Filed under: Newborns, Pregnancy & birth, Bump watch, Rumors

Entertainment Tonight is reporting that Angelina Jolie has given birth to twin girls, Isla (pronounced eye-la) Marcheline and Amelie Jane Jolie-Pitt. The girls' middle names come from Angelina's and Brad's moms, respectively. (I understand they got the idea from me; my daughter Sara Diane got her middle name from my mother-in-law.)

The children were reportedly born in France, where the family has recently taken up residence in the Provence region. Both E! Online and People, however, say that the kids are not only still cooped up inside the second most gorgeous baby oven in the world (after my own wife, of course) but that the gender of the kids is still a mystery.

People quotes Jolie's rep as saying "Angelina has not given birth. She is fine, enjoying her home and her family in France." Jolie and Pitt are moving into a 35-bedroom estate with a vineyard and moat; Jolie has said she wants to have the babies in the country where her late mother was born.

I guess we'll all just have to keep biting our nails until we hear a definite yea or nay.

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Filed under: Toddlers, Development, Celeb kids, Celeb parenting

Melissa Joan Hart's career is in the toilet. Literally. The Sabrina the Teenage Witch star will be featured in online video diary that details her two-year-old son Mason's potty training progress. The video will be put out by Kimberly-Clark, who manufactures Pull-Ups, and will offer tips to help parents through the (damp, desperate) throes of potty training. The video diary will start in June and run through July at Pull-Ups.com

Everyone has their own way of doing things, but after potty training dozens of kids in my former school program and my own two kids, I think pull up-type diapers are a waste of time. I always preferred the old school method with a nice, thick pair of cotton training pants and a very watchful eye. That, and waiting until the kids were truly ready to be trained as well.

Either way, watching a parent and toddler-in-training may help new parents get a feel for how the process works. For more tips on getting that kid out of diapers for good, see what's worked for other parents.

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Filed under: Bump watch, Celeb parenting

Ashlee Simpson, who will forever be known as Jessica Simpson's less buxom, lip syncing younger sister confirmed what everyone already knew and didn't really care that much about: her recent wedding to singer Pete Wentz WAS of the shotgun variety.

"While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm that we are expecting our first child," they wrote on Wentz's site, friendsorenemies.com. "This is truly the most joyous time in our lives and we are excited to share the happy news and start our family."

I'm glad Ashlee is happy and hope she gives her child a fighting chance at a normal life by following the Nicole Richie example of laying low and NOT doing a reality show about the entire experience.

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Filed under: Bump watch, Celeb parenting

During the height of his popularity, Clay Aiken's crooning made his female fans swoon. But romance, according the musician himself, just isn't a part of his life. Earlier this year, Aiken told New York magazine, "I just don't have any interest in ...any of that at all. I have got too much on my plate. I'd rather focus on one thing and do that when I can devote time to it, and right now, I just don't have any desire."

He may not have time for a relationship, but he'll soon be making room in his life for someone special -- his first child. Aiken's producer, Jaymes Foster, is reportedly pregnant with their first child, who was conceived through artificial insemination. Aiken and Foster are "best friends" and roommates who will share parenting duties.

Aiken has always been mum about his sexuality, despite being questioned relentlessly by the press. In 2006, he called Diane Sawyer's very direct question on the topic "rude," and says that most of his fans are more interested in his music than his personal life. Hopefully he's prepared for the inevitable barrage of questions this pregnancy is going to bring! Aiken and Foster's baby is due in August, the same month as the Jolie-Pitt twins, for those of you keeping track.

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Filed under: Image of the Day

The half-empty jar of Nutella, the brunette waves, the purely sugar-induced elation...wait, this is EXACTLY what I looked like last night. Apparently, this little lady and I have a lot in common. Thanks to ChaosOrganized for the darling photo.

If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr Pool - We'll highlight an image every day. Remember: we're on the lookout for shots with interesting backgrounds, cool angles, or original composition. Be sure to read the intro on our main Flickr page for more information and limit your uploading to 5 photos per day.

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Filed under: Newborns, Just for moms, Babies, Just for dads, Love & sex, Pregnancy & birth, That's entertainment, Birthdays

Ever looking for just the right card that expresses just how you feel but coming up with nothing? Well, then, this site may be just what you were looking for, especially if what you want to say is snotty. The site, PrettyBitter, has a special way of communicating all the things you can't, and they do so for every occasion. Needless to say, even though the birthday card is downright funny (and a little morbid, as it should be), the ones for new and impending mothers take the proverbial cake.

The comments about how my baby couldn't possibly be cuter than any other baby in the world, no matter what I think, because all babies look the same particularly resonated with me. This is because as a mother, I am pretty sure my baby is the cutest baby in the world. I say pretty sure because, you know, I have another one on the way and that one could be even cuter. Hard to tell at this point. Also humorous was the caddy way the writer had of expressing the old fat vs. pregnant joke.

