Lil Peeps

With all the upcoming baby arrivals, I've been starting to purchase gifts as I see them, so I'm not overwhelmed when these little miracles all decide to show up.

One of my favorite places to shop is Etsy. The internet super-mall for all things handmade and vintage. (Two of my favorite words).

Even better, my cousin Jaana, has opened her own Etsy shop called Lil' Peeps, where she offers her scrumptious blankies, bath bibs, nursing covers and more. I have been the lucky recipient of some of her beautiful baby goods, and I am so in love, that I've begun to request items for my friends little ones as well.

I hope they enjoy using them with their babies as much as I do!

before I forget

I made the baby laugh last week. His first little giggles are so sweet! It's fun finding out who this new little person is. So far, I like him!

Malachi has his first two molars, and likes to use them. Ouch.

In baby news:

Little India Adrienne Hughes was born on Nov. 20th. Yay for a girl! A sister for Shiloh and another little doll to dress up and coo over. The boys are less impressed, but they're slowly coming around. We like to tease her parents that at 8lbs 11oz, India is the runt of the family! Congratulations Hughes family!

My good friend Amanda is going to be a mommy!!! This news is thrilling for so many reasons, not least of all that she has had to endure countless coffees and get-togethers with those of us already in the "mom" club and suffered through endless discussions around parenting in general over the last few years. Baby Pipke is due June 12th, and we will be eagerly awaiting his/her arrival. (I almost just wrote "her". Hmmm... a girl perhaps?)
Congratulations Glenn and Amanda!

My friend Sue gave birth to her little girl, Hayley a couple weeks ago, and they are coming over today. Can't wait to meet her!

India and Hayley are only weeks younger than Kashton, but it makes such a HUGE difference at this age. By this time next year, you'll hardly know the difference.

Aside from that, I think everyone I know is pregnant or has just had a baby. There honestly has to be something in the water. The stork is going to be busy in the next few months, with deliveries expected at the following households:

Kellie and Reid Anderson - January 16th
Coreen and Ryan Bailey - February
Patty-jo and Corey Puffalt - April 18th
Katrina and Kent Affleck -
Marci and Ryan Moe -
Larissa and Carson Seeber - May 28th
Gelila and Calvin Mast - May 22nd
Amanda and Kipp Sakundiak
Griselda and Jeff Macdonald
Allison and Jayden Massey - April 18th
Amanda and Glenn Pipke - June 12th
Julie and Rod Blonke - June

Everything's coming up Birthdays!

In 3 weeks Malachi turns one! I could wax poetic about time slipping away, and get sentimental about my little baby becoming a toddler, but that will have to be another post for another day. Instead, this milestone has turned the party-planning frenzy up a notch. As much as it pains me to say, being almost 9 months pregnant is not really conducive to my usual DIY ambitions, and I'm trying to be realistic about how much I can actually take on.

Luckily for me, I stumbled upon perhaps the most adorable paper-goods website I have ever seen. Gaddie and Tood offers one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, glittery invitations, banners, flags, cards, gift tags and the like for every occasion in a child's life. Upon first glance, I mistakenly assumed that these exquisite paper-goods would be far beyond my budget, which I was willing to stretch for something as unique and beautiful as Gaddie and Tood offered.

Discovering that the prices were completely reasonable just put me right over the edge! I was beyond excited to find a whole treasure-trove of party accessories that perfectly complemented the theme I had in mind for Malachi's party at a price I can justify. I just placed my order, and Robin has been a dream to work with. I can hardly wait for the goodies to come in the mail.

Now, not to beat a dead horse, but those of you with daughters, consider yourself duly warned. There are so many charmingly sweet themes for girls that I wouldn't know where to begin, or perhaps where to stop. As it is, you can be sure Gaddie and Tood will be beloved in the Brown household for years to come.

Sugar and spice, and everything nice!

I'm totally enthralled with my wonderful little son. I'm beyond thrilled that we are expecting another boy, and that Thyra and Malachi will have a brother. I'm grateful that I have gotten to experience the joy of having a daughter, an amazing one at that.

BUT.... (you knew there was a but coming, didn't you!) But, I see things for girls, things that were beyond my reach or simply unavailable when Thyra was small, and I get a small pang, right about the area where my womb lies.

Deepening the longing is the discovery of beyond beautiful hand-smocked dresses by Perry Winkles Kids, a mother-daughter team in Toronto. Anyone who knows me, knows I like kids to look like kids, and find classic wear for children totally appealing, yet very hard to find. I mean who could resist the pull of cardigan-ed, be-ribboned, curly-haired girls in frocks such as these.

I need this!

New baby = new diaper bag does it not? I find this a very logical rationale, especially as I will now be schlepping around stuff for two infants, and my old (does under a year qualify as old?) bag just won't cut it for them both.

