By Leah Eagle

The holiday season is in full swing and if you have added a new baby to your family, this will be an extra special time for your family.

Your baby will only have their first holiday season one time, and there are lots of options to make it memorable. They won’t remember it, but take lots of pictures so they can look at them when they’re older together and see what a wonderful time it was.

Here’s a list of gift ideas that can make your baby’s first holiday season a special one.

ALL AGES:

Festive pajamas
You get your little one their own special pair (or pairs!), or go for a matching set for the entire family. Either way, pajamas are always a hit. Family pajamas have soared in popularity over the years and make for great photos.

A knit hat
What better way to keep your baby’s head warm than an adorable knit hat. For a bonus, get one with a pom-pom on the top for added cuteness.

Christmas stocking
If your family celebrates Christmas, it’s time to add another stocking to the mantel for your baby’s first Christmas! There are tons of options to choose from, from monogrammed, to baby’s first Christmas to one that matches the ones you already have. Make sure to add some items in there for a special surprise!

Special ornament
While you’ll likely have a Baby’s First Christmas ornament (or several!) There are kits available to make your own at home. You can put their tiny handprint in clay and have the keepsake for years to come. You can also get them personalized with your baby’s name and year.

Baby Books
Whether it’s special Christmas themed books, or classic nursery rhymes, books always make a great gift. Spending time reading with your child each day can help with their social development and thinking skills. It also gives you and your little one that special time together.

Personalized silhouettes
A unique gift that you can keep for years to come. It can be made into an ornament or framed to hang on the wall.

A piggy bank
A classic gift your child can use for years to come. Go ahead and add some money inside as a surprise, and teach them about saving!

Nursery bedding
Olli+Lime has so many choices of sheets, blankets and more for your little one. Check out all of the options at olliandlime.com.

0-3 months

Lovey Cuddles
These can be sweet friends for your little one. Whether cuddling with it for a nap or bedtime, or soothing them when they’re upset, lovey’s can be something your child will love for years to come.

Play Mat
This will give your baby something fun and new to do. Whether you choose a monochromatic piece or one full of color, mats will help your baby learn new things and enjoy new sounds.

Sophie the Giraffe
Sophie has been around for years and is a beloved plastic giraffe that babies can chew on, hold or play with. There’s even a Christmas gift set that includes a matching hat and slippers for your baby.

Booties
Keep those tiny baby feet warm on cold days with adorable baby booties, maybe even Christmas themed for the holidays!

3-6 months

Rattle & teether toys
Your baby can learn to grasp, hold and shake and also work out those gums as their teeth begin coming in.

Tummy time mat
It won’t be long until your baby is crawling. Help them work on their coordination and mobility by spending time on their tummy and getting those leg muscles ready to crawl!

Activity Center
Your baby will love sitting up in a bouncer and enjoying the fun activities they can explore within a hands reach. They can also strengthen their leg muscles by bouncing. Other options are standing musical tables with a variety of sights and sounds.

6-9 months

Sensory toys
There are plenty of sensory toy options for your little one to engage one or more of their senses. Sensory toys help strengthen baby's brain development as they grow. Even black and white wall art can help stimulate baby's vision! 

Stacking toys
Whether it’s the little rings to stack on a stick, stacking cups or other items, these toys help with babies motor skills and hand eye coordination.

A plush Christmas tree
There are cute options available in cloth, plastic and felt options that will allow your baby to decorate their own tree.

Bath toys
Once your baby is sitting up in the bathtub, they’ll love some toys to play with during their bath time. There are limitless options available, from simple rubber ducks, these water friendly toys provide lots of bath fun.

9-12 months

A personalized puzzle
Wooden puzzles with your child’s name can help them with letter recognition and with coordination of putting the pieces in.

A walker
It won’t be long until your baby is ready to take their first steps! Walkers can provide a great way to practice and strengthen their leg muscles to get ready for the big day! They also come with activities on the front that provide entertainment.

Musical instrument toys
Xylophones, shakers and rattles can be your baby’s first introduction to making music. Enjoy these before they are old enough for drum sets and guitars!

Blocks
There are lots of options for little ones to learn to stack and build. These are great for little hands and practicing their fine motor skills.

A ball popper
Tiny hands can place the plastic balls into an animal and watch them pop out of the top. This can be lots of fun and entertainment.

