I am one of those people that don't like to put "shoes" on my kids unless they are able to walk. I see lots of parents that like to put the latest Nikes and Mary Janes on their 2 month old, but that's just not my thing. To me, it's sort of like putting a cardigan on your poodle.  Although, one Halloween I did dress my Bullmastiff, Buster up in a Batman costume. He ignored me for a week after that though, so maybe he wanted to be Superman instead. Who knows? Anyhoo, I don't put shoes on Bronson, but he's at the point where he can take his socks off now by himself so they don't stay on long.  

Also, I'm so sick of the sock monster eating a sock in the washer and/or dryer so I'm stuck with all these mismatched socks.  Luckily, I was going through some of Morris's old clothes and found the Nowalis!!! They are so awesome. I had forgotten all about these. It's a combination of a sock and shoe all in one. Best of all, they stay on your kid's feet, and go on super easy.  We have them in quite a few colors, but now they even make them with cute designs like ladybugs, cars, T-Rex, polka dots, etc. I'm a simple girl, so I'll stick with the solid colors (not to mention I'm cheap, and just not willing to invest in any new ones aside from Morris's hand-me-downs). A really cool thing I have discovered about the Nowalis is that they are wonderful for bridging that gap on pants that are starting to fit like high waters. Especially those fabulous designer pants you bought  at 50% off but your kid only wore once. Yeah, moms, you know what I'm talking about.

They sell them at tons of baby boutiques and websites but here is the official home of Nowali.

Last Christmas I decided it was time to get Mo some new pajamas. Of course, he loved the character pjs with all his favorite super heroes and Disney heroines, but after 3 or 4 washes those things got more coarse and shriveled up than cheap toilet paper (the kind of tp you find in public bathrooms). So, a friend of mine (thanks Erin!) told me about some really soft and high quality ones from Hanna Anderson. I was skeptical not only because they were a little pricey, but also because (gasp) there were no characters on them. I wasn't sure Mo would go for it. I got lucky and caught them on sale and even got free shipping. I bought a matching set for the boys. 

When they arrived I was pleasantly surprised. They were pre-shrunk and made with 100% organic cotton. These babies were soft, silky, and warm. I could melt 3 pairs of Mo's old pjs and they still wouldn't be as thick. I was hooked instantly.  

Now, I will warn you, they are expensive at $39.50 a pair for the boys sizes and $37.50 for baby sizes, BUT you can catch them on sale.  After Christmas they went on sale for $15 and I scooped up one in every available color for both boys. And even better, they come in adult sizes too, so the whole family can sport matching sleepwear. Mo has gotten over not sleeping in Hulk pjs.  He even asks if he can wear his striped pjs because "they are so comfy". I will admit there are even some days where he just schelps around in them all day long because I can't get him to take them off. The best thing is that the more I wash them, the softer they seem to get (and no lint balls either). These pjs are definitely money well spent.

The other day I was washing dishes while Bronson was in his high chair munching on Cheerios. As I washed the last pot, I nearly dropped it when I heard, "ma ma ma ma."  I couldn't believe my ears.  Was my 8 month old son saying his first word? When I turned around and looked at him he smiled as if pleased he got my attention.  As any doting mom would do, I waited for the sweet sound of "ma ma" again. After all, I had to make sure I wasn't hallucinating from lack of sleep. Then, all of a sudden the silence was broken. 

"Mommy...Mommy! Mommy!" It started getting louder and more intense. "MOMMY! MOM-ME!"  t was the piercing scream of Morris, my 4.5 year old. "Mommy. Can I have something to drink? Mommy, I'm hungry. Mommy, have you seen my Spiderman web blaster? Mommy, do I go to school today? Mommy, is it hot outside? Mommy, can I call Gabriella?"

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Being the proud American that I am, I decided to do some economy stimulation the other day. So, I visted 3 websites and made 3 very lovely purchases.  've finally decided it's time to replace those old nursing nightgowns so my first stop was A Brief Affair. It's a great website that features all my favorite European and designer sleepwear (moms, when you're ready to get your sexy back, definitely check out this site). 

As I was unloading my "shopping cart" I noticed a box at the bottom that said "enter coupon code." I am one that hates passing on a deal. It just doesn't make sense to pay more for something, when you can pay less. I didn't have such a coupon, so I decided to google a coupon for this store.  Guess what!  The ingenious google search engine directed me to a few sites that listed coupon codes for this website.

