Uma Thurman Welcomes a Daughter!

Photo by: Donald Traill/AP

Third times a charm! Uma Thurman, 42, delivered a baby girl this past weekend on July 15th. The new baby’s name isn’t revealed yet, but her the baby daddy is financier Arpad Busson. Thurman is already mom to daughter Maya, 14, and son Levon, 10, with actor Ethan Hawke.

We think this super cute Le Top Baby “Baby Blossoms” skirted footed jumpsuit would look so charming and sweet on her new arrival to the family. This charming white one-piece skirted footed jumpsuit is crafted with the softest cotton for delicate skin. This one-piece features an embroidered pastel bouquet across the yoke and petite ruffles with pink picot trim along the skirt and cuffs. Pink satin bows adorn the dainty footies. Back and underneath snaps assist dressing.

Le Top Baby “Baby Blossoms” Skirted Footed Jumpsuit

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It’s a boy for Alessandra Ambrósio

Axelle Bauer-Griffin

Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrósio and her fiancé Jamie Mazur welcomed a son, Noah Phoenix, into their family on Monday in Florianopolis, Brazil just two days after her baby shower.

Today Ambrósio tweeted, “Well, the day just arrived and we couldn’t be more happy!!! Noah Phoenix was born yesterday afternoon and already stole our hearts. Anja is a proud big sister now and we are so thankful he is with us…”

We think little Noah would look so stylish in Rabbitmoon’s “Explore” collection striped footed coverall. The 100% combed cotton would be super soft against his skin.

Rabbitmoon “Explore” Striped Footed Coverall

The couple who have has been together since 2005 are already parents to daughter, 3½-year-old Anja Louise.

Congratulations to the whole family!

This comfy, soft copen blue striped
combed cotton footed coverall features
a green boyish raised felt moto-biker
graphic. Blue paneled shoulders
and footies with racing stripe
grosgrain ribbon trim add racing
hero charm. Button up front and
underneath diaper snaps for easy dressing.

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It’s a girl for Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Maggie Gyllenhaal, 34, and Peter Sarsgaard, 41, welcomed another daughter into their family. Gloria Ray was born on Thursday, April 19 in New York City, her rep confirms to multiple sources.

We think this little bundle of joy would look so cute in Le Top’s Calico Cutie Smocked Calico Puff Sleeve Top & Panty which is available in 3m to 24m at www.letop-usa.com.

Your little buttercup will look so sweet in this soft and stretchy cornflower blue calico floral smocked top with scoop pockets and ruffle cuff panty. Puff sleeves and dainty crochet flowers make this a breathable and vintage look for summer.

Le Top Calico Cutie Smocked Calico Puff Sleeve Top & Panty

The couple, who have been together since 2002 and wed in Italy in 2009, are already parents to daughter Ramona, 5.

Sarsgaard was concerned about preparing Ramona for sisterhood. “I’ve seen kids with siblings — I don’t have any siblings, so I don’t know — but they generally go for about five minutes, ‘Oh, cool! Anyway, what are we going to do now? Can we return it?'” he told reporters in February. “I think it gets boring quickly, at first, and it takes a while for them to bond.”

Cheers to the new addition to the family Maggie and Peter!

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Hand Cookie Recipe for Kids! Fun!

To all of our loyal readers:

I am sorry I have been a little M.I.A. lately! I am getting ready for my wedding that is in 2 weeks (and counting), and working diligently on prepping and gearing up our Le Top and Rabbitmoon websites with our Fall 2012 collections for you shoppers and fans! I promise to be back with great daily blog posts soon, and appreciate your understanding for our minimized  blog posts the past few weeks. Keep busy with your little ones with this SUPER CUTE cookie recipe…could be a cute idea for mother’s day!! Or to even give to your grandmother’s (as long as they aren’t diabetic)!

 

THE RECIPE!
Yield: Makes 8-10 cookies

Cookies are a perfect-size snack for little hands. This recipe was designed with kids in mind!

Older children can use their hand to outline the cookies, drawing around it on the dough with a skewer and using a knife tip to cut along the line. If your child can’t cut with a knife, make a pattern from a manila folder or translucent parchment works well; it will allow you to see the shape of the cookie through it.

