Start here. Grow far.

We're back!

After a summer hiatus where we spent some time on exciting new aspects of our business, we're back and better than ever! We'll still be discussing parenting issues and topics important to parents (Swine Flu, anyone?) as well as the crazy-to-mundane moments we spend as moms. And we'll also dish the celebrity baby gossip that keeps us all chatting (Kourtney's having a boy!). But we're also returning to our roots: babies and their potential.

What's your baby's (or child's) potential? Leave us a comment and we'll include a mention of you, your baby and your blog (or Twitter ID) in our new, weekly Baby's Got Potential Round-up!

We'll also continue the conversation on Twitter and Facebook so be sure to visit us there too.

It's good to be back. We look forward to joining you once again on this sometimes frustrating, often insane and definitely rewarding journey called parenthood!

Sometimes the over-the-top TV shows get it right

If you're watching Desperate Housewives this season you've seen Eva Longoria's character, Gabrielle Solis, go from runway-model gorgeous to mommy frump. I guess five years, two kids and a blind husband will do that to a gal. And frankly, although the story lines on that show are pretty out there, this is one TV characterization of a woman that I can identify with. Well, except that I was never runway-model gorgeous (slightly stunning, maybe, but I digress...). I did go from being a somewhat-style-conscious, professionally-attired career woman to a work-from-home, stained-yoga-pants-again-today, work-from-home mama of two in pretty short order. In fact, the stealth of my transformation was quite shocking.

On the show, Gabby's husband, Carlos, is poised to get his sight back and Gabby is terrified that he won't find her attractive any more. My husband's eyesight is perfectly fine so he can plainly see what he's gotten himself into (poor guy!). Still, I still find myself wanting to dial back the clock a bit so I can come up with a better way to mix motherhood and the sloth-like demands of working from home with my formerly fashionable and feminine side. I haven't come up with the magic cure-all (yet) but watching Longoria's humorous portrayal of a woman similarly struggling reminded me that I'm not alone in having swapped style for stains. Anyone else feeling ready to fight some frump?

[photo credit: SeenOn!]

Appropriate or not? Obama's daughters take the mic at the convention

Found this story via Kirtsy which includes video of Obama's daughters taking the mic and saying hi to their dad after mom, Michelle, spoke at the convention. As I watched it on TV myself last night I wondered: would America find their behavior cute, charming and appropriate? Or were the girls interrupting mommy and daddy at an inopportune time? I'll admit that at first I cringed a bit but I'm sure that's because we're going through a period of trying to teach our chatty three-year-old that she shouldn't interrupt when someone else is speaking. And I'm sure the Obama girls' appearance, as well as the way they greeted their dad, was at least a little bit planned. I'm sure the DNC wants everyone to know he's a loving dad, just like every other dad, who misses his smart, cute kids when he's on the campaign trail. As the girls continued to say hi to their daddy I felt myself become more at ease with their behavior. What girls wouldn't want to say hi to their daddy when he's traveling in another city? They probably didn't care that America was watching. They just wanted their dad to know they miss him and love him. I say their behavior was totally appropriate.

What did you think?

[photo credit: Fox News]

What's the potential of a name?

If you weren't hiding under a rock this past weekend, you heard the news. Brad and Angie had their twins: Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. There's been all sorts of talk about the names - why they were chosen, what they mean, and whether they're "appropriate." And whether or not you agree with the Jolie-Pitts' selections, we can probably all agree that the names we bestow upon our children define them, to a certain degree, from the day they are born.

When my husband and I chose Waylon for our son's name prior to his birth, our families had mixed reactions. Some family members seemed perplexed with our choice, others ribbed us goodnaturedly ("What about Willie? What about The boys?") and a few were downright unkind when making their disapproval known. My beloved aunt and I almost stopped speaking because she didn't like the name we selected and told me I was potentially ruining my child's life (luckily we've put that squabble behind us and today she loves her great nephew and his name!).

Naming children can be a touchy subject and one that's fraught with worry over whether or not the name chosen will adequately embody the person that the child turns out to be. Does Angelina wonder if Knox will be tough? Stubborn? Does Brad hope that Knox will live up to his masculine, yet unique, moniker? Will Vivienne be as delicate and beautiful as her name sounds? Or will she be a tomboy who hates her somewhat girly name? Just like babies names have potential too. It'll be fun to see how Vivienne and Knox live up to theirs.

[photo credit: SXC]