What: BabyLegs legwarmers
Website: www.babylegs.net
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I first came across these legwarmers for babies about a year ago online. I thought they were interesting, but didn't really see the point. Fast forward to this fall, when Ethan was crawling all around the house on our cold tile floors, and I immediately understood the appeal of BabyLegs.

We use cloth diapers. When we're home, I rarely put a waterproof cover over his diaper (it's easier to see when he wets so I can change him immediately). If I put pants on over his diaper, they'll eventually get wet. I do his laundry once a week, so putting pants over an unprotected diaper results in a huge pile of wet pants in the laundry basket.

Enter BabyLegs.

Ethan's legs stay warm, and if he goes in his diaper, I don't have an extra pair of pants to wash.

We also love BabyLegs for chilly days outside. If I'm carrying Ethan in our Ergo Baby Carrier, his pant legs often ride up and expose his lower legs to the cold air. I put BabyLegs on him under his pants, and they keep his legs nice and toasty.

They're one-size-fits-most, so Ethan should be able to wear his BabyLegs until he's old enough to think they're too babyish. :)

I gave BabyLegs 4 out of 5 stars because their size and weight seems inconsistent. I bought 2 different pairs, and one pair is much stretchier than the other. The less-stretchy ones cut into his thighs and seemed uncomfortable, although they are also a bit thicker and warmer. We put them to good use as arm warmers, since his upper arms are not as thick as his thighs.

What: Just Peas and Just Corn
Website: www.justtomatoes.com
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ethan's friend Carly introduced us to these fabulous freeze-dried vegetable snacks by Just Tomatoes, etc. They're exactly what the name states: just veggies! They have no preservatives or additives of any kind, and they're a great portable snack for kids and grown-ups alike. Although we've only tried the Organic Just Peas and Organic Just Corn, there are many other vegetables and fruits available, including tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, apples, peaches, strawberries, pineapple, and more!

I had been packing a small tub or baggie of Cheerios in the diaper bag in case Ethan gets hungry for a little snack when we're out, but Just Peas or Just Corn have quickly replaced the processed oat flour rings. I love that I can give my son some quick, healthy snacks that don't make a sticky mess and aren't devoid of nutrients and flavor like the frighteningly popular Gerber Puffs.

Just Peas and Just Corn are crispy but not hard and crunchy. They melt easily in Ethan's mouth (although he sometimes spits out the pea skins, which are a little bit tougher - he does the same thing with fresh peas.). If your child is crunching Cheerios okay, he or she will probably do just fine with these. If not, you can always drop a handful into a bowl of soup and rehydrate them for cooking.

I gave them 4 stars because of their price. A 4-ounce tub of Organic Just Peas set us back $6 at Whole Foods. I have heard rumors that you can buy Just Tomatoes, etc. products in bulk, though, so I'll have to look around for that.

The Secret isn't a movie about parenting or children, but there's such a buzz about it right now that I thought I'd check it out. I thought parts of it were a little "woo-woo," but there is a lot of good to be taken from it overall. If you haven't seen the movie, you can read the transcript here.

The Secret's message of positive versus negative thoughts is very much in line with the advice in many books about parenting and/or discipline. Take a look at how you feel when you're constantly telling a child things like, "No, don't do that! Don't pull the dog's tail. No! Don't spill that. No, no, no!" You're probably angry, or frustrated, or annoyed, or all three. She probably isn't stopping the behavior, or she keeps doing different variations of the same thing, which just makes you even more exasperated.

Take a look at it from the child's perspective. You're telling him what *not* to do, but you're not telling him what *to* do. He's not a mind-reader. He may know that you're angry with him or what he's doing, but he might not know what he's supposed to do instead.

Instead of saying, "Don't pull the dog's tail," you could say, "Touch his tail gently," and model what "gently" means.

Instead of saying, "Don't spill that," you could say, "Hold your cup turned up like this so the water stays in."

Instead of saying, "Don't climb on that," you could say "Keep your feet on the floor."

What: Picture Book, Baby Knows Best, by Kathy Henderson (illustrated by Brit Granström)
Website: Baby Knows Best at Amazon.com
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

You know the common saying that when you buy a kid a new toy, all she wants to play with is the box it came in? In Baby Knows Best, Henderson explores this oh-so-true observation with warmhearted humor and a parent's knowing insight. No matter how many toys, clothes, and baby "necessities" this family provides for their little girl, all she wants is whatever the rest of the family has. The language is rhythmic and rhyming, and Granström's soft watercolor illustrations are full of pictures of familiar objects in baby's world.

At the moment, this is 16-month-old Ethan's favorite book. My toddler loves scouring the pictures to find things he recognizes from his own life: a high chair, books, bathtub, pasta....He points at them and announces their names with glee. He says "Eewww" at the picture of the baby eating the newspaper, and "Awww" when she curls up to sleep in her Mom's arms. Our whole family enjoys reading this book that truly depicts daily life with a young toddler and emphasizes what babies really care about.

What: Skip Hop Dash Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What: Skip Hop Expo Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have been using the Skip Hop Dash diaper bag for the past year and a half, and while I'm pretty happy with it, I had a couple gripes and decided to get a new bag. I discovered one of Skip Hop's new models, the Expo, and couldn't wait to check it out. Here are my experiences with the two bags:

What: Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
Website: www.robertmunsch.com
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I have heard great things about this book for years. A number of mothers have told me that it's their favorite book, and they can't get through it without crying.

I agree that telling your child you will always love them is very important. I appreciate the sentiment of knowing that your baby will always be someone with whom you share a special bond, even as they grow into adulthood. This book, though, seriously creeps me out.

Yes, I watch my son while he sleeps. Yes, I rock him while he sleeps. Yes, I will miss the days when he's no longer small enough to hug and cuddle and rock.

But no, I will not drive across town when he's an adult, climb a ladder to sneak through his window, and pick him up out of bed to rock him.

He will NOT always be a baby. He will always be someone I respect, care for, and love like no other, but part of a parent's job is knowing when to set your children free.