Sleep, Happy Baby, Happy Mom

Just when i thought the battle to sleep through the night was coming to an end, i find out that 9 months is a tough time for babies to sleep through the night. Most people say its the separation anxiety the babies are feeling. Others say its their discomfort from teething. Yet others say babies cry because they know they're going to be picked up. Its so hard to decipher whether or not Gabe really needs me or if he just wants to be picked up.

2 recommendations I got from people:

1) a book by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"

2) Fischer Price's light up seahorse that lights up and plays soothing lullabies.

I recommend them both 100%. For the sake of your own health/happiness and that of your baby, you both need a good night's sleep. I learned how important it is to instill good sleeping habits early on.

Pieces of New York

Last time I came home to NJ, i reserved a lot of my time for family. Mainly because both of my sisters were here and we're never ALL together at the same time. This trip, I made it a point to catch up with a lot friends i haven't seen in awhile. This week, I spent a whole day in NYC and caught up with friends and colleagues of my past. It was a great day to say the least. Amidst a long, snow-filled winter, my day in the city was sunny, bright and 65 degrees. Who could ask for anything more? I roamed the city streets at my own pace, walking in and out of shops along 8th Ave. I sat down at a corner Starbucks and drank my tall caramel macchiato while sitting along the window facing ledge - people watching.

I had a great lunch catching up with my girlfriend who i haven't seen in literally 4 years. we wandered through the brick walled building of Chelsea Market. Imagine stalls of various foods, fresh cut flowers for sale, stores selling cute knick knacks, organic stores selling home made jams and honey.

My next stop was Billy's an adorable, small bakery with CUPCAKES!!

After sharing a cupcake and taking a little coffee break with one of my fab friends we started our trek to soho.

Along our walk we couldn't help but stare at the Catherine Malandrino window. We couldn't resist the temptation and we walked inside. Beautiful clothing, beautiful designs, hefty pricetag....

We stopped my the Marc Jacobs store - loved all their accessories, their bags, jewelry, rainboots. Right across the way was BookMarc - their bookstore. This was my heaven. As much as I love accessories, i don't know why, but nothing is as beautiful as a large, colorful, coffee table book. This store had everything from The Louis Vuitton book, the YSL book, everything for all the major designers. I want!! My only problem now is, since Gabe can reach on top of the coffee table, he has access to all my books, so i'm going to have to temporarily put them away. So for now, no new books for me :(

I loved visting Tommy, Zara, Forever21, Intermix, Apple, as well as small indie boutiques. After basking in the sun, walking, and shopping in the west village and soho, i ended my day eating falafels and baklava in the park benches of Washington Square Park, by NYU.

I love my friends, I love my life. Life is good.

Baby Talk

Gabriel Viggo - 38 weeks

We just came back from a wonderful, relaxing trip to Florida. Our small vacation home there can be described as shabby chic. Much of the decor was left from the previous owners so a lot of the vintage looking lamp fixtures, cabinetry, and finishes exude history.

We had a great time watching my parents play with Gabe. Its amazing how much joy he brings them. Of course its no surprise since we love every minute with him, but watching our parents play with him and interact with him makes it extra special.

One morning as I drank my coffee in our sunroom, i read a magazine i stumbled across called, "Working Mother." It had a great article about children and learning to talk. It said that from age 0-36 months babies should be listening to at least 30,000 words a day - A DAY! I already thought i spoke to him a lot. So, the article advised that we speak to our babies as much as we can, since they're brain can soak in so much. While cooking, talking about all the ingredients we're using. While doing chores, explain what we're doing, why we're doing it. Even though they can't talk back, hold conversations with them. Read at least one book a day to our children.

Reading to Gabe is one of my absolute favorite pastimes. He loves reading books. He'll sit in my lap, look at the colorful pictures, look at me while I read and snuggle. Not only is it helping his development but its filling my quota of baby hugs for the day :) I have no clue if this is why, but i read to Gabe every night while he was in my belly - so its been a ritual for quite some time now. Maybe that's why he loves it. Who knows - i hope his love for reading contiues throughout his life.

