That crazy lady with a baby....

My very good friend Caitlin asked a funny question recently that made me question my sanity. She asked, "Do you ever get tired of all the baby talk?" It completely caught me off guard, but the question kind of makes perfect sense. Caitlin is exactly who I was before Ava. She enjoys to go out, date, drink, work at a restaurant, shop, buy expensive clothes you don't have money for...you know, the usual twenty-something things to do. The things I used to do. Now I rarely go out, definitely don't date, limit myself to one drink once or twice a week, NEVER buy anything that isn't on sale...

NOW my life is consumed with all things BABY. Baby talk, baby clothes, baby shows, baby music, baby, baby, baby. And to be honest I am perfectly okay with it. But I can see where Caitlin was coming from with that question. I mean, for her baby talk doesn't exist anywhere but at my house. And it pretty much has taken over. I baby talk, my mom baby talks, even my crazy dad baby talks. I think it's absolutely charming.

Anyways, back to what this post was supposed to be about...Me, being the crazy lady with a baby. Why crazy? Well, because I realized I use Ava as the perfect excuse to talk to myself in public, in baby talk no less. Yes, I will be at Target or the grocery store, list in hand, baby in carrier in the cart, and I will be walking around "baby talking" my way through the store. Here is an example:

Using my baby talk voice.... "Oops, mama forgot the butter. Silly mama." And mostly likely I will be looking at Ava making a silly face or big eyes. "C'mon Ava, let's go check out."

Of course sometimes I catch myself and quickly shut up or lower my voice. But then I justify my actions by telling myself that I am simply communicating with my baby and teaching her how to talk early (the more she hears me speak, the better, right....?).

But in the end, to the average person passing me in the aisle I am simply that crazy lady with a baby...

4 months old!!!

Retail Therapy

What a day! I got so much done and even went to all my favorite thrift stores. I found so many gems to restock my shop. I only have 7 items in there right now! What a slacker... I can't wait to photograph everything. I found soooo many beautiful winter coats, classic blazers, and great leather bags. I also found a pair of Etienne Aigner boots, but my friend has already claimed those (they aren't my size). I even found a beautiful long coat that fits me like a glove. I can't decide if I should sell it or keep it.

Anyways, here are some cute photos of my sweet little Ava...

I love those big eyes!

And those sweet rolls!!

And that smile!

I can't believe she is 15 weeks old!

Sorry

Could I slack any more?? I don't think so....

Since coming home from our big Thanksgiving trip I have been doing nothing but snuggling and playing with my little Ava. She has been so happy and playful and talkative lately. We have entire conversations throughout the day. It's the best.

She also discovered cartoons on TV. I know, I know, TV is terrible and I swear I will not get her into the habit of depending on it for entertainment (I am guilty of this...) but if you watch her while she watches the cartoons you will understand why I allow a small amount everyday. Her eyes get so big and she smiles and laughs and talks to the TV. It's amazing. It happened overnight too. She just woke up one day and decided she was ready to communicate with everyone and everything. I'm totally smitten with her (obviously).

Anyways, I said I would give a recap of our little trip. SO here is the short version. Ava and I flew to DC to see her Dad. She was a champ on the plane. She slept the whole time (except for take off and landing when I made her wake up to suckle). I was so thankful for my sweet little baby after that flight and I thought the hardest part of my week was over. BUT then that night Ava had a crying fit. I don't know what caused it, but it scared me. You see, Ava cries like every other baby on the planet but I know that all I have to do is offer her my breast and she will quiet down and be okay, but not that night. That night she just cried and cried and cried and nothing could calm her down. To make matters worse the cries sounded like painful cries. Because I was out of my element and Ava was upset I also became upset and I started crying. To make matters worse Ava's dad had invited his friends over for a little dinner party. What a picture, right?? Eventually Ava calmed down, I calmed down and we emerged from our room and joined the party. Day one, not so great.

The rest of the trip was a little better, but still not easy. Ava must be very sensitive to her surroundings because for the rest of the trip she was very moody. This meant that when she was upset she immediately had to come to me so she could calm down and relax. I basically became the human pacifier, especially in the evening hours. It didn't help that we did even more traveling. We left from DC, drove to Boston, stayed for 2 nights then drove to Providence, RI, stayed for 3 nights, drove back to DC, stayed one night, and finally flew home. WHEW!! But we survived and Ava got to see her dad and meet his side of the family. It was pretty heartwarming to see her with her grandparents.

