Tuesday, May 10, 2011

THE BABY PLANNER by Josie Brown


Winner Announced!
Congratulations to Karen ktmixon315
You have won a copy of The Baby Planner!
Please email me your full name and address and I'll get a copy sent to you!







It's book giveaway time again, but, some blog-house cleaning stuff too!

First of all, I hope all of you moms out there had a nice mother’s day and hope all you daughters out there spent some time with your moms.

*The winners of The Last Letter and Here, Hope, Home have been announced on those posts, so please check over there to see if you have won!

*Last week’s Five Dollar Friday Fun Fact was a joke – you guys guessed it WAAAAY to easily. I promise this week’s is gonna be a toughie so make sure to check back for it!

*I caught TWO showings of Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed this weekend and it was fabulous! If you are a fan of Emily Giffin or awesome movies or BOTH, you MUST go see this amazing movie! It’s a great flick and with some fabulous acting, great music, a wonderful story – you’ll love it! It sets things up perfectly for the sequel too, Something Blue, which everyone is rooting for to be made! STAY through the credits, there is a sneak peek!

And guess what? I do have another book to give away, so, here it is, coming your way, and believe me, I wish they had Baby Planners when I was pregnant three times in four years!

The Baby Planner by Josie Brown

The Nanny Diaries meets The Wedding Planner in this smart, dishy novel from the author of Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives—featuring a woman who runs San Francisco’s premier baby planning company and the mommies-to-be who seek out her services.
Katie Johnson may make her living consulting with new moms on the latest greatest baby gadgets no parent should be without, or which mommy meet-ups are the most socially desirable, or whether melon truly is the new black, but the success of her marriage to her husband, Alex, depends on controlling her own urges toward motherhood.

He's adamant that they stay childless. Sure, Katie understands that he's upset over the fact that his out-of-town ex-wife rarely lets him see their ten-year-old son, Peter. But living vicariously through her anxious clients and her twin sisters' precocious children only makes Katie resent his stance more deeply.

While helping a new client—Seth Harris, a high tech entrepreneur who must raise Sadie, his newborn daughter, as a single parent after the tragic death of his wife in childbirth—maneuver the bittersweet journey from mourning husband and reticent father to loving dad, Katie’s own ideals about love, marriage, and motherhood are put to the test as she learns ones very important lesson about family: How we nurture is the true nature of love.

To enter to win a copy of The Baby Planner: tell me something you either like or cannot stand about babies. Actually, I like the idea of something you CANNOT stand about babies better. That sounds more fun!

What I can’t stand about babies is when a mom is holding one and the baby is crying and CLEARLY it needs to eat or needs its pacifier and the mom is DOING NOTHING to calm the baby down and I know FOR SURE that if I held that baby, I could TOTALLY get it to stop crying, because I HAVE THE BABY TOUCH, but if I’m in like Target or something, I can’t exactly say to the woman, “Here, give me your baby, I will shut that little darling up.” But believe me, I have wanted to. And I mean this in the nicest way possible, like I would love that child and make it feel peaceful in a matter of seconds when its own mother is just shopping around NOT EVEN PAYING attention to her poor little WAILING CRYING BABY!

OK, your turn!

Thank you to Gallery Books for this promotion. U.S. and Canadian residents only please.

71 comments:

Homestead Jen said...

That was hilarious, Manic! I have thought that same thing - I can calm your baby, if you cannot be bothered!

I love the faces babies make when they poop. That is some serious business - especially if they are breast fed babies.! And I love it when someone else gets to clean up after them!

Anne said...

I LOVE babies. Really, I do. But I cannot stand when you are putting a newborn to sleep, move so carefully, put them down as slowly as possible, sneak your arm out from underneath them, and the SECOND you step away, eyes pop open.

Anne

Ready To Be A Momma said...

I love babies, I'm dying to have one, but baby poop leaves much to be desired!
qweska8402

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I love the smell of babies! It has such a calming effect

Books & Reviews said...

