**Wishlists!**

Hi Friends!

I've been wanting to post Isla's Favorite things from 3-6 Months as well as my favorite books for Photographers...what better way to do that than in a 'Christmas Wishlist' post! 

Here are our wish lists and Isla's favorite things over the last couple months--maybe they'll help give you some ideas for the kiddos on your list :) 

Isla's 3-6 month books/apps Wish List

1. Caspar Babypants: We are big Beatles fans and CB's latest CD is Isla's current favorite jam. Seriously you can't go wrong with any of his CD's. If you were wondering...yes, he is part of Presidents of the United States (circa early 90's :) 

2. Jewel: Another fave. I credit this CD for soothing Isla while we were stuck in traffic for 3 hours. Jewel's magic. 

3. Best Baby Monitor: Pairs with your iPhone and iPad or 2 apple devices. The best $4 I've ever spent. 

4. I like to call these 3 books Isla's bedtime reading trifecta- these are her 3 favorites. I love that Isla is starting to mimic the animal noises we practice with "Time for Bed."

5. Isla's been a big fan of Susan Boynton board books for months. Opposites is short and sweet. love!

6. Snuggle Puppy has been a favorite since the beginning. Seriously- buy it. k

7. Isla's currently into activity books like "Pat the Bunny" and "Where is Baby's Belly Button" flap book. Favorites!

Isla's 3-6 month toys & goodies!

1. Twilight Turtle: This is part of our nighttime routine and she's really been into it lately now that she can tote it around and shine the stars on herself. 

2. B. Soft Blocks: Isla's played with these since she was really little and she uses the bag as a purse. 

3. Ugg 'bixbee' booties: These are Isla's most current purchase for winter and we love them. She hates shoes and keeps these on fairly well ... they do have Velcro so if you're kid is aggressive about shoes they may not work. Regardless, they are the cutest! 

4. Boon Spoon: This is completely key for feeding baby on-the-go! 

5. Bowling Monkeys: Kids love these--they are the perfect size to carry around. Isla doesn't bowl with hers- she just packs one around...I find them hiding out everywhere. 

6. Bla Bla Fox (mini): Isla loves her mini Bla Bla knit fox. He's her little bedtime friend. I can't tell you how many times I've gone in to sooth her in the middle of the night and she's been clinging to Sox who gets rocked back to sleep too :) 

7. Doodlepants: Seriously these are the cutest! There is nothing cuter than a little diaper butt in these pants! I got mine on Zulily for half price--be on the look out. The cat print is my favorite for girls!

8. Green Toys Stacker: Isla has loved this toy since she was pretty young. It's a great learning toy and sturdy enough for the teething phase. 

9. Organic Zoo : I love Organic Zoo's organic onesies--they are SO soft and perfect for lounging. Splurge and go organic for a onesie or two for your little one. They're the best to cuddle in. 

10. The Sleep Sheep: This is sold by the same company as the Twilight Turtle and I purchased it after Isla was born and she responded well to the white noise machine. It's perfect for the stroller and car seat--the best for travel! It even turns into a fun stuffed animal because you can remove the noise maker. 

11. Suction bowl: Key for little finger food eaters who love nothing more than throwing their bowl on the floor. Isla's a re-offender and a suction bowl is my new best friend! 

Isla's 2013 Christmas Wish List

1. Plui bath toy : I hear rave reviews!

2. Kidkraft Kitchen: My Niece, Grace LOVES this kitchen and it's apparently a total lifesaver for Mom's who need an extra minute. I can't wait to get Isla the kitchen in cherry red! 

3. Green Bath toys: A girl can never have too many bath toys

4. Begin Again Puzzle: I'm obsessed with the ABC animal puzzle. I love this brand!

5. Begin Again worm: A perfect stocking stuffer!

6. AmLit Books: I love these board books. They are all based on classics but are short and sweet versions that teach colors, numbers, letters, etc. 

My Wish List!

1. Black Rapid Camera Strap: My good friend has one of these and after seeing it in action I realized it was key to simplifying sessions--especially weddings! I can't wait to get my hands on one!

2. Dot Complicated: I heard about this book on the Today show. The author is the Sister of Mark Zuckerberg and I was so interested in the interview I had to read it! I really think we need to consider educating our kids to have a healthy relationship with technology- including when to unplug their lives!

3. Einstein Never Used Flashcards: Highly recommended by Parents Magazine. 

4. Parenthood Listography: I high jacked this idea from my BFF's, Amazon wish list but if you know me I'm the ultimate list maker and this was right up my alley! 

