ome.  Our first selection is our Holiday Snow Girl 4 Tier Diaper Cake.  This design draws upon a winter snowman theme with pink accents.  Our second design is the Holiday Snowflake 3 Tier Diaper Cake.  This design uses silver and whites to create a gender neutral baby diaper cake.  The third design is our Holiday Gingerbread 3 Tier Diaper Cake.  This design is also gender neutral and obviously uses the gingerbread house as a theme.  I really like the colors of this cake as it came together in a way that is looks good enough to eat!  Our last design is the companion cake to Lil’ Snowgirl called Lil’ Snowman 4 Tier Diaper Cake.  This design uses blues so that you can select this for the new baby boy.

I  hope you enjoy these selections and consider one of them as a baby gift to welcome a new baby home in December.

Wishing you a happy holiday season.

Candy and our team at Lil’ Baby Cakes

Today, I am reflecting on the year at Lil’ Baby Cakes and though I have many wonderful experiences this year I’m struggling for giving “thanks” to certain events.

I’m having a hard time being thankful for individuals who copy my diaper cake designs from our website and actually post them on their site. Since I only design diaper cakes for my site, I can’t believe people would create a site using my pictures. For these copycats I am not thankful.  However, I am thankful for the honest people who notify me when they see my items elsewhere so I can take action.

This year, I have found someone who copied testimonials from our site and published them on their own site. They didn’t even change the name of my diaper cakes mentioned in the testimonial-only my customer’s name.  For this situation, I am not thankful. On the other hand, I am thankful for the wonderful customers of Lil’ Baby Cakes who spend the time to write me about their experience with our service and product.

This year I designed 25 new diaper cake selections to bring to the market. I spend hours looking through manufacturer ribbon samples and naming my cakes. Regretfully, I found another business that likes to take my ribbon selections and then make a diaper cake using the same ribbon in another color. I also, enjoy creating names for my cakes to bring personality to the designs.  Well guess what?  I have found if I name a diaper cake XY someone is going to call their design YX. Though neither one of these issues breaks the law, I am not thankful for this situation.

It has gotten so crazy that if I choose a background for my cake pictures that gets copied also.  Many of you may remember our diaper cakes were pictured with a black background now they are featured with a green hue. For those people who prefer to copy my backgrounds or website layout, I am not thankful. Should I be thankful that they think so highly of me to copycat?

Though the items I mentioned may be trivial to you, it tends to tug on my view of hardworking and ethical people. What are the qualities that I want to use to live my life and run my business?  I want to be a good and guiding parent, a loving and supportive spouse, and an honorable business owner with high standards of creativity, offering quality products and services.

I wish all of you a month of reflection about your life and experiences. I strive to use each and every day as an opportunity to offer the world the best I can be. Finally, I am thankful that God took the time to make each of us unique and not a copy of something he saw elsewhere.

Our Lil' Pumpkin Diaper Cake

Yeah it’s candy season! I loved watching my children get excited about what they were going to be for Halloween and the family party we planned. I can’t wait to check out the magazines that are published with all sorts of yummy goodies which are to look like scary items. Let’s just say I love the 20 pounds of sugar this month brings :-).

Our Halloween diaper cake of the month is called Our Lil’ Pumpkin Diaper Cake. This design still offers mom and dad Pamper Swaddlers for the new little one - and this new baby is definitely sweeter than sugar. As you can tell, I dressed up Brighton the bear with a Halloween onesie. I say you can always dress up a bear for any ocassion.

I hope you enjoy the month, enjoy the little kids that dress up, and especially enjoy all the miniature size candy bars you can stuff yourself with……HAPPY HALLOWEEN…..

As always, I welcome your comments.

Best wishes,  Candy

Micheal? Gabriel? Nathan? David? How does one pick from the thousands of names to choose just one for their baby? Picking a name for your baby is not an easy task by. Many parents go back and forth between names while some are never able to come up with that name that they absolutely fall in love with. As your due date starts drawing closer, sooner or later you are going to have to make up you mind and pick a name for your son or daughter.

If you are having trouble picking out a name for your baby, here are some helpful tips that I came up with to help you find a name that you will love, and hopefully your child will love too!

The sooner that you start discussing names with your partner, the better chance you have at choosing a name before baby arrives. Although, some people prefer to have two or three names picked out and then decide when baby is born which one suits the baby best. This is an option for some people, but most parents like to be prepared with a name before heading off to the hospital.

Besides the all-encompassing baby books, there are some other ways to pick a baby name. Look towards any relatives or family members that you may want to honor with your baby’s name. This could be a first name or a middle name. Don’t feel pressured though, by other family members to name your daughter after your Great Grandma Mildred, as you have to remember that your child has to live with this name for the rest of their life.

If you are going to use baby books or websites to pick a baby name, then there are some things to remember. The first is that the name should flow well and be compatible. If you happen to have a last name that does not sound good with a lot of different first names, then this may be a little harder for you. On the other hand, if you have a very common and compatible name like Smith, you may have too many options to choose from.  According to the social security adminstration, here are the top 10 baby names for boys and girls in 2008.

Top 10 Girl Names for 2008

1 Jacob

Emma 2 Michael Isabella 3 Ethan Emily 4 Joshua Madison 5 Daniel Ava 6 Alexander Olivia 7 Anthony Sophia 8 William Abigail 9 Christopher Elizabeth 10 Matthew Chloe

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Also, when you do finally pick out a name for your baby, be sure to check out what the initials are for the whole name. Remember that kids, and even some adults, can be cruel and you don’t want your child being the brunt of jokes because of their name or initials.

Although picking out a baby name can seem stressful, it should be a joyful time with you and your partner deciding on a name together.

I have put together a video buyer’s guide entitled “How to Buy a Diaper Cake”.  I did this to create a standalone guide that would help people who are beginning their baby diaper cake  or baby gift buying process.  In the video I start with a basic definition about what a diaper cake is.  We still get emails and phone calls from people innocently asking how many people does of our our newborn diaper cakes feed.  Or another popular question  is:   “Do I have to refrigerate a diaper cake?”  We don’t mind responding to these questions, I attribute them to folks not really knowing about diaper cakes and how they are used as baby shower centerpieces or for baby gift giving.

I continue on to discuss the types of diaper cakes (layered and folded) as well as a discussion about diapers that are used to make them.  Even though I am showing our diaper cakes in the video, the video is not a sales pitch for Lil’ Baby Cakes.  Instead, I offer what I feel are practical considerations when buying a newborn diaper cake along with shopping tips about shipping, site security, and diaper cake customization.  There are many styles of baby shower diaper cakes and many different places they can be purchased.  I also mention eco friendly diaper cakes and diaper cakes made with printed diapers to show the difference between those diapers and Pampers from an appearance perspective.

I hope you find the video instructive.  Your comments are appreciated and are welcomed.  Don’t hesitate to contact us at for assistance on any baby diaper cake question.

Sun-Kissed 4 Tier Diaper Cake

With summer winding down, I thought it would be nice to create a diaper cake that features a yellow color by using a sunflower as the theme.  Obviously, black contrasts very nicely with yellow so I used black ribbon with white dots as the accent.  As you probably may know by now, I love Gund bears so I included Brighton on this baby diaper cake.  For the baby care necessities I used Burt’s Bees.  I hope you enjoy my new design called Sun-Kissed 4 Tier Diaper Cake.  For September, it comes with free shipping withing the contiguous US.  A savings of $12.95.

As most mothers know, we most likely had some baby gifts that go unused once the baby actually arrives. It may seem like a good product and something that will be used often when we received it, but once baby arrives, it never came out of the box to be used.  Typically the new mom looks for the most practical and easiest products to deal with. Naturally, the “gotta haves” like a crib, stroller, and car seat are required but they represent higher priced items.

I thought it would be helpful to list some baby shower gifts that are reasonably priced and sure to use items for the care of the new baby. Here’s 5 essential baby shower gifts that I put together that are all under $50.

Swaddling Blankets

Babies love to be swaddled and some newborns have a hard time sleeping unless they are tightly swaddled. Even if a mom doesn’t use swaddling blankets as actual swaddlers, they can be used for laying baby on the floor, covering baby outside, and covering up when breastfeeding. There are plenty of uses that a mom and baby can get from swaddling blankets.

