A New Baby Bouncer In Town!

There's a new baby bouncer in town that's sleek, light and very graceful.  It recently made its U.S. debut and I was there for the launch party at the Drybar in Santa Monica. (Have I mentioned how much I enjoyed being on maternity leave!?)

My 3-month old Toby loves the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Mini. 
He gets so happy when I secure him to the seat and smiles when I push down slightly for some bouncy action (no batteries required!). 

Now that I'm back at work, I get this image of Toby wiggling his toes and sucking on his little fingers, signs that he is happy and relaxed. He does those things when I leave him on the Bouncer Mini.  The best memory though was the other day when he stretched out his arms with clinched fists and fell asleep just like that! 

During the official product launch party at Drybar, I was treated to a blow out.
It was the perfect invitation to try beauty products and baby products all in one place! Such an appropriate outing for a mommy who hadn't really been out of the house since giving birth. 
As far as my hairdo-- I went for the "Southern Belle" look. 

 I also learned quite a few things about Baby Bjorn:

1. Baby Bjorn is a baby product line launched in 1961 by Swedish husband and wife team Bjorn and Lillemor Jakobson. The Jakobsons are still active in the family business as CEO and head designer!

2. Baby Bjorn products include baby carriers, bouncers, travel cribs, baby eating utensils and potty chairs. See complete listing here.

3. The Baby Bjorn Baby Bouncer Mini is the newest product, designed to give proper support to a very young baby's neck and back, from birth to 6 months. 

It's a simple and practical concept. The fabric is soft yet sturdy and machine washable.

Toby LOVES to be placed in the Bouncer Mini. It's the only thing that has worked for us since I spoiled him in my arms for three months and he's a bit uneasy if left in his crib or on the bed.

For more information on this very cool baby bouncer, click here.

Thanks for reading!

{I received the Bouncer Mini as a gift from Baby Bjorn and decided to share my experience with this product. All opinions are my own.}

Fall Inspo: Pumpkin Patches & Swedish Forests!

Fall activities have taken a new meaning for my husband and I.
Only five years ago, we were attending as many Oktoberfest events in Southern Cali as we could find and planning outrageous costumes to attend booze-filled Halloween parties. The following mornings came with headaches and promises to never drink again...ha!
Those days are long gone.
But I say that proudly because parenthood has given every season of the year a new meaning and Fall is no exception.
For the past few years, when October comes around, we've looked for unique pumpkin patches where Benny can play, pick out pumpkins and pose for the yearly must-do pumpkin patch photo.
This year my husband couldn't join us but we visited Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City and got a preview of Baby Bjorn's autumn product line, the Woods Collection.
If you've read my blog, then you know I'm a fan of Baby Bjorn.
The Woods collection is inspired by colors representing the moss green calm, the deep red luster of lingonberries and pine trees of the Swedish Forests. More here. 
This pumpkin patch trip though--
It was one of the few places I've taken both boys without a helper but I'm getting better at managing my boys on my own (don't ask how).
Here are some of my favorite memories from our outing:

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch has been around since 1987. A father-daughter duo designed this interactive kids experience, after working on projects such as the Back to the Future attraction at Universal Studios.

 

Baby Bjorn's Baby Carrier One features ergonomic leg position with wide seat area for the child. The Woods Collection brings the carrier in blackberry red and denim blue, among other bold colors.

Benny tries to peak at the other kids running around the pumpkin patch, a perfect opportunity to debut his "Fire(eye)ball" face painting,

Toby as Mike Wasowski while brother Benny jumped inside the bouncy house.

In this photo by Maile Mason Photography, Toby tests Baby Bjorn's Bouncer Balance.

A special thanks to Rachel Pitzel for organizing this fun event. It's so refreshing to meet other like-minded mommies, especially at a pumpkin patch!

En español

Las actividades de otoño han tomado un nuevo significado para mi marido y yo.
Hace sólo cinco años, buscábamos y asistíamos a los mejores eventos de Oktoberfest y dedicábamos un buen de tiempo planeando disfraces extravagantes para ir a las fiestas de Halloween donde el alcohol nunca faltaba. Al día siguiente, crudos y con dolor de cabeza jurábamos nunca volver a beber ... ja!

Esos días ya se quedaron atrás.
Pero lo digo con orgullo porque ser padres de familia significa que celebramos con otro propósito las estaciones del año y el otoño no es excepción.
En los últimos años, cuando llega octubre, buscamos un huerto de calabazas nuevo donde Benny pueda jugar, recoger calabazas y posar para la foto anual que hay que hacer.
Este año, mi marido no pudo acompañarnos, pero llevé a los niños al huerto de calabazas llamado Mr. Bones en Culver City y a la vez, pudimos darle un vistazo a la línea de productos de otoño de Baby Bjorn, titulada Woods Collection.
Si has leído mi blog, entonces ya sabes que me fascina la marca de productos infantiles, Baby Bjorn.
La colección de otoño se inspira en los colores que representan la verde calma de los musgos, el profundo brillo rojo de los arándanos y los pinos de los bosques suecos.
Por lo tanto, el viaje al huerto de calabazas, Mr. Bones, valió la pena.
Fue uno de los pocos lugares a donde he llevado a los niños sin alguien que me ayudara, pero tal parece que me estoy adaptando a manejar la tranquilidad de Toby con el alboroto de Benny (no me pregunten cómo).
Aquí les comparto algunos recuerdos favoritos de nuestra excursión.