, that in and of itself is all they need to know and to keep them going until they meet their baby face to face.  But, for others, there’s one additional, practical side to an ultrasound…it’s something everyone asks you when you’re pregnant: “Are you going to find out what you’re having?” Well, I’m one of those who couldn’t resist. I tried to when presented with the prospect before going into my very first ultrasound, but all of the practical, rational reasons kept piling up. Weellll…it would be nice to know what color to paint the nursery. And it couldn’t hurt to start buying some of those adorable outfits in pink or blue. And for a couple of people as indecisive as my husband and me who can’t even narrow down what we want for dinner within a reasonable timeframe, you can only imagine what we faced with selecting a name. So why not at least narrow it down between boys names and girls names? It actually wasn’t a decision that we came to easily, but once we did it seemed to work out well. During Punkin’ Bear’s ultrasound, the doctor gave us clear, concise “visual aides” that we were having a little girl. And so the planning began. 

Flash forward to BrotherSister’s ultrasound. This time the decision to find out came with much less hesitation. It seemed to work out well the first time and all. And as with Punkin’ Bear, it was absolutely amazing and awe-striking to see that beautiful little baby moving around. And after we were done counting fingers and toes and determining who’s nose the baby has, and the time came for the doctor to show us whether PB was in fact going to have a brother or a sister, our sweet little baby decided to cross her legs and make it pretty tricky to come to a conclusion. So for the rest of the procedure, we saw little hands moving, feet kicking and a head bopping, but low and behold no way were those little legs going to budge. Then, at the very end in a last ditch effort, the doctor tried to view things from a different angle which resulted in the opinion that she was 80% sure we’re having a girl.  

While 80% are admittedly good odds, there is still a 20% chance that she is a he. These are the same odds that we were given with Punkin’ Bear, but for some reason I’m just not so sure that BrotherSister is a sister. It could be an intuition of sorts, or perhaps it’s because my two pregnancies have been pretty different (though I hear from quite a few other second time parents that it doesn’t really mean anything). Or it could even be because Punkin’ Bear has recently taken to calling BrotherSister just Brother despite us telling her numerous times that she’s having a sister. And of course, there’s the “hearbeat myth”. I’ve always heard that boys heartbeats are in the 140s, which is what BrotherSister’s heartbeat has been over my past few visits, and girls heartbeats are typically in the 150-160 range.  

Despite not knowing whether we need to narrow our names down between boy or girls names, or whether we need to go buy some little boy outfits and steer clear from painting the nursery in purple and pink, I have to admit it is kind of fun not knowing. It’s added a level of excitement to an already highly anticipated event – meeting our new little baby in just a 2 ½ more months! I would love to know, though, if you’ve had any similar intuitions or incidents with your ultrasound “prediction” turning out the opposite when your baby did arrive- drop me a comment!

Winnie the Pooh said it best; “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I don’t have to live without you.”

It’s hard to believe a 2 year old can teach a life lesson…but it happens when you least expect it. Our daughter, Bear, is teaching us about the importance, beauty and happiness in life that comes from having a BEST FRIEND. Everyone needs one, even a 2 year old. It’s been quite amazing and a bit of a miracle to watch these two little girls connect – even before they could communicate. Bear’s best friend is “Dee”. They met when they were 6 months old at Little Gym. And it’s been a blossoming friendship ever since.
You ask Bear who her best friend is…and quickly “Dee” becomes the topic of conversation – Bear lights up when she knows she is going to see Dee or when she is telling me about their afternoon in the park. I love to see how friendship can transform the spirit of a child.

The best part – they expect nothing from each other, rather they delight in any and every moment they get together. Whether it is playing in their new kitchen from Santa, sharing cupcakes at their birthday parties, splashing in the pool or most recently signing up for their FIRST Dance Class.

 Dee and Bear are the only children in their families and that may be driving this special friendship, when you have siblings you have built-in best friends. I’m fortunate to have 2 older brothers and a sister who are some of my best friends. But I still envy the beauty of the special friendship between these 2 year olds.

And the beauty of this friendship is the simplicity! So the lesson my husband and I are amazed by is that as adults we overcomplicate our friendships with expectations and in return can destroy the authenticity of what friendship is all about in the first place.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child – it’s truly remarkable.
We would love to hear the story of your child’s best friend and lessons you’ve learned.

