Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

One of our friends got this beautiful, hardcover book, “The Wicked Big Toddlah” by Kevin Hawkes for Morgan’s first birthday and it has become such a hit in our house, I had to write about it and give my mommy review.  I am always looking for great gift ideas for kids and sometimes find myself stumped on the age or sex (I have no idea about boy stuff!) Therefore, when I discover a great gift that could be for a boy or girl, and could be given to a child ages birth through at least age 4 or 5,  it is like hitting the gift idea jackpot!

I personally love getting and giving books for birthday presents because you know it is a gift that will last a long time. And selfishly, after reading the same books again and again, as a mom I love to throw some different titles into the bedtime mix.  It is also nice to have books that I actually enjoy reading too. And this book is just plain fun to read!

With hilarious illustrations with clever detail, it tells the story of an overgrown baby named Toddie growing up during his first year in Maine {therefore the use of local vernacular like “wicked” and the pronunciation of “toddlah.”}

The book opens with a stork delivering a VERY large baby to the hospital and the baby’s uncle Bert yells, “That’s a wicked big toddlah ya got theyah, Jessie!”   The book had me laughing from page one.   Toddie is so big he takes baths in lakes and takes bites out of trees when he starts eating solids.  And the diaper changing page is hysterical.  Let’s just say it really does take a village.

Although Morgan at one is too young to appreciate this story just YET, big sis Emma, at 4 years, thinks this book is an absolute riot. I  have read it every night to her since we got it and she giggles at every turn of the page. Even trying out her own Maine accent, like Toddie, when he learns to speak and says, “Hihowaahya?” {Translation: Hi, how are you?”}

If you are like me and trying to simplify your life these days, pick up a stash of this title to have on hand for birthday parties, and you will not only give a great gift but will avoid a last minute dash to Target!  Buy enough to total $25, and you get free shipping on Amazon too!

Seriously, it’s wicked funny.

{Disclosure: We received the book as a gift and I wanted to share this fun find.  However, I am signed up as an Amazon Affiliate, which means if you click the link to the book above and purchase it online through my link I receive an itsy-bitsy sort of commission. You can click this link here too…The Wicked Big Toddlah…thanks!}

Frecklebox, one of my favorite sites for personalized gifts, has a coupon code for 15% off your order now through 3/29/10 using coupon code “EASTER15″ upon checkout. Perfect time to order some cute fillers for your Easter baskets this year!  OR, stock up on gifts!

Click HERE to shop!

{Tiny Oranges is a part of the Frecklebox Affiliate program because I personally love their stuff & think you will too!}

My girlfriend Pam emailed me this You Tube video this week  by an author named Katrina Kenison from her book, “The Gift of an Ordinary Day.”   Pam never forwards anything, so when I received this link with this intro, “If you haven’t seen this yet, it’s worth every second. XO” I had no choice but to watch!

And, it was worth every second. It really got me. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.   This time in life, of having an 8 month old baby and a 3 years and 9 month old preschooler, although tremendously challenging and exhausting some most days, is not going to last for long.

I have tried to appreciate the little moments of the last couple “ordinary” days… my girls in the bath together splashing and giggling, nursing my baby to sleep tonight and (oh my gosh, this is making me tear up again!) holding her little hand, watching my oldest daughter sit with me at the bank today with her legs crossed copying me.   These moments are fleeting.  And priceless.

So, grab your coffee and take 7 minutes and 38 seconds out of your busy lives to watch and reflect.

At the risk of getting too corny, but I love it so please humor me…I would love to hear any special moments you have slowed down to appreciate as a result.

Happy weekend everyone…make sure to enter all this week’s fun giveaways and I will see you back on Monday! xoxo Jen

MyFairyTaleBooks.com is a site that sells all sorts of cute books personalized with the child’s name, hometown, and other special additions that make the child the star of their own story!

They sent me a copy of “The Cottontail Mystery” for review, it is a darling book all about the Easter Bunny.   You can CLICK HERE to read the story!  I read it to Emma the first night we received it and she was grinning from ear to ear the entire book.   Not only because the story is about a big, cuddly cottontail bunny but because her name was on every page, along with the city she lives in, and her sister’s name also made an appearance too!

She looked up at me, like HOW DO THEY KNOW!?

This paperback book is only $10.95 right now and includes a dedication page.   Perfect gift to include in your Easter baskets this year. And, click here to include this special Easter idea too!

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

MyFairyTaleBooks.com is giving away one copy of  The Cottontail Mystery to one lucky reader!  To enter, please do the following:

1. Comment with your favorite book on their website – 1 ENTRY
2. Become a MyFairyTale Books Facebook fan – 1 ENTRY
3. Become a Tiny Oranges Facebook fan – 1 ENTRY
4. Follow @TinyOranges OC on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
5. Subscribe to Tiny Oranges (top right column) – 1 ENTRY

Giveaway will run this entire week, have your comments in by 12pm PST on 3/11/10.  Good luck!

{I was sent a free copy of The Cottontail Mystery for review for this post}

If you are looking for a different sort of DVD to get your kids this Christmas, you should definitely check out Quiet Time Tales, a new, mellow form of entertainment for your little ones!

There are lots of times during the day when I literally want to pull my hair out because of all the NOISE.  The bells and whistles on all the toys and busy TV shows sometimes drive me nuts!   I have been known to walk around and turn everything OFF periodically so we can momentarily exist without noise pollution.  That’s why I thought this DVD series was SO COOL.

They contacted me back before the OC Children’s Book Festival and sent me a copy to check out.  I was so impressed I signed on with their affiliate program because I think your kids will love it too!

It is a collection of stories read by Grandpa Read, a cuddly-looking Mr. Rogers-esque sort of grandpa, sitting in a rocking chair.  His voice is very mellow and soothing – a really great storyteller.

Although the DVD includes intermittent illustrations, it is really storytelling at is purest, thus forcing kids to use their little imaginations to picture the classic tale.   This is unique in today’s world, and the part I loved the most.

It’s a great DVD to put in when your kids need a little “down time.”   Shhhh….it’s Quiet Time….FINALLY!

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner will win the 1st 4 DVDs in the series of 12 (Collection 1: Volumes 1 – 4)!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Tell me, which classic story from this collection would your kids like to hear Grandpa Read tell?

Hint: visit the store on the website to find out which stories on are the DVDs!  You can enter as many times as you would like.

Mention in your comment to “add me to the Quiet Times e-newsletter” and get an extra entry!  You only have to mention this once (one extra entry per person permitted.)

All comments have to be in by 12pm PST on 12/16.  I will post the winner next Thursday! Good luck and happy weekend everyone!

Congratulations!  The winner of the Taut Canvas giveaway (as chosen by random.org) is… Genevieve!!!!!!