Feliz Navidad

For all of my friends and readers out there, just a quick note to say thank you for all your support this past year. It has been a wonderful year with so much growth and success for all of us at Latin Baby. Next year is already looking to be very busy and prosperous. We appreciate all of your help and loyalty. So from all of us to all of you....

¡Feliz Navidad!

Last Minute Gifts....

Well, mis amigas, the time for last minute gifts is almost over. We are only 5 days away from Christmas! YEA!

Just a reminder that any purchases from Latin Baby must be made and shipped by tomorrow (Thursday) for Christmas arrival. I am so happy to declare that I have sold out of "Donde 'sta Santa Claus?" tees and "Feliz Navidad" Sweatshirts! You might find some left at the Dallas Cowboy's Pro Shop at the DFW airport, or at Maribella's boutique in Dallas, but I can't guarantee it.

We still have a few of Tomie dePaola's "The Night of Las Posadas" children's books left...so snatch them up while you can!

To check them out, click here.

Holiday Gift Idea for Mamá

What a beautiful necklace for mamás everywhere! This gold-filled chain and daisy spacers with chartreuse coin pearls is an original piece by Adelita Chirino the owner/designer of LITA designs. It even comes with matching pearl earrings. This Cuban-American designer has been creating beautiful jewelry since 1999. Her goal is to create jewelry that not only adds to your outwards appearance, but also affects the way you feel.

If you are looking for a delicate and feminine gift to give a woman in your life, this is the answer!

To view this and other creations by Adelita, click here.

Bilingual Book gift sets

If you haven't already discovered these sweet, lovable characters by Frijolitos Inc., then you need to run out and buy one right away! Established in 2002, by Martha Barrios and her family, Frijolitos is dedicated to celebrating the traditions, folklore and history of Latin America through the creation of Latino-themed products, such as books, plush toys and (coming soon) puppets.

Frijolitos characters include Albóndiga - the Mariachi dog (shown above), Tugita Tere - the book-loving turtle, Picadillo - the trouble-making armadillo, and Fifi la francesa - the pampered poodle, to name a few.

Each book is filled with colorful illustrations and presents educational and Latino values using culturally relevant themes.

I personally am looking forward to carrying this line through Latin Baby this coming year. But for now, if you'd like to learn more about the Frijolitos company, their products, or where to purchase them, please click here.

Holiday Gifts from Children

Well, a quick post tonight on where to find some great ideas for gifts that children can make and give this holiday. Meg McElwee posts one of my favorite blogs, Montessori by Hand. She is a teacher in Chihuahua, Mexico and has some wonderful ideas and stories from the children in her class. She also has her own website with a couple of sewing patterns for those of you who would like to make some gifts and are wondering what to do.

Anyhow, if you are looking for a way to keep los niños busy and help them find a way to contribute and appreciate their own hard work, click here.

Holiday Gifts for Abuelita's

Looking for some special gifts for Abuelita? Then look no furter! Latin Baby has some great gift ideas that celebrate the bond between 'Buelita's and their grandchildren. Our "#1 Abuelita" made their debut this year at the State Fair of Texas and were a real hit. It was one of our top sellers. Also, the little Anglito sun catcher above is handmade by JoAnna Ordóñez, owner of Vidriosa Glassworks, and may be customized according to the number of grandchildren. For example, for first time Abuelas, only one red heart may be used. Up to 5 hearts may be added per sun catcher. Throw in a couple of "Dichos de mi Abuelita" Notecards and you have the perfect gift basket!

To view these items, click here.

Holiday Gifts for Hispanic Families

I'd like to feature a couple of my favorite blog sites and their creative owners. They both have web shops were you can find some fabulous gifts for family.

The first is my friend, Carrie Ferguson Weir, of Bilingual in the Boonies. She and her artistic partner have created a couple of adorable new designs especially for the holidays (they are the owners of Los Pollitos Dicen). I believe they have a special price for these designs through the end of the year? Check them out here.

Next, Claudia Marchman, over at Stitchado, has all of her products for sale at her etsy store by the same name. My favorite is the "A de araña" onesie - what a fantastic theme and idea! Wish I had thought of it myself! To view her store, click here.

