Learning How to Share

The time finally arrived! My three-year old son has learned how to share. This is a picture of him sharing cars with a friend in his Mommy & Me class. I remember last year when he and two other boys would eye the same car/truck/train, look at each other, then dive for the toy as they each tried to yank it from each others’ grasps. Oh, boy! That was a nightmare because all the mommies had to deal with the crying, the fighting and giving our sons “The Talk” about sharing. It’s a good thing we mothers are all on the same page regarding this, and know that we need to teach our children how to play together.

A year later, I stand in the classroom with pride (and with my camera) as I listen to my son say, “Do you want this car?” and proceed to play nicely with his friend. He’s growing up!

Paulo is wearing the rabbitmoon “discover” striped zip hoody. For this comfy cotton layering piece and more mix and match stylish kid’s clothing go to www.rabbitmoon-usa.com.

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

We were at school one morning, and I wanted to get a picture of my daughter with her classmates. As I readied my camera, Miranda posed with one of her girlfriends. I noticed a boy standing a couple of feet from them so I asked him, “Why don’t you stand next to the girls so you can be in the picture, too?”

I can’t. I’m allergic to pink!”

–Seiji, 6  years old

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

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In Front of our Very Eyes! Growing Up Le Top

As a child I remember seeing relatives or friends after a long absence, and the first thing they would say would be “You’ve grown so much!”  I know that every parent sees their children, knows they are growing, but rarely thinks about just how much they have grown…until someone with ‘fresh’ eyes calls attention to their transformation into ‘big kids!’

Here at Le Top we have watched so many children “grow up Le Top” – and the evidence is right in front of us – because we have walls filled with photos of ‘Le Top past’ – modeled by children that have now grown up so much!  As you walk down the hallway of Le Top it is like a walk through time…

Nicholas and Dylan – our National Sales Manager’s sons – are represented from tiny babies until they were just too big for the clothes! It is really fun to see them ‘grow up’ in front of the camera – and at the same time see the evolution of our fabulous le•top clothing!  Nicholas and Dylan are now 11 and 10 years old – but I think they love the fact that their ‘baby pictures’ are poster size!  Otto – my oldest grandson – made the sad transition OUT of le•top this year.  Although our ‘little prince’ did his last photo shoot for the fall season (a real pro!) we are lucky to have his understudy ready to step in…Wade, his younger brother!

Robyn’s two girls, Kira and Alyssa, have also been involved in the le•top photo shoots from early in their lives.  Teeny tiny nine year old Kira may still be able to fit into a 6X, but definitely looks her age… so we have called in her very cute replacement – little sister Alyssa – to be the next ‘star.’

It has, and will continue to be, really fun to watch the little ones grow…and to be remembered with great photos of Le Top ‘outfits past.’  One thing is for certain…we love our little ‘rogues gallery!’

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

No, I did NOT say that!

Mommy, I deleted one of my friends at school because she said she didn’t care about me.”

– Miranda, age 5

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

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Making a Choice…Family, Friends, Community

Heidi Hulse had finished up her Master’s Degree and had a momentous choice to make…the nearest job would have been an hour commute away.  Heidi choose instead to use her education within her community, and fulfill a perceived need – she knew from experience that the closest place to shop for children’s clothing was over 50 miles away – so she opened a delightful boutique that catered to the local community.  Family was an important consideration as well, and to honor this priority the boutique name is the combination of her two children’s middle names – Haylee Nicole and Hunter Jordan.

Nicole Jordan’s Children’s Clothing Boutique is located in charming and historic Mount Vernon, Ohio – founded over 200 years ago – an important stop along the railroad that connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.  One of Heidi’s favorite things about her decision to open Nicole Jordan is the friends she has made within the community. She is constantly running into customers and their children around town.  The children love the store (especially her toy room!) and the dad’s know her because “You’re the one that has the store where my wife spends her money!”  Heidi loves the craziness of “Sale Days” and wondering “What is going on here???”  She also loves “Grandmas with a ‘shopping problem!”  One of Heidi’s biggest ‘perks’ is having flexibility, including the ability to have her children with her at the store.  (Although Heidi does confide that “Some days I don’t always feel that way!”) 

