Wishing you peace…

The hectic pace of the holiday season can take its toll – but all of us at le•top wish you a holiday filled with family, friends and the laughter of children.

We will be closed for a few days to celebrate and ready ourselves for the New Year. See you then!

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did NOT say that!

I know Santa is Daddy, so Santa should stop playing video games upstairs and help me paint.”

– Seiji, age 5

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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Potty Training…Is there a magic word?

Okay – it is true confessions time!  I am at a loss, and hate to admit that my almost 3 year old daughter seems to have managed to best me on potty training.  I was impressed that Jamee seemed to have had a pretty easy time – but it certainly has not worked that way for me.  Lilah is very capable of going without diapers – and has proved this during weekend shopping outings.  She seemed to easily manage – communicating when it was time to visit the restroom.

Lilah wearing her pull-up as a hat

At age 18 months I ‘introduced’ Lilah to the concept – and purchased a small seat that sits on the toilet, with a stool used for accessibility.  I had heard that it was important not to push too early, so we waited until she was 27 months before we started really trying to ‘train’ – not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable and losing her cooperation in the process.

When Lilah is at home she does not wear a diaper, and uses the potty when needed.  She follows all the ‘rules’ – and always remembers to wipe and flush.  We praise her for her actions, hoping this will be the positive reinforcement needed.  When she is at daycare she ALWAYS chooses to wear diapers!  Perhaps she does not want to be bothered with interrupting her play?  I give her a choice of wearing her new Dora and Sesame Street underwear or putting on a diaper – and the choice is consistently to wear her Elmo diapers.  Is it a problem that I am giving her a choice?

Lilah’s daycare has other children her age, and they all seem to be wearing diapers.  The children are regularly taken to the potty – and receive stickers and praise when they successfully use the potty.  Perhaps when one switches the others will fall in line?  Of course I would love for Lilah to be a leader in this arena!  She will be moving to preschool late next year and will be required to be potty trained by that time.  I really want this to happen sooner than later – since it is obvious she is capable, but chooses not to ‘participate’ fully.  The le•top staff has contributed suggestions – including ‘you’re getting to be a big girl’ and the pretty panties angle.  Nothing has worked so far. Is there a ‘magic word’ I should know?  Let’s share!

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did NOT say that!

My friend, Stephanie’s daughter came home from school and told her mother that some kids at school say that Santa is really your parents putting presents under the tree after you go to sleep. Her reply to her friends are,

I don’t think so because my Dad goes to bed early, AND Santa brings me stuff my mom would NEVER get me, like a Bratz doll that you can put make-up on.”

– Audrianna, age 9

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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Ice Skating: Fun times or Forget it!

Paulo (wearing A Dog's Life polar fleece from le•top's 2009 Fall/Winter Collection) isn't a fan of ice skating.

Ice skaters make it look so easy! Watching them glide across the ice makes me want to try the sport and dream of dancing and swaying gracefully on the ice, looking like a beautiful ballerina. STOP! One can dream, right? Well, I’m not too bad. Wobbly, yes. But I can skate a lap or two.

Miranda wants to glide as well. This is her 2nd time on the ice. The first time was when she was 3-years old. We went to Lake Tahoe and gave it a go. It was such a horrible experience for her. She slipped and fell so many times and vowed never to ice skate again! Well, that was then. This time was more pleasurable. She took a stack of buckets, held on, then push… push… PUSHED herself across the ice. Of course, she slipped and fell more than once, but she picked herself back up and tried again—until she made one lap around. Success!

Now she wants to skate again tomorrow. We can’t. You have ballet. Then we can skate the day after that! No, you have swim class. How about the next day? (I’ve run out of excuses.) We’ll see.

Miranda is wearing a Pink Leopard Faux Fur jacket from the 2008 Winter Collection.

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did NOT say that!

My friend and her husband took their daughter to her first hockey game. One of the players was sent to the penalty box. She asked her parents,

So when he comes out of the penalty box, is he going to say ‘sorry’?”

– Katie, age 5

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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Deck the Halls…from Hong Kong!

I loved hearing from ‘home’ that our office is getting all decked out for the holidays! Paul and I are here in Hong Kong, working on next season’s collections and we always miss home, especially as Christmas approaches. 

Here in Hong Kong – in our ‘other home’ – we can also get into the season – because Hong Kong puts on a huge display of Christmas lights and decorations!  I feel just like a little kid – ‘ooing and ‘awwing as we drive past some of the fabulous Christmas displays.

Paul and I will be home for the holidays with our family – but here is a view of our version of ‘getting into the spirit!’

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Tis the Season

It’s that time of year again!  The smell of fresh pine filling the air and warm fires heating our homes.  Christmas bulbs and twinkling lights are coming out of the closet to fill our hearts with delight!  At the le•top offices we are joining in the festive cheer.  Today, we pulled out the garland and Christmas decals and hung them all around the office, while listening to the merry sounds of songs like Jingle Bells and White Christmas.  Next up, the arrival of our annual Christmas Tree…OOOOOO I can’t wait!!!!

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Holiday Memories

Some of our Turkey Decorations

I was thrilled on Thanksgiving when my aunt and uncle, with their family in tow, joined our small family at my parent’s house.  My husband and I were hoping for the ‘big family’ feeling for the holiday – knowing that Lilah is at an age when memories might become permanent.  I am not the ‘chief cook’ in these holiday scenarios – so I focused on the handmade decorations.  In preparation for the event Lilah and I made the hand/foot turkeys and a couple of other Thanksgiving crafts for the table – it’s amazing how long these craft projects sometimes take but she really enjoyed the process! 

Kelly and Lilah

Our small family (I’m an only child and so is Lilah) relishes the holidays because we see more of our family.  I had the opportunity to visit with my cousin and her children – Kelly (2yrs) and Erin (newborn). They are the only other part of our family with babies in the Bay Area. Lilah and Kelly took an hour or so to warm up to each other but midway through the party they 

Baby Erin

were jumping on beds and feeding the pond fish together – so cute!  I loved seeing them interact as they ran, jumped, giggled and demanded to be tickled. I can’t wait until all three of the cousins are able to play together. It’s not too far away!  What better holiday memory than realizing that you have cousins to share turkey and fun! 

  

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Did you get your picture with Santa yet?

Paulo and Miranda in le•top's 2009 Deck The Halls Collection

It’s that time of year to visit Jolly Ol’ St. Nick and hopefully get a great snapshot of your children as they whisper to him what they want for Christmas. This year, Miranda asked for books. Books? Yes, she seriously asked for books. She’s so practical—even Santa Claus was in shock! (Last year she asked for clothes, and she most certainly received tons of beautiful clothes from a special Santa.) As for Paulo, this is his first Christmas and first photo with Santa. I was hoping to see some tears or a hint of fear in his eyes, but he sat comfortably on Santa’s lap without a care in the world. If he could talk and tell Santa what he wants for Christmas, he would probably ask for a shoe to chew on or an electrical outlet he can poke at because Mommy won’t let him near these things.

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