Happy Holidays!

Chances are things will be sparse around here the next week or so while we celebrate the holidays.  We are so excited to watch our babies play together!

Love,
Amanda & Aurora, Jayme & Lyla

Lyla Georgette is ONE.

Lyla turned ONE on Monday!  It has been a wonderful, crazy, stressful but amazing past year and like all moms say--it has flown by!!  Her birthday being so close to Christmas already has caused me enough stress to last a lifetime.  To have a party after Christmas when more family would be town?  Celebrate on her actual birthday?  Have two celebrations?  We went with the small, on-her-actual-birthday celebration.  Small and simple.  Lyla had a blast!  

I had a clothesline hanging with our Christmas cards, which I switched out for the day with photos of the birthday girl from each month.  I made her cakes (one for the guests and one for Lyla to have to herself) from a box.  And I made her a paper and markers birthday sign (something I'm sort of known for in my family--I would make birthday signs for my mom, dad and sister's birthdays each year and I try to make one for Andrew when I remember!).  

Oh, I also made a little party hat from scrapbook paper.  Lyla wasn't a huge fan so she didn't really wear it for the party.  Oh well! 

So, as in the first photo you may have noticed, when asked "How old are you?", Lyla puts up her little finger!  Little smarty.  See also below (top right corner photo), Lyla has taken to making the most awful/hilarious face when getting her picture taken!  Seems like all babies go through that phase.  It's like a scrunched up, wrinkled nose face.  Aurora was doing it at around 10 months.  Does anyone else have a baby who did this?

Oh the presents.  This baby has so many toys...and I can't even imagine what our living room will look like after Christmas.  We gave Lyla a little stuffed Elmo (she says "Melmo?!" when we watch clips from Sesame Street) and sure enough she recognized the little guy when she peeled open the wrapping paper to reveal "Melmo".  She has been carrying him around the house ever since.  

The token baby-eating-cake-on-her-first-birthday photos:

Happy first birthday to my little angel!    You are everything I could have ever hoped for and more!

xo

Jayme

What Lyla's Been Up To...

Lyla looked extra spiffy yesterday in her little outfit and I grabbed my camera, as usual, and began snapping an abundance of photos.  Looking through these pictures, versus the last batch I took (a week ago maybe?) I realized she is changing and learning at warp speed these days!  Here's what little Lyla has been up to lately:  (a couple things:  1. yep, my house is a mess.  there's no point in putting the toys away because they literally come right back out as soon as I clean them up.  2.  I realize some of these photos are out of focus..this girl is hard to capture because she is on the move so much now!)

Happy Friday!

xo

Jayme (& Lyla)

On Nursing...

As I write this it is close to 1 am, and I am awake, nursing my grumpy teething baby. Moments like this make me so thankful that I have this cure-all to offer my otherwise inconsolable baby. I love being her comfort. I love that she needs me. But I must admit, as we close in on her first year (eek!) I am hoping to see an end to breastfeeding in sight....and it is seemingly nowhere on the horizon. 

Lyla (and mama and dada) had a rough first few months. We battled colic and while I did also have a rocky start to nursing (low supply, scabbed nipples, plugged ducts...eesh.) I don't know how I would’ve survived her colic without having my breast to offer. We spent many a morning/afternoon/evening/night sitting on the couch just nursing. Because while the pain of her constant attachment to my breasts was excruciating, the relief it gave to Lyla was enough to stop her constant crying...and ultimately was the only thing that kept me sane during those first months.

Back to the present. My teething girl is now asleep, still half nursing.  This isn't unusual. Lyla still wakes a few times each night and mostly refuses to go back to sleep without the comfort of my milk. At almost a year, she still nurses every 2-4 hours. No matter how much solid food we give her, she still is insistent on nursing at the same rate she was months ago.  So obviously it is more for comfort than for nourishment (honestly, my breast is the equivalent to a pacifier for other children).

