Baby No. 2 Nursery Ideas

Hi all! Lauren here again from A Lovely Lark! We’re currently pregnant with baby number two, and I’ve gotten a lot of questions about if we are a) finding out the gender of baby number two and b) if we will be changing the nursery decor. Yes, we are definitely finding out if this little bean is a guy or gal (December 6th is our ultrasound date!) I think we may have the ultrasound technician write down the gender on a card like we did the last time with Violet and open it at a later date. There’s just something about that moment that I want to be personal, and I don’t want to share it with a stranger. We may even have a very small gender reveal party with family afterward. Since we won’t be having a shower this time around I thought it could be a fun way to celebrate together

As far as the nursery I would like to change the decor a bit but keep the main pieces (crib, dresser, etc.). The only piece of furniture I’d be thrilled to change out is the glider, but I doubt that will happen because we are pinching our pennies so that I can stay home for a while with the baby and Violet. If the babe is a girl I’m really loving the items above. (If you’d like sources, you can check them out here) I thought it was kind of funny that after putting the idea board together I realized the color scheme is very similar to the current nursery. Of course we won’t be able to afford many of the above items but in a dream world this is a favorite look of mine. I’m still thinking on the boy thing – that’s so different for me I don’t have a vision in my mind of what it might look like yet. Stay tuned! xo, Lauren

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the holiday giveaway – win an Ergobaby carrier and over $700 in other loot for your little ones! And more holiday gift guides are up – you can check them out here.

Holiday Gift Guide Sneak Peek + a Big Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m Lauren from A Lovely Lark and I’m guest posting for Shari while she’s on her road trip. I thought it would be fun to share one of my gift guides here on Spearmint Baby with all of you today. I’ll be posting one or two gift guides each day up until Thanksgiving over on my blog, A Lovely Lark. Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of one that I’ll be posting later today for the babes:

 

For Your Little Artist: Gift Guide 2011

Clockwise from top left: Potato Printing book, yeti latch hook kit, clementine art supplies, Let’s Make Some Great Art book, Doodles at Breakfast book, organic wooden truck crayon holder, artist’s pad, child’s lap loom

www.withtwocats.com

Holiday Cup Cozies

Very festive, don’t you think? & can you believe that they were made from $1 bin Christmas socks? (gosh, I love Target!) Get the DIY “how to” at party-wagon.com.

This darling project was found via A few of my favorite things…I love all of her fun finds!!

Holiday Cards

Happy Monday! Hope you had a nice weekend.

We finally did a little holiday decorating last night and to get in the mood we put on some holiday music & had a little dance party. Now we just need a tree -hopefully we’ll get to it on Saturday morning! It seems like the older I get, the faster the time goes (especially between Thanksgiving & Christmas!)

If you haven’t ordered your holiday cards yet, I wanted to share one of my favorites..aren’t these sweet by Jelli & Ink?

She also makes the sweetest Birthday invites!

For Your Wee Ones: Christmas Gift Guide

Clockwise from top left: Tutu Dumonde Headband, Starry Night Horse Pajamas, Wooly the Sheep Bla Bla, Wovenplay Featherband, Pretty Little Things Boho Beauty, Maize Headband, Sequin Headband, Penguin Embroidered Classics, Custom Name Plate, Metallic Knee Patch Tights, Teepee, Knit Tights, Minnetonka Moccasin Boots 

Clockwise from top left: Wooden Toy Stroller, Wooden Toy Camera, Fingerprinting Set, Face It Puzzle, Wooden Sled, Custom Paper Dolls, Wooden Alphabet Puzzle

Ideas for the Kids’ Table

If you’re having the fam over for a holiday meal this year, don’t forget about the little guys. Here are a six inspiring ideas for the kids’ table:

1. Craft paper + crayons

2. Chalkboard paint + chalk (minus the vino)

3. Checklist

4. Clearly a fun activity

5. Paper cutouts

armelle

 

6. Fringe

Martha Stewart

Red and White Stripes

One of my favorite things about the 4th of July is seeing all of the red and white stripes. Patriotic, yes. But also bright and cheerful. I’ve rounded up a collection of my favorite red and white stripe-y things for the little ones that are perfect all year long.

