Crib Bedding Sale!

Get ready for baby! It's time to get the "nest" together in preparation of your baby's arrival.

Now through June 15th, save an extra 10% on all crib bedding at Stella Maternity. Just enter coupon code "NESTING" during checkout to save big on unique crib sets. And, as always, shipping is free on orders over $150.

Shop the crib bedding sale now!

Win a Serena & Lily Nursery Style Book!

Enter for your chance to win the Serena & Lily Nursery Style book.

Nursery Style is an inspiring guide to finding your personal style and creating a one-of-a-kind nursery. Each chapter of this fabulous book shows you how to implement your theme with color, fabrics and accessories making this the ultimate guide to decorating baby's room.

For more inspiration check out Serena & Lily's collection of luxurious crib bedding at SerenaandLily.com. Their designs are elegant, modern and sophisticated. My favorites are the Rory crib set, which is modern and would work for a boy or a girl, and the Wren crib set, which is pure luxury with it's heirloom embroidery on 350 thread count Egyptian cotton.

To enter the Nursery Style book contest, please email us at contests@stellamaternity.com. Include your name and an email address where we can reach you if you win. The contest ends April 30th. Good Luck!

Request Serena & Lily’s FREE catalog Here

Personalized Story Book!

I recently received a personalized story book, "The First Adventures of Incredible You," from Custom Made for Kids. The story was made for my 4 1/2 year old son, Ethan. Since I just had a new baby, I thought having something just for him would make him feel special.

The book was even better than I expected. The story was adorable and my son thought it was so cool that it was about him. He wants to read it over and over! The hardcover and the richly colored illustrations make this a really high quality keepsake. When ordering, you answer a series of questions regarding your child. (Such as the child's name, favorite park, playmates, etc.) The book is then made especially for your child. The story incorporates all the things that are special to your child and includes a dedication page so your child will always know this book was from you.

These personalized books would make perfect gifts and are a great way to get a young child into reading. Who doesn't want to read about themselves?

Get yours at http://www.custommadeforkids.com/.

Jackson Reese is Here!

I haven't been posting much lately and here is the reason why...

My husband and I welcomed a baby boy on March 14th at 12:08 am. Jackson Reese weighed in at 8 lbs., 5 oz. and was 20.5" long. He joins big brother Ethan who is 4 1/2 years old. We are so excited and also sleep deprived!

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.

Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/Combi-Pod-Bouncer-in-Wasabi/dp/B0010BPM24.

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.

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.

Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Noah's Arcade is a new line of cool baby tees and onesies created by two friends after the birth of their sons. They wanted edgy, alternative styles for their baby boys and had trouble finding clothes to suit their unique tastes. This prompted the two friends to create their own brand of boys clothing. Their unique designs are printed on super soft cotton for comfort and style.

The Shake, Rattle and Roll baby tee is a cool rocker baby tee with a distressed skull and rattle image. The Little Squirt baby onesie is an edgy design done in the modern color combo of blue and brown. The black P.I.M.P. "Poopie in my Pants" baby tee is all about attitude.

These cutting edge tees will definitely make your baby boy stand out in a crowd!

Celebrity Baby Update!

The latest baby news from Tinseltown!

Actor Jack Black and his wife Tanya Haden are expecting a baby. Jack recently told reporters: "Yes, she's expecting." The due date was not announced. This will be the second child for the couple who have 1½-year-old boy.

Rapper T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) and his on again, off again girlfriend Tameka "Tiny" Cottle of the '90s R&B group Xscape, are expecting a baby boy together. The news of the pregnancy comes in the middle of T.I.'s house arrest sentence in Georgia for illegal weapons charges. T.I. was arrested last October for allegedly trying to buy machine guns and silencers. He was released on a $3 million bond until the outcome of his trial and is currently under home confinement.

Without a Trace actress Poppy Montgomery, 35, and her boyfriend, actor Adam Kaufman, welcomed a baby boy on December 23rd. Jackson Phillip Kaufman, was born in Los Angeles and weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. This is the first child for Poppy and Adam.

Model/volleyball star Gabrielle Reece and her husband, surfer Laird Hamilton, welcomed a baby girl on New Year's Day in Hawaii. Brody Jo Hamilton weighed in at 8 lb., 2 oz. This is the second child for Gabrielle and Laird who have a 4-year-old daughter named Reece Viola.

Boxing champ Oscar de la Hoya and Millie Corretjer welcomed a baby girl on December 29th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nina Lauren Nenitte de la Hoya arrived at 4:36 p.m. and weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz., and measured 20.5.