Holiday Gifts for Latinos

Check out these beautiful Arpillera Christmas Stocking available through Lucuma Designs. Handmade in Peru, these original one-of-a-kind stockings are artistic masterpieces! They seem to be selling like hotcakes though they still have several in this design and a few others. What an extraordinary gift to give a loved one. They even have a Noah's Ark design that I think would be wonderful for a child.

To view these and other items they have for sale, click here.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Latino Families

Feliz Navidad a todos! With the holidays fast approaching, I decided that I had better get cracking and start investigating holiday gift ideas. So over the next few weeks my posts will revolve around regalitos for Hispanic families.

My choices are dictated by the following three criteria:

1) The item(s) celebrates the Latino spirit.

2) The item(s) preserves or promotes Hispanic traditions.

or 3) The item(s) is created/crafted by a Latina(o).

So to start the ball rolling, I am going to champion a toy that probably most (if not all) of you have heard about. The Baby Abuelita dolls include Abuelita Rosa, Abuelito Pancho, Baby Andrea and Baby Tita. Each doll sings anywhere from 4 to 6 tender and sweet songs that preserve our Hispanic heritage. From "Arroz con Leche" to "Los Pollitos Dicen," "Naranja Dulce" to "Duermete, Mi Niña" these dolls are a wonderful tool for teaching little ones music while enhancing their listening and learning skills. A unique product on the market that is making a difference in children's lives. Thank you to Baby Abuelita's creators, Hilda Jimenez and Carol Fenster, for your contribution towards helping Latinos pass on their cultural identities!

An excellent gift from Abuelitas to their grandchildren.

So what are you waiting for? To order your Baby Abuelita doll, click here.

Losing our Culture a Little Bit at a Time?

El Paso Community College has a local history project called "Borderlands" in which English students research and write on topics of importance to the Texas-New Mexico-Mexico border. Each year, the student editors turn their research papers into feature articles and they are published in the El Paso Times. While reviewing the website and all of the articles of the past years, I stumbled upon one titled "Traditional Hispanic Children's Games Disappear" by Guadalupe G. Castillo. This is a fascinating yet sad little piece about how traditional children's games have been replaced by fancy store-bought toys.

What's happening to our imagination, People? HACK! It's being stifled by materialism.

Late at night in the dark, as I stumble over toys around my own house trying not to awaken my family as I get ready for bed, I am quickly reminded that I, too, am suffering from the "Too Many Toys" Syndrome. I think that tomorrow I will initiate a good game of bebe leche and dig out all those bottle tops in the recycling cabinet....

To read this excelente article, click here.

To find out how to order the baleros shown above, or other cultural toys, visit Leos Mexican Imports by clicking here.

Latin Baby SALE!

Latin Baby's "Dia de Gracias" Sale is going on this weekend! Check out super savings with prices reduced up to 50% on children's tees, jean jackets, bibs, books and more... This is our biggest sale of the year, so check it out right away! Sale prices are valid for on-line purchases ONLY. Latin Baby products in boutiques, gifts shops, etc... are not included.

While supplies last....

View our products here.

America's REAL First Thanksgiving...

Once again, Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista opens my eyes and makes me shout "woo-HOO!" with one of her enlightening posts. I encourage all Latina mamis to check out her post about America's first true Thanksgiving which actually occurred 56 years prior to Plymouth Rock, in the town of St. Augustine, Florida. Be proud, Amigas, to learn that the preferred language at this historic event was actually Spanish, not English as we have been led to believe!

In addition, Treviño highlights children's book, America's REAL First Thanksgiving by author Robyn Gioia, a fifth grade elementary school teacher from the community of Ponte Vedra just outside of St. Augustine.

I firmly believe that it is muy importante for our children to learn the true history of our country and the major role that Hispanics played in its founding and establishment. Be proud of your heritage, Mi'jitos!

To view Latina Lista's post, click here.

To order Gioia's book, click here.

Dia de Gracias...

Gracias....

-For mi familia.

I love you, Husband, for you are my best friend, the one who makes me feel loved, respected, needed, beautiful, intelligent, equal and wanted. I am so blessed to have you.

I love you, Hija, for you are the joy of my life. You are smart, sweet, proud, beautiful, fun, independent, stubborn and lovable. I am proud of you.

