our morning walk. i missed it so. the last few weeks of my pregnancy weren’t prime walking days. nor were the first couple weeks after ours baby was born. but slowly, i worked back up to it and i’m happy to say we’re back in our groove and taking our morning walks – on new wheels to-boot.

i realized that little bonzo probably missed our morning strolls as much as i did. it was what we did. and then that changed on top of a million other things. so we’re both feeling better to be back in the swing of things, i know.

it’s a ripple-effect of radness to be sure. first, i’m exercising. hoo-ray. second, we’re back in our routine. third, and most important, it’s seriously special time for me and bonz. see, baby sister gets tucked in snug as a bug in a rug in the stroller’s bassinet attachment and gets to gaze up at the trees then drift off to sleep (sounds pretty heavenly to me) and bonzo, with a little something in hissnack-pack, and i have time to chat and watch the world go by as we walk our loop. we throw a leaf in the creek from the bridge as we leave and then return into our neighborhood and then visit and remark on the same landmarks each day – the fountain in a front yard, the jeep parked at that house, the stone tortoise in the garden, the tractor mower that we saw mow the field a year ago. some mornings he’s happy to quietly sit back and see what he sees and other mornings he’ll talk from the second we’re walking down the driveway until the second we return but most mornings are a mix of the two. well, mostly talking with a smidge of silence if we’re going for accuracy.

what i love about it is that it’s a nice little stretch of time that we both have each other’s undivided attention and we can just talk about whatever. on top of all the things i can count on us talking about, i love hearing what he comes up with totally out of the blue and what’s on his mind. we get to talk about all the stuff he’s most interested in and i love it because i’m not trying to do six things at once while trying to pay attention to what he’s saying about the gardener with the backpack leaf blower that looks different than our gardener’s backpack leaf blower. its just so nice not to have to ask him to wait a minute or to – sigh – half-listen while i’m distracted changing a diaper, nursing the baby or one of the other zillion tasks that eat up our days.

we can’t make it every single day though i try. and sometimes baby sister’s fussed and made our otherwise peaceful walk anything but. but for the most part, it’s my favorite part of the day. our favorite part of the day.

http://bonzochoochandme.blogspot.com/2012/08/walking-and-talking.html

While the training to be an Olympian is relentless and grueling, this short video highlights the strength behind these Athletes: their moms! Procter & Gamble who brings us household products has created this video and we have to say that they have great marketing as the “Proud Sponsor of Moms”.

Lolo Jones

Ryan Lochte

It’s intriguing to learn more about these Olympians that we are all tuning in to watch. Here we can listens to their sentiments about their mothers and childhood helping them get to were they are today.

BBC ‘Stadium UK’ from Passion Pictures on Vimeo.

Our office is a buzz about the 2012 Olympics in London. The BBC has released a short animated clip titled “Stadium UK”. It’s a beautifully directed promo for the games. As if the Olympics need any more hype!

We all want the best for our little ones and trying to keep up with the latest health and safety information can be overwhelming to say the least. We like Healthy Child’s Pocket Guides that put informative and practical information right at your finger tips. Helpful guides such as Safer Plastics, Super Baby Gear, Baby Body Care and Safer Cleaning, all with quick tips, resources and DIY ideas. You can print the guides out at http://healthychild.org/live-healthy/pocket_guides/ or you can download an app to your iphone/ipad or Android.

The Animalarium is a feast for your eyes, full of vintage illustrations of animals, art prints and books. Italy based blogger Laura Ottina says she has always been fascinated by strange and beautiful things and that the Animalarium is a way to share her love of animals, art and graphic design. Whether you’re looking for nursery inspiration or just sharing the pictures with your little one, you will definitely be inspired by the amazing collection of illustrations.

We often find that our customers are surprised when we talk about stroller maintenance. For busy parents it can be tough remembering to take care of their stroller, however it’s good to remember that a stroller is not much different than the bicycle in your garage. The tire pressure needs to be checked regularly, the chain and the wheel axles may need some lubrication from time to time. So we wanted to point out a few things that Bumbleride owners should be aware of.