I do not have children but --- I do enjoy babies and the thing I don't like about them, have nothing to do with them but their parents. Yes- they are cute but I don't need or care about what they are doing, just learned, blah blah blah -- I also don't like that every single parent assumes they baby is soo cute -- I have yet to see a "Cute" newborn. I think they get cute around the 2-3 month age.

Terri said...

I love how once they have had a baby, all women automatically start to sway back and forth the second they come anywhere near one. It's like we're on autopilot!

My reserved copy of Something Borrowed just came in today at the library. Already done with chapter 1, so can't wait to finish it and head to the theater!! And yes, I already know the ending, I accidentally read Something Blue first. That's okay, it's the journey of the story that counts! Haha!

Terri M.

Anonymous said...

I love newborns and that little squeaky noise they make that eventually is a cry. They are soooooooo perfect and precious. Little miracles. Patti cole

Stephanie said...

Terri, I can't stand when moms or grandmoms sway back and forth like that either-when they are NOT holding the baby -- it's like they just got off the cruise ship and have sea legs. I know someone who does this all of the time and I just want to tell her, "STOP SWINGING BACK AND FORTH!" Drives me crazy! LOL!

Ronit said...

I love the snuffly grunting sounds that newborns make when they are eating. The sound like what I imagine feeding dinosaurs sounded like.

Unknown said...

What I hate about babies is that no matter how ugly the child is, we have an obligation to say "Oh what a cute baby!" Which is then followed by the mother looking at you as if you've crossed some boundary by looking in the stroller/cart/etc...which then makes me want to tell her that really her baby resembles a baby monkey. Then the baby hurtles or smiles and all hope is lost because they really are THAT cute! Oh and drool...although I now take care of my elderly father and, just a note, he drools as much as any baby I've ever seen!

Lisa justus said...

I love babies, when a baby nurses and they have to be doing something with their hands instead of just laying there. I don't have small babies anymore so the best part is being able to enjoy them, but all the sleepless nights etc are not mine.

Logan Collins said...

I hate when babies have gas. I know how painful it is for them and how hard it is to comfort them when they have it.

Jen R said...

A lot of strangers would come up and talk about my cute little boy. My cute little boy that wore lots of pink and puple, and dresses, with ponytails in his hair.
It seems like if a baby has dark hair people think boy, and blonde hair they think girl.

I also had a complete stranger come up and ask me if they could hold my baby. Strange.

As for babies themselves, I can't think of much that I dislike. Ask me about a toddler, and I might be able to come up with something ;)

Kayo said...

I always hated when we were ready to go somewhere, all dressed up to the nines and the baby pooped..one of those blowout types. Not fun trying to change that in good clothes!

Karen said...

What I cannot stand about babies is that grow out of that entirely too quickly. ktmixon315

Tiffany Drew said...

What I hate about babies is they are so rude when it comes to MY time. Hey, stop crying, you don't need to eat right now do you? I'm trying to read! Geesh! :)

Anonymous said...

i hate that they grow up. my niece & two nephews were sooo cute & sooo fun when they were babies! now
they're 7, 12 & 13 and not so cute
little wretches!

absolutahnie

Meredith said...

Not much to dislike about babies really. I mainly dislike the way other people are about them. Yes, my baby is cute, thank you, but he is not public property so get your hands off.

CAnative said...

I LOVE the smell of babies and their little tiny, pudgy baby feet! Sooo cute.

What I don't like has nothing to do with them but all the crap you have to lug around for them. As if carrying a diaper bag with all the absolute essentials they must have - if you go ANYWHERE for even an extended afternoon it entails a stroller, a baby seat, a playpen and maybe even a walker. It's like moving day!

Nicole

CariLynn said...

There's really nothing I don't like about babies...but if I had to pick, I could do without the excessive drooling while they're teething.

CariLynn

Krystal said...

I think the only thing I hate is that when the spit up, especially when on formula, you smell as though you've bathed in sour milk. Yuck! I also had a hard time when we would be at the store and people would come up and kiss him... Excuse me, you may not kiss my baby! :)
kndyer

LynnBelo said...