Baby Medicine

Baby medicine is usually a baby product that most new moms forget about until it’s 2am and the baby is running a fever. Prepare mom for those nights by giving her items such as Infant Tylenol Balmex, Orajel, and Pedialyte to have on hand.

Sleepers and Onesies

New parents often find out that their baby wears more sleepers and onesies than any other outfit. Yes, there are so many cute outfits for little boys and girls, but many times those outfits go unworn as it is just not practical to put a baby in them. Instead look for cute sleepers (I preferred the ones that zipped instead of button types) and onesies that you know the baby will get good use out of.

Gift Card For Carry Out

When a new baby arrives, the last thing that a mom wants to do or has time to do is cook. This is when a gift card to her favorite carry out restaurant comes in handy. When mom is happy and less stressed, the baby can be happy and better taken care of.  Everyone needs a break now and then and this makes a great idea.

Diapers

Every baby is going to need diapers and in the beginning a baby goes through a lot of diapers. If you do buy diapers for a baby shower, I recommend avoiding buying newborn size diapers and sticking with size 1 or even 2 instead. Some babies do not even fit into newborn size diapers when they are born or they quickly outgrow that size in a couple of days. If you want a creative way to give diapers, think about getting a diaper cake made for the baby shower gift.  Yes, I’m obviously biased.   We have several diaper cakes that are priced under $50.

I hope you found these baby gift ideas useful.  Perhaps you have some you would like to share.  Feel free to add your comments.

]]> http://www.lilbabycakes.com/blog/essential-baby-shower-gifts/feed/ http://www.lilbabycakes.com/blog/pregnancy-calculators/ http://www.lilbabycakes.com/blog/pregnancy-calculators/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:19:32 +0000 Candy http://www.lilbabycakes.com/blog/?p=476 One of the first things that a woman does when she suspects she might be pregnant is try to calculate the baby’s due date. The easiest way to determine your due date is by using a pregnancy week calculator. These can be found for free online on pregnancy and parenting websites.  Because you can find so many calculators online it’s noteworthy to point out they may yield different results.  With these thoughts in mind I put together 3 pregnancy calculators you can check out from the following reputable sites.

About.com has an excellent pregnancy and childbirth guide on their website. That guide includes a pregnancy week calculator. The calculator will provide you your due date based on the date of your last menstrual cycle and it also has a well-organized week by week pregnancy calendar. It outlines the entire 42 weeks of pregnancy, with clickable links to get images, illustrations, and in-depth information for that week.

Babycenter.com is an excellent website for expecting mothers or women who are trying to conceive. The website is filled with useful information and resources. They also have an excellent pregnancy week calculator that will give you your child’s due date, a free weekly planner, and regular e-mails with updates regarding your child’s development. It also has a number of other tools like an ovulation calculator and a baby name finder among many others.

Babiesonline.com is a really fun site for expecting moms. It has a really unique pregnancy week calculator that is easy to use and provides lots of fun information. The pregnancy calculator on this site tells you the basic info you are looking for like your conception date, due date and age of your baby. However, it also tells you some fun birthday facts about your baby like their birthstone, flower and astrological sign. Plus, it calculates the year your baby will start kindergarten, graduate high school and when they will likely finish college.

Pregnancy week calculators are a dime a dozen online, but not all of them are accurate. The three listed above provide accurate information about your pregnancy based on the date of your last menstrual cycle. In addition to that, they are attached to useful websites that you can frequent for information, support and pregnancy resources.

There are a few other websites of note that have pregnancy week calculators along with useful information. Those would include  pregnancyweektoweek.com, babyzone.com, mayoclinic.com, justmommies.com and healthatoz.com.

I hope you find these resources useful throughout your pregnancy.

Amyadele.com

This website offers several different designs that you can get in a variety of colors and fonts. You can choose from the basic boy motifs such as trains and a firetruck or go more of a neutral baby theme with bassinets and ducks. They also have very cute baby shower thank-you card for girls as well with butterflies, teddy bears, and flowers. The have almost 100 different designs to choose from.

Lemontreepaperie.com

This website offers thank you cards and notes in several different designs. You can choose from girl themed, boy themed, and they also have a pretty large selection of gender neutral themes.  The sell cards from different designers and manufacturers which gives you plenty of different looks to choose from.

Tinyprints.com

This is a very popular website when it comes to baby shower thank you cards as well as baby announcements. A cute idea would be to get thank you cards that will match future baby announcements. They have some really unique designs for the thank you cards for both genders as well as more neutral baby designs.

Mygatsby.com

Another great website for unique baby shower thank you cards.  A few of their cards actually come with add ons that you can stick on your cards when you get them. Some come with glitter or foam stick ons for the front of the card and others have stickers for the envelope.

Poseprints.com

This is a very creative website that allows you to have a caricature made up of you and then you can have a thank you card designed around it. You get to control what your caricature looks like as well as the colors, font, and background of your card. This is definitely a baby shower thank you card that will impress people.

It doesn’t matter where you get your baby shower thank you cards from, but what does matter is that you let people know how much you really do appreciate what they did for you and your baby.  I hope you found these suggestions a good start.  Perhaps you have some additional sites you want to share.  Feel free to add a comment if you have found some other sites with great ideas.

I absolutely loved the Looney Tunes/Bugs Bunny personalized 5-tier diaper cake that you made!  I requested one thing and just gave you the main details of my decorations for the baby shower… and the product was beautiful!  I could not have picked any other company to make this perfect centerpiece for my best friend’s baby shower!  There is still one week left .. but I cannot wait for this great surprise!  Thank you so much!!

Rosie Salazar
Huntsville, TX

Noah’s Ark

With this Noah Ark’s theme concentrate more on the two by two part of the theme. Decorate with little stuffed animals by putting them in pairs. These stuffed animals can then be given to the mom-to-be for the babies. Noah’s Ark is a pretty common baby shower theme so there should be plenty of favors and decorations that you can find, but you can add your unique twist so people know it’s for twins. A cute idea for favors would be cookies in the shape of animals and instead of only giving guests one cookie, you can wrap up two cookies together.

Two Peas In a Pod

A two peas in a pod theme is a classic theme for twins, however, you can take this in several different directions. First, there are many different favors and decorations that you can find for this theme. The major problem will be paring it down to the ones you like.  The most common are two little babies in a pea pod or two actual peas in a pod. You can go either way with the theme or incorporate both into the theme. Decorate the baby shower with green and white and if the sexes of the babies are known you can add in some blue or pink if you wish.

Double Your Delight

This baby shower is perfect for the mom-to-be who is having twins but also loves sweets. Instead of having a full meal at the baby shower, you can have a dessert only shower with close friends and family. Ideas would be for an ice cream bar, a candy station, and whatever other delightful sweet treats the mom-to-be loves.

Two of a Kind

For this baby shower theme you can pick any normal theme or style you want and just make two of everything. A way to get your guests into this theme is to put on the baby shower invitations to buy two of whatever gift they are giving, within reason of course. So, if they were going to buy a baby bathtub, they would buy two of them. Rather than having one dish of a certain food, have two dishes of every food to eat, as well as two cakes. You can take a classic ladybug theme for girls and turn it into a two of a kind ladybug theme by simply doubling whatever you would normally do.

Well I hope these ideas can get you started on selected a theme.  You can start with any of these and tailor them for your specific shower.  Most of all, have fun and enjoy.

Getting Ready for Baby

As your third trimester rolls around and your due date gets closer and closer, you need to start thinking about packing your hospital bag for the birth of your baby. It is important that you do this early enough as it is possible that you may go into labor a few weeks before your actual due date. Here is a list of items that I came up with that you should pack in your hospital bag so that you are prepared to welcome your little one into the world.

Camera – You don’t want to miss having pictures of the big event. Also be sure to pack an extra set of batteries for your camera as they always seem to go dead at the most convenient times.