Olympic gold-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu and her husband, Dr. Michael Canales, welcomed their first child on December 25th. Carmen Noel Canales was born just after 3 p.m. on Christmas day at Cleveland's MacDonald Women's Hospital. The baby girl weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz. and measured 18.5 inches.

Yulia Volkova, of the Russian duo t.A.T.u., welcomed a baby boy on December 27. The baby boy was born in the morning at 6:35 a.m. (Moscow time). The child's father is identified only as Parviz. The baby's name is being kept a secret at this time.

Actress Teri Polo and her musician boyfriend Jamie Wollam welcomed a baby girl on December 20th in Los Angeles. Bayley was born at 3:02 p.m. and weighed 7 lbs. This was the first child for Teri, 38, and Jamie together. They each have sons from previous marriages.

British singer Lily Allen, 22, is pregnant with her first child. Lily has been dating the Chemical Brothers' Ed Simons, 37, since September. Allen's rep stated, "As the pregnancy is at a very, very early stage, the couple ask that you respect their privacy. The couple will be making no further comment but they are obviously both thrilled by the news."

Actor Chris O'Donnell and his wife, Caroline, welcomed their fifth child, daughter Maeve Frances O'Donnell on December 10th in Los Angeles. Maeve was 8 lbs. and 21½ inches long when she was born and she joins sister Lily, 8, and brothers Chip, 7, Charlie, 4 and Finley, 1.

Britney Spear's 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. She is reported to be about 14 weeks along. The father is Jamie Lynn's longtime boyfriend Casey Aldridge. Nickelodeon, which carries her TV show Zoey 101, released a statement: "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

Actress Helena Bonham Carter and her director boyfriend Tim Burton have welcomed their second child together on December 15th. The baby girl was born in London and joins big brother Billy, 4. Helena's rep stated, "They are absolutely delighted they have a daughter. It's a lovely Christmas present for the family."

Actress Jessica Alba is pregnant with boyfriend Cash Warren's child. Alba's rep stated, "I can confirm that Jessica and Cash are expecting a baby in late spring, early summer." Jessica, 26, and Cash, 28, have dated since the fall of 2004 after they met on the set of The Fantastic Four.

Rascal Flatts singer/guitarist Joe Don Rooney and his wife, Tiffany Fallon, are expecting a baby next May. This will be the first child for the couple. Rooney released a statement: "We are so excited to be adding a new life to our home." Fallon, who was Playboy's 2005 Playmate of the Year, added: "We cannot wait to become parents and cannot believe this time next year, we will be celebrating Christmas with a child!"

Crossing Jordan star Jill Hennessy and her husband, Paolo Mastropietro, welcomed a baby boy named Gianni on November 21st in New York. This is the second child for the couple. Jill's rep stated: "Both Jill and the baby are healthy and the family is thrilled."

Pacify Your Baby Naturally!

Going green? Go all the way! Eco Piggy has a new all natural pacifier for babies.

The Eco Piggy pacifier is made of pure rubber from the rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensi). Besides being 100% natural, PVC and phtalate-free, the protein that may provoke a latex allergy is removed from the rubber mass used for these pacifiers, so there is also no risk of latex allergy. The resulting pacifier is naturally softer than silicone and even makes a wonderful teether.

This natural pacifier is a great way for eco-conscience moms to soothe their fussy babies. The clear "coca cola" brown color of the pacifier is natural looking and a nice change from standard pastels.

Check out this innovative pacifier at http://www.ecopiggy.com./

Hip Baby Announcements!

Ringo Baby makes the most hip and stylish baby announcements I have ever seen.

Their unique baby announcements are sophisticated instead of cutesy. The line includes announcements, invitations, thank you cards, holiday cards, baby bookmarks and even magnets and CD covers.

The personalized CD covers are one of my favorites. A selection of special songs is such a great way to announce a new baby. The covers come with coordinating stick-on CD labels and are perfect for giving as announcements or baby shower favors. The bookmarks and refrigerator magnets are also truly unusual ways to introduce your newborn.

I'm six months pregnant myself and having a hard time deciding which one to choose from all the great styles.

Check out the entire selection at http://www.ringobaby.com/ and save 15% off your order with the coupon code STELLA15.

Creating a Modern Nursery with Crib Bedding

Crib bedding with bold graphics and a fresh colors can add a modern feel to your baby nursery.

Baby bedding designers such as Super Natural Baby, Pixel Organics, Baby Star and Gus & Max make unique crib bedding sets that are comfortable, practical and stylish. When decorating your nursery, the first step should be choosing your crib set. This will set the theme for your nursery and allow you to pick complementary colors for the walls and accessories.

