Wordless Wednesday
Find out more about our Jumbo Cuddle Up - The softest blanket you’ll ever feel!
WW Participants receive free shipping - use WWFS50 at checkout.
August 2008 Cutest Baby Photo Contest
It’s time for us to host our 1st ever Cutest Baby Photo Contest that is open to any baby and every baby. At Ambajam we have had photo contests before, but only for our Little Ambajamers (kids wearing Ambajam products). This time we want to see all those cute baby pictures out there.
So here’s the deal…To enter all you have to do is email your picture (500px width) to info (at) ambajam (dot) com - info@ambajam.com. Tell us your babies first name, age and a brief story behind the picture if there is one. The deadline to enter is July 31, 2008 and the winner will be announced by August 10, 2008. We are looking for photos that will make you say Awwwww or the kind that make you laugh out loud. There will only be one winner who will receive a $75 gift certificate for Ambajam baby clothes.
Here’s the best part, our judge!
Katja Presnal is the owner and founder of online boutique Skimbaco and a mother of three. She shares her lifestyle in her blog Skimbaco Lifestyle and helps other womenpreneurs offering free PR service at LadybugLandings.com. Katja is known for her marketing skills, and her good taste in children’s fashion. Katja is currently moving from the Rocky Mountains to New York with her family.
As you can see Katja is one busy woman so we are very excited and grateful that she has agreed to judge our contest.
Follow us on Twitter and find out who wins!
Things To Do With Baby on the 4th of July
July 4th is just around the corner and as any holiday, it’s one more reason to do something special with your baby to help create memories or begin traditions to continue for years to come. No matter what your budget is there are ways fun ways to be patriotic.
Here’s a few things we came up with at Ambajam to highlight Independence Day and hopefully put a smile on your little one’s face.
Face Painting
Toddlers and babies really get a kick out of getting their faces painted and it doesn’t have to be too fancy. You can make a simple flag with just a few stripes or even just a star on their cheek. Make sure the paint you use us non-toxic and washable or find a fair that has vendors there that do face painting. They can really get detailed with some of the designs and the kids usually get a kick out of it.
Water Color Flags
All you need is plain white paper, a brush, water colors and a cup of water. Lay this out somewhere that won’t get ruined if your cup tips over. 
Begin by drawing a flag yourself on a piece of paper. Don’t worry about being to precise, all you need are stripes and a few stars. Let your toddler in on the fun and see what they come up with. Whatever it looks like, I’m sure you will treasure it and hopefully it will make the refrigerator hall of fame.
Patriotic Cupcakes
Baking cupcakes is always a treat that kids love. From licking the batter spoon to enjoying the final product. Holidays give us a time to really get creative with frosting so let’s make the most of it. Find some red, white and blue frosting and go to town. Sprinkles would be the icing on the cake so to speak. You don’t have to be a baker to have fun with cupcake decorating.
Flag Tagging
Most discount stores will sell small inexpensive flags. Try buying about 20 and take a strip of white paper and write “Happy 4th, your neighbor (fill in name)” Staple the paper tightly to the flag pole. Take a walk with your toddler or baby and let them put the flag in your neighbors lawns or pots or just lay them on their doorstep. Most people like a little red, white and blue on their lawn and it’s a good way for you to get to know your neighbors and take a stroll outside with your baby.
Matching Outfits
Matching a tee shirt with mom or dad is something you can only get away with for so long, so why not do it now? You can probably find matching shirts at places like Old Navy or the Gap. If not, then try decorating a plain white tee shirt yourself and sport them on July 4th.
Stickers
It’s a safe bet that kids of any age will like stickers. I wouldn’t recommend letting your baby play with stickers unattended, however sometimes watching them try to figure out why one side is sticking to their fingers is quite fun. Try finding patriotic stickers and let your baby add them to coloring books, or even to plain white paper. You can save these in a box and bring them out every year. You can also just put it on their clothing so they can feel patriotic for the day.
Hair Accessories
Hair ribbons add flair to any outfit, but on holidays they are a tribute. Make these fun. You can combine 3 colors or just 2 or even one if that’s all you have. If your girl has hair long enough for a pony tail, you can actually wrap lots of ribbon around the pony tail and then use it around her hair.
National Anthem
Play it. Sing it. Let your babies hear it over and over. You may be surprised at how quickly they can memorize the song if they are already talking. Watching them sing it will be precious.
