OMG - GMT!

I have just received word that I've been selected to appear on our local morning show - Good Morning Texas. This will mark our first TV appearance for the biz! Now in true woman's fashion, I've already scheduled a hair appointment, nail appointment, have given myself two masks and am working hard to lose 10 pounds before the show. All this for what will most likely be a minute long segment - but hey, in the day of wide screens and HD - details matter people!

This is a wonderful reward for months of hounding the press for some editorial coverage. For anyone who's started a business, you can appreciate the time and energy it takes to to pitch your business and story ideas to editors and programmers. It takes MONTHS to finally get notice, and it feels like it's finally paying off. Just this week we're featured in Tot Trends Weekly.

You can see some of the other mentions we've gotten here. It can be a full time job in itself, but the ROI can be great for new business, and a lot less expensive than other marketing initiatives.

We'll be sure to post pics of the big interview, but if you're local, and you're interested, you can catch me on Good Morning Texas, Tuesday, May 6 sometime in between 9 and 10am.

Toodleisms 1-6

Toodleisms: observed toddler behaviors that happen pretty consistently, but are not noted in toddler manuals.

1. If it's smaller than a ping pong ball, it will end up in her mouth. Especially if it's covered in dirt, the color of dirt or can be pulled out of the dirt. Recent examples include; acorn, dog food and stick (but in her defense, the dog ate it first, and of course that made it all the more appealing).
2. Almost every diaper change is cause for complaint - seriously, Ava we do this about 8 times a day, there's no need to fuss each time. I get it - this is not your favorite part of the day.
3. No matter how many toy remote controls, phones and keys we give her, the only ones she ever really wants are the ones we have in our hand at that moment.
4. Toys at someone else's house are ALWAYS more fun. Even if they're the exact same ones we have at home.
5. Wanting to know what something looks like after it's been in your ear is an inherent trait. Since about 5 months old, she demands that I show her the q-tip after I've been digging around in her ear.
6. Just about the time you think you've found something that she's going to eat pretty consistently, and you invest in a small supply (like more than 2) it's going to change.

It had to be Progeny

When Ava was born, I had every intention of returning to work at the end of my maternity leave. About 2 months in to my 3 month leave, Jeremy and I started talking a bit about daycare and my return to work and I confessed that I was having doubts about returning to work for my former employer. Of course, I loved the idea of spending every waking moment watching this amazing thing that we had made grow and learn and change, but I also knew I wanted something more for my career. I have always wanted to invent something, own something, write something, franchise something... something. Something more than work for someone else, but I just didn't know what it would it be yet.

Without missing a beat, my supportive husband (as you will come to learn he always is) said well, then now's the time to do it. We can take some time to figure out what are next steps are and in the end, if we never have the idea, decide it's too much work, or just figured out that while working for someone else can have it's own set of challenges, at least you can usually leave it at the door at 5pm- then at the very least we've had some self-discovery and I spent an amazing year or two with sweet Ava James. It seemed like a win-win.

The idea behind My Mommy's Pockets came to me at about 1am - while watching The Big Idea with Donny Deutch (of all things of course). Donny had been highlighting some of the latest and greatest infant/children's products and then he was all "there's money to be made. just watch your kids and learn. Think of some of the challenges you have every day."

BLAMMO - I KNEW what my greatest challenge with Ava was (to date), I never had the burp cloth when I needed, my cell phone, the home phone, the monitor, the mylicon - you name it, whatever it was I needed at that moment, it was sure to be in another room. I knew whatever it was I developed, it would have to be easy, because I had my hands full carrying baby and Boppy from room to room. A HAH - I NEEDED MORE POCKETS. Big ones, little ones, deep ones, shallow ones, and considering the fact that we had people stopping in all the time to see Ava, it needed to be presh with a dollop of funky fresh (no frumpy silhouettes and infant prints for me thanks). Yada, yada, yada, and here we are today.

And so this is my progeny. Born from our progeny. And that's the story of Progeny.

prog·e·ny [proj-uh-nee] –noun, plural -ny or, for plants or animals, -nies.
1. a descendant or offspring, as a child, plant, or animal.
2. such descendants or offspring collectively.
3. something that originates or results from something else; outcome; issue.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)

You can read more:
The Story of Progeny

Top 10 Ways to Use The Keeper

There are so many thing to keep track of with a little one! Can you even calculate the amount of time you spend collecting and cleaning things that have been dropped or even thrown. Pacifier clips, passy keepers, pacifier holders, there are tons on the market. We called ours The Keeper because it's design actually allows you to keep track of all sorts of things.

Here are a few other ways we've found "The Keeper" comes in handy.

10. Clip a snack trap to the car seat or grocery cart cover.
9. Snap a rattle onto your diaper bag or purse.
8. Attach a sippy cup to a high seat.
7. Clip a passy on to baby's woobie.
6. Attach a stroller blanket to the stroller.
5. Attach baby's hat to a shirt/dress tag.
4. Clip a teether onto baby.
3. Organize hairbows and clip them to a hanger.
2. Keep a rattle or link-along clipped to the changing table.
1. Keep the passy clipped to just about anything!

If you have other suggestions on how you use The Keeper, I'd love to hear them.

Remember, never put baby in a crib or down for a nap with "The Keeper" still attached.