So a great alternative to wall decor, that isn’t permanent or will damage your walls are decals. I bought my first one for my studio which I love! I’m also considering getting some for Tyler’s nursery, even though I haven’t even begun that project! So I was beyond excited to receive our wall decal from Cherry Walls that took no time to put up! The instructions that came with it were clear and concise. It even comes with a small practice decal which Kendall loved playing with.

Cherry Walls is a wall decor shop specializing in original vinyl wall decals and stickers to personalize your home! Made in the USA, safe for walls & nurseries, and totally customizable, Cherry Walls offers a fun, unique way to decorate any room.

I remember, vaguely, writing Kendall’s birth story and not remembering many little details. And as time passes, more and more of those details are forgotten. Tyler’s on the other hand, I believe I will remember every little detail. Not only because his birth was so different, but comical (in hindsight).

With Kendall, I had every intention of having a natural birth. I was partnered with midwives and read a few books. I took the classes at the hospital that were given to me in a pamphlet and said, OK I can do this! I have a high threshold for pain. Well, a 24 hour labor with every intervention I tried to avoid was done only to end with a c-section, I realize now that sure, I had it in my mind to have a natural birth but didn’t work for it. I honestly thought just because nature designed us women to give birth, it would just happen. Well what they didn’t expect was the influx of interventions and doctor’s schedules you needed to adhere to. So with this pregnancy I worked really hard to set myself up to have the birth I wanted. I switched practices and hospitals, hired a doula and attended a VBAC class to learn all that I could.

Hard work pays off when you set yourself up for success.

At 9:30pm on Friday evening, May 4th I was putting Kendall to bed when I noticed something a bit different. I went to the bathroom and noticed a crampy-like sensation that I’ve been getting for the past week or so about 1-2 times per day. So I thought it was the same thing but soon they became timeable. I drew a bath hoping to labor as long as I could at home and hopped it. At 9:39pm I started noticing they were 3-5 minutes apart. I got out of the tub and found Wayne who took over putting Kendall to bed and asked that he call our doula. Instantly he turned into superdad/husband and took control. He prepped Kendall to go to her God parents house, called our doula who we agreed to call back in half an hour with a progress update.

A little after 10pm the tub wasn’t so comfortable anymore so I started to get dressed since our midwife said to start making our way in. Normally they would let us stay at home longer but our new hospital was about 30-35 minutes away and since I was attempting a VBAC, Tyler and I would have to be monitored a little bit more than a typical birth.

At this point, I lost track of the time but finally made it to the garage. I attempted to get in the car but then another contraction came (they were now more like 2-3 minutes apart). I stepped out and my water broke. Not the little faucet-like trickle, but the “as seen only in movies” gush. That was the first time I became scared because the contractions were really picking up. This is what they called the transition period. Probably what you see in the movies with irate women yelling at their husbands. I was bordering that line. I was sweating profusely and Wayne talking to me did irritated me, nor did I want to be touched.

Wayne insisted that I get into the car but sitting down was not an option at this point. I could hear the fear in his voice. The midwife and our doula were persistant in getting me into the car but I refused. Every time I tried a strong contraction took over my body. Finally I climbed in on my knees hugging the back of the front seat. Take note, we didn’t have time to get me re-dressed from my water breaking so genius Wayne grabbed a towel so I wouldn’t moon everyone as we drove to the hospital. Heck, it was already a full super moon out! Thank goodness it was in the middle of the night!

So with the towel draped over me and our doula on speaker phone we ventured to the hospital. Little did I know at the time that between Wayne, my midwife and our doula they were prepping to call 911 and meet us on the side of the road. Thank God I didn’t hear that! I just kept listening to our doula on the phone telling me to blow out 100 birthday candles during the contractions to counterbalance the urge to push. I also saw Tyler’s car seat in the back and focusing on those 2 things got me to the hospital.

We pull up and the poor poor lady who wheeled me to the labor & delivery room! I step out pretty much in my birthday suit, kneeled in the wheelchair in a similar fashion as riding in the car. All I could remember was she had a star tattoo on her wrist that I focused on passing a waiting room FULL of people I was rushed to our room.