I'm with you manic! I hate it when babies and kids are allowed to do and act however they want in restaurants! Most of the time I'm sure they're just looking for attention, and they parents just don't seem care! I get it, sometimes mom and dad really need a night out with friends, but get a babysitter, because it looks like they think their time is more important, and can't or won't discipline their children, it makes it really hard on the people that are trying to have a nice dinner, not to mention the employees of the restaurant that are just trying to do their job while needing dodge kids running around and trying to attend to their other customers above the kid's screams. If you're gonna take your kids to a nicer restaurant, at least bring something for them to do (that will entertain for at least an hour), only go during their normal dinner time, and try not to "hang out" after dinner (when you know the kids will only start to get bored and act out). Contrary to what it sounds like, I really do like kids, and I love when babies get the hiccups! Its just so funny to me! :)

A.C. Morris said...

I have a two week old and I love pretty much everything about her! As her mom, of course I think she's pretty much the sweetest and most beautiful thing in the world! As someone who used to wait tables through college, I don't like parents who let their babies scream or throw things in restaurants! Oh, and please please please don't let your child eat straight off the table. It's not as clean as you think!

Brenda L B said...

Truthfully I was going to say the same thing you did....a crying baby that is either being pushed in the stroller or just not cuddled correctly. But even I know that some babies just cry but it's the screeching ones that I can't stand, like toddlers that whine when they talks. AAGGHH, like nails on a chalkboard.

Lindsay Elizabeth said...

I love smilling at babies-especially if they're in the store and their parents aren't paying attention to their adorable child... what i dislike is when the parent looks at you like you're crazy for looking at their baby and smilling! most normal people love it but there's always a few crazies out there who are like stop looking at my baby!

Clearly i have no kids but cannot wait till that day comes!

Kelly said...

I love babies, but i cannot stand baby snot. It totally grosses me out. And then when they start to blow bubbles out of their nose, grosser.

Erin T. said...

I can't stand seeing a newborn or an infant without socks of some sort on. Doesn't matter how hot it is - little ones need socks on!!

Laura Kay said...

something I hate...well you already took mine away. Seriously, love babies and holding them to get them to stop :)

I hate when you have rocked and rocked and hummed and you are so so so tired and all you need to do is gently get out of the rocking chais and place baby in the crib and you know you can crawl into your own bed. And as soon as you move them from your warm chest--BAM start crying and you go back to the rocking chair...

Anonymous said...

What I dislike about babies... poop once they start eating solids.

What I dislike about parents, aside from the ones who let their babies cry like you mentioed Manic... I don't like parents who don't properl dress their babies... if it is cool or cold out, socks, a beanie and a balket are a must. A onsie just doesn't cut it.

xx (fingers crossed) this prego could use a new read! Also, I have hit the 20 week mark - half way there to hello baby #2. :)

~Natttygirrl

equinn726 said...

I LOVE babies and wish we had been blessed with one, but thus far, we remain childless & with nursing school starting next week, it will be 15 months before we try again... For now I get to continue to enjoy being an aunt (between my husband and I we have 16 nieces & nephews & 7 great nieces & nephews)....

I HATE sick babies - esp the ones that come in to the emergency room. They're so miserable and they can't tell you what's wrong and my heart just breaks for them...

Carly said...

The only thing I hate about babies is that they cost so much money, otherwise I would have one.

Lilianarenee said...

I love almost everything about babies. But I can't stand their spit up. It get everywhere on everything and gives you ten times the amount of laundry!

AmyNicholeG said...

Let me begin by saying I haven't been blessed with a baby yet...

I hate baby drool, spit-up, vomit, basically anything that comes out of a baby's mouth that isn't vocal. Oh and baby snot. Something about it all just makes my stomach turn.

But I do love the (fresh) smell of babies and the way they smile and laugh just melts my heart.

AmyNicholeG

Unknown said...

I am not a fan of babies. They freak me out. Little people all fragile like. They're so small I always think I'm going to break them. I damn near refuse to change a diaper. Thankfully I'm not a mom...yet. But one day if I ever become one. I really hope I can suck it up & deal.

buttah said...