General Maintenance – We recommend doing a quick inspection of your Indie or Indie Twin before each use. Checking the tire pressure, attachment points, ensuring that the front wheel quick release is tightened and clamped and that there isn’t anything the way of the brake lever. Remember that the front wheel(s) should be in the locked and outward position if you are traveling faster than a casual walking pace.

Fabric Maintenance – All Bumbleride fabrics have a water & stain protective treatment that makes clean up easy. We recommend a spot cleaning any dirty areas using either a basic detergent and water solution or Fabric Love (www.buggylove.com), part of a nifty stroller care kit from Buggy Love. All Bumbleride strollers have removable seat fabric that can be machine-washed in cold water with a mild detergent. Make sure to always air-dry the fabric components. Please note that repeated washings will eventually remove the water/stain protective treatment on the fabrics.

Wheel Maintenance – The most frequent questions related to the Indie or Indie Twin maintenance have to do with the 12” air filled tires. These wheels are essentially small bicycle tires, much like what you would find on a kid’s bike. However each tire needs to be properly inflated to 30 PSI before use. If the tires are not inflated properly there is a greater likelihood that an inner tube could puncture or become misaligned. We recommend checking and inflating your tires every 1-2 weeks, if not more frequently. If your inner tube does become flat, most bike shops stock 12” inner tubes or will be able to fix your existing tube. You can also find replacement inner tubes on our website (www.bumbleride.com).

Lubrication – The wheels, axles and suspension all need periodic cleaning and lubrication. We recommend a bicycle chain lubricant such as CleanRide, Tri-Flow or Buggylove’s Wheel Love. We recommend adding drops near the hub and bearings of each wheel. You can also turn the stroller over and drop the lubricant into the back wheel axle where the suspension spring is housed. Doing this on a regular basis should prevent any squeaks around the wheels or suspension.

Remember that regular maintenance will keep your Indie or Indie Twin riding smoothly for years to come!

 
“Thank you… Thank you…. Thank you Bumbleride for making a GREAT stroller, that not only fits the kids and all of the gear that goes along with a 3 year old and a 6 month old, but more importantly for our family… A stroller that my husband enjoys pushing.  My husband Jeromey Clary, right tackle for the Chargers, is 6’6″ and this is the only stroller that has ever been adjustable to his height and mine.  The boys love it… It is a stroller that our 3 year old son doesn’t want to get out of…Seriously.   Living in Sunny San Diego, we love the canopy for the added sun protection.  Best of all it is big and sturdy enough for the 2 boys on a long run, and even easier for me to fold up and go.  It is a GREAT stroller!!!!!” – The Clarys

Last week was career week at our local elementary school and we were invited to talk about designing and manufacturing strollers. We had the kids design their own strollers and got a kick out of seeing their imaginative engineering and creativity. Nothing like starting them young for a fresh perspective

Here are a few drawings from a first grade classroom.

It’s not hard to see what makes Polor’s Kid’s Napsack so undeniably cool-  Its comfy construction, insulating layers and versatile shape lets your little guys wear it as a sleeveless jacket/shirt/thingy or as a snug sleeping bag.  Let the imagining commence!

We’re big fans of products that inspire kids’ creativity and this one does it while keeping them warm at the same time. If you’re feeling a little envious of this fun travel companion, have no fear! Polar makes them in grown-up sizes as well.

To learn more about the Napsack and other Poler products, visit http://www.poler.com.

We recently spent half a work day volunteering at the San Diego Food Bank preparing produce for the hungry in San Diego. We had a blast and it felt great to give back to hungry parents and children in our hometown!

The San Diego Food Bank is a critical component to the welfare of San Diego County, providing food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Through a combination of programs and partnerships with over 350 San Diego County nonprofit charities, the Food Bank acts as a central repository and distribution point for government and donated food. Funded by foundations, grants, the USDA, corporations, sponsors and individual donors, the Food Bank distributes over 20 million pounds of food annually to individuals, families and a network of nonprofit organizations that work to alleviate hunger throughout the county. Learn more and see how you can help at, http://sandiegofoodbank.org/ .