April, this year

Yesterday I painted my toe nails for the first time in at least 6 months.  As silly as it sounds, it really got me thinking.  Thinking about how I used to paint my toe nails almost every week.  Thinking about how (before Lyla) I used paint my toe nails because I was bored.  Because I needed something to do to fill my free time.

This time last April I was pregnant and didn't know it yet.  In April two years ago I was pregnant and ended up having a miscarriage weeks later.  Then there was the inevitable waiting time before we could start "trying" again,  followed by a couple more months of not wanting to try again (for fear of another failure), followed by months of trying and feeling as though it would never happen for us.

Now here we are in April 2011--with a bouncing (kicking, cooing, screaming, laughing, wiggling) baby girl consuming all of that free time I used to use to paint my toe nails.

Last night Andrew was talking on the phone to a friend who just became a daddy this week.  I could overhear him comparing daddy stories.  Talking about solo trips to the grocery store to pick up 'feminine products' and sleepless nights spent rocking a newborn.  It was hilarious to hear (at one point he was making conversation about breast feeding...!) but it made me happy.

We are parents.  It's been a long journey (though nothing compared to some couples' journeys--and my heart goes out to those couples) but we are finally here--spending this April dreaming of warm summer days--with our sweet little baby.

xo
Jayme

Jump Around

It's hot and sunny here in Virginia today.  It feels more like summer than spring--but I'm just thankful it doesn't feel like winter.  We're getting ready to post some pretty darn adorable stuff to the shop this week in anticipation of warm weather, so here's a little sneak peek of one of my favorite kiddo pieces for spring/summer, the jumper!

pink seersucker w/ balloons

ruffly yellow w/ umbrella and rainbow

soft yellow terry with rocking horse

red and white polka dot potted plant  (my favorite!)

toddler plaid w/ criss cross straps

Coming to the shop in the next day or two!

Now, off to enjoy the day while it lasts.

xo,
Amanda

Pretty Little Dresses

Looks like I'm coveting something in Amanda's Easter basket!

It is no secret that Amanda and I have enjoyed dressing up since we were little.  We always looked forward to getting a new dress for each holiday.  Our mom would curl our hair (and in Amanda's case, sometimes crimp it..haha), we'd pack up our miniature purses with lip smackers and juicy fruit gum (to keep us busy during church) and put on our freshly ironed dresses.  I always felt so pretty on those days--even though looking back at photos I was a super awkward child!

Our mom really was into hats!  I plan on having Lyla wear little sun hats all the time too.

We had completely matching outfits this year...I will spare you the dresses!

We have some great little dresses in the shop that remind me a lot of dresses Amanda and I wore when we got dressed up for Easter as kids.  Here's a few of my favorites:

Polly Flinders Blue Smocked Dress, $18

Square Neck Cap Sleeve Easter Dress, $14

Yellow CI Castro Bib Collar Dress, $18

Embroidered Smocked Jacket, $18

Easter is just 2 weeks away!!  I can't wait for Lyla and cousin Aurora dressed in their sweet little Easter dresses.  What's your little one wearing for Easter?

xo

Jayme

My Girl

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day...and her name is Aurora.  (Yes, it's Amanda! Writing a blog! Surprise!)

in a vintage dress that just sold!

Just wanted to give you a little peek into what my toddler--she is for sure toddling these days--has been up to.

Aurora loves...

 Strawberries and Blackberries

Riding in the wagon with her cousin Zoe

Giving Hugs and Kisses (especially to little Lyla!)

  Her Da-Da

 ...and Ma-ma

 Warm milk in the morning (and Da-Da w/ his coffee and crazy hair)

Playing the big piano

Being outside, especially in her swing.

 

Aurora Says...

Mama. Dada. Ly-la. Up. Shoes. Dance. Poop.  

Thank you. Oh jeez.

Arf-ruff...(when asked what a puppy says.)

Kiss. Milk. Nana.

Aurora is...

Long and lean.  She needs 18 months for most clothes in terms of length, but they are too big on her belly most of the time!

in another vintage look from the shop!

Aurora is sweet and loving and playful and very talkative.  She has taken only three steps on her own so far.  She loves animals and babies and music and dancing.  She also loves just about every kind of food, but especially sweets and fruit (just like mama!).