So much time is spent on that couch!  Lyla mostly nurses herself to sleep for naps....
and then I sit and hold her till she wakes up.  Wow.  Is that crazy?  I am taking attachment parenting to a new level.  

I have mixed feelings on how to go about weaning her. I don't want to upset her and I gotta admit, I am just too exhausted to fight her on it. ‘Oh you actually want to sit with mama and be still for a bit?  I can relax and simply watch TV?  FINE.'  Seriously, it’s the only real break I get.  But I’m not sure that without some real boundaries that Lyla will gradually wean…ever.  And what’s funny is that I always said I didn’t want to be that mom with kid who was walking and talking and asking for “milk” but as we stand now, it seems inevitable (because she IS walking and talking and asking for milk…).  Needless to say, I am exhausted.  I feel like our sleep situation won't change as long as Lyla is still reliant on breastfeeding and I won't be able to leave her for more than a few hours at a time (did I mention, she REFUSES my breastmilk from a bottle or sippy cup).

THAT FACE slays me.  Makes me want to nurse her forever...just to see that sweet, content face.

Moms, is there a sudden change that happens, where your nursing baby loses interest in nursing?  Does weaning happen gradually (within reason…like in a few months, not a few years) or should I be taking more initiative to turn her away sometimes when she wants to nurse?  I’m afraid if I keep just following her lead that I will be breastfeeding a teenager.  Help!

xo

Jayme

Shop Preview: Holidays and Beyond

We've had many a gray day here in Virginia, so while I've been doing a lot of shopping (thrifting and otherwise), I haven't gotten to photograph items for the shop. As usual, there's a pile developing in the studio. So, finally, on a sunny Sunday, I got some shots--these items, in the shop this week (as soon as I measure them!):

Smocked Polly Flinders Holiday Dress (Size 5), vintage Lord & Taylor Argyle Vest

Puffy Coat with Faux Fur/Hood, Belted Corduroy Shirt w/ Artwork Print

And in case you're already dreaming of spring: Neon Poodle One Piece, Buster Brown Polka Dot Dress (it has a sweet back keyhole!)

See something you like?  Let us know, and we can get your measurements/dibs! 

**Sidenote: a month or so ago, we featured some shoes on the blog. Unfortunately, my computer died and the photos died with it, so they need to be re-shot before I can post them.  If you want/need them (someone had wanted the mustard flats!), please convo us!!! **

Festive

In hopes of getting a little more into the holiday spirit, we went to our local "Festival of Trees" this past Thursday.  The event consists of local businesses and organizations decorating their own tree and then you "vote" by donating money towards the organization who's tree you like best.
Lyla has been loving all the Christmas lights this season (she points and smiles) so I knew she would enjoy it.  There was even a Santa there so we did a little impromptu photo shoot (I hadn't planned on taking her for Santa pics this year because I didn't think she would appreciate it too much...and judging by her reaction I think my assumption was correct).

Some of my favorite trees/ideas:

Our low-rate Santa photos (seriously?  He could have at least sat in front of the trees for a nicer backdrop...):

And just some extra snaps of the pretty trees, Lyla with her new top front teeth (!), and the necessary family shot [and on a side note--notice we're carrying around a blanket here.  Is that what other parents do in the winter?  I mean, you can't have their winter coat on in the carseat and it is SUCH a pain to get it on and off.  So we have just been wrapping Lyla in her blanket (that we cover her with in the car) when we're going in and out.  We really only use her coat if we're going to be outside for an extended period.  Are we lazy?] :

Andrew has been off work for the past 5 days and it has been GLORIOUS.  So I will be sad for tomorrow.  Back to our regular schedule.  It has been a while since I've had the Sunday blues this bad.  Christmas, please come quick!

xo
Jayme

It's the Holiday Season...