Clothes For You – Some hospitals allow you to wear your own clothing while others will only have you wear the gowns with a robe. Be sure to bring along comfortable clothing such as pajama pants, sweatpants, t-shirts, and sweatshirts, as you are not going to be wanting to wear any tight or restricting clothing. Don’t forget plenty of undergarments and socks as well. You will also need clothes to wear home when you are discharged from the hospital. You will still be in maternity clothes, so don’t try to bring your regular clothes as they may not fit and leave you frustrated.

Going Home Outfit For Baby – Choose a cute outfit or sleeper for baby to go home from the hospital in. It is a good idea to have a newborn size as well as 0-3 months size to choose from. If it cold outside, be sure to include a coat or blanket to cover baby up with.

Toiletries – After giving birth most women like to be able to shower to freshen up and get a little rejuvenated. Remember to bring shower supplies and other toiletries as well.

Snacks – You don’t want to have to rely on the hospital to provide you with food, especially since you get quite hungry after giving birth. Pack a few healthy snacks for you and your partner.

Car Seat – Although you can’t pack this in your bag it should be installed in the car and ready to go as a hospital will not release a baby unless you have a car seat.

Some other items to include in your bag are:

• address book
• cell phone
• insurance paperwork and cards
• change for vending machines
• slippers
• hat for baby (if not provided by hospital)
• baby blanket
• cord blood kit

If you follow these tips you should be all set when it’s time to leave for the hospital.  Maybe you have some other ideas to share.  Feel free to leave your comments so that others readers can benefit .

Hi Candy,

I’m John a 44 year old single male living in Massachusetts that has a friend and she lives in Kennebunkport Maine. She had a baby girl ,  After viewing MANY MANY baby gift sites on the internet , I found your site thru a lot of searching and found your cakes both reasonable in cost and packed with QUALITY (key word here) usable items for the new mother and baby. Your service shipped the monkey cake immediately and I received a phone call from the new mother telling me it was the best baby gift she had received. Thank you for paying attention to detail and caring about the quality items that you use on your cakes.

JD Boston, Mass
Purchased Our Lil Monkey 4 Tier Diaper Cake

Candy,

August has arrived and it’s time for a new diaper cake of the month.  This month, we are featuring  the introduction of our Lil’ Lion 4 Tier Diaper Cake.

I wanted to create a cake with some vibrant colors for the last month of summer.  This cake has bright orange ribbons to complement the plush lion. In addition, since this fits a circus theme,  I added some play rings for the new baby.  The diaper cake also features our compliment of Johnson and Johnson products.  This is a gender neutral cake that would work well for that special newborn.  Your comments are always welcome.

I hope your summer has been going well.  Can’t believe the the start of school is just around the corner for the kids.

You're Almost There

The 9th Month!

There are a few ways to look at the ninth month of pregnancy. First, just think…you’re almost done! This is, by far, one of the most comforting thoughts of childbirth, so celebrate knowing that you have made it this far. Another way to look at the ninth month is through the eyes of a new parent. Pretty soon, you will have the most euphoric feeling of joy that may ever have in your life when you see and hold your baby for the first time. Positively magical is the best way to explain that feeling. Having gone through this with my two boys I can say it is like no other experience in life.

Finally, there is the…”Oh my gosh, what have I done, what am I going to do, and what in the world is going on with my body” feeling that you are almost sure to experience…especially if this is your first child. But, stay positive, stay focused, and stay calm. You will make it through this. Here are some things that you can expect during this third, and final, trimester.

You doctor will most likely want you to start making weekly visits for your prenatal check-ups. This is a great time to ask any questions or share any concerns that you may have. Your doctor will check your abdomen, as more attention is going to be paid to how the baby is presenting (whether head up or head down) and the baby’s position (whether facing front or back). These could be significant factors in determining whether you will be able to have a vaginal birth or whether you should consider having a Cesarean section. Either way, your doctor will be instrumental in helping you to make a decision that will work best for you and your baby. He will also check the baby’s heart rate. Of course, your urine, blood pressure, blood (for low iron/anemia), and steadily climbing weight, will be checked also. Expect for him or her to examine you for signs of vaginal infection, also. Your practitioner should be a key supporter for you. In these final days before baby, your doctor will also check for any pre-labor symptoms, such as a thinning cervix, that could require you to go on bed rest or, even, get admitted to prepare to have the baby. Do your best not to get alarmed or stressed out as you go through these final exams. Many are simply routine and will give your practitioner the information that they need to be handle your pregnancy.

You may have also been wondering what those infamous contractions would feel like. Now’s your chance to find out. You should be getting your fair share of the pre-labor kind called Braxton Hicks contractions. This is a tightening of the uterus similar to the contractions of labor. However, truth be told, these are just the “prep” contractions. The real ones will be much more intense and will last longer. They will also be instrumental in the movement of your baby. While they will most likely be painful, take some comfort in knowing your body knows what it is doing. It needs those contractions to bring forth your little darling. So, don’t fret. Despite the discomfort, they are a very good thing!

Your weight may increase a bit in these last few weeks. (I know you are probably tired of this part of your pregnancy as well. I know I was) When it is all said and done, your baby bump will typically increase your weight by twenty to thirty-five pounds. After your delivery, much of that extra weight will be gone, as the baby and amniotic sack are significant contributors to that weight gain.

As the time nears, you may experience edginess, moodiness, disturbed sleep (just your body getting your ready for what is to come), back pains, and, of course, fatigue. Try to keep moving. Prenatal exercise, even if you do just a little walking, can help your body to better handle the changes of labor and delivery. Since we are in the middle of the summer here is a link for some tips to help with summer time pregnancy.

By the end of this period, your baby will be fully developed. Things are bit cramped in your uterus at this point, so your baby may move a little less than before. Baby will have times when he or she is sleeping like a little angel, and other times when you will feel lots of thumps and bumps. I remember laying in bed at night marveling at the movement of my boys. It’s really amazing.

Most likely, your baby is starting to have his own sleep pattern now. Baby is just as ready as you are (actually it is usually the other way around when you are late!), and will slip into position in your lower abdominal area. So, you should expect to feel an additional heaviness in your pelvic area. Just think, your baby will be as happy to see you as you are to see him or her. The instant connection that will happen is absolutely magical when you first meet. If you plan to nurse your baby you may be given the opportunity to start nursing shortly after the baby is born. You will be completely amazed at how fast your baby learns to nurse.

The home stretch is here. Relax. Believe that you can do it and let your body do the rest. Whether natural or cesarean, your baby will be here before you know it. Be confident. Your child knows nothing about anyone else, but you. You will be the best mom!  You have so much to offer a baby, and now is the time to accept, celebrate, and marvel at this beautiful new life!

Prepare as best you can for your little one. Pack for the hospital visit for both of you. This will be the first of the thousands of times that you will pack for your child! Your baby will need clothing, blankets, and a car safety seat for the trip home. Also, make the finishing touches in the nursery. But, if you can’t get to everything, don’t worry. Your baby will not really notice that there are only two shelves instead of three or that the lamp is two shades darker than the paint. As long as your baby has a safe bassinet and crib, love and attention, your child will feel right at home.

You’re almost there. Before you know it you’ll be a new mom. Let me be one of the first to congratulate you on the upcoming birth of your baby.

Lil' Buddy 4 Tier Diaper Cake

July is here and so is the introduction of our Lil’ Buddy 4 tier diaper cake. When I ordered Yeodel (Gund’s name for the puppy) and it arrived, with one soft squeeze I knew he had to become part of our diaper cake line up. I kept thinking of babies and fingerprints and puppies and their little paw prints everywhere. I remember when I brought my first baby home, our dog greeted us at the door and was so protective of the baby. Our dog was a big part of the family and brought new adventures to our children and I am glad that I had that experience watching them run in the yard and play in the snow. I know everyone is not ready for babies and puppies at the same time, so I thought introducing our Lil Buddy would bring some puppy love into the young family. Have a great month and enjoy the summer vacation time - Candy

Babyshower101.com
This site has an excellent section with community forums and bulletin boards. Both have a regular stream of activity and they are filled with useful baby shower ideas that are contributed by other Internet users. Forums are an excellent way to interact with people from all over the world. Plus, it is great if you have a question and can’t find the answer because you can post and wait for a response.

