Little girls do love their dolls. They love to play and dress them and take them places, as if they really were their mommies.

I have a daughter that first began her love affair, with a certain doll, when she was only 18 months old. The relationship was a bit rocky at first as my little mommy pulled her baby’s hair and competed with the doll for bottle and binky use. Yet as the weeks passed the love my baby had for her baby grew to complete devotion.

She fondly named the baby doll Bah-Bah-Toe (don’t ask, I don’t know) and they have been inseparable now for several years. The cementing moments of the relationship occurred when Bah-Bah-Toe was given her own dollhouse. At first this was a humble dwelling that consisted of nothing more than a few cardboard boxes stacked and taped together.

At Christmas time that year, when my daughter was 2, the idea of getting her a brand new doll was down right blasphemous. Bah-Bah-Toe reigns supreme. One evening as my husband and I observed our little mommy lovingly reciting a story to her precious baby and tenderly tucking her into one of those cardboard rooms it struck us: Bah-Bah-Toe needs a real house.

Finding the perfect dollhouse for our daughter and her baby was not too difficult but was a decision that required some care. There are so many options out there. The first thing to consider is size. In our case the house needed to be able to inhabit the doll we already had. For those who may still need to populate the new residence the size concern is moot. Yet size is still an issue. Tall dollhouses pose a tipping threat and a climbing temptation for little ones. The last thing you want is the dollhouse to become memorable because of your child’s King Kong impression and the ensuing trip to the ER.

Dollhouses that are overly intricate, ornate or small similarly don’t work for toddlers. Those gorgeous Victorian ones are great, but a toddler will destroy it before the sun sets on Christmas day. Those with fine detail and small furnishings also pose a choking hazard. What a toddler needs is a dollhouse that isn’t too big, and isn’t too small. There are several varieties on the market that your daughter will be thrilled to call her own.

Many dollhouses come with just that: the house. Other brands come with a load of extras including play figures, furniture and clothing for the dolls. Price and your existing collection of accessories is a great way to decide what you need for your daughter’s Christmas wishes to come true. If you have many dolls already, then a house by itself is probably the way to go. For those just beginning their doll collections, a house that comes with extras will have a higher price tag up front, but when you factor in the cost of buying extra pieces separately, it might be the better deal.

Our little mommy has grown so much we hardly recognize the 2 year old who squealed with delight as she tucked a baby named Bah-Bah-Toe into her new house for the first time. Yet she still loves that doll, and her dollhouse where her doll baby lives.

What joy she has gotten from those toys and what a great investment they have been in the growing of her imagination.

Edie Mindell is the writer for SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. If Santa is looking for perfect Christmas gifts for toddlers, there is a great selection awaiting delivery just in time for Christmas. If Radio Flyer Toys is on the list, visit their online catalog and enjoy free shipping (lower 48 states).

Before we even get into this, you should speak to your obstetrics/gynecologist first to let them know that you are going to start exercising, or that you are continuing to exercise while you are pregnant. The first trimester for every baby is extremely important, and this is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Make sure when you are exercising that your heart rate does not go above 140 beats per minute and make sure that you do not get to hot while exercising.

An especially recommended exercise would be Kegel Exercises: Pregnant women who perform Kegel exercises frequently often find that they have an easier birth because they strengthened these muscles during their pregnancy. When you have exercised these muscles, when it comes to the birth of your child, you will find that you have developed the ability to control your muscles during your labor and the delivery of your baby. There is also other benefits of toning all of these muscles: it will help you minimize bladder leaks and hemorrhoids, two things that are common to have during and after pregnancy.

Another benefit of these lovely Kegel Exercises would be that you can do them whenever you want, and nobody will know. Anything to get our bladder control back, right ladies?

Swimming is an excellent exercise to do when you are expecting. It is the safest exercise for an expecting woman. It keeps the weight off of your joints and helps them to relax. It also relieves the stress off of your aching back. It is a safe low cardiovascular exercise, you and the baby will love it! You can also go shopping for the perfect maternity swimsuit for you to look great in while you are having fun.

If you want to walk, it is a great way to start exercising. You can make a schedule for yourself, and it is easy to fit into your day. Don’t forget to check with your specialist before doing anything excessive. Always make sure you are comfortable and wear supportive shoes.

