Only a few days left for the RedSparks baby gift giveaway!
Take the opportunity to register now and enter your name in the contest to win this beautiful baby gift package. The lucky winner will be announced on June 1st!
Aline & Matt
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler
As many of you already know, The Playpen was created as a partner piece to our business, RedSparks. We have always envisioned it as being a place where parents, both seasoned and green, can come for tips and tricks, humor, even drama…everything related to raising a child. We also continue to strive to provide support to parents of preemies as well. Having gone through that experience ourselves made us realize that the more help we can give them (even in the form of a laugh), the better it makes us feel.
With that in mind, we are proud to launch our newest venture, “The Playpen in Motion!” This will be a monthly video segment (not too long!) that will feature all kinds of interesting stuff from kid-friendly recipes to arts and crafts…even “parent on the street” interviews. Its our own attempt at Baby TV!
Our first segment is a quick interview with Aline, my wife. We thought it would be great to kick off the series by talking a little about why and how this all came about. Hope you enjoy it.
Be sure to tune in frequently. The next installment of The Playpen in Motion will feature sun, fun and a seafaring snack that no toddler will be able to resist, even when they are as picky as Frankie!
Aline & Matt
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler
He lays on his back in the thick summer grass, bathing in the afternoon sunlight. The gentle drone of cicadas lulls him into a lazy, happy sleep. The warm breeze, fragrant with the scent of lilac and jasmine, kisses his cheeks gently as the Birch leaves whisper overhead. In the distance, he can hear his mother humming sweetly from the kitchen as she kneads dough for the dinner bread.
These are the things he remembers.
As the car rolls down the highway in the night, the muffled sound of the tires on the road pleasantly hypnotizes him - a day of thrills and adventure have made him weary. Clack-clack. Clack-clack. The occasional sound of the brake pedal being released wakes him only slightly, just long enough for him to tilt his head back and peer at the vast expanse of stars in the deep black sky, before the soft sounds of his parents whispering to each other – occasionally laughing together quietly – sooth him back to sleep.
These are the things he remembers.
The muffled crunch of snow under their boots is the only sound they hear as they walk silently together holding hands. White halos of light surround each street lamp, as puffy flakes fall quietly to the Earth. He inhales deeply. The crisp winter air fills his lungs – clean, cool and pure. As he exhales he turns to look at her. She is smiling slightly, gazing ahead of them at the snowscape glowing under the moonlight. Fluffy white flakes land gently on her dark lashes and her cheeks flush as they continue together down the smooth, untouched road.
These are the things he remembers.
He lies in bed, snuggled under the sheets. He is not asleep, but he is happy. He rolls to his side and peers at his glowing yellow nightlight, which provides a cheery warmth to his room. Downstairs, he hears the cards shuffle. Nickels and dimes rattle on the table. Although he cannot make out the words, he hears the muffled voice of his Father speaking. After a moment, his Father’s voice raises. Then a pause. Then laughter erupts from the room as his best friends laugh hysterically at whatever joke he just made. A thin sliver of light appears as his Mother peeks inside his bedroom door. He closes his eyes, not wanting to reveal that he is awake. The door closes slowly, not making a sound, and he hears ice tinkling in glasses as she heads downstairs to join them.
These are the things he remembers.
He remembers all of these things as if they happened yesterday, the young boy that has long since left me. He remembers the love, the happiness and blissful carefree life that was childhood. Sometimes, when I am alone, I turn my head to the sun and close my eyes. For a fleeting instant we meet again, he and I. But then, as quickly as he came, he is gone.
I know now that I love him almost as much as I love my own daughter. For whatever reason, however, I fail to create the same nurturing and loving environment for that young boy that I do for her. Perhaps it is the weight of adulthood. Perhaps it is fear. But one day, somewhere in the future, my family and I will go off somewhere that will allow all of us to reunite and live his memories once again.
Jeremy, who writes a fantastic blog called Discovering Dad, asked his readers to write about “what kinds of things bring out the kid in you”. Jeremy, I found this to actually be a very therapeutic and fun post to write, and I hope you and your readers enjoy it.
Also, best of luck to you and your family with your new addition. Take care of yourself. I am sure that everything will come out well.
Matt
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler
There’s nothing like putting a beautiful arrangement together for someone and such is the case with all baby items. It’s a wonderful feeling to select products that speak to your heart. Something warm and cozy. A soft toy that you know your child will cherish for a long time to come. A familiar scent that will forever remind you of your baby. A colorful book to entice one’s imagination and a familiar tune that is sure to make the best keepsake for generations ahead.