We talk a lot about wonder here on the Graco blog. Mostly about all of the wondrous moments we all have as parents- like the wonder of a baby’s first smile or your child’s first step or other beautiful moments like that. I certainly have those- I have a lot of those, but this past weekend I experienced a different kind of wonder. My moment of wonder? “I wonder where the heck all these people were for the last 5 months??!”

Ahhh.. .spring has sprung. And with it comes a flurry of activity and people and KIDS — everywhere! I went running this weekend (which is a testament to the wonder a little bit of good weather can do) and I felt like blowing kisses to every human I saw. (Think Truman Show- a little too happy) OK- not the ones that honked at me when I couldn’t decide if I was coming or going, but the beautiful, smiling families that were blowing bubbles, chalking sidewalks, swinging on swingsets, gardening, stepping in dog poop (those were my kids. Note to self: spring is here- clean up dog poop), riding on bikes with training wheels, and all the families who were clearly just happy to be outside. That was certainly my family.

While sledding and snowman building, snow angels and hot chocolate has made my winters so much more fun than in the past, having kids makes the winters seem like an eternity too. My creativity wanes come March and I can no longer come up with fun things to do inside. Alas — move it on outside. Creativity not needed when sticks, grass, mud and trees, balls, bats, bikes and bubbles, are available. Although the warm(er) weekend weather was fleeting here in PA, it gave me a glimpse to the warmer days ahead (and my upcoming vaca in Florida!)

Now that spring is OFFICIALLY here, what are you most looking forward to??

Every month we hope to share with you, a little peek inside the life of a celebrity parent or parent-to-be. We’ve asked them a bunch of questions and they’ve been kind enough to answer them (and then some!).

This month I am thrilled to introduce Angela Kinsey from NBC’s award winning show, “The Office.” (see the SAG award in Angela’s hand in the photo below?!!) We had the chance to meet Angela at an event in LA and the best part about meeting her is that she is nothing like her character on “The Office” (although they do share the same name).  Angela is a very sweet, southern woman who is funny, charming and a big bundle of adorable. (again, not like the Angela we’ve come to hate love on TV) Angela is expecting her first child on May 9th (which is my birthday!) and as you can imagine, she is very excited and a bit nervous as the days count down.  If you are as big of a fan of Angela (either one) as we are over here, you must check out The Office website where you can learn everything you want to know about her, including what she looked like as a child and even watch the video of when she told her costar, Jenna Fisher, that she was pregnant!

What is the most exciting thing for you about becoming a new mom?
I have always wanted to be a Mom and honestly the most exciting thing to me about all of this is meeting my little girl. I cannot wait for that moment when I first see her and hear her voice. I’m sure I’ll be crying my eyes out. Tears of joy.

As a mom, what is the one thing you’re most curious to find out about?
What she looks like! We have brunettes, blondes and redheads and tall, short and everything in between in our families and I can’t wait to see which characteristics she gets.

Is there a tradition in your family that you would like to hand down to your daughter? Or, is there a tradition you would like to start with your own family?
When I was little my Dad called me his little partner. I followed him around everywhere. I couldn’t say partner so I called him my “padna-padna.”  We still call each other that and I can’t wait to call my daughter my lil’ padna-padna.

Do you have a favorite memory from your own childhood?
We had some great family bar-b-ques at my Grandparent’s house every summer and now my folks are continuing the tradition. Homemade potato salad and big slices of watermelon. There was a lot of sitting on the back porch telling stories and bare feet running through the grass. Those are some of my favorite family memories.

What was your favorite children’s book that you would like to read to your child?
I loved horses and ponies growing up and had a bunch of books about them. One of my favorites was Black Beauty.

What is your favorite Graco product?
So far my favorite Graco product is the Travel Lite Crib! I can’t wait to set it up in my trailer on the set of The Office. I want her close by and it is going to be perfect for a working gal like myself.

Tune in tonight and every Thursday at 9/8c on NBC where you can see Angela in action.  New episodes start again on April 10th.  We will be waiting to see if they reveal her bump or not!