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DANNICA’S ICE CREAM PARTY!

  • Aug 9, 2018
DANNICA’S ICE CREAM PARTY!
HOME, LIFESTYLE, MINISTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

So Dannica turned the BIG 3. And I definitely wanted to make this party special because it was the first time she really understood the concept of birthday parties and the fact that she was turning a whole year older. It is also the first birthday party that they might remember, and the first one that really matters to them.

As with all event planning, the hardest part is settling on a theme. Once you have a theme, you can run with it and Pinterest to your heart’s content. In the end we decided on an ice cream themed birthday party because

  1. Dannica LOVES ice cream!!
  2. Her birthday is in the middle of summer, and it’s been the hottest summer to date in Denver
  3. We wanted a gender neutral theme (because so many of our guests had both boys and girls). My husband and I figured that all the princess, ballerina, and unicorn themed birthday parties can come in the future.
  4. We had a GREAT location in mind that we knew would be perfect for the party size.

Once we had the theme in place and the Ice Cream parlor that we go to every week (we live only a few blocks away) reserved for the day, I went down the inevitable deep and dark Pinterest/Etsy hole. Most of my finds and ideas were from those two sources except for a few exceptions that I sourced from Amazon/Target.

I ordered these adorable invitations from Etsy about two months before the party (video below), and used the invitations and the Ice Cream Parlor as inspiration for the rest of the party in terms of color pantone and vibe.

Decorations:

I then ordered all the decorations about 8 weeks in advance because most of the small shops on Etsy require a long lead time.

I ordered this ten foot balloon garland from Etsy and it came with the balloons, air pump, a vinyl string to attach all balloons to and a detailed instruction sheet. It took me a few hours to make this, the most time consuming part was actually tying the balloon ends.

I ordered the Ice Cream Truck centerpiece off Etsy as well but I saw the exact same one on Amazon! It was very easy to assemble and you didn’t need any tape, glue or scissors!

The sprinkle balloon and the giant 3 balloon I also ordered on Etsy, but I am sure you can get similar ones from Party City and have them blown up there.

Kid’s Entertainment:

For any kids’ parties, it is absolutely essential to provide entertainment for the children. I’ve done everything from balloon artists to music acts to face painting. For this party, I decided to go with arts & crafts and I would say it was the most successful yet out of everything I did because it kept little hands busy at their own pace and they also didn’t have to wait in line for something that only provides a short amount of gratification.

I just bought $1 ice cream themed sticker books and ice cream themed coloring books and then a few ice cream themed play doh all from Amazon. The kids loved playing with their hands and the play doh ended up being the biggest hit!

And of course the main entertainment was the open ice cream bar for both kids and adults to enjoy!

Photo Booth:

I am a huge fan of photo booths. It is a fun way for your guests to be silly and to also go home with some fun photos from the party. I also am a huge fan of creating several interactive stations because it allows people to mix and mingle, and also helps divide the space up so that not everyone is crowded into one area.

I ordered these Ice Cream themed Photo Booth props as a digital download on Etsy. I printed them on heavy cardstock paper and then cut them out (there were detailed instructions on the best way to cut them out). And then I grabbed some wooden disposable chopsticks and krazy glued them to the back. I then got my chalkboards (for instructions), polaroid camera and placed them along the counter.

Party Favors:

I think it is fun to get super creative with party favors. I think of invitations as the sneak peak to a party for guests (it sets the first tone), and party favors as something that they will take away from the party. I found little popsicle boxes and ice cream pints on Etsy that I assembled (fairly easy!). And then I shopped the $1 aisle at Target and also Yoobi (a really fun school supply brand) for ice cream themed party goodies. Dannica’s birthday party is right before kids go back to school, so I thought in addition to party treats, it would be fun for kids to go home with school supplies like popsicle highlighters, ice cream erasers and little markers. For more details on the party favors, I have videos with all details under my highlights on my instagram page @aenny04.

 

I hope this post will provide you with some fun ideas and inspiration for your little ones if you ever plan on throwing an ice cream themed party! We had so much fun with our close family and friends celebrating our little Dannica turning 3!! We are so grateful to everyone who came and showered our baby girl with love and made her day absolutely unforgettable  <3

Product Sources (please click on title for links):

Ice Cream Themed Invitations

Ice Cream Sign

Ice Cream Themed Balloons

Balloon Garland Kit

Ice Cream Truck Centerpiece

Ice Cream Photo Booth Props 

Ice Cream Pints (to put in party favors)

Ice Cream Popsicles (to put in party favors)

Ice Cream Themed Cake: Maggie & Molly’s in Denver, CO

Ice Cream Parlor: Sweet Cooie’s in Denver, CO

All Party Favors: Target

Poloroid camera and inserts: Amazon

Dannica’s Outfit: Dress by Pleiades Designs, bow by Wunderkin Co and shoes were from Old Navy.

