Friends

On Saturday my dear friends Mindy + Michelle threw us a lovely shower (owl-themed of course). Here's a peek...

Not only did we celebrate Ezra's arrival into the family, but it also eased into an intimate time to share about our adoption journey thus far. Mmmm... There's nothing like good friends to share life's joys. x

Why we use gDiapers

Okay, so not really adoption related, but definitely "mommy" related, and we've gotten lots of questions about our diaper choice.

Why do we use gDiapers? We really like them, they're comfortable for Ezra, we think they're super cute, they are a cheaper alternative to disposables (in the long run), and...

Enough said.

Do we ever use disposable diapers? Yes... But striving to use gDiapers as much as we can. x

If you cannot see this video, look here.

April Showers

Some very generous ladies from Sunrise (church) blessed us last Saturday with a lovely baby shower in preparation for our little one (no, no word yet... still waiting). Some snapshots...








{a good friend's little one... our youngest guest}



Such nice gifts (lots of yellow + green!)... hopefully baby will come along soon. x

Beautiful Feet

Got these during our last visit to Cambodia... so cute, so small. x

Nursery Inspiration...{hoot}

Part of the adoption waiting room is getting ready for baby, just as any expectant parent would. Nursery, baby gear, registries, you name it. It's been pretty fun.

Our nursery theme... OWLS! Colors... orange, brown, sage, teal. I've always loved owls, but inspiration for the nursery officially began with this cute little guy...



Equally inspiring was our little travel swing by Fisher Price...



And for sleep... we are honored to be using a "one-year mini crib" (something my grandma says used to be "all the rave") that belonged to my grandpa when he was a baby, and then used again by my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins... and even me! Perhaps one of its most unique features is it has wheels, and is small and light enough to fit through doorways. Great for us, since we plan on co-sleeping (at least in the same room), but will also have the option of moving the crib around the house.

Here's my hubby cleaning it up and putting it together... (isn't he the cutest?)



I even got these super cute patches on Etsy to appliqué onto the mini crib bumper I found...



I'll keep posting as the projects move along...

A car seat was at the top of our priority list, so a couple of weeks ago we got an orange and grey Chicco travel system (car seat/stroller combo that click together) on Craigslist... excellent condition, half the price...

Registries? While we'll probably hold off any showers until after we've been officially matched, the registries have officially started at BabiesRUs and MyRegistry.com. x

Fair Trade Baby Products... Handmade in Cambodia

As we spend 3 weeks in Cambodia, it's been fun to share news with friends and colleagues regarding our adoption plans.

For this year's November member meeting, Chab Dai invited member organizations to participate in a "product fair"... each organization had the opportunity to display and sell products sewn or produced by their clients (many have projects focused on income generation, so the clients going through rehabilitation learn skills in sewing or jewelry making). The fair not only gave organizations the chance to show off the work of their clients, but also gave the rest of us a chance to do some Christmas shopping!

While shopping for Christmas goodies, we excitedly ran across some great baby products now being made by some of Chab Dai's members. Because these products support fair trade ethics and the income generation efforts of great organizations combating trafficking and exploitation (plus the products are totally adorable, unique + fashionable), we couldn't resist getting a few things...

So what did we get?

1) A baby mei tai made by Daughters Cambodia. Mei tais are all the rage for baby carriers in Australia & New Zealand these days, often referred to as the "Asian baby carrier" since they originated in China. Similar to "moby wraps" commonly used in the U.S., this carrier can carry a baby on the front or back. Daughters is a great program in Cambodia that helps women and girls who are sexually exploited. They help clients learn to sew, decorate cakes and make jewelry. The mei tai we chose is black + red with with a piece of traditional cloth sewn on the front from Mondulkiri, a primarily tribe hill area in northeastern Cambodia (Photos: R - Our mei tai from Daughters)

2) A charming, hand-sewn diaper bag set, created by Sak Saum, an organization focused on teaching vulnerable women sewing and business skills. They make some great products. Our black and white diaper bag set comes with a tote, changing pad, sling and nursing cover - all hand sewn, beautiful and unique. (Pictures to come)