I love the way babies can be entertained with the simplest of things. My little man thought his daddy juggling tennis balls was a riot when he was a baby! I hated having to change his diapers in public restrooms....gross!!

Jules said...

blow-outs. 'nuff said.

Anonymous said...

I hate when babies start crawling and walking and don't want to be snuggled as much, cause exploring is so much more important to them than snuggle time. jennyfromthecube

jpetroroy said...

Projectile vomit.

your invisible pixie said...

i don't like baby poop. or poop in general, so i guess that's appropriate ;)

Anonymous said...

I do not like that babies automatically mean you are not allowed to have a social life anymore. Friends without kids instantly assume you can't hang out anymore because there is a baby! Gasp! Did you know most babies sleep all day when they are newborns, so yes, I would love to come out for lunch, or have dinner with everyone, or even have a game night. My life didn't end because I had a baby! It's just begun!

BethC said...

I hate when they start eating babyfood and spit up orange or green or some other wonderful color....even worse...when they start drinking real milk and spit up....I am gagging just thinking about it....YUCK!!!

Melissa said...

I love babies, but dislike their sleep schedule. Melissa Rem

Nanette said...

What I hate about babies is they can projectile vomit at any moment...and without notice. It's just nasty! And when it doesn't get cleaned up right away they STINK to high Heaven!! LOL!! Thanks again for another book give-away...TOO COOL!! Nan

Jeryl M. said...

What I love about babies is how they don't talk back like kids do when they get older. What I hate about babies is how they can't tell you what they want and need so you always have to figure it out yourself.

Heidi @ Decor & More said...

I adore babies... especially other people's now that my kids are all teenagers :). What I hate about babies is having them dictate my sleep, errands, eating, showering, peeing schedules. Liking my autonomy now. :)
This book sounds awesome!!

Kate said...

Mostly it's the glee with which some people tell new moms (aka me) that they're doing everything wrong and harming the baby. My favorite was the nurse who told me that I was holding my baby wrong and would cause him to have to have certain tubes put back in. And then she told me to put him back in bed because I was done. Yeah. Maybe you should try to teach me the "right" way.

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I cannot stand how fluid comes out of their every oriface usually at the same time! I they came out walking, speaking, and potty trained I may have had more than one...But then again, I'm into quality verses quantity!

Meg said...

What i hate? No offense, but its when everyone else thinks they know what to do for my child better than I do. When the little man was a newborn, my MIL always insisted that he just needed to go for a walk with her whenever he cried - couldn't be that he was hungry and needed to be given back to his mommy to nurse, NOOO....

And sometimes? My kid IS crying for attention. And that is it. Sure, if I had the time to cuddle him all day in the middle of the supermarket, he'd be happy as a clam. But maybe? He just needs to cry while I desperately try to remember what I needed to grab in the milk aisle so we can just leave before I die of shame from the stares of all the other women around me who know better than I what to do for my child.

Anonymous said...

I just hate it when I see a dirty baby. It breaks my heart and it's not the baby's fault, but the lazy Mom's!

faithspage said...

Last night I was thinking I needed to buy some baby lotion so I smell like a baby.

Like babies, but sometimes it's the parents who I don't like. Afterall, they are only babies.

Leslie B. said...

I hate how a newborn babies skin feel. The texture is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It makes me cringe.

karenk said...

i love the way babies smell...

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I was having a blast reading all of the comments about what people hate about babies, but I'm falling asleep at the computer. One thing about babies is that they keep you up at night :)

What bothers me about babies... You're in walmart with your baby who is wearing a pink shirt, pink jacket, sucking a pink pacifier and in a pink freaking carseat, but some dingbat still always asks "how old is he?"

Brantly;s Mom said...

I am 7 and half months pregnant and I am so dreading the middle of the night feedings. Plus this is the first baby I am going to breastfeed so I am very scared of that; I just want to pump and maybe it will help the baby sleep more during the night.

