It wouldn’t be the holidays in San Antonio, Texas without the beautiful and festive window displays at premier children’s boutique, Baby O Baby. We interviewed children’s boutique owner and kiddo style guru, Becki Guillory, about the history of her store and how twins and triplets were her inspiration and other fun facts!
1. What was the inspiration behind the name Baby O Baby?
Becki: The inspiration came once the conception of our store began. It is certainly a term of endearment. I have a very close friend who began having children several years before me. Now remember, this was before high-tech ultra sounds, AVI, and before a father was even allowed in the delivery room. The first time my friend gave birth, we were all eagerly waiting at the hospital and surrounded by many friends and family. After a long wait, the doctor came out and said, “Congratulations!! Your wife is fine, and your daughter is beautiful!” Before Toni (the husband) could say a word, the doctor continued on to say,” and your son is a handsome boy.” That was a shock! My friend’s second pregnancy, was the same routine…after what seemed to be an eternity of waiting, he (the doctor) came out and said, “Well folks [looking at Toni], you have not one baby…[lingering in suspense and joking], Baby Oh Baby…” He then finished with, “Oh babies. She had triplets!” From that point on, the triplets were nicked named “baby ‘o babies…Oh baby!!!!” Now as my friend’s family grew, she had two sets of twins and two sets of triplets – their very own football team…And a beautiful children’s boutique called Baby O Baby.
2. Describe the neighborhood where your store is located. Did you grow up in the local area? Is it the same as it was growing up?
Becki: No, I did not grow up here, but I moved here twenty-one years ago. This [Baby O Baby’s location] is the side of San Antonio that we choose. It still had that “in the country feel.” My children remember walking through the woods to and from school. We knew it was going to be a wonderful place to call “home.” I would describe the Stone Oak area to be the side of town where young posh families chose to start their families. And over the years, it has changed beyond recognition. We have a lot of international customers that come three or four times a year. We are the home to our beloved Silver Stars Basketball Team and the WNBA Silver Stars. I believe this is the area of San Antonio that will thrive and grow for many, many years to come.
3. What would you suggest as the top 3 essentials in the winter that any parent should buy to brighten up their child’s wardrobe?
Becki: Gosh, we get to choose the best of both worlds for a winter wardrobe. For San Antonio, Texas it may be colder than usual this season, but it can be in the 70s and 80s some days! For us, sunscreen, cute little rain boots (both boy and girl), and a very colorful lightweight jacket would be my 3 picks for winter. On the other hand, we have grandparents who visit their grandkids for Christmas up North. My essentials for those travelling would be Le Top’s pink faux fur coat for girls, Le Top’s aviator jacket for boys, cozy PJ’s, beautiful bow accessories, and of course, good shoes for their feet. We are known at our store for our special bows. My daughter, Shannon, makes custom bows to match every outfit we have!
4. What is your favorite holiday film past or present for kids/family?
Becki: Our favorite is “A Christmas Carol.” It has been a film reproduced many times. I think it reminds us to stop, look around, and remember there are families that need our help, not just at Christmas, but all year round. “God Bless You Tiny Tim.”
Photos of Becki's adorable 3-year-old grandson, Dean Aaron. His Dad is serving his country. Here is Dean at a Christmas lights outing.
5. Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?” Please share!
Becki: Ha-Ha, there are a lot. But one of my pet peeves is makeup on little baby girls. And, I would never let my kids pick out their clothes alone.
6. The holidays are LITERALLY around the corner and it is the last weekend to buy holiday gifts before Christmas Eve. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for the holidays at your store?
Becki: This is true – right around the corner! We always suggest a classic children’s book. It is so wonderful to curl up with your kids and read to them. They love it! We carry a wide selection of gifts from tricycles to mini tables and chairs. Always a favorite, we also carry doll, Baby Stella. Our customers very seldom leave our store without Le Top’s Santa hat that they love. You would be surprised about the number of pictures we get back with the adults wearing the Santa hat on top of their heads! It’s that “cute factor” going on. We also suggest for a little baby our Le Top Red Nosed Reindeer plush toy – the kids love the music when you squeeze it. It is also super soft and their [kids] tiny hands can hold on to any part of the toy.
7. What’s your favorite holiday tradition and or nostalgic moment and why? Whether it be decorating the Christmas tree to eating peppermint bark to lighting the menorah candles to baking in the kitchen, etc….
Becki: Going together to Mass. But our nostalgic moment now has been watching the kids and their stockings. They run into the den, snag their stockings that are hanging on the mantel and run straight to my bed. (Thankfully, these moments give us a chance to pray and reflect on Christmases past. It’s also a great way to stop for a moment before we gather in the den that becomes present central. Now, I know the peek when they get their stockings, but What Child Wouldn’t!!!
8. Any special events or fun holiday traditions that you have planned at your store before Christmas?
Becki: Stone Oak has had a Winter Festival for five years now. It is so much fun for the whole family. There is a treasure hunt from selected stores. The kids get so excited when the run into a store to see if a listed treasure is available. We have a symbol on our door letting the kids know we are a store that is part of the treasure hunt. When the hunt ends, we bring in tons of snow late that afternoon for the kids to play in. There are so many fun activities for the whole family, and we pray it is cold that day, but even if it isn’t, the kids still build snowmen and snowwomen, have snowball fights and then the Festival ends when the snow has melted away. But most importantly, we work with Pathways. It is a branch of charitable foster care. Every Christmas, we put together new Christmas clothes and toys for the charity before their holiday party. Our store tries to give as much of a variety of clothing as we can because our store carries sizes up to 6x that can cover all of their clothing needs. Because of security for the children, this is the first Christmas that they organization has invited us to join in the festivity! “Oh what fun! It is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh!!!” And thanks to companies like Le Top and others we are able to bless the children with memories that will stay with me forever.
9. Tell us your best parenting tip you know or would want to give to a new parent.
Becki: Of course to love them, and as they begin to talk, take a step back, inhale a few deep breaths, and LISTEN, but hear them. You have to watch out because kids are honest to a fault. As Mr. Art Linkletter once said “Kids say the darndest and do the funniest things.” Love them unconditionally. They grow up so fast.”
10. What collection or piece from Le Top or Le Top Baby line or Rabbitmoon do you love from the Fall/Holiday 2010 collection?
Becki: Love, Love, Love the Elves Collection! Paula (our manager) does our store window. When these outfits arrive to our store, she stuffed the body and legs with the little toes dangling. Oh they are so cute! We put one in the window about every half an hour. When she gets the elves hung up in the window, people see it and it’s out the door. Love Le Top’s aviator jacket and bomber hat. My grandson, Dean Aaron, is 3-years-old. He comes from a military family stationed in Georgia. Since I mailed him the aviator jacket and hat to him, I don’t think he’s taken it off – but maybe only to bath and sleep. He is also wearing and loves his Reindeer Games Collection green cord pants and striped shirt. He knows this Reindeer Collection because he wears one every season made by Le Top.
Baby O Baby
1207 N Loop 1604 W # 107
San Antonio, TX 78258-4629
210.256.8687
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