 

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DJ’S BIRTH STORY

  • Jul 18, 2018
DJ’S BIRTH STORY
HOME, LIFESTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

It took me close to two years to write down Dannica’s birth story…A huge part of that was because I did not want to relive it. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with DJ and nearing his delivery that I was forced to face my first delivery and come to peace with it. You can read about Dannica’s birth story here. 

After Dannica was born, my husband and I spoke with several different OBGYNS as well as my neonatologist about the uterine inversion. They were all confused because medically, my uterus should not have prolapsed. It was a huge relief to hear this from all the different doctors because that meant that my first delivery was a freak accident in every sense of the word, and they were all confident that I should be able to deliver safely and smoothly for future pregnancies. 

One of the first things I did after I recovered from my delivery was to switch OBGYNs. I did an exit interview with my former clinic where I expressed how I felt and why I was so frustrated over my labor and delivery experience. To which my former doctor said that there isn’t a single doctor who delivers all their patients’ babies. She told me she was only on duty until 5PM and that she had left me in very capable hands. I absolutely understood where she was coming from because you also don’t want an overworked doctor to operate on you. I told her which doctor and clinic I was switching over to. She was then quiet for a moment and said, “well that is the one doctor that I know who has delivered all of his patients’ babies.” And then she admitted that the other partner at the clinic had delivered both her daughters. 

It is strange…She didn’t have to tell me those things for me to know that I was making the right decision in choosing my current doctor. The clinic, the doctor, the whole experience was so different from day one. That is why it is so important to do your homework, and to interview and research the clinics and doctors before settling on one (something that I did not do the first time). My current doctor has seen me for every single appointment throughout my entire pregnancy. Every time I came for a follow-up, it was like picking up exactly where we left off. He knew my medical history inside and out. And he personally did so much research on uterine inversions, it made my husband and I so grateful that our doctor just CARED so much. 

At 37 weeks my neonatologist took out my cerclage (a cerclage is where they surgically suture your cervix shut to prevent preterm delivery). As soon as it was taken out, my current OBGYN, Dr. Wester said that I was 1cm dilated, and that I should prepare myself in case I go into labor soon. So we flew our mother in law out to take care of Dannica once I’m at the hospital. Three days after she flew in, my water broke a little after midnight on Saturday 2/3. So DJ’s birth started very similarly to Dannica’s, but could not have gone more differently. 

It was close to 1AM when I finally got to the hospital. When I told the staff my doctor’s name, they told me that Dr. Wester was already there delivering another patient’s baby! We got to our room, and the nurse told us that Dr. Wester was informed of our arrival and that all precautions were already taken care of and set aside. He had reserved extra bags of blood in case I needed another transfusion, and requested the nurse to put in two PICCs should he need to pump blood into me as quickly as possible. 

Soon after he delivered the other patient’s baby, he came to see us…and he looked so tired… He had already been working all day, delivered a baby, and now it was 2 am. I was nervous he would put me in another doctor’s hands and have history repeat itself… Or have me induced to speed up the labor. But he checked how my cervix was progressing, said everything looked great and said that the baby will come when he is ready and then smiled at me. He left the room at which point I thought he left the hospital to go home and rest before he would be paged. But my nurse told me that he actually was in the hospital bed and waited all night just in case my labor would progress rapidly. 

When it was finally time to push, he was just so patient! I was barely given 30 minutes to push Dannica before they used the forceps. But he just let me take my time, and really coached me push by push all the way through. Before I knew it, I heard my baby cry, and then he was in my arms! The first thing I want to say is that, there is not one single moment in life that will equal (or even come close to) the exhilaration and love that will course through every cell of your body like that moment when you meet and hold your baby for the first time. The second thing is that, each time is just as spectacular as the first birth… that feeling does not diminish in any way. Just like Dannica’s–I felt my whole body, from the tips of my hair to the ends of my toes just freeze and explode. It felt like the whole universe expanded all around me, and at the same time I felt like he and I were the only ones in existence. It felt like all was SILENT, but at the same time explosions were going off left and right, all around us… I wanted to have that moment live on forever and ever. 

When the cloud of exhilaration dissipated, I looked up and saw all the many faces who helped deliver this little miracle to us, and I was just so overwhelmed with so much gratitude. My husband and I looked at our Doctor, and all we could say over and over again was “thank you, thank you, thank you…” 

When things calmed down and my doctor came back to check up on me, I could see the relief in his eyes having safely delivered my baby. I could tell he does not see his profession as a job, nor his clients as patients. He sees us as future mothers to babies who need them, daughters to parents who raised them, and wives to husbands who love them…Not as a job to get done, but a sacred passage that he conducts with the utmost respect and diligence. 

After what happened during Dannica’s birth, I am so blessed to have experienced the labor and delivery I prayed for. 