Fireworks Shows
“The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air” Most cities provide a fireworks show. Find out where it will be and make an evening out of it. If you are concerned about parking or that there will be too many people, try and figure out an alternate spot where you can view the show from a distance. Maybe there is a hillside near by where you can take your baby to enjoy the show up in the sky. If you don’t live close to anything like that, try watching them on the computer. Go to YouTube.com and search for fireworks shows. I’m pretty sure you will find lots of videos to keep you and baby busy for a while.
Parades
Lots of towns have a July 4th parade and some are quite silly, but babies and toddlers don’t care. They’ll have fun just going there and waving at passers by. Maybe they’ll get a special treat like a horn or cotton candy. Most important, it’s just a way to spend the time and since most parades are in the morning, it’s a good way to set the tone for the day. Check your city websites or city council office for information.
Make sure to teach your kids at a young age about safety around fireworks. Making them aware of it at a young age will instill the importance of it as they get older.
Have a safe and patriotic fourth!!!!
Wordless Wednesday
June “Little Ambajamers” Photo Contest Winner
For more on what Maya is wearing click here.
WW Participants receive free shipping - use WWFS50 at checkout.
Special thanks to Lauri Harrison of MomToBeDepot.com for judging our contest. MomToBeDepot is a great blog full of celebrity mum interviews, must have products, helpful hints on all things parenting and baby related, and much, much more.
Win a $50 Ambajam Gift Card
Growing Your Baby is hosting a giveaway and the prize is a $50 Ambajam gift card.
Entering the contest is easy and the giveaway runs through June 26th 2008. We are so excited to be featured on Growing Your Baby and look forward to giving away the prize later this month to a lucky winner and new Ambajamer.
For more information about the giveaway click here.
Cutest Baby Photo Contest
At Ambajam we will celebrate babies any chance we get. We love having photo contests of babies wearing Ambajam. If you have a little Ambajamer and would like to submit a photo all you have to do is email it to info@ambajam.com and you will be entered. Please include babies name and age. If you have a story to share we’d love to add it to our testimonials page.
Winners receive a $25 gift certificate for Ambajam baby clothes and products.
These are our two winners so far…
Luca won for January 2008
Ruby won for March 2008
Here are some of our contest entries to date:
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- Boys are wearing a navy blue long sleeve tee shirt.
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- Cute baby enjoying a cuddle up blanket.
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- Baby is wearing a white turtle tee shirt.
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- Baby is snuggling with a green cuddle-up.
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- Pink mini cuddle baby blanket.
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- Wearing a red and white baby onesie
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- Baby is wearing a white long sleeve onesie.
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- She is covered up with a handmade quilt by aunt Susan.
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- He is loving his blue cuddle up baby blanket.
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- Holding a blue cuddle-up baby blanket.
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- Snuggled in a large green cuddle up.
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- Wearing a long sleeve cupcake tee shirt.
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- Wearing a white tee shirt and pink cords.
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- This cute baby is wearing a pink hoodie jacket.
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- She is resting on a green cuddle up baby blanket.
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- He is laying on a green cuddle up baby blanket.
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- Sitting on a handmade baby quilt by aunt Susan.
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- This cute baby is wearing a white tee shirt with pink cords.
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- This cute baby is wrapped in a handmade baby quilt made by aunt Susan.
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- He is wearing a white long sleeve baby tee shirt.
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- He is wearing a long sleeve cupcake tee shirt.
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- He is wearing a brown baby hoodie jacket.
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- He is wrapped in a white cuddle up baby blanket.
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- He is eating a blue cuddle up baby blanket.
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- They are laying on a handmade baby quilt by aunt Susan.
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- Cute Baby Photo Contest Winner
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- Cute Baby Photo Contest Winner
Wordless Wednesday
For more about the cuddle up baby blanket click here
WW participants receive free shipping - use WWFS50 at checkout.
13 Ways to Celebrate Dad
Father’s Day is June 15th this year. If you are busy taking care of baby and have yet to get a gift for daddy, then here are some quick and easy things that you can do to show you care.
1. Phone Photo
Take a cute pic of your baby and add it to daddy’s cell phone so that every time he gets a call from the house number the baby’s image will appear.
2. White Tee-Shirt
Get a plain white tee-shirt and paint the bottom of your baby’s feet. Have baby walk all over the shirt (different colors add more flare). Write ‘my baby walks all over me’ on the front of the shirt.
3. Photo Album
Get a small photo album and add cute pictures of your baby. Get colored markers and write dates and event names (if applicable) with each photo. Write a note to daddy from baby on the inside cover.
