Nerd is the new black

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I bought a scrapbook to document everything from the date of the positive pee stick to other quasi-significant events leading up to her first birthday. I recently got a similar book in anticipation of daughter No. 2 (and hereby vow that it will be just as thick as her older sister’s, despite the fact that my older sister’s baby book is the size of the Oxford English Dictionary while mine is the width of a pamphlet on syphilis).

I flipped through the book for daughter No. 1 not long ago and realized it hadn’t been completely filled out just yet. There’s a page that still remains blank for “Hopes and Dreams: Our thoughts and aspirations for you when you were born.” Since No. 1 is turning 3 shortly, I figured it was probably time to put pen to paper and finish the scrapbook already. Of course as soon as I tried, I realized why that one page has received the Phil Collins treatment (no reply at all) from me for so long — after all, how do you sum up your wishes for your kid’s entire life in the space of a few lines?

I spent some time giving it thoughtful consideration and ultimately decided it might be just be a good spot to paste an auspicious fortune from the cookie of a recent Chinese meal. But like the lo mein, the idea ultimately didn’t sit well with me.

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A Great Holiday Pick!

When it comes to holiday gifts, or any gift for that matter, I’m extremely, painfully, ridiculously predictable.  I give books.  I have one friend who gets a cookbook from me every year on her birthday.  Every so often my brother tells me he read a book I gave him five years ago.  But the beauty of kids books is you can guarantee at least a couple of readings even if the little one doesn’t fall in love with the story.

Still, just like I get in a book rut with giving books, I can get in a rut with the books I give. With books for children, I definitely have my go-tos, so I was delighted by the 10 excellent new titles over on Babble’s children’s book guide for the holidays. With everything from picture books to YA choices, it has something for everyone. Continue reading »

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If you’re still looking for a graduation gift for what’s been coined the “Oh Sh%t” class of college graduates, look no further than Pat the Money, by Dianne Wachtell. Using the same pastel pink and Tiffany blue color scheme and baby-friendly flip and touch pages as the beloved Pat the Bunny, Wachtell has crafted the cleverest of picture book spoofs; your grads will laugh with terror and recognition. Oh, to go back to toddlerhood story time! Continue reading »

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