1. Kool Kid Leg Warmers | 2. Up in the Sky Print | 3. Mustache Buttons

4. Tonight We Shall Be Wolves Print | 5. Striped Elephant | 6. Party Favor Kit

7. Stuffed Rabbit | 8. Striped Booties | 9. Samantha Doll

For Your Wee Ones: Stars & Stripes

Clockwise from top left: silver star hair pin, star charm necklace, ruffle star top, star sandwiches, gold star hair pin, striped jersey shoes, wooden star teether, striped onesie

http://www.withtwocats.com

The Perfect Mother’s Day

For Breakfast: Free Mother’s Day breakfast printables from the genius Jordan Ferney:

Card from Baby: Our babysitter made us this adorable card for Valentine’s Day, but it would work equally well for Mother’s Day:

Card from Dad: Rifle Paper Co. – You can’t find prettier paper products anywhere else.

A Family Portrait: Etsy has a ton of great options. Try out The Paper Mama Shop, Pop Pop Portraits, or for something more abstract visit Cozy Blue.

 

A Fun & Easy Easter Breakfast

Getting your kids to eat breakfast on Easter can be a challenge when all they want to put in their mouths are peeps and chocolate bunny ears. Here’s a fun and easy breakfast that no kid will say no to:

Decorate your table with some grass and hand-painted eggs, and you have the makings of a festive Easter table fit for the Easter bunny himself! (Not into food dyes? I bet that bunny would look just as cute if he was brown.) Here are the how-to’s:

 

For Your Wee Ones: Easter Gifts

Looking for a great anti-cavity gift for your favorite little one this Easter? Here are a few of my favorites:

Thinking Ouside of the Basket

It’s Violet’s first Easter this year, and I’ve been at a bit of a loss when it comes to a basket. The H-Haus is teeny tiny, and storage for big woven Easter baskets is virtually non-existent.

So I thought instead of a traditional Easter basket, why not go with a handmade cloth bin? You could find one that’s covered in bunnies and eggs or go with a more neutral choice that can be used year-round – they’re great for corralling books, toys, you name it! And bonus – most fold flat for easy storage. Here are a few of my favorites:

Clockwise from top left: linen bunny, morning glory, blue stripe bunny, pink bunny, custom blue stripe, green bow

Easter’s just around the corner, so hop to it!

My Holiday Picks

a little late for the holidays, but some girly wall art/photography for the nursery. everyone i know is having a little girl! is anyone pregnant with a boy?? from Simply Hue

My Holiday Picks – Clothing for the Boys

just a few on my list of faves. Rexford will definitely be getting that Marled Sweater – my husband has a similar sweater from the Gap so they can be twins! i am also getting him the black sweatshirt hoodie, the workwear loose jean, and the UBER COOL sneakers for next winter! (do you think he will be able to sit still long enough for me to get them tied??)

i LOVE baby boy clothes )))

My Holiday Picks – Clothing for Toddler Girls!

if you have not yet discovered 77 Kids you are missing out! i was shopping for a black tie dress last summer and stumbled upon this store in the mall. i was pleasantly surprised by the sale and clearance section- i could actually afford these clothes! (doesn’t that always happen…when you are shopping for something specific, you end up coming home with all kinds of things you had no intention of buying!)

all of my picks are from the big sale/clearance online. if you don’t need anymore clothes for this winter, buy the next size up for next winter. (i am going to purchase a few of my fave things for harper in 3T for next winter!)

p.s. skinny jeans are much cuter on babies!
p.s.s. tomorrow i will be posting my picks for your little guy!

My Holiday Picks – give a gift that keeps giving!

if you are strugging to find the perfect gift this holiday season, check out the FEED Project. FEED Projects’ mission is to create good products that help FEED the world!

My fave gifts from their site include:

the Feed 2 Bag. it is made from natural burlap and 100% organic cotton. it has a messenger strap which is so handy for moms that always have their hands full! it also has a copper d-ring closure so your babies cannot empty everything onto the floor! each FEED 2 bag sold feeds 2 children in school for an entire year through the United Nations World Food Programme.

the Feed 10 Pouch in White. it is made from organic canvas and accented with luxurious plum recycled-nylon lining. it also has an interior organic canvas credit card holder and a gold zipper. i am thinking this might be the perfect little pouch for the gym. i never like to bring my purse in, so this would be a stylish way to carry my money, phone, and ID. each FEED 10 pouch provides food and job skill training to 10 women through the United Nation World Food Programme’s Food for Assets program.

