The multi-tasking mom… wants to maximize time with her little one. Products that allow you to bring baby with you throughout the home are key. One great example is the Pack ‘n Play® Playard  with Cuddle Cove™ Rocking Seat. This playard has it all! It has a dedicated space for changing baby, and storage so you don’t have to run to the nursery for all of your essentials like diapers, wipes and a change of clothes. Best of all, it has a removable rocking seat with carry handles. When you need to dash to a different room but want to keep baby with you, he can stay happy in this soft and cozy rocker.

The multi-tasking mom… needs to move about the home freely while watching over baby. Products that give you security and peace of mind are key. The True Focus™ Digital Video Monitor is just the product for this. Its 1000ft range, 2.4 GHZ frequency, and real-time zoom make it super easy to stay in constant contact with your little one as you’re running around the house. Sounds, lights, and vibration ensure you hear, see, and feel baby’s call. Plus, it’s 100% secure, protecting your privacy!

The multi-tasking mom… needs to take baby on the go. Whether it’s to and from work, school, daycare, or a family function, modern moms need the most easy and convenient way possible to bring their little ones along. Check out Graco’s new Ready2Grow™ Stand & Ride Stroller. We love this because it has 12 (yes, 12!) different seating options! It accepts two infant car seats, and your older child can use the bench seat or standing platform. It also has a Face Time™ rear seat so you have more time to interact with baby while you stroll. So no matter where you’re running off to next – Graco’s got you covered.

Are you our multi-tasking modern mom? How do you manage to juggle all of these important roles in life?

One of my favorite childhood memories with my mom: Debra, is our “Sunday Baking Days.” It was back in the 80s—way before there was the huge “foodie” culture that there is now—and every Sunday, starting when I was about 4 years old, my mom would let me pick out any recipe I wanted for us to make together. I would spend time pouring through Southern Living, The Joy of Baking and other cookbooks and pick something (usually sweet!). We’d go to the grocery store and then come home to make something delicious. It was a perfect, dedicated time for us to spend time together, it taught me all kinds of things like math, measuring and reading, and really instilled in me a love of the kitchen and making things from scratch. To this day, I treasure the time that I get to spend with my mom in the kitchen!  -Jennifer Franklin

I have two very special, inspiring women in my life so I want to include them both…

My favorite childhood memory with my mom: We had a basketball goal in our driveway growing up and although I never really learned how to play or had any interest in joining the basketball team at school, I always loved playing 1 on 1 with my mom. We would play HORSE or Around the World and just spend time together. After a while, she would always challenge me to a game and try to teach me how to dribble and shoot the right way. No matter what (I won’t admit that I never won a game J), we always had fun and it was so cool to see her in her element. It makes me smile just thinking about  this and all the other amazing things she taught me.

My favorite childhood memory with my stepmom: It’s hard to pinpoint just one moment, instead I would say that my favorite memory is really a combination of all the moments we had together throughout the years where we could just talk about life and anything happening in the world. I think of Frappuccino’s on the sidewalk, watching sunsets in CA, looking up at the stars on the Colorado river, or sitting on the beach all afternoon… I felt so close and connected with her and loved how easy it was for us to hang out. I also have to give her a quick shout out for her brownie making skills – she always required at least two taste tests of the batter before baking. -Lauren Westin

One of my favorite silly memories of my mom: when I was growing up is when she would surprise us with breakfast for dinner.  She was always so good about feeding us balanced meals – but there were those couple of days a year where she would round the corner into the family room and give us that sneaky look and ask “How about waffles for dinner?”  - like we might protest.  Looking back, I’m sure she enjoyed the freedom of mixing things up just as much as we did.  And I still enjoy breakfast for dinner – fairly regularly.  -Megan Roe

One of my favorite memories of my mom: is how she celebrated our birthdays & holidays. My mom would always plan a big birthday party with family & friends and would leave gifts in our room so we could wake up with a present on our birthday (and other holidays). She passed on the joy of celebrating birthdays & holidays—I love a good party & PP is already showing that she has a love of party planning too! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! –Melissa Parlaman

One of my favorites is baking Christmas cookies with my mom, because it was (and sometimes still is) just me & her. It was a good time to relax and hang out during the crazy holiday season. And decorate together, talk about holiday plans & presents, and of course get scolded for sneaking extra cookie dough. I’m so thankful to my mom for providing us with great memories and traditions I’ll always cherish! –Michelle Krilov

What’s your favorite childhood memory of your mother?