I love you, Hijo, for you are the warmth in my heart. You are sweet, kind, loving, snuggly, smart, muy guapo, determined, and joyful. I am proud of you.

-For mi mamá.

I love you, Mom. You drive me crazy, but I know that your love for me is complete, sincere, and pure.

-For Andrew.

I love you, Andy. Your support and love over the years has always been cherished and means so much to me.

-For all my extended family and friends.

I love you. Thank you for all of the joy, laughter, tears, arguments, and loyalty. You have made me the person I am today and I hope I have been a good friend to you all, as well. If not...I'm sorry. I promise to try harder!

With much Love,

~Monica

Nursing Necklace

I have to admit, I decided to feature this item after seeing it on my friend, Lisa's, blog. It is too cool not to share with all of you....so check out this beautiful nursing necklace created by Bonnie Alvarez, the owner/designer of Birth Designs. Her beautiful website features a large collection of jewelry. The nursing necklaces are my favorite as they are a great way to bond with baby while nursing or bottle feeding.

To see more of her collection, click here.

Car Seat Safety

Well, it has definitely been a busy week filling orders and getting new products ready to launch. Add in a family visit with 6 kids (ages 20 months to 8 years) under one roof (mine) and it has been a little more on the crazy side! Finally getting my house back in order and have found some time to post some updates....

According to SeatCheck.org, car accidents remain the leading cause of death for children ages 3 - 14. Despite the fact that 96 percent of parents believe that their children's car seats are installed correctly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that 7 out of 10 children are not properly restrained in a vehicle.

Enter SeatCheck - a national campaign created by Chrysler to help parents properly secure their children in motor vehicles. One of the best aspects of SeatCheck is their free child safety seat inspection locator service. The website is available in both English and Spanish and also offers valuable tips and information on car seat safety.

To visit their site in English, click here.

Para Español, clique aqui.

Latina Baby Shower

Well, Amigas, so many of you keep asking for advice on throwing a Latina Baby Shower. I am hoping the posts so far have been helpful and promise to post more on that subject. There are so many ideas for throwing a Latin baby shower! I hope you all have visited my website and checked out the page I have dedicated strictly to that topic.

I am also seriously thinking about setting aside a page dedicated to those of you who have thrown a Spanish baby shower...what do you think? You all can send in a description of how you integrated the Spanish culture into your baby showers and maybe even a few photos? I know how creative you all are and maybe you could share your originality with others who are looking for unique ways to celebrate our culture during such a joyous time in a mamí-to-be's life.

In keeping with this, check out this beautiful little mint tin by A Shop for Babies. It comes in four color choices and two sizes. What a wonderful party favor for your guests! It can even be personalized with the expectant mamá's name and date of the shower or due date.

To check them out, click here.

¡Ay! Que Frio...

With el invierno upon us, I thought now would be a great time to feature a few items for keeping our children warm. I was extremely pleased to find this shop on-line. Caserita.com specializes in Bolivian handicrafts. I love their products and am seriously contemplating carrying some of their items.

First, check out the Rainbow Poncho and Hat for children ages 1 to 3. So beautiful and colorful for any child.

And second, how about this 3 Piece Alpaca Set for babies ages 3 months to 3 years? Made of 100% alpaca, it is soft, light and warm. A perfect gift for the niños in your life!

To view these and other products by Caserita.com, click here.

Dia de los Muertos!

Looking for a quick way to celebrate Dia de los Muertos and teach your children about remembering their family members who have passed on? Check out this great site by Ladislao Loera which includes a lesson plan for teachers, but which can also be applied as a family activity.

A beautiful way to remember our loved ones.

To view the activity, click here.

Post Pregnancy Weight Loss...