Unfortunately Ava's fussiness was often the topic of conversation. Everyone had an opinion from her being too dependent on me to constipation. These sorts of conversations can be very tiring for me. I often find myself defending my parenting decisions and explaining that I do what I do because it feels right, bottom line. It works for Ava and I and that is all that matters. But I know everyone meant well and it opened the doors for everyone to share their own experiences, which is always fun.

SO that is that. I am sure I could get into more details but I will spare you and this post is already too long.

I'll try to post more often, I promise.

Woah

It's been awhile...

Sorry for my absense, I have been out of town for the past 10 days. Ava and I went on a little East Coast trip so she could meet her dad's side of the family. I am so happy they got to see her at this precious age. But let me tell you, all that traveling (plane rides, long car trips, hotel rooms, lots of new faces) was very tiring for a little baby and her mama. So we are using today to relax and enjoy the smells of home. But I'll be back tomorrow to share my experiences. I have lots to tell.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!

Another article about Nurturing

Here is another article I stumbled upon while researching baby poop (yes, poop). I whole heartedly agree with this mother. Everything she says makes sense to me. Thank goodness this article exists.

Warning: It's a long article.

P.S. If your curious, that whole formula thing only worked out for a few days. I am now (very happily) exclusively breastfeeding Ava and I know how lucky I am to have that option. The reason I introduced the formula was not because I had to but because certain people were saying the things the author points out the in article.

Gift Guides

I love curated shopping...

Jack Spade

Kate Spade

Madewell

J. Crew

I can't wait for all the other fun gift guides.

Flips!!

We have finally started using cloth diapers!



Little Ava seems to enjoy the soft cloth against her little bum.

Oh! And aren't these handmade booties the cutest?? Thanks Nana! <3

Thanks Sara and Scarlett for your cloth diaper advice!!

Saturday Morning...

**Photo found here**

I am spending this sunny Saturday morning sipping coffee and eating cinnamon rolls and...

...listening to this interview on NPR with Jason Schwartzman (HUGE CRUSH)...

...stealing some ideas from this gift guide...

...obsessing over this new-to-me blog...

...loving the J. Crew Spring 2011 preview...

...and of course I am snuggling Little Ava.

xoxo

Sunday Swoon

The temperature is dropping fast here in Ohio which means it's time for big comfy sweaters, cute coats, warm drinks, and good music. Most days I'm sure I'll be keeping warm and snuggling with little Ava. Here is what I am swooning on this very cold (27 degrees!!) Sunday Morning....

The perfect cocoon...

A must have poncho...

A very versatile bag...

The best coffee EVER (in my opinion)...

These gorgeous necklaces...

The Everyday Coat...

And finally, this song always makes me think of winter (and this performance makes me smile)...

xoxo

Mama Magic

Ava and I have this little morning tradition during the week where she sits in her vibrating chair with me in the kitchen while I start coffee and breakfast (usually bacon and eggs). To keep her entertained I put on some classic Johnny Cash and sing and dance around for her (sometimes I sing about bacon t00). It is hands down my favorite time of day because it is when she smiles the most. I've tried to share this experience with others but it is never the same when someone else is thrown into the mix. So it's our special time and ours only. Well, I've recently learned that little Ava also likes it when I softly sing her Johnny Cash songs. The only one I know perfectly is Folsom Prison Blues and it puts her right to sleep when she is sleepy fussy. It wasn't until last night that I realized maybe the lyrics to Folsom Prison Blues isn't appropriate for a 10 week old baby.....

Our Little Secret

Victoria's blog Lost has always been one of my favorites. I can always count on being inspired by her blog and her personal photographs. She recently choreographed a little photo project inspired by the date 10/10/10 where she asked 10 photographers to take 10 photographs on October 10, 2010, resulting in a single day represented in 100 photographs. It all came together beautifully.

**Photos by Victoria**

Well, as I was catching up on my blogs this morning I was thrilled to see she is beginning a new project. She is offering personalized photographs inspired by your name and you are the only person who will receive that image. It may sound silly to some people but I love this sort of stuff. I wish I would have thought of this! So of course I paid the $23 and I can't wait to see what I get. I love surprises.

Sunday Swoon

It's been ages since I've swooned on a Sunday...

Just another Masquerade Ball...

Cutest little scarf ever...

I would love to live here...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (I will make these)...

A beautiful photo...

And finally, my best friends fun blog and AMAZING costume....

(she's the purple grapes)


Happy Sunday!!