Carie Casey said...

I hate baby socks. They are really only single use because you lose one almost instantly when you take them off.

DaphneSFL said...

babies can't help what they do, or the smells and noises they make, so I feel bad saying what I don't like about them, lol!

we don't have children and probably won't have any. We like the freedom we have to do what we want, when we want, etc, and frankly, I like my sleep. babies (and kids) are cute, great, etc., but, I cannot stand when parents are somewhere out in public with the kids and you walk past them, or they sit next to you, and, they give you that look like "isn't he/she adorable?" they expect you to comment on the cuteness of their kid, when quite honestly i don't really care that much.

Christine in NJ said...

Just LOVE babies... BUT - that "cradle cap" or baby dandruff that they sometimes get does bother me!... Poop doesn't bother me at all - wipe it away and it is gone! But that dandruff can take weeks to go away and I constantly have the urge to scratch it off (which as I found out with my first baby - just makes it worse!)

Sounds like a great book!
Thanks MaNiC!

Christine

Erin Goff said...

I'm with Domesticated Gal... judgement from other moms is the worst. You never know what is going on in someone else's life - who are we to assume we know better or can do better? Just this morning I was in the store with my two youngest - and I was texting. Not because I couldn't be bothered to pay attention to my kids, but I was desperatly trying to arrange childcare for this afternoon for all three of my kids so I could attend a work meeting. My mom was going to babysit but had a health emergency and well... It's hard enough being a mom without facing judgement from other people - why can't we moms support each other more? :)

Erica said...

Don't hate anything about babies BUT I do hate that strangers come up and feel completely at ease in telling you what you are doing wrong with your baby. Made me crazy when I had little ones.. Still makes me crazy to watch the poor moms suffer throught.

Jessica said...

Hmm something I don't like babies. Well I hate is when they cry. That's pretty obvious but it's something I can't stand about them.

Thanks!

-Jessica

Ally said...

I hate clipping their finger nails. They always move, and it you cut the finger I feel so bad.

Rina said...

My favorite thing about babies is the way they laugh. I could listen to the sound of baby laughter for days!

Lauren said...

I love when a baby smiles behind a pacifier. Add a laugh to that and I'm in heaven. Lauren Royall

yoMomma said...

Mine are both taken, cannot stand cutting their fingernails, mostly because we both end up crying. The snot I could do without also, really do not like suctioning out their little noses.
Love everything else, especially the gummy smiles.....
BTW, I am a swayer, always have been, even before I had kids. My coworkers give me a lot of grief about it. Maybe an inner ear problem?

kwertz12 said...

What I can't stand about babies is that they grow up way too fast. I swear my 8 year old was 6 months old yesterday. And my 8 month old...geez. I can't even keep up! That's what I don't like. Also, they don't smell as good when they get a little older...and even if they do, God forbid you want them to sit still long enough to bury your face in their neck/head to get as much as you can. It's like a drug, serious.

Christina said...

I don't like when babies go to the bathroom in the middle of a diaper change! Boys are the worst! :)

ChristinaL

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

What I can't stand is to see (hear) a child speaking around a pacifier. If the child is old enough to talk then he/she is old enough to give up the plug. Parents need to deal with their child and not use a plug to just 'pacify' their kid!

Unknown said...

Gosh I love babies, but my second daughter didn't sleep through the night until she was 15 months and that made me love babies a little less. Now they have to be someone elses... I'm done.

Emma S. said...

I am not a mother, but am a proud aunt. I love my nephew, but my comment might ruffle some feathers. My hate about babies has more to do with mothers. I hate seeing someone breast feed in public when she doesn't use a blanket or anything to cover up. Seeing boobs all free in public completely freak me out.

Erin Goff said...

My last comment didn't make it through when the website was having trouble - I'll be brief with this one. I hate when moms judge other moms or assume they know what's best for another mom's child. Being a mother is hard enough... can't we all support each other? :)

val said...

tried to comment the other day, but it didn't work i dont think:)

i love the way babies grasp your finger with their tiny hands!