Just when I thought I was done with all my Christmas and birthday shopping (Lovie turns 3 just four days after Christmas), Lovie starts telling me that she’s going to tell Santa that she wants “a new dolly with lots and lots of milk and a doggie.”

Uh, a doll was not something I bought — and for selfish reasons, I admit. I hate dolls. And the color pink. And princess crap. All of which Lovie adores. I couldn’t have a more girly girl if I asked for one. Which I didn’t. Because I hate girly stuff.

So where does she get it from? And why? Why can’t she like LEGOS and soccer and playing with trucks? Why does she have to love dolls and playing dress-up in the frilliest of dresses so much?

Because she’s my Lovie, that’s why. And while I may not like the dolls, the pink, the princess attire, I love my Lovie so much that I’m actually (dare I say it out loud) growing accustomed to the pink, the princess, the dolls. I adore watching her be girly, goofy, sweet, loveable, pink-princess-loving Lovie. And I love watching her believe in the magic of the season, so I’m putting on my mom panties and getting her “a new dolly with lots and lots of milk and a doggie” for her to open from Santa. (Just in case the real Santa forgets!)

Now I just need to figure out which one because apparently there are like 16 thousand varieties of dolls out there.

What are you getting your kids for the holidays? Is it something you hate?

Have you ever been concerned your child wasn’t developing on track?

The answer to that question is probably yes. As a mother and a speech pathologist — almost every parent I’ve talked with has worried, at some point, that their child might not be within the normal range for some development milestone.

As a first time mom and a medical professional, I was extremely nervous for my son to reach each developmental milestone. There were some he hit right on time, some he hit early, and some he hit later than I expected. Each time he was even just a smidgen behind, I would practically panic over it, wondering what I could do to help him get to the next step. I would constantly provide activities and input I believed would be helpful to him. I consulted other therapist friends to get their opinions on his motor and speech development. I watched children who were ‘ahead’ of the curve interact with their parents, so I could change and modify our interactions to be more like theirs.

One day, while we were “playing,” I was very therapist-like, directing our play, and I realized that it just wasn’t fun.  I had a great activity planned, but he just wasn’t feeling it, and I was forcing it. Neither my son nor I were actually having a good time, it was more me trying to push him to attain some silly goal.

So, I relaxed.

Part of the process, for me, has been distancing myself and my child from my career. I know how to provide him the proper input to learn. What I needed to discover was how to give him the time and space to do it on his own terms. Instead of comparing him to friends’ children who excelled or developmentally delayed children at our outpatient therapy clinic, I needed to only compare him to himself.

After having my son, I’ve realized that each child, whether way ahead of the milestones — or with developmental delays — are learning, growing, and doing things on their own timeline.  Sure, in some cases, a little (or a lot of) outside or early intervention can be very beneficial, but the majority of children will learn those skills you’re so panicked about on their own timeline. And by accepting our children for who they are, and learning to love how (and at what pace) they grow, we will all benefit — the parents and the children.

By sitting back for a little while and actually just observing how my son progressed and acquired new skills, I began to understand who he is. Instead of pushing to get him to the next stage  in my own way, I now know how to help him to achieve those goals himself.

And in doing that — as a parent — I’ve begun to meet some of my own goals.

Happy National Read a Book Day! Want to grab something new to read to baby? The Bump staff picked some books we loved as kids and still love as adults. Pick up one of these!

What’s your favorite book from childhood? What do you read to baby?

Plus more from The Bump:

Literary Baby Names

Best Books to Read to Baby

Smart Ways to Play With Baby

Sure, you occasionally daydream about the monetary benefits of being a Beverly Hills housewife, but have you ever considered the personal lives of the nannies who care for their kids? In what’s sure to be our newest guilty pleasure, ABC Family recently premiered Beverly Hills Nannies — a reality show chronicling the perks of being a permanent babysitter — and the newest episode airs tonight.

The (unscripted?) series attempts to unveil the lives of high-paid nannies in California’s most prestigious zip code. And if you thought your professional life was tough, you won’t believe what’s in the job description for these caretakers.

We’ll be following the antics of Justin Sylvester — a self-proclaimed “Ladysitter.” Justin does everything from organizing breast milk to massaging feet. He also has a hilarious knack for reinterpreting well-known nursery rhymes (our favorite is “The Itsy Bitsy Chihuahua”).

Check out Beverly Hills Nannies Wednesday nights at 9/8 central and discuss with us!

What are your thoughts on the new show? Do you have any hilarious nanny or babysitter stories?

Plus, more from The Bump:

How I Knew My Nanny Was The One

How To Find a Good Nanny

Should Parents Be Anti-Daycare?

The Amazing Spider-Man hit theaters today and even though your baby or toddler is too young to see it, you can still get him in on the excitement by dressing him in some cute superhero gear. We found some sweet Spider-Man clothes at Target (left to right):

Toddler boy’s 2-piece pajama set, $13

Toddler boy’s canvas shoes, $17

Infant/toddler tee, $7

Enjoy!