Hubpages.com
This is a site that has hundreds and hundreds of pages on plenty of topics of interest for those planning a baby shower.  Just go to the home page and use the search feature and you will find tons of information.  You may have to do some pruning along the way as some of the pages are hit and miss but nonetheless there is plenty to pick from.

Squidoo.com
Here’s another excellent resource for people who are planning a baby shower. I recommend you search the term baby shower from the home page you will get a huge list of lenses that you can read and contribute to. The lenses cover everything from food to free clip art. What’s nice about Squidoo is you can get plenty of different perspectives on virtually an unlimited amount of topics.

Ehow.com
This is a great site if you are looking for a place where you can find baby shower ideas and ask questions. In the Parties and Entertaining section of their site they have an entire folder of how to articles for baby showers. You can read the articles and comment on them. Plus, you can even sign up for an account and write your own articles to share your knowledge and make a little extra cash.

Cafemom.com
This is a very well established site and is a great resource for moms and expectant moms. I think it is definitely one of the fastest growing social networking site for moms online. You can use this site to connect with other moms, share ideas, advice and support. It is a great resource for getting baby shower ideas and beyond. It is essentially Myspace for moms.

Well there you have it.  Granted it’s certainly not a complete list but it’s a start on some pretty solid ones.  Maybe you know some other sites.  Feel free to add your comments or other suggestions.

Mod Ladybug Nursery by Kids Line

A few days ago I put together a post featuring 3 nursery decorating ideas for boys. I also mentioned the biological instinct called nesting that causes us to start preparing for the little one’s arrival. Getting the new baby’s nursery decorated is certainly one of those nesting instincts. Today, I am offering a complementary post to cover baby girls. So, if you are expecting a precious little girl I hope you can use these ideas.

Bug Theme
I know. It sounds a bit out there but believe it or not it’s one of the most popular nursery decorating ideas for girls. At first mention you would think that would be more of a boy’s nursery theme, but the bug theme generally focuses on “girly bugs”. Decorating ideas for this nursery theme would include ladybugs, dragonflies, bumblebees and butterflies. There are many different bedding sets sold in this theme so finding a cute set should be quite easy to do. A wonderful finishing touch for this theme would be to get a nice matching border, or to do bug and flower stencils around the room.

Patchwork or Plaid Print Theme
Many people choose to go very traditional when it comes to decorating their baby girl’s nursery. That is why patchwork or plaid prints are recommended for people looking for traditional nursery decorating ideas for girls. These prints are beautiful, classic and feminine. Bedding and coordinates for decorating a nursery can be found at almost every store that sells baby goods. What great about this theme is that it can transition nicely to a toddler, and even older child’s room.

Cartoon Character Theme
Many people looking for nursery decorating ideas for girls have a particular cartoon character in mind. There are many fabulous cartoon character themes that work well for a baby girl’s nursery. One that stands out would be a Beatrix Potter theme. You could do a general theme with all of the characters from her books, or you could stick with a Peter Rabbit theme. Many people also love the Hello Kitty theme for baby girls because it is bright and cheery. There are a few more cartoon character themes for decorating a baby girl’s nursery that are great including Winnie the Pooh, Precious Moments, and Sesame Street.

Naturally, there are many other nursery decorating ideas for girls that you can choose for your little girl. It is important to consider your own personal preferences and whether or not you want the theme to carry your daughter past infancy. Another source of ideas is the diaper cakes for girls page on our website. Here, you can find some inspiration for other themes that may work for you.

Home Run Nursery from Kids Line

One of the most exciting things about being pregnant is buying all the new baby items. I remember going out and getting little clothes, hats, booties and bibs to prepare for the arrival of each of my boys. In fact, I learned preparing for a baby by cleaning and decorating the nursery is biological.  Pregnant women have a “nesting” instinct which guides us to prepare and get everything ready for baby’s arrival. With these thoughts in mind, I thought to offer up the following nursery decorating ideas for boys.  I hope you can use these ideas to get your little guy’s room in tip top shape before his arrival.

Jungle Theme
One of the cutest nursery decorating ideas for boys is a jungle theme. There are tons of items you can buy to decorate a boy’s nursery with a jungle theme. Plush jungle animals and baby toys are sold in almost every baby store. Plus, you can easily find bedding and decor items for this theme. A spin on this theme would be safari animals or barnyard animals. What you choose depends on whether you want to go with a monkey and parrot theme or lion and tiger theme.

Transportation Theme
Another adorable nursery decorating idea for boys is a transportation theme. Think cars, trucks, fire engines, boats, planes, bulldozers, school buses and even bicycles. Little boys love things that go, so this is a perfect theme if you are looking for something that can transition to a toddler room. Plus, the bright primary colors that you can decorate with when you choose this theme will be so visually stimulating for your baby. You can even hang traffic signs about the room for a decorative touch. There is an adorable road map rug you can buy that looks great plus it’s functional when your son starts to play with cars.

Sports Theme
When it comes to nursery decorating ideas for boys, sports theme are the most popular. Like the transportation theme, the sports theme can grow with your baby. Some people choose a general sports theme using a combination of different sports like basketball, football, soccer and baseball. Others go more direct and choose one single sport that they love and want to share with their child like the NASCAR theme baby bedding or surfing theme baby bedding. There are even cartoon character sports themes that you can decorate a boy’s nursery with like sports theme baby Snoopy and vintage Mickey Mouse sports theme.

I hope these ideas can help get you started on a nursery theme for your baby boy.  You can also browse our diaper cakes for boys section on our main website for more ideas.

I’ll be including a corresponding post for girls in a couple of days.

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3 Lil Pigs Diaper Cake

It’s June already! This month I created a 3 Lil’ Pigs diaper cake. There is alot behind why I wanted to make this cake. First, the stuffed lil pigs are so soft and their curly tails put a smile on my face. Second, I like the little silver piggy bank on top. I remember my kids getting piggy banks when they were born (now I wish there was more in them since teens require more pocket change).  Finally, my last thought - our family vacation is the first week of July and I still feel like I may be one of the little piggy’s on the beach in my suit :-). I hope the beginning of this summer season starts off with warm days, ice cream cones, and BBQ’s with friends and family. School is out in 10 days - wow!  I hope you like this cake and the story behind the design.

Candy Favors
When it comes to baby shower favors many people enjoy something with candy. This can range from mints wrapped in coordinating tulle to jelly beans and of course the old standby chocolate. For the do it yourselfer,  you could make chocolate lollipops that are shaped like baby items. Molds to make lollipops can be purchased online or at a craft supply store. You can decorate them in colors to match the baby shower theme. The great thing about candy favors is they serve as both a keepsake for the expectant mom, as she will probably want to save one to remember the day, and a treat for all the guests.

Personalized Keepsake
Another great idea for baby shower favors is to give a personalized keepsake that can your guests can use after the baby shower. Some ideas along this line include something generic such as a small blue or pink candle in a jar or tin, or you can buy small tea or coffee bags. Regardless of what you select, most can be personalized with a label to commemorate the special day.

Picture Frame
One of the best ideas when it comes to baby shower favors is to do something with a frame. You can give a frame that already has a picture of the ultrasound in it or you can give a blank frame with a note card that says: “Coming Soon”. If you choose the later, the mother to be can send a picture of the baby when he or she is born along with her thank you cards for the shower. There are obviously many styles of frames you can choose from such as magnet frames, keychain frames, standard frames, or a combination of all three.  As with the candy favors and personalized keepsake suggestions, you can decorate or buy the frames to match the theme of the baby shower.

As you can imagine there are many online places to buy baby shower favors.  Two suggestions are Beau-Coup and Corner Stork.

Free Stuff for Baby
There is so much to buy when you are pregnant and money can be a huge stress factor, that is why Free Stuff for Baby by Sue M. Hannah makes the list. This book is updated on a regular basis and it contains all the information you need to find and take advantage of freebies you can get on the web, in stores and by mail. It also has a comprehensive list of web resources and support groups for parents.

