LilSugar

The Gifted Grandfather: Grandpa-to-Be

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:52 -0800

A newborn will melt many hearts, but none more than her grandfather's. This holiday season, wrap up a few gifts for the grandfather-in-training before the lil one wraps him around her finger.

Even if he is not one to be outwardly mushy, he'll appreciate the book Life's Big Little Moments: Grandfathers & Grandchildren as he prepares for his family tree to grow.
He's the only guy you know that still wears a tie to work every day. This Vineyard Vines Barefeet Tie will remind him of the child each time he loops it.
He was the first family member to own a digital camera, but now it's clunky and nonoperational. A sleek new digital camera will give him, and his pictures, a much needed update.

Want more gift ideas? Browse check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

The Gifted Dad: Daddy-To-Be

LilSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:00:45 -0800

Presents for new parents are usually geared toward mom and baby, but expectant dads shouldn't be left in the dark. Give the daddy-to-be a few gifts that will have him prepared and excited for the impending arrival.

An expectant father is not always ready to give up his music collection for Baby Einstein and Barney. With the Rockabye Baby albums, he'll really be able to rock his lil one to sleep.
When dad's on duty he's not going to be thrilled to take your Petunia Pickle bag to the park. The Diaper Dude looks like a messenger bag, but is equipped to carry bottles, diapers, and other baby essentials.
Paternity leave doesn't hold a candle to maternity leave. When daddy is back at his desk dreaming of his bundle of joy, he'll love a digital photo frame to remind him of one of the reasons he's working so hard in the first place.

Cole Haan black leather 'Bennett' loafers - $171.00

The Gifted Grandparent: Grandpa

babysugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:42 -0800

The title "Grandpa" often connotes images of an old man with a cane, glasses and worn out hands. But if 50 is the new 30, then Gramps should act and dress the part, too.

Make sure the man is well groomed with a set of Kiehl's shaving lotions and creams. Your wee one should be begging for kisses from Gramps, not a porcupine.
Keep Grandaddy hip with a timeless pair of Chuck Taylors. The grandchildren will think he's the coolest pop on the block.
For the dapper Pappy, a cashmere tartan scarf will keep him nice and cozy on the outside while giving him warm fuzzies on the inside.

Kiehl's 'Men's Refueling' Kit - $35.50	Converse Chuck Taylor® All Star® Garment Dye Oxford (Men) - $64.95
Cashmere Tartan Scarf - $248.00

The Gifted Dad: Fathers

babysugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:10 -0800

For as long as I can remember, I've always given my dad socks, underwear, books, and golf balls for Christmas. Every now and then I'll find one spectacular gift, but most of the time it's the same old stuff. This year, surprise your pop with a sweet stash of goodies that are sure to make him sit back and revel in your creativity and generosity.
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Even Teen Burglars Have Soft Spots For Babies

babysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:15:03 -0800

Tonight on the 6 'clock news - thieves feeding babies. Sounds crazy but that's what happened to a family in Indianapolis. While two high school students were robbing a house, a baby started to cry. Either out of the kindness of his heart or his desire to hush the baby (I'm putting my money on the latter), the 18-year-old thief warmed up a bottle of milk and allowed another child in the house to feed the wailing babe. Unfortunately the rest of the story is not so delightful. He held a gun to the head of the father of the family and threatened to kill him. In the end, it was his aunt who turned him in to the authorities. Thankfully everyone is safe and sound, especially that scared baby.

Ladies' Home Journal: The New Nicole Kidman Is a Woman's Woman

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:28 -0800

Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress, producer, and vocalist are just a few things Nicole Kidman can rattle off from her long list of accomplishments. But the role the gorgeous red head relishes most is being a mother and wife in her new hometown of Nashville. As country crooner Keith Urban's partner, she is happy to sit back for a bit and let the spotlight shine brightly on him while she spends the majority of her time raising their young daughter, Sunday. The 42-year-old mother recently took time to sit down with Ladies' Home Journal where she talked about her content lifestyle and her desire to give back to the community.

On living in Nashville:

I love living here. . . . It's a long way from New York and Los Angeles, but that's part of the attraction. I feel protected here, especially now that I have the baby. . . . There are certain limitations to my career because I'm based here. And that's cool. Keith has enormous ambitions, which I support. His tours and albums are much bigger than what I'm doing right now.

On how she cherishes her new life:

I was running from my life, in a way. . . . My imaginary life was better than my flesh-and-blood life. That's a sad thing to say, but it was. Now I love my real life so much it requires an enormous belief in a film to want to take it on. . . . I think that we're in the world to connect. Because that's what you're left with. You're not left with your houses or awards or money, you're left with the people that you built relationships with.

On UNIFEM, a charity she has worked with for years:

It's so they'll [battered women] have a place to call. A lot of women are so terrified; they'll go to the police or court and don't win. We can set up shelters and raise money. . . . I'm constantly trying to find new ways to give back. . . . Women are nurturers. There's so much we can do with the power of our feelings, the power of our sensitivity.

