In honor of the holiday season, we’d like to share a very special guest post from Baby Einstein GM Susan McLain!

Fun, laughs, exhaustion, happiness . . . what a full and exciting year this has been! With two daughters, 4 and 1, the year has been chock full of unforgettable moments – like my little one learning how to use her voice – to babble, sing and even scream – and, boy can she scream. Or, my older daughter finding her way around her preschool, becoming confident as the world, and, people in her world, opened up in a whole new and exciting way.

For me, this was a year of figuring out how to balance a full time job and TWO children – last year I was still in the newborn fog – and learning that there are so many people out there to help you through your times of struggle… and moments of joy.

At Baby Einstein, I’m particularly grateful for the amazing group of people both in the office and through our communities who have shown incredible passion for Baby Einstein. I’m thrilled to have watched you build the Baby Einstein social media community this year from nothing to over 22,000 fans on Facebook eager to share tips and tell us what you love and what we can do better. I have to say that finally introducing the new Discovery Kits to you was a personal highlight for me. As a mom that uses Baby Einstein to raise my own girls, I was so excited that we found a way to give you a complete experience with the 3-product Discovery Kits to truly bring discovery into your baby’s life…without you having to break the bank. And I can’t forget to mention the fun times, from introducing our guest blogger series to showing off some adorable giggly babies in our smiling babies contest. And we did it all together! Most importantly I am thankful for you our amazing fans, so invested in your baby’s upbringing that you give us amazing feedback to help us to make the best possible products. It’s what drives me every morning to be a working mom.

At this time it’s a sweet tradition to gather the family around share good times and memories that you all have made together. As my family sits around the tree this season I will look back at how amazing they and you have made this past year. I wish you many holiday blessings and best wishes to a new year filled with new discoveries for your whole family!