Graco engineers are master innovators, always dreaming up ways to make normal, everyday things—like running errands in the car, shopping, and going on play dates—simpler, safer and more comfortable for parents and their little ones. With this in mind, we’re happy to announce the Graco ® FastAction™ Fold Travel System, exclusively at Babies ‘r Us!

If you’re expecting and wondering how you’ll juggle holding your baby and folding your stroller after an outing, the FastAction™ Fold offers the perfect solution. With Graco’s patented one-second fold, you can hold baby with one hand and easily fold the stroller with the other hand. There’s a handy red strap in the center of the stroller’s seat – just pull straight up and the stroller folds neatly to fit in your car or on a closet. And the convenience of a travel systems is perfect for parents who value simplicity – everything is in one box when you bring it home from the store (and it all matches in cute patterns, of course!). The travel system set includes the SnugRide® Infant Car Seat, which has been rigorously side-impact tested to help keep your precious little one safe in the car, as well as the car seat base, making it easy to get the seat in and out of your vehicle.

Have you experienced the convenience of our FastAction™ Fold Travel System? Tell us about it!

Stroller Features:

• Stroller holds child up to 50 lbs. for years of comfortable strolling
• Multi-position reclining seat lies flat for baby’s comfort
• Convertible 3 or 5-point harness grows with your child
• Removable infant body support cushions baby
• New one-second single-step fold
• Lightweight, sturdy frame
• Front swivel wheels with suspension provide superior maneuverability
• Extra-large storage basket holds your travel essentials
• Parent’s tray with storage & 2 deep cup holders for on-the-go convenience
• Child’s tray with cup holder pivots or removes for no-fuss stroller

SnugRide® Infant Car Seat Features:

• Top rated by leading consumer magazines and publications
• Rigorously crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards
• Side-impact tested* (*In addition to meeting or exceeding all applicable US safety standards, the SnugRide® 30 car seat has been side impact tested for occupant retention by the harness system)
• EPS, energy absorbing foam for effective impact energy management
• LATCH-equipped stay-in-car base with on-base level indicator hassle-free installation
• 5-point, front-adjust harness helps you get baby in and out
• Removable infant head support cushions baby

Graco has also received accolades from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for our booster seats: the Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat, Argos 3-in-1 harnessed booster and TurboBooster youth booster seat (both the highback and backless models).  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts these studies to help parents decide which booster is best to help protect their older child. They test the boosters based on this criteria:  most likely to provide good lap and shoulder belt fit in a range of vehicles.

As a parent myself, I trust Graco car seats for my kids–PP rides in a high back TurboBooster & Pinkie Pie loves her Nautilus car seat, so it’s great to see Graco recognized for its true commitment to keeping children safe.

Congratulations, Graco toddler car seats!

For example, the Modern Mom is connected, multitasking, and technology dependent.  New mothers in the U.S. are increasingly older and better educated than they were two decades ago, according to a study done by the Pew Research Center titled ‘The New Demography of American Motherhood’.  Most mothers (54%) had at least some college education by 2006, an increase from 41% in 1990.  The Modern mom is educated and savvy – What does that mean for her baby gear needs?   What types of solutions are we providing her now for her journey as a mom?  Stay tuned as we celebrate May and the Modern Mom!!

Astoria™ helps keep your little one soothed and amused with its neutral tile print and pops of minty green. We know your confidence as a new parent will grow when you know your newborn is comfy and relaxed in our latest Pack ‘n Play® Playard. This playard features the Cuddle Cove™ Rocking Seat which is the perfect snuggly nest for your little one. The rocker’s gentle vibration and carrying handles that allow you to move your little one from room to room.

Astoria™ is featured on: Sweetpeace™ infant soothing swing, Blossom™ 4-in-1 Seating System, and Pack ‘n Play® Playard with Cuddle Cove™ Rocking Seat

Sable™ is perfect for your tiny fashionista and the first girl exclusive for Buy Buy Baby. This fashion is a modern yet sophisticated pattern with a punch of sangria floral against a black & grey base. We think you’ll especially love this sassy color combination on the UrbanLite™ stroller and matching top-rated Graco SnugRide™ 35. Lightweight travel never looked so good while helping keep your baby safe and secure!

