Airplane Birth Announcements

Airplane birth announcements perfectly compliment the arrival of our baby world traveler.

In an age of electronic everything, I'm a sucker for snail mail.  Especially if the occasion is a happy one.  So of course I had do so something to announce Oscar's arrival in an old school way.  Sticking with the same inspiration for his nursery, we went with a retro travel inspired look.

Just like with all my mailings, I like to include a little treat (Agatha's birth announcements came with candy). This time it was a little balsa wood flyer. I admit I had never seen these before but they are fun to fly and race.  Not sure who enjoys them more - the boys or their fathers!



So off they went on their little adventure along with a tag and photo, introducing our newest traveler.

Life with Oscar

Well we made it through the first month.  I'm happy to report that Oscar is a pretty easy kid and enjoys his naps. Of course that is no solace when I'm up all night. I don't think I've ever drank so much coffee.  But all things considered, I have no complaints.



I won't say we have settled into a new routine just yet but we are getting there.  Agatha is still not quite warmed up to the idea of sharing the spotlight but she is coming around. I admit that sometimes during those wee hours I think about how we will never again be a threesome and the tears flow. Quite possibly the most ridiculous thing to be sad about but I'm blaming the crazy hormones.

But it's September and the days of sitting around like lumps are wrapping up. Time to get Halloween prep underway!  Who is ready for things that go bump in the night?

Safari Nursery - Warm Sophisticated Space Makes Lasting Memories

Create a cozy safari nursery using warm colors, precious mementos and a few new pieces. It's the perfect space for your future world traveler.
 

While I didn't quite meet my self imposed goal of having this nursery complete before Oscar's arrival, it was finished within a few weeks.  I'm call that a win! We went with a loosely interpreted sophisticated safari theme with a few whimsical touches to keep it baby appropriate. This makeover was an easy one with just a few changes to the decor - keeping it different enough from Agatha's nursery look without putting in too much work.

As you can see, I left the walls



While I created this safari nursery for my son, it works just as well for a baby girl.



Even though the room is very small, there are a lot of great little touches that make me smile.  Staring with photographs from our trip to Kenya in 2010 (arguably one of the best vacations we have ever been on!).  We also have the hot air balloon that we received as a thank you gift from my brother and sister in law (your might remember that was the best wedding ever).  A rocking elephant that a sweet friend sent that is just perfect.  And finally an amazing reversible quilt from local artisan Brooklyn Quilting Co that I can't get enough of.

 

Dark walls and personal touches make a warm, cozy space

It's cozy and warm and I hope we'll make the same wonderful memories in here that we made with Agatha when she was in this room.  Now if only we could all sleep through the night and then it would be magical.

Safari Nursery Resources

map quilt | brooklyn quilting co.
glider | Lyon Swivel by babyrelax
crib | stokke sleepi
curtains| striped flambe via overstock 
mobile | petit collage safari
animal head | pillowfort target
rug | Zulu by Loloi
wall color | Glidden Wrought Iron
hot air balloon | authentic models
rocking elephant | pottery barn
picture frames | Ikea odby (now discontinued)
chair pillow | designed by me, printed at zazzle
safari photos | taken by me on our trip to Kenya

For More check out:

Baby Closet Hack

Welcome to the World!

Surprise! We welcomed baby Oscar last Saturday night and have been in the loving stupor that comes with a newborn ever since. So far, this little guy has been sweet and easy, making the adjustment as smooth as I could have ever hoped.

For anyone paying attention you might have noticed he arrived a little earlier than planned. Due to a a medical scare, he got his eviction notice at 37 weeks.  Despite this pregnancy being much more difficult than the one I had with Aggie, I was so not ready when my doctors broke the news to me that it was time!  Ok, break the news is probably the wrong term - it was more like drag me to the hospital kicking and screaming.  I really wanted those last 3 weeks to finish my to do list and mentally prepare for labor and recovery and having a baby in the house again - but you know what they say about god laughing at a plan?  Well yea, that. Thankfully, it all worked out okay (my to-do list not withstanding) and we are feeling very lucky to a healthy, baby boy to complete our little family.

