Olivia’s first

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

Here’s the reason I’ve been lagging on my blog posts for the past month. I was been busy making decorations, baking a cake and cookies and organizing details for Olivia’s first birthday party, which was on Sunday. Her actual birthday is tomorrow, meaning that as I write this, it was exactly one year ago that I was in labour. Crazy.

Here are some of my favourite moments from the party, as well as some of the details/decor (yes, I succumbed to the powers of Pinterest and party blogs).

Special thanks to Joanna Kam, my talented friend/coworker who designed the labels and gave me so many great ideas, like the cute favour bags. Check out her amazing blog here: joannakam.wordpress.com

I saw a sign like this on some party blog and fell in love instantly. It was super easy to make and set the tone of the entire room.

I cut fringed layers of tissue paper and glued them onto regular party hats in rows.

Personalized water bottles, pink lemonade and striped straws.

Sweet corn. Takes about five minutes to make and it's delish.

Call me crazy but I really wanted to bake Olivia's first birthday cake. It turned out pretty well. It was lemon with buttercream icing and fondant. Even though my kitchen is still recovering from the traumatic mess I caused, I don't regret making this.

Maybe the candy table wasn't the healthiest option. Every single kid made a beeline for it and it was practically empty by the end. Rookie mistake.

Easy appetizer that tastes as good as it looks.

Daddy's girl

Elmo made an appearance (see left) and someone wanted to dance.

She totally grabbed the handle of the knife. Crazy kid.

Having a giggle with her two older cousins.

Posted in First birthday, Party | 3 Comments

11 month update

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

Can I just start off by saying what a riot our Olivia has become? Her personality is budding and as a result, our daily laughter quota is, too. I’m in complete awe of this sweet little girl of mine for so many reasons. She’s starting to really communicate, mostly pointing to things she’s interested in, wants to see, touch, eat, etc. She’s more vocal than ever, squealing and laughing all day long. She loves to use her gestures like waving, clapping loudly, blowing kisses, big hugs, open-mouth kisses and raising her arms to “dance”. If there are any other kids around, it’s a given that she’ll be all over them, trying to kiss or touch them. While she isn’t walking yet, she is climbing and standing so I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time now. I can’t say I’m in a hurry for that stage.

Taking still photos are becoming harder these days but I do manage to get a few here and there. How else can I document her crazy hair growth, new teeth (there are four so far!) or hilarious facial expressions? Here are a few pics from yesterday, all dressed up for a birthday party. She’s wearing a blouse from Baby Graziella and a dress gifted from Baby Gap (thanks, Rose).

Posted in 11 months old, baby style, baby update, outfit of the week | 3 Comments

Far and away

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

I’ve been away from my little girl for a couple of days and won’t see her until Friday and it’s killing me. And so, this happened (yesterday).

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Posted in baby gifts, random baby thoughts | Leave a comment

Us

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

Olivia and I were featured in the newest issue of Bella Child Magazine, an impossibly cute, online fashion and design mag for wee ones. Check it out here: http://issuu.com/bellachildmag/docs/bellachildspring2012_finaledition/69

Big thanks to the talented editorial team! We had a blast.

 

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A quick update and some past outfits of the week

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

I’m already into my fourth week back to work and yay, we all survived, well, except for the blog, which is now on life support. Sheesh. Parenting and a full-time job really is like working a double-overtime shift with no break in sight except for sleep, of course. But even that’s way too short-lived these days. Who needs an alarm when you have a squealing wake-up call every morning at 6 A.M?

The good news is that Olivia is thriving. She doesn’t seem to miss me at all and even waves me off goodbye each and every morning. No crying outbursts, fists banging on the floor – nada. I expected more drama, not going to lie. I think I was worse off than she was, to tell you the truth.

To help myself cope with not being around as often, I’ve really been trying to live in the moment, hence the lack of posts and pictures of adorable outfits. Here are the few I did manage to take over the past few weeks.

Onesie: H&M (boys section); Tutu: Old Navy

Dress: Gifted (thanks, LC!)

Dress: Baby Graziella

Posted in baby style, baby update | 6 Comments

Nine-month update

Posted on December 31, 2011 by

I’ve been delaying this post for a couple of reasons. One, being denial (I’ll explain later, see below), and the other kinda silly: I left my camera, with almost all of my holiday photos on it, at someone’s house and haven’t got it back yet. I did manage to take a few phone snaps of O “reading” a Christmas book, sporting her new elf bib (thanks, K!), tearing open a present from her stocking, a few of her fave new toys and gifting her very first present: a framed pic of herself – natch. All in all, it was a beautiful holiday season and O was thrilled for three days’ worth of present-opening.

You know what else she’s into? Everything. Not even exaggerating. We had to put up a gate already, lower her crib to the lowest level because she’s almost standing, and block her from things like the Christmas tree, since she pulled all of the lights off the bottom tier, as well as a few unfortunate ornaments that met their untimely demise. It’s amazing to watch someone so little make such a huge mess, but you really can’t help but laugh.

And laugh we do – constantly. When she waves hi, tugs at the back of my pants when I’m in the kitchen (read: not paying attention to her), gets into the open dishwasher to explore, gives big, wide-open-mouth kisses, as well as to her own reflection in our mirrored vanity that’s now covered in tiny fingerprints, makes lip-smacking sounds when she’s hungry and “sings” or babbles along when she hears you singing.

Her word of choice is still “dada” but new additions are, “ya, hi and duck.” Yeah, I’m still holding out for mama, but I think it’s coming because she started saying, “mmm” when I feed her things she likes: spiced apple sauce with her oatmeal, shepherd’s pie, and fruit. She also started feeding herself, and I use this term lightly, things like bread, pieces of cucumber cut lengthwise, Cheerios, and blueberries. Most ends up on the floor and on her face but that’s how they learn, right?