During both my pregnancies and afterwards (as I nursed each baby), I kept my rose-colored glasses on which helped me to envision how skinny I would become as I nursed my kids. But strangely enough, it didn't happen in the blink of an eye as I was expecting. In fact, after weaning my daughter at a year (she basically weaned herself), I was still waiting for the miraculous moment that all my little fat cells would suddenly disappear. Then 6 months later, I was pregnant again, and it was "Oh, well. I'll lose it all again when the next one is born and I start nursing."
Here I am almost two years later and I am still 10 lbs heavier than I was before I got pregnant the first time. But now I am a little more complacent and relaxed (I state, typing this with one hand while sticking a Reese's Pieces in my mouth with the other).
But imagine my excitement as I read about the fantastico info released by the USDA last week. They have now released their first food pyramids for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as well as a pyramid for mothers who are trying to lose weight while breastfeeding. Yippee! But wait...too late for me --- BUT NOT FOR ALL YOU expectant and new mamás out there. Take advantage - you will definitely appreciate it later!

To check out the site in English, click here.

Para Español, aqui.

Traditional Originals?

If you are looking for a classic children's gift with a Spanish touch, check out these fantastic heirloom-quality set of 28 Spanish alphabet wood blocks available at Magellan's Toy Shop. This fantastico set is complete with Ñ, CH, LL and more. Each block features four alphabets, numbers in Spanish and a side with animals and their Spanish names. Made of basswood they come with two embossed sides, beveled edges and non-toxic inks.

Need a baby shower game? How about having each guest take a turn stacking a block and having them tell what they think is an important building block for life. The winner is the last person to successfully stack a block before the tower falls - not the person who topples the stack.

Or, for a Spanish baby shower game version, try having each guest pick a block and name a (baby) word that contains that letter - i.e, pañales for Ñ, botella for LL, etc.

Also, these blocks are great for decorating a Spanish baby shower, and afterwards, the mother-to-be gets to keep the blocks!

A fantastic find for only $34.50!

To see these and other great Spanish gifts, click here.

Abuelita's Gift

It's funny the way our minds work. At the fair last week, a discussion with one of the other vendors triggered a long-forgotten memory. We were discussing gifts for Mamás and Abuelitas when Dulce Parker of D'Caribbean Gifts mentioned how popular amber necklaces seem to be in Latino families.

"Really?" I said, interested. And then... a teeny, tiny whisper in the back of my head suddenly became a SHOUT!

My great-grandmother, who I called 'Buelita, was the sweetest woman on the planet. She died when I was twelve, but I spent so much of my childhood with her, that I can sometimes still see her laughing next to me. Far from being a fashion diva, my 'Buelita was a very - shall I say huggable? - and down-to-earth lady with no-nonsense shoes and a neat and tidy appearance. I can't remember her ever spending any money buying extravagant accessories (though she did have a nice collection of costume jewelry), but I do remember her amber necklace.

Dulcé mentioned that oftentimes, Latinas will buy amber jewelry that they treasure and then pass down to their daughters and grand-daughters. After further discussion with her husband, Bill, I asked if the appearance of the amber made it more or less valuable.

"No," he said. "It just seems to be a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer the amber with bugs or fauna (plants) inside, while others like the clear."

Not too fond of amber? No problem! D'Caribbean Gifts also carries my newest love, Larimar, the only semiprecious gem with the blue color of the sea found in the Caribbean Islands. Each piece has its own unique natural colors from shades of blue to green.

So for those of you thinking about what to buy your mamá or abuelita for Christmas this year, perhaps a beautiful amber (or larimar!) necklace will earn you an extra hug and besito.

Or maybe it is time for you to buy yourself a little memory to pass on down to your hijas.

To see more of Dulce's jewelry, check out her site here.

Sweet Relief!

Well, after a whirlwind two weeks in Texas, I am finally back home listening to the soft clicking sound of my keyboard in the silence of the night as my husband and children sleep soundly. Like so many mom-trepreneurs, it is in the wee hours of the night that I conduct most of my business. Mainly because it is the only uninterrupted time I get all day.

It was so wonderful to visit Texas and visit with family and friends. Unfortunately, it went way too fast for me as most of my time was either spent at our Latin Baby booth at the State Fair or tending to two sick kids. Lucky me, both my kids came down with the flu while we were there. The older one is almost all better, the younger one is still having a very difficult time which required a call to the doctor's office today and I am a little bit worried.

But enough of that and on to the news!

This year's Fair was overall fantastic. We did better than last year, but we were there all four weeks instead of just two, and we were really surprised with the final tally, earning more than we had thought. Things seemed slower this year and after talking with so many vendors, it sounds as though all of them suffered a bit. So many complaints about how far behind they were this year compared to last year.