While I plan to take it easy for a bit as I focus on the littles, I have some great projects to share over the next few weeks including the nursery reveal (see the design plan here), the country cottage patio (check out the living room and dining room)  and a friend's beautiful gut renovation before and afters. And of course Halloween is coming (check out prior year's spooky celebrations) so I'll be putting my nose to the grindstone on those projects soon.

As usual, I'll be sharing the occasional baby post here but if you want more frequent updates, follow me on Instagram for more of a real time look at what happens around here.

Girl to Boy Nursery Makeover

With just 3 months to go til baby boy joins us, I think it's time I start prepping.  One thing I was really happy last time around was having the nursery ready to go before Aggie came home.  She didn't use it on day one but we used it heavily before we were fully out of that newborn stupor so having one less thing to do was a blessing.  With that in mind, I plan to have this boy's nursery done and dusted this time around too.  Lucky for me, I think I can do a totally different look without too much effort.

The look I'm going for is modern safari.  Just enough whimsy to make it sweet without the color overload.

sources: glider | animal heads | crib | curtains | mobile 


To refresh, here is what it looked like for Aggie  (the complete nursery)...


So we'll be keeping the wall color, the crib, the book ledges, light fixture and rug.  Pretty sure the dresser will stay as well. I'm tempted to replace it with something a bit more masculine like this, I have a hard time parting with a perfectly fine functioning vintage piece of furniture.  I do plan on changing the curtains, the bedding, mobile and artwork. I'm happy to finally have a reason to hang some of the photos we took on African safari a few years back!  I'm so tempted to get a tiny leather club chair and cowhide rug i here but I think for practical reasons I'll stick with a glider and the bear plush (which much to my shock, is still white!).

Time to get cracking!

It's a....

Somehow more than half my pregnancy has sped by (ok, the first trimester wasn't speedy at all but the last few months have been) and the big news is...

Everyone seems quite excited about the idea of us having one of each. I would have been just as overjoyed with a girl for many reasons (mostly the clothes) but feeling very lucky either way right now. I'm sure there are many magical experiences that only boys can bring waiting for us. As far as I go, I'm feeling much better in second trimester and wanting to make the most of the last summer we are a threesome.

I also have quite a few home projects coming up I'm super excited to finish up. The bathroom mini makeover you already know about but I'm also working on two big makeovers - a living room and an outdoor entertaining patio - over at my brother's country cottage as well as adding a small bedroom (bunk beds!) to our beach place by cutting the shore living room in half.  Maybe this is a blogger's version of nesting?  Probably more like trying to squeeze it all in before the newborn sleepless zombie stupor sets in!

Big Little News!

Things have been a little quiet lately but I've been working on a top secret DIY that I can finally share...

We are expecting baby #2 in August!

This pregnancy has been quite a bit different than my first. All those early 2016 plans got scratched when I could barely raise myself from the couch most weekends. Hello all day sickness! Hello exhaustion! Oh, how I never missed you. I hope you'll bear with me while I anxiously await that burst of energy stage. I'm firmly in second trimester now and it hasn't shown up. (tapping foot impatiently)

While this baby was planned and very much wanted, I have to admit I'm completely terrified about how our lives will change as a family of four. Pretty much as soon as I saw the positive test, I had a small panic attack about all those sleepless nights, endless feedings and the general stress of being responsible for a tiny helpless baby. Logically I know it will be okay but we are definitely upsetting our easy little apple cart now. Obviously we know a lot more this time than we did with Agatha so that should be some consolation, right? Right??? I'm keeping my fingers crossed the pregnancy gets easier from here on out and I can get back to my fun projects in full force soon.  Either way, I know this time is fleeting and I'm trying to make the most of it.

So there it is: our big little news.  I hope you don't mind a few baby related posts popping up here and there.  Like last time, I promise to keep the indelicate bits to myself.

