Lost in Translation: the diaper bag edition

Over the course of our five years here in Brazil, there's been countless times where things I tried to convey in my butchered Portuguese became "lost in translation"  At the time, the situations drove me nuts, but in hindsight are comical.

A few weeks before I was due with Skylar, I took my old, leather diaper bag to be reconditioned at a bag 'n shoe shop.  A little background info:  when I had my first kiddo, I purchased this leather bag from Storksak.

             
At the time, the $300+ price tag seemed like a major splurge, but now, six years later, I can say the cost-per-use is practically pennies.  A great "non-diaper" diaper bag, that I highly recommend.
Mine had seen some serious wear, so I took it to the shop thinking to have it reconditioned.  You know, some mink oil or something to blend the water stains, and soften the leather.  At least, that what I thought I was saying.
Bells probably should have gone off in my head when I picked up the Portuguese words for "darker" and "paint." 
A couple of weeks later, I returned to this:

 The nice, leather bag had been....vinylized.   It's like they painted it (poorly) with some kind of liquid plastic substance that's the color of a sewer rat.  The thing even smells like a vinyl sofa circa '75.

I also must mention how the brass hardware was "touched up" with gold paint.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

Translation:  Diaper bag sads.

I think I might just put this one in the donation pile, and call it a day.  So...I'm in the market for a new "diaper" bag.  I tend to go for styles that transcend the baby look, and can function beyond diapees and wipes.  Here's a few I'm considering.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/ 9

Do you have a fave go-to that can pull diaper bag duty?

Surfacing

 The first few weeks with a newborn always feel like I'm functioning under water.  So, I'm surfacing for air before things get really nuts. 
It's almost surreal how quickly time is passing.  Skylar turned three weeks old yesterday, and the movers begin packing us out on Monday.  We're simultaneously trying to soak up as much of Rio as we can, while mentally preparing for life back in the States.  Send us some good vibes, will ya?

Lots of good things are on the horizon, and I can't wait for them to unfold, but I'm trying to be patient.  NOT one of my strong points.

Speaking of good things...
I commissioned some paintings from the (soon-to-be-way, WAY famous) Jenny of MFAMB.  I asked her to interpret my daughters Avery and Isla with paintings.  They were a Mother's Day gift to myself - instead of a Mother's ring or jewelry, I envision a Mother's Wall with a grouping of her fantastic work that each girl can have one day.  When the baby is a little older, I'll get her to do another one, and somewhere in the mix, I'll pick out something just for moi!
First, though, get a load of the Isla and Avery.

Got them back from the framers yesterday, and am so loving the natural wood.

They're even prettier in person, and I think everyone (and any room) could benefit from some of Jenny's talent.  She offers originals via her Etsy store, and now, via Furbish, you can purchase prints.  There's no excuse - go get yo'self some!

I also managed to have Skylar's birth announcement designed.  As much as I love a nice paper card, I know the truth is most people toss them (how dare they!), so I sent a digital announcement this go-round. #thirdchild

design by River & Bridge

Lastly, I ordered these Paige denim skinnies about three weeks before my Due Date to act as Post Partum motivation.

I've been giving them the side-eye since they arrived...

 

...but succumbed to their promise of fabulous-ass-ness yesterday, and started Tracy Anderson's post partum workouts.  Her Pregnancy Project dvds served me well for nine months, so I have faith the post partum one will, too.  We'll see....

Two (design) roads diverged...

I have a habit of changing moods midstream. In college, I changed majors (majorly) two years in. In my working life, I went from medical sales rep making good dough to broke law school student. It's no surprise, then, that I often get halfway through the decision process of a project, and take a left turn, so to speak.
That happened with Isla's nursery. I was going down the path of gray this, gray that - soft, neutral, yada yada when one afternoon recently it just hit me: jade green. With touches of gold, and fuschia and clever art. Heavily inspired by de Gournay wallpaper goodness. Knowing wallpaper, especially something that exquisite, isn't part of my limited budget, I've decided to do my own riff off the look.
I was inspired by images like these:

kelly at home

enlighten me as to source

desire to inspire


massuco, warner, miller

So, here's where I'm at....At least for today

How can I do this face wrong?

I couldn't resist

I've been on the lookout for a new diaper bag. Since my diaper bag also functions as my purse, I'm very keen on it not looking like a traditional baby bag (no Vera Bradley, puhleeeze! ) When Avery was born, I splurged on this leather Storksak, and it has served me very well (I highly recommend it, btw).

However, I couldn't resist today's One Kings Lane sale on the canvas and faux leather "Avery" bag from Liv + Co. I think it passes the not-so-mommy-bag test, do you?

Even though it wasn't expensive, I'm supposed to be on a spending hiatus, so don't tell Ben!

Hey, at least I didn't buy the precious, hooded towel by Tourance kids - restraint at its finest, right?!

**UPDATE: Busted**

'round Dis Houzz

Pffeewww! That's the sound of me coming up for air - you know, like a whale spewing out its blowhole? I guess it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that posts around MLHP will be fewer and further between for awhile, what with new baby routines, etc, etc.
HowEVAH, when I DO get a chance to put something up, I'll certainly try to make it worthwhile.

A few Orders of Business, first:

• Thank YOU for the sweet and complimentary comments on the blog's new look. I'm thrilled with how it turned out, and can thank Jessica Graves of Front Porch Studio for so cleverly deciphering my ideas of a what a clean, elegant, and above all, happy new home for MLHP should look like. Thanks again, Jess!
• There's still some detail work being done on links, but if you have any major problems with seeing images, etc, please let me know.