5. Parents Magazine: Of all the parenting mags I got subscriptions to when I was prego Parents was by far the best. 

6. Shutter Hugger: After being told by a 4 year old earlier this week that she was only letting me take "3 photos" I decided to take a chance and see if I have any luck with this. I figure it'll work on babies at least :) 

7. Simplicity Parenting: Less is more. I can't wait to read this. 

8. Tretorn Rainboots: They come in fun colors and have warm lining. Serious no-brainer. They've been on my list for 4 years- it's seriously time. 

9. A bundt pan: I'm turning into my Mother :) 

The Photographer's Library Wish List

1. Fine Art Weddings: I love this book because the Author Jose Villa is an amazing Photographer (who uses film no less!) but I love that you can use his techniques in any shoot. He uses natural light and a really no-nonsense approach. His work is just breathtaking.

2. Luminous Portrait: Another talented Photog, Elizabeth Messina, who made a breathtaking book. The pictures are so-so pretty. You just want to live in that gorgeous, flattering light forever! I got this last year for Christmas and still browse through it. Her advice on lighting and working with clients is great. 

3. Understanding Exposure: The perfect gift for the beginning Photographer. Basic with some more advanced approaches....like the art of getting a perfect 'panning' shot. I'm still working on that. I love Peterson's approach and tone in the book. His shutter speed book is great too. 

4. Design Aglow posing guide for Families: I love this 'idea' book for fun sessions. They also have one coming out for weddings. Fun to browse!

Enjoy all the ideas! Hope they help! 

xo. 

S

PS- If you're buying for a Mama-to-be you can find my 'Prego Essentials' List HERE. Seriously- these items are tried and true! She will love you.

If you're buying for a New-Mom or for a baby shower check out my baby must-haves HERE. There are some seriously good items on this list--ones I couldn't have made it without! 

video

I saw this on the Today show and had to find the full video--seriously, take a minute and watch this...it will make the 'grinchiest' of hearts rejoice with Christmas cheer. I cried twice in it- twice!

enjoy!

See it HERE!

Our December Bucket List with baby :)

Hi Friends!

We're busy checking items off our Holiday Bucket List -- such fun!

What's on your list for December?

1. Visit Santa 

2. Wild Lights @ Woodland Park Zoo: We always have done Point Defiance Zoo's ZooLights so we're excited to check out something new.

3. See Santa arrive and light up the Christmas Tree at Country Village (Tonight!!)

4. Jingle Bell Run (Tomorrow! We're gonna freeze- brrrr! :)

5. Peppermint mocha

6. Sugar cookies! Isla loves the cookie cutters- can't wait to do this with her :)

7. Decorate Tree with Isla and B: She was a big fan of the beaded garland (it's SO LOUD!)

8. Personalized Stockings 

From Pottery Barn & PB Kids :) 

9. Finish shopping by the 16th!! Too optimistic? :)

10. Leavenworth Lighting Festival - This is our gift to each other! We can't wait to experience the Lighting Festival with Isla-she's going to love it :)

11. Personalized Isla Ornament (New Traditions!)

12. Countdown ornament--so fun! We play it in the morning and evening :) 

13. Christmas books for Isla and Holiday DVD's for Mom&Dad

14. Bellevue Botanical Garden 

15. Christmas PJ's

I hope you are having a great holiday season! 

xoxo. 

S

Holidays

There is some serious holiday magic going on over here. 

I know everyone says holidays with kids are 100 times better because you get to witness all of the holiday magic all over again....you get to be a kid again! It's so true--even more true than I was prepared for.

 I am obsessive about Christmas...it's slightly embarrassing. The house is always decorated the day after Thanksgiving, getting the boxes out to decorate makes me giddy, turning on White Christmas for Isla for the first time made my heart double in size, one of my criteria when we house hunt is 'how good it will look in Christmas lights' (don't tell B ;)....gah!! ...so much sugar-coated, peppermint scented, evergreen flocked glory...makes me want to sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" from the rooftop and do a little "snow dance" to beckon the white stuff to come hither- bring it on! I welcome a White Christmas! 

Here is a little snapshot of our holiday magic...and it's only the 6th--YES, I WIN! :) 

1. Our "naked" tree 

Decorated!!

2. Isla's first look at Christmas Lights (my heart just stopped-- look at that face! :)

3. Christmas PJ's! 

4. Really loud Christmas garland. She loved that stuff.

5. Decorating the tree with this little lady. priceless. 

6. Signing presents "Love, Mom & Dad" --- we've waited a very long time for that :) 

7. Christmas Books. (That Amlit Christmas Carol book is so cute!)

8. My tiny shopping buddy & her unpacking skills

9. I completely stole this idea from my Cousin, Emily (Thanks lady!)-- Mom&Dad stockings to match Isla's new stocking from PB.