Cars and trucks
It may not be time for Hot Wheels yet, but there are plenty of fun options of vehicles they can roll around that light up and have other activities.

Some wheels
Either a classic red wagon or a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe, this is a great age to introduce your child to their first ride.

An outdoor swing or playset
Whether you can install a Little Tykes swing on your back deck or want to go for a full size playset, your little one will have hours of outdoor fun swinging and sliding

Hope these suggestions give you some great ideas of what to get your baby for the holidays. Our team at Olli+Lime wishes you and your family a very happy holiday season!

The Olli+Lime Team hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  Our Black Friday sale is active, so you can begin saving now through Monday, November 28th.  

Olli+Lime offers a wide variety of modern bedding sets, nursery essentials, accessories and art, featuring a range of monochromatic, black and white and gender neutral designs. Check out our new modern colors to allow you maximum flexibility in designing your baby's special place.

Thank you for all who have supported our transition this year and we look forward to bringing you more value, quality-driven products -- handcrafted in the USA.

Thanks,

Olli+Lime Team

By Leah Eagle

Of all the advice and information I was given before we had our first child, no one ever told me how much our marriage would change.

It was a complete shock how different it was going from a couple to becoming parents. Part of the problem is that you're both tired and have less time to spend with your partner than you’re used to. Just remember that this stage won’t last forever!

Researchers have found that about 67 percent of couples experience a decline in relationship satisfaction in the first three years of a baby’s life and this deterioration often persists into subsequent years (Psychology Today).

While it was an exciting and life-changing experience, nothing prepares you for how things with your partner will change. Although it is a magical time bringing your baby home, couples will be exhausted and frustrated, along with a myriad of other feelings. That combination of feelings can definitely take a toll on your relationship if you're not careful.

Research also shows that couples typically experience an increase in conflict and a decrease in overall satisfaction when their first child is born. (That’s an understatement.)

To keep things on track, here is a list of things you can do. But for that to happen, new parents have to put as much planning and effort into preserving and protecting their marriage as they did preparing for their baby.

Divide responsibilities equally

Discuss who can handle different responsibilities. Figure out what you both would like to see and figure out then create a compromise that works. Divvy up the duties so one person isn’t taking the load of doing everything. Resentment, anger, and frustration can develop quickly if one partner feels like they are doing all the work and never gets a break.

Whether you both plan to continue working, or one parent plans to stay at home full-time, the childcare, cooking, and household chores need to be split in a way that makes sense for your family. It is unrealistic to expect one parent to shoulder all the responsibilities.

Figure out a sleep strategy that works

This is a big one! Babies need to eat every few hours, which means lots of interrupted sleep those first few weeks (or months!) This is why tiredness is a major source of contention among new parents. Adjusting to a few hours of sleep every night is a big change.

To plan for this stressful and draining time period, couples will need to figure out a plan to handle the sleepless nights. Try to avoid one partner sleeping every night while the other is up with the baby. My husband and I both got up with our babies. One would warm the bottle while the other would change the diaper. We would trade off who fed and who got to go back to sleep.

Even if one partner works during the week and the other stays at home, they should come up with a plan so both of them can get at least some sleep.

What’s important is that one parent is not doing all the nighttime feedings and changings alone. This will look different for every couple, but do whatever works best for you.

Show appreciation for each other

Kind words can go a long way. My love language is words of affirmation, so anytime my husband told me I was appreciated meant a lot to me.

Give each other compliments each day. Tell your partner how much you love and appreciate them. Leave a note on the counter so they’ll find it when they leave for work, or send a random text during the day. It doesn’t take a lot of effort, but it can go a long way.

Accept differences in parenting styles

Disclaimer: you and your partner will not do things the exact same way. Your partner may feed the baby differently than you do, or have a different way to get the baby to sleep.

Don’t criticize. Let them do what works for them and you do what works for you. Nobody likes to be nagged or corrected. This may cause them to not want to help if they feel they can’t do it the “right way.” Be willing to accept that your partner may do things differently and that’s fine. Different isn’t bad.

Invest in your relationship

Making sure you and your partner stay connected is of the utmost importance. Whether that’s having a date night, being intimate or just carving out some time for the two of you each day.

It’s easy to lose connection when you’re both focused on your baby, so it takes effort to stay connected after adding a baby to your family. Your relationship is a priority and it’s so important to keep connected in your relationship. This will not only benefit your marriage, but also your children.