Pregnancy Do’s and Don’ts
Often when a woman gets pregnant, she has a ton of questions she needs answers for. For this reason, Pregnancy Do’s and Don’ts by Elisabeth Aron M.D. makes the list. This book is the ultimate pregnancy related FAQ. It covers every question imaginable in an easy to use guide. From questions about the third trimester to questions about labor and delivery this book has it all.

Healthy Eating During Pregnancy
This book, written by W. Allan Walker, M.D. and Courtney Humphries, is one of the best when it comes to pregnancy and nutrition. This book helps you prepare your body for pregnancy, nourish it during and replenish it afterwards. It also covers healthy recipes and dietary supplements. Whether you pick this one up when you are trying to conceive or when you are in your third trimester it is filled with useful advice.

The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy
A funny and eye opening read for expecting mothers. This book, written by Vicki Iovine, is candid, honest and reassuring. It covers what you doctor won’t discuss and your friends are embarrassed to reveal. What’s more, is that it does it in terms that the average women can understand. This book will get you from morning sickness to the third trimester and having you laughing all the way.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting
By far, one of the most popular books written about pregnancy.  Authored by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel,  this is the pregnant woman’s bible. This comprehensive book is read by an astounding 90% of pregnant women in the United States alone. This book takes you month by month and even week by week through your pregnancy. From the first to third trimester, this book is filled with useful tips, hints and explanations to get you from conception to delivery.

You can find these through your favorite local bookstore or online.  I hope you find these enjoyable reads and a welcome addition to your library.

When you are planning a baby shower usually one of the first things you need to do is send out the baby shower invitations. You may want to make your own invitations or you may prefer the preprinted versions where the front is already printed with a design theme and you get to add your own personal wording inside.  Either way, I thought you may like a few ideas that could help with your baby shower invitation wording.

The best way to make your baby shower invitations pop is to find the perfect baby shower invitation wording. You want something your guests will open and remember, and naturally something the mother to be will love.  The following are some examples you can use as is or modify to further personalize for the expectant mom.

Twin Baby Shower Invitations
If your friend or family member is having twins, you want something cute and catchy for the baby shower invitation wording. The best idea for choosing the perfect wording in this scenario is to choose wording that best expresses the fact that there will be double of everything. Some examples would be “Double the diapers, double the pins, mom and dad are about to have twins.” or “Twenty fingers, twenty toes, double the work, heaven knows! Four little arms to hugs us tight, four rosy cheeks to kiss each night!”. You could also go very simple with “We thought we were having one, but now we’ll be having twice the fun!”.

Girl Baby Shower Invitations
When you are choosing the baby shower invitation wording for a girl baby shower you want the wording to be sweet and cute. You can go with something like “We are tickled pink and happy to say a beautiful baby girl is on her way!” or you can try “Time for tea parties, baby dolls and dress up clothes. We are having a girl with ribbon and bows!”.

Boy Baby Shower Invitations
Most people who choose the baby shower invitation wording for a boy’s baby shower look for phrases that are funny. Some examples of this would include “Snakes, bugs, dirt and more that is what are new mom has in store!” or “Plane, trains, trucks and cars, we are having a little boy that we can call ours.” Naturally, there are many directions you can go with this theme, but the idea is to be cute and funny.

When it comes to selecting baby shower invitation wording, you can also go with something generic. Try something like “A bundle of joy is on the way, so let’s celebrate before the big day!”. Generic phrases are best if you don’t know the sex of the baby or the tastes of the expectant mom.

These simple ideas should hopefully get you started in the right direction.  Naturally, there are many other online sites you can visit for more ideas.  Need some additional ideas?  You can try this site or look here.

This month, I designed two little three tier diaper cakes that includes an activity Gund toy that will entertain the little ones from their car seats, cribs, and strollers.

The pink giraffe had such cute little dots so the name “Dottie” just seemed to fit and her brother (as I see it) is a blue elephant which I called “Stripes”.  I hope the lil’ ones will enjoy being entertained by these activity animals and mom and dad will enjoy the good weather while pushing the stroller (hopefully, not up hill).

Just click on the images below to go to the product page for these newborn diaper cakes.  Both are offered with free shipping anywhere within the contiguous 48 states for the month of May.

Best wishes to all the moms and moms-to-be. It is a title you have for life and one that never wears out.  Your comments are always welcome.

Candy

Technorati Profile

Dottie the Giraffe Diaper Cake

Stripes the Elephant Diaper Cake

I’m really honored by our placement and want to thank all my customers, friends, and family members who voted for me.

I’m also grateful to StartupNation and VerticalResponse for sponsoring a contest specific for mom owned businesses.  It’s great to be recognized as a mom who owns her own business and obviously also manages life at home.

Lastly, there are also some great people behind the scenes who work with me every day on our diaper cake line.  These ladies are truly dedicated to making quality products one by one with the attention to detail our customers demand.  They too share in this award with me.

Invites
When you are planning a baby shower that is coed you want to make sure that the shower invitation reflects that. Envelopes should be addressed to the couple and not just the female, if necessary. Plus, the wording of the shower invitation should express that it is a coed shower.

Theme
Naturally, you can stick with the baby shower theme you have already chosen when you are planning a coed baby shower. If you wish, you can also alter the theme to make it a little more man friendly. For instance, you could have a barbecue rather than the standard finger foods served at showers. The guys can mingle around outside or even help prepare the grilled food. Obviously, you can still decorate, but the outdoor setting is more man friendly.

Favors
When you choose baby shower favors for a coed baby shower you want to make sure they are gender neutral. After all, not many men want to take home a little potpourri satchel for their dresser drawer (or do they?..lol). Food favors are excellent for a coed baby shower because you can still make the packaging fit the theme, but inside food is food. Consider candy, chocolate, trail mix, or bubble gum cigars.

Gift Giving
You can still stick to standard gifts when it comes to a coed baby shower. It’s important to include both the mother and father to be in the gift opening process. In addition to this, you can suggest on the invite that your guests consider bringing “dad related” wishing well items. Some ideas would include safety items so the father to be can baby proof the home.

Activities
Okay, let’s face it not many men want to play baby shower games. In contrast, however, many women look forward to them. When it comes to a coed baby shower you can still do games, you just want to alter them a little so they are more man friendly. For instance, instead of taste testing baby food for a guess gaming, you can do a bottle drinking race. Give each guest a baby bottle filled with the beverage of their choice and whoever finishes their bottle first is the winner. You could also consider a guys against girls friendly game to get them more interested.

I hope you found these tips useful if you are considering a coed baby shower. There are many websites that have additional information you can research for more ideas. Check out the articles The Coed Baby Shower and Coed Baby Shower Games for more information. Have fun!

1. Babyshower101.com is a great resource to have on tap when you are planning a baby shower. Not only does this site have a ton of useful ideas for games, gifts and planning, but they have a huge selection of baby shower poems you can use for your invites.

2. Babyshowerscentral.com is another great website to use when you are planning a baby shower. They have several baby shower poems listed on there site as well as ideas for cake inscriptions, favors and crafts. They even have checklists you can use to stay organized during planning and food recipes for the big day.

3. Babyshowernet.com is a great resource to use when you are looking for baby shower poems. This website has six full pages of poems that you can use for baby shower invitations, thank you cards, birth announcements or the actual party. They also have ideas for games, gifts and food.

4. Amazing-baby-shower-ideas.com is a great site for finding some baby shower poems that are both traditional and unique. This site also has plenty of ideas for planning a baby shower. They have ideas for centerpieces, decorations, menu planning, games, favors and they even have free clipart.

5. Cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com is a great website that you can use when you are looking for baby shower poems. This website has poems that can be used for your invitations, cake, or on your thank you cards and announcements. They have the poems divided up into categories which makes it easier for you to sort through them. Plus, the website is filled with ideas for gifts, food, games, and other decor. To top it off this site has a number of great printables and checklists that you can use for planning your baby shower and making our day fun and memorable.

One last site that you can take a look at is baby-shower.com.  I know, that makes six, but I thought I would throw this one in as a bonus.  This site also has some baby shower poems and a few stories that you may find helpful.

I hope you find this list of resources helpful in your baby shower planning.  Have fun planning.

