Yesterday Lemon and I made our first trip to the zoo... I know, it doesn't count since she is still in utero. We'll just call it practice. BUT, it was fun hanging out with a couple of friends I don't get to see very often: Mama Bree and 1 year old Metztli (who just LOVED meeting my puppies and offering Bailey special french kisses - eww!), and Mama Leslie and 3 year old Jack (who did not like the puppies so much).
The kids loved the zoo almost as much as the adults! I tell you, monkeys and sharks are fascinating. Can't wait until Lemon is old enough to enjoy day trips like this.
Wish I had some pics to post but we all forgot our cameras... Bad mommies!
8.31.2008
8.28.2008
Fur Babies
We have two of the canine variety. And I can't help but be curious about how they are going to react when we bring our new little one into the house. It's not so much that I have any fear that they would be mean to Lemon in any way, but I think they - or particularly Jersey - won't really know what to do with herself once she realized that the baby is going to be sticking around for quite a while.
Bailey, our aussie shepard mix, I have no doubt will be fine. She loves to give kisses to Lemon's future best friend, Athena, any chance she gets. And her attachment is more towards Jim anyway... she literally thinks I am the other woman.
For those of you who know my relationship with Jersey, our precious little cocker spaniel, I am sure you understand. For those of you who don't, let me just explain by saying that since we got her 6 1/2 years ago, she has been my "baby." We are inseparable. As I write this, she literally snuggling up right against me. If I didn't have a computer on my lap, no doubt she would have perched herself on my thighs.
Needless to say, there is going to be quite an adjustment. I know I'll have to work a little harder to assure Jersey that I still love her even though Lemon is likely to claim any free lap space. And I will really encourage Jersey to connect to and protect Lemon. Nothing would make me happier than to one day realize that Jersey and Bailey have both found a new best friend - replacing Jim and I with our little girl.
I have seen some wonderful examples of this relationship with other friends' kids & dogs: The ever-patient Nalu (black lab) with Nanea and Makena, the live-in zoo of Kula (golden retriever), Pancho (mastiff/bloodhound), and Riley (great dane) whom Kili has complete command over... I just hope our transition is as successful as these!
We'll keep you posted on the introduction and progress on this front once Lemon arrives!
Jersey
Bailey
Bailey, our aussie shepard mix, I have no doubt will be fine. She loves to give kisses to Lemon's future best friend, Athena, any chance she gets. And her attachment is more towards Jim anyway... she literally thinks I am the other woman.
For those of you who know my relationship with Jersey, our precious little cocker spaniel, I am sure you understand. For those of you who don't, let me just explain by saying that since we got her 6 1/2 years ago, she has been my "baby." We are inseparable. As I write this, she literally snuggling up right against me. If I didn't have a computer on my lap, no doubt she would have perched herself on my thighs.
Needless to say, there is going to be quite an adjustment. I know I'll have to work a little harder to assure Jersey that I still love her even though Lemon is likely to claim any free lap space. And I will really encourage Jersey to connect to and protect Lemon. Nothing would make me happier than to one day realize that Jersey and Bailey have both found a new best friend - replacing Jim and I with our little girl.
I have seen some wonderful examples of this relationship with other friends' kids & dogs: The ever-patient Nalu (black lab) with Nanea and Makena, the live-in zoo of Kula (golden retriever), Pancho (mastiff/bloodhound), and Riley (great dane) whom Kili has complete command over... I just hope our transition is as successful as these!
We'll keep you posted on the introduction and progress on this front once Lemon arrives!
8.27.2008
2¢: Newborn Must-Haves
Here's your chance to sound-off! Tell us what items you just couldn't live without when you had (or have!) a newborn in the house. Any advice particularly for WINTER babies is greatly appreciated, too, but don't feel limited to that. We are looking forward to taking your advice into consideration as we set up our registry and to-buy lists. Thanks in advance!
