The Perfect Gift - Simple, Beautiful and Practical

I love holiday blog gift posts! I honestly have a hard time finding just the right gift for a few people on my list. I hate giving candles that will never be lit or 'one more' toy to add to the box. For birthdays I typically give gift receipts but at Christmas I buy ahead or buy on clearance so I don't always have a gift receipt!  My default gift when someone is very hard to buy for is always a restaurant gift card because who doesn't like free food?!

Here are some other gifts though, that have gone over really well for me -

For Babies 

Kid's regulation sized sports balls. Babies love balls and these are a 'grow with me' toy that most babies don't have. At our house my three year old only plays with her soccer ball for 'real' soccer but our baby is memorized by this cool bright red and black ladybug soccer ball.

My other default gift is a classic board book signed to the baby. Even if we have a book - a dedicated book feels like a keepsake, just make sure it is truly a classic book like Ten Little Babies - there isn't anything worse than a dedicated Elmo book that you feel like you have to keep because it is signed!

Older Kids

If I can't figure out what to get a kid over the age of three I always default to nice art supplies or nature gifts. Children love to create and be outside. I have never gone wrong with - 

sun print kit, flower press, magnifying glass, regional plant and animal guides, binoculars, or nature art / activity books like Blossom Buddies.  Another idea that would work for lots of kids is an Audubon iPad or iPhone app.

For Adults

My adult ideas aren't that original but I can tell you my husband's perfect gift involves good beer and an iTunes gift card. My favorite thing to give to women though is small, original framed art from Etsy. You can of course go larger but almost anyone can find a good place for original art. Photographs are easy but I try to branch out, I think you could easily find a piece of art to fit anyone's personality on Etsy. I would pick the print below for myself, it is an 8.5 x 11 limited edition print of 100 for $28 by Elsa Mora the author of Blossom Buddies. This print is beautiful and unique and would be a bargain to frame. A less expensive option would be framed art note cards like the ones from Sarah Jane Studios. I adore her holiday line for framing and I have the three little bears cards framed in Ava and Lilly's room. 

I am working on my top DIY gifts post too - I have some great, easy ones! 

My Baby Has a Fancy Fan and Yours Doesn't

When we were at the zoo this past week I felt like we were getting some dirty looks. Well I was looking through the photos from the zoo and I found this. Are we the height of all baby product consumerism or what? I don't think you can see Ava's painted nails and toes (with overpriced natural polish of course), her sunglasses, her Disney Store hat or her two plastic dolls. I feel absolutely compelled to say that we didn't buy a single item the girls are wearing or any of their gear (even though we possibly I did pick most of it out) - that is what grandparents are for right? Ya know to buy baby gear and copious amounts of children's clothes. Or maybe I just saw that on T.V.

p.s. It is HOT in Atlanta.

p.s.s. I am 100% sure that I need to force my children to play naked outside for a week. 

p.s.s.s. We don't even have T.V. just Netflix - so we can, wait for it... avoid over-exposing our children to commercials ;) Ha!

Lilly's Birth Announcement

It is just as pretty as you think! You can click on it to view it bigger.

Done by West Willow

p.s. it is never too late to get a birth announcement done 

Newborn Photo Shoot

I was looking through my draft posts and found this one! This is a newborn photo shoot that BlueRayne Photography took at our old house in Florida when Lilly was 10 days old (about 4 months ago). I think they turned out perfect! It was also nice to have some photos of our family taken in our house taken right before we moved. I love having photos taken at home. It is so much easier on everyone and you capture a memory of your home. 

Here are two where Jessica owner of BlueRayne and I were trying out some things and they turned out a tad awkward but still cute and they make me laugh because Lilly was so annoyed and we were trying so hard to be Anne Geddes. 

Her eyes just happened to close here - she didn't fall asleep in the basket! We also had her naked in the basket and I couldn't keep her legs closed and she peed on the blanket...

I tried really, really hard to keep her all tucked up but not happening.

p.s. I started a Facebook Fan Page so go to the side bar and 'like' it o.k.? Thanks!

Sweet Sisters

These girls are awesome. This went on for an hour, it started with Ava asking me if Lilly could lay in her nap mat with her. Ava read Lilly book after book and Lilly just turned in towards Ava. I am just in awe of them. 

Ava is telling Lilly 'this is our Mommy and Daddy'

Lilly 3 months Ava 2 years 6 months

Getting There and some baby and toddler travel gear

So we will be in "hotel home" as Ava affectionately calls it until Tuesday unless this snow causes a moving delay. First, let me say that it is free, has a separate large bedroom and flat screen TV's in both rooms. There is a great free breakfast everyday and of course we get our room cleaned and beds made. It is getting kind of old though. Mostly I feel like I don't have much to do and getting the girls down the elevator with all their stuff is kind of a hassle. I am also still 'coming down' from a very intense job and so some days are feeling slow but not in a bad way, just different.

Photo: Ava and her new bff Jack at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History

We still manage to get out almost everyday while Joe works. I am getting pretty awesome at toting the girls around the city by myself. I do have some great gear though like the Baby Jogger City Mini  double stroller and an ERGO baby carrier with this infant insert. I use either the ERGO insert or the Snuggin Go to make the Baby Jogger appropriate for a two month old. I also have a good sling and diaper bag with stroller clips. The JJ Cole Bundle Me Lite  is saving our life in the cold weather. It isn't practical or safe to dress small infants in tons of heavy clothes so the bundle me light will keep the wind and rain off of them when you are running to and from the car.  The other thing I have needed is a warm jacket for me that is somewhat waterproof that has a hood because I can't manage an umbrella with both girls by myself.