There are so many people my husband and I want to thank for the birth of our beautiful baby boy. Dr. William Schoolcraft from CCRM who helped me conceive and made it all possible from the beginning. Our neonatologist, Dr. Greg Lindsay from Obstetrix for overseeing my cerclage and helping me carry DJ to 37 weeks. To all the nurses at Rose Medical who helped me recover. To my dear friend Annie Sandhu who introduced me to the wonderful Dr. Robert Wester. And of course, to Dr. Wester himself from Midtown OBGYN. Who took me on as a patient, who was always there for us, who brought our baby safely into the world, and who we now consider a great and forever friend—we owe you a lifetime of gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts. 

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DANNICA’S BIRTH STORY

  • Jan 31, 2018

Dannica’s birth story has by far been the hardest thing I have ever written. I didn’t realize just how much emotional baggage I was carrying with me until now. I had a uterine inversion during my delivery, a rare obstetric emergency where the massive blood loss can cause hypovolemic shock and maternal death can reach 15%.

At 35 weeks my former Obgyn told me I was one cm dilated. At 36 weeks I lost my mucus plug, and just a few days later my water broke unexpectedly. Once I got to the hospital, my doctor told me that they will give me exactly six hours for my contractions to start naturally, but if nothing progresses during that timeline, they would have to induce me.

Thankfully, I started having contractions, and I was dilated to four cm after a few hours. But around 5PM my doctor left for the day, and introduced me to the on call OB. The on call doctor said that I wasn’t dilating fast enough and that she was concerned about my baby being inside for so long with no barrier against infections. So she gave me Pitocin to speed up the contractions.

When it was time to push, I was already in labor for close to 20 hours. After 30 minutes of pushing, the doctor said that my pushing was not effective, and that the baby was not positioned well to come out. So she said she will have to use the forceps or move on to a C-section. Everything from that moment on happened so fast. I’m so grateful that I had my doula in there with us because she recorded everything in terms of what happened at what time and what medicines were being administered.

The doctor used the forceps, and Dannica was in my arms in seconds. I felt my whole body, from the tips of my hair to the ends of my toes just freeze and explode. It felt like the whole universe expanded all around me, and at the same time I felt like she and I were the only ones in existence. I cannot even begin to describe the instantaneous love I had for her. I wanted to absorb every single part of her being, and just have that moment live on forever and ever. I was crying and laughing and shaking all at the same time.

And then the nightmare started. The doctor said that because I went into labor so early, my placenta was still firmly rooted to my uterus, and was not detaching properly. My doula said after 3-4 minutes of pushing, the doctor went in and started to manually scrape off the placenta and pull it out. My doula asked the doctor why my placenta was so big, and at that moment I heard the panic in the doctor’s voice. She told the nurse to grab the baby and to take David (my husband) out the room. She told the nurse to page the OR team, and to call the head anesthesiologist.

I remember the nurse ripping Dannica out of my arms. I remember my husband insisting that he wasn’t going anywhere. I remember frantically searching for my baby for one more look. But it was impossible to see either my baby or my husband. At that point the room was overcrowded with the OR team and carts full of medical equipment. And then I remember thinking–I am going to die. And then I felt strangely calm and at peace. I remember telling myself at that moment, I got to hold my daughter and she was so perfect. I got to be a mom and feel a mother’s love. And I have never ever felt so much love and happiness in my whole entire life as the moment when I first held Dannica in my arms.

I don’t remember too much after that because I blacked out from hemorrhaging. My doula, my husband, the nurses, and the doctors had to fill me in on everything that happened after I woke up several hours later. The doctor didn’t fully detach my placenta from the uterus and so when she pulled it out, she pulled out my uterus with it and my uterus flipped inside out–popping all the blood vessels. My uterus was on the floor, and I was openly hemorrhaging for several minutes before my doula mentioned that something didn’t look right to the doctor. That’s when she realized what happened and called the OR team in. I received blood transfusions and so much anesthesia and muscle relaxants (because they had to manually open up my already closed cervix and re-invert my uterus and insert it back in) that they had to messenger more medicine in from another hospital. When I woke up, I had IV needles up and down both arms, and my whole body could not stop shaking for hours. I was so angry, and frustrated, and deliriously exhausted.

Dannica under solar therapy for jaundice.

After several more hours, they brought Dannica in, and it is pretty amazing what love can do to heal the human heart and spirit. In the end, all that mattered was that I was with my baby. She is my miracle baby in very single way–from when she was just a little tiny poppy seed to her giving me life after birth to her now–every single day she has been my miracle baby. I thank God for this little-big miracle.

