Hey there cool parents, and thanks for allowing us into your inbox during the madness of holiday season. In return, we hope to help you chill a little bit and do that holiday shopping from the comfort of your own computer chair.

In fact if you haven't been to Cool Mom Picks lately, well then we insist. Between our holiday gift guide, our safer toy guide, and the fact that our team is insanely posting 50% more cool picks a day in December, we promise it will be worth your while.
 

If you're being drawn in by the nefarious buy-me rays emanating from those Santa sweaters and candy cane bibs, we beg you to resist.

Instead, we've found some charming and snow-flake free options for a baby's first Christmas that you can get more than one day's wear out of. Imagine that.

 
RED

For boys, his Tea Collection paprika striped shirt ($18 on sale at Chittypulga, right) is a fresher look than the old red 'n white. For girls, behold the beautiful El Cielo sweater dress - worth the $62 when you figure she can wear it for months.

*20% off (plus free shipping with purchases over $75) at Chittypulga with coupon code COOLMOM07

We also like Ses Petites Mains' shirtwaist dress at Shop Orange Button in pomegranate corduroy. ($78) And it's hard to resist the easy styling of this cotton button-up dress at Nonchalant Mom from Imps & Elfs. No pun intended. ($62, left)

If you're keeping things casual and comfy, Zutano is always a great resource. We like the Cozies collection red snapsuit ($22.50 on sale at Chittypulga) for pre-pancake photo ops by the tree.

The littlest babes will stay comfy cozy in the Clever Kitty's red high top felted booties. ($35 at Shop Orange Button, left) Vincent Shoes also has prewalkers covered, festively, with styles like their fuzzy Mini Bjorn booties in red suede. ($24.95) Or put that early walker in a pair of red Mary Janes from See Kai Run and watch your heart grow three sizes. ($36 at Twilite Moon)

*20% off regularly priced items at Vincent with coupon code CMP-DEC-2007

*15% off through 1/1/08 at Twilite Moon with coupon code HOLIDAYCMP

Babies in ponchos are always adorable and we love the red fleece one from Skipping Hippos. ($46, right)

*10% off at Skipping Hippos with coupon code sf7

Trade the cliché newborn wearing a santa hat snapshot for one including a SO cute handknit red pixie cap in soft merino wool from Monsters in Mittens ($37.50) or She's Crafty ($24), both out of merino wool central, New Zealand.  Just make sure to order them now - that's a long haul even for Santa.

*Free hat with purchase of $100 or more at Monsters in Mittens - enter cool mom picks in comments section at checkout and select hat style, size and color

 
GREEN

Boys can do better than pine tree motifs or the dreaded snowman sweater: Bella Sera Baby's handmade olive oxford ($20, left) is equally funky and functional for little dudes and you can pair it with any kind of vest or sweater. We also love the buttery soft organic green oxford from Kate Quinn. ($28)

Lucky is the girl in the cotton fleece Egg and Avocado pine jumper we spotted at Girl Charlee. Christmas it up with crimson accessories, or burgundy the rest of the season.($44)

Olive cords are more a contemporary choice than emerald ($38 at Little Dudes Only) and  even look great with a red sweater or top.

*10% off at Little Dudes Only with coupon code picks

The luscious teal velvet dress ($69, shown at top) was spotted at the always amazing Bean, NY: Oh, be still our sentimental hearts. 

*15% off (plus free ground shipping and gift wrap with purchases over $75) at Bean, NY with coupon code cmpbean

Green shoes get use past Christmas when they're Vincent's olive Mini Alfons. ($24, left)

*20% off regularly priced items at Vincent with coupon code CMP-DEC-2007

Tea's green and brown striped hat+scarf+mitten set are super cute and super modern, as we'd expect from something only available at Giggle. ($62)

Handmade green and red bouquet barettes (right, from Little Something) can turn nearly any little girl's outfit into something special for the ho-ho-holidays. And for just 10 bucks. Score.

Bless our friends at  Celebrity Baby Blog for their pure and snark-free love of Hollywood, and a seemingly endless supply of photos of possibly the cutest little toddler in H'wood, Violet whatsername.

In any number of photos, the littlest Affleck can be seen clinging to the sweet Rosebuds & Satin blankets from Max Daniel Baby. Satiny, ruffle-y, and very very luxe, we're not at all surprised.

We like the solid colors best, just like Violet (the girl, not the color), and they start at $20 at Tiny Tot Boutique.

Which is not entirely out of reach for those of us who don't get photographed pumping gas and buying tampons.

I can't say enough about the recycled cashmere sweater Newsboy Hats, found at Portland boutique Tilly Jane. I only wish my son felt the same way about them. Oh well. There's always glue. -Kristen

*10% off through 12/14/07 with coupon code coolmoms

I love the adorable lounge dresses from Kate Quinn Organics--I can totally picture my girls wearing them this winter during snowball fights, marathon shopping sessions, or just to snuggle on the couch. And I'm really wishing they made them in adult sizes. -Nancy

I have no choice but to wholeheartedly endorse the safe, mom-created, BPA-free Adiri Ultimate Bottle which has absolutely saved my sanity these past few months. Besides, it looks like a boob, making it great fun to whip out around your uptight in-laws. -Liz

The mom-powered Smart Foods Healthy Kids website is intelligent, non-judgmental, and something we'll all need when the last gingerbread crumb of the year is wiped from our chins. Get your subscription, stat. -Staff

Maybe it's the time of year, but I'm a big fan of a Mr. and a Mrs. with a toy shop. And this one--KangarooBoo--is full of cool stuff (like this Angel Chorus mobile) and supports children's charities too. -Laura

*8% off (plus free shipping with purchases over $75) through 12/13/07 at KangarooBoo with coupon code CMPS8

Think of Catalog Choice as a Do-Not-Call list for that endless supply of paper-based temptation in your mailbox. Frankly, I've got enough temptation right here at Cool Mom Picks.  Plus, with fewer catalogs there's more room in my mailbox for cards and presents. Hint, hint. -Julie

I love the idea of this 3-in-1 baby book from Three Lovelies. With a nursing log, a baby journal and a gift log all in one place, it's just the kind of "organized" a postpartum mom needs in her life. No use crying over scattered milk-logs. -Tina

Safe Toys and Gifts Month
(Got you covered there)

12/3 Ozzy Osbourne's birthday
12/4 First night of Hanukkah
12/7 Delaware joins the Union
12/12 Poinsettia Day
12/13 Ice Cream and Violins Day
12/22 Winter Solstice
12/25 Christmas
12/30 Michael Nesmith's birthday
12/31 New Year's Eve - get a sitter!