…and of course the the Feed 3 Bear, “Nut” -made of 100% plush organic cotton and natural burlap. the cutest little stocking stuffer! Nut” will provide Plumpy’Nut® for 3 children through Industrial Revelation. here is some information about Plumpy’Nut and here is info about Industrial Revelation!

My Holiday Picks

i spotted this fun abacus from CB2 & love the idea for a nursery, child’s room/playroom, or even your own! modern, colorful, and educational

i like how they mounted 2 of them together in the photos below:

My Holiday Picks

Mustache Onesie

Whale Pillow

any baby would be adorable in a mustache onesie…a perfect stocking stuffer and fun for Christmas morning baby photos. (Rexford will be getting one this spring!)

…and these whale pillows will add the perfect quirkiness to your nursery!

My Holiday Picks

if your kids are anything like mine, they really don’t NEED anything! i hope to teach them from an early age that one more toy is not going to make much of a difference in their lives.

the last couple of years i have visited our local animal shelter, The Animal Orphanage, around the holidays to make a small donation.
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this will become a holiday tradition for my children and i hope that they will begin to understand the concept of giving.

visit your local animal shelter or Humane Society to see how you can help and make a happier holiday for all of the orphans! last year our local shelter was also taking old pillowcases, towels, blankets, etc. call your’s to see what kinds of items they may need.

My Holiday Picks

Rexford is wearing MONKEY – mimiTENS™ bébé ALL WEATHER
Harper is wearing SQUIRREL – mimiTENS™ toddler ALL WEATHER

keeping your little one’s skin protected on the coldest of winter days is so so important. it is pretty much impossible to keep their delicate hands covered with normal mittens.

so, when MimiTENS sent these adorable mittens for Harper and Rexford i was so so thrilled! as you can see, they have long, stretchy cuffs that go all the way to the elbow so they do not fall off. you can buy them in just about every color combo to match your child’s winter coat.

they are also made of water-repellent nylon and lined with Thinsulate insulation so their soft, tiny hands will stay toasty warm.

P.S the mimiTENS™ bébé through size 18 months do not have thumbs. i always giggle when i put on Rexford’s thumbless mittens!

Activity Books

we love books that are also activities. sticker books are always a hit with Harper (23 months), and i just came across Taro Gomi’s Play All Day. i purchased it as a stocking stuffer. i think Harper will have a lot of fun with this book!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Taro Gomi invites children to punch out more than 60 fantastic playthings, including ring-toss games, finger puppets, boxes, picture frames, a zoo’s worth of animals, and more! Packed with Gomi’s fun, accessible artwork and a delightful variety of games and toys, this book will appeal to children of all ages, engaging their imaginations and entertaining them all day long.

ps.. (i would love to hear about your recommendations for activity books)

My Holiday Picks

Elmo
Zoe
Big Bird
Ernie
Bert
Grover
Cookie Monster
Oscar

there is a Sesame Street OBSESSION in our house. i limit TV watching, but harper still talks about Momo (Elmo) and Gaga (Rosita) all day long! if anyone knows where to get a Rosita doll, please let me know.

harper got a Tickle Me Elmo for Hanukkah last night:

and i may get her the Grover puppet for Christmas!

My Holiday Picks

World Market

Finn’s Finds

i love the idea of starting a Christmas tradition…wouldn’t it be fun to have a gingerbread house to color with your kids on Christmas morning? (when i was a child we used to color the big Turkey printed in the Star Tribune Newspaper every Thanksgiving!)

if you are expecting or know someone expecting around the holidays, these soft rattles are so cute and perfect for grasping and teething. they also have a small bell inside them!

My Holiday Picks

Fantastic Little Fox Coat

Waiting Patiently

stop by every day in December to see some of my favorite things! today on my list is an adorable coat- perfect for you child’s winter photoshoot.

i also LOVE this wintery print. isn’t it sweet? perfect for those decorating a nursery for their winter baby!

my picks

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&nbsp&nbsp&nbspDr. Seuss Onesie&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspFav. DIY Projects&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMost Adorable Onesie!

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&nbsp&nbspMy Book Review&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMy Crayon Project&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMy Book Review
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&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMy Book Review&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspSophie Feature&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspSee HQ’s Pink Bath Set!

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&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspHQ Using Crayons&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspPhoto Of Ours&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMobile Favs