eden's baby girl nursery.

its one year later, but i'm sharing the nursery we decorated for eden.  happily, one year later, i still like it and i think eden does, too.  part of my vision for the nursery was something that would still look good when she is no longer a baby.  i also wanted something not-too-girly, but i'm not sure that was accomplished.  its pretty girly, glitzy, and a little glam.

i guess i really love pennant/banners because i have them everywhere in her room!  i got a big block of scrapbooking paper from Michael's and made a template for a pennant shape i liked out of cardboard.  then i traced the shape onto all different patterns of paper.  i cut them out with a pinking scissors, punched little holes and just used yarn from wal-mart to string them together.  adding some little ribbons on the end is a cute little detail.

above eden's ikea crib {which we have really loved}, i hung her glitter letters from rose mille from another banner with more pennants.  we hung some knobs from anthropologie to tie the yarn onto.  then i did a big bunch of ribbons from each.  pretty.  

i took a thrift store frame and spray painted it and added chicken wire.  we can hang cards or hair clips.  i made the canvases by covering some old art with fabric and cutting out paper, then glueing it to the fabric in the shape of a peacock and the eiffel tower.  classy, right?  easy.  the biggest project {one of them} were the pom poms.  they took forever.  and ever.  

lucky for me, i have awesome friends who helped me complete these.  my sister found the tutorial and i knew i wanted to make them for eden's room, but i didn't think through how {totally} huge they were going to be!  i found paper lanterns for cheap that were bigger than i wanted, but i thought that would be ok.  then i bought some cotton broadcloth from a textiles outlet, cut {about a million} circles out of it, hot glued them to the lanterns - voila!  giant poms.  i like them and they look good in her room, but i would opt for small styrofoam balls next time.

one of my favorite parts of her room are her little ikea shelves that hang behind her door.  they are full of special things: art by her brothers, photos, special keepsakes - even a card of "wishes for baby" that i framed from her baby shower {baby shower post with photos coming sometime soon!}.

eden's room is fun and special.  the boys have a fun and special room, too {which has been a loooong work-in-progress} and i will share that soon.  its fun to make the nursery a place that both you and your child will love {mamas spend a lot of time in there!}.

to see more about how we created this nursery, visit our family blog.

for a more details list of sources for items in this room, email me :

jilleiselt@gmail.com

*photo credits: mollybaileyphotography.com

how i cured my baby's cradle cap.

news flash: i'm not a doctor.  so, this post is my opinion and my own experience, nothing more.  but maybe if it worked for us, it could work for you, too.

my two youngest have had cradle cap.  it showed up at just a few weeks old for both of them and was most noticeable right after a bath or the day after a bath when their skin was very flaky. with the benny, i used baby oil and tried to kick it that way.  it improved, but seemed to persist.  i'm sure its different for each child.

with my baby, i used California Baby "tea tree & lavender" Shampoo and Bodywash.  i bought it at Target.  i had heard that tea tree oil was supposed to help with cradle cap, so i thought we could give it a try.

first, i used a little olive oil while she soaked in her puj tub in the kitchen sink.  i held the oil in my hands for a minute to warm it up.  then i rubbed it onto her scalp and let it sit while i scrubbed her up a little and we played with ducky.  then i took our little scrub brush and really went after her scalp, gently giving it a good exfoliation.  you could also just gently scrub with your fingers.  the brush is the one the hospital gave us, its super soft but still good for gentle scrubbing.  then i applied a dime's worth of the California Baby shampoo (smells so good!) and scrubbed again.  the soap got super bubbly and foamy and i let it sit a bit longer before carefully rinsing her head.

after a couple times of this process - her cradle cap was g.o.n.e.  i was super excited because benny's lingered so long.  and that was it {no more problems with cradle cap for this baby}!

Plans can change...

One year ago, I planned to take my husband here for the first week of March...just the two of us.

But actually, we were here...at home, loving our new baby girl.

You could say our plans changed...just a little.  We were happy to welcome Eden Olivia to our family on March 6th.  She was 22 inches long and 10 lbs 4 oz (no surprise there - just another big strong baby for this family!).  We are blessed beyond belief and loving life as a family of five.

Cabo can wait.

New Baby Must Haves

I'm in major nesting mode as we wait for baby girl to arrive in about 6 weeks.  Just saying that makes my heart rate jump!  We are soooo not prepared.  We are ready, excited, and thrilled to have this baby coming so soon, but as far as being really prepared...that's another story.


Someone asked me last week if I'm just buying diapers and getting small things ready...

NO!  We still have baby's whole room to re-do and lots of big projects.  This time around, hubby is nesting right along with me.  We are tackling projects each day, trying to get this house in order before we add another human to the family!

A lot of the reason for the chaos and rush is because of our move this fall and how much time it has taken to get the house cleaned up and in order from the previous owner.  We didn't expect to feel so unsettled for so long...well, time is up!  This push to get ready for baby is a great push for us to get the house in a state we are pleased with - at least for now.