I did learn a few things from my first pregnancy, labor and delivery that I really want to share with other expecting mothers AND loved ones of expecting mothers. There are things we can all do to empower ourselves and to prepare for one of the most important experiences we will ever undergo–

  1. Visit several Obgyn clinics before settling on one. And within the clinic, be sure to meet with ALL the doctors because they fill in for each other constantly. I should have seen the red flags long before I went into labor with my former doctor and clinic, but I didn’t know any better because I didn’t have any basis for comparison. That’s why it is so important to visit several clinics and meet with several doctors.
  2. Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and ask questions in the delivery room. Just because you don’t have a medical degree doesn’t mean that your opinion doesn’t matter. This is your baby and your life. I let everyone around me steam roll me into decisions that I was not comfortable with and in hindsight, I’m still not sure it was the best for me.
  3. And MOST importantly, be sure that your doctor truly cares about YOU and your BABY. I know this sounds obvious, but I feel like it goes the most ignored. People look into C-section rates of clinics, or what the wait-list is like for a certain doctor, or how many awards the clinic or the doctor has received, but ALL that is secondary to how the doctor is as a person with YOU. Some things to consider–
    • How often do other doctors on the team fill in on your appointments? My former doctor only saw my five times my entire pregnancy even though I made the appointment with her at the time of booking, whereas my current doctor has seen me for every single appointment.
    • Does the doctor ever brush away your concerns or trivialize them?
    • How thorough is each visit? There are so many apps out there that prompts you on what to expect on upcoming prenatal visits. If any steps are skipped or overlooked, ask the doctor why, and if the answer does not satisfy you, see another OBGYN for a second opinion.
    • Is it the nurse who always calls you back with test results? Or does the doctor call you back?
    • If the doctor was referred to you by a person you know, ask her for her birthing story.

Being pregnant is a miracle, a privilege, and a blessing–A journey that will forever and ever change the very core soul of a person. Growing another tiny human is one of the greatest and most important responsibility a woman may ever take on. Those 9-10 months of growing that tiny little love should not be ruined by an apathetic or rushed doctor on delivery day. Giving birth is an honor, a sacred passage that ties ALL humankind, past and present, and is literally the key to our future. And each and every birth should be treated with such honor. I hope my experience can help and empower other expecting mothers conquer their labor and birthing experience. Sending you all love and prayers…

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DRESSING THAT BUMP

  • Jan 29, 2018

For my first pregnancy, I couldn’t justify spending so much money on clothes that I would wear for only a few months. So I had to get very…”creative” with how I dressed (think lots of wrap dresses and oversized sundresses).

With my second pregnancy, I just didn’t have the time nor the energy to alter and tweak my current wardrobe to fit my ever changing body. And they were just not that comfortable because they weren’t meant for a pregnant belly. SO, I decided to invest in a few basic and essential wardrobe items this time around. I am extremely particular, and a minimalist at heart, so it takes a LOT for me to commit to clothing items. That being said, these are the maternity shops and items that I fell absolutely in love with, and keep reaching for in my closet day in and day out.

Favorite Leggings: David Lerner Secret Fit Belly Maternity Leggings–It’s a pricey investment, but worth every single penny. The over the belly elastic band stays put and doesn’t ride down no matter how active you are. The leggings “sucks” you in on all the right places and smooths out all those pregnancy lumps and bumps. These leggings are also nice and thick so that they aren’t see through, but still thin enough that you don’t overheat.  And black leggings go with EVERYTHING, I cannot think of an item that is more indispensable in a closet than a pair of black maternity leggings.

Favorite Jeans: AG Secret Fit Belly Ankle Maternity Jeans–Another investment item, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE these over the belly jeans. The dark wash is so slimming and flattering, and the fabric is so soft…it is actually pajamas soft! You really just need one basic pair of maternity jeans, and you will want to live in these. Also goes with EVERYTHING.

Favorite Dress: Isabella Oliver Wrap Dress–I am a huge fan of wrap dresses in general, but especially more so when sporting a baby bump. It evolves with your bump, flatters you in all the right places, they are easy to put on, and are so versatile since you can dress it up or keep it casual with some simple accessories. I am wearing their wrap dress in black here, and I have linked the dress here.

Best Loungewear and Underwear: Gap Maternity–Just be sure to size up in their underwear!

Best Tops and Day Dresses: ASOS and Target

Best work outfits: Seraphine–Seraphine is quite popular with the British royals (think HRH Kate Middleton), and celebrities all over the world dress their bump in their maternity clothes. Rightfully so because their maternity clothes are amazing. I am wearing their black dress here, and I have linked the same dress here.

Best special occasion dresses: Tiffany Rose–They make lovely dresses for expecting brides, bridesmaids, or anyone else who needs something a little extra for a special night. I am wearing their Amelia dress in rouge here, and I have linked the same dress here.

I hope you will find this round up helpful when shopping for maternity clothes because I know that it isn’t easy dressing a growing bump!