Sable™ is featured on: Comfy Cove™ DLX Swing, Pack ‘n Play® Playard with Newborn Napper® Station, SnugRide® 35 Infant Car Seat, and UrbanLite™ Stroller.

Still looking for another fashion that is even more perfect for your wee one? Check out more Graco fashions and Buy Buy Baby featured products at GracoBaby.com.

Do you prefer a neutral or gender specific fashion gear when planning for baby?

Why all the chatter? Recently the Journal of Pediatrics reviewed 17 studies to look at the effects of family mealtime on children. The findings showed that children who regularly sit down with their parents for meals are more likely to have a healthy diet, be within the normal weight range, and less likely to engage in disordered eating. In addition, research shows benefits down the road, such as higher self-esteem and better performance at school.  But don’t worry if you’re schedule is hectic- these benefits were seen even if mealtime together consisted of just three times a week.

So why wait? Pull up the highchair and give baby a spot at the table early!

Graco has a number of great highchair options to do that in. Consider the Grow-with-Me series- these highchairs allow you to easily seat baby at the table beginning with first feedings. One of our favorites in the line is the Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System- it can be used in 4 different configurations, from infant feeding booster all the way up to youth chair. It even allows you to use it with two children at once! Plus it’s super stylish, so it will fit in easily in your kitchen or dining room. Check it out here.

Starting family mealtime earlier also gives baby the opportunity to watch and develop good eating habits early. Like how to use fork and spoon, and how delicious those veggies are (as I’m sure you are always eating them with a smile on your face ). It also shows off positive social skills, such as how to have healthy conversations. And most importantly- as a busy parent, it helps you maximize time spent with your little one.

Do you enjoy your meals together as a family? In today’s busy world, what tips do you have to help parents establish an easy routine of family meals together with their little ones?

Yeah, I almost forgot about it, too.   So much for “stay tuned in the next few weeks.”  Xman decided to come a week early, and while I probably should have been all ready at that point, I wasn’t.  And neither was his nursery.  Sure, it wasn’t really a problem since he napped in our room for the first few months in his Cuddle Cove Pack N Play, our very favorite Graco product.  And his nursery was completely useable once he did move in full time & he always enjoyed playing there, reading books before bedtime and sleeping very comfortably.   But it just felt unfinished.   At least to me.  I had plans for all sorts of fun details that would make it unique and just for Xman.

Well….one year later I caught the nesting bug again – and no, I’m not pregnant   With all the fresh inspiration from our Pinterest Potlucks and his one year birthday (and party!) fast approaching, I decided to “get on it girl.”  From a fabric pennant banner (out of fabrics Andrew & I picked out and showed a sneak peek of in the original nursery post) to a toadstool toy box, a trash-to-treasure piano, and a wall of custom painted frames & decor….let’s just say I was busy in the weeks leading up to his birthday.

When we were putting the room together, we had no idea if Xman would be a boy or a girl, so we kept the decor pretty neutral.  Since we rent, we decided not to paint the walls, but to bring in color in the furnishings and special touches instead.  We painted Andrew’s childhood dresser a fantastic shade of green, found an amazing deep blue chair on Craigslist & turned a toy piano one of our neighbors was getting rid of into the perfect accessory with a coat of bright red paint.  We used lots of fabrics & vintage  pieces from our own childhood, as well as lovely handmade gifts from talented friends, to style the room and I think those touches really personalize the space the most.

We are SO pleased with the results.  Now X-man’s room feels complete and a perfect place to play or cuddle up & read a board book at the end of a long day.   His favorite things seem to be his piano & his MANY books, and we love that he seems to discover something new every time he is in there.  Even a year later, we are so glad that we were able to create a special place just for him & even better is that he seems to love it, too.

Ok, what do you think?  What are your favorite parts?  Who else knows the feeling of taking WAY too long to get things done now that you have a little one(s) around?  I know it’s not just me…

Well, today I learned about “Babymoon”. Apparently this is the hot new thing! It’s a vacation right before baby is born. Christine and her husband Kyle took their Babymoon over the long holiday weekend, getting some R&R in Destin, Florida. They enjoyed the beach and their favorite restaurants, and of course quality time together.

What did you do in your last month to prepare for your little one?

Do you have a picture of your precious little one that you’d like featured in our ‘Babies, Bundles, and Bumps’ series?  Share it with us at blog@gracobaby.com, and you might see it featured here!

Welcome to toddler hood Xman.  We couldn’t be more proud and excited to see what your new year holds