All A-Flutter

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Joey Lawrence is grown up and having his second daughter! Here’s how Hot Moms Club helped the Lawrence family preparethe perfect nursery for the Aprilarrival of Liberty Grace

"Working with Joey and his wife Chandie has been so much fun," says Hot Moms Club baby planner Natalie Klein. “They wanted a nursery that was simply sweet—a place they could feel serene in the midst of caring for a new baby and juggling activities with their outgoing 4 year old, Charli.

”Preparing a nursery can be overwhelming, so Natalie suggests deciding first on a budget, and then looking online for ideas. Once you know what you want, seek out the best deals. When looking for furniture, choose a crib that converts to a toddler bed and a dresser with an added changing top—both are convenient and economical. Joey and Chandie adore the Gia Collection Crib by Sorelle.

Having a comfy chair for feeding was a big priority for Joey and Chandie, because they know how many long nights they’ll spend in it. So the Quinn glider and ottoman in Cherry Blossom from Best Chairs is one of Chandie’s favorite items: “It’s so comfortable and practical, I just love it.”

After you’ve researched some ideas, pick a general color scheme using a few shades and an accent color. If you find linens you love, buy them and create the room around them. “Chandie fell in love with the Butterfly Flowers bedding from Carter’s,” says Natalie,“From there, the ideas just flew into place.

”A mural is a wonderful way to tie a room together. If you decide to include one, go with a design that can grow with your child. Lauren Sorensen (www.laurensorensenstudio.com) hand-painted the mural for the Lawrence’s nursery. Butterflies have a special meaning in the Lawrence family, so she surprised them with friends to dance and watch over baby Libby.

Chandie explained that it was tricky coordinating the nursery this time around because she’s so busy tending to Charli, so it felt as though the time to do this came around much faster. Natalie stresses the importance of including older siblings in the nursery process, whether it's choosing the stuffed animals, or drawing pictures to be framed and hung-anything that makes them feel connected to the baby. Joey and Chandie redecorated Charli's room as well so she would feel special as they created Libby's nursery. Joey said "Charli loves to go into Libby's room and look around; it's helping her get excited about her new sister."

Must-have registry items!


Giving Back


In honor of the Lawrence family—through the organization Casa Hogar Sion—one family will will receive a nursery bedding set from Disney Classic Pooh–Together Time Collection, along with essential first-year gear from miYim, Moby Wrap, and MAM.

It's An All Out Bottle Battle

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Companies such as Playtex and Avent are reformulating their baby bottles. Some moms are going back to glass. What’s up? Uncertainty about bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical used in making clear plastics.

Last November—as big retailers Toys“R”Us, Whole Foods Market, Wal-Mart, and Safeway took bottles containing BPA off their shelves—the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided
to reevaluate the ingredient, claiming mistakes were made in its original review that deemed BPA is safe. Canada has banned the use of BPA in baby bottles, yet some industry groups
contend it does no harm.

The rationale: Animal testing has connected BPA to cancer, diabetes, and other health problems, but because people are exposed to BPA in small amounts, and the doses used in studies were larger than any person would receive, the research is flawed. But an August 2008 University of Cincinnati study was the first to show health effects using doses equal to average human exposure.

While the FDA makes up its mind, you can learn about BPA and your baby, as well as what the industry says, at www.ewg.org/babysafe and www.babybottle.org.

Oh-So-Chocolate Tea

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OK, it’s not exactly a box of Godiva, but add Mighty Leaf Chocolate Mint Truffle Rooibos Tea to your approved-beverages list anyway. Made with decaffeinated red tea, it’s pregnancy safe, and the mint leaves will soothe your tummy. The chocolate undertones—which come from actual cacao nibs in the tea bag—help tame the urge to gorge on those Valentine truffles. $9 per box






Quiz: A Different Breast Test

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Which of these factors does not influence post-baby boob droop?

A) History of smoking

B) Your age and number of pregnancies

C) Breastfeeding

D) Your body mass index and pre-pregnancy bra size

Answer: C. Surprised? Even as the duration of breastfeeding increased, a study in Aesthetic Surgery Journal showed that it’s not a likely cause of sagging boobs.