Gabe's favorite book

"Bunnies are for Kissing"

by: Allia Zobel Nolan

Book Report

I just finished a wonderful light read called, "Hope in a Jar" by Beth Harbison. I've been itching to read since its been a while since I've had the time to do it. I've been looking for suggestions on light reading because i just don't have the mental capacity and energy at this point to concentrate on anything too deep. So I came across this novel and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Its about 2 girlfriends who have been friends since they were in diapers, they have a falling out and reunite at their 20 year class reunion. One of the girls was losing hope because her life wasn't how she planned it to be. Of course she visits the Sephora counter and gets some Hope in a Jar to boost her self esteem.

Anyway, I think i liked the book not necessarily for the plot but more so for the nostalgia the book brought on. They mentioned a lot of beauty products in this book that brought back such great memories of my childhood. Remember Love's Baby Soft? Remember Smackers Chapstick in all the different flavors - Coke, watermelon, etc.... It brought me back to my gradeschool days with Lee presson nails, Scrunchies, LA Gear sneakers with hot pink laces, Swatch watches, Z Cavaricci pants, Banana clips, Best friend necklaces, jogging/tracksuits, mood rings, spiral perms.

That time definitely consists of a LOT of blackmail pics.

Ahhhh, the good ole days - can't wait to tell Gabe stories of life way back when.

My Collection

I guess i didn't realize this but i collect coffee table books - especially fun fashion/designer books. I've always loved browsing bookstores - but i never actually thought of myself as being a book collector.

Anyway, my new book for my collection is Lauren Conrad's new book, "Style." It was a gift from my favorite stylist, Alba Nela - she's so good to me. Lauren has great tips on Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle. I hold it high up there with Nina Garcia's "Little Black Book."

Be extraordinary

I met Kelly Cutrone.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those teeny boppers who follows anybody from tv around town. I've known of Kelly from watching the Hills in the past.

I recently became more intrigued by her when I caught up on "The City."

What struck a cord with me was how she was constantly telling people how she started her business from the ground up without having a clue as to what she was doing. That's what drove me to google her....And that's where i found out she just came out with her book,

"If you have to Cry, Go outside."

As i told you the other week, i ordered this book along with some others. I read this book the minute it arrived in my mailbox, and honestly, i finished it in a day. It was THAT good.

Now, i love reading biographies in general, learning about how people started and how they got to where they are today, but this book is different. Its definitely in Kelly talk - if you didn't tell me who the author was, i'm pretty sure i could guess it was her. She narrated in her straight shooter, no holding back info -manner that she portrays on her shows. Yes, she comes off as bitchy. And yes, if she was my boss she would make me cry, and i would cry even harder if she told me to cry outside. But through this book, you see that she is genuinely a good person. She does care about her employees, her daughter, her clients. She does cry if a client says something mean. But she also avoids the bullsh*t and says the things that no one else will admit. How can you put her down for that?

If i were to explain her book, its like Keith's Ferrazi's, "Never Eat Alone" but for people in the fashion world. If you know me, you know i rave about keith's book ALL the time. But coming from the fashion world, Kelly's book hits home more since its specific to my industry. Her main point was that, there's no secret recipe to success. If you keep working hard, everyday, eventually, 1+1+1 adds up to something big. And she's an example of that.

So, i want to say, it was meant to be that my infatuation with her history came just recently, because i found out she was speaking at a local event here called, SCADStyle. SCAD is the Savannah School of Art and Design. I mean the time difference between when i got my book and the time she was coming here to Atlanta was like a week so it was perfect timing.

I attended her seminar and as i thought, loved everything she had to say. She was funny, very opinionated but i honestly agree with a lot of what she said.

I'll post some take away points in a separate blog.

What i loved the most about her was her "pay if fwd" mentality. She wasn't all about becoming big and popular. She learned what she learned and she made it a point to teach and mentor others. Her being there at SCAD just proved that.

She had a book signing afterwards. of course i was at the end of the line since i waddled my way to it. Well, turns out she had commitments afterwards so the moderators were already warning us, that incase she had to leave before us, we could go to her next location and catch her there. I was seriously bummed thinking i'd have to chase her around. I still don't know my way around Atlanta- plus i got to the seminar early so i righfully deserved to get my book signed. I don't know why, but from reading her book and listening to her speak, i got a feel for the type of person she was and i honestly didn't think she'd go without getting everybody in line.