Diapering

**Photo from Wee Textile**

When I was pregnant I planned on using cloth diapers. There was not a doubt in my mind that my little Ava's tush would be covered by some soft cloth and not plastic. But alas, here we are, almost 10 weeks after her birth and we are using Pampers. At first my excuse was that she was too tiny for the cloth diapers. And now I have no excuse. So here I am, debating what I should do.

I still want to use cloth diapers, I am just debating what kind to use. I originally was drawn to Bumgenius and Fuzzibunz, but now I am oddly drawn to the classic cotton pre-folds. Call me crazy, but I think I might just do it. You see, Ava and I spend 90 percent of our time at home (I'm a natural homebody) so the idea of using a classic pre-fold isn't so scary. And since we started supplementing her diet with formula she only poos every 2 days. Plus, they are SUPER SUPER cheap. However, if you use cloth diapers (Scarlett and Sara...) I would love to know how your experience is going and what kind you use.

Also, I read this great article about one mothers personal experience that made me smile. It makes me feel good about my decisions in how I respond to Ava, especially since lately I have been getting a lot of negative comments about such matters. In the end, I know I have the final say because I am her mother.

Love Her Style

Seriously, how cute is she??

**via The Sartorialist**

Silly Ava

She is very temperamental.

Say I Love You

Here is a little video of Ava since I am slacking on taking photos.

Breastfeeding AND Formula

It's official....Ava is a titty trader (Vulgar saying, I know, but it makes me laugh). Here is the story:

The past few weeks Ava had been fussier then usual. She would cry and cry and cry and the only thing that would calm her down would be to breastfeed. It wasn't an issue until I realized I was feeding her almost every hour, sometimes even less. Naturally I was worried I wasn't making enough milk, but I was. Plus it was sad that no one else could hold her because she was crying so much. I noticed she was vigorously gulping down my milk and then not burping after eating resulting in painful gas later. It was an endless cycle and nothing we did seemed to help. She also seemed to have trouble digesting the milk. I could hear her little insides working hard. It was heartbreaking to hear her cry so much. After giving it some thought we decided to see if formula made a difference. The answer: YES, a HUGE difference.

She is so much happier now. She eats and then she plays and then she easily falls to sleep. It's amazing. Of course I am a little bit heartbroken that I am no longer her sole food provider, but I am happy to see her happy. I am still breastfeeding her here and there but I can see the difference.

Meanwhile, it's great to see her grandma and grandpa and papa feed her, and it gives me a little break. PLUS I no longer have to wear nursing tanks everyday (amazing...).

I wanted Ava to be exclusively breastfed but I understand that the happiness of Baby Girl must always come first. I am happy that I was able to exclusively breastfeed her for the first two months of her life. And who knows? Maybe this is just a phase....

Cute

I think I might attempt to make a whole bunch of these little gems following these super easy directions from Elsie's blog A Beautiful Mess.

Amanda Wachob

I am OBSESSED with her work.

**Thanks Alyse for sharing**

Identity

While I was pregnant, my mother and my aunt shared some great advice with me. They spoke from personal experience (they were both young mothers) and I've been thinking about their advice a lot lately. They both told me to take time for myself and always remember that while I am a mama, I am also my own person. They explained how important it is for me to remember who I was before Baby Girl and who I am becoming because of Baby Girl. I think their advice is perfect for all new mothers, which is why I wanted to share it here. I know this is much easier said than done, but even those small moments count. Here is how I use their advice:

Taking a shower everyday and shaving my legs
(silly, considering no one is going to touch those legs, but it makes me feel good)

Putting on concealer and blush
(creates the illusion of being well-rested)

Enjoying my limited amount of coffee
(I can't wait until I can drink however much I want)

Staying up to date with Fashion Magazines
(This includes a trip to the library)

Dancing and singing along to my favorite music
(Ava loves that time of day as much as I do)

Indulging in my favorite TV shows
(easy to do while breastfeeding)

Those are just a few little things I do to remind myself that my interests revolve around more than just baby development and breastfeeding. So I have to ask any mamas out there, what do you do to remind yourself??

Boots Update

So I spent yesterday evening and this morning searching the internet for the perfect boots. I have settled on these:



I ordered both pairs from Piperlime for a total of $85 (after using a 10% off coupon) but I plan on returning whichever pair I like least. I chose these boots based on style, price, and reviews. I love reading reviews of items I am considering purchasing. I can't wait to get them and I'll be sure to let you know which ones I keep.

A Fall Look

via Lucky Mag

I love love love this look for Fall, especially the short brown boots. I have been on the hunt for Fall boots but everything I love is waaaay out of my price range or just not what I want. Boot shopping is hard. But after seeing this look in the new Lucky Magazine I am searching for that perfect brown, short, boot. I'm going to look on Ebay, at every store, and my local thrift stores. Let the hunt begin....