Photo: Lilly in the baby jogger using the Ergo insert for support

I was a little worried it would take me a long time to feel comfortable enough to get out on the kinds of trips I would make with just Ava but I already feel just as confident taking them both out as I did just taking Ava. That probably says as much about how good of a baby Lilly is as anything else. She can go several days without ever crying. SERIOUSLY. When she does cry it is more of a fretting. She also eats every four hours during the day and goes a 9 hour stretch each night without eating during her... wait for it... 12 hour night time sleeping stretch.

Photo: Of course some days we just stay in and lay around ;) This is Ava's hair in its natural state. 

Is there anything kid or baby travel gear item that you can't live without? I really want to know I might need one! ;)

Lilly's Room - The New Nursery

Long wait right? But introducing Lilly's nursery (we went with yellow). First few photos taken by BlueRayne Photography during Lilly's newborn photo session at our home.

Then here are mine - not as good but closer up ;)

Corner by closet with land of nod bench, vintage dresses & hangers, most accessories from land of nod and piggy bank was a gift. Peg shelf $8 from Michaels. 

I made this pennant with vintage handkerchiefs. The doll triptych is from PBK - $14.95! Yay!

Some fun to the left of the dress up cabinet which is actually an old computer cabinet to which I added some thin strips of wood across the front insets and painted it. More on this fun project later. Flowers left Land of Nod. Basket PBK via Ebay. Mirror Land of Nod matches the rug. 

The picture could be better but these are three framed 3 little bears cards from Sarah Jane Studios. 

Pennant close-up. 

A shot with the rug. ABC art to the left from TJ Maxx and fairy art to the right also PBK ($10 yay!) - personalized by me. Mobile PBK.

The table and lamp are vintage along with the quilt hanging off the changing table to the right. The lamp shade is Pottery Barn Teen. The prints are from here. 

There you have it!

Baby Lilly Birth Story

Introducing

 Lilly Emma 

All 7lbs 14 oz of her at 19.5 inches long 

Birth Story

I was having irregular contractions when I checked into the hospital for induction at 9am a few days after my due date.  I was also dilated to a 4. Given that I had been dilated at some stage for over 3.5 weeks that wasn't all that surprising. I don't know all the particulars of why but I had this same situation with Ava where I just sort of stalled and couldn't keep anything consistent going to deliver on my own. I was given Pitocin and I went to about a 6 over the course of the morning. I didn't feel any different and the nurse mentioned to me that if "I wasn't in pain maybe I didn't need the epidural" ... umm ... what?!? Yeah, about five minutes after that I requested it ;)

So apparently the Anesthesiologist that gave it didn't administer enough for my height and by the time the nurse got another Anesthesiologist called I was having Lilly. So, yes that is right, I had some version of natural child birth! In 20 minutes I went from a 7 to holding my baby. My Doctor ran in just as I was grabbing the side of the bed thinking how "TV labor" I must have started looking. I didn't realize that Lilly was crowning but the nurse must have because I heard my Doctor ask her if he could pee (yes really) and she said "not if you want to deliver this baby." Then about 4 minutes and three pushes later I was holding an almost 8lb little girl. Amazing. Just as amazing as the first time.Maybe even more so because I was more awake and I did have a bit of a rush coming off of that insane sensation.

Lilly looks a bit chubbier in the cheeks than Ava but not 1lb 5oz heavier - I guess that isn't that much in the big scheme of things but I was surprised because I was so much smaller this pregnancy.

Lilly came so fast that I had some tearing because there wasn't time to prevent it or do a small episiotomy. Thankfully the epidural did kick in by the stitching! So there has been a little more difficulty this time along with the typical difficulties caused by expelling a human. I always wish after labor you didn't have so much pain because it can be a little distracting from enjoying your baby. Lilly is the best baby ever created she never cries, she eats one time at night, and sleeps 22 hours a day...right! She might awaken from this perfection but she has given me a wonderful week and I am so grateful for that. I look forward to her tiny meows in the night right before it is time to eat. (Like I said no crying, even for food.) And most of the day I just hold her while she is sleeping trying to soak it all in. Big sister is going to school still for her three days so I am getting some time with just Lilly which is great and then when Ava is home my husband is around as well so I can spend some time with just Ava. I don't think so far anyone feels displaced or jealous and I am really lucky that we have a little routine worked out where it will be several weeks before I will be taking care of both of them at the same time alone. 

Here is me being really silly - this is for my friend Michelle - we love pictures like this of women in labor ;) I think the sunlight adds dramatic effect. I also like how clinical the room looks but how 'home birth' I am looking...

The husband during labor - I think the man recliner in the delivery room is funny. As in can someone bring him some beer and turn some football on please! 

More labor - ya know before the crazy part. 

And after the crazy part - me and Lilly. Can I just say my baby girls are born cute!

The whole family. Apparently Ava totally did get that we were having a real baby and she ran in just like she had been expecting Lilly all along! So proud!

This is still the face she makes when holding Lilly 6 days later. 

Labor makes my husband very sleepy ;)

And it makes me make silly photo faces. Life is pretty great. 

Is there a medicine for slowing growth? Everyday I feel a little nervous about how fast it is all going to end. My 27 month old is going on 16!
So, dearest Lilly can we drag this whole baby thing out as long as possible?
Thanks. Mom