And she's also just awake from her nap, so I must be off!

xo,
Amanda

For Your Little Easter Bunny

Me and my curly mullet! Circa 1987.

As a kid Easter was always one of my favorite holidays.  Not only was there Easter morning--with baskets full of fake grass, malted milk eggs, wiffle ball sets and dressing up in our pretty ruffled dresses and sun hats for church but there was that celebration leading up to Easter where my grandma would have an Easter egg hunt.  We'd run around the yard hunting for fluorescent colored plastic eggs with foil wrapped candy treats inside.
We've stocked the Miskabelly shop with some lovely little spring dresses for your little one to wear on Easter (which I hope to feature later this week--and maybe even show a few more flashback photos of Amanda and I in some of our special Easter outfits!).  But we also have some adorable bunny-themed frocks that would be perfect for looking festive at an Easter egg hunt.

Yellow Corduroy Overalls with Embroidered Bunnies, $12

Soft Peach Hooded Bunny Bunting, $13

Bunny Zip Up Hoodie Sweater, $12

Peter Rabbit Baby Boy Bunting, $18

Pretty darn cute huh?  

xo

Jayme

Buttoned Up

I'm still trying to figure out this whole "mama style" thing.  The main concern is really practicality.  i.e. Can I nurse Lyla easily? ('cause once she decides she's hungry, it's all over.  Gotta get that boob out ASAP.)  So my options are: low cut shirts that can be pulled down OR button ups that be unbuttoned (duh).
I never was really a fan of traditional button-up blouses seeing as I've always considered my style more "bohemian" rather than "preppy."  But I think I'm turning over a new leaf.  I like the way a button up blouse looks put-together.  And I'm even becoming keen on the preppy aspect of it.  I like doing it in an exaggerated way-- here, with a pastel striped men's button up, diamond stud earrings, slightly structured chambray skirt, tights and flats.

Blouse: vintage Brooks Brothers, navy patent belt: vintage, chambray mini: vintage,
grey tights, navy flats: vintage Etienne Aigner

 I CAN'T WAIT for bare leg season!!  And sandals!!  Hoping to collect a ton of pretty vintage blouses and dresses that are breastfeeding-friendly.

xo
Jayme

A Virginia Weekend

Hey there....long time no-write!  I suppose I could use the excuse that I've been "recovering" from our little weekend getaway to Virginia to visit Amanda and her family (and Amanda's been busy keeping up with the Miskabelle blog and her new personal writing blog).

We went south to VA hoping to scope out some cherry blossoms and enjoy a taste of warm weather.  Unfortunately it was windy and cold, but we still kept busy--our schedule consisted of reading the morning paper while noshing on homemade breakfast sammies, shopping--both thrift and otherwise, going out to eat (at a funky pizza joint and an authentic tapas place),  a steak dinner in, and of course lots of playing/watching/giggling with babies.

Lyla and Aurora lounging on the couch

So many hugs and kisses!

Our smiley girls.

Ah, here are the grown-ups!  (left: Andrew, Jayme & baby Lyla  right:  Quentin, Amanda & baby Aurora (in a vintage dress--now for sale in the shop!)

Lyla FINALLY learned to love her Beco carrier.  Friday we ventured into Georgetown with only one daddy on hand (Quentin was at work).  It was certainly a challenge to handle our coffees and babies AND do our usual bargain hunting!  I was glad to be stroller-free.

Normally we would have full "outfit photos"...but our cameras were fixated on the babies.  I did get this shot of Amanda with her ah-mazing vintage tooled leather bag (in the photo: she's taking her turn at iPhone Scramble which we always play while waiting for a table at restaurants).

I know I'm a bit biased, but we have THE sweetest little girls.

It was so awesome to see these little ones take more notice of one another.  Lyla could not keep her eyes off of her platinum-headed cousin!  And Aurora was so sweet, patting Lyla's head, pointing to her nose (and exclaiming "nose!") and doing her best at pronouncing "Lyla!" (those double L's are tough!) or sometimes calling her "mama!"

Life is certainly a lot different with babies in tow.  A little more hectic.  A lot more joyful.

xo

Jayme