Some hot colors for modern nurseries are:

- Orange as in the Gus & Max Mod Cube Crib Set or the Pixel Organics Lions, Tigers and Kittens Baby Bedding. Mixing orange with hot pink adds a spicy touch to a baby girl's room. For this combo try the Super Natural Baby Crib Set in Bird Orange/Pink or the Lucy in the Sky with Diamond's Crib Set.

- Cool shades of Robin's Egg blue, green or Aqua as in the Pixel Scary Fish Crib Set, the Super Natural Baby Alphabet Crib Bedding Set, the Gus & Max Sky Blue/Sap Green Crib Set or the Pitter Patter Collections Andaman Sea Set.

- Mixing traditional colors such as pink or baby blue with chocolate brown can also give a crib set a modern feel. Try the Baby Star Flutter Pink or Flutter Blue Baby Bedding to achieve this look.

- Bright yellow combined with modern graphics in the Super Natural Baby Urban Crib Bedding Set and the Daisy Crib Set bring a cheerful sunny look to your nursery.

A comfortable and chic modern nursery will be a wonderful and calming place to spend time with your new baby.

Eat Tofu, Save A Turkey!

Going green has never been this cute!

Cue-T Organic Couture's line of baby onesies and toddler tees are all made of 100% organic cotton. The hip designs encourage us all to "go green." Cue-T is a Green Company and they do everything in their power to be environmentally friendly. The super cute environmentally friendly baby clothes come packaged in a recycled box and are printed with soy-based inks.

By buying organic cotton, we can help to prevent water pollution and pesticide poisoning of crops and wildlife. Cue-T's baby clothes are hip, happening and friendly to mother earth!

Some of my favorites are the "Green is the New Black" onesie and the "Give Peas a Chance" tee. These are cute, soft and you can feel good about doing your part to help save the earth.

Check out this adorable "Eat Tofu, Save a Turkey" tee and all the other cool eco-friendly designs at http://www.cue-t.com/.

Happy Thanksgiving Moms!

Stowers Swaddling Blankets

Any new parent can tell you that swaddling an infant will help to calm a baby and get them to sleep longer. What new parent doesn't want that?

Stowers Swaddling Blankets help to make swaddling a little easier for tired parents. The super soft lightweight cotton flannel blankets have a pocket at the feet and velcro at the top. This makes the tricky technique of swaddling your baby easy! The Stowers Swaddler was created by a labor/delivery, post-partum, newborn nursery nurse with extensive knowledge of the fine art of swaddling. She created the swaddler to make it simple for anyone to learn.

Swaddling reminds infants of the womb, which helps to calm and comfort even fussy babies. Swaddling also helps to increase the duration of sleep, by minimizing the "startle" reflex that can cause a baby to jerk his arms and wake himself up.

Check out all the styles available at http://www.stowersswaddler.com and get some rest!

Celebrity Baby News!

Brooke Burke and her fiancé, David Charvet, are expecting another baby next spring. The couple already have a 10 month old daughter together named Heaven Rain. Brooke, 36, also has two other daughters, 7 year old Neriah and 5 year old Sierra, from a previous marriage.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck called into the View Monday morning to reveal the name of her 3-day-old baby boy. The 7 lb., 15 oz. baby boy is named Taylor Thomas.

Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and husband Michael Nilon welcomed twin boys on October 18th. Jax Joseph Nilon was born at 8:30 p.m. and weighed 4 lbs. 7 oz., and Jaid Thomas Nilon was born at 8:31 p.m. and weighed 4 lbs. 9 oz.

Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman, Anthony Kiedis, and his girlfriend model Heather Christie reportedly welcomed a baby boy on October 2nd in Los Angeles. The baby boy was named Everly Bear Kiedis after one of Anthony's favorite bands, the Everly Brothers. Heather contributed the Bear part of the name.

Chris "Big Black" Boykin, star of the MTV show Rob & Big, will become a dad around the middle of February. Boykin told People, "I'm just going, 'Hey, I know it's going to be a girl, so I can prepare myself for that.' Other than that, it's a great feeling." Big Black's daughter will be named Isis after the Egyptian queen.

Actor Nick Nolte and Clytie Lane have welcomed a baby girl on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The as yet unnamed baby weighed 7 lbs. and 13 oz.

Former Growing Pains actress Tracey Gold and her husband, Roby Marshall, are expecting their fourth son. The couple, who met in 1990, are also parents to sons Aiden Michael, 3, Bailey, 8, and Sage 10.

