Target is recalling baby rattles for the second time this year. The first recall of 460,000 plush baby rattles was January 18. These rattles had small pieces that could break off and become a choking hazzard. Yesterday they recalled 82,000 plush rattles with sports themes also because of a choking hazzard. These rattles were made in China. (recalls from China are beginning to sound like a broken record) There have been no reported injuries, but these rattles are filled with beads and can break open. In both recalls, there were no reports of choking occuring. I’m glad Target and other companies stay on top of things and recall items before an injury occurs.

Our daughter dresses our new grandbaby, Baby J,  in such cute baby clothes.   Recently she dressed him in little blue jeans and a plaid button-up shirt.  He looked adorable!  And he has cute little sleepers and onsies which make him look so cuddly to hold.   Our son-in-law has a video game with an electric guitar that he enjoys playing after a long day at work, so she bought a cool T-shirt for Baby J that says “Rock Star.”  It is just too cute for words!   It’s always fun to see what cute baby clothes Baby J will have on next!

One million cribs have been recalled after three infant deaths caused by a faulty drop-rail side. The brands “Simplicity for Children” and “Graco” are sold by large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. The cribs affected were sold from January 1998 to May 2007 for $100-$300. This is the fourth recall for Simplicity in two years.

Why is it so neat to give a new baby a bath? I guess because everything is so new and the first things that the baby does or experiences are special. When our grandson had his first bath recently, our daughter and s-i-l bathed “Baby J” while I took pictures. And I shared with them what I did when our son was a baby: put a washcloth in the strategic area so you don’t get sprayed! LOL “Baby J” enjoyed his bath and it was a good experience for him.

When babies get older and you have a lot of bath toys, The Mommy Blogger has a great idea: Put the toys in a plastic basket so the water can drain out the bottom. That way the toys don’t get slimy. And I don’t know anybody who likes yuchy, slimy bath toys. Visit the Mommy Blogger to get more great ideas.

I wish baby slings had been available when my children were babies. Everyone I know now who uses one thinks they’re wonderful. Our daughter has one that she uses with our grandson. The great thing about using them with a newborn is that the baby is cradled up next to the mother (or daddy) and feels the warmth of her body.  The mother then has her hands free to do some things that require two hands such as typing or doing things around the house. Another neat thing about the slings is that they can be used for newborns all the way up to toddlers.   They come in all different kinds of fabric patterns so anyone should be able to find a color and pattern that they like.   If you know of someone that has a baby, tell them about baby slings. Or maybe you have a baby or maybe you’re expecting a baby. Do yourself a favor and get a baby sling!

I have been in “grandma heaven” this week, helping with our new grandbaby. I went to stay with our daughter and son-in-law for a few days to help out with the baby and things around the house, cook, etc. Although our daughter is on maternity leave, she still needed to contact a few clients and catch up on voicemail and work email.  She was able to do this from  home. I loved being able to sit on the couch, holding “Baby J.”  I enjoyed watching him, HGTV, and our daughter as she worked at her computer and made business calls. I thought about how nearly 26 years ago I sat in my grandparent’s rocker which we had in our nursery. Years ago I sat rocking our daughter as a newborn, watching her tiny features and listening to her precious little sounds that only newborns make.  I wondered back then what she would be like when she grew up.  This week I sat holding her newborn baby. Those 26 years have passed in a flash, and now I know that she is such a wonderful new mother, as well as a great wife. And I’m so proud of her! (and my husband is too!) And so I wondered, as I sat watching Baby J’s tiny features and listening to his precious little sounds that only newborns make, what will he be like when he grows up? It was a very special time for sure!

Toys “R” Us removed all of Hamco Inc.’s vinyl baby bibs, which were made in China. Click here to read about this warning. These bibs have not been recalled but should be thrown away if torn.

For those of you who haven’t seen the “Drama Prairie Dog” clip,
click here. And then later …the “Dramatic Baby” clip came out. Click here to view it.
(”Baby J,” maybe when you’re older we could do a clip. Just kidding! LOL )

Our first grandbaby, a grandson, arrived this past Wednesday.  He is so adorable and so precious.  Anyone who’s been around a newborn baby knows how precious they are.   It’s amazing how a whole room full of people (even four men) can sit or stand around in a hospital room and be totally fascinated and entertained by watching a tiny newborn .  Well…he wasn’t exactly tiny…he weighed 8 pounds and was 20 inches long.  But in comparison to everyone else in the room, he was tiny.  And it was the sweetest thing when he put his tiny little fingers around one of my fingers, or when he made those sweet little sounds that only newborns make, or when he finally opened his eyes and looked at me!   We thank God for this sweet little bundle of joy.  What a blessing in the lives of all of us in that hospital room!

Our daughter is “great with child,” meaning that she is going to have a baby, “Baby J,” very soon.   And anyone who’s been pregnant in the hot months knows that it feels like a furnice is in your tummy.  (I had an August baby and a September baby!!)  They have central air but recently got an oscillating fan just for her.  Our son-in-law asked her where she wanted it and she said, “Wherever I am!!”  And that’s so true.  And I got to thinking about how our neighbor down the street has a robot lawn mower (which is the neatest thing to watch).  Well, if they can make robot lawn mowers and other things, wouldn’t it be neat if they had a robot fan just to follow pregnant women around in the house and maybe even blow out extra-cold air.  I guess for now, the next best thing is to go open the freezer door and cool off that way!  LOL