Later I learned we arrived around 11:45pm and they had everything ready to catch the baby. Our midwife said hi to me in the most comforting voice as did my doula…and I said to them “This sucks.” At least I still had a sense of humor. No time for a heplock they started to monitor Tyler with an intravenous catheter and noticed as he was coming down the birth canal his heart rate was dropping so they insisted I get on the bed to deliver. I really didn’t want to move from the only position that provided relief, standing bent over the bed, but could feel the sense of urgency. There was a lot of noise and talking and after only 15 minutes of pushing Tyler was out.

I was in complete disbelief. I dreamed of that moment and how I would react when they put him on my chest. I thought I would cry but I think I froze and just couldn’t believe it. They took him away momentarily because he came out with the cord wrapped around his neck twice which was the cause of the decelerated heart rate. But he was fine, a quiet cry was all this mother needed to hear.

A perfect 7lb. 12oz. 21 inch long bundle of perfection was born at 12:23am on May 5th.

We stayed in the room for about an hour while they sewed me up from a small episiotomy and then we were wheeled to our room where we only spent 2 days. I was floored at how good I felt afterwards. Just the act of getting up and walking around hours after giving birth was a new concept to me as with the c-section I do not remember being wheeled to the room and walking was excruciating.

No one was prepared for my 3 hour fast and furious labor but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My practice is made up of 3 very strong women who all believed in me that I could have a VBAC. Each of them personally called or stopped by to say congratulations. I was so impressed with how personable they are and supportive of my decision of having a VBAC. Even Wayne commented on how different our experience with these women were and if they weren’t my midwives I would be friends with them. That says A LOT about their character. My doula was also AMAZING! She was with me every step of the way and knew just what to say. I couldn’t have asked for a better team on my side.

<------My wonderful midwife who delivered Tyler.

Now I get to kiss these chubby cheeks every day and watch Kendall swoon over her little brother. Life as a family of four is beyond perfect.

B. Boppy – I used the Boppy so much with Kendall that I knew I was going to use it with Tyler from breastfeeding to practicing tummy time. I just looked for the perfect cover that was more boyish. I just love the mod alphabets in this one, don’t you?

C. Adorable onesies – I’m a sucker for a good design and make it miniature size and I’m sold! I stopped in Carter’s the other day with a friend, who’s expecting 3 weeks after me, and seriously could’ve purchased the entire store. This is just one of the sets I purchased. Can you tell the preppy theme I’ve got going on?

D. Freezer Meals – I wanted to prepare freezer meals before Kendall arrived but I worked literally up until I delivered (imagine calling my boss on the way to the hospital) and just didn’t have the time. So I’ve started making some of these fantastic meals. Such a great resource!

E. Aden + Anais Blankets – A friend introduced me to these blankets and at first I couldn’t get over the hefty price tag but once I felt the quality, I knew I had to have them. I swaddled Kendall for a long time but her blankets were on the heavier side since she was born in October. I needed something more light weight for the summer months. These muslin blankets are super cute + light weight. Can’t go wrong there!

F. Arms Reach Co-Sleeper – As I mentioned above, I plan on instilling some Attachment Parenting methods with Tyler and having him stay in our room for awhile is a big one for me. Especially with breastfeeding, it would disturb our nighttime sleeping less (or at least I hope so!).

G. The most adorable bowtie! – I may be a bit biased here but I’ve wanted newborn pictures of Tyler wearing a bow tie for the longest time but haven’t found the perfect one, until I stumbled across it on Etsy. On a whim I asked the seller if she could make matching hair bows for Kendall and she could! I just can’t wait for April to come by in May to take our pictures!

H. Sophie the Giraffe – The infamous Sophie. Honestly, I never heard of this teether until after Kendall was born so I picked one up last week. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, I hope Tyler likes it. I mean, who can go wrong with a giraffe? :]

What were some of your favorite baby things?

**Shop is currently closed until around June 1st. Join our mailing list to be notified of our official re-open date.**

I’ll let Jessika’s words best describe her amazing Guide to Businessy Goodness.

OMHG editor, Jessika Hepburn, created the guide after seeing how overwhelmed many creative entrepreneurs were at the thought of getting professional help (not that kind of help, the businessy kind). The vast number of options for growing your business is dizzying and knowing how to access them can be even more confusing. The creative community needed a guide that made business more manageable & a lot more fun. Inspired by the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, she set out to build one, with help of course! Mixing practical content, a dose of silly + beautiful design, the Guide brings together some of very best services and supplies for growing a creative business. Using a magazine format the Guide packs articles, worksheets, checklists, prints & printables into a navigable package. Investing in fancy digital publishing software transformed the guide from a snazzy PDF into a space age experience worthy of Douglas Adams. True to the OMHG ethic of openness the Guide is offered as name your price. Choose between $2-20, pack your towel, and prepare for lift-off!