At any rate, we are so grateful to all of our wonderful customers who came out and stopped by our booth to take advantage of "State Fair Specials" and to preview our new Christmas and Toddler lines. We are very pleased with the debut of our "Abuelita's Corazoncito" design and have already almost sold out of it. No worries! More are on the way!

And over the next few days, I hope to post some interesting links to some of the other vendors who were at the Mundo Latino exhibit with us.

Un abrazo fuerte a todos!

Avance for Parents

A wonderful program for parents, Avance's philosophy hinges on the fact that they believe parents are the first and most important teachers for their children. They teach parents to be advocates and role models for their children. Their main focus is parent education and they guide parents through the stages of emotional, physical, social and cognitive development of their children with special topics that range from the importance of reading and effective discipline to nutrition. Such a wonderful resource to help parents (especially first-time parents) be the best parents that they can.

See here for more information.

Fiesta Furniture!

I love this little chair! Is is so warm and joyful! It is handpainted by Little Palm Painter. For more info see here.

Furniture Plus...

Phew! A few minutes to get some blogging done! Today's posts will be short and sweet. First, here are a few pieces of baby furniture for you to admire. I think these door pulls are adorable! Quincy Pearson has a large collection of bright and colorful door knobs in a variety of themes.

Check them out here.

Update...

My apologies to those of you who have been waiting for an update! This week has been hectic, as I have traveled to TX to help out at Latin Baby's booth at the State Fair of TX in Dallas. I promise to feature a few great programs and products by the beginning of next week, so hang in there comadres!

Latinas and Breast Cancer

According to the Komen Foundation,

"Latina women show lower breast cancer screening rates than non-Hispanic White women and tend to seek and attain health care services less frequently than other ethnic groups. However, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women. Studies also show that even though Latina women have lower breast cancer rates, they are 20 percent more likely to die from the disease. This contradiction is due to the fact that Latinas are less likely to participate in mammography screening and more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer. Studies consistently show that low income, low educational attainment, lack of health insurance, inability to speak English, lack of awareness of breast cancer risks and screening methods, acculturation level and lack of physician referral play important roles in the lower rates of screening utilization by Latinas."

Some very scary statistics. So in honor of Mamás and Abuelitas, Tias and Hermanas, Hijas and Primas, Esposas and Amigas everywhere, Mi Cielito Lindo is going Pink for October.

Help spread the message and raise awareness by visiting the Komen Foundation here for English and aqui para Español.

Abuelita's Corazoncito...

Hola, Amigas!!

So many of you have been asking about Latin Baby getting bigger sizes for toddlers. Well, your wish is my command~ Ta-da! I am happy to announce the beginning of our toddler line of tees and sweatshirts. I am hoping to have my complete line up and running by the Spring of '08, but for now you can get a sneak preview by checking out our new "Abuelita's Corazoncito" t-shirt. It is availble in sizes 2T, 3T, and 4T.

For more information check us out here.

I LOVE Spanish...how about you?

Such a fantastico site - I think the interactive software for children is especially wonderful. So many kids on the computers (as young as 3! Maybe even less!!!) A completely different world than that which I grew up in. We Love Spanish has some great tools for parents and children learning to speak Spanish.
Check it out here.

Spanish Picture Puzzles

I LOVE this site! Usborne Quicklinks has a page with some really neat activities to teach children Spanish! My favorite is the Family Connections section...What can I say? As una niña pequeña, I used to love picture puzzles...I guess I never outgrew it.
To view their selection, click here.

Colorín Colorado...

Hands down, one of the best sites out there. A wonderful tool for Spanish speaking families that provides many resources for learning English while respecting and encouraging families to preserve their Spanish language. From books to video, webcasts to e-newsletters, Colorín Colorado is a comprehensive yet very user-friendly site.

To experience it first hand, see here.

Bilingual? Si!

