Sale of the week: Bunny jacket

I know, I know, we shouldn't buy clothes too far in advance because who knows what size they'll be. But Hanna Andersson is having a half off sale that includes these jackets with bunny ears, available in blue in white. They're $24 and go up to size 3.5 years at Hanna Andersson.

Sale of the week: The best baby jacket (6-in-1)

The 6-in-1 Parka from The Company Store is the best. High quality, it has more practical uses than most and it's now on sale for $39.99 (from $115). As of mid-April, only the red and orange remained, but both are great colors and gender neutral. I don't consider reversing the jacket a very interesting feature, but the other uses will be fantastic next fall and winter. Not including reversing it, uses include: 1) water-resistant shell; 2) down filled jacket; 3) down jacket converted to vest; and 4) all pieces together for maximum warmth.

I received the red jacket this week and expect the orange one shortly. It is well made, and the 2T sizing seems right on; it should take my twins from fall through spring without making another jacket purchase (unless we want to). Let's hear it for off-season sales!

You can find the jacket here, at Company Kids.

Don't use babies to make political statements

I just saw a post on Daddy Types about a onesie that says "Stop Wars," from a company called Clothing of the American Mind. Am I the only one who is incredibly pained by this? Even aside from the $35 cost (expensive even if is organic, made in the U.S. and sweatshop free), it is completely obnoxious to use babies to make political statements. And their ad is just annoying - "peace is a message that will never go out of style."

Babies have only a few years before they will be preoccupied and worried by world events - though hopefully things won't be as bad then. Why use them to make our point? Wear the shirt yourself if you want to promote your beliefs publicly.

This makes some of the fun, silly clothes I put on my babies seem so innocent.

Review: Best personalized baby gifts

Before I had my twins, I had no idea what to get friend's for baby showers or birthdays. Since then, I've come across - or received - some really fantastic gifts. Maybe this list will help spread the joy of well-made, personalized gifts.

1. Embroidered towel set from Land's End
These 100 percent cotton terry towels are 27"x55" and come with a plain, white mitt. There are several designs, including a firetruck, crocodile, cowboy and sweets. This was one of the best (and most practical) baby gifts we received!

PRICE: $24.50 with embroidered name

WHERE: Land's End
2. Name Train from Maple Landmark
These personalized trains are crafted out of maple and feature an engine, each letter of the child's name and the caboose. Maple Landmark says the train letters are stained and sealed with a non-toxic finish. They select the letter colors. For ages three and up.

PRICE: Depends on number of letters in the name - about $30

WHERE: Maple Landmark

3. Silhouettes from Simply Silhouettes
What a sweet and classic idea - the child's silhouette on canvas. With the "wrapped" option, in which the image "wraps" around the stretchers and is stapled onto the back for a finished look, the pieces can be hung immediately without a frame. They seal the canvases with a water and crack-resistant coating. I'm not sure yet if I like the classic imagine of the profile the most or the more modern full-body profile. Both would look great (and artsy) on our wall.

PRICE:
Ranges from $40 for an unstretched 8"x10" ($80 wrapped) to $100 for an unstretched 16"x20" ($200 wrapped)

WHERE: Simply Silhouettes classic and modern designs

4. Personalized My Photo Album from One Step Ahead
Babies love to look at pictures and faces, and this provides their own album, full of color and texture, with crinkly, peek-a-boo pages. It holds 11 4"x6" photos and one 2"x2" portrait. It is soft, self-standing and machine-washable. For newborns and up.

PRICE: $19.95 (personalized with 10 letters)

WHERE: One Step Ahead
5. T-shirts from the Red Balloon
Designed for the Red Balloon by City Threads, these cute two-toned tees are available in light pink with charcoal and light blue with charcoal. They have three-quarter length sleeves with the child's first initial featured and are 100 percent cotton and machine washable. Sizes are available from 0-6 months all the way to 6 years. The company notes that toddler sizes are generous.

PRICE: $34

WHERE: The Red Balloon
6. Fabric photo album from Red Envelope
These fabric albums contain photo spaces on the front and spince, along with 50 pages to hold 4"x6" photos in protective sleeves. These are three sizing options, and all were significantly on sale in early April. An optional front plaque can be personalized, but I think the photos are enough. Available in blue, cream or pink.

PRICE: $30 for two small (on sale for $18); $28 for one medium (sale for $16) or $35 for large (sale for $20). Personalization add $10

WHERE: Red Envelope