I was right. As I got to her, she was probaby 20 minutes late already from the time she was supposed to leave. I expected her to take my book, sign it, and that was it. But no, she made time to chat with me. She was telling someone next to her how she had to pee really bad - that's totally Kelly for you. I was cracking up and nodding in agreement. She saw me, saw my baby bump, and said, you probably feel the same way. I totally agreed b/c i really did have to pee - i'm telling you it was a long line. lol. She made the time to ask me when i was due, and she looked me in the eyes, and said, "i sincerely hope you enjoy your experience when you deliver." and she wished me all the best of luck. I can't even explain how much that made my day, my year even. It reminded me of one of her points of advice, you should never just be ordinary, you should be extraordinary. Here i was thinking i was going to be an ordinary person getting my book signed, but my baby bump made me stick out and be extraordinary. My baby helped me without even knowing it. And that inspired me to make myself extraorinary on my own. Even if its for my son, i will make it known to the world that i am something special and that i do have a lot to offer. Thank you Kelly. More importantly, thank you baby.

My outfit for the seminar at 35 weeks:

Target-black leggings

Old Navy - chambray button up shirt - long but slightly fitted

purple sandals (not shown)

Spring 2010 necklace from Designs by K Cayetano

Pearl button earrings

Michael Kors watch

Trump Card

I'm finishing up reading, "The Trump Card" By Ivanka Trump. (What a relief because I'm so ready to tackle my new books.) Ever since i've seen her on "the apprentice" - i've loved her presence. Ivanka has this demeanor of being so classy, very Grace Kelly-ish -as if she should be a princess or some sort of royalty. Granted, I really only see her on the show, but she gives off the impression that she wears sheath dresses to bed and wakes up in the morning looking perfect. I like her because she's smart. She's not only beautiful, but she has brains to back herself up. She holds a high ranking in her father's business which you can just tell she had to earn. She has her own jewelry line. And Donald Trump is her dad. How can she not be smart. So when i heard she had a book coming out, it was the first thing on my christmas list.

Although i like the book, i found it to be a little slow. It might be because my mindset is not really in business mode right now, but baby mode. I still enjoyed it though. She explains how she realizes many doors were opened for her because of who she was, but she also explained that she had to work twice as hard b/c of that very same reason. I can see that. I love how her parents gave her the independence to make her own decisions, but they were able to instill their way of thinking and their values in her from a young age so she was able to make the right choices, despite that independence.

The one thing i took away from the book, is something i knew already, it just reaffirmed that what i was doing was right. Ivanka mentioned that if she read an article about someone she looked up to, someone she could learn from, or just someone she wanted to meet, she would send them a personal letter telling them so and asking them to meet for coffee or something. This helped build her network - and its not for the purpose of networking but for the purpose of possibly making a friend -someone to add to her intelligence-base, her life lines. This is the same school of thought as the popular author, Keith Ferrazzi.

Anyway, onto my easy reading. I have too many things on my mind to read these kinds of books right now. I do recommend this book though for those self motivators!

Book Worm

I've been itching to get some new books, but just wasn't sure if it was worth it for me to get. Things have been so busy and I already feel like there's not enough time for anything, except getting this house ready for baby. But then I decided, no, i need to make time for me time, so i went to Amazon and went a little book happy.

It started by me looking up Kelly Cutrone. Since I've been catching up on "The City," I've been seeing her and as bitchy as she is, she got to where she is now for a reason. She must have been doing something right. She's one of the movers and shakers that i love to read about so i googled her to see if she had a book, and of course, voila! She has one. And of course when you go on Amazon, they have a list below that says, other's who bought this book also bought.....and surprise, surprise, i got suckered into buying more. Plus its free shipping if you spend over $25.

So, here's a list of the 3 books i decided to get:

"If you have to cry, go outside." By Kelly Cutrone

"La Candy" by Lauren Conrad

'The Gospel accordinging to Coco Chanel" by Karen Karbo

Now don't get me wrong, none of these books are meant to help me save the world. I just wanted light reading for what's peaking my passion right now. And right now, that passion is FASHION. Not that it ever changes.....

