Introducing my little boy: Solomon Elijah Jacob Collier

I am proud to introduce my latest addition to the Collier family. His name is Solomon Elijah Jacob Collier. My handsome little man decided to make his entrance into this world a little early and is spending some time growing and fattening up a bit before we can bring him home. With big brown eyes and a sweet toothless grin, he's going to be a heartbreaker.

Thanks to the staff at INOVA Alexandria, Dr. Paula McKenzie, our family, friends and CM readers alike for the well-wishes and for making the extraordinary and medically-necesscery seem like an ordinary day.

Starting next week, we will be launching a series of articles and stories for the moms of premmies on our home page, www.capitolmoms.org and on the original Capitol Moms blog, CapitolMoms.blogspot.com, is where we will host the goody announcements.

Rock-N-Tot: Family Friendly Fun coming to the DC Area

Announcing the newest family event to hit Washington DC, Rock-n-Tot is an afternoon dance party for kids (birth through 12) and their parents (or anyone who has a part in their lives).

Rock-n-Tot was co-created by an Ohio mom and a Maryland mom, in an effort to provide a wholesome event for the whole family, adults and kids alike. The simple premise of this event is to encourage families to spend quality time together, create new relationships and educate themselves with new products (most parent-created!).

Held on the 4th Saturday of each month from 2-5pm, beginning February 23, 2008, UltraBar (911 F Street NW, Washington DC) will be transformed into a kid-friendly zone. The dj plays great music (clean lyrics!) and you'll find bubbles, egg shakers and scarves are a-plenty. Discover face painting, airbrush tattoo artists, complimentary massages and other services for the adults, not to mention free juiceboxes and kid-appropriate snacks!

The founders of Rock-n-Tot have thought of everything - nursing zones, changing stations, even an area to just get away from it all and rejuvenate with toys, books, puzzles and more. Did we mention there are fantastic goody bags and giveaways?

Pre-walkers are admitted free, everyone else must have a ticket. $15/ticket.

For more info, or to purchase tickets: http://www.rock-n-tot.com

Getting in a move on: Evolution Pilates' new session starting soon.

Thanks to Megan for the tip on this new event.

Evolution Pilates is starting a Pilates for Pregnancy session in January! The equipment-based prenatal class is Monday nights at 7pm and the Equipment-based Postpartum or "MOM"ilates class is Saturdays at 10am. Classes are limited to 6-7 people and tend to fill. No pilates experience is necessary. Postpartum women must be at least 6 weeks out and prenatal women must have OB/GYN permission. Both classes are taught by physical therapists.

For more information or to register please email Megan at: megan@evolutionpilates.net or call the clinic: 703.751.1733

Evolution Pilates is located at 5249 Duke Street, Suite 203, Alexandria VA 22314

Mommy Track'd - the Working Mother's Guide to Managed Chaos

So after a visit on The Daily Stroll, I found a new site, Mommy Track'd, a stylish, entertaining guide for stay-at-work moms. There are great e-cards, discussion groups and networking opportunities.

Love it! I'm always scouring the web for interesting sites and I keep coming back to this one. There are great giveaways, networking opportunities and a community of women, moms-to-be and experienced that are living and loving in the same boat that you are.

Check it out at www.mommytrackd.com

Other blogs on my skim-through list

I'm sure that I can't be the only one, but there are several blogs that I love catching up with when I can. Some are guilty pleasures, some are more informational, but all fun.

Here are few of the links below.
Celebrity Baby Blog: www.celebrity-babies.com - full of pictures, stories and great, celeb-tested products.
Mommies with Style: www.mommieswithstyle.com - the name says it all.
Posh Cravings: www.poshcravings.com - put on by the folks at Posh Tots, cute stories and quick reads.
Elizabeth Hasselbeck's Blog at www.dreft.com
Danish Royal Watchers: http://danishroyalwatchers.blogspot.com - to get my royal fix on
Connecting Moms: www.connectingmoms.com - to hook up with other moms and get the 411 on the Mommy-gossip

Options for carrying the baby: Metrobaby Slings

A few months ago while at the Celebrate Fairfax event, I met a fabulous, local mom-prenuer named Peri and was introduced to Metrobaby Slings. A fan of babywearing since the birth of my daughter, I was eager to learn about her product. What I found were beautifully made slings in colors and patterns that I had not found anywhere else. The one I settled on was the Lacey,(pictured on Peri to the left) a beautiful black, red and white print that reverses to solid black and we love it. It goes with anything and the fabric was the perfect weight for wearing my little one in. Even my hubby carried Z in the sling, a testament to the ease and comfort of babywearing -- as being a tall man with little patience for instructions, it is a definite feat.