Spring is a Great Theme for a Baby Shower

Choosing from the many common baby shower themes can be difficult, however, with spring in the air why not consider having a baby shower with a spring theme?  There are many fun directions you can choose to go with a spring baby shower theme.  To help you get started, I put together the following three themes.

Baby Animal Theme
Spring breathes life into everyone and everything.  Flowers bloom, the grass begins to grow and baby animals are born.  For this reason, a baby animal theme is perfect for a spring baby shower.  Think baby bunnies, chicks and lambs.  You can decorate with spring like animals and make a birds nest like wreath for each table centerpiece.  You can also put cuts outs of bunnies, chicks and lambs around the room.  Plus, you can make invitations in the shape of baby animals.  This is one of those baby shower themes that allows you to get really creative.

Rain Shower Theme
When many people think of spring they think of that old saying “April showers bring May flowers”.  For this reason, a rain shower theme is an adorable idea for a spring baby shower.  You can start off by sending invitations in the shape of an umbrella.  Then, you can decorate with rain drops and umbrellas.  Each guest can be sent home with an umbrella as their shower favor.  It is really a fun way to infuse the season and the term shower into the baby shower theme.

Spring Flower Theme
When many people think of spring they think of flowers.  For this reason, a spring flower theme is a great idea.  You can decorate the party with fresh tulips and flower centerpieces.  Plus, you can give each attendee a potted flower in a decorated pot for their shower favor.  As a slight twist, you can substitute our Lil’ Gardener Diaper Cake as a centerpiece instead of flowers.   This would really tie the whole theme together with additional spring accents.  This tends to be one of the more feminine baby shower themes, so it is more suited for a mother to be who is having a girl.

There is so much more you can do with these spring baby shower themes if you put your mind to it.  I hope these ideas gave you some food for thought.  You may want to check with the guest of honor to make certain she is comfortable with a spring baby shower theme before you spend a lot of time putting things together.  What may sound good to you may not fit her tastes exactly so it’s best to check just to make certain.  Have fun planning.

Knowing what you can and cannot do is very important when it comes to handling nausea during pregnancy. Obviously there are many restrictions to follow in order to protect your baby when it comes to treating illness and even the side effects of pregnancy. For this reason, it is best to try natural methods when you are trying to tame pregnancy nausea. If natural methods don’t suffice, it is best for you to consult your doctor for a solution. The following natural methods are the most popular and effective when it comes to relieving pregnancy nausea.

Change Eating Habits
The first thing you should do when you are dealing with nausea during pregnancy is increase the amount of times you eat each day. When you eat smaller meals more frequently it ensures that your stomach is never empty. Often that in itself can relieve pregnancy nausea.

Snack
When you experience a bout of nausea nibble some crackers. After you eat a few crackers, rest for about twenty minutes. The combination of the crackers and the rest will help quell the nausea.

Stay Hydrated
It is essential that you stay hydrated during pregnancy. If you drink plenty of fluids between eating meals you will keep your stomach full and avoid nausea. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and sip frequently throughout the day.

Avoid Trigger Foods
It is important to pay attention to your body and know what foods are causing your nausea during pregnancy so you can avoid them. This may include food that offend your heightened sense of smell as well. In addition to this, stay away from foods that are fatty, fried, spicy or acidic because they may irritate your digestive system.

Enjoy a Cup of Tea
Ginger has long been known to help quell nausea, which is why many people drink ginger ale when they are sick. However, most varieties of ginger ale are not made with actual ginger. For this reason, ginger tea is a better choice for helping relieve nausea during pregnancy.

Do you have some other tips to add? Feel free to leave a comment if found another natural method that helps with nausea.

Here’s 3 baby shower games you can play to get your shower started on an upbeat note:

Guess the Baby Food
Guessing games are a great way to get people talking at a baby shower.  One of the best baby shower games that involves guessing is called Guess the Baby Food.   To play this guessing game you need to purchase several flavors of baby food and then remove the labels from the jars.   Number each jar and it’s corresponding label so you know which jar contains which ingredients.   Provide each guest with a piece of paper, pen and spoon.  Have each guest taste or smell each jar and then try to guess the contents of each jar.   The person with the most correct guesses wins.

20 Questions About Mommy
One of the things that everyone at a baby shower has in common is they know the mother to be.  For this reason, baby shower games involving mom are very popular.  A game called 20 Questions About Mommy is a wonderful way to see who knows the guest of honor best.  Here’s how it works.  Have the mother to be answer twenty questions about herself.   The questions can be of your choosing, but some ideas would include things about her food cravings, or baby name preferences.  Keep her answers secret and give all the guests a quiz.  Have the guest of honor read her answers aloud after all the attendees have taken the quiz.  Again, the person with the most correct answers wins.

Don’t Say Baby
One of the best baby shower games is either called Don’t Say Baby.  To play this game each guest will be given a diaper pin to wear on their shirt when they arrive at the baby shower.  They will be instructed to not say the word baby at all.  If they say the word “baby” another shower guest can take their pin, and likewise if they hear another shower guest say “baby” they can do the same.  At the end of the baby shower the person who has collected the most diaper pins wins.  This game gets people laughing, and it is much more difficult than it sounds!

Well I hope you will find these games interesting for your baby shower plans.  You can obviously use these baby shower games as is or tailor them to help create a memorable baby shower.  Enjoy!

Lil' Gardener 2 Tier Diaper Cake

I’m tired of winter!! I designed this diaper cake to put a smile on my face when I think about spring being around the corner. I know many of you are experiencing the start of spring, but we had snow again last Sunday. I can’t wait to see the tulips and daffodils start to emerge from the ground. It’s the time of rebirth and fresh starts. I know there are many new moms that can’t wait to get their strollers out to walk in the fresh air and little ones who can’t wait to ride in the wagon or play on the swings. I know I can’t wait to get in my garden and get it tidy and try to remember what perenials I planted last year - - it’s always a surprise to me (maybe that has to do with age) 

You can find more details about the Lil’ Gardener Diaper Cake on our main website.  As with all our cake of the month specials it comes with free domestic shipping in the 48 contiguous states.

I hope April is a good month for all. Remember April showers brings May flowers!

Your comments are always welcome.

Candy

1. One of the most popular baby shower themes for boys is sports. For many people boys and sports go hand and hand, so this a natural choice. The possibilities for this shower theme are endless. You can make invitations in the shape of a football or another type of ball. Plus, you can ask the guests to bring sports related items for the baby like tiny footballs or local sports team jerseys in infant size. This is a great theme to consider if you are having a coed shower, but it also works well in general.
2. Planes, trains and automobiles are all among the popular baby shower themes for boys. Let’s face it, little boys love playing with cars, boats, trains and planes, so this is a natural choice for both nursery decor and shower theme. For this theme you can hang airplanes from the ceiling to decorate, and pick your invitations to feature a plane, train, car or boat.
3. Many people choose an animal theme when they are planning a baby shower for a boy. Animal baby shower themes vary greatly because you can choose safari animals, sea animals or domestic animals like cats and dogs. This is a particularly great theme if the mother to be is decorating the nursery in an animal theme. You can ask each guest to bring a stuffed animal for the decor.

There are obviously many other boy baby shower themes that you can choose from when you are planning a baby shower. The important thing to remember is what the mother to be will like and what fits her personality style. For instance, you don’t want to pick a sports theme if her and her partner are not at all interested in sports. The best thing to do when choosing a shower theme is to look at the mother to be’s nursery theme and the pattern choices she has chosen on her registry. Keeping her in mind will ensure everything goes smoothly and that the day is memorable for her.  We have a special section on our site featuring diaper cakes for baby boys.  You can check it out for more theme ideas and as centerpiece ideas for your table decor.

Lil’ Baby Cakes is excited to be participating  in the Ultimate Blog Party Giveway.  The giveaway runs from March 20th to March 27th and features a tons of great prizes you can win.  The main purpose of the Blog Party is to build online friendships and to win some wonderful prizes.

We contributed our 4 Tier Captivating Diaper Cake for the giveaway (prize listing #102 here).  I invite you to enter to win this cake as a baby gift for you, friend, or family member.