The Not So Terrible 2s + A Must Have List

Aggie is now 2.5 years old.  Which isn't really a milestone of any note but it seems like she has fully crossed into kid stage overnight.  Like some magical baby switch has been turned off when I wasn't paying attention.  She says things like "I've had enough" or "absolutely".  With each passing day I see the beautiful girl she is becoming and I'm so lucky to have her in my life but it's hard not feel my own mortality along the way.  Like sands in the hourglass... {insert melodramatic music here}



Despite the "terrible two" warning, this stage is a lot of fun.  She loves to run and play. Her laugh is infectious. She remembers what happened yesterday and tells other people about it in her own funny way.  She knows what she likes and isn't afraid to tell me. Sometimes the terrible part does come out and I'll admit that isn't so fun but I just remind myself that this too shall pass (all too quickly!).  Slow down time - I'm not ready!




So now we are in the thick of this stage, I thought I'd share our must have list for the not so terrible twos. These are items that are well loved and well worth the money in our household.

1. Mouseton Abbey Open the Flap Book  As a Downton devotee (why must it end??), I had to get this. Little did I know it would become a favorite with lots of flaps for little hands to explore.
2. HABA Wooden Toy Vegetables - We have had these for a while now and they continue to be a favorite. Withstand a ton of abuse and still look brand new. I can see them being a staple for years to come so I don't feel bad collecting every variety. (Totally for her, not for me at all!)
3. Thermos Funtainer - The name is terrible but this is the real deal.  Great for long summer days to keep littles hydrated.
4. Watercolor set - This one is from Ikea and does the job nicely with a good variety of colors at a reasonable price point.  Lots of fun with a big roll of white paper.
5. Magnetic letters - Comes in a storage jar and fun for her to play and learn with.  Also fun for the adults to spell out not so child friendly messages after the kiddies are in bed.
6. Rubber sneakers - Whether the native brand or the cheaper knock offs, these things are worth their weight.  Make for trips to the playground sprinklers, beach or pool a breeze.
7. Straw Hat - A brimmed hat in a neutral color finishes off every summer outfit and protects from the sun. Definite must for mom and baby.

I know there are some other toddler moms out there.  What are your favorite finds?

Oh SNOW!

Ok so it wasn't quite the snow apocolypse predicted but I'll use any excuse to take a day off. In honor of playing in snow drifts and steaming cups of hot cocoa everywhere, I bring you this moment of zen.



Sadly its back to the grind today (and I do mean grind - one of my biggest fears is falling on the ice!). Spring, where are you??

Oh Baby: 2

Well its official, my daughter is no longer a baby. She turned 2 last week. Of course she will always be my baby but to everyone else she is a full fledged toddler complete with her own plans, desires and wills.

Looking at her, my heart is so very full.  It's terribly cliche to say such a stupid thing but its true.  I've been so lucky that my motherhood journey has been mostly a joy. Dare I even write the word "easy"?  (Everything except the first 6 weeks - that was HARD with a capital H!) Not everyday of course but overall, a lot easier than I imagined. (That probably means I'm in for the toddlerhood from hell but I'm ready.) I'd like to believe it had something to do with my fine parenting or waiting until the time was right to have her or being a generally cool well rounded person but the reality is I simply got lucky.

I was never one of those women who knew she wanted a child.  In fact, I was in the no children camp for a long time.  I admit that part of me (probably a bigger part than I would have ever realized before) felt like my lack of burning desire to procreate meant that I would struggle to find the joy in it or that I would not feel the heart stretching love for a child that a mother should.  And more importantly, I never in a million years expected having a baby would be fun.  I had hoped it would be positive and rewarding and all that junk but it is honest to goodness the most extended fun I've ever had!  So saying goodbye to her babyhood makes me sad mostly because I doubt I could ever have that much fun again. Like the end of a great party.

Which of course brings up the topic of having another.  A concept I can't quite wrap my mind around. As much as I have loved it so far, I can't quite figure out how the logistics of two ever works without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted all the time. And that prospect doesn't seem too appealing to me. (Maybe you mothers of more than one that aren't always harried can explain it to me?)  But my biological clock is ticking loudly in my ear (another thing I would have never believed) making me feel a little pressure to be more decisive about it.