8.25.2008
PDF Publications
It seems that the next step beyond blogging is the e-zine. These specialized PDF publications, typically distributed quarterly, bring online convenience of the magazine format - this perfect for someone like me: I have a radical respect for print design, but I already get enough magazines in the mail to legitimately compete with your busiest doctor's office. I rely on magazines for inspiration, but I simply can not burden my mail carrier with yet another subscription.
There are two in the kiddy world that are more than note-worthy:
LMNOP
This Aussie magazine is chock full of eye candy and ideas. The layout is playful and thoughtful, and it seems like the advertisers are even on board with the aesthetic because the ad spots are right at home within the pages - this is rare for a magazines where most of the time the publishers are at the mercy of poorly designed ads.
Small
I am not quite sure where this pub hails from (US? UK?), but think VOGUE for kids. The fashion layouts are high fashion with itty-bitty models in deconstructed poses... I really don't know how they get the kids to pull this off, but they do. There is also a playful side of Small, featuring toys and decor. But I think what I love most that they feature the work of kid-centric artists and crafters.
A couple of notes on both...
First of all, you will notice some overlap between the two publications, but all is forgiven as everything is just so pretty to look at you won't mind looking twice. The other point I wanted to mention is product price. 90% of the items that are advertised or featured are quite inaccessible to the average family income. Let's face it, who could (or even WOULD) buy $260 shoes for a newborn? The good news is that subscription to both e-zines are FREE, which is the best price tag of all. So, summon your inner crafter and use these pages as inspiration to create your own versions of the items or ideas you love!
There are two in the kiddy world that are more than note-worthy:
LMNOPThis Aussie magazine is chock full of eye candy and ideas. The layout is playful and thoughtful, and it seems like the advertisers are even on board with the aesthetic because the ad spots are right at home within the pages - this is rare for a magazines where most of the time the publishers are at the mercy of poorly designed ads.
Small
I am not quite sure where this pub hails from (US? UK?), but think VOGUE for kids. The fashion layouts are high fashion with itty-bitty models in deconstructed poses... I really don't know how they get the kids to pull this off, but they do. There is also a playful side of Small, featuring toys and decor. But I think what I love most that they feature the work of kid-centric artists and crafters.
A couple of notes on both...
First of all, you will notice some overlap between the two publications, but all is forgiven as everything is just so pretty to look at you won't mind looking twice. The other point I wanted to mention is product price. 90% of the items that are advertised or featured are quite inaccessible to the average family income. Let's face it, who could (or even WOULD) buy $260 shoes for a newborn? The good news is that subscription to both e-zines are FREE, which is the best price tag of all. So, summon your inner crafter and use these pages as inspiration to create your own versions of the items or ideas you love!
8.24.2008
Have you ever shopped for crib bedding?
There isn't much out there for those that are both picky about design AND frugal. As always, design wins out and frugality goes out the window. I just couldn't compromise on the one item I am basing the entire nursery design on.
The big factor we had to keep in mind when choosing this item, oddly enough, is the carpet in the nursery. It is peach. Yes, peach. Not really ideal. Thank god we are having a girl or else I was going to have to get REALLY creative in order to make this work. The walls happen to be peach, too (PUKE!), but luckily daddy has stepped up and offered to paint up there - he's been shopping around for low or no VOC paint. Maybe I can persuade him to post a little about what is available on the market in this area once he's finished this research.
Back to bedding... there were some interesting runners-up. I thought I would share those, then unveil the final choice.
RUNNERS-UP
Como by Nojo ($)
As you can see, this is is probably the bedding that most blatantly would match the carpet, but it was just TOO pastel for me, and it just lacked character. Simple enough but I just couldn't warm up to it.
Geisha by Tadpoles ($)
I really LOVE the pattern on this set, but it was all the pink that turned me off. It just would not work with the peach.
Hayden by Caden Lane ($$$)
The extreme mix and match pattern choices of this set was quite alluring to me, and it pulled the peach through in such a subtle way in the details. In the end, though, it was just too busy for the quiet and relaxing nursery we are hoping to pull together.
White Mini by Area ($$$$)
So clean, so modern, so pretty with all those embroidered circles. This was a serious contender, but I just couldn't justify the price for something the baby will pee on. And it was my sister, Emily's, least favorite. She said it lacked the warmth the others had. I had to take that into consideration.
