Celebrity mother knows best (or how to dress your baby)

Never mind that celebrity mums (or dads) rarely make the best role models. Superstars from the pop, fashion and movie worlds have decided that they know best when it comes to dressing your newborn child. Not content at dabbling with perfumes, party frocks or even bed linen, celebrities now believe that the humble babygro is somewhat lacking when it comes to showbiz buzz.

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Angelina Jolie shows off baby bump

If the bump on her belly is any indication, Angelina Jolie really is pregnant. The actress created a stir at Saturday night's Spirit Awards when she showed up with partner Brad Pitt on her arm and a noticeably pregnant bulge.

Jolie ignored reporters' questions on the awards show carpet, but People magazine reported on its Web site that a source close to the couple confirmed that she and Pitt are "thrilled to be adding to their brood."

Jolie and Pitt are parents of a 1-year-old daughter, Shiloh, and three children adopted from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam. Their adopted children are Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; and Zahara, 3.

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Three Splurges Worth it for Expecting Mothers

If you are expecting a baby, you may find yourself spending more money than you have to. But relaxing the purse strings for some nonessentials every once in a while, as long as it doesn't wreak havoc with paying your bills or saving for something you really need, is important.

In her new book, "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families," national credit and money-management expert Erica Sandberg details three types of indulgences for new parents that could be worth the expense.

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For ‘EcoMoms,’ Saving Earth Begins at Home

Move over, Tupperware. The EcoMom party has arrived, with its ever-expanding “to do” list that includes preparing waste-free school lunches; lobbying for green building codes; transforming oneself into a “locovore,” eating locally grown food; and remembering not to idle the car when picking up children from school (if one must drive). Here, the small talk is about the volatile compounds emitted by dry-erase markers at school.

Perhaps not since the days of “dishpan hands” has the household been so all-consuming. But instead of gleaming floors and sparkling dishes, the obsession is on installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, buying in bulk and using “smart” power strips that shut off electricity to the espresso machine, microwave, X-Box, VCR, coffee grinder, television and laptop when not in use.

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2008 Beautiful Baby Search Winner!

Click here to see this year's Beautiful Baby Search Winner who will appear on an upcoming cover of Parenting magazine and will also take home $125,000 toward a four-year college education!

You can also check out our Beautiful Baby Gallery for a sampling of the thousands of gorgeous children that were submitted for this year's search.

Dress your beautiful baby in today's hottest fashions - click here for more!

Welcome to Your Growing Belly

As your body makes a home for your little one, it's easy to marvel at the physical changes happening to you, especially to your belly.

Check out this gorgeous, month-by-month photo gallery of maternity images by photographer Sarah Merians. See how your belly grows -- and see how your baby grows!

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Backyards for Kids

Give them room to roam outdoors and fun places to play and you'll create backyard memories that will last a lifetime--with the added benefit of getting kids away from their computers and video games.

Like its successful predecessor, Kids' Places to Play, Backyards for Kids is loaded with ideas and how-to instruction for building projects like swing sets and treehouses, with innovative ideas for integrating play areas into the overall landscape design that adults will appreciate as well.

Learn more about this book!

The 411 on Hiring a Nanny

The minute you hire a nanny, you're running a small business. And with that business come costs and legal implications that go beyond the base salary, including some you may have already thought of (like health insurance) and others you may not have considered (like gas money). Keep in mind that the information in this article assumes that you're paying your nanny legally. Though this will cost you more day to day, it's a lot cheaper than the legal fees you'll face if the IRS finds out you've been paying someone under the table.

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Kissy Kissy Spring 2008 Children’s Clothing Line Now Available at ZaraBella.com

ZaraBella.com, an online baby boutique that carries high quality designer baby clothes and accessories, announced that the Spring 2008 clothing line from Kissy Kissy are now available.

Kissy Kissy’s Spring 2008 collection includes the following adorable lines: Elephant Babies; Hawaii Print, Little Captain, Sea Bubbles, Speed Racer and more. Made with high quality, 100% Soft Pima Cotton, Kissy Kissy’s pieces are comfortable, stylish and sure to please anyone who receives them.

Shoppers should shop early at http://www.zarabella.com/ to get the best selection of Kissy Kissy Spring 2008 Collection.

Yummy mummies: Are moms under too much pressure to be hot?

It wasn’t all that long ago that baby boomer mothers embraced the soccer mom icon, with her elastic waistband jeans and big, bulky sweaters. That stereotype was lampooned on “Saturday Night Live,” which did a spoof on “mom jeans.” (“Because I’m not a woman, I’m a mother.”)

But then came Victoria Beckham and Kelly Ripa and Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow, svelte stars who had babies and then poured themselves back into their size 00 knickers within a matter of weeks. Suddenly it wasn’t good enough to have clean hair and spit-up-free clothing. As a 21st-century mother, you have to be ripped and buff and hot.

However, the relentless media focus on celebrity moms such as Demi Moore and Kate Moss is fueling the YM trend, making ordinary moms feel inadequate when they can’t attain the six-pack abs and cut biceps of the Hollywood crowd.