10. Isla listening to her 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' countdown ornament :) 

11. Isla's very own personalized ornament :) (Thanks Nana C. & Papa J) 

12. This sweet, sweet little family of mine. I'm forever grateful. 

Have a lovely Weekend friends!

xo.
S

PS- I'm working on posting our December bucket list--stay tuned! Lots of fun holiday ideas :)

Seattle Aquarium Review

Hi Friends! 

My little family checked out the Seattle Aquarium the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I've been there a couple times but we had never taken Isla so we packed her up and headed out. She loved watching the fish tank, otters and seals. The aquarium itself is pretty small for what they charge. We both thought it was VERY overpriced for an adult (almost $22/pp). Kiddos under 3 are free but a 4 year old costs $15....seriously?! I know some of the money is spent on conservation and upkeep but that's just too overpriced for a family. If you are set on going grab the dollar off per admission coupon here. I use this coupon book for anything touristy we do in Seattle--a little tip from the summer I spent working at The Best Western--you are welcome :) 

I think we'll have to try the aquarium again when Isla's older and can check out the tide pool animals you can lightly touch near the entrance and grasp more of the experience.

 If you're into a fun holiday experience you can watch Santa dive and feed the fish--it runs through the end of the month! 

 The best part of the whole thing--besides seeing Isla get excited in the big dome when she saw the fish- was the view of Seattle from the side door exit. Photo-op!

xoxo.
S

Today

Hi Friends!

So per usual, Isla's been kicking my buns during the day lately. By 7pm (i.e.: her bedtime) you have to scrape me off the floor to do anything...which is really unfortunate considering my house is usually a disaster because the little lady hates to nap. I think the hardest thing is that she's so inconsistent as of almost two weeks ago. Somedays she naps twice a day and is exhausted, some days she blows through the first nap and crashes early for the second, some days she refuses both and melts down at 5pm (and those days are the worst!) The only silver lining is that she is still a great nighttime sleeper. She goes to bed at 7pm and wakes up most mornings between 7 and 7:30 - although yesterday she was up at 6:00am after having a later than usual bedtime (sleepy Mommy!)

I was losing my mind about all of this--feeling exhausted, guilty and slightly crazy when I decided to take advice from one of my favorite blogs, Enjoying the Small Things (which is just a little slice of happy- you should read it :) In one post Kelle was having issues with her new middle child (after having her son). She advised just "loving her right through it." So that's what I decided to do. Isla's been making me crazy but I'm just going to love her right on through this growing time. We're still going to keep her schedule - because I truly believes she is a kid that thrives with a bit of structure--but if she needs some extra cuddle time in the middle of the night, an extra feeding or two or just wants to be held we're going to do that.

It's funny how when you give yourself permission to just embrace the craziness things get a lot less serious and a lot more fun. That was definitely the thing I was missing that I would have overlooked...Isla is SO SUPER FUN right now! She LOVES to be awake. She loves her people. She loves to be learning, absorbing and mimicking. She does amazing things. Just last night before bed I played our Santa countdown ornament for her that sings "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and said, "Ok, say Bye-bye to Santa...we'll see you in the morning" and she said "buhhhh-buhhh." I loved it! She also has this hysterical habit of fake laughing. She loves to do it anywhere and everywhere and pretty much all of the time--sister does not discriminate! Today we went to B's office for lunch and he was holding her talking to some co-workers, 30 seconds after they all laughed at a joke she scrunched at her nose and fake laughed at all of them. It was classic Isla--a total hit!

I love that I'm just going to let whatever she's going through (which seems to be the usual growth spurt, sleep regression, teething trifecta--aka: the Bermuda triangle, ugh!) happen. Throwing my hands up and saying...I can clean another day. I can catch up on emails in a bit. I can blog when I get a minute....is really empowering. I'm just going to enjoy this time with her--these crazy, crazy moments.

I hope you all are having a wonderful week!

xoxo.
S

I love watching her stand up and inspect her toys every morning :) So sweet! 

PS- Don't assume that today was just a good day and tomorrow I'll be ranting about the lady (which I probably will be :) .... today's highlight reel included: Isla's 1st turd in the tub (that's real) and she was exceedingly proud in case you cared, ONE - 23 minute nap (just one) and a full meltdown at 4:45 when she wanted to go to bed. Obviously it was awesome. 

Guest Post: The 5 most important decisions to plan for the birth you desire

Hi Friends!

I am so very honored this morning to post this wonderful and informative write-up by my Friend, Amy from Radiance Birth Services. A couple months ago I asked her to guest blog about what it's like to be a Doula and why the service is so helpful to Mothers (and Fathers!) 