So head run on over and purchase your guide and jumpstart your business!

In this interview you’ll hear about:

•Why I decided on including product photography as a part of my business model
•Resources I used to help learn product photography
•The biggest struggle to getting the best photos possible
•What to look for in a product photographer
•Tips for doing your own product photography: lighting, editing, # of shots, etc.
•How I try to balance business & family
•And more!

Happy Friday friends!

xo,
B

So take this opportunity to stock up on goodies with the code: TYLER34 (since I’m 34 weeks along) :}.

Coupon is valid from today thru Friday and cannot be combined with any other offers.

xo,
B

But what I’m getting at is family, whether the same blood runs through your body or not, will always be there and there is no other people in the world you should share holidays with. My house is a mess from kids running through it, the kitchen is a mess from filling bellies but my heart is beyond full of joy and love I could ever imagine. And I wouldn’t change.a.thing.

I was too immersed in my family today to get pictures of everyone but just picture the cutest little girls playing in Easter dresses and one dapper little dude holding his own. Imagine adults talking over wine (or lemonade) about their lives and what lies in the future. The sun is shining and everyone is happy as a clam.

That’s what today was like for me and I hope the same for you.

However…I did manage to catch some photos of the setup along with my little helper. Those dimples melt my heart!
The Adult’s Table
The Kids Table

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

When I launched the spring printable package I had so much fun setting up the photo shoot and designing a coordinating package that I’ve decided to start offering them in my shop! Now you can purchase a complete set that includes coordinating invitations, thank you cards, blank food label tents, party circles and our best selling favor bags.

I designed this cute robot suite for a client last year and knew eventually it had to go into the shop. Perfect for a little boy!Next we have a garden set that’s perfect for the girly girl who loves pink and green and anything outdoors. I designed this set for a dear friend who’s daughters love anything and everything girly!Our Barbie in Paris collection was inspired by another friend who had a fashion show at her daughter’s birthday party and was beyond adorable!

Each set is now available for purchase and colors can be changed for an additional fee. But wait, there’s more!
Over time we’ll be adding to our party package section but want to know what themes you’d love to see. So in the comment box below, enter in themes you’d love for your little ones. I’ll take note of every theme written but will choose one that will be available next in our shop and if your theme is chosen you will receive a complete package for free! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Fine details:
* Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Friday, April 7th
* Party must happen June 2012 or later
* If there are duplicate winning party themes entered, I will randomly choose the winner via random.org
* Winning package includes: 20 invitations, 20 thank you cards, 24 party circles, 20 favor bags and 10 food label tents

The yummy cupcakes were provided by a new local cupcake business, Haleycakes.

In reviewing my goals for March, I completed about 50% of what I set out to do. We hosted our VBAC class and I now have renewed energy to give birth to Tyler and grow our family. Our instructor was empowering and gave us so much information that I’m very confident in our decisions. In fact, I’m really really excited to meet him! Soon, very soon!

I’ve also put a dent into my new baby collection which I CANNOT WAIT to launch. Did you see the sneak preview? I also have a new launch coming tomorrow. Creativity is flowing over here folks!

We have our co-sleeper now and almost sold our furniture but thanks to sound advice from my dad, didn’t go through with it as it was a scam. A little PSA: if you ever get an email like this, run the other way! I’m so happy I did!.

But with all of the chaos of March, I’m taking a different approach to April. I’ve written out 11 habits I want to change and each month I want to focus solely on one. The best way to instill a new habit is to focus completely on it. For April, I want to work on disconnecting. I’m guilty of checking Facebook, Twitter AND my email every 5 minutes. In between completing tasks, waiting in line or even while hanging out with Kendall I’ll check to see if anyone has commented on a post, tweet, etc.

That is not the life I want to live.

Slowly I have been limiting my time on social media and email and already I’m seeing a difference; I’m calmer, able to focus and get more done. So I’ll continue working on limiting my daily social time in hopes to get our home ready for Tyler and enjoy time with my precious little family.

What are you going to work on this month?