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When Bronson turned about 5 months old, he entered that stage where he didn't want to be held as much and wanted more stimulation than me just tickling his toes and making babbling noises. He had outgrown the bouncy chair, and got annoyed after 5 minutes in the swing. My metabolism easily shot up by 100 every day as I shuttled between rooms, introduced various play toys, and did every dance move from the robot to the snake (BTW, I can do a MEAN snake to the the left AND right). Finally, it called for desperate measures: FOOD! I discovered his love for food, especially fruit. So, I started shoveling big chunks of cantelope, peaches, and plums in his mouth but he would get cranky once he sucked all the juice. Eventually, he started gnawing off tiny bits of fruit. It went from sucking, to gnawing, to biting, and I instantly had visions of him gumming a huge chunk of cantelope and choking. It dawned on me that I could possibly have to perform the Heimlich, abdominal thrusts, or even dangle him upside down by his tootsies. Then, I discovered the Nuby Nibbler (sigh)....This little gadget came in so handy because it eased my choking fears. You just put a piece of fruit in it and baby can gnaw til his heart's content while I happily update my status on facebook. As an added benefit, it even helped him work on his hand-eye coordination trying to hold the contraption. And, when he started teething, I put FROZEN fruit chunks in there and it helped ease some of his gum discomfort. There is a twisting safety lock mechanism, that took me a few tries to figure out, so no worries there. There are replacement nets you can buy when it gets old and stinky. Now, Bronson can enjoy his fruit as well as entertain himself as my metabolism starts to stabilize again.

www.nuby.com

Welcome! www.ahotmama.com was created out of respect for the motherhood journey. Before having kids, I thought:  you get pregnant, pop the kid out, he grows up, and life goes back to normal. After having 2 children, I have realized it's more like: you count the days you ovulate and hope you have sex on the right day; go through 10 months of cravings, night sweats, insomnia, and annoying doctor's appointments; then there are the sleepless nights, engorgement, tantrums, and finding and getting your kid into a school; and finally, your life never goes back to normal, I don't even know how to define "normal" now.

I never realized all the components that go into parenting. As a mother, I will be the first to admit that I definitely changed the instant I brought my son home from the hospital. I had to. I like to refer to it as "stepping up to the plate." In order for me to be a good parent to my kids, I had to learn a new way of life. So what if my Prada bag got poop on it, my cotton candy nail polish was chipped, or a new movie opened and I missed the premiere. I brought a living being into the world that solely depended on my love, attention, and knowledge for his survival. What I didn't know, I felt was my RESPONSIBILITY to find out at any cost.  There was no room for excuses because it would be my son that would suffer from my laziness, ignorance, and incompetence.

So, fast forward to 2 kids later. I realize parenting is quite an experience and not an easy one. The easy part is bringing the kids into the world. The biggest challenge for me is the road ahead once they get here. So, if my experiences can help someone learn something new or put their mind to ease that they are "normal" because they feel overwhelmed after a hard day, then it is truly the child that will benefit because it will make caring for them that much easier.. This site was developed with moms in mind, but is open to dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, first cousins once removed, and even people considering kids (this blog could be the cheapest form of birth control).

Please read my thoughts with an open mind and feel free to contribute your 2 cents.  At the end of the day, remember, we're smart, stylish, and strong, and that's what being a Hot Mama is all about.

It is ironic and iconic that my 3 favorite pics from the 2009 Academy Awards are all moms and looked beyond beautiful. First, Kate Winslet. When I first saw her, I couldn't believe how stunned I was by her beauty. I must admit that I never really followed her career (I didn't even really like Titantic) but I know she's a great actress and after seeing her on Oprah, I got the impression that she's a lovely and devoted wife and mother. Her hair was perfect and her dress was elegant. It's not something I would personally wear, but she wore it with such confidence and conviction that it really worked and she made everyone take notice of her physical beauty.

Second, Taraji P. Henson.  Again, not someone whose career I have followed, but when I saw her on the red carpet, it was one of those moments where you just say, "Wow!". Her dress was one of the most beautiful, if not the prettiest, and she wore it well. Her hair, make-up, and necklace were all right on target. I don't think she is getting enough credit for how well put together she looked. I have a feeling that if any other Oscar nominated actress or ANY A-list actress had on her ensemble, they would be on top of every magazine and entertainment "expert's" best dressed list. Well, Taraji, take my word for it, you did the dang thing!

And finally, Angelina (do I even have to say her last name?). The moment I saw her, I got chills. I think it's harder for someone that is "known" for being so stunning to look beautiful every time because their personal bar is set so high. On top of that, when you're with Brad Pitt, you've got to step it up even that much more. (Personally, he's not THAT hot to me, maybe a 7/10, ok 7.5/10, except that Vanity Fair cover he did a few years back- that's about 8.5/10) but anyway, she had extra pressure and expectations on her to look good. The fit of her simple black dress almost made you forget that this woman recently gave birth to twins! For me though I couldn't take my eyes off her face. I always thought she was pretty, but it was something about her face that just took my breath away. I like that she did something different and went with the emerald jewelry and also loved that we saw her tats. You rock Angie.

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Morris thought I was greatest mom when I showed him www.marvelkids.com Since he is obsessed with all things superhero, this is right up his alley. There are online games and comics. Kids can also watch an episode of X-Men and Fantastic Four. Morris loves to download the puzzles, mazes, and coloring pages with pictures of The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and Spiderman. But, the icing on the cake is the "Create Your Own Superhero" option. You can add on your choice of tails, logos, skin types, and the works. There is even a female superhero, but I must warn you, she is stacked like SI Swimsuit Model (which my 4.5 year old son is already impressed by). You can also create a free account and save all your favorite games, superheros, etc. If you have a superhero crazed kid in your house, you will definitely be a super parent by turning them on to this website.