Yesterday she sent over this lovely post and it made me sweetly reminiscent of Isla's birth. I have never felt more capable and powerful in my life as I did when I was bringing Isla into the world. I will forever be blessed by the birth experience I had with her -- it made me realize so many things about myself I never knew. I welcomed her into the world the way I desired and I know how blessed I am that my birth plan went as 'planned.' I love that Amy talks about defining your priorities to seek the birth you desire and being flexible if things don't go as planned.

It takes a very special person to support Mothers mentally and physically during labor. Amy, I  respect what you do and all the women you assist in reaching Motherhood. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this--you rock lady! :) 

If you'd like to reach out to Amy you can find her here : Radiance Birth Services

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The 5 most important decisions to plan for the birth you desire

As a birth Doula, I provide emotional, physical and informational support to women during pregnancy, labor and postpartum.  I am often asked, and have pondered myself many times, what are the most important planning steps to ensure a positive birth experience. Here are my thoughts, listed in order of importance. 

1. Flexibility. Pregnancy and birth are life changing events that often make us confront our fears and transform in the process.  Central to a positive birth experience is embracing our powerlessness and the unpredictability of labor.  We can prepare, plan, educate ourselves, and believe in our goals for birth.  And we may be dealt a hand during labor that is beyond our control.  Giving yourself the grace to change your mind, take a different approach, or use interventions you previously swore off will go a long way in ensuring a positive experience. 

2. Location.  The most important logistical decision for a positive birth experience is deciding where you want to be.  If you choose to give birth in a hospital, research all the options you have.  Rates of epidural use and cesareans vary widely among hospitals in the same city.  Most low risk women have the option to birth at home, or a free standing birth center.  There are a growing number of out of hospital options for women having a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), multiples and breech births. Consider where you will feel safe, strong and comfortable. 

3. Care provider.  Once you chose your location, choosing your medical provider is central to having the labor and birth you desire.  Births are most often attended by an OB/GYN or a Midwife.  Provider's beliefs about and approaches to birth vary widely. Some things to consider when choosing a provider are how interested and respectful he or she is of your desires for labor.  Do you feel heard and do they take the time to answer questions thoroughly? How does your care provider feel about induction, pregnancies that stretch beyond 42 weeks, and routine interventions?  Any discomfort, or lack of trust with your provider will only become more significant during labor.  Finding someone who embraces your goals is key to a positive experience.

4. Support team.  Women in labor are more energetically open than most other times in life.  As a result, you will pick up on any nervousness or judgment from the people around you. Surround yourself only with people who support your goals, and believe in your ability to accomplish the birth you desire. I have heard a midwife say to expect labor to last an hour longer for each person in the room with you.  Even though you agreed six months ago to let your second cousin twice removed, who is starting a photography business, take pictures, you can change your mind! 

I believe every woman would benefit from having a Doula they connect with. If you are giving birth in the hospital, the one member of your medical team you have no control over is your nurse, and she is often the most influential on the progression of your labor. If you get lucky with a great nurse, she will work with your Doula to provide amazing support.  If you are not happy about the nurse you have, you can always ask for a new one.  Depending on the size of the hospital, that might not be a viable option, which makes the presence of a Doula even more critical.  Doulas provide continuous support, have extensive training, and use many tools to provide comfort and help labor progress effectively.

5. Postpartum plan. Many women take the time to create a birth plan, and the immediate postpartum period is often just a side note.  I believe if you feel good about the above three decisions, your birth plan should focus mainly on the first few hours after birth.  Is it important to you that your provider delay cord clamping until it stops pulsing? The "golden hour" after birth is huge for bonding and establishment of a breastfeeding relationship.  Unless medically necessary, do you want skin to skin time completely uninterrupted with your baby and partner? How do you feel about newborn interventions like eye ointment, vitamin k shot and baby's first bath?  Do you want your voices to be the first and only your baby hears? During labor it is easy to feel like you give up control to the medical staff.  After your baby is born and doing well, try to remember you get to make the decisions about who holds your baby, how and when.

We can do everything "right" and still end up with a hard or traumatic birth experience. Reaching out to your Doula, friends and family, a counselor, or a support group for new moms are all good resources for processing a hard birth.  It is possible to love your baby and be glad for their safe arrival, while also being disappointed or angry about aspects of your labor.  It does not make you a bad mom to want more than "just a healthy baby."  All moms want that.  We also want confident, empowered moms who feel valued, bonded to their babies and respected during one of the most important events of her life. 

I ascribe to the theory of 3's when it comes to postpartum planning.  Plan to be in bed for 3 days after birth.  Only get up to use the bathroom, and allow your baby unrestricted skin to skin and access to nurse.  Plan for 3 weeks of help around the house.  Accept offers from friends and family to help with meals, cleaning and errands.  And finally, 3 months of grace- for yourself, for your partner and for your child.  Welcoming a new baby is a huge adjustment, and most moms don't feel like they settle into their new normal before 3 months.