Lali by Rickshaw Designs ($$$)
I found this unexpectedly through Daily Candy the morning before we went for the last ultrasound. I thought that if I decided I wanted to go ULTRA feminine, this would be my choice -lots of pink, but the peach in the details would have pulled it all together. I think it was just too much flower for Jim to stomach, though.
AND THE WINNER IS... (drum roll, please)
Meadow by Amenity ($$$)
How could we not just ADORE the woodcut-esque, vintage allure of this organic set. It was a clear winner for Jim when he looked at all the options. I think his exact words were "I like the bunnies." My heart pitter-patters every time I look at it. Simple, artsy, warm... makes me want to snuggle the baby in there right now! And now that you've seen it, can you understand why I couldn't go with the standard stuff?
Jim's parents are gifting this precious set to us, so thank you to Rick & Rhonda for their generosity. XOXO!
PS. I'll post on the boy choices that lost by default at another time.
*Update: Just added links to the above items.
The big factor we had to keep in mind when choosing this item, oddly enough, is the carpet in the nursery. It is peach. Yes, peach. Not really ideal. Thank god we are having a girl or else I was going to have to get REALLY creative in order to make this work. The walls happen to be peach, too (PUKE!), but luckily daddy has stepped up and offered to paint up there - he's been shopping around for low or no VOC paint. Maybe I can persuade him to post a little about what is available on the market in this area once he's finished this research.
Back to bedding... there were some interesting runners-up. I thought I would share those, then unveil the final choice.
RUNNERS-UP
Como by Nojo ($)
As you can see, this is is probably the bedding that most blatantly would match the carpet, but it was just TOO pastel for me, and it just lacked character. Simple enough but I just couldn't warm up to it.
Geisha by Tadpoles ($)
I really LOVE the pattern on this set, but it was all the pink that turned me off. It just would not work with the peach.
Hayden by Caden Lane ($$$)
The extreme mix and match pattern choices of this set was quite alluring to me, and it pulled the peach through in such a subtle way in the details. In the end, though, it was just too busy for the quiet and relaxing nursery we are hoping to pull together.
White Mini by Area ($$$$)
So clean, so modern, so pretty with all those embroidered circles. This was a serious contender, but I just couldn't justify the price for something the baby will pee on. And it was my sister, Emily's, least favorite. She said it lacked the warmth the others had. I had to take that into consideration.
Lali by Rickshaw Designs ($$$)
I found this unexpectedly through Daily Candy the morning before we went for the last ultrasound. I thought that if I decided I wanted to go ULTRA feminine, this would be my choice -lots of pink, but the peach in the details would have pulled it all together. I think it was just too much flower for Jim to stomach, though.
AND THE WINNER IS... (drum roll, please)
Meadow by Amenity ($$$)
How could we not just ADORE the woodcut-esque, vintage allure of this organic set. It was a clear winner for Jim when he looked at all the options. I think his exact words were "I like the bunnies." My heart pitter-patters every time I look at it. Simple, artsy, warm... makes me want to snuggle the baby in there right now! And now that you've seen it, can you understand why I couldn't go with the standard stuff?
Jim's parents are gifting this precious set to us, so thank you to Rick & Rhonda for their generosity. XOXO!
PS. I'll post on the boy choices that lost by default at another time.
*Update: Just added links to the above items.
8.22.2008
8.21.2008
What can Lemons make?
According to the picture above from failblog.org, lemons are good for making orange juice (what?!).
Another thing we have recently learned about lemons is that they are good for making GIRL BABIES! Yes, you read that right! We are expecting a little girl. The poll showed that most of you were right-on in your guess. If this was you, it is your time to gloat in the comments. We are ecstatic, of course! We both voted girl in the poll.
For those of you who are curious about where exactly we are in the baby-making process, we officially hit the half-way mark today. 20 weeks down, 20 (give or take) to go!
And now for the unveiling... some fresh new ultrasound pics:
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