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IT’S CRUNCH TIME – MUST HAVES FOR THE BIG DAY

  • Jan 24, 2018

With Dannica, I didn’t have time to pack anything because she decided to make her debut a month early. Everyone told me that your first comes late and that labor takes forever. So I just let the weeks go by and went on with life thinking I had more than enough time to prepare for labor and delivery. Then my water broke unexpectedly and I was rushed to the hospital with nothing packed…and BOY did I pay for that one. I vowed to never make the same mistake again. SO–here is a list of MUST HAVES to bring to the hospital. Small and basic items that will go a long, long way in a cold, sterile and unfamiliar environment.

FOR MOM

~Clothing~

  1. Comfy robe
  2. Granny underwear–the grannier the better because you will be wearing a glorified diaper for the first two days or so!!
  3. Nursing bra–I actually love the ones from Gap Maternity (very affordable, just be sure to size up!!)
  4. Nursing pad–I LOVE the ones by Bamboobies which you can purchase here. I swear by them over any of the disposable ones because they are so much more absorbent and soft. And that softness will matter more and more as you nurse.
  5. DARK MATERNITY sweatpants or leggings and shirts–your pregnant belly will still look pregnant right after birth, so maternity pants all the way! You will also find yourself very…”leaky,” so anything dark is the way to go 🙂
  6. Thick socks to lounge in
  7. Flip flops–for showers, etc
  8. Sneakers to go home in
  9. It’s really ALL about comfort after labor and delivery. You will not care about anything else but being comfortable so that you can zero in all your energy (the very little that you have) on baby and sleep.

~Toiletries~

  1. I am packing my regular sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash vs. the travel sized minis. There is something strangely comforting about using the same thing that you do at home in unfamiliar settings, and for me that is bath products. I just feel more me…before, during, and after. I was also at the hospital for over a week with Dannica, so the travel sized toiletries would have been useless.
  2. LIP BALM–for all the breathing exercises and laboring you will do
  3. Lotion–gets very dry in hospitals
  4. Massage oils–have your birthing partner massage your feet to help with labor
  5. Essential oils–highly recommend lavender scented ones to soothe and relax you
  6. Nipple cream–I LOVE the ones by MotherLove which you can get here. I’ve tried several different brands, and I just find this one head and shoulders better than the rest out there.
  7. Maxi pads–thick overnight ones!
  8. HAIR TIES!! Lots and lots. Nothing more annoying than having your hair be in the way when you’re laboring or trying to do skin to skin with your precious newborn baby!

~MISC~

  1. Cell and charger
  2. Breast pump and parts–the lactation consultants can show you how to use your own pump and how to clean them! I’m using the Medela and LOVE it. Be sure to apply for one through insurance because most insurance covers breast pumps, and you can get one for FREE!

FOR BABY

Onsie, going home outfit, bonnet, mittens, booties, swaddle, blanket and pacifier.

FOR BIG SISTER

And for those of you who already have a little one at home, and thinking of presenting a small gift to her from their new sibling, I made a little gift bundle for Dannica that I wanted to share with you in case you were looking for ideas as well. My friend told me that she read that the emotional distress a child feels when watching his/her mother love another baby is worse than when a woman finds her significant other with another lover! That really put things in perspective, and made me more compassionate and understanding for all the times that Dannica got upset when I held another baby.

I also read that when your child first walks into the hospital room, that it is huge if someone else besides the mom is holding the baby. So for the first meeting, I plan on having my husband hold our baby so that I can hug and give all my love and attention to Dannica first. Then once she’s settled in and feels safe, I will have my husband bring our baby to her for their introduction. This is when we will probably give the gift basket to her “from baby brother,” and ask her if she wants to “hold him.” I read that this order is also important…that the older sibling holds the baby before the mom. This is all in theory and who knows how it will go down in real life. It might go exactly as planned, or it might just be complete and utter mayhem/zoo (the latter is what I’m expecting). But, it was still informative to read so that my husband and I can try to be as prepared as possible (expecting that things WILL of course go wrong hahaha).

For now, we gathered a few items here and there to help ease the transition and to help Dannica feel like a proud and loving sister.

  1. Book–Little Big Girl by Claire Keane
  2. Book–Little Miss, Big Sis by Amy Rosenthal
  3. Cuddle + Kind Doll–we are giving her the smaller Noah
  4. Solly Dolly Wrap–to “wear” Noah as her baby so she can twin with me when I use my Solly wrap
  5. Mabo PJs–matching/coordinating PJs because Dannica LOVES twinning with me and her Hazel Village dolls (so hopefully this will help her bond with baby brother)…and also Mabo just has amazing organic pajamas and you can never have to many PJs!

I hope this was somewhat helpful to all the mamas out there! We are all on this crazy, wild, magnificent and magical journey together–and I found it most helpful by just listening and talking to other moms about their real life experiences, and so I wanted to do the same. Wishing all the expectant moms out there a safe and smooth labor and delivery, and sending you all a whole lot of love and positive vibes!