This week I have selected some of my favorite products from our site and combined them as a giveaway for one lucky winner out there. The giveaway is valued at $145.00 and will run for the entire month of May. Register to enter your name in the contest and win this amazing hand picked baby package!
Jelly Cat Doggy , the cuddly and friendly companion, suited for a nap buddy or ride along partner for road trips.
Modern Basics frog blanket , made of the softest fleece, the perfect snuggle time blanket.
Thymes Sweetleaf bodywash and shampoo and body lotion , tender and gentle formula comforts and calms baby with organic lavender, chamomile and aloe vera. Paraben-free with a light and enchanting scent that is fresh, clean and irresistible.
Inspired by vintage carousels wooden music box . Handmade and hand painted in a studio along the Delaware river, these beautiful boxes are unlike any you’ve seen.
Dr Seuss’s All Aboard The Circus McGurkus book. Train-shaped board book with big, bold colorful pages of engaging fun.
All of our products are picked with the utmost of quality in mind, you won’t be disappointed! Good Luck!
Hello there, Playpen Readers! First I’d like to thank you for having me guest post on this wonderful blog! I’m sure many of you are thoroughly enjoying many of The Playpen posts and surely loving the wonderful baby items Aline and Matt have selected for your precious little ones. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hilda and I am a 29-year-old happily married mother of two precious little girls. My husband KC and I have recently been quite busy with our girls Lily Jade (20 months) and Bella Rose (4 months).
Before our first daughter Lily was born, my husband KC and I decided we wanted to make some drastic changes in our lives. One of those changes included leading the way to teaching our children to live with gratitude, humility and with respect for our amazing planet. The lesson began with us making choices that would benefit our health, the Earth and our children’s future. One of our first steps was creating Earth and baby friendly nurseries. Below is my list of ways you can make your nursery Earth and baby friendly.
Thank you
Hilda O. Frank
President/Owner
Green Stuff Connection
Thanks for the informative post, Hilda! We can and should all make an effort to be “greener” in our daily lives, and its inspiring to see people such as yourself taking the initiative to create change! For those of you inspired by this post, please stop by Hilda’s site, and check out RedSparks’ new organic line of products, including our “Green is the New Black” T, Organic Hoshi Bubble for girls and Organic Hoshi Romper for boys.
Aline and Matt
A few posts ago, I wrote about something that happened to us, specifically Aline, that cause us a great deal of turmoil. Since then, she hasn’t been herself. She is angry, sad, insecure, confident, happy, lazy, energetic….pretty much a mess (sorry, Aline, its true.) I have been trying to help as much as I can, but I can’t help but feel that my efforts fall short of the saving grace, messiah-like effect that I expected (or wished) they would have on her.
So I decided to write her this letter. I am hoping that, by “putting myself out there” emotionally, and publicly, she will somehow feel that, no matter what happens, I will be there. I am also aware that I have a knack for presenting myself in a manner which could possibly persuade others think that I am next to godliness, which is about as close to the truth as Lindsey is to the Pope. Because she is feeling vulnerable, my wish is to humble myself as well, and perhaps her pity for my sorry state will somehow make her feel better.
Aline -
I am truly sorry you went (are going) through this experience. Please know that in no way do I hold you or your actions responsible for what happened. You are the foundation on which I attempt to build my life, and I would never hold anything over which you had no control against you. This occurrence gives us an opportunity for a fresh start…a chance to rebuild and regroup. I am looking forward to starting over; to “re-engaging” with a clean slate. One we can both feel comfortable and confident with. Although I would love to be one of those people who say “If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” I am not. There are many things I regret, and vow to do differently.
I will never drink heavily through a pregnancy or any rough or trying patch in our lives again.
I will do my best to not lose my temper, roll my eyes or lose patience with you or Frankie.
Even though I do blame your family for certain facets of our current situation, I know this is not fair. I will no longer resent you or them for this.
I will do my best to remain focused and involved in our family…even when I have had a long day.
I will show you that I am truly, completely, still “into” you. This has always been the case, but I know I haven’t been showing it as I used to.
I will acknowledge and support the work you do, both professionally and domestically, and will try to do at least the equal.
I will communicate better.
I will take better care of myself.
I will help you at least attempt to curb Frankie’s terrible twos, and threes and fours (continue as necessary).
I will restore your faith in me.
I will put you back up on the pedestal you deserve to be on.
You are a wonderful mother and wife…I could not ask for anything more. I look forward to a lifetime of memories (even the bad ones) with you and our daughter. If another child should enter our life, I will be happy, do my best to support you and our family, and will continue to strive to be the best husband and father I can be. This I CAN promise.
Your loyal and loving husband,
Matt