I'm back....

I have been so absent from this blog since little Ava has come along. Shame on me. Any free time I have I am either eating, cleaning, showering, or catching up on my favorite blogs. This blog and my Etsy shop has been put on the back burner. But starting this week I plan on getting back to my little hobbies. Another reason I haven't updated much is because I have been debating what I want this blog to be about. Do I want it to be a personal blog where I discuss my life as a new mother or do I want it to be a general blog about design and fashion and other interests? I've given it some thought and I am going to do my best to make it a best of both worlds kind of blog. But I suppose only time will tell how that goes. I have some ideas for this blog and for my shop and I am excited to get them started.

On a side note, another reason I haven't been updating is because this past week little Ava and I had some very special visitors. Two of my best friends came to meet Ava. Meet Auntie Katie and Auntie Alyse...



Us girls had so much fun. We lounged and ordered pizza and watched lots of TV (just like the old days...). We took little Ava to a fancy Happy Hour (I know, I know, Baby at a bar....maybe a little controversial...not to us.). Mama had her first night out minus little Ava and had a delicious dinner and a well deserved glass of wine. It was a such a fun week and I miss them already. It was great to have them around to remind me that I am more than just a mom. As a new and young mother I think it's really important to be reminded that I am my own person whose interest are more than breastfeeding and baby development (I'll write more about that in another post). We had a blast and Auntie Katie recorded a lot of fun moments that you see here.

I miss them so much and I am so happy they are a part of our lives. They are going to teach little Ava so many things about art and fashion and NYC. I can't wait.

That's all for now. But please don't desert my blog! I promise I am going to update regularly.

Long Overdue

I have been terrible about posting pictures of my little Ava. Really, I have just been terrible about posting...I'll try to fix that. Until then, here are new photos of my Baby Girl. She is One Month and 5 Days Old.

Fatherhood

I have no idea what Fatherhood is like (obviously) but this little project gave me a wonderful insight to what might be going through their minds.

And the photographs really inspire me to pick up my camera because I have really been slacking....

**Stumbled upon on For Me, For You**

People May Laugh...

...But I have totally considered having days where Ava and I dress alike.

***Image found here***

Breastfeeding: What's a girl to wear?

After months of dreaming about my post pregnancy wardrobe I failed to factor in "dressing to breastfeed." I have to face reality and come to terms with nursing bras and tank tops. It isn't so bad really, except that my options are limited. I decided the nursing tanks are by far the most comfortable and easiest to deal with when you have a hungry baby. So now my Fall wardrobe consist of Jeans, a white nursing tank, and a colorful cardigan. It's an outfit I would wear if I were breastfeeding or not (minus the nursing tank). The only issue is my current lack of cardigans. Mama needs to go shopping. This Mama also needs a new pair of flats, as all of my old ones are a little snug (I guess my feet did grow a little...).

But I'm saving up to have one big shopping spree with my two best friends who will be visiting Ava and I the first week of October. I can't wait. Until then I will swoon over these simple and versatile cardigans from J. Crew:

When Wishes Come True...

A pretty wonderful thing happened today. It isn't super miraculous or anything, but it made my day and brought a few tears of happiness to my eyes.

I received a very unexpected package in the mail. It was a gift for Ava and I from some very, VERY thoughtful and loving people, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jim. Now you should know that they are NOT MY Aunt and Uncle. They are actually my best friend Katie's Aunt and Uncle. When Katie and I were living in Baltimore together Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jim used to always take us out to dinner at Woodberry Kitchen (one of the best places in Baltimore). They were always so open and kind and really made me feel like family. Unfortunately I had lost touch with them since Katie had moved to New York and I had become pregnant and moved back to Columbus. So imagine my surprise when I saw that the package was from them.

What was in the package was another pleasant surprise. It was a Sleepy Sheep. So yesterday the sight of this Sleepy Sheep may not have been as exciting to me, but you see, just this morning I was over at BleuBird Vintage and read a post about how she recommends the Sleepy Sheep. After checking it out I immediately put it on my endless Want List (we all have a Want List). I literally squealed with excitement when I saw its cute little face staring back at me from the box. I couldn't believe how random and wonderful it all was. They also included a beautiful card and a very generous gift card. The entire gesture filled me with overwhelming happiness and I actually shed a few tears.

It really amazes me how lucky Ava and I to have such loving and thoughtful people in our lives. We are truly blessed.

Here I am!

