What a busy month (and only half over) — and  really lots of great stuff going on….Amanda and I are BLOWN AWAY by the recent love fest for Bravadoamong the celebrity Mommy club in LA — especially the newer ones. And why not - the line continues to grow and expand with new offerings (lace for example is truly exquisite) and a wider range of sizes and services (check out their new sizing program!).

Mothers Work posted their first quarter 2008 earnings, which were in a word - down. But wait — there is a plan…

1. Knock -off yet another small, successful and enterprising company such as the adorable and savvy women of Ingrid and Isabel.  Take their iconic and much loved BellaBand, call it the Secret Fit Belly and distribute the hell out of it.

2. “Better” manage, manipulate and market their customer database to allow marketing partners paid access (profit center) to new parents till the cows come home.

 Anyway, Rebbecca says she and her team are hardly to blame — a super warm October plus those pesky non-maternity brands that cut baby-doll style are wreaking havoc on her plans to dominate the belly universe.

 Got it!

I have been watching this one go down….here from where I watch trends and gather the buzz, I have been watching this little storm brew it’s way to shore. We have had years of decrease in the teen pregnancy rate. Impressive years where the fruits of educational and public education efforts have paid off. We taught about birth control, we showed our daughters and sons their power and their responsibility. Maybe so much so that we have stopped talking about it enough - to each other, to our children, to the media. So quietly we have been going along — focusing on other trends such as fashion and gear and babymoons (and shame on us as so many of them have much less significance than our progress in this critical area) - some high, but mostly low-brow dialog and coverage, you know - When Did it Get Hip to Be Round (guilty as charged). And now I see this:

Teen Pregnancy Hip or Blip which cites an Canadian magazine article which asserts that the unwed celebrities having babies (Nicole Ritchie, Jessica Alba)  plus the teen pregnancy Oscar contender that is Juno (factor in here too Waitress and Knocked Up) plus Jamie Lynn Spears have made teen pregnancy the latest in the long list of cool.

 I don’t’ see it, I don’t buy it. Teen pregnancy rates have been consistently down since 2001. And yes, for 2006 there is a slight rise in the number. However, there is a rise in the number of pregnancies of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s as well. These numbers have shifted based on a wide range of pyschographic and demographic profiles. And due, is a large degree to major lifestyle changes in the US. And while we watch in awe and with female familiarity as celebrities make their way into motherhood (why not, this is likley one of the few common experiences we will have with Angelina Jolie or Heidi Klum) we are not molding ourselves in their image. Our interest, our fascination is simply a passing fancy — not a guideline for living.

 Let’s be clear — ultimately our lives and our choices are ours — neither mandated nor suggested by film, celebrity nor another loose association. And to take will and choice away from women or even girls (as influenced by real women in their lives) and lump them into a trend is a real misinterpretation of associated facts — nothing more.

I don’t plan on moving away from being central in the dialog about the fun of pregnancy - I won’t remove myself from the discussion of  fashion, design, lifestyle and the pure joy of it. I will however, make an effort to use my voice to keep the conversation more balanced and sound.

Power Mama Madonna and Gucci joined forces for an evening to rasise much needed funds and awareness for UN Programs on the ground in Malawi. According to the New York Post: “A Night To Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF,” co-chaired by Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini, is raising money for HIV/AIDS orphans and children in Africa.

And then there was also the opening of Gucci’s new home on 5th.

Yes, I know - lots of controversy around this one. I say everybody wins, and rather than going there — you know, the Julia argument about marketing + phianthropy = increased awareness, funds and understanding = good – I will stay on the light side (long week with Super Tuesday and all) for a moment…

The room was filled with some of the most glamourous, philanthropic and commited Moms imaginable - Among the guests - Madaona, Selma, Heidi, Tea, Nelly, Demi, Katie, Gwyneth, Jennifer Lopez (in rich chocolate brown was a major stunner - that glow, that bump — perfection) and my personal favorite look - Gwen Stefani in an African inspired key hole halter gown - who was simply georgous from head to toe. Dying to work with Gwen on a maternity range…

  Source: New York Post

Friend of Forty Weeks and all around superstar, Nicole Feliciano has added to her resume yet again. Nicole welcomed her new daughter in January and in true form has already been back editing on her blog as well as getting some fantastic pieces to bed to Babble.com and others. We were especially happy to see her post this week on breastfeeding. And her major shout-out to Bravado. Nicole is not alone. We have been hearing some fantstic feedback on the new Bravado products (have you seen the lace?!?!) from Melrose Ave as well as Main Street. How lucky and rare to have a client hit so many production home-runs. So, thank you Momtrends for noticing and of course - thank you Bravado for making our jobs such a pleasure!!!!

In honor of her birthday month Gina gave the gift of some great hits for our clients! American Baby’s February issue looks fantastic and full of Forty Weeks. Look for some of our favorite clients inside! Bumble Collection’s Hannah Snack Pac in featured in Jess’ Crib Notes column and Bravado’s Bamboo Nursing Tank is featured in Janeen’s Green with Envy Style page.

CNN ’s featureon the recent rise in US birth rates (our fertility rate is now at 2.1) offered up some interesting analysis on the rise of the rate. Citing everying from the rise in ethnic minority births (we have known, of course for sometime that the Latin birth rate was on the rise) and regional birth rate differences (the south far out births New England) and then the question of course, of the teenage pregnancy rate. Which suddenly appears to be up (really confounding to me as the rate has been steadily declining -  so I am going to wonder and reserve judgement on  this one).  Above and beyond he usual - cool to be pregnant discussion which then leads to the celebrity pregnancy discussion which then leads to the year of the unwed pregnancy (really how do we get to these conclusions?) - I am partial Nan Marie Astone’s explanation which is very much in sync with the Forty Weeks world view — this is not political rather it is experiential.

“Americans like children. We are the only people who respond to prosperity by saying, `Let’s have another kid,”‘ said Nan Marie Astone, associate professor of population, family and reproductive health at Johns Hopkins University.

 And so if you are feeling curious this morning, the next thing to wonder is what will happen to our birth rate as we begin to move away from feelings of national prosperity? I will tell you that being in London last month did lots for me (and and for biz, but that latter) - but it did not make me feel prosperous. Stay tuned….

I met the women of Plain Mary at ENK a few years ago and fell in love with the line. I think their play-mat (monogrammed, of course) is one of the greatest baby gifts…a little luxe in a highly practical item! Use the code valentine10 for a sweet 10% off!

Check out People for a Year Book of the Celebrity Bump Brigade class of 2008!

Just think — this is only the first half of the year…more to come, I am sure!

So, for those of you who can honestly say “you knew me when” you might remember my very early days as Forty Weeks and my alliance with Baby Spa. Missy Chase, fresh from her days in publishing (as in magazine) had launched one of the first all naturual (way ahead of the curve and green when there was no such thing)lines of baby skin-care. She and I spent our early years in the industry as allies and friends - opening doors, getting coverage and starting the MOBB (Mom owned Baby Businesses). These were the pioneer days and really, we had a blast.  Her Emily and my Lila were babies  and our muses. We worked hard and kept laughing and yes, it feels like a lifetime ago. So let’s flash forward to today — Missy Chase is now Missy Lapine (she took Rick’s name) and Missy is now up to her eyeballs in a catfight with Jessica Seinfeld over their cookbooks. Saw her on Page Six Today….I wonder if she wouldn’t prefer a little Baby Spa right about  now!