Now that we know that we will be having a little boy, it's almost time to settle on a couple of other slings to round out our collection.

To start yours, visit Peri and company at www.metrobabyslings.com

To grab a Lacey: click here.

On the do list: Pack a delivery bag... at 10% off

A couple of weeks ago, we ran into a fabulous service put on by Little Stork, pre-packed hospital bags. It really is an ingenious idea -- put together all the great products that moms know and love in one bag, so that all a new mom has to think about it getting that baby out, not whether or not she left something at home. I also think its pretty nice that the bag covers labor coach and new baby as well.

The bags are customizable, in three colors and products come in four sizes to fit a range of mothers. They are stuffed with premium and organic products and delivered in an embroidered tote. They also come in four styles, the essential, original, deluxe and mother-of-all.

Little Stork's pre-packed totes have been loved by celebrity moms like Gwen Stephani, Jamie Pressly and Martina McBride and probably even more so by their signifant others -- what greater gift can you give than the gift of ease. What new mom, or mom-to-be again wouldn't love that gift?

Visit Little Stork at www.littlestork.com

Also as a special treat for Capitol Moms readers, enter "CapMoms" at checkout for 10% off.

Taking the New Momma-to-be My Pyramid out for a Spin

In today's Washington Post, Sally Squires takes the US Department of Agriculture's new My Pyramid for Moms-to-Be out for spin. She takes a virtual mom and goes through pregnancy with her and discovers some healthy guidelines.

Inspired by Sally's adventure, I decided to take the tool out for a spin of my own.

I found the site easy to use. It is simple, input a little information and out comes a guide that can help you plan better portions and get a guideline for my daily intake. What I found is that I probably consume too many "discretionary calories" - extra fats and oils and should up my dark, green veggies.

The site also has tips on weight loss, pregnancy weight gain and breastfeeding. There are also additional pyramids for the other loves of your life, partners and children.

To try it for yourself, visit: http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

Little Luxuries for D-Day: Dearjohnnies gowns

As we get closer to D-Day (due day), I find myself looking for the goodies to stock the bag and here is one that I definetly one won't leave behind: my gown by Dearjohnnies.

As a mom that has been down this road once before, who remembers the non-descript, almost gane-green gown that is featured in the pictures from my daughter's birth, I was excited to learn of this product and wished that I had had one for Zenora's birth.

Dearjohnnies, made by the fabulous Rachel Zinny and company, are thoughtfully-designed hospital gowns kicked up several knotches. They come in a range soft, pretty fabrics trimmed with grosgrain. The gowns have snap-down sleeves that allow for easy breastfeeding access and snap from behind to give you a little coverage back there.

The gowns have been loved and worn by celebrities and local mommas alike. Every mom-to-be deserves a little delivery room luxury.

To pick up one of your own: visit Dearjohnnies at www.dearjohnnies.com

The Baby Panda: Unique Children's Goods with an Asian Flair

I'm always searching for new adorable goodies. Lately they have been geared to my one-year old, but as this pregnancy progresses I start to find myself looking for little boy things as well.

What I did find is The Baby Panda, an online-boutique featuring quality children's products with an Asian flair. Virginia mommy, Cynthia Poblete has put together an impressive gathering of unique products, adorable kimono dresses, Mommy and Me jewelry by the terrific folks at Baby Emi Jewelry and an eclectic mix of slings, plush pads and accessories for mom and baby alike.

What caught my eye for Z is this great little dress/blouse by Innies and Outies.

For more information, check them out and shop at www.thebabypanda.com

Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series for Moms

As a part of my work with teens and other mothers, I stumble upon some really nice resources. One that I am finding valuable and full of information is the Department of Education and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the Healthy Start, Grow Smart series for Parents of children through their first year of life.

It is full of developmental milestones, information on child care from the first bath to everyday care, sweet pictures and answers those everyday kind of questions that every mom asks herself. It is a great, FREE resource that every new mom should have or have access to.

It is available for download at http://cms.ntis.gov/index.aspx or by order for free paperback copies.

The Multitasking Mom Favorite: Lillebaby's Eurotote

As a lover of nifty, multi-tasking products, you are going to love the Eurotote by Lillebaby, a Scandinavian company making fabulous products with American parents in mind. It's stylish, versatile and kind of swanky.

The great folks at Scandinavian Child sent us the green "Luck of the Stylish" Tote. As soon as I took it out of the box, my hubby was curious and intrigued -- always a good sign. What it is a bunting bag, a carrier, a stroller blanket and playmat all in one.