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VALENTINE’S DAY WITH DANNICA

  • Jan 21, 2018
VALENTINE’S DAY WITH DANNICA
HOME, LIFESTYLE, MINISTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

It’s a day dedicated to celebrating all things LOVE, and we couldn’t be more excited! Last year, Dannica (and Bella) and I made homemade Valentine’s Day cards, baked cookies, decorated the whole house with fresh flowers, and ate lots of chocolates. These photos below are from last year, and it is giving me ALL THE FEELS! I can’t believe how much they GROW and develop when they are so young! She was just 18 months here, and didn’t really understand the full meaning of Valentine’s Day.

This year, in addition to baking cookies and making homemade cards and gifts for our loved ones, I wanted to gather a few items here and there to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my little girl (last “holiday” before baby’s arrival!). I just had to share some of them in case anyone else was looking for ideas to give something a little extra to their little babes as well!

FOR THE GIFT BASKET

~Fancy Free Finery Valentine’s Day inspired flower clips and headbands

~The Whimsical Woolies Valentine’s Day inspired wool necklaces and garlands

~Cuddle + Kind Dolls, hand knit heirloom dolls that also gives back to children in need

~Wunderkin Co will launch Valentine’s Day inspired socks by Collegien and they are SO cute (available January 23)!

~And of COURSE the dollar spot at Target where you will ALWAYS find something perfect!!

FOR THE BOOKSHELF – BOOKS ABOUT FEELINGS AND LOVE

~LOVE MONSTER– A lonely monster finds love when he least expects it!

~IN MY HEART– All about the different and complex emotions that a child may feel, described in a way that toddlers can relate to and understand.

~PLANT A KISS– simple and timeless tale about love by the famous children’s author Amy Rosenthal.

~LOVE IS A TUTU– an instant classic AND a favorite for any young girls taking their first ballet classes. Dannica loves recognizing all the dance steps and moves.

~LOVE IS A TRUCK– a follow up book to the run away hit “LOVE IS A TUTU”, this book is just as adorable and fun to read!

~THE COLOR MONSTER– a beautiful pop up book that teaches young toddlers all about their feelings in terms of colors. This book is a MUST. It is so beautiful and interactive and toddlers gravitate towards the simple yet effective story line.

Dannica, Bella and I hope everyone has the most love filled Valentine’s Day yet!

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WELCOME HOME BABY

  • Jan 15, 2018

We are down to the wire and the countdown to baby Chung’s arrival has begun! It’s hard to believe that in just five weeks, we will be bringing home another tiny little human being. I’ve been in crazy nesting mode and wanted to post a round up of some of my favorite finds for baby Chung’s winter arrival that I am sure any newborn babe (and mom) will LOVE and make it an extra cozy and warm welcome for baby.

Cuddle + Kind dolls–hand knit heirloom dolls that are like the cuddliest companion for your newborn babe. Each doll purchased also provides ten meals to children in need.

Snuggle Me Organic baby lounger–like sleeping in a fluffy cloud. This baby lounger just hugs your baby all nice and cozy in the yummiest way.

Little Unicorn swaddles–luxurious cotton and muslin swaddle that are breathable and beautiful. You will want to stock up on these essentials!

Plum and Sparrow moses basket–goes hand in hand with the baby lounger mentioned above to create the perfect little cocoon and haven for your babe.

Solly Wrap–the softest and most beautifully designed and made baby wraps. It is so much more breathable and natural to wear your small newborn baby with a Solly Wrap than a traditional baby carrier (although those are great later on when they’re older and heavier!)

Briar Handmade Bonnets–ethically and beautifully made in America, these bonnets not only will keep baby warm, but are so adorable!

Natursutten pacifier–high quality all natural rubber pacifier that will soothe the fussiest of babe.

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TRANSITIONING DANNICA INTO HER TODDLER BED

  • Dec 28, 2017

Dannica was never an easy baby, even from day one…I will share her birth story another time (NOT for the faint of heart), but let’s just say that I really thought I was one and done after her! She was so colicky her first six months of life that when I look back, it all seems like one long endless blur of her fussing, crying and shrieking. Four hour crying sessions were a daily norm, and we even ended up in the ER twice because she cried so hard that she completely stopped breathing to the point where her body turned purple.

Before I had her, I read volumes upon volumes of books on newborn care, and my husband and I went to several “Baby 101” classes. I wouldn’t say it was a waste of time, but nothing can really prepare you for a real live baby. All baby rearing rules and rationale went out the window once Dannica was in our arms, and I just followed my instinct on what I felt was best for her. I didn’t have the heart to let her cry it out (especially when she was crying all day long already) and we ended up co-sleeping with Dannica until she was 2 years old. Her beautiful crib in her beautiful nursery stayed spick and span new and collected copious amounts of dust. Interestingly enough, this was the ONE rule that I really thought my husband and I would never ever break. This just goes to show how humbling of an experience parenthood is. You think you are in control, until you realize that’s the farthest from the truth. You think you got a handle on things, until you’re thrown a wicked curveball. And you think you’ve prepared for the worst, until you realize how naive you were to even think in such limited capacities.

