ETSY Shop I'm Loving: Colette Bream

Gone are the days when I had disposable time to spend hours cyber-window shopping in Etsy.com boutiques. But I did recently stumble upon Colette Breams' gorgeous creations - namely, her organic cotton toddler bedding collection.

I love love love things for children that are not overly juvenile in their design. This set is perfect for a stylish little girl, but I'd like it for my own bedding too!

Colette in her creative space....wow.

Looks like my kind of heaven.

Colette's shop here.

five months. just like that.

Amelia is gettin' her chub on.

I am hanging on tightly to her babyness, as this second time around, I know just how fleeting a phase it really is.

sure, i still curse the 2 a.m. siren song from her crib as I stumble through the darkness. And of course I don't mean "siren song" as in enticing or appealing. I mean "siren song" as in SIREN.

Last night there was some confusion. The kind of confusion that can only be caused by being the over-tired parents of an infant. Usually by 2 or 3:00, Amelia is sleeping in bed with me. But last night, little Sadie found her way to our room first and jumped into bed. I woke up around 3:40 and heard a baby crying. Scott was pacing our room, half asleep, trying to locate the source of the crying. I became confused. Where was Amelia? What time is it? Scott was clearly very confused. The lights came on. Head-count in bed. Where's the baby? WHERE'S THE BABY?!?!! Oh! Oh. She's in her crib, she's in her room. She's fine, she's fine. Scott please go get her.

So he brings her back to me and we snuggle in. I begin to drift back to sleep. WAIT!! My eyes snap open. Where is Scott? He's not back in bed yet which can only mean one thing......FRIDGE RAID. Except he has a blood test in the morning and is supposed to have been fasting since last night.

"SCOTT!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I yell into the dark stillness of the house. (I don't really even have to ask. I can practically hear his esophagus working).

"HAVING A DRINK OF MILK," comes the reply.

"DON'T DRINK ANYTHIIIIIIINNNNNNG!!!!!!!"

"WHY??............Oh. Dammit!"

In PEI they call midnight snacks "bed-lunch". Scott has been a bed-luncher for as long as I've known him. The way things are going lately, I figure we might as well just become a nocturnal family.

We could have pet owls.

Milly's Mobile

The theme of Amelia's nursery, which is yet to be completed, is vintage carnival/circus (minus the sideshow and the bearded lady. Might include the wolf brothers though. just kidding).

I love this mobile that I found on etsy by jacksbeanstalk. If I was a baby I know I would dig this eye candy. Alas, the shop owner is about to have a wee one herself so it's unavailable to order.

So I'm going to attempt to make it myself! I went to the wool shop yesterday for some wool and a felting needle. Because, you know, I don't already have enough projects on the go. I'm pretty sure that filling my plate with too many to-dos is a life sentence! At least I'm never bored.

As for the needle felting, I'm relying on the internet to teach me how to do it, although I don't think it can be that hard. Any experts out there? If anyone has any tips for me, please share!

p.s. what's that you ask? 2 blog posts in 2 days?? I KNOW. this shizzle is off the chain! My keyboard is hot to the touch....

Getting around to it

Yes, friends, I am still here!

And now she is too.

I am back from my blogcation and am delighted to announce the safe arrival of our little Amelia Munro. She was born on July 27th at 2:44 pm and weighed a wee 6 lbs 6oz. She was 5/10 when we left the hospital so you can imagine how ridiculously big her car seat seemed. She's packin' it on though, last week she weighed in at a whopping 7/3! :)

I checked into the hospital on Tuesday, July 26th, expecting my "scheduled" section at 2:30 that afternoon. I guess the term "scheduled C-section" is used loosely around here. I was bumped for a full 24 hours due to emergencies and what I suppose was a lack of available medical staff. Because I had to fast, I was S.T.A.R.V.I.N.G. But finally it was game time and I found myself in the O.R. getting prepped for the surgery. It was a much different experience this time around (when Sadie was born via C-section, I had already been in labour for about 6 hours, it was an emergency, and also 2 a.m. so it was all kind of a blur). But this time, it was just your typical Wednesday afternoon and I was completely coherent, and therefore taking in all the details of my strange surroundings.....overhead operation lights, a clock on the wall, heart monitors, surgical tools, an empty bassinet waiting for a baby, and at first 1.....2....then 3...4...5...6...7...8 masked people filing into the windowless room, prepping various stations. Just before I received the anesthetic, I had to focus on a spot on the wall in front of me to avoid panic setting in!