INGREDIENTS:

For Dough

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, for decorating

For Decorating

• 1 large egg white
• 1 teaspoon water
• Sanding sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, and beat until smooth, about 1 minute.
3. Add reserved flour mixture, and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Stir in vanilla. Wrap dough in plastic, and refrigerate for about 45 minutes.
4. Make cookie pattern and heart stencil while wrapped dough is chilling. For the pattern, have your child trace his or her hand on a manila file folder, and cut out the tracing. You will lay this on the dough and trace around it with the tip of a paring knife. For the heart stencil, cut a heart shape from a piece of parchment paper, discarding center.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On a well-floured work surface, roll out cold dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out hand shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Dough scraps may be re-rolled twice.
6. To decorate the cookies with sanding sugar hearts, lay the heart stencil over a cookie. Combine the egg white with the water in a small bowl. Brush the egg wash in the heart, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Lift stencil and repeat with remaining cookies. Bake until edges just begin to brown lightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cookies cool on pans for 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

CHECK OUT LE TOP CHILDREN’S PLAYWEAR AT
www.letop-usa.com

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Le Top Darling of the Day: Ruby

Today’s Darling, Ruby (15-months-old) likes emptying her big sister Cam-Ly‘s puzzle toys all over the floor, but clearly has no idea how to put the puzzles together… yet.  She also enjoys skooting around on the floor, big breakfasts and never tires of the fact that a baby in the mirror looks just like her. Sooo precious! Ruby has a cheerful, relaxed disposition and loves people. Congrats beautiful girl on your being crowned the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Hillary Duff is a Mom!

Photo: Matt Sayles/AP

The 24-year-old actress, singer and author, best known for starring on Disney’s “Lizzie McGuire,” and her husband, retired Canadian hockey player Mike Comrie (31), welcomed a son Tuesday, March 20.

Duff tweeted, “Welcome to the World Luca Cruz Comrie! Tuesday evening, we became proud parents of a healthy 7 pound 6 ounce beautiful boy.”

“We are overjoyed and feel like the luckiest parents in the world. He is surrounded by so much love!! Mom and baby are both doing extremely well.”

The couple married in August 2010 and she announced her pregnancy in August 2011.

According to US Weekly Duff’s plan is to enjoy motherhood for a while and then get back to work making a record and going on tour.

Le Top Baby "Animal Crackers" Striped Coverall

Congratulations on the new member of your family!

Don’t you think little Luca would look adorable in the Le Top “Animal Crackers” Collection striped coverall? We do.

Go wild over this adorable light blue and white striped long sleeve coverall crafted with gentle cotton for exceptional comfort. Navy ribbed trims and cross-stitch embroidered giraffe, bear and elephant and mini backside pocket add classic style. Asymmetrical front shoulder buttons and underneath snaps assist dressing.

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Bellybum Boutique: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

This week we headed to the mid-west to interview one of the chicest baby and children’s boutique’s in all of Chicago Illinois – Bellybum Boutique? Never been? Trust Ellen Sternweiler, store owner, on her killer instincts and excellent taste for children’s products, clothing, accessories and toys…your kiddo is sure to be styling and dressed to impress! She gave s the inside scoop on her store’s upcoming events and sales, the best items for parents shopping for a warm-weather winter vacation, and her favorite Rabbitmoon collection for spring! Read more below! 

Bellybum Boutique

4347 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
773.868.0944

www.bellybumboutique.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN Bellybum Boutique Facebook page and click HERE

 

Owner, Ellen Sternweiler

1.    Tell us the inspiration behind the name Bellybum Boutique? How long has your store been around?
I was trying to figure out a good name for a store that would specialized in everything for pre & postnatal moms and cloth diapers…hmmm…mama bellies & baby bums! Perfect 🙂

2.    Spring 2012 styles are coming into stores and brightening up any family’s winter wardrobe. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
Of course we always love receiving our new Rabbitmoon Collection — and this season will not disappoint (so cute)! We also just received a gorgeous new line of organic toys, blankets & clothing from Finn & Emma. Swaddle Designs blankets make great gifts: Soft and cozy, these 3-blanket cotton/fleece sets are perfect for any cool spring day. No mama’s ensemble will be complete this season without one of our gorgeous cardigans from Splendid! Lastly, I bet any sleep deprived parent can figure out why our “On-the-Go Sleep Sheep” are a must have…

3.    Any special events that you have planned at your store for spring? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and especially the fun deals we can expect!
We like to have fun and surprise our customers…That said, you can expect more fun, and sometimes silly, Spring/Summer sales and events in addition to our current Winter Clearance sale. We are planning a big event in the Spring to celebrate the opening of our new Sensory Kids™ Store, and we are sponsoring the Autism Speaks Walk in June. Stay tuned for more information about walking with “Team Bellybum.” And, of course, if the weather continues to astound, we will surely bring back our ever-popular “Temperature Sale.”

4.    What is your “go-to” baby shower gift in your store for boys and girls?
Padalily car seat handle pads (for moms), Apple Park Organic Plush Rattles & Toys (for Babies), and Moby Wraps (for parents) are hands down customer favorites!