SO. Months went by. And then we found out we were expecting! And we realized we really had to let Dannica grow up. I ended up absolutely loving her being in bed with me, but it would just not be practical once baby brother came and I had to nurse him every two hours. So we decided to bite the bullet and transition her straight away into a toddler bed.

The first thing we did was to makeover her playroom, which was far more familiar and safe to her than her unused nursery. And we paid careful attention when making over her room to ensure the smoothest transition possible (read about her big girl bedroom makeover here).  We planned and thought through every detail–nothing was left to chance. Then we made a HUGE fanfare about her special room and her special bed, and how incredibly lucky she was to get such an amazing bed that looked just like mommy and daddy’s.

For the actual sleeping, we started out with ONLY naps. We made sure that we got her nice and tired to the point where she could fall asleep just about anywhere.  She still put up the biggest fight–she cried and screamed. So my husband napped right next to her on the floor beside her bed. He did it again the next day. And then by the third day, she happily climbed into bed herself! We stuck to just the naps for a full week before we even attempted sleeping her overnight.

The first night was awful. She cried and screamed again. So my husband slept the entire night on the floor right next to her. He did that for a few days. And then when she stopped crying altogether, he slept right by the door, further away from her. For a few nights, she kept climbing out of her bed and walking over to my husband, hugging him and asking him to sleep next to her. But she wasn’t crying so he just held his ground and would walk her back to her bed each time she climbed out. Then after that, he slept right outside her bedroom door on the wooden floor, and THIS was the BIGGEST surprise of all. She was completely fine by then!! She told him to close her door. My husband sat by the door (for what seemed like forever), and then cracked it open. When he peered inside, Dannica was fast asleep, softly snoring away. And she didn’t come out of her bed until the following morning when she toddled over to our room and said, “Nana woke up! Nana slept in big girl bed!!!!” And she’s been sleeping there ever since!!!

Now, I don’t think this will work for all toddlers. The ONLY common ground that all children share is that they are all different with different needs. I just wanted to share what worked for us. Little tips that I think worked for us: 1. We waited until we could “reason and talk to her” 2. We started out with naps only 3. We took little tiny baby steps 4. We kept everything else consistent (that’s why it was always my husband sleep training her instead of us taking turns) 5. Trust your instinct and gut!

And at the end of the day, they won’t be in your bed forever. So enjoy and soak in this time when they still want to be little and loved on!

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DANNICA’S BIG GIRL BEDROOM

  • Dec 17, 2017
DANNICA’S BIG GIRL BEDROOM
HOME, LIFESTYLE, MINISTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

It honestly feels like yesterday that I was planning and designing Dannica’s nursery–spending hours upon hours on pinterest boards, and pouring over hundreds of different kinds of cribs, beddings, dressers, etc. Little did I know that she would spend zero time in her actual nursery because she co-slept with us since she was born (figures, right?!).

And now here I am, “scrapbooking” her new big girl bedroom! We decided to change her playroom into her new bedroom instead of transforming her nursery because Dannica LOVED her playroom, and we wanted her big girl bedroom to be a space where she felt safe and familiar in. With that said, I didn’t want to make too many changes to it, because then it would defeat the whole purpose of the room being familiar to her. I decided to switch out her former lounge space/reading nook where her teepee was into her new sleeping quarters, and then to create a new reading corner next to her mounted bookshelf.

With that configuration in mind, I scoured high and low for the perfect toddler bed that would convert into a twin bed. I knew I wanted to start with a toddler bed vs. a twin or full sized bed because I wanted it to feel as cozy as possible. I also knew I didn’t want to make the same mistake of spending a fortune on a bed that she might end up hating (like her crib that she never slept in), so we wanted to purchase something that we can easily change without feeling like we were losing a fortune. In the end we found this darling bed from IKEA. You can convert it from a toddler bed into a twin sized bed, it sits very low to the ground, is mess-proof (Dannnica has a tendency to draw on furniture), and so affordable! We bought the matching mattress and plain white bed sheets from IKEA that grows with it as well. And we are so glad we did this vs. investing on an expensive name brand mattress (again like we did with her crib=first time mommy mistakes) because…ahem…potty training. And to finish off her bedding, we found a simple yet feminine quilt and pillow sham from Pottery Barn Kids.

