I've been getting tons of emails from all of you requesting to hear more about the mompreneur experience.  I share similar things with each email response, so I thought a better way to share is by blogging about it.  This is the journey of a mom starting up a business wth a toddler by her side. 

sdlfart vihdfgi347129 dghdsfjkldfjogiod ffijofjodfjo (uh...THAT was literally Kayla, my 21-month-old daughter, saying hello by slamming on the keyboard.  It's much better than pulling OFF the keyboard keys like she usually does when I'm not looking.  Once I went a whole week without the "N" key because I couldn't find it on the floor!)

So, the 2 questions I get asked the most so far are:  When did you start this?  How did you come up with the BabbaCover idea?

I started BabbaCo in concept 3 years ago.  I didn't even have a baby yet!  In college, I had a baked goods company that I started out of my dorm room (literally!).  I started baking my special custom treats for my friends and started selling them at the Quick Mart across the street.  They kept selling out, so I produced more and eventually started a business.  In less than 18 months, we were in 320 locations and I had a full manufacturing process, 13 employees, and investors!  I started it as a 19-year-old student WITH braces (yes, I got braces very late in life) and grew up fast through the experience.  After years of running nonstop, I was worn out and knew it was time for me to move on.

I KNEW that the next time I started a business, it would be for something that I truly loved, enjoyed, and believed in because it requires all of my commitment, heart, and soul.  When Kayla was born, I started creating products that just made my life easier.  I quit my corporate job at Kraft Foods in November 2007 (almost one year ago!).  A lot has happened this year!  Do you want to hear more details?  Email me your specific questions and I'll share, but I won't bore you now. :)

The creation of the BabbaCover was inspired by my own frustration.  Kayla was a blankie gal.  She self-named it "Dee Dee" (no idea where that came from) and we had to drag it everywhere!  We live in Chicago where the winters are brutal.  It is just bitter cold!  Covering the infant car seat all day and night, the blankie kept falling off, I couldn't see what she was doing, and I almost dropped the entire carrier b/c the blanket was satin and slippery. 

My frustration opened my eyes to every parent around me struggling with the same thing!  So, I designed the product and started using it on Kayla.  The BabbaCover was born!  No more fumbling with blankets!  We especially used it when we went out to eat at restaurants.  Pre-BabbaCover, I used a waiter's apron (!!!!) to cover Kayla, so she could take a nap.  No more of that. 

Thanks to everyone for emailing me and being part of this journey.  Keep sending us your pictures and testimonies about the product!  I can't tell you how much it energizes me.

Check back for more insider stories...

Check out this baby beating to BabbaCo!  It's so cute, we had to make it a BabbaCo video.  Send in your babies saying BABBACO! :)

After agonizing over the winner with our objective panel of 'judges', we finally picked 1 winner and 2 runner-ups. We feel that these pictures capture some special BabbaCo Moments that bring back memories for ALL parents universally. They remind us why we love our little bubbas so much!

The winner receives a free BabbaCover of style choice(!). The runner-ups receive $20 off on www.babbaco.com.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their precious photos! You'll definitely see your little one's face on our BabbaCo Blog!

The WINNER!! We call this "brotherly love". It made us all feel that warm feeling of true love between siblings, cousins, friends, etc. THIS is a Babba Moment caught on camera.

RUNNER-UPs:

Is this baby real? She completely looks like a precious doll! We all had moments where we wanted to dress our little ones up like dolls. THIS picture captured that Babba Moment.

Don't we all want to feel how this baby looks? We all want our babies to be full, content, and rested. THIS is a Babba Moment of that serene state. *sigh. Her facial expression, her curled up arms, her leg rolls...we love it!

Thanks...
Jessica

On our BabbaCo Facebook page, our fans have been posting up GREAT pictures.  I just have to share this one in particular.  If you need a last minute costume for your baby, just carve out a pumpkin and put the precious one inside. :)  I love it!  Fans...keep posting your pictures!

What is a "BabbaMom"?

Becoming a mom, I found juggling life in reality was not an easy task.  I wanted to be Top Mom, Top Model, and Top Career Woman.  Although many would argue that being top in all those things were impossible, I concluded that finding some sort of balance was crucial. 
I worked in corporate life as a new mom and struggled with the acceptance that I can't be everywhere at the same time doing everything for everybody 100%.  Was I ready to lower the expectations for myself as a mom?  No way.  Was I ready to stop going after my professional career?  Not yet.  

After experiencing both big-corporation-working-mom life and the stay-at-home mom life, I was 100% sure of one thing.  When I launched BabbaCo, not only would our PRODUCTS help parents juggle life, but our whole culture would be about finding that balance for moms and dads.

BabbaMoms and BabbaDads are a segment of our team who work part-time.  They are the best talent in their field, but they understand what it means to juggle life in reality and finally figured out the balance that works out for their family.  Nathalie is our first official BabbaMom!  She and her husband have 2 super cute kids (as you can see above).  Her daughter and son are less than one year apart!  (Wow...they definitely had a lot to juggle!)  They are such a down-to-earth family that figured out their priorities early and kept refining their ways of executing them.  She'll be sharing her wisdom and tips with us along the way.

Nathalie is working on strategic sales and customer service.  Welcome to the team, Nathalie

FINALLY!!  BabbaCo is here and we’re ready to connect.  Our bloggers, Robodad and SR, have already been sharing their stories and perspectives.  Aren’t they awesome?  I searched high and low for that “influential” mom and dad.  You know…every social circle has THAT “influential” mom/dad who knows the latest news, has the best tips, and shares the greatest stories.  Well, we got them to be part of our crew! 

We are REAL parents.  We aren't famous (although that would be nice sometimes), we aren't perfect (is that possible?), and we haven't figured it all out (that's part of the fun).  We are just real parents experiencing the different stages of infancy and toddlerhood.

Robodad is the most creative and cool dad around.  He respreSENTS the “dada” community and will keep us updated on what’s cool and interesting.  He usually has great links to videos, sites, articles, pics, etc. that are always worth checking out.  His perspective on being a dad makes you stop and think.

SR is the most hilarious mom I ever met.  When I heard that she went “STROLLER SKATING” with her baby in tow (read more about this in her future blog entry), I knew she had to be a BabbaMom.  She’s the mom you would call when you need a laugh.  Her perspective on parenthood is so refreshing!

What about me?  I’m a mom who believes in balance and constantly strives for ways to achieve it.  I created these products to help parents juggle it all.  At first glance, the BabbaCover may appear to be just a cute accessory.  But, it’s more than that.  It helps you still go out and live life!  Go ahead and take that brisk walk in the fall!  Go out to eat even though your baby is napping!  Enjoy the football game in the bleachers WITH your baby!  You can do all that because you have the security of knowing that your baby is shielded from the cold wind and protected from his surroundings. 

Creating that balance allows you to stay true to yourself and become the best parent you can be.  Happy parent = happy baby.  This balance is crucial.  Is it possible?  Well, that’s what we’re striving to do and create.  Join us.