Bess' Baby Picks

My sister had her baby a little over a week ago, & all are doing great!  Baby fever has set in once again {Did it ever really leave?} & I thought I'd share a few favorite baby items with you...

1. BabyLit Books
Think classic lit in the form of uber-charming counting, color, etc. board books!

2. Boudreaux's Butt Paste
My sister says this stuff is great for baby bums!

3. Vera Bradley Pacifier Pod
Clip it to your baby bag or stroller & never lose that pacifier again!

4. Leapfrog Violet or Scout Plush
This is more of a "grow-into" toy, but I think it's a great one!  Baby would enjoy musical aspects of this electronic plush {it comes in green for the boys}, & in toddler years it can be programmed to say your child's name along with other things, like favorite food, favorite activity, etc.

5. Carter's Bib
Cause babies are miraculous & kinda a big deal. =)

Baby Love,

-Bess-

Introducing H.R.H...

A name has officially been chosen!  Baby H.R.H. Prince George {a popular choice among kings}!

Royal Baby Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a DVD of The Royal Wedding!

P.P.S.: I think {perhaps}, I've gotten over my royal baby frenzy here on Bess' Bag!  Thanks for indulging me!

Free Baby Gift Tags Printable {+ Motherhood Dreams}

The recent royal birth news has got me in a baby craze!  Well, typically I'm prone to this mania anyways...  Confession time: some days I {majorly} dream of motherhood!  Thinking up the perfect baby names is my hobby.  I've been known to snatch up a sweet baby item time & again to be put away for safe keeping until that one day {God willing} that I'll be a mother {&, of course, a wife first}!  Is this crazy, ya think?  

Here's a few goodies for my future {God willing} little one!  Love these Baby Lit board books {they're classic titles fit for little minds (this one's a counting book based on Pride & Prejudice)}!

Isn't he the cutest little lamb ever?

And, as promised, here's some sweet tags to welcome a new tiny bundle of life into your little corner of the world...

Click on the image, then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary {I found these need to be shrinked down some}, print, & enjoy!

CONDITIONS OF USE: My printables are free for personal use only.  Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}.  If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it).  Thanks & enjoy!

Here's a dainty handmade sunshiny dress I bought when I was in the 5th grade at an Appalachian fair.  I've kept it safely tucked away for a future baby girl ever since.  I picked up the tinny tiny bathing suit at a thrift shop - it looks brand new & absolutely adorable.

But, hey, I don't know if I'll ever have a little girl {or even a precious boy}, or if I'll ever get married.  My silly, hopeful collection may seem completely outrageous to you {I can't blame you if it does}.  Right now, the future - well, it's all very mysterious {as it always is to me}... but not to God.  I'm trusting Him with the desires of my heart & believing that He knows best!

Do you dream about being a mommy one day or are you a mom?  What are your thoughts on motherhood?

Baby Love,

-Bess-

It's A Boy! {& A Giveaway}

Today a royal baby took his first breath.  I have to admit, I find this kind of news exciting!  Babies, royalty, fanfare... what can I say, I love it all!  Now, we await a decision on the future monarch's name.  What fetching & fitting moniker would you choose for a future king?  I'm thinking William {after the little one's princely dad} something something something...

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

In honor of Kate & Will's blessed event, I'll be giving 1 U.S. Bess' Bag reader a DVD which features the entire royal wedding + an engagement interview with the couple that aired on British TV.

To Enter: You must be a U.S. "Gal Pal" of Bess' Bag {i.e.: a follower} & you must leave a comment with your royal name pick &/or baby names you love {specify which name(s) you're leaving}.  One comment per reader please.  The winner will be chosen on July 29, 2013 {July 28, 2013 is the last day to enter}.

Baby Love,
-Bess-

The winner of the DVD is Gabrielle!  Congrats!

Fab Free Customizable Printables!

I recently found this fabulous website {On To Baby} where you can create customizable initial art for printing!  It's set-up to create nursery art with a baby's name, but as you can see, it can easily be used for what have you!

 There's lots of other color options to choose from, this just happens to be one of my favorites.  They also have a more modern option {click here for that}.

Here's some more word ideas: your first or last name; Easter; Jesus; hope; love; bloom; the state where you live; faith; create; glow...  The hard part is choosing!

What word(s) would you use?

Printable Love,

-Bess-

40 Years Ago

Forty years ago today Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the U.S.  Norma McCorvey was the plaintiff {"Jane Roe"} in the case.  Back then she was fighting for rights to abort her unborn baby; today she stands & speaks out for life.  When God gets a hold of a heart, He does amazing things!  Her story reminds me of Paul's in the Bible.

Every life is precious.  Choose life today.

Love,
-Bess-  

Sanctity of Life Sunday

It's Sanctity of Life Sunday - the day to remember how precious life is & to remember the unborn who weren't given that life.  

What's quite amazing is that the old abortion clinic in my city {which hasn't been used for aborting babies since 1993}, is now the site of a pregnancy resource center that's all about giving life.  Out in front of the building is a memorial to the unborn.  It's such a beautiful "God thing" that this place that used to be a building of pain & death is now a haven of hope & healing for not only women facing an unplanned pregnancy, but also to the women who have had abortions & are finding forgiveness & peace through the blood of Jesus.  God is good! 

Babies are the most precious gifts!  Let's give them life.  If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, seek out a Christian pregnancy center where you live.  There is hope always.    

Love to You {& All the Little Ones},

-Bess-

Soft Taggy Toy {For Baby} Tutorial

Brrr! Baby, it's cold outside! =) I still have a few ideas up my sleeve in the coming days before the ‘blessed event!’ Speaking of ‘blessed events’ here’s a sweet idea I thought up the other day…


Possible Recipients: Small Ones =)


Have any tiny bundles of love on your Christmas list this year? Try your hand at making this soft toy perfect for small hands (inspired by all those Taggie baby items you see in the stores)... 

What You Need...

• 1/4 yard of flannel fabric (this amount makes at least 2)
• different kinds of ribbon
• sewing machine &/or needle & thread
• straight pins
• stuffing
• crinkly paper
• small bell (for rattle) - optional

 Instructions...

Cut pieces of ribbon & fold them in half to create the taggys.

Cutting small slits around the circle (not all the way to the seam line where you stitched) may make it easier to turn right side out.

Stitch up the opening when you're finished either by hand or carefully on a sewing machine.  Ta da!  A sweet gift for a wee one this Christmas.  I don’t think I’ve got any little little ones on my list this year (the youngest is my 2 year old nephew who loves trains), so I think I’ll put this up for later (in my hope chest (well, if I had one)=). 

Don't forget...the first gift of Christmas was a baby!

Love,

-Bess-