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2008 Beautiful Baby Search - Check out the Latest Entries!

Here's a preview of the hundreds of adorable entries Parenting Magazine has received for the 2008 Beautiful Baby Search. Five finalists will appear on Live with Regis and Kelly on February 11 and the winner will be featured on the cover of Parenting magazine.

Check back for more updates — more beautiful babies to come!

Kids' Birthday Parties: Your Top 10 Party Questions Answered!

You want to have a birthday party for your child, and you want to make it a success! Party Expert Linda Kaye offers insight on the top 10 party questions frequently asked, including how many children is the right number for a preschooler's party; how long should the party be; my child's birthday falls on a holiday. Should we move the party date; should we send the invitations to school with our child or mail the invitations; should we ask parents to stay and much more!

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J.Lo has baby shower on hotel roof

According to the NY Daily News, Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony celebrated her status as a mom-to-be with a rooftop baby shower at the trendy Gramercy Park Hotel. Dressed in a black coat and with her hair swept up, the Bronx-born singer arrived at the Manhattan celeb hangout on Lexington Ave. near 22nd St. flanked by bodyguards.

J. Lo, due to give birth in a few weeks, was given matching pink and blue Tuni & G onesies last month from her sister Lynda Lopez. The pop star and actress has not said if she is expecting twins, although celebrity magazines have reported she is.

View the designer baby shower gifts available at Zarabella.com

Suri Cruise Brings Little Giraffe Blanket To Birthday Party

Did you notice the blanket Katie Holmes was holding in the recent pictures of TomKat going to Grier Henchy’s (Brooke Shield’s daughter) birthday party? It’s a Chenille Little Giraffe Baby Blanket. Very cute!

Get more details about the blanket here.

8 Super - Smart Discipline Fixes

Does discipline for babies sound Draconian?

If so, you're probably confusing discipline with punishment. But effective discipline is not about punishing; it's about teaching children to manage their behaviors and emotions so they grow into self-reliant, resilient individuals. It begins in infancy, when you gently nudge your baby onto a regular feeding and sleeping schedule. It continues when you later allow her to soothe herself to sleep or to entertain herself for brief periods. It extends into the toddler years, as you encourage her to flex her autonomy within safe limits. And it becomes paramount in the preschool years, as you nurture your child's emerging character and conscience.

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Starting School: Deciding When Your Child is Ready for Preschool or Kindergarten

For many kids, preschool is the first foray into the wider "big kid" world.

But deciding when your child is ready for it — and later, for kindergarten — can be confusing. This article presents tips and helps you figure out what's best for your child, and ways to ease the transition.

It also discusses finding the right school, important milestones, helps you solve some common problems and provides tips for the first day.

Read the full article from Parenting Magazine.

The Best High Chairs

Kid-tested for comfort and parent-approved for style and function, these high chairs rise above the masses.

Click here to see Cookie Magazine’s selection of high chairs in the following categories: best bargain; best basic; smoothest operator; most stowable; best height range; most durable and most adjustable.

Something for everyone!

Beautiful Baby Search 2008

Parenting magazine is partnering with Live with Regis and Kelly and Walgreens on the 2008 Beautiful Baby Search! Five finalists will be featured on Live and the winner will be featured on the cover of Parenting magazine.

Parents can enter their child by visiting liveregisandkelly.com and submitting a photo from Dec. 19, 2007 to Jan. 11, 2008. The Live and Parenting staffs will narrow down the thousands of entries to 10 semi-finalists, who will be announced on the show on Feb. 11, 2008. Viewers will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorites, and the top five contestants will be announced the following day. The winner will be selected from the results of a Parenting photo shoot, and will be announced on Live on Feb. 15, 2008. The lucky boy or girl will receive $125,000 for a 4-year college education and a spot on the cover of an upcoming issue of Parenting magazine!

View more details here….

7 Ways To Teach Your Kids How To Be Green

Few things are more exhilarating to a child than nature (think mud pies and fireflies), and you can lead by example. Giving your children organic foods, toys and clothes is one way to go green. But there's a lot more to raising green kids.

This article provides interesting tips and ideas on how to teach your kids how to be green.

Celeb babies are in the spotlight from Day 1

It's one thing to share wedding bliss with the world. It's quite another, many stars learn, when a newborn is the object of media attention. The first shot of a celebrity infant can mean big bucks — for stars, if they choose to sell images of their children; for paparazzi, if they don't; and for media publications either way.

With stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Nicole Richie and Jamie Lynn Spears all expecting, the want-to-see in 2008 is going to be major. "It's the fundamental attraction of celebrities," says Larry Hackett, People's managing editor. "You see them as surrogate friends and neighbors, so when they go through these big life moments, you can't help but be curious as to what their kid looks like."

Many stars try to get ahead of the paparazzi by arranging first photos to be published in magazines. Patrick Dempsey, Marcia Cross and Tori Spelling went that route last year.

Read the full article from USA Today.