And now for an update on me (and my denial):

I recently made the tough decision to return to work early, (I start Tuesday!), from maternity leave. I won’t go in to too much detail, but I do feel it’s the right choice for both my family and myself. I’ll miss my little O, but she’ll be in good hands (her dad’s), and that definitely lessens the blow of missing out on three whole extra months with her.

Posted in baby gifts, baby update, Christmas, Nine months old | Leave a comment

Outfit of the week

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

Well, this is half of an outfit, at least. I chose to snap a few pics of my wee girl for some holiday photo cards in a (gasp!) non-traditional holiday outfit. Upon showing it to my own mum, she immediately asked why I didn’t choose a more festive outfit. Mothers, huh? It’s not that I’m against red tartan or green velvet for this time of year, it’s just a little safe in my book. I’ll put those dresses to good use for the many dinners/get-togethers we’ll be attending. But for now, and for the sake of a more modern holiday greeting, let us all worship at the house of hot-pink tulle. Headband: Baby Gap, Tutu: Old Navy

Posted in baby style, outfit of the week | 4 Comments

We’re back + 8-month update

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

Sorry I’ve been MIA over the past couple of weeks. I really did have the best intentions of doing a post or two from Aruba, where we were vacationing, but laziness and a terribly-slow internet connection won in the end, and so here we are, weeks later.

Overall, baby O was okay. I have to admit that the first few days were rough and pretty much the opposite of paradise, thanks to a cold, cutting a new tooth and getting used to different sleeping arrangements, but since we had 14 whole days there, she eventually settled and we were able to have some fun.

I’d have to say that the best parts of the trip were also the simplest. Bringing our baby in the ocean for the first time, letting her explore in the sand, wading through the pool in our arms and seeing her little legs kick with such excitement and vigor, watching her flirt with everybody, (little kids and other babies got the most attention) and then dining alongside her at night; she, in a high chair to feel incl., and us in a constant daze about how fast she’s growing. We couldn’t believe our eyes when she devoured bread from the table and wanted to drink from our glasses.

The trip wasn’t without some stress, however. Trying to get her to sleep on the plane (and in my arms) was really trying. I also didn’t take to getting up super early (and often throughout the night) so luckily my husband owned the 6-7AM shift so I could catch the extra ZZZs. But probably the most difficult part was making her balanced meals in a hotel suite with no kitchen. Since she refused the jarred baby food I had brought, I had to go with plan B, which meant using the portable cooking range to make all of her food. We scored a mini fridge so at least that helped and avocados and bananas became our best friends during the day.

This little face is now 8-months-old. She can clap (well, there’s no sound but you get the idea), says “baba” and “dada”, crawls forward and gets into things like bags, drawers, etc., and under furniture, uses her weight (and whatever is handy, like a chair) to try and get up, has learned how to shake her (new) maracas, bounces to music and has discovered her pointer fingers, which she uses to stick in my mouth, up my nose, to pick up Cheerios and try to get them into her mouth. She’s pretty much my must-see TV these days.

Posted in baby adventures, baby update, eight months old, Vacation | 2 Comments

Outfit of the week

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

This is how I like do girly. It’s deliberate and selective without being too much, you know? I love to juxtapose unexpected details like a frilly collar peeking out from underneath a striped sweater from the boys’ section. Yes, the bow is a little OTT but it’s needed to tame the mane on my little miss. Sweater: Baby Gap, skirt: Joe Fresh (thanks, S!), frilly onesie and tights: H&M, bow: Moms To Be and More (can’t remember the brand name, sorry).

 

Posted in baby gifts, baby style, fall fashion, outfit of the week | 3 Comments

Month seven

Posted on November 3, 2011 by

I’m just going to go ahead and say it. So far, this age is my very favourite. It’s a lot less scary than the newborn stage (even with a few tumbles) and way more fun than the three-month mark when games didn’t ignite the response that they do now. And, it feels like baby O does something new and exciting every single day. Today? Reaching out her arms to be picked up. Yesterday? Stirring a spoon inside of a bowl (I kid you not). Don’t get me wrong, I’ll continue to wistfully look at her old photos from time to time (or all the time, who am I kidding?), but I’m also enjoying each day while looking forward to the ones after them.

Some things she does that make us laugh: the way she backs away when you come near her with a facecloth, tries to drink out of a cup (not sippy), shimmies across the floor backwards and sideways (never forward), smacks her lips and then sticks her tongue out when eating, grabs other peoples’ faces, squirms out of our hands, rotates her ankles (constantly!), has conversations, tears apart a magazine in three seconds and refuses to lay down nicely so you can change her diaper.

Some things that make her laugh: my feet, peekaboo, dolls, anyone dancing, hair in her face (mine), air blowing in her face, songs, the Jumperoo, being lifted in the air, bouncing on our knees, peeking into her basket of toys, waking up too soon, and her own reflection.

Some things that make her cry: getting stuck under furniture, the sound of me blending anything, toys being taken from her in music class (happens every time), getting dressed after a bath, strangers, other babies who cry/scream and falling down from a seated position (only if we make a big deal about it).

Here are a few pics from yesterday in our kitchen. I was making (or at least trying to) her apple sauce. She had other plans. First she dragged the bowl closer to her, grabbed an apple and started sucking on it, put it back, then grabbed another, and so on. She ended up with one in each hand. Her last expression is all, “Don’t even think about taking these away from me.”

Posted in baby update, seven months old | 2 Comments