To see what the leggy lady has to say about being a strong woman, her past divorce, and her marriage to the hunky, honky-tonk star, just read more.

On how she was raised to be a strong woman:

She wanted us to have a sense of our place in the world. . . . She didn't want us to be shaped by our relationship with boys. She wanted us to focus on our intellect instead.

On how she and her sister Antonia made it through their divorces:

A lot of it was literally holding each other and listening. . . . Our motto is, "Just get in there. Don't retreat. Stay in it."

On her marriage to Keith Urban:

Keith and I have a very honest, profound marriage, which we both contribute to every day. . . . We have a phrase, "Does this contribute to the good of our union?" Because that's what's most important. I love being in love. I believe in the power of love, the way it can heal. The more you keep choosing it - because there are times when you can choose to be angry at the person or to love him - the more it nourishes a family.

Mommy Dearest: Should I Trust the Other Parents?

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:30:58 -0800

Mommy Dearest,

I am entering new territory and could use some advice. My preschool son is starting to make new friends of his own from his classroom. A few of his little buddies have asked him to come over for a playdate, which is exciting and scary at the same time. Thrilled that he is advancing socially, I am nervous to let him go over to a friend's house where I don't know the parents at all. I could care less about snacks or sugary drinks but I wonder what the mom's disciplinary style may be or how she deals with her children. Heaven forbid she's a closet drinker like that woman who drove drunk and killed all of those innocent children. I don't want to be a helicopter parent but I don't want to regret anything, either.

- Scared to Be Helicopter Mom

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, just read more.

Scared to Be Helicopter Mom,

Your concerns are natural and admirable - you are looking out for your child's best interest. An easy way to solve your problem is to have an initial mommy and child playdate where the boys can play together, and you can get to know the other mother. During that time, you can chat and try to figure out where she stands on some issues. If she talks a big game of drinking or partying, it may be an indicator that you need a few more dual-parent supervised dates or that you need to host the playdates. Another idea is to organize a social event for a group of the moms so you can get to know them outside of your children. It will help you feel better about leaving them in their care and vice versa. More than anything, you should trust your intuition. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new community page.

Sugarbabies: Keeping Warm and Cozy

Lil Community — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:51 -0800

This story was submitted from user Heather in our Sugarbabies group.

This is my adorable seven and half month old nephew, Sullivan, who got all cute and cozy in his stroller for a Fall stroll last week. My aunt knitted his sweater and hat set which, fits him perfectly and keeps him nice and warm on chilly Canadian days.

Don't you want to see your wee one on our LilSugar site? Don't wait another minute. Join our Sugarbabies group over in the LilSugar Community and share your priceless pictures. Your lil ones could be featured on the site!

Tell Mommy: Things You Don't Even Admit to Friends Edition

LilSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:58 -0800

Nobody said it was easy. And it's not. Motherhood is life changing, amazing, tear-jerking and terrifying. Each day is different and each parent comes up with her own means for getting though it. One thing is for certain: Things can get hairy quickly. Our Tell Mommy feature explores where you stand on wacky, carefully planned or downright mystifying mommy moments. Check out the stories below and vent, mama!

Have You Done Something Wrong in the Name of Motherhood? - Moms can be a protective bunch - sticking up for their child when they are wronged or going to bat for their hubby when someone shoots him down. It's not always pretty.
Do You Judge Other Mothers? - Some would say it is human nature to judge others. If that's the case, it is certainly true when it comes to parenting styles. In motherhood, the narrowed eyes and hushed whispers can get a little out of control.
Has Your Child Ever Had a Close Call? - Most every mother has had a close call that makes her heart jump to her throat: losing a lil one at the mall, jumping in after a sinking child in the pool, or dislodging a hot dog from a toddler's throat.
What Is Your Guilty Pleasure? - Every mom's got one. We may not sneak into a closet to eat the Twinkies stashed in a hidden shoe box but everybody is guilty of an indulgence every now and then.

Overwhelmed by a crying baby, fighting tots, overbearing in-laws and competitive parents? Join our A Place to Vent group over in our LilSugar Community and share your stress with fellow moms who understand your plight.

Will Self-Deprecating Video Help Papa Jon Win Brownie Points?

babysugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:46 -0800

Jon Gosselin Goes Back in Time from Jon Gosselin

For better or worse, Jon Gosselin cannot go a day without being mentioned in the headlines. Lately, it's been all bad news for the father of eight - he's being sued, he's suing, he's breaking up, he's spending Christmas with Kate and the kids, etc. While his popularity plummets and his notoriety skyrockets, the reality show star is taking a different approach to garner new fans. In the name of self-deprecation, the good dad gone bad takes steps to turn back time. Love him or hate him, it's a pretty entertaining two-minute spoof on his real life, but I'm not sure it will earn him any brownie points. What's your take on it?