But I can't say enough good things about the team of people that were a part of Amelia's birth. I am so thankful to all of the doctors and nurses. Thank goodness there are people who choose this line of work and are excellent at what they do!

Scott videotaped the entire surgery and delivery. The first thing he said to me was "lots of dark hair!" Then I heard a tiny little cry and saw our second daughter being lifted out of my body. After she was checked over and brought over to me, the first thing I noticed about her was how perfect and fresh and new her skin was. And that newborn smell, OH that wonderful smell! She looks a little bit like her big sister, but also has some of her own unique features of course, like her "uni-dimple" ;)

And just TINY. Almost intimidatingly so. Has anyone seen the movie Babe Pig in the City? You know when the chimpanzees have those babies? That's kind of what she reminded me of....

Now she's 3 and a half weeks old and we're adjusting to life as a family of 4......more about that later. But I will say that it's joy and chaos all in the same moment!

p.s. Ellen is the winner of the K&P baby pool! you were very close, Elle!

Koo & Poppet Baby Pool!

7 weeks to go!

Here's how to enter the Koo & Poppet Baby Pool:

Leave a comment on this post, or on the Koo & Poppet Facebook Page with the following guesses:

1. Boy or girl

2. Weight

3. Date

4. Suggest a name

Whoever is closest will win a Koo & Poppet bunny......and there will be a bonus prize if we choose your name suggestion! (p.s. we have NO ideas for a boy's name)

The 26 week belly

I promise one with a head next time.....

Pills to swallow and the April report

Uh oh. I can't believe it's been a month since I've written anything. Is anyone still out there?

You would think that now that I'm done work and am home full time with Sadie, there would be more time to blog and sew and paint and do all the things I planned on doing. But I haven't even started doing my taxes yet.

Well I guess the best thing to do would be a monthly re-cap.

On St. Patrick's day I was on my way to a site visit with my colleague and my cell phone rang. It was my doctor's office calling. The receptionist said I needed to come in right away and that there were a few issues on my 18 week ultrasound. I asked what kind of issues. She said that "things are just looking really thin down there. Also, you are done work as of today."

So I scrapped the site visit and was in the doctor's office by 1:00. The problem is that the scar from my C-Section with Sadie is very thin and they are not sure whether or not I will be able to carry this baby to term. So I was taken off work and told to take it as easy as possible and we'll just see how everything goes. There is a real possibility that the baby could be born very early!

Here is a photo at 24 weeks...

Then, amidst all this pregnancy stuff, we lost a beloved member of our household.

A few weeks ago, we suddenly noticed that our cat had lost a pile of weight. Then she pretty much stopped eating altogether. I took the poor girl in for a check-up and she wound up overnight in the animal hospital hooked up to an IV. CHA-CHING. They ran some tests but couldn't come up with a diagnosis. CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING. She was dying of an undetermined illness.

A couple hundred bucks, we figured - even without any firm answers.

Think again. Here is our vet bill:

(Allow me to choke on the pint of ice cream I am elbow deep in)

So we were sent packing with that pill to swallow as well as a bunch of white ones for the cat to swallow. Shaaa, RIGHT. Who has ever known a cat who will voluntarily take a little white antibiotic? So the experimentation began. At 11:00 one night, I heard Scott in the kitchen with what sounded like a power tool:

The assortment of scraps you see in this photo include ham, cheerios, white pills and cat treats. Nothing was working so he actually cut a cat treat in half, drilled a shallow pit in each side, and planted the pill flush inside the hole. How he accomplished this with such expert precision is a mystery to me. Then he stuck the two halves back together with some water and a couple of minutes in the freezer. I don't think we should try to cross the border with these anytime soon.

Yes I know.

You are speechless.

So was I.

Have You Ever Heard Of Such A Thing?

Did this experimental method work?

What do you think?

Of course not.

Someway, somehow Val still knew her meds were in there.

So poor kitty was running out of options to recover from whatever was ailing her. Could have been an infection, could have been thyroid problems, could have been cancer.

We gave her all the attention she could get in her last few days and when her eyesight started to fail, we knew it was time to let her go. We had to put her down on Saturday morning. It was so so sad. I miss her so much. Sadie said to me this morning: "You miss the kitty mommy?""Yes", I said. "Don't worry mommy, Daddy go and get her and bring her home to you." Gulp.

(Valentino in her kittenhood)

In Koo & Poppet news, I've shut down the etsy shop temporarily until after the baby is born. But I did squeak in a few last orders, like this "T" tulip pillow and a new piggy named Zoe:

And then of course, there are the on-going home improvements.....here is the current state of the family room....one more week to go:

And one of a little "Rapunzel" (her favourite) for good measure:

And now, while my Rapunzel is still a Sleeping Beauty, I shall have more ice cream....