Recently, I have found a number of on-line resources for bilingual families. Having discussed the issue of raising bilingual children with some friends and family, I am always upset to hear stories of parents who don't want their children to speak Spanish because they want them to "assimilate" - what an incredibly sad disservice they are doing! In my own family I see how with each generation, more and more Spanish is lost and I am deeply distressed.
My great-grandmother arrived from San Luis Potosi many, many years ago. She spoke very little English, but was determined to make a great life here in the states for her family and went on to establish one of the best Mexican food restaurants in Dallas (well, for as long as it lasted, anyway...) My grandmother and mother both are completely bilingual, flowing easily between the two languages. While I understand it perfectly, time, distance from my family and lack of opportunities cause me to really struggle sometimes to remember the correct conjugation of certain verbos... Sometimes, when I am talking with my papa and other family in Spain, the Spanish just flows freely and easily out of my mouth, but at othertimes it is like someone shot both my mouth and my brain full of novacaine. I worry that I do not speak enough Spanish to my children and frequently am delightfully surprised but also ashamed and angry to learn that DORA is teaching my daughter more Spanish than I am!
SO in my desire to show my support of the familia bilingüe, the next several posts will focus on resources for bilingual families. Un abrazo fuerte a todos vosotros who are dedicated (and maybe even struggling) to raise their children with a foot in both worlds...

Celebrate Day of the Dead continued...

How funny and adorable are these? An absolute MUST for little girls on Dia de los Muertos and even Holloween! A very cute idea by Siiri. These hair clips ship from Australia, so shop now to get them in time for the festivities!

Check these and other products out here.

Celebrate Day of the Dead!

Well, with Dia de los Muertos coming up, I thought I'd highlight a few super cute products that are currently available and are in keeping with the holiday. The first is a diaper bag by Saaridesign. It is made out of a fabric that seems to be really popular right now (maybe because it is the only one out there?) The bag includes an adjustable strap and pockets for wipes, diapers, sippy cups, cell phone, bottles, whatever.

Check it out here.

Dainty Cups...

Just one more product from Etsy, I promise! This one is from Baby O'Really. These truly are the most beautiful reusable nursing pads I have ever seen! Obviously, they are lovingly and carefully handmade with many different yet delightfully feminine patterns to choose from. This rosebud pair is my favorite, but there are so many others, it was hard to choose just one style. Lucky for mamás everywhere, you can purchase them by the pair or in a gift pack set of 6.

For a full product description, see here.

¡Buen Provecho!

Last week I discovered a wonderful web site called Rodrigvitz Style. It has a festive collection of oilcloth products created by owner, Stephanie Hilvitz. In the tabletop section, she has some great chalkmats for sale. Reversible, one side is blackboard oilcloth and the other side has a pattern of your choice (there are three to choose from). Chalk is included! An excellente idea for making mealtimes more interesting for your toddlers....
For more information, see here.

Yummy Besito

I clearly remember that with pregnancy came some crazy changes to my body, most notably my skin. It looked great, but I did have some sensitive lips that chapped easily - especially con el frio (with the cold). I found this super "Lime Sugar" lip balm on Etsy from 4th Ave Soap Company. Made with shea oil and jojoba, their lip balms are completely natural with the exception of the fragrance. Don't care for lime sugar? Then try out one of their other balms which include "Mildly Minty," "Green Tea Mint," and "Pomegranate." Remarkably only $3.00!!

See here for details.

Who's Got a Bun in the Oven?

I discovered these wonderful little dresses that are part of a baby shower game by bazaarLatino on etsy. The dresses can be made in any color scheme and have a little pocket on the back with a cotton ball inside to give the "pregnancy" look. Each guest has a dress pinned to their blouse as they arrive at the shower. At the end of the shower, all the guests remove the cotton ball and whoever has one with a tiny picture of a cinnamon bun inside with it is the winner!

A fantastico shower game idea!

Well, done, baazarLatino!

To see these great little dresses and other products by this designer, click here.

Toddler Fashion

I am absolutely in love with this little outfit on the left by Hanna Anderson. It is part of her winter collection, labeled "A Thousand Flowers" and I believe it suppose to have an Asian feel, but to me, it just screams beautiful! The rich colores and even the style actually make me think of some of my trips to Latin America.

This collection has several other pieces in it, including a dress for mothers.

If you'd like to check out this little outfit, you can see it here.