For more details, check out their line at www.lillebabyusa.com

On the shelves: The Pregnancy Countdown by Susan Magee

I love books. I read them several at a time and sometimes, even a good cookbook with great pictures for pleasure reading. One that I found at the fabulous Groovy DC, a wonderful, little cards and stationary shop, is The Pregnancy Countdown by Susan Magee.

It is full of tips and tricks for everyday of your pregnancy and interesting tidbits that make it fun, even for those of us that have been down this road once before.

P.S. Groovy also carries the best salted caramels I've ever tasted.

Book available on-line at www.amazon.com or locally at GroovyDC, 428 8th Street, SE in Washington, DC.

Picture courtesy of www.amazon.com

What I'm craving now: White Chocolate Crunch

One of the perks of pregnancy is indulging in some of those pleasures that we forsake in the name of fitness, size 6 jeans or something equally boring. For some it's peaches and ice-cream, others a nice big steak, for me, right now, it's White Chocolate Crunch from Shoebox Oven.

It's this delicious crunchy, sweet, salty almond candy-crunch that rocks and brings a happy grin to my (and the hubby's) face. I love it at night with a mug of tea or with some fresh berries from the market.

Yum, try it for yourself or one of the other goodies from Shoebox. I pick mine up at the Clarendon Best Cellars, but occasionally when I've thought ahead, I get it delivered right to my door.

Shop at www.shoeboxoven.com

Green Festival DC Finds: Speesees Infant and Children's Wear

Yesterday, while we were at the DC Green Festival, a festival that highlights eco-friendly goods and products, I saw the most adorable children's line by Speesees.

Speesees philosophy is fun, fair and organic and just looking at the line, you can see that it is true. The collection of yoga pants, kimono onesies, jumpers, tees and bibs made of 100% long staple cotton and low-impact, herbal-based dyes brought a delighted smile to my face.

My favorite is the flock collection with tiny birds flying across the tummy -- I can't wait to see my new little one in the tiny jumper.

Shop at www.speesees.com

Photo courtesy of www.speesees.com

DC Baby's New Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Guide

A useful resource by Sarah Masterson of DC Baby, the book and site, is the New Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum guide for the DC area. It is a really great resource full of tips and word-of-mouth resources from moms that have been down the road before.

What I think rocks is that she has included resources for the DC Metro area, including Northern Virginia and the surrounding Maryland counties, not just in the city.

The guide is $6.00 and available for download at www.dc-baby.com

Stork Magazine: Celebrating the woman and the bump

A fun treat that I enjoy reading is Stork Magazine, an online mag by Liza Elliot-Ramirez of Runway Moms fame. It is published monthly and is a great supplement to Discovery Health's Runway Models.


What I enjoy most are the new product spotlights and seeing other women traveling the same road that I am on and doing it in great, fabulous bump flaunting style.

The new issue spotlights a great mom, the new Due Maternity Line and other treats that you are sure to enjoy.

Visit www.storkmagazine.com to see the new issue and to subscribe to the online magazine.

Due Maternity's Bag-a-day Giveaway

Who knew a website could be so much fun? Due Maternity, chic line of maternity wear with all the fun goodies like tummy oil and baby carriers to go with, has a fabulously fun site. There is this cute, "Get Knocked Up" game that lets you upload a picture and see what you might be like with a preggi-belly.

It makes for great distraction on site at that carries lines loved by celebs and everyday moms alike, but what caught my eye today was the Bag-a-Day giveway sponsored by Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine that goes from now until November 1st. Everyday until November 1st, one lucky momma-to-be will be given a fabulous bag from their star-studded collection.

It's a great prize and who doesn't love a great bag?

To enter, visit their site at www.duematernity.com or click the link above.

Photo courtesy of Fleurville and Due Maternity.com

What to Expect Weekly Newsletter

As a new mom and momma-to-be, I love finding resources full of reliable information. One of the ones that I love is the one done by Heidi of What to Expect When You Are Expecting fame.

The cool things are the weekly milestone updates, quick-easy-to-digest tidbits of information and get advice from a resource that most new mommas come to rely on.

Check them out at www.whattoexpect.com


Photo:courtesy of www.WhattoExpect.com

Welcome to Capitol Moms Maternity Edition

Greetings from Capitol Moms!

Come meet our newest baby, Capitol Moms Maternity Edition. As some of our readers know, I am expecting my second in February and it seemed like the perfect time to launch a new endeavor, well 3 to be exact.

Here we will feature new, fabulous, time-saving, labor-easing and momma-pampering products for Mommies-to-be and new mommas alike. We will be scouring the web for products, services and good things to make maternity more bearable and much more fun. Occasionally, we will also feature interesting health tidbits and stories that relate to women growing babies.

If you have tips, ideas, services to advertise or things that you have adore, share the love and email us at momstobe@capitolmoms.org