Talk about your feelings

This may sound cheesy, but you’ll both have a lot of new feelings once your baby is born. Discuss the good and the bad with each other. You’re in this together, so sharing how you are feeling and being honest with each other is key.

Moms can feel isolated and lonely, and many deal with postpartum depression. Dad’s can feel unsure of what to do and how to help. Keeping the lines of communication open and active can help both partners. Just being there for each other and listening can help you both. You and your partner need to tell each other what you want and what's bothering you if you're resentful, angry or upset.

While things will be different after baby, both good and bad, just remember this phase is temporary. Do the best you can to get through those tough times because there will be plenty of good times ahead!

By Leah Eagle

Beginning on Friday, November 18 and running through Monday, November 28, Olli+Lime will be having a 30% off sale!

This is a great time to stock up items for your baby’s nursery, send a link to grandparents for baby’s Christmas list or even get gifts for your friends' babies!

In addition to our variety of black and white items, we have introduced a Pops of Color! We chose classics, neutrals and solids that pair with our legacy line. So you can add to what you already have or start from scratch with colors that will pair wonderfully together. The monochromatic patterns and new colors will help further customize your baby's classic, modern nursery.

The new line of exciting grouping of textures, patterns, solids and colors is available in our essentials and accessories line and includes crib sheets, crib blankets and changing pad covers so you can create a fun, functional and customized room for your baby.

Here are all the new patterns in the Pops of Color line and a little bit about each of them.

SOLIDS- a twist on the traditional pink and blue colors:

• Blush Pink: Hushy Blushy is a not so pink that is a perfect way to introduce a solid color to mix and match with our legacy black and white designs or match with any of our new lines of colors and patterns.
• Foggy Blue: By The Sea is a beautiful expression of "not so blue" fog and mist.
• Blue: Floaties in the Deep End is a dreamy slate blue to help your baby sleep like they are floating in the ocean.

PATTERNS- Six fun new patterns bring a variety of mix and match options with our solid prints.

• Miranda & Liam are two sweet patterns of crossroads and dashes that combine and intersect in a delightful shade of teal.
• Bowties and Bobby Socks are a mix of ivory and beige and provide a soft reflection of penciled triangles, X's, and open diamonds.
• Tangerine Tiger features a mix of ivory and tangerine stripes that create a subtle salute to the modern design against a soft white background.
• Baby Fingers in Chalk. This beautiful slate gray with a dashes and lines pattern offers a perfect neutral for your modern nursery.
• Sunday Stroll. Two sweet patterns of crossroads and dashes combine and intersect in this delightful play of pink.
• Baby Hairs. A true pop of violet color that stays true to modern lines, this design is as playful as those little wispy baby hairs.

SHAPES- Squares and Triangles and Crosses, Oh My!

• Jagged Little Square. The tiny, ethereal jagged gray squares seem to move around on a background of white patterns.
• My Little Hat. This simple pattern is a perfect compliment to any modern nursery. The beautiful gray reflecting triangles shadow each other across a happy background of ivory.
• Tops for Tots. The perfect compliment to any modern nursery, beautiful reflecting triangles shadow each other across this happy background of gray.
• Tea Parties One Day. With a variation of delicate pink squares, this pattern lines up the perfect compliment to any modern nursery, with just the right touch of delicacy and geometric flair.
• Little Tiny Hugs. A multicolor print with variations of delicate X's in blue, green and pink will send tiny hugs to your little one as they enjoy their sleep.
• City Heartbeeps. A vibrant mix of colorful geometric patterns look great with any neutral or textured background.
• Poppy’s Crayons. This vibrant mix of colorful stitches against eye-popping poppy is a reminder that it won’t be long before your baby is drawing with crayons.

All of the new fabrics are 100% cotton, sourced and handcrafted in the USA.  They are also OEKO-TEX Certified- meaning the products have been tested and are free from harmful substances.

Go ahead and browse our website, including the new Pops of Color collection  and don’t forget to join us for our after Thanksgiving sale!

by Leah Eagle

The holiday season is here and Thanksgiving will be here before you know. (It's November 24!)

If this is your baby's first Thanksgiving, you have lots to be thankful for this year. Thanksgiving is also an opportunity for your family to make new holiday memories.