These next 2 books are next on my list to order. They're not out yet so i just figured I'd wait to order them. I don't want them sitting in my bookcase collecting dust next to my "What to expect" series incase I'm too tired being a mommy to read anymore books.

"The Carrie Diaries" By Candace Bushnell - author of Sex in the City

"Heart of the Matter" by Emily Giffin - one of my favorite authors who's book launch happens to be here in Atlanta on May 11, 2010 - wish i had someone to go with!!!!

So that's my book update for now. No more, "Your pregnancy, week by week" for now, i want a real book!!!!

Baby Shower

Last weekend my mom, sisters, and friends in NJ threw me an amazing baby shower at the house. I was hoping to have some pictures to post which is why it took me so long to write this, but so far i don't have any. I just have a few that I wanted to share.

It was so nice seeing everyone and catching up with people. I do have to say, I hate being the celebrant b/c i feel like don't have enough time to hang out with everyone and i always worry whether people are having fun. But it was a great turnout.

My dad unfortunately was in the philippines but i know he was just as excited. Baby showers are his forte :) His thing are baby bottle favors with candy inside - of course that's what he prepared for the party -they came out great! He got personalized ribbons made. It was kind of funny they said, "Karen's baby" and i kept thinking, it definitely takes two to make a baby - but i know, the shower was for me.

My sister really wanted to display the favors nicely so we got this awesome 3 tiered silverset from HomeGoods (i looove this store.) The display was fab!!

While we were at HomeGoods, i found the best thing ever!!!!!! The world's roundest pig - i was so excited to get this for Wil - not for baby, for Wil - i just knew he would love it. In fact, he hand carried him on the plane back to Atl. Luckily the flight was empty so "baboy" (wil's name for him) had his own seat :)

Sorry, i look gross, i was so sweaty that day from doing errands with my sis. But i was wearing:

Banana republic creme long sweater

Zara miliary green tunic with emroidery on shoulders

Target Maternity skinny jeans that my mom bought for me at 8 weeks-they were a bit tight at this point....

Steve Madden gold ballet slippers (not pictured)

Louis Vuitton Bag

My mom did such a great job cooking and getting everything ready. I tried to help as much as I could, but i got tired so easily!!!

Eddie even helped make cupcakes, well he helped a lot more than that. Let's just say, he doesn't like being the Wil proxy. He gets stuck doing all the dirty work. lol. Wil was stuck in Atl for work.

My friends, Arch, Cheryl, and Joanne coordinated the games which were a hit.

My favorite part of the shower that was new to me, was included in the invites, was a little insert that read something like this:

A card is nice, its sentiment is sweet,

But a book will keep baby on his feet.

For years to come baby will read

Longing for stories will never be a need.

A shelf full of wisdom for all to give

For baby to keep as long as he shall live.

Filling the shelf should not be hard

If you would please sign a book instead of a card.

My sister came up with this and it was such an appropriate idea. I loved it. In fact, i've been reading baby books from these every night. I'll have to post a pic of the bookcase once its all set up :) Hopefully i'll be getting more pics of this shower and even the mn showers. As soon as I get them, i'll post them up.

Surprises!!

I LOVE SURPRISES!!!!!!

Wil surprised me with 2 books - one is a Jackie O book that he said he's been wanting to get since his trip to Dallas. When he went there for the Pacquio fight back in March, he went to the historic place where Kennedy got shot. Of course there was a gift shop/museum there and he found an amazing book that he wanted to get for me. It was a book on the fashions of Jackie O. Wil knows I'm infatuated with her class and style. Unfortunately the book there wasn't in good condition. The thought was nice though, but i never thought he'd follow up. But low and behold, I got the book!!

Its called: A Thousand Days of Magic, Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House by Oleg Cassini. Its a beautiful picture, table book with colored sketches of designs for Jackie O's outfits paired next to the

actual photograph of the finished look. Love it!!!

The second book is about another one of my favorites:

Audrey Hepburn!!

This is called: AudreyStyle by Pamela Clarke Keogh

With so many fashion trends nowadays its so easy to lose focus on who you want to be and who you want to represent. But everytime i see these ladies, i remember how much i love their simplistic beauty that is statement enough to stand above the rest.