Plus, more from The Bump:

8 Hilarious Baby Onesies

Summer Blockbuster-Inspired Baby Names

How to Buy Baby Clothes

Like (probably a lot of) other parents out there, I haven’t seen a fireworks display since my son was born and that’s not a coincidence. The whole fireworks thing never really seemed baby-friendly to me. Now that he’s two (almost three), I debated making this July 4th my son’s first fireworks experience — but when I weighed all the pros and cons of taking him, I came up with a ton more cons than pros:

1. They start past bedtime

Never get between a two-year-old and his sleep. My kid skipped his nap a few days last week and all heck broke loose (calling it crankiness would be an extreme understatement — these were full-on meltdowns), so I’m not willing to risk pushing back bedtime an extra hour or two right now.

2. They’re super loud

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says that noise from exploding fireworks can top 155 decibels (dB) — that’s louder than a military jet taking off — and recommends sitting at least 500 feet away from the action. Still, the idea that there’s a potential for hearing loss is worrisome. The ASHA and an expert for TheBump.com recommend covering your child’s ears with earmuffs (or earplugs, if they’re old enough), but has anyone ever seen someone do that?

3. They might be awesome — but could be scary

My kid went through a phase earlier this year where loud noises really freaked him out. Just walking past a car-wash set him into panic mode. He seems to be getting that all loud sounds aren’t scary, but this isn’t something I want to test out on a crowded lawn where we can’t easily escape without tripping over people’s picnic baskets and lawn chairs.

4. The crowds can be crazy

And speaking of the picnic baskets and lawn chairs, I’m imagining blanket-to-blanket crowds and parking lots that take an hour to get out of — maybe even a few wild drunks. (Like I said, I haven’t been to a fireworks show in a while, so I could be wrong, but this is what I envision.) That pushes back bedtime even later and ups the aggravation factor. Two things that don’t mix with two-year-olds.

5. He won’t miss them

My kid is still too young to know that fireworks are a 4th of July tradition — so he’s not going to hold it against me that we’re not going. And I think about it this way: He’s much more likely to enjoy that hot dog we grill than a fireworks show, so I’m choosing junk food instead (hey, it’s a holiday). Ah well, maybe next year. Enjoy your 4th everyone!

Are you taking your child to see fireworks this year? Why or why not?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Are fireworks bad for baby?

Is it okay to bribe my toddler?

Patriotic Swimsuits for the 4th of July

Okay, who else is psyched for the Fourth of July?! If you’re hitting the pool or beach this holiday, wouldn’t it be fun to go patriotic with your and baby’s swimwear? Here’s where we found these adorable all-American bathing suits (left to right):

Maternity striped swimsuit, $54, TopShop.com

Baby girl’s Americana bikini, $13, ChildrensPlace.com

Toddler boy’s stars and stripes swim trunks, $17, BabyGap.com

Would you wear a patriotic-themed suit this Fourth of July?

Plus, more from The Bump:

The 15 Best Maternity Swimsuits of 2012

The 15 Cutest Baby Bathing Suits of 2012

Summertime Fun with Baby in Tow

We recently came across this DIY frozen fruit pop recipe on Pinterest from the blog SkinnyTaste.com. These pops are a healthy and simple summer treat for your little ones (and you!). “My one-year-old probably had as much fun playing with them as she did eating them,” says SkinnyTaste.com blogger Gina.

To make the pops,

“Combine diced fruit in a bowl and fill each 5 ounce cup with fruit. Add 1 tbsp of juice and insert craft sticks into each cup (they easily stay in place because of all the fruit). Place in the freezer a few hours until firm. To remove the pops from the cups, run under warm water a few seconds. Enjoy!”

Get the full recipe at SkinnyTaste.com here.

Tell us, what are your favorite summer snacks?
Plus, more treats from The Bump:

Chocolate Chip Gender Reveal Cookies

No-Guilt Raspberry Turnovers

Peanut-Butter-Chocolate-Chip Energy Bars

Is your toddler a picky eater when he’s sick? (And all you want to pump him full of fluids and food so he gets better soon?) Next time he refuses to eat or drink and you’re worried about dehydration, try this trick from user Christina-marie, who posted this suggestion on our Toddlers 12-24 Months board.

“Once when my son didn’t want to eat or drink anything, my grandmother told me, ‘Give him some milk toast,’” she says. “I had no idea what she was talking about, but basically it’s exactly as the name implies: Make some toast, cut it up into bite-sized portions and then pour milk on it so that it’s wet.”

Grandma knows best! Christina-marie says that the first time she tried this trick, the milk toast “was literally gone in a minute. It also got a bit of fluid into him — two birds, one stone! Thankfully he was fine the next day. Grandma said that all of her kids would eat this when they were sick no matter what! ”

Tell us, what are your tips for dealing with a picky eater?

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Secret For Getting Your Picky Eater to Chow Down

How To Keep a Picky Eater Healthy

Get Your Kids to Eat More Veggies