Monday, February 25, 2008

Cool Baby Bouncer!

I am 9 1/2 months pregnant and just received the Combi Pod Baby Bouncer. I can't wait to use this thing! Besides looking like a cool little insect, the Combi Pod Bouncer has great features that make it stand out from other bouncers on the market.

This bouncer has a seat that reclines for nap time, soothing vibrations and music. The music that comes with it is nothing great, but on the back of the bouncer is a place to connect your iPod (or other MP3 player). What a great idea! Now I'm not stuck listening to the same annoying song over and over. Now I just have to create a playlist for baby on my iPod...

The speaker on the bouncer isn't very powerful, but you wouldn't want it to be very loud anyway. The simple clean lines, wooden toys and modern colors really add to the appeal of this bouncer.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Celebrity Baby Update!

Desperate Housewives actor Kyle MacLachlan and his wife, Desiree Gruber, are expecting their first child in July. "We are really excited," says the mom-to-be, 39, who is the executive producer of Project Runway.

Scrubs star John C. McGinley and his wife Nichole welcomed a daughter on Saturday, February 2nd at 1:36 a.m. Billie Grace weighed in at 8 lbs. and is 21 inches long. The baby was delivered in a birthing tub at the couple's home in Malibu, with a midwife in attendance.

Former E.R. star Julianna Margulies and her lawyer husband Keith Lieberthal welcomed a baby boy.

Mary Lynn Rajskub, who playsChloe O'Brian on Fox's 24, is pregnant. Rajskub, 36, and her boyfriend Matthew Rolph, 27, are expecting their first child at the end of the summer.

Ethan Hawke is about to become a father again with Ryan Shawhughes, described as the former nanny to his children. Ethan also has two children with his ex-wife Uma Thurman.

Gwen Stefani and her husband Gavin Rossdale are expecting their second child together. According to Britain's The Sun, the singer is 13 weeks pregnant.

Dixie Chick Martie Maguire is pregnant. Martie told People magazine; "I'm very excited," adding, "We know what it is – it's a girl."

Actor, Fred Savage and his wife, Jennifer Stone, are expecting another child. "We've got number two cooking right now," Savage, 31, told People magazine. The pair is already proud parents of a son. "We're due in May," Savage revealed, but Stone said the baby's name and sex are going to be a surprise.

Olympic champion ice skater Scott Hamilton and his wife, Tracie, welcomed a baby boy on Monday, January 21st at a Tennessee hospital. Maxx Hamilton, who arrived at 7:51 a.m., weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 oz., and measured 20 inches long. Scott and Tracie also have a 4-year-old son named Aidan.

Chris Noth and girlfriend Tara Wilson have welcomed a baby boy. Orion Christopher Noth was born in Los Angeles on Friday, January 18th and weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz.

Daniel Baldwin and his wife, Joanne Smith-Baldwin, have welcomed a baby girl. Avis Ann Baldwin was born Thursday, January 17th at 12:59 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz.

Actress Constance Zimmer and her boyfriend, director Russ Lamoureux, welcomed a baby girl on January 5th. Colette Zoe Lamoureux weighed in at 8 lbs.,10 oz. at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena.

Former Survivor star Jonny Fairplay and his fiancée, ex- Top Model contestant Michelle Deighton, have welcomed a daughter. The baby girl, named Piper Addison, was born Wednesday, January 16th.

A Playboy Playmate, Miss March 2005 Jillian Grace, 22, claims she is pregnant with comedian David Spade's baby. Spade tells TMZ: "I had a brief relationship with Jillian Grace. If it is true that I am the father of her child, then I will accept responsibility."

Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves are expecting a baby together. "My girlfriend Camila and I made a baby together," McConaughey writes on his web site. "It's 3 months growin in her womb and all looks healthy and lively so far. We are stoked and wowed by this miracle of creation and this gift from God, and so excited for the adventure that will come in raising this child, being mother and a father, and shepherding him or her through this life."

Casey Affleck and wife Summer Phoenix welcomed a baby boy. No other details have been announced. This is the second child for Affleck, 32, and Phoenix, 30, who also have a 3-year-old son named Indiana August.

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman welcomed a baby boy on Saturday, January 12th at 10:05 p.m. This is the first child for the couple. Max Liron Bratman weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20.5 inches long .

Nicole Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden are the proud parents of a baby girl. Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born Friday, January 11th at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz.

Comedian David Alan Grier and wife Christine Y. Kim welcomed a baby girl on Thursday, January 10th at 1:04 p.m. by planned C-section. Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim – Danbi means "sweet rain" in Korean – was 7 lbs., 6 oz and 20 inches long.

Courtney Thorne-Smith and husband Roger Fishman welcomed a baby boy, Jacob Emerson Fishman, on Friday, January 11th. This is the first child for the couple.

Fashion designer Stella McCartney, 36, has given birth to her third child, a baby boy. Beckett Robert Lee was born Tuesday, January 8th in London. Beckett joins brothers Miller Alasdhair James and Bailey Linda Olwyn.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Phthalate Free Baby Products!

The latest news surrounding the use of Phthalates and other Xenoestrogens in baby products is downright scary.

In a recent study researchers found evidence of chemicals called phthalates in the urine of 163 infants exposed to a baby product such as shampoo, lotion or powder. The true long term consequences of exposure are not fully known but exposing babies to these chemicals could hurt their reproductive ability later on in life.
To be safe, it would be wise to switch to Phthalate free baby products. Belli Cosmetics makes some great baby skin scare products without these potentially harmful ingredients. The Belli Baby Gift Set includes baby body wash, baby lotion and talc-free powder that is safe to use on your babies skin. Every product, including their pregnancy skin care line, is allergy tested and free of artificial dyes, fragrances, pthalates, and other xenoestrogens.

Read more about these potentially harmful chemicals in this ABC News article.

Note: At Stella Maternity, we are also currently looking into offering more baby skin care and other baby products that are free from these chemicals.