5.    What are your top 3 children’s movies or books and why?

• ChittyChittyBangBang (still great after all these years!)
• Jungle Book (who wouldn’t love Baloo?)
• The Phantom Toll Booth (Read this! Then read it to your young children, then let them read it again when they can, then re-read it yourself…you’ll get something new from this every time. I promise)

6.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
Nurse or use cloth diapers. Now I own a store that specializes in those things. Go figure!

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Chicago, Illinois? Did you grow up in the local area?
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Now, after 20 years in Chicago, I finally consider myself a Chicagoan (though I’ve gotta admit I’m still an Indians and Cavs fan). I love the Lincoln Square/Northcenter neighborhood where my store is located and where I live. It’s the perfect mixture of old and new and committed to being the ‘greenest’ neighborhood in Chicago. It’s a terrific place to raise a family with beautiful parks, as well as plenty of hip stores and great restaurants.

8.    What are the hottest trends for kids clothes right now?
Cute with a twist: I think people are tired of ‘sophisticated.’ It seems people want kids to look like kids…just the modern version.

9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Jury’s (Best Burger), Julius Meinl (Best Coffeehouse), Wells Park (Sports, Concerts…), The Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Square (Gift Stores, Book Stores, Restaurants…)

10.   What Le Top or Rabbitmoon Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
We LOVE the Rabbitmoon “Summer” sunlit yellow collection!!! The colors are so fresh and who knew yellow could look so good?! The “Pieced Top With Tie Shoulder” is ridiculously cute with the matching hat. OMG!

Rabbitmoon "Summer" Collection A-Line Dress

Bellybum Boutique

4347 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
773.868.0944

www.bellybumboutique.com

 CHECK-IN and JOIN
Bellybum Boutique
Facebook page and click HERE

 

 

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Le Top Darling of the Day: Marion

Today’s Darling, precious Marion (20 months-old), looks like she’s ready to get into some mischief. In this photos she was enjoying a day playing at the beach and wondering just how far she would be allowed to go in.

Congratulations are in order to Marion for being our Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Daylight Savings & Kids Sleeping Tips!

Daylight savings is coming up on Sunday, March 11th. It’s spring so we move our clocks forward one hour and “lose” an extra hour at night. Even just an hour change can be a disruption in your child’s (*and yours!) sleep.

This never comes soon enough for me though it can make it temporarily a little harder to get up in the morning since it’s darker. These simple tips for babies (6 months and older), toddlers and kids will help you stay on track with good sleep habits. Give your children a few days to settle in to the new time. After they adjust to the new clock, the only thing left to do is get outside and enjoy that extra hour of light at night.

This is important to understand because it is already hard to find the right nap or bedtime and with the time change, it can be even trickier. Effectively, the time change is like jet lag if you were to travel one time zone ahead of you. Because our internal clocks are “set” to be asleep or awake at certain times, adjusting your schedule on the day before and the morning of the time change can help immensely. But, this means you must change your whole routine, not just sleep times. There are many things that cue your baby into a schedule or routine such as the sunrise, meal times, the time you take her out for a walk, and so on. So, if your baby wakes at 6 a.m. and her nap is usually at 8 a.m., on the day before the time change, put her down a little early.

KEY: Change all your daytime routines to be a little earlier, not just sleep.

1.  On Saturday try to do everything 15 minutes or so earlier. Since most kids won’t want to go to bed a whole hour early (and may not be ready) then put them to bed on Saturday night (3/10) 30 minutes early, slightly shortening their day.

2.  Spring your clocks forward an hour when you go to bed or if you want your kids to think they’re staying up late, set them before they go to bed. 🙂

3.  Wake up with your child(ren) at the usual time on Sunday morning (3/11). Here is where they will lose a little sleep but it sets them up for going to bed at the regular time to start the week right. For babies and toddlers just let them nap a little longer if they need it but not too long or they may not go to sleep easily in the evening.

4.  Follow the clock for naps and bedtime from here forward. It can take a few days for your child to fully adjust, so be patient and consistent.

Tip: If you don’t already have them, try room-darkening blinds/curtains at night.

CHECK OUT LE TOP BABY AND CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AT
www.letop-usa.com

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Popsicle Stick Craft Box for Kids!

It’s a jewelry box, it’s a treasure box, it’s a secret box….Turn craft popsicle sticks into a log- cabin-style container for jewelry, hair ties, or any fun kiddo collectible. I remember making these in school and was so proud to show it to mommy and daddy. Build one this weekend with your kids for a fun afternoon (or early morning) activity.

This post has been moved to our website: http://blog.letop-usa.com/?p=24102

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www.letop-usa.com

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