We had a garage sale last spring and got rid of some baby stuff that was too bulky or we didn't think we would lose.  Some of it wasn't very functional anymore so we got rid of that too.  Most of what we sold won't be replaced (the high chair: you don't really need a bulky high chair - a Bumbo works for a while and then a portable booster is great!).

There are a few things I am feeling the need to purchase, though.  I bought a cute DwellStudio for Target bouncer from Craigslist since ours broke down after baby #2.  I knew this was something that would be handy for setting the baby in while I am busy with the boys or with housework.  Check.

Aden + Anais Swaddle Wraps

 These swaddle wraps are just so soft and so pretty.  Ok, they might not be a "must have", but after having two boys, I don't have anything girly, so besides a new wardrobe for the bambina, a few girly accessories will be nice, too!

Moby Wrap

The Moby Wrap didn't get too popular around here until after my second boy way born, but now all my friends swear by it.  We still have the BabyBjorn, which we have used like crazy, but this seems like a great way to wear baby girl around the house, at the library, at playgroup, etc.

Puj Tub

I mean, really, how adorable are these Puj Tubs?!  In our old house, I didn't have a great sink for one of these small, space saving tubs, but in this new house every sink would work great.  I never had a separate baby tub because of the bulkiness of it.  I love the portability of this little tub so I can bathe the baby wherever we are in the house.

Fisher Price Rock n' Play

These new little bassinets have ratings off the charts from consumers.  Everyone seems to love them for babies to sleep in at night by the bedside or for naps during the day.  We got rid of our pack n play because one of the sides no longer latched.  Major safety issue.  So, I am thinking one of these super portable little bassinets would be great to let the baby sleep in our room for a while.

What other new baby must haves am I missing?  Of course, we're not interested in breaking the bank because this might be the final addition to our family...  But I'd love to hear your favorite baby product feedback!

My Brand New Bag

I love these diaper bags...

so much that I shredded my last one from so much use!

Well, I contacted PPB and they asked me to send in my old bag.  Then they contacted me again to ask me which new bag I would like!  They replaced my bag after 3 years - now that's great customer service! 

My new bag is the glazed version, so its water resistant and will hold up better for baby #3.  :)

Thanks, PPB!

The Bump

Along with everything else that has been happening...moving etc, we are also awaiting our third baby - due in March!  My blog has taken a serious hit this summer and fall as the fatigue and morning sickness set in.  Not to mention, chasing my two little guys (who seem more like men than boys these days), packing a house, and now trying to unpack a house.  This baby has been a trooper and now, at 20+ weeks, I can feel the baby wiggling at all hours of the day.  With so much change this year: new job (for Hubby), new house, new baby...this is a new beginning for us.  We are excited for the journey of our family becoming FIVE.

Photo credit: Brisham Photography

(for more of the family photo session, view Brisham Photography Blog)

What's a girl to do...

when her beloved Petunia Pickle Bottom wears out?!

Petunia Pickle Bottom....swoon.

Yes, its true.  I actually 

wore a hole

in my super favorite diaper bag...

like a big gaping hole with shredding going on.

This is why you should invest in one of the newer glazed-style bags from PPB.  In fact, if you head on over to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this week, you can score one for less than $100!

Favorites - Labels

One of my favorite purchases for the kids once we started leaving them at the church nursery or any childcare setting are the Inchbug Orbit Labels we use on their cups.

When you order the custom printed labels for $12.95, you receive six labels.  We have put them to use in lots of places: on diaper bag straps, around sippy cups, snack containers, on their travels bags, on the cups in the bathroom that hold their toothbrushes...I'm sure you could find plenty of places to use these versatile labels, too!

The silicone labels stretch to fit a variety of containers and are dishwasher safe.  They don't fade or rely on adhesive, so they will never fall off.  I'm a huge fan!

You can also order a set of three pre-printed labels for $8.95.  They came out with fun new colors last year, so you can have a color for each of your kids, cousins, or friends!

 

Get 10% off any Inchbug purchase with this coupon code, valid until April 30th, 2011.

PARCAMP11

Favorites - Bath Products for Kids

We are snowed in today in the valley, so the boys at a bath at 11 am.  It was great fun and a great way to spend some time on a day when we're stuck inside.  Plus, these boys are the cleanest they have ever been: two baths in 15 hours!  Ha!  While the boys were splish-splashing, I snapped this photo to share our favorite bath products with you.

Our favorite bath products for the little ones are Burt's Bees.  We love them all.  We use these three every day.  We started using them when our first son was a baby because they are PABA and phalate-free, and all Burt's Bees products are 97%+ certified organic.  Plus...you can't beat the sweet smell of the freshly bathed babes.

I buy my Burt's Bees at Target, but Festival also carries a great range of their products!