So for now we are a party of three and loving it.  Happy Birthday my darling.

ps: sorry to disappoint but due to scheduling conflicts we ended up not having a big birthday bash for her but rather a birthday playdate without all the usual trappings.  She was in heaven but it killed me not to do a proper party (yes, I have a sickness!) Rest assured my lack of fete for her this year will give me carte blanche to do something much more exciting next year.

Oh Baby: 20 months

Our girl is right around the corner from her second birthday and is quickly casting off her baby shackles as she breaks free into kidness. Of course she will always be my baby but she is getting better at doing things herself everyday. I never thought I'd be the kind of person to feel sentimental about having a more independent child but I can't help but miss those squishy baby days.

Not that I mean that this stage isn't a ton of fun. She loves to run and play and is just generally a blast to be around. She seems to say or do something new every time I turn around. She is also growing at a faster pace than I can keep up with - she is taller than almost every other kid her age.

I am unreasonably excited about the holidays this year. She is still too little to really understand it all but I'm sure she'll get a kick out of quite a lot of it. Plus I'm sure I'll enjoy it enough for the both of us :)

5 Easy Tips for Better Toddler Photos with any camera

This is one of the topics I get asked about a lot! There is no more challenging photo subject than a fast moving toddler with their own ideas of what they want to do -which are usually the exact opposite of what you want them to do! So unlike other types of photography that allow you time to set up properly and then retake a photo several times until you get it right, there is no such grace in toddler photography. Much like my other inexpert guides, I am still very much a student in this subject but it seemed worthwhile to share my tips just the same.

1. Focus on the Eyes. 

 So maybe you are thinking, ‘No duh! Of course I’m focusing on the face.’ But I often find that when Agatha is moving at what feels like the speed of light, I can’t quite get her whole face in focus. If I can just get sharp focus on her eyes, the photo is still good. Of course there are compositions when you don’t want to focus on the eyes but just remembering this little tip has saved many a photo from the electronic trash bin for me. Iphone shooters – don’t rely on the auto focus – tap on the screen to get the right spot.

2. Get in close. 

 Especially useful when the house is a mess, the baby’s hair isn’t combed and she is wearing something less than photogenic, getting in tight will crop out lots of the distractions that can ruin an otherwise good photo.

3. Get near the light. 

 Unless you are outside, there is never enough light when a toddler is in full roadrunner mode. Without going into the mechanics of how a camera works, I’ll simply say that the more light you have, the faster any camera will be able to capture the shot. So that means you need light – generally more than you think you’ll need. The easiest option is to move your child near a sunny window. Short of that, turn on the lights, open the drapes, open the front door and do whatever you have to do to add more ambient light into the frame.

4. Be ready. 

 If anything is for certain, it’s that you will have half of a microsecond to get that shot of your toddler doing {insert cute thing of the day here}. Simply put: Don’t put your camera away! As much as possible, leave it within arm’s reach so you are ready when the magic happens.

5. Go low, look up. 

 I’ve seen the tip to get down low often so this one is a no brainer but there is a second important part of this tip and that’s to make sure your toddler is looking either straight into the lens or up. I find that when I do get down low to take a shot, my daughter naturally tends to look down which doesn’t make for the best photos. So be sure to do what you need to do – jangle keys, tape a favorite toy to the top of your camera – to get those peepers looking at you and not at your feet.

That’s it. I hope you find these tips helpful in improving your own little munchkin snapshots. Have any other tips you’d like to add? Please share.

Today in micro fashion...

faux fur hooded vest with ears - H&M 

So maybe it was 90 degrees when I picked up this faux fur vest but I.could.not.resist. Sure, it's still very much summer here but in just a few short weeks, the temps will be dipping and my very favorite season will be upon us. Bring on the boots, the pumpkins, the cool breezes. We'll be ready!

Anyone else just a tiny bit addicted to kid clothing shopping? What are you favorite shops for your little one's closets?

The Tiniest Kitchen Renovation Reveal

Guess who is the happiest girl on the block?  No, not Agatha but her mother who was so happy to have this tiny project done.  Not only because I just love how it turned out but also because Agatha's was so priceless - her face ace lit up, she cried out "kitchen!" and ran over to start playing immediately. The best! But enough of that, time for the big reveal.