Now...I hope you haven't forgotten about my little redo project over at Mrs. Mary's casa. We've got the bulk of the room together, and even had an impromptu install/pizza party Friday night. I know you must be ready for something more than teaser shots, but I feel confident saying this project is worth waiting for the full effect. On that note of frustrating teasers, here's a few more details from Friday night's session...

Remember this chair from Overstock? The Before.

...And after a little alignment hygiene in the upholstery department...

Better, huh?
Making Mary the Queen of her Casa

My "design assistants," hard at work

Other than that, just a lot of Monkey-See, Monkey-Do going on around here...

...and otherwise, trying to soak it all in...

Isla Clayton

So, she finally arrived! Please meet Isla Clayton.
She made us a family of four on Friday, April 16. Amazingly, weighing and measuring exactly the same as Avery did: 7 lbs, 10 oz and 19 inches long.

For as long as it seemed (for me) for her to make up her mind to join us, once she made that decision, it was a "done deal." In an effort to get Baby G moving, I spent Thursday evening sitting and moving around on an exercise/birthing ball (per the wonderfully-supportive and helpful instructs from Linda), but had no contractions, etc that night.

When I woke up Friday morning and began making breakfast for Avery, etc, contractions kicked in about every five minutes, and I thought - well, OK, here we go! Then they fizzled, jumping anywhere from seven to fifteen minutes apart. (This baby was toying with me, I thought!) Around eleven a.m, they ticked back up to every five minutes, and became tougher to talk through, so I felt certain we'd be heading up to Labor and Delivery. They maintained at five for an hour, then quickly progressed to being three minutes or less apart - all the while, Ben was fighting a bad rain storm, trying to get home!

We arrived at the hospital around 1:30 pm, and I was ready to push (see told you, she had DEFINITELY made up her mind!) - from the time I got into the hospital bed, to the time Isla was born was forty-five minutes. Fast and furious - whew!

I've you've had difficult births, you have my full blessing to hate me at this point. I am lucky, but if you've followed me through this pregnancy, you also know I was very involved, informed, and pro-active about wanting as natural a birth experience as I could have while still delivering in a hospital, and I communicated this to my obstetrician. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have had those wishes respected.
More importantly, Isla is perfect and healthy - we are truly blessed.

Some highlights of the day:

Not much sweeter than a Big Sister loving "her" new baby.

Or the beam of a proud, new Daddy

And kisses from Mims...

Some of our good friends from Brazil sent us these handmade lembrancinhas - a token of remembrance of a baby's birth to hand out to family and friends who visit the new baby. I can't send you each one, but please accept the virtual gift as a thank you for all your support in reading MLHP.

We're enjoying our "Babymoon," but I will catch up soon!

P.S. - Isla is pronounced, "EYE-la" ;)

What's in a Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

I told myself this was NOT a blogworthy topic, but as some of you have inquired, and it's at the forefront of my brain these days, it made its way to a post... What will Baby G be named?
Unfortunately, she still doesn't have one - not even close - and I'm starting to panic!
At this point in the Waiting Game with Avery, we had three names picked out, but wanted to see her before we decided which one fit her best. I feel the same way with this baby in that I wouldn't be able to settle on a name for sure without first meeting her, but the ugly truth is that Ben and I can't agree on a name! I have a favorite he doesn't like, he wants to use the name we've been pressured suggested by family to use, so we've pointedly avoided the subject.

In desperation, I've hit up the baby name books, only to be inundated with overly trendy suggestions. I don't want our children to have the same name as two or three other classmates, and I was dismayed to see Avery had moved up the popularity chart of names since we selected it {sigh}. I know, it may be silly, it's just one of my things...

Although I'm not a fan of "leaking" name considerations, I'm opening the proverbial can of worms. These are a handful of names I would at least consider naming this baby girl (and a couple I wouldn't, to keep it fun!)

I don't necessarily need opinions on the names per se, but I would love to hear how you, or a family you know, came to agree upon a baby name. Also, if you have one more sec, please take this poll:

Bear with me...

I have to share of couple of my favorite pics from last week's Trick or Treating fest. Mainly, I want to give sweet props to my costume designer, Shea at Stinkin' Cute Designs. I "met" Shea via a comment she left here, and ended up at her Etsy store where I discovered THE most stinkin' cute designs for children! Her custom creations include precious onesies/T's, burpies, and my absolute favorite: bloomer panties with adorable sayings!
When I saw the red tutu/M&M costume, I knew I'd found Avery's Halloween outfit! She rushed the order for me, and I couldn't have been more pleased!

If you need holiday gift ideas, might I suggest any of these darlings?

Droolin' like a baby

Just another reminder of how seriously I need to learn to sew...

Children's clothing via Whitten Grey Organic

Baby Safari

It seems the last few days before I head back to Brazil are always jam-packed. This past week was no exception...Besides wrapping up my aunt's bathroom redo (pics VERY soon, I promise!), I was also pulling together a small, family baby shower for my cousin and his wife, who are expecting their first - a baby boy who will be named Henry.

My aunt had a sweet gift idea for her son and daughter-in-law: she wanted to re-do my cousin's baby rocking chair in a fun way, to pass it on to his baby, Henry. Would I be willing to put some creativity behind the idea? Why, of course!
I was a bit nervous, because I didn't know too much about what they planned for their nursery. I imagined it to be more contemporary, something like this...

...So I didn't want to overdo it in the critters and characters department. (turns out, I guessed right - their crib is very similar to this one!)

I got a sneak peek at their bedding selection, and it gave me some ideas...

Maybe a little bit safari...but still soft.

Here's cousin's chair dressed as its former self...

...And, in its new attire...

If tender gratitude was the goal....

...I think we had success

Here: Mom, Dad and Grandma-to-be

Congratulations, Brian and Alli, it was wonderful seeing you both - we can't wait to meet Henry!