Favorites - Sunscreen

 Since we just spent a week in the hot hot sun, I thought I would share my favorite sunscreens.  We've been taking this yearly trip to Mexico (courtesy of my parents) for many years.  So, we've tried lots of sunscreen.  I keep the kids in long swim shorts, swim shirts/UV shirts, and sun hats, so they are not too exposed.  But for the parts of them that see the sun, I am a crazy mama when it comes to keeping the kids covered in SPF so I have some strong opinions of sun products.

All my favorite sunscreens are now Neutrogena sun products.  For myself, I love the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 30.  I even use it right on my face.  It feels weightless and totally non-greasy.  For a week, I need a couple tubes of this.  I keep it on hand and use it all summer for myself, too.

For my kids, I love two of the Neutrogena products.  The Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Stick SPF 60 for their faces and sometimes their hands and feet.  The stick makes application easy and the consistency spreads evenly around their little noses, ears, and mouth.  I cover their foreheads, cheeks, ears, noses, chin - being careful to leave eyes and lips alone.  

My second favorite for kids is the Waterguard Kids Sunblock Mist SPF 70.  This product covers evenly, sprays with ease and no mess, and is quick to apply!  I cover hands, feet, legs, back of neck and any other exposed areas with this sunscreen.  I am always careful to keep the spray away from their faces.  I even use it sometimes when I feel I need the extra protection.

I noticed that Neutrogena now even has sunscreen you can apply to wet bodies - right out of the pool!  I'll be trying that next time around.  For a week in the sun, I need about 2-3 bottles of the spray.  Spray sunscreen goes fast, so you need more than you think!

I have some kids' swim gear and sun gear that I love, so I'll share that at another time, too!

Baby Gift

I am so excited because I just ordered this adorable gift from The Baby Bunch for my good friend who just welcomed her first baby girl.  Have you ever seen anything cuter?!

Pink Birdhouse Pajamas

Love this....

Finally a bouncer that folds up!

from Parents Magazine June 2010, page 37.

Today my baby turns ONE!  So many emotions...I can't really explain, but I just know that YOU, Mamas, understand.  Its such a huge milestone with feelings of:

"Where has the time gone?"

"When did he get so grown-up?"

"What was life like one year ago...I can't even remember?!"

"When is it time for another baby?" (Did I really just say that????)

"Is it time to wean???"

"We did it!  We made it a whole YEAR!"

I took this photo out at a golf course one day, edited it on my iMac and then uploaded to Picnik.com where you can do all kinds of cool editing, etc. Check it out for photo fun!

Bathtime Buddies

As you will quickly learn, I am a sucker for all things cute. The result makes me a total consumer - always on the look-out for the cutest addition to any activity, routine, or room in my house. I'm also a sucker for anything that will make the daily routine a little quicker, easier, and more fun for my kids! Bathtime is a superfun time at our house and I'm convinced its party due to our friends: Frog, Moby, and Shark (among many others).

The Boon Frog Pod is awesome! We registered for this gift on our baby registry at Target before the birth of our first son and its been a great item to have in the baby bathroom! The frog is equipped with little shelf that will hold your baby shampoos (Burt's Bees Baby is our favorite!), and a quick-drain removable scoops that allows your baby's bath toys to dry without any work from you! The kids love visiting the frog at bathtime...beautiful! You can see the Frog Pod and other cool Boon products at: www.booninc.com.

We also really love "Moby". Made by SkipHop, Moby is a bath spout cover for your bath that ensures your little ones won't bonk their head in the bath. This is the cutest, most versatile spout cover I could find - and so clever! At bathtime, the kids are excited to see Moby start up...he's our bathtime buddy. Easy to fit any bath spout and easy to remove for cleaning, this is a hit! Check it out: www.skiphop.com.

That brings me to our new favorite bath towels! The Pottery Barn Kids Bath Wraps are totally awesome and fun! These supersoft, thick bath wraps are superior quality and come in so many fun critters - you just can't resist! This would make a great holiday gift (on sale right now!). My favorite is the shark...it actually has a cute fin on the back - ADORABLE! You know the website, but I'll spell it out for you anyway: www.PotteryBarnKids.com.

My New(born) Favorites

I love love love baby items - especially if they are extra special and unique. I have so many favorites...I promise to share often! Don't forget to comment and share your own favorites too. Here are some of my current favorites for little babies:






Sophie Giraffe: This totally adorable and nostaligic teether is made of 100% safe materials. As a mother of an infant, I love this cute little chewy. More info at http://sophiegiraffeusa.com.
















Little Giraffe: This company has created the most luxurious little baby blankets. In my opinion, its a "must have" for your newborn. Use it for your newborn photos - you won't be disappointed! More at www.littlegiraffe.com.

Hanna Andersson: These organic cotton sleepers are silky soft and footless (great for big, long, growing babies like mine!). I can't get enough! More at www.hannaandersson.com.