For that extra cozy feel, I found this beautiful canopy by Numero 74 (which you can purchase here). And the canopy was the perfect little transition for her bed to mimic her little teepee. Dannica’s lullaby of choice is “Twinkle, twinkle, little star,” and I thought putting up little stars or twinkle lights would subliminally clue her in for bedtime and soothe her. It might sound like a stretch, but even after 2 weeks of sleeping in her room, she still sings “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” before she drifts off to sleep!! I went back and forth between putting up star wall decals vs. fairy lights, and in the end went for the star wall decals (available from Urban Walls). But, this was mostly for safety reasons, and as she grows up, we may change things up a bit.

Last but not least, you may know by now (from previous posts and on IG) that I am a huge fan of texture and textiles. So I found these adorable star pillows from Numero 74 (available here) to tie in with her constellation themed bed, and then reused her IKEA rugs that used to be inside her teepee for a more affordable and kid-friendly version of a rug (easier to replace in pieces and wash in case of messes than a large rug).

***For other product sources in her room, you can find all detailed information here in my previous post.***

***I have also included a little video tour of Dannica’s new big girl bedroom–click link below***

Click here for video of Dannica’s bedroom

Creating this little space in her little room was extremely emotional and bittersweet. I don’t want to chalk it up just to pregnancy hormones either. Rather, I think it is because oftentimes, these material changes hold deeper and more emotional meanings when  it comes to our children. Whether it be clothes or furniture or toys, they are all changes that signify, “Hey! Your baby is growing up!” I hope you find some inspiration from this posts for those of you who are also transitioning your toddlers into big girl beds and taking that next big step. And for those of you who aren’t quite there yet, enjoy every second of all things baby because, they grow up all too fast!

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR LITTLES

  • Dec 4, 2017
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR LITTLES
HOME, LIFESTYLE, MINISTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

It is so overwhelming shopping for little ones these days. The choices are endless and the pricetags…hefty!! Here are a few items that we already own, and are loved and adored by my daughter (with the exception of the Banwood bike because that is her Christmas present this year!!). Hopefully, this list will help narrow down that Christmas shopping list for all the babies and kiddos in your world!

***Most of the products listed below can be found with a simple google search or on Amazon. I have linked the few items that are more specific/harder to find for your convenience.***

STOCKING STUFFERS

Wunderkin Bows–Handmade heirloom bows, ethically made in USA.

Pitchoun Designs–Handmade leather bows, ethically made in USA.

Lovely Felt–Handmade felt accessories, ethically made in USA.

Books–Pick a Pine Tree (for MORE of our favorite Christmas books please click here!)

Washi Tapes–Beautiful tapes that provide a fun/creative outlet for children to decorate (bonus is that they are mess free).

Hazel Village Dolls–Soft plush dolls, ethically made in USA (comes along with the most adorable accessories ever!)

Artstix Crayons–High quality crayons that are rich in color, but doesn’t leave any mess behind because they are wax based. They are also square shaped so they don’t roll off tables or underneath furniture! 😉

Little Light Feet–Adorable and well made knee socks.

ANYTHING from the dollar section at Target. Honestly that area is such a goldmine of goodness!

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CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Cuddle and Kind Dolls–Handmade heirloom dolls that are soft and plush, but also give back to children in need.

Chalk Full of Designs–Chalkboards teaching children their alphabets, numbers, and more.

Heart shaped Ukulele–Perfect size for your little ones to use as guitars! (This particular heart shaped one, I bought here. It always sells out so I would hurry!)

IKEA Duktig Play Kitchen–Children’s play kitchen that can be easily hacked and transformed into a dream kitchen with all the bells and whistles. The post to our own IKEA hack can be found here.

Banwood Bikes–Incredibly well made and beautifully designed strider bikes that will teach children basic concept of balance and riding.

Wicker Pram–Beautifully crafted stroller, perfect size for those mini Cuddle + Kind or Hazel Village animal dolls. This particular one that we have below can be found here.

Schylling Metal Speedster Fire Truck–Great for small toddlers to ride on, but also makes for a beautiful addition to any boys’ room! (I found one for baby Chung at a vintage shop in Crested Butte, but you can also purchase one here!)

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CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO SPLURGE ON

Plantoys Dollhouse–A dreamy Victorian dollhouse that is incredibly well made and easy to assemble (took me less than 15 minutes).

Hearth and Hand Tool Kit Station–Beautifully designed workshop/wood station.

Shop Little Wanderer’s Teepee–Sturdy and well made teepee providing your little ones a cozy spot to relax and read.

Wooden Honey Bake Cafe & Shop–Wonderful little marketplace that will provide hours of entertainment and fun!

Outdoor Playhouse–Every kid’s dream! The post to the one that we have and fixed up can be found here.

We try our very best to shop conscientiously, and most of these products are responsibly and ethically produced or sourced by small shops. Most importantly, I believe that each of these products will foster an endless array of wonderful memories for children, and encourage them to play creatively, actively, and freely. At the end of the day, Christmas gifts should really inspire childlike wonder and encourage them to be true to themselves! Wishing you and your loved ones a most magical holiday season full of love and laughter!

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