Coquette Maman

Little Finger Puppet Books

I got a few of these Little Finger Puppet Books ($6.99 each at Chronicle Books) from my friends Christina and Nancy at my baby shower last year. Who knew how much Chloe would love these! By the time she was 3 or 4 months, she was fascinated by them when we were reading them to her. My husband and I ended up buying the whole set at the Chronicle Books store at the Metreon in SF. Now she has her own little collection in her bookshelf that she goes to play with each day. I like them because they are smaller than most board books and were one of the easiest books for her to grab and hold right away.

Mimijumi Baby Bottles

Many baby bottles these days are trying to mimic breast feeding as much as possible. The Adiri ones come close but I just don't like how it leaks and how hard it is to clean. I used them once and just threw it away because they just didn't work. The last thing I needed was to waste spilled breast milk!

I'll be curious to know how these Mimijumi baby bottles work when they debut in November. The company was founded by two psychiatrists and an industrial designer with the goal of creating new products that will revolutionize the parenting process. Hey, that sounds good to me! These baby bottles not only mimic the breast, they are also easy to open and clean. Sounds like a sleep-deprived mother's dream! Pacifiers, teethers, and accessories are also expected to come according to the Mimijumi's web site.

Moms The Word Maternity

Mom's The Word is a maternity wear store in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, and Palo Alto. It was one of my favorite stores to shop when I was pregnant. If you aren't in the Bay Area, you can shop online. Yes, it's true you are only pregnant for 9 months and you may think you can survive that time wearing the cheapest maternity clothes. Well, if you like fashion, trust me. You won't survive. My tip is to get a few pieces that are stylish and you like because as you grow bigger, you'll be only limited to a teeny section of your closet and it's easy to get depressed about it. I love this Cutest Tunic ($89) with an animal print because it's stylish, comfortable, and will look great over black leggings or jeans.

The key items to invest in? If I had to pick a few it would be a great pair of jeans, a dress (preferably in black cuz it works everywhere for anything), and a couple of nice tops and sweaters. Believe me. I thought I could make it through with Old Navy. Turns out, I went through 2 pairs of Old Navy jeans due to poor quality that I should have started with the 7 for All Mankind that lasted through the rest of the 5 months of my pregnancy, plus the 3 months after Chloe was born.

Here are some fashionable maternity picks for fall:

Angelina Maxi ($136)

Ruched Strapless in Amethyst MOM exclusive ($92)

(also in black, works pefectly post-pregnacy!)

The Dress That Does It All too ($136)
This dress is a strapless, a halter, a grecian one-shoulder, and a skirt -- all in one!

Jacob Tunic with Pockets ($79)

Carmini Cardigan ($116)

Michael Stars Striped Cardigan ($80)

T-Neck Dress/Tunic ($82)

7 for all mankind Bootcut Stretch 5 Pocket ($174)

J Brand Mama J straight leg ($186)

James Jeans Rogue Flap Pocket ($185)

Pediped Shoes

Chloe has received lots of cute baby booties and shoes since they day she was born. About a couple months ago when she started to really want to stand, I realized how important shoes were for her foot health and growth. That's when I found out about shoes from Pediped which are soft-soled shoes that are "the next best thing to bare feet". I got the Pediped Zoe ($32) a metallic gold mary jane flat with cute star cut outs in them. What I love is that it goes with just about any outfit and you don't need to buy a multitude of shoes. She loves standing in them at the playground and when walking in them, they keep her stable. Plus, she can't take them off herself either!

Sometimes though, when they are off her feet, she'll add them into the mix with her toys!

The new Fall/Winter 2009 Pediped Couture Collection is now available and feature these styles above. I love the Audrey (black).

Here's a tip on how to choose the right shoes for infants/pre-walkers on the Pediped's site:

Choose shoes that gives stability and protection to feet. An ideal shoe should be soft and flexible, with breathable leather uppers and a fully adjustable fastening for a snug fit. The shoes should have a smooth bottom, like the palm of your hand. The smooth sole means less friction so the shoe won't grab the floor, possibly causing your child to fall. Shoes that are too sticky also tend to change a child's stride or gait as they have to lift their feet to move about. Choose a shoe that most mimics barefoot walking.

Welcome to Coquette Maman

Today's my daughter Chloe turns 10 months old and in 2 weeks my pomeranian Lulu turns 3 years old. This past year I've seen how my life has been transformed by having a baby. Even as a busy working mom, I still haven't lost my love and sense of fashion, so I hope to bring that here to you on Coquette Maman each day. From pregnancy fashion, to "non-mom" looks, I want to help show how you can still be a mom, and look stylish. I also hope to share some of my favorite things and tips I've learned along the way. I'm no expert mom, but I'm doing my best. Lastly, I'll post up some photos of Chloe and Lulu from time to time because seeing them interact is like watching a cartoon each day. Thanks for continuing in my Coquette journey with me on Coquette Maman! xoxo