Wonderful Winter Woolies and Westcoast Waffles

This is how January feels on the Westcoast:

(collage by ZukZuk)

But luckily, I have found some not-so-dreary Westcoast creations that will warm the body and soul.

My friend Beatriz makes gorgeous hand-knit cowls in Vancouver, BC. I practically live in mine.

To see the entire lucky-14 collection, go here.

Ahhhhh, behold my latest obsession. Also Vancouver-based, Granted Clothing has taken the chunky sweater to new heights. I was doing REALLY well with a new personal conviction to stick to a meager clothing budget. That is, until Granted came into my life. I haven't actually leapt off the deep end yet, but I am oh so tempted....

And finally, to warm the soul:

Strawberry and Banana Buckwheat waffle with Okanagan apple maple syrup

Westcoast Waffles

p.s. That waffle was my lunch today. Special occasion, you ask? A pick-me-up for a case of the Monday/January blahs? No and no.

I will tell you how it came to be my lunch.

A certain kind of hunger has taken over my usually tame appetite. An insatiable hunger that causes even the dormant carnivore in my vegetarian self to emerge, desperate to chow down on some meat! The kind that causes cravings that cannot - MUST NOT - be ignored!! Today it was waffles. Tomorrow it might be Chimichangas. Who's to say? And after all of that topping and syrup.....I was still hungry....

So perhaps the "big news" I alluded to last year now comes as no surprise....

I am expecting a baby!

FEED ME!!!!

Best Baby Products: a BIG FAT HEN sale!!

Calling all moms and dads of little tiny people! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? How much of it will you do online? If you're looking for a good place to start, I have an idea for you.....

Until November 7th, Canadian-based BIG FAT HEN is having a crazy sale on their organic cotton sleep sacks. You'll get them for 50% when you order off their website www.bigfathen.ca. Yes, 50%! Not to mention, the first 50 people to share the sale on their social media sites and report back will receive a Big Fat Hen gift (click here to follow BFH on twitter). It's win/win!

Plus, I happen to know Miss Emily (BFH's CEO) personally, and I can tell you with complete confidence that these products are of the highest quality and craftsmanship!!

Check out the sleep sack selection here. These are a perfect holiday gift for babies far and wide......

(Sound familiar? You might remember BIG FAT HEN from this collaborative giveaway)

"A" is for Adorable

Some great photos of a happy customer!

This little one-year-old's mama authors a wonderful blog, be sure to visit her here.

Big Fat Hen: Canadian-made

photos: open image

How cute are these quilts?

Big Fat Hen is a growing Canadian company based in Calgary, Alberta. Owner Emily's story is a familiar one: Big Fan Hen originated after the birth of her first child, when her quest for a cozy yet modern crib set proved elusive. So she did what any creative mama would do and started a company, finding her own niche in the marketplace.
I am very excited to announce that Koo & Poppet will be teaming up with Big Fat Hen for an exciting giveaway. Big Fat Koo? Hen & Poppet? Big Koo Fat Poppet? It's a surprise for now, but all details will be released within a month. Check back soon, you don't wanna miss this one!

::Big Fat Hen::

KLUB KOO: Ember and "Ruby"

photo: Sarah Ferguson

Just in time for Valentine's Day, here's an adorable photo of 2-month-old Ember and her Ruby bunny. It looks like they make a wonderful pair!

Spring? Is that you?

Little Carter from Calgary

Here is the latest wee inductee to Klub Koo:
I never realized that any Koo & Poppet product had the potential to be substantially larger than the child who enjoys it!

I made this pillow along with an "A" pillow for big brother Aiden last September. One of the cutest and funniest things I have ever read was a message sent to me from my friend Charlotte, who purchased these pillows for her friend's children:

"I forgot to mention in my earlier message that Aiden loves the card you sent just as much as the pillows (the one with the instructions of what pillowforms to buy and how to wash them). He gets his parents to read it to him every night before he goes to bed."

Coming soon, new Koo & Poppet bedtime stories: "Once upon a time, there was a pillow who loved to be spot-cleaned and hand-washed when necessary....."

(Aiden, you're awesome)

She has her cake and eats it too....

Sadie celebrated her first birthday on November 6th! 

(Don't worry, that's chocolate, not.......the other stuff)

It's a bird, it's a plane......

....it's a Wheelybug!!!

How cute is Sadie's new ride-on? It was a gift from her grandparents!

Also available as a ladybug, mouse, and cow.