Actress Soleil Moon Frye and her husband, producer Jason Goldberg, are expecting their second child. Soliel is due in the spring.

Meet the Parents actress Teri Polo and her drummer boyfriend, Jamie Wollam, are expecting a baby girl. Teri is seven months pregnant.

Fall Maternity Clothes!

Fall is here and it is the perfect time to update your maternity wardrobe with some stylish and warm maternity clothes.

Layers are key to staying comfortable in the unpredictable weather. Try pairing a long sleeve maternity tee with a lightweight maternity jacket and a pair of great fitting maternity jeans for a stylish and versatile outfit. Another good bet is a long sleeve maternity hoody over a maternity tank top.

Maternity dresses can be paired with boots or tights to welcome the cooler weather. For a truly versatile dress, try the Japanese Weekend 3-in-1 maternity dress/crop top/skirt.

Don't forget to also pamper your skin with a great belly oil or belly butter. Pregnancy skin care is especially important in the fall and winter when skin can become chapped and itchy.

Sexy Maternity Lingerie!

Truly sexy maternity lingerie is one of the hardest things to find when you're pregnant. You can find comfortable things and even cute things, but sexy is hard to come by. Ke'Koqueta is changing all that! This brand new line of sexy and flirty maternity lingerie is luxurious and seductive. Their chemises come with matching panties or thongs to complete the bombshell look.

Ke'Koqueta maternity lingerie is designed to enhance and flatter the pregnant figure, making you feel like the fertile goddess that you are!

Belli Pregnancy Skin Care

Belli Cosmetics makes pregnancy and baby skin care products that are luxurious and safe for mom and baby.

The founders of Belli, Annette and Jason Rubin, really know their stuff. Jason is a board-certified family practitioner with broad experience in obstetrics, pediatrics and dermatology. His wife, Annette, has 17 years of experience in the cosmetics industry, beginning with executive positions at Estee Lauder Corporation overseeing the Clinique brand. Together they were able to come up with a line of skin care that is super effective without the use of harmful chemicals that could possible be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream during pregnancy or breastfeeding. These high standards make Belli Cosmetics the #1 brand recommended by Ob-Gyn physicians.

The Belli Elasticity Belly Oil has become a cult favorite among moms-to-be. Not only is it effective in preventing stretch marks, but the lavender scent is amazing. The Belli Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream is a powerful solution for decreasing the appearance of existing stretchmarks.

Shop for Belli Cosmetics Skin Care.

Celebrity Babies!

The latest celebrity baby news and gossip!

Jennifer Lopez is rumored to be pregnant. She is supposedly about 14 weeks along and possibly carrying twins!

Halle Berry and her boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubry, are expecting a baby together. Halle is said to be about three months along.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, are expecting their second child. Melissa is four months along. This baby will be a younger sibling to the couple's nearly two year old son, Mason.

Actress Tina Yothers, best known for her former role on Family Ties, gave birth to a baby boy on September 24th. Jake Kaiser was born at 6:08 am and weighed 8.8 lbs.

E! News correspondent and Dancing with the Stars co-host Samantha Harris and her husband, Michael Hess, welcomed a baby girl on September 23rd. Josselyn Sydney Hess was born at 1:49 a.m. in Los Angeles and weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz. This is the first child for the couple.

Singer Christina Aguilera and her husband, Jordan Bratman, are expecting their first child together. The couple has not confirmed the pregnancy, but Christina is obviously sporting a baby bump.

Actress Jeri Ryan and her husband, chef Christophe Emé, are expecting a baby. This will be the second child for Ryan who has a 12 year old son named Alex from a previous marriage. Jeri is due in March 2008.

Actress Jacinda Barrett and her husband, Gabriel Macht, welcomed a baby girl, Satine Anais Geraldine Macht, on August 20th in Los Angeles. This is the first child for the couple.

Luxurious Leather Diaper Bags!

The "it" accessory for any new mom is a fashionable and chic diaper bag. Made to look like a regular chic handbag, leather diaper bags add style to any outfit.

Baby Kaed offers leather diaper bags that are perfect for fall. Choose the Jaipur leather diaper bag in tangerine or skye blue for a touch of stunning color or go with the Masala leather diaper bag in black night or brick for a more classic look.

If your style is a little more rock-n-roll, the Fleurville black leather diaper bag with a hot pink interior is sure to fit the bill.

Check out all the designer diaper bags and find one to fit your unique style!