Nursery Decor

Latin Baby is happy to bring to you several beautiful baby quilts by fabric artist, Martha Tsihlas, owner of Del Sol Quilts. Martha has personally designed and created these fabulous quilts and has used bold, vibrant colors to reflect the Latino spirit. Each piece has been preshrunk and free-motion quilted. Some, like the one shown here, "Towards the Sun," have appliqued motifs.

If you are looking for a handmade heirloom to give as a baby gift, check out all of her designs here.

Nursing Fashion

Having nursed my two children, I completely understand that this is not an easy decision to carry out sometimes. But I can attest to the fact that the proper wardrobe can definitely make breastfeeding a lot easier. So here is a beautifully embroidered dress set for mother and baby that caught my eye. It is by Motherwear, my favorite company for buying nursing-friendly clothing. I love the style, the delicate embroidery and especially the fact that it is made of 100% cotton!

If you haven't discovered Motherwear, yet, then you will be ecstatic to view their on-line catalog.

For a better look at this and their other products, check them out here.

Clothing for Premature Infants

According to the March of Dimes, nearly one out of every eight Hispanic babies is born too soon. While the preterm birth rate for Hispanics is similar to rate for the general population, it has grown more than 8 percent in the last decade.
I have a sister-in-law who has twice given birth prematurely and both her children weighed in at around 3 and a half pounds. They had to buy doll clothes at the store for the babies to wear - cute, but not exactly the best given how these little outfits are made with lots of tags and synthetic fabrics for insensitive dolls, not premature babies with super tender skin.
I was very happy to come across Anna's Preemies on-line. They have a wonderful selection of products for premature infants including sleepers, gowns, take home outfits, bibs, diapers and more. All the outfits are made of 100% Peruvian combed cotton, have no scratchy labels, are beautifully designed and don't cost a fortune.
So check out Anna's Preemies right away! You can see their web site here.

Waiting for Bebé: A Pregnancy Guide for Latinas

Traditionally, we Latinas have had higher fertility rates than non-Latinas in the United States. Big surprise. Unfortunately, we are also more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. And Latinas are at higher risk to encounter health problems during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes and gall bladder disease. We even have the highest rates of neural tube defects during pregnancy, due to lack of proper consumption of folic acid.

I consider myself to be a somewhat on the ball woman, and throughout both of my pregnancies I was the type of mom who went out and bought books/magazines researching how to have the healthiest pregnancy (well, okay, not so much with the second one), but a few months ago I was amazed to discover how much I didn't know, but should have known when I stumbled upon this fantastic book. It is one that I wish I had read when I was pregnant and strongly feel it is one that every pregnant Latina - or even those thinking about starting a family - should have.

Waiting for Bebé: A Pregnancy Guide for Latinas is one of my number one recommendations for Latinas. Lourdes Alcañiz is the author and has a fantastico web site describing the book. The web site also has a Spanish equivalent for those not comfortable with the English language.

Check it out here.

¡Bienvenidos!

Hola, Amigas!
My name is Monica Olivera Hazelton and I am the co-owner of Latin Baby, an on-line baby boutique that caters to Hispanic American families. The goal of this blog is to provide Latina mothers (or soon-to-be-mothers) with valuable information on a variety of topics in an easy and informal setting. From mothers to toddlers, health to fashion, safety to education, Mi Cielito Lindo is here to help you make informed choices, treat you to new styles and answer questions (or at least point you in the right direction.) Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is something you'd like to see on this blog...
A little bit about me...I am a work from home mami of two, whose work day really begins after la familia goes to bed. Like many of you, I have trouble saying "no," and am involved in too many projects - but all of them worth the effort. I run three blogs, two web sites, and hundreds of little projects on the side. I staunchly believe in supporting Latina mamis everywhere, especially those in need and am always searching for good non-profits to feature.
I quilt when I can, but mostly spend the day running after niños while trying to sneak in trips to the post office, processing orders, and answering emails. I used to be a compulsive reader, but now most of my reading revolves around children's literature and entrepreneurial magazines. I still cannot enter a bookstore, though, without buying something.
To all of my fellow Mamás -
¡Felicidades! You have the best (and the most difficult) job in el mundo - this one is for you!
Con mucho cariño,
~Monica