Heidi Holding a Striped Coverall from the Walking with Dinosaurs Collection

Customer comments prove that Heidi has done a great job with her decision:

“For the best dress selection: The service is very personalized and the hand-picked selection is adorable. From the moment you walk in you know you are in a special place.”

“Great place to buy children’s clothes: I am always pleased when I shop at Nicole Jordan’s.  She carries beautiful dresses for infants.”

Nicole Jordan is known for special occasion clothing, including Communion, Easter and Christmas dresses.  Heidi’s impressive personalized service is another attractive reason to visit the store.  She also is pleased and happy to accept phone orders!  If you are visiting this pleasant area north of Columbus Ohio drop in and say hello – Heidi will be happy to make you feel like a local!

Nicole Jordan’s Children’s Clothing Boutique
23 N. Main Street
Mount Vernon, OH 43050-3203
740.397.9922

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Is there something in the water?

As of this moment, I know 10 women who are pregnant – all due at different times of the year. These are people I actually know, not just celebrities and their pregnancies. I remember a couple of years ago, I knew 14 women who were expecting! That’s a lot of babies. And a whole lot of baby showers! And then the birthday parties! (And we don’t need to mention all those diaper changes, clothing changes and laundry, right?) 😉

So it got me thinking, could it be something in the water? Or is it a cyclical pattern that women get pregnant every so often? Or is it, perhaps, that I’m just at a phase in my life when almost everyone in my age group is moving on to the next phase of life? Whatever it is, it’s quite amazing that I know so many women who will be giving birth and holding a new bundle of joy within the year.

Congratulations to all my family and friends!

Just for fun, here’s my list:

1. Kisha – Due June 2009
2. Anya – Due June 2009
3. Jessica – Due August 2009
4. Minnie – Due August 2009
5. Abbie – Due August 2009
6. Ana – Due September 2009
7. Kimmy – Due October 2009
8. Lisa – Due October 2009
9. Christine – Due October 2009
10. Grace – Due January 2010

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Mothers’ Sanity Helped by Playgroups

Our family moved to a new community when my daughter was 14 months old. It was tough to be a stay at home mom and figure out how to meet new people. I decided to try a local LeLeche League meeting. My daughter and I had a solid breastfeeding relationship going (and yes, she was a nursing toddler). I just felt drawn to meet other mothers in similar situations. One of the best finds from attending this meeting was hearing about a Wednesday playgroup. I got the information and called the woman who organized the activities.

It was fall season, but the group of moms and toddlers meet every Wednesday morning for two hours with varied activities each week. One week they would do an outdoor adventure, one week they would meet at someone’s home and play with the toys there, and the other two weeks of the month, they would meet at a preschool room of a local church. Such a schedule evolved, as the mothers wanted to avoid spending time at the local McDonalds during those months of poor weather! They meet at local parks during the summer months.

At first, I wondered what a playgroup would be like – would I get to talk with other mothers and visit about parenting ideas? Would my child make new friends and learn different social skills than she got when we were home alone? I soon realized these were high expectations. At the playgroup gatherings those first few months I had to stay pretty close to my daughter as she wanted that more than playing with other children. More than once I wondered if we were getting anything out of it, but the chance to interact with other families made me keep going back each week. Slowly, as my daughter grew up and her confidence blossomed, she was able to play on her own or with others. The mothers could talk a little until a fight broke out about toys, or a child began to do something dangerous.

I began to see it as a new fact of life that seldom were sentences (yet alone conversations) completed without interruptions from children’s needs. The same group continued to meet weekly and time passed into years of attending playgroup. The children watched each other grow up, learned from one another, and the mother’s friendships deepened. As new families would join, we could learn from one another, hear different perspectives on parenting, and see the diversity in children’s behaviors (that was helpful for me – the mother of one!).