Forgive me for my recent absence. Things here have been busier than usual. Baby Girl takes up majority of my time and this past week we had a very special visitor. I decided to keep the computer off and soak up as much time as possible with my new little family. It was a blast even if we mostly just lounged around the house and watched the Food Network Channel. We did manage to get out a few time and Ava had her first experience at The North Market. She was an angel and slept most of the time. We also went to a few book stores and started building up her little book collection. It was such a great week and felt like a mini vacation even though I didn't leave.

I am now getting back to my usual schedule and I'll be back later with some more interesting posts.

xoxo

The "Official" Birth Story

After rereading my first description of Baby Girls birth I knew I needed to write a better story for the sake of clarity. It is pretty obvious that I was still on my adrenaline rush when I wrote the first story.


I spent months dreaming of life with Baby Girl and to my surprise she decided she was ready to start that life on an early Tuesday Morning two weeks before her due date. I had begun my official countdown to her arrival on Monday but I was sure she wouldn't arrive until the following week or later. I knew there was progress being made after my doctor told me I was beginning to dilate and I was almost completely effaced, but those numbers meant nothing to me. I still had a good amount of energy and felt surprisingly comfortable considering it was August and I was 9 months pregnant.

Monday evening came and my lower back began to ache a little. I assumed it was because I had been on my feet most of Sunday and I had done a lot of housework earlier in the day. I mentioned the pain and the beginning of my countdown to my mom and she casually pointed out the full moon scheduled to appear the following night. We looked up more about the Lunar Effect and laughed at the possibility that the gravitational pull would bring out Baby Girl (little did we know...). I looked in my pregnancy books for exercises to ease an aching back and attempted to do a few. After no success I decided to call it a night and go to bed. I tossed and turned and only slept a little bit until I woke up at 2:30 AM because the pain was getting worse. I honestly didn't think I could be in labor because everything I had read said the birth pains would be in my abdomen, not my back. I walked around the house hoping it would ease the pain. I realized the pains were worse at times and coming about every 5 minutes. I woke my mom up and told her and of course we decided we should go to the hospital. I still had my doubts and wanted to wait a little longer so we both showered and I finished packing my back. By the time we were in the car the pains were pretty bad and I had to ask my mom to stop talking as I needed silence to get through the pain.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 AM. We made our way to check in and they hooked me up to the pain monitors. I was still able to answer questions and keep my calm even though the monitors were showing very high pain levels. I was fascinated by the spiking lines on the monitor. The nurse examined me and I was a good 4-5 cm dilated and definitely in labor. They set me up in the delivery room and my mom and I made a few calls and sent a few texts to let people know Baby Girl was on her way.

The contractions were getting worse but they were still manageable. I was thankful for my pain tolerance as I wanted to have a medicine free labor. The nurse kept asking how much pain I was in on a scale of 1 to 10. I was probably an 11 but I kept saying I was a 7-8 because that is what I wanted to believe. I found that sitting and rocking on the birthing ball was more comfortable than laying in the bed. I also had a fan blowing right on me (I was sweating) and my mom massaging my lower back with a tennis ball. My doctor came in at 7 AM to let us know he was there and would be making his rounds until 1 PM. I jokingly asked him what took him so long to get there. I think my sarcasm threw off him, the nurse, and my mom off. A woman in labor doesn't usually make jokes. He went on his way and I kept breathing and rocking. The pains were progressing and I was definitely vocalizing it. At one point a contraction came and suddenly my whole body wanted to push. I yelled out the urge and the nurse quickly examined me, told me to get in the bed, and called the doctor. Baby Girl was coming and she was coming quick.

At around 8 AM I had my legs up, the doctors was putting on his gloves and we were ready for action. He numbed me "down there" and the nurse and my mom kept reminding me to breath. I just wanted to push so push I did. After each push the nurse told me to relax and catch my breath and let the contractions help me. But I didn't want to stop pushing and I made that very clear. We were on a roll, why slow it down? After only 15 minutes Baby Girl was out. It all happened so fast, I was in shock. I just stared at her in disbelief that I had made another human being. I didn't cry, I just took it all in. I took in her cries, her smells, her looks, her entire being. I took in the experience. I had just given birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. I couldn't believe what my body has just done.

Ava Madelyn Lopez weighed 5 pounds and 15 ounces, measured 19.5 inches long, and was born at 8:39 AM on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. She is perfect.

More Clothing Envy

I want every outfit...

....from this LookBook.

**Stumbled upon on You Are My Fave**


P.S. I will be posting my "Official" Birth Story tomorrow.