If you have friends who are good for a laugh and can take a joke, I highly recommend picking up one of these little delights. It will only set you back a few dollars, which will be money well spent when you all sit around laughing about it. I was laughing so hard at one point I actually had tears rolling down my face! And don't worry--there's plenty of stuff one the site for men, too. Heaven knows the creators of PrettyBitter couldn't let an opportunity to make fun of guys go by any faster than making fun of the rest of us!

Thanks to Kristi Anderson, who got a kick out of these and knew they'd be perfect for the snarks at ParentDish, for the link!

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Filed under: Teens & tweens, In the news, Education

Did your otherwise brilliant student get less-than-stellar scores on their ACT or SAT test? No problem!

Starting in the fall of 2009, two universities: Smith College and Wake Forest will no longer be requiring the tests as part of their enrollment requirements. Instead the selection process will be based on the applicant's high school curriculum, classroom performance, writing ability, extra curricular activities, and evidence of character and talent .

Continue reading ACT/SAT exams not required to get in some colleges

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Filed under: Baby essentials

Here at ParentDish, we are more than willing to tell you about new and exciting products for children and parents alike. Whether we stumble across an item on the web, hear about it from neighbors or have personal experience, chances are we will share the love with you all. That's what parents do, right?

Well, from the wealth of knowledge we gain from your daily comments, we have a sneaking suspicion that you have some fantastic baby picks up your sleeve. You know, the ones that made a huge difference in your daily parenting routine. That's why we are launching ParentPicks, a way for all of us to benefit from each other's parental wisdom. (Lord knows, I could use some.)

This month's ParentPicks feature will be focused on the teeny-tiny newborn stage. For me personally, I couldn't have made it through the first few months without The Miracle Blanket. That blanket kept my little houdini's arms safely at his sides and prevented him from whacking himself in the face and howling in the middle of the night. The first night I put it on, he slept an extra 2-3 hours. Talk about a sanity saver!

What about you, though? What newborn product or item could you not live without? Your insightful responses will be compiled and presented in June for everyone to enjoy. Now, get to it! Weary, sleep-deprived parents all over the world will thank you!

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Filed under: Toddlers, Development

Enjoying the simple things in life:
"I happy to be holding this blue cup!"

Following a thought to its logical conclusion:
"Daddy goes poop on the potty like a big boy and he get an M&M? A GWEEN one?"

Criticizing parental music abilities:
"No WHISTLING wight now. No SINGING. Hey you guys, dat's enough!"

Exploring manners:
"I want some milk, please. Please, right now. Fank you!"

Learning cause and effect:
"You going exercise, get all sweaty, needa SHOWER? Mommy's socks SMELLY?"

Torturing the household pets:
"Eeeeeeeee! It's the kitty, Mommy. Say: meow meow! I pull her tail, okay?"

Fashioning artful excuses:
"No, I can't pick up dat toy, I'm too little."

Creative descriptions:
"Dat's a TWO PUMP camel right dere."

Revealing someone's foul language habits, probably his father's:
"Mommy? I have a, um, shiddy diaper."

Working on his standup routine:
"What TIME it is? Eleben? Oh, I thought it was BOOTY TIME."

Specific mealtime requests:
"I want a peanut butter and peanut butter sandwich, Mommy. No jam! Just peanut butter. No jam wight now, okay?"

Heartbreaking cuteness:
"You have a booboo, Mommy? I kiss it, it all better."

Brain-bending annoyingness:
"Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go? Where Daddy go?"

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Filed under: Pregnancy & birth, Eating & nutrition

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had horrible morning sickness. The only thing that settled my stomach was Tim's Cascade brand salt and vinegar potato chips. I ate them with every meal, three or four after my cereal or my sandwich or my broiled chicken and roasted broccoli. Without the chips -- and only that one flavor and that one brand worked -- I felt like crap all the time.

Scientists have long wondered what triggered morning sickness, and what its function was in a pregnancy. The theory has always been that morning sickness was a sign of a healthy pregnancy, although not all healthy pregnancies include morning sickness (my second did not) and not all women who suffer from morning sickness have healthy babies.

Now, there is a new theory about why so many of us feel so horrible during those first weeks: our bodies are responding to environmental factors that might threaten the developing fetus. Specifically, researchers found that morning sickness is most often triggered by the sight, smell, or taste of meats and strong-tasting vegetables, which were historically likely to contain foodborne microbes or birth-defect-inducing chemicals, or by alcohol and cigarette smoke, which can be toxic to the fetus. Scientists also theorize that humans may be the only mammals who suffer from morning sickness, probably because we eat a wider range of foods than our animal counterparts, which can put our developing pregnancies at higher risk.

The implications of these findings could be huge, according to Samuel Flaxman, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "To say that morning sickness is uncomfortable is a real understatement, and a lot of people are looking at ways to deal with it. But if nausea and vomiting truly serve a useful function, then one has to look more carefully at strategies for dealing with these symptoms."

I would recommend some salt and vinegar potato chips, just as a starting place.

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