I also am providing this special discount you can use to save $10 on any 4 Tier Diaper Cake on our site.  Just visit Lil’ Baby Cakes and when you find a 4 Tier selection use the following discount code during checkout:

UBPG

That’s all there is to it and you’ll save $10 on a great diaper cake.  This code is valid during the entire Ultimate Blog Party Giveaway.

Good luck and thanks for participating.

Candy

1. Often when the parents to be find out they are having a little girl they think of their impending bundle of joy as their little princess immediately. For this reason, one of the most popular baby shower themes for girls is a princess party. You can easily find princess theme shower invites and paper goods online. However, to ice the cake on this shower theme consider having your guest each bring a princess theme book along with their shower gift.
2. Another one of the common baby shower themes for baby girls is angels. Similar to the princess theme, this theme is centered around parents viewing their little girl as an angel. You can really have some fun decorating a shower with an angel theme. You can hang cut out angels from the ceiling, get a cake with an angel decor and give an angel theme shower favor.
3. By leaps and bounds the most popular of all the baby shower themes for girls is centered around the color pink. You can have a “pretty in pink shower” where all the guest are instructed to wear something pink and bring a pink outfit for the baby, or you just do a generally pink themed shower. The possibilities are endless with this theme.

As a closing note, if you are planning a baby shower for a friend or family member it’s important to consult with the expectant mother. She may have her own preferences when it comes to the shower theme. In addition to this, she may already have chosen a theme for her child’s nursery. If this is the case you may want to consider infusing the nursery theme she has chosen into your baby shower plans. If the shower is a surprise these are decisions you will have to make on your own, but if the expectant mother is aware a shower is being planned you may want to ask her if she has any preferences when it comes to her shower theme.  You can find some additional ideas by visiting our diaper cakes for baby girls page.  You can check it out for more theme ideas and as centerpiece ideas for your table decor.

First, I thought it was a great theme to use this month since everyone is talking about savings, our kids future, etc so a bank is classic way to start collecting change for new baby. In my house we have a community bank where all the change from the laundry goes, change from the couch, etc. The community jar is dumped once a year at vacation time. I split it among the four kids and it becomes there spending money. (Ok, they are teenagers and it isn’t as much as it once was - but what is these days?).

Here are the product details for the Noah’s Ark 3 Tier Diaper Cake.

I hope you enjoy the longer days and the warmer days (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make them warmer).  It feels good when you can appreciate the simple and sweet things life has to offer.  I wish all my existing customers and new visitors the best this month.

Balloons
If your shower has a festive theme, you can use balloons! I mean after all, what’s a celebration without balloons? Here’s all you need to do. Tie a stack of colorful balloons to a weight and place them on your table. Sprinkle some confetti around them or other decorations that you can find at your local discount party store and you have a simple, inexpensive solution. If you are working on a limited budget, then balloons are a great idea. You can even anchor the balloons on each table with any presents you may have received in advance of the baby shower. The great thing about this idea is your gifts will be wrapped with beautiful baby themed paper that can be perfect for creating an inviting focal point on each table.

Flowers
You can place a selection of your favorite flowers and arrange them in a beautiful basket. You can find these baskets at your local craft store. If you have a theme color you can incorporate it to the décor of your flower arrangement. Flower arrangements can add a fresh colorful touch to your table. You can add baby things such as toys, socks, washcloths, and baby bottles to make your centerpiece more festive and to match the theme of your shower. Don’t worry if you’re not creative. You can always buy these floral centerpieces ready-made online. Usually, you can find a wide variety of colors and themes that fit most popular themes.

Diaper Cake
Another centerpiece that is popular in baby showers is a newborn diaper cake. It’s our personal favorite. (psst, is that any surprise?…lol) Now, understand that a baby diaper cake is actually not an edible cake. It is a set of diapers arranged to resemble a traditional tiered real cake. The cake is then decorated with plush toys, baby newborn care items, and of course ribbons and bows. When it comes to diaper cakes the sky is the limit in terms of styles and choices. Plus the great thing about the diaper cake is that the diapers can then be used by the mom after the shower. This creates a very practical choice for the centerpiece as virtually nothing goes to waste.

The occasion of a baby shower is a happy occasion for a new mother and the baby on board. These 3 ideas can help move your decision process forward in planning a memorable baby shower. Get creative and have fun selecting your baby shower centerpiece using these tips.

Another reason for being emotional is the flood of hormones that are being released into your system. Estrogen and progesterone levels are at their highest in the third trimester and can easily affect your mood.

Many women report that outside stressful situations affect the final weeks of pregnancy as well. Good hearted family members that just want to be involved may be causing more irritation than help, and last minute preparations can cause anxiety as well.

Keep in mind that these are all normal things that almost every pregnant woman deals with in her final weeks of pregnancy. The most important thing you can do is to take care of yourself.

If you are feeling very heavy and uncomfortable, talk to your doctor about what types of exercises may be appropriate. Typically, short walks and light yoga can help to ease discomfort and improve your mood. This may also help to prepare your body for the strain of delivery.

Difficulty in sleeping may not be an easy fix, however if you feel tired you should rest even if you can’t sleep. Short naps or even putting your feet up and watching a favorite movie can do wonders for mood and relaxation.

Remember that the hormones that may be wreaking havoc on your mood are simply doing their job in preparing your body for delivery. Doing some research on what’s happening to your body can help women to understand and feel more in control. However, if you feel that your emotions are out of control, you may wan to speak with your doctor.

Your family and friends should be supporting you in any mood you experience. If family members begin to get your irritated or anxious, you have every right to ask them to give you space. If they really want to help, ask them to make meals ahead for you, run errands or help you do housework.

The emotional roller coaster of the last trimester can be difficult, so remember to take care of yourself, eat right, exercise if approved by your doctor and practice relaxation techniques. Above all, do what you need to do to feel healthy, happy and enjoy your last weeks of pregnancy.

The third trimester of pregnancy can be the most exciting as your baby rapidly develops and your body continues to change in preparation for delivery. Your baby’s movements will likely become more and more obvious as you experience kicking, shifting and other sensations.

As exciting as this is, it can also mean additional and increasing discomfort on your body. Here are some common symptoms of late pregnancy and how to deal with them to help you understand what to expect and hopefully decrease your discomfort.

Why Do I have Backaches?

Backaches are a very typical symptom that will affect most women in the third trimester. Back pain is caused by the changes in your body. Strain coming from weight gain is the most obvious cause. Also, pregnancy hormones will begin to relax the joints between the bones in your pelvic area, which can cause aches in the back and hips.

Backache Relief Idea:

Try to avoid prolonged standing as this may cause strain, and when you sit choose a chair with proper back support. Putting your feet up on an ottoman or stool may also help to relieve discomfort. Massages can also be helpful, either from a professional or from your partner.

Why Do I have Swelling?

Swelling is an almost unavoidable issue during the third trimester. Your expanding uterus puts pressure on the veins that return blood from your lower extremities, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Also, fluid retention and dilated blood vessels may cause some puffiness in your face.

Swelling Relief Idea:

To reduce the symptoms of swelling, use a cold compress on the areas that are affected. Lying down to rest and elevating your feet can help with foot and ankle swelling. Some women experience relief by a light swim or simply relaxing in a pool – as long as it’s approved by your doctor.

Why Do I have Heartburn?

Heartburn during late pregnancy is caused by your uterus pushing your stomach and shifting it out of its normal position.

Heartburn Relief Idea:

Eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of three regular meals may help to ease heartburn. Drinking plenty of fluids may help as well. Talk to your doctor if symptoms persist or are severe.

Stretch marks and Frequency urination

Stretch marks are common in the third trimester as your abdomen and other areas continue to expand. Pink, red or purple streaks can also appear along your breasts, buttocks and thighs. Though stretch marks can’t be prevented, moisturizers can help and they will eventually fade.

Frequent urination is a late pregnancy symptom caused by pressure on your bladder as your baby moves deeper into your pelvis. This pressure may also cause you to leak urine during a laugh, cough or sneeze. This is totally normal, however you should watch for signs of a urinary track infection which include burning during urination, fever, and abdominal or back pain.