Logic aside, I did come across these beauties by Amy Kathryn, and have added them to the growing list of possible considerations. They are extremely well priced, and I'm having trouble deciding which style and color I like best.







Considering the price difference between these and my all-time fave Cake collection bags by Petunia Picklebottom, I may have just found a solution my heart and wallet can live with.

Indoctrination

Diaper bags have come a long way since the last time I was in the market. When Thyra was born, they were all mushy, gathered childish blobs of bags that no adult in their right mind would actually want to carry. Amidst the puppies and ducks and teddy bears, the best I managed to find was a navy and white polka dotted bag, but it was far from attractive.

This time around, the choices are endless and overwhelming! The bags are much more suited to career or fashion conscious women and the prices reflect as much. I have had a hard time picking something this time too. I have had some confusion based on my previous diaper bag buying experience. Seeing as we know the sex of the baby, do I buy a bag that looks like it is for me, which may include all things girly and pink, or do I buy something that reflects that our baby's gender? Is the bag for him or for me? If I get a feminine bag will others automatically assume our child is a girl? Diaper bag angst I'll tell ya. I haven't quite been able to get over that issue so my search had to include bags that weren't too feminine, but still appealed to me.

Petunia Picklebottom is well known for their over the top bags which include asian brocaded fabric and dry clean only cleaning options. Yeah, really practical when you have an infant. Their bags are pretty enough, and I had a moderate amount of affection for them, until I stumbled upon their Cake line. And then all my practical resolve flew out the window as I imagined myself toting one of these beauties around. Even the names they bestow these practically edible bags is enough to make you drool. Lemon Chiffon? Blueberry Crumble? Wow. Too bad they retail at $325 US. I guess my practical side didn't completely disappear. But swoon and sigh I still will. For a lower pricepoint is the still beautiful tweed MeadowLark bag which appeals to my vintage sensibilities. I love the quirkiness of this bag and it comes in a bigger boxier style as well. But it is still cloth, and requires drycleaning... am I really up for that challenge? I wasn't sure.


So still on my quest, I stopped in at the new Mom Store in Chinook Mall to see what offerings they could procure. They carried the usual Fleurville, Skiphop and Caden Lane bags. All are kind of boring, and too utilitarian for my liking. However they do carry some of the JP Lizzy line that I hadn't become acquainted with yet. The bags are cute, have all the necessary diaper bag function, and come with some cute extras. Better yet, they were 25% off! I decided washable vinyl was a better idea than cloth, and bit the bullet and took one home. I'm pretty happy with it, and it actually, accidentally, matches our carseat perfectly. The hubs likes it too, even though I still plan to get him a more manly version.

So without further ado, here is Diaper Bag, Round 1. Pretty isn't she?
Now I can finally pack the baby's stuff for the hospital and cross one more item off my list!

The hunt begins

Of course being endowed with female hormones, I have realized that the birth of a new baby is a great excuse to shop. While I am superstitious enough not to want to purchase anything until the second trimester, when the threat of miscarriage is greatly reduced, it still is fun to look online at all the fabulous must-have products out there.

Determining the sex of the baby before birth will probably only fuel my shopping obsession, as it does seem pointless to purchase items when you don't know who you're purchasing them for and I am not really a believer in Unisex. I like the girliest of the girl things, and the most masculine of the boys. However, sigh, I do see some value to purchasing items that can be used again for a subsequent child. The trick is finding something that would work for boy or girl that does not sacrifice style.

Which leads me to www.newarrivalsinc.com a fabulous line of baby bedding that completely suits my vintage inclinations, and is full of whimsy and adorable fun. Even better, most bedding sets retail for under $500 US.

Chenille? Ticking? Vintage florals? How gorgeous is this? And the bedding temptingly displayed on a Jenny Lind Crib, which we have already decided will be the style we purchase. (Color still to be decided, but we are leaning towards white or black.)

I also love the Gypsy bedding which is not so sugary, but still completely feminine. The colors really work for me as I am not still over my obsession with all things aqua or robin's egg blue.

But here is where the real fun lies. Take a look at these adorable vintage prints that could be used for boy or girl. Normally I am not a fan of red in any capacity, but these almost have me convinced.

Could this sailor pattern be any cuter??

It's fresh and fun and would make a cheery room to visit, even at 1am when your newborn is squawking to be fed.

Gorgeous ducky bedding! And the Jenny Lind cribs are available in a beautiful cherry red.... hmmmmm.

New Arrivals also makes a sock monkey crib set that is nostalgic and wonderful.

Thank goodness there are another 34 weeks to go.....how will I ever decide? There are a plethora of choices out there for parents, but I suppose, like anything else, the fun is in the journey. And I have no problems continuing my quest for the ultimate baby bedding.