A little bit more in keeping with my style, don't you think?

Sources:

play kitchen found second hand but originally made by little colorado

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backsplash is peel & stick smart tiles which were super easy to install and totally make the whole look! I just cut with a scissors, peeled and stuck.  (These are actually made for real kitchens so a good alternative to retiling if you don't want the hassle or have other restraints in case you are wondering. They look very authentic!)

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paint was annie sloan chalk paint in graphite mixed with white

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simple stainless hardware pulls and cup hooks from lowes

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awesome play food from HABA  - agatha will not stop playing with these and is learning all of the words for the vegetables and fruits.  I love it all and am going to be collecting every piece they make!

That's it for now. I want to add some side storage and some interior shelving but my cordless saw was acting up so I put that upgrade on the back burner for now. In the meantime, Aggie is cooking up a pretend feast!

Family Portraits in Paris

Wrapping up from part one and two of our Paris recap, I just have one final installment.  Before we left, I booked a photoshoot for the three of us with the lovely Katie Donnelly. Agatha wasn't in the greatest of spirits that afternoon but you would never guess it thanks to Katie's personality - she has a way with kids.







I'm usually behind the camera so having good photos of all three of us is a very rare occurrence. Having a pro take some is definitely a splurge but I'm so glad we did it. As if I needed another reason to want to go back to Paris, doing this again is high on my list.  Thanks to Katie for making it so easy.

Paris with a toddler {part duex}

Picking up from part one of our Paris recap... here are a few more highlights from our trip that I highly recommend.

Trips are always a great time to do a "first"....for example, baby's first macaron.

In case you were unclear, she liked it!

In terms of transportation we mostly walked everywhere but we took a few subway rides as well. Its a bit of a pain to carry a stroller down the steps but thankfully Mr. Limestone works out.


We shameless do the tourist things no matter where we go. True, it does bring my street coolness down a few factors but I'm okay with that.


The hardened new yorker inside me rolls her eyes.


Impromptu picnics are always a good idea. Agatha fully immersed herself in french cuisine that week by eating as much bread and cheese as her mean parents (who kept trying to get her to eat some vegetables!) would allow.

Since we are on the topic of eating, let's discuss how meals in restaurants go.  Obviously there is no truly leisurely meals when eating with a toddler but we did eat in restaurants a lot and enjoyed it.  Sometimes there were high chairs, sometimes there were not.  When there were no high chairs we were able to push her stroller up to our table or sit in a booth.  No matter where we went we got warm welcomes. Generally we were able to get two courses and a bottle of wine before Agatha had had enough which I consider a big win.


I don't like to pay for international data so I don't have my smart phone to help me navigate. Luckily its impossible to get lost in Paris in a bad way but I do carry a hotel map for consultation.


Even if you do end a little lost, you won't be disappointed.  You might wander into something wonderful like toy boats sailing by (yes, this is a public park!) or...


a little street art?  or a bicycle race where the participants were all dressed in 1940 period clothing?


Insert corny cliche here about taking time to smell....you get the idea.

As everyone knows, Paris is an expensive city but this might have been our cheapest trip there yet.  Mostly because its just easier to walk with a stroller than take a cab, it's easier to have a park picnic than sit down to a fancy dinner and the things an 17 month old most enjoys (running in the grass, whooshing down a playground slide, walking on a sidewalk) are 100% free!

Not all shown above but I highly recommend the follow
BHV  great Marais dept store that sells everything from clothing to sewing notions to home decor to toys
Deyrolle quite possibly the most amazing store in the world for taxidermy - i'd love to throw a party here
Le Relais de l'Entrecote worth the line + the hype - they make the most amazing steak frites
Astier de Villatte an amazingly gorgeous store filled with ceramics and other treasures you'll want to bring home
Richard Lenoir Market - This avenue is packed with fresh food vendors with a few great souvenir options as well

I think that wraps up all my tips on traveling with a toddler to Paris.( I do have one more post to share with some professional family photos coming up tomorrow and then I promise to shut up!)

Have your own travel tips or favorite spots to share?  Feel free to chime in!