Do you (or your child) have a hard time waking up in the morning? You might want to try one of the Wacky Wakers Alarm Clocks sold by Mookie Gifts. This Rooster model wakes you with “cock a doodle doo,” but there are a variety of animal themes available, such as chimp, cow and duck, depending upon your preference. At a price of just $14.99, the value of this simple, battery-powered alarm clock can’t be beat. Check out the variety on sale at MookieGifts.com.

Naef Toys has a new artistic twist on basic blocks for toddlers. Colorem consists of 12 or 25 maplewood cubes varnished in chalkboard paint. It comes with five water-soluble chalk crayons and a sponge. Your child can design his or her own blocks as he/she builds with them. For the budding designer in all children. You can purchase this unique toy at Shop.NaefUSA.com where it sells for $59.99 for the 12 piece set and $99.44 for the 25 piece set.

This cute Peek-a-Boo Dish Set by ORE Originals makes a great gift for new parents. Available in pink, blue or green, it includes an 8.5 inch diameter melamine plate, 6 oz. capacity Sippy Cup with lid, 4.5 inch diameter bowl that holds 20 ounces, and matching fork and spoon, all in a pretty gift box. All are dishwasher-safe but not microwave-safe. You can purchase this cute set for $20 at OREOriginals.com.

This brightly colored hooded towel and wash cloth set by Catimini would make a fun gift for new or expectant parents. Perfect for either a boy or a girl, it features a fun cat theme with bold stripes on the hood. It looks like it would be super soft and absorbent. You can purchase the set for $35.99 at zandino.com

I think that making a Barbie cake is a bit of a rite of passage for those of us with daughters. I just made my first one for my middle daughter’s fourth birthday a few weeks ago. I’m not cake decorator, and the results weren’t beautiful (that is NOT my cake in the picture), but it was definitely well-received. On New Year’s Eve, I saw a Barbie in our host’s sink and guessed correctly that she had just made one for her daughter’s birthday as well. You can find a lot of great recipe ideas for these cakes online, but I think that Pampered Chef is the gold standard. They offer this recipe on their Web site at pamperedchef.com.

You can purchase their famous Batter Bowl (which makes the dress of the cake) for $15 here. I use this product all the time since it can be used for both mixing and baking. Check out allrecipes.com for tons of fun pictures and ideas for making this work.

All kids love to blow bubbles. It’s even better if said bubbles have a specific, pleasant scent to them. Enter Maison Francis Kurkdijan Les Bulles d’Agathe Pear Scented Bubbles. (Say that three times fast!) Created for six year old Agathe (according to the description on the website, that is), they were designed to help children discover the world of scents while playing. (They do come in other scents, such as cut herbs and cold mint). These bubbles will cost you, though: a 1.5 oz bottle is $18 at BergdorfGoodman.com. Might be a nice summer treat for a special little boy or girl who loves bubbles!

My family always had a cuckoo clock when I was growing up, but we certainly never had one like this! This fun “Moo Clock” is one of many fun animal designs by Coo Clocks. Perfect for a child’s bedroom, it features a cow that pops out and moos on the hour. It automatically shuts off in a dark room, so it won’t disturb your child’s sleep. I love the fun purple and green design. You can purchase one for $49.99 at http://www.headsupco.com/clocks.html. Other animal styles feature different colors, so you can find one to match your child’s personality and decor.

Most moms have experienced some type of “baby blues,” or a feeling of sadness in the postpartum period. For some, the depression following the birth of a child can be life-shattering. In “Life Will Never Be The Same: The Real Mom’s Postpartum Survival Guide,” authors Dr. Ann Dunnewold and Dr. Diane Sanford present clinically-proven strategies for surviving and thriving during both the postpartum period and a lifetime of motherhood. This book is a lifesaver for moms who are struggling post-pregnancy. The most important thing mothers can learn from this book is that taking care of yourself emotionally will lead to a happier, more successful journey through motherhood and beyond. You can purchase this book for $11.48 at Amazon.com. It would make a great gift for a new or expectant mother.

When you’re pregnant, you have all sorts of questions, and people want to offer you all sorts of answers and advice. Sometimes it’s hard to know what, and who, to believe. This book is a lighthearted look at some of the off the wall comments and questions posed to pregnant women everywhere. If you need a break from reading “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” read this book. Even if you are no longer pregnant, you’ll roll with laughter as you read and remember some of the comments in the book being said to you when you were expecting! You can buy the book for $9.95 at Amazon.com.

I love these “Made in” tees and onesies by Mitetees. They come in sizes from Newborn (onesies) to 6T (tees), short or long-sleeved, and in white, light blue, pink, or apple green. You can even choose the color of the stamped words on the tee. They sell for $22 at Mitetees.com.

Right now, on Shutterfly.com, there are Mother’s Day Sales that really shouldn’t be missed. Save 50% on calendars filled with pictures of your choice; simply upload the pics, design your calendar, pay and they’ll be sent to you. Get 3 free greeting cards with the promo code CARDS4MOM; you pay shipping and that’s all! For orders over $30, shipping is free, and with endless ideas for gifts, there’ll be something for every mom on your list.

This set of Posy Girl Party Pendants by Little Pink Posies looks like a lot of fun. The set includes 5 different necklaces that are sure to delight party goers. The design is inspired by vintage clothespin dolls, and each piece is hand-painted and can be customized with hair color and initial of your choice. They are so cute that I might be tempted to keep the whole set instead of giving them away! You can purchase them for $79.95 at  http://www.thesillywagon.com/catalog.php?item=2408. These are also recommended as bunk mate gifts for older girls going off to camp.

Bonnet Blankies are functional, wearable blankets that come in cool colors and styles. Designed for babies and kids of all ages, the sewn-in bonnet-style hat will fit a child about one year of age, and is expected to last until about 4 years of age because of the stretchiness of the spandex blend material in the hat that expands as your child grows. Measuring 17″ W x 22″ L, Bonnet Blankies are made of a premium charmeuse satin and soft polyester blanket with a cotton/spandex blend hat, are reversible, and are machine washable. These would make a great gift. You can see all of the stylish possibilities at BonnetBlankies.com, where they sell for $34.99 each.

Zylie the Bear is a 12 year old who travels the world. Her adventures unfold in a series of fun, educational books that follow her travels from country to country. The Zylie the Bear Kit is a complete gift package that contains an 18″ plush Zylie the Bear; an orange bag containing map, passport and diary; and her first book, The Adventures of Zylie the Bear, New York. It’s a great starter package in the Zylie the Bear line and the perfect educational, fun gift for a little one, for $75. (Books and bears are also available separately at the website, ZylieTheBear.com.

Kissaluvs makes these beautiful premium organic cloth wipes in stylish fashion prints. These are wipes you’ll want to show off. They measure 8″ x 8″ and are double-sided for double-duty. Made of 100% Certified Organic Cotton velour and 100% Cotton Flannel, the wipes have a variety of uses, from burp cloths to traveling towels. These wipes are hand-sewn by mothers and grandmothers, giving them a special added touch. A sampler pack of 8 wipes (including 3 Premium Organic, 3 Awesome Terry & 2 Organic Cotton Wipes) makes a great gift, and is just $15 at Kissaluvs.com.