With so many changes happening to your baby and your body, it’s no wonder that the third trimester can be exciting as well as uncomfortable. Remember to eat healthy, stay positive and if you have symptoms that seem severe, persistent or unusual, ask your doctor.

During a normal pregnancy, you should expect to gain around 25-35 pounds. This will account for the weight of the baby as well as the placenta, extra fat stores, fluid and other necessary elements of a pregnancy.

Extra calories are needed to support the nutritional needs of the baby as well as energy to fuel your body’s pregnancy. Some doctors recommend eating small meals throughout the day instead of three normal ones. This is because your uterus is pressing on the stomach, which can make you feel fuller faster.

Remember to talk to your doctor about prenatal vitamins, calcium, fiber, water and other nutritional elements for a healthy pregnancy.

The extra weight gain in the last trimester can cause discomfort, and many women may wonder if exercise is an option. Most doctors can recommend some type of exercise to keep you healthy, prepare you for delivery and help to relieve some symptoms of discomfort.

There are good exercises that are safe to practice while pregnant, but you should talk to your doctor about any routine before you start to ensure that it’s appropriate for late pregnancy. Heavy weights should be avoided, as well as anything that is too strenuous or causes strain on the spine.

Also, avoid exercising in very hot or humid conditions as this can cause dehydration. Always stay hydrated when exercising, and avoid getting overheating. Loose fitting, comfortable clothing including supportive shoes and a good fitting sports bra will help you stay comfortable as well.

Prenatal yoga classes may be a good option for pregnant women. These classes can help to strengthen your body as well as relieve tension and stress. And because they are specifically designed for pregnant women, they are a safer alternative to traditional workouts.

Walking can also be a good exercise to boost energy and improve your mood. Any approved activity that can maintain good posture should also be encouraged as your extra weight may cause back, shoulder and leg pain.

Other benefits of exercise are promoting better sleep and maintaining muscle tone and strength. These benefits can help to ease discomfort, but additionally can help to prepare the body for labor.

Maintaining an exercise regimen during pregnancy may also make it easier on you to get back into a workout routine after the baby comes. There are typically many classes available to help women lose the baby weight and get in shape so you can keep up with your little one as they grow.

Unless you have a high-risk pregnancy or other condition that prevents you from doing exercise, it should be perfectly safe to include healthy activities into your daily routine. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend and what you should avoid.

In just a short while, your bundle will arrive; in the meantime, here is a checklist of  some things to keep in mind to ensure a happy, healthy third trimester:
_____  Drink lots of water and keep up good, healthy eating habits.

_____  Gently stretch and walk daily. A nice relaxing swim is great too.

_____  Get comfortable and familiar with normal signs of labor so you can read your body when its your time.

_____  Reduce your risk of episiotomy or severe tears by beginning perineal massage by week 36 or earlier.

_____  Prepare meals and freeze them. Better yet, have someone do it for you.

_____  Make sure all your hospital arrangements are in place.

_____  Carry your spouse, doctor’s, friend’s or emergency contact’s numbers with you at all times.

_____  Keep appointments with your doctor.  You will probably be going about every 2 weeks now and you want to make sure everything is as it should be.

_____  Think about whether or not you’re going to breastfeed. Take a breastfeeding class to find out more.

_____  Read a good book!

_____  Start working on your birth plan and talk about it with your doctor.

_____  Tour your birth unit or hospital and ask any questions you might have. If you’re delivering at home, ask the midwife or dula anything you need to.

_____  Make sure you have an emergency childcare plan in place if you have other younger children.

_____  Pack your bag for the hospital and leave it next to the bed.

_____  Have your spouse, neighbor and you all test drive the route to the hospital.

_____  Watch a good movie!

Unfortunately, sometimes we just can’t travel to all the important events in our lives. It can be difficult to make it to the shower, especially if you live very far away and want to travel after the baby is born.

If you can’t make the shower and the visit after the baby is born, you can send a gift to the shower. This way you can let the mom-to-be know that you are thinking of her and wish you were there.

You can contact the hostess of the shower and offer to pay for necessary items like the cake or other refreshments. You can also offer to pay for the decorations such as flower arrangements, balloons and streamers and more.

This way you aren’t only sending a gift, you are actually participating in the shower even if you aren’t there.

Another idea is to send disposable cameras to the hostess. Have her put one on each table and ask everyone to take pictures for the mom-to-be. This will ensure there are plenty of pictures from her special event for her to keep and you to view later so you can see how it went.

Another gift idea you could send is a diaper cake. These adorable cakes are fantastic gifts that also make wonderful baby shower centerpieces.

Diaper cakes are made from real diapers, but hand-made into tiered cake structures and decorated. You can get diaper cakes that are appropriate for boys, girls or neutral if it’s a surprise.

Diaper cakes come in all different themes and styles so you can find one that you like or that matches the theme of the new baby’s room. Sending a diaper cake is easy for you, since you can have it sent right to the hostess, totally assembled and ready to display.

The decorations on a diaper cake are all useable, such as small baby toys and stuffed animals, baby powder and lotion and much more. Thus the  mom-to-be will appreciate it for more than just how cute it is.

It can be frustrating not to be able to be at a baby shower you want so much to be a part of, but the right gift can make all the difference.

I thought this would make a great gift for grandparents to give the younger kids in the family to start a family tradition of reciting Twas the Night Before Christmas.  It also would make a nice addition to a family’s holiday decorations.

We put together a video demo of the bear so that you can see it in action.  Lil’ Baby Cakes is offering complimentary Christmas gift wrapping for this bear with your purchase.

You can check out this bear along with the video at this link:  Gund Christmas Storytime Bear.

Happy Holidays,

Candy

Tania

This month I wanted to design a diaper cake that would match the general theme for November.  Naturally, I am talking about Thanksgiving and giving thanks for all we have.  I thought it would be appropriate for this month’s cake be a simple “I Love You” tribute to the parents of the new baby.  And so I am introducing the I Love Mommy and Daddy 4 Tier Diaper Cake.

I also wanted to design a gender neutral cake so that it could be given to a girl or boy without getting hung up on traditional colors such as blue for boys and pink for girls.

The plush toys are Gund products.  The lion is the Gund I Love Daddy plush toy and the elephant is the Gund I Love Mommy plush toy.  The topper will vary to include either a Gund lion or elephant rattle.

A nice assortment of Johnson and Johnson baby products is also included along with coordinating ribbons to finish it off.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, and I am thankful for the parents that I have and the good values they instilled in me.

As always, your comments are welcome.

Candy

We are in the process of reviewing our stock to add a couple more designs.

We’ll add any new designs to the clearance section of our site.

Thanks,
Candy

There are limited quantities available and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Thanks,

Candy

Lil' Forest Friends 4 Tier Diaper Cake

The Colors of the Month

Well tomorrow is the first of October already.  Hard to believe that summer is over, kids in school, and the leaves are beginning to fall. I like the fall season with the rich colors of reds, yellows and oranges.  I enjoy when the trees look like a work of ART, but when they fall on the grass and carpet the yard they look like WORK.

So for the month of October I was inspired to create an autumn colored four tier diaper cake with rich colors, leaves (the kind that you don’t have to rake) the cutest couple of a black bear and an adorable moose, and to add the natural element – Baby Burts Bees.  I thought an appropriate name is Lil’ Forest Friends. What do you think?  You can find the product details on our website by at  Lil’ Forest Friends 4 Tier Diaper Cake.

Hope you have a wonderful month with all that it has to offer:

• Football games
• Going to the apple orchard for cider and donuts
• Bringing the biggest pumpkin home to carve and having your child pick out a detailed design – and wondering how you’re going to accomplish it
• Halloween and the kids all dressed up (and picking out your favorite candy from their bag –mine is Reese cups)
• Crisp mornings and hot coffee

And all the planning for the upcoming holidays in November and December!

Enjoy the start of the fall season.  Your comments are always welcome.

Candy

Diaper Cake of the Month

We will write about our diaper cakes in this category.  Here you will find some more information on our diaper cakes of the month and our custom diaper cakes.  Feel free to add your comments about our diaper cakes.