Biking is great, you sit on your bike and it supports you. If you have a fear of falling, try a stationary bike, one that does not move anywhere. Keep in mind that as your baby grows, you might have trouble with your balance so be extra careful.

Yoga is a popular choice, especially since it is very calming and relaxing. Most women will go to a special Yoga class, designed for expectant women. You can find those classes in your local gym or even look them up in the phone book. Yoga is a great stress reliever, and it is fabulous on the joints. And you can look great doing yoga too, so go shopping!

Pilates is another great thing to keep in shape while pregnant. There are also specific classes out there for expecting women, so try to do those. We recommend that you avoid lying on your back extensively, and be careful about stretching to much. If you are not sure, take a specially made class. You will enjoy these exercises with other women who are pregnant as well, and who knows, you might even make your own little support group or just meet knew friends.

If you are a runner, don’t panic, you don’t have to stop running. Your body is already used to this, and chances are, your heart rate has already adapted to this. Just check with your doctor, sometimes conditions may apply.

If you would like to continue with your regular routine and you attend a gym, please be aware of how high your heart rate is when doing cardiovascular exercises. It can be quite dangerous if it is too high. Always speak to your doctor if you have any questions.

There are certain exercises that we should avoid when we are expecting. Unfortunately, if you love horseback riding, you do have to stop for the next nine months. It isn’t safe for the baby, all that bouncing around in the saddle. Doctors don’t recommend it. Skiing is another activity that we should not be doing, whether water or downhill. This is because if we fall, we can cause serious damage to our abdomen’s as well as to the baby. Please stay away from any exercise that has a high risk of falling, and if you are not sure, just check with your care provider.

Here are some things to remember when you do exercise:

1. Wear a comfortable bra that is very supportive. This will also help with your back.

2. Wear comfortable clothes.

3. Wear supportive, comfortable, non slip shoes. These are your only feet.

4. Drink lots of fluids and keep your body hydrated.

5. Breathe deeply and consistently.

6. Don’t get your heart rate to high, you don’t want to over exert yourself or have the baby’s heart rate to high.

7. Stretching is very important, but do them sitting or standing, not lying on your back. Ab exercises like crunches or sit ups are not recommended, but there are alternatives. Check with your doctor first.

8. If you suspect that something is not right, and you have symptoms like vaginal bleeding, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness or cramping, please stop what you are doing immediately. If these symptoms continue, or if you are unsure of what is going on, please contact your doctor, or go to emergency.

Enjoy your pregnancy, and enjoy exercising. Just remember to be careful and ask your doctor if you have any questions. This time will go by fast!

About The Author: Anna Snyder is a young mother of 3 who has a growing interest in pregnancy and maternity field. For great nursing and maternity clothes, check out her site My Maternity Clothing to find a great selection, everything you need for pregnancy and beyond.

When it comes to shopping for baby cribs, you need to think long term. If you make a wise purchase right now, you will never have to purchase another bed for your child until they are grown and out of the house. In fact, you may not have to purchase them another one even then!

A high quality convertible will grow with your child from infanthood to college, and then will turn into great guest accommodations. Some may just convert from crib to toddler bed, but the best savings are found with a full conversion into toddler bed, day bed, and eventually a full sized headboard and footboard.

These cribs are usually called either 4-in-1 cribs or Lifetime cribs. Some companies may use the word Stages as well.

If you are wondering what all of this might cost, it is more reasonable than you might think. There are some higher priced models selling around four to five hundred dollars, but there are also some great lower priced models that will last through the years.

The only catch you have to consider when making your purchase is whether the actual crib comes with the rail sets needed to make the conversions, or if you will have to buy that separately.

For toddler and day bed conversion you shouldn’t have to purchase a rail kit. It is usually a matter of removing the front side rail panel to create easy access to the mattress. Some require you to purchase a safety rail kit for the side to create the toddler bed, but there are many companies now including that in the original purchase.

The day bed is created by removing that small safety rail, so you can always choose not to purchase it and go with the day bed option from the start.

For a full sized bed, you will always have to purchase the rail separate. The trick is that some companies will want you to purchase a specific rail kit designed for that individual crib model. For the best systems, you should be able to purchase any full sized bed rail set to work with the headboard and/or footboard that is made from the crib.

Convertible baby cribs are an exceptional value in terms of time and money. They grow with your child from diapers to college so you never have to purchase another bed and never have to worry about finding something that fits the other bedroom furniture. Everything will always match!