Whether you have a newborn or an almost one-year-old, there are lots of ways to make the most out of your holiday. From crafting, taking photos, yummy food and a post-lunch nap, make sure to slow down and enjoy the day.

If you can, plan to spend Thanksgiving morning at home. Enjoy breakfast and relax while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (starts at 9 a.m. ET) before heading out to visit family or before family arrives at your house.

Don’t stress about things being perfect. We know things don’t always go as planned. Your baby may be fussy, you may have not gotten any sleep the night before, family members may critique your parenting. Just try to relax and enjoy the day.

Here’s are 10 ways to celebrate your baby’s first Thanksgiving:

1. Take a family photo

This is a special day for your family, so you're going to want to capture the memories. Snap a family selfie or have a family member take a photo for you so you can remember the day for years to come. (You could also use it as your Christmas card picture!) The mild weather, fall leaves and seasonal baby clothes make for great pictures. Your little one will certainly be too young to remember, so it will give them something to look back on when they get older. Make it a tradition each year so you can see how your baby (and family) changes and grows.

2. Record video of your baby

Take a few minutes to capture a video of your baby on Thanksgiving. With smartphones, it’s no effort at all to press the record button and capture some memories of your baby’s reactions during the day, having their first bites of big food or napping with their grandparents. You can also put together a photo collage or video reel to share on social media.

3. Make a special holiday craft

This can be done on Thanksgiving Day or even before. Whether you have a tiny baby or an almost one-year-old, there are several easy and cute crafts you can make and save for years to come. Pumpkin thumbprints are quick and easy- just put a small amount of orange paint on your baby’s finger and stamp it onto paper. Give it a stem and you’ve got a small keepsake. Other ideas are handprint or footprint turkeys, which are always adorable. Any Thanksgiving craft you make will be fun, but using their little hands and feet will help you remember how tiny they once were. Older siblings can join in on this too!

4. Bring the family together

Thanksgiving is all about togetherness, so your baby may be meeting some of their relatives for the first time, or your family may be traveling to visit family. If you can’t visit in person, FaceTime or Skype so you can still see each other on the special day. If you are traveling with your baby, make sure you take all the essentials your baby will need. Diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, burp cloths, bibs, extra clothes, pajamas, and blankets.

5. Choose a special outfit

There are so many options for cute Thanksgiving outfits if you want to dress your baby in something holiday-themed. Whether it’s something fancy, or just a onesie, you’re sure to find something you love. You can also get a cute first Thanksgiving bib for them to wear while they enjoy their meal. After taking pictures or having lunch, you can change your baby into some Thanksgiving pajamas for their afternoon nap.

6. Let your baby try some new foods

If your baby is ready, Thanksgiving is a great time to introduce some new tastes and textures. Be sure to have someone snap photos of your baby taking their first bites of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie. If you have not yet introduced table foods, Thanksgiving lunch or dinner with your baby will still feel special– just snap some photos of them seated at the table in their high chair or your arms, or make them their own place setting to enjoy their food.

7. Share a special book

There are loads of adorable Thanksgiving picture books out there, some just for babies. Amazon has tons of options, and you could also check your local bookstore. From Baby’s First Thanksgiving, You’re my Little Pumpkin Pie to one of my kids favorites: Llama Llama Gives Thanks, find one that you and your baby will enjoy reading together.

8. Establish a new tradition

Thanksgiving is all about being grateful and giving thanks. Traditions all begin somewhere, and this is an opportunity to create one that your family will do year after year. While you may be practicing some traditions you’ve done for years, this will be your baby’s first time seeing it all and it’s a great time to start some new traditions of your own. You could take a post-meal walk together or go to a park. As your kids get older, have them say or write down one thing they’re grateful for and put it in a special place. You can also incorporate them into traditions your family has had for years. Donating to a charity in your child's name is also a tradition you can start that can grow with your child. 

9. Make time for a nap.

 A Thanksgiving Day nap is a great way to relax after all of the excitement and eating a big meal. Your baby will definitely still need their nap, so your or a loved one could join them for an afternoon siesta.  Try to stick to your baby’s regular sleep routines when visiting with family members so they can stay close to their regular schedule.

10. Relax and enjoy the day!

No matter how you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, take some time to soak in every moment of your baby’s first Thanksgiving. These memories will last forever!