Hello there!  We're busy bees over at our house, between working and playing and decorating I haven't had time to blog anywhere.  This is Aurora's first Christmas where she knows something special is going on, and so far, it's really been a blast, from our daily Advent calendar/activity to trimming the tree.  I thought I'd share a few pictures of our cozy space!

The first night of advent with our Santa calendar.  He also gives out Hershey's Kisses, so Aurora LOVES him!

 Some vintage touches around the house...and our new indoor fireplace! It's the BEST.

Trimming the tree with our girls. Aurora put on the middle ornament by gently setting it on the branches. It was the cutest.

The finished tree and a little craft I saw on Pinterest (the owl--formerly a toilet paper roll!).

So that's what we've been up to.  Hope that you and your loved ones have been enjoying this wonderful season as well!

xo,
Amanda & Aurora

Holiday Dress Up--for your little guy

I am so stoked to dress up Lyla for  Christmas.  Red velvet dress, white tights, black patent mary janes and some kind of ridiculous hair accessory, I'm sure.  I love having a little girl!  But I can't help but think of how fun it would be to dress up a little boy for the holidays-- in head to toe vintage, of course!  We have some super cute options in the shop:  a traditional red velvet romper, a green corduroy suit, a super-70s turtleneck and a blazer and oxfords, if you want your guy to look like daddy's mini-me!

Shop these pieces:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

How's everyone's holiday prep going?  I am waaaay behind!  Gotta get shopping....

xo
Jayme

Tis the Season (for dessert)

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.


I keep reminiscing in my mind about this time last year—the anticipation of a baby on the way mixed with the upcoming holidays was just SO exciting… and overwhelming.  I ended up doing, well, absolutely NOTHING to prepare for Christmas—I didn’t send out cards, I did very minimal Christmas decorating and certainly did not partake in ANY sort of holiday baking.  This year I am hoping to be a little more celebratory, not just for me but for Lyla.  I want her first Christmas to be special (well, she was 6 days old last Christmas, so it’s technically her second--but  this is her first Christmas pre-season!).  Decorating will still be minimal (because babies and Christmas baubles just. don’t. mix.), but I do have this lovely scene in my head:  baking in the kitchen, yummy smells in the air, the heat of the oven warming our home, Christmas carols blasting, and of course, Lyla crawling around at my feet.

I am not usually the entertaining-type, but I love the idea of a [very small] get together with friends, to share my delicious holiday treats.  In fact, for Lyla’s first birthday party I may do just that.  Save making a huge meal, and simply have desserts (along with the classic birthday cake—which I can’t WAIT to watch Lyla smoosh into her face!).  A table full of pretty desserts sounds like the perfect party food to me!  So now I suppose some planning is in order.  This will include collecting some pretty vintage trays to display all the desserts, coming up with recipes (including both gluten free and vegan ones, so there’s something for everyone), and creating invitations.   An evening of indulging in sweets, our [small, tabletop] Christmas tree glowing in the background, and celebrating the holidays with our happy baby girl and good friends and family is my equation for holiday perfection. 

xo

Jayme

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.


Up Up Up

Since teaching Lyla to say "up" (when she wants picked up), she constantly follows us around saying "up pup pup".  We were so diligent at picking her up as soon as she said anything that sounded remotely like "up" (not only to teach her that cue, but also because when she says it, it is so darn cute you just wanna give her a bear hug) that now she feels like "Wow, I've got the magic word!"  So pretty much any time I'm not looking her way, Lyla crawls after me, wanting to be "up".  This week has been especially trying, as I think she is on the verge of MORE TEETH, so I have hardly been able to put her down.  She even follows me into the bathroom when I'm blow drying my hair (which isn't actually that regular of an occurrence, because I usually feel lucky if I simply get a shower).  She thinks the wind from the hairdryer is quite hilarious... Andrew snapped some pics...

What color is her hair??  Seriously, it looks red, blonde and brown, depending on the light.
There are worse things in the world than being chased by the cutest baby ever, I suppose. ; )

xo
Jayme