4. Make an Award or Certificate
Get creative and make a ‘Greatest Dad Award’. If you can, make a seal that has your baby’s picture in the middle.
5. Coupons
Make some coupons that will come in handy for dad later. Things like ‘1 Free diaper change’ or ‘1 free sleep in’.
6. Treasure Hunt
Hide some candy or other things dad might like around the house and create little notes and clues for dad to find his next treat.
7. Father’s Day Card
Make it personal. Create a card at home with your computer or colored pencils or markers. If you are able to make it with your computer, try adding different photos of your baby or maybe printing the same photo in different colors.
8. YouTube
Make dad a YouTube channel and upload videos of your baby.
9. Be Green
Plant a tree for dad in your yard or in a pot inside if you need to. Make sure baby can help even if it’s just by patting the dirt down.
10. Rocks
Find some good size rocks for paperweights and paint them with things like baby’s birthday or Happy Father’s Day.
11. Dad Olympics
Make a game in the yard for dad to have to play with or while holding the baby. Twister while holding baby or playing around baby might be fun.
12. Embroidery
Get hats 1 for daddy and one for baby. Have daddy’s hat say (baby’s name) dad and have baby’s hat say (daddy’s name) kid.
13. Screensaver
Surprise dad by uploading photos of baby on his computer. Set the computer so that the photos rotate through while it’s not in use.
14. Coffee Cup
Find a cup that is made to insert multiple photos. If that isn’t available, get a plain white cup and some colored permanent markers. Write things dad would want to see.
15. Frame
Get a frame with a white border and find a great photo of daddy and baby. Write Happy Father’s Day or Best Daddy on the border and paint baby’s hand and make hand prints.
Enjoy the day and celebrate dad.
Wordless Wednesday
For more about the baby and toddler tee shirts click here.
WW participants receive free shipping - use WWFS50 at checkout.
Baby Games
Playing with your baby creates memories that last a lifetime. The time you take to stimulate your baby’s mind and develop their senses is so valuable. Babies are so smart and their little minds absorb so much information at a young age. They like colors and sounds and to be interacted with. There are so many great baby games out there that are timeless and there are some that are new you may have not thought of. At Ambajam we want you to play and have fun.
If you are a new parent, here are a few things you can do to spend quality time with your baby.
0-3 months
When they are newborns the games are all about you and your face and hands and toys like rattles or mobiles. Newborns will generally just listen and look at things until they are able to reach and grasp. When you have a newborn just looking at them and moving your head around or singing a song to them is playing (Itsy Bitsy Spider is a great one). They are soaking it all in and will eventually give you the reaction you want with a smile or a giggle or even a clap.
3-6 months
Listening to music and dancing while you are holding your baby will be fun for you and your little one. If there is a mirror in the room, make sure to stop by and look into it. Sing to your baby through the mirror and wait for a reaction. If you don’t feel like dancing you can place your baby on your lap and talk or sing to them while gently bouncing your knee. Funny noises and animated facial expressions will hold your babies interest. Getting outside on a nice day will have your baby’s senses working full time. Lay a blanket down on the grass and blow bubbles. (Make sure you stay in control of the bubble soap.)
6-9 months
Talk to your baby and point to things and repeat the names. Point to their nose and your nose, etc. Babies will eventually remember and say what things are called on their own. When pointing to items add the color to each name also. Place baby’s toys inside a tote bag and watch while baby takes them out. Try asking for the toys by name and see if your little one will pull out the right one. Get an empty water bottle and some cereal (o-shaped) and see if your baby can put the cereal inside the bottle. This will help them develop their eye hand coordination. When there is enough cereal in the bottle, put the lid on tight and shake it like a rattle.
9-12 months
Reading books and letting your baby hold the book and point to characters. Get an old purse and put an old wallet in there with a snap so baby can open and close it. Think of other items you could put in there that baby may enjoy. When baby is ready they will stand up, so hold their hands and help them build their leg muscles. Place a toy on a coffee table and move it back a bit so baby has to reach for it. Watch to see if they can stand and get the toy. Coloring books are another way to develop creativity in your baby, but sometimes babies just like to make marks on blank paper. See what colors they tend to choose first and try making circles or squares and see if they try and mimic what you make.
There are also games for babies online believe it or not. Here’s one that we like at Ambajam.
Fisher Price has games on their website for infants and they are fun and bright enough to dazzle your little one for a few moments. The games encourage your baby to tap the space bar and something surprising will happen. Some of the games include Tap and Color, The ABC Zoo and a Peek a Boo Game. Try them out here.