One five-year old boy told his mom, “The play is for the kids and the group is for the moms.” He was sure correct on this, as the playgroup gatherings were like a form of therapy and sanity for us all. It’s been seven years now and although schools have forced us apart, our playgroup still comes together for social gatherings several times a year! I’ve been grateful and thankful for this group of families helping me along my parenting journey.

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Moms’ Double Trouble

Miranda in Flamingo Bay (left) and Sophia in Strawberry Fields

A couple of weekends ago, we drove down to Southern California to attend a baby shower I’d been invited to. Knowing that the weather there is always much warmer than the San Francisco, I packed summer wear—mostly le•top outfits—since it’ll be awhile before we really get to wear them here in the Bay Area. We met up with my cousin and her kids at a park so that my daughter (Miranda) and her daughter (Sophia) could get some play time. They’re like sisters, these two. We call them “Double Trouble.” They’re both bossy and like to pick on the boys.

I was delighted to see Sophia in the le•top Strawberry Fields dress that I sent to her as a birthday gift. Meanwhile, Miranda was decked out in my favorite le•top collection, Flamingo Bay. What’s fabulous is, that although these outfits are from two different collections, they complement each other very well! Perfect for sisters, twins, cousins, friends — who like to dress alike but not exactly the same.

Visit our store locator to find these lovely collections near you.

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Reverie Baby

Where would we be without friends? We are so fortunate to work with retailers who are wonderful partners in business – and even more privileged when we can call some of these wonderful people our friends!

Reverie Baby welcomes you!

We wanted to share pictures and information about one of our “best friend’s” beautiful store – Reverie Baby, located in Santa Rosa. This part of California is home to beautiful countryside, fabulous wineries and one very distinctive children’s boutique! The owners – Eva and Arnie Levine – are very special people. They operated stores that specialized in fine linens for over 35 years – and just when they began to consider retirement, they happened upon the idea of opening a children’s specialty boutique. The store has been open for 5½ years, and is located adjacent to their linens store, Reverie Linens, in Montgomery Village Shopping Center. I don’t want you to get any mistaken ideas about Eva and Arnie being ‘ready for the rocking chair’ – when we go out to dinner they can “out-party” me!  Everyone needs friends who work hard…and know how to have fun!

Arnie with his friendly smile, ready to help

Their beautifully merchandised store specializes in clothing for children in sizes newborn to toddler – and is known by some as “Grandma Heaven!” Arnie tries to buy merchandise that is ‘special’ – and would appeal to moms and grandmothers who are looking for the classic baby outfit or gift. The moms especially love playwear that is unique – but never ‘over the top!’ Reverie Baby offers beautiful gift wrapping, and for years had one ‘signature paper’ – only the ribbon colors would differ. They have now added choices in gift wrap, because at baby showers in the area all the gifts would be wrapped in identical wrap! A gift from Reverie Baby is cherished and valued as something truly special and exceptional.

We asked Arnie, “What is the key to your success?” I loved his answer, because it is fundamentally simple – yet so difficult to achieve: “Everyone comes in my store happy, and they always leave happy.” The staff at Reverie Baby always greet you with a genuine smile and have excellent product knowledge – so nice, when compared to many retailers these days. We love Arnie’s philosophy, maybe THAT’S why he is our good friend!

Reverie Baby at Montgomery Village, 2406 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Click on photos to shop Reverie Baby online.

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Cousins Make Great Friends

Cousins born on the same day showing some love!

I just got this adorable photo, and it reminded me of how much I loved having my cousins around when I was little. I think it’s so special to grow up with them around. I have lots of memories of running around and playing all day during the summers. Cousins seem better than siblings because even though they are family, they’re not nearly as annoying! 😉 They are a nice balance between being a family member, as much as being just a good friend. How neat that these two were born on the same day!

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