My little Yowl

Luciana was going to be an owl for Halloween.

Instead she is a Yowl.

The card said Happy Owleen. I was all set to pose her in a tree for you.

I probably don't need to say that didn't happen.

Oh, babies. They're just not show ponies.

Happy Hallowen!

Moulin Roty toy company

Here's what it looks like these days:

Luciana naps for 25-45 minutes at a time a few times a day. During said naps, mama either 1)gets a little exercise and /or takes a shower and/or throws some laundry in 2) frets that the house is a mess and tries to clean then remembers that it doesn't really matter 3) returns some emails 4) does a few minutes of meditating 5) handles anything unusual on the horizon that day, ie reading scripts, organizing holiday stuff, cooking for a party 6) tries to blog. Thank you for being patient with me on the short entries that come when they come!

You can see from the subject matter of recent posts that I am baby-shopping-happy.

I discovered Moulin Roty toys when shopping at Eggy recently. I came home with Luciana's first Christmas present

and a wooden train whistle for my nephew Dash. I'm almost overwhelmed by their incredible site, which practically brings tears to my eyes with how much soul the toys have. This one, from the Zazous collection, reminded me of the Velveteen Rabbit (tell me you know too grew up with that book!). I can see Luciana carrying it in its floppy yumminess for years. I could post I think 50 images from the Moulin collections. I'll put a few up, and I invite you to go get lost in the site. Check out their "fun" page where they put up winners of their photo competition--so sweet. The animals you'll soon meet have names like Perlette the Frog, Amedee the Duck, Felicie the Hen. I've been looking for some sweet puppets for Luciana and I think I've found them

Look at these mobiles!!

And below is just a sampling of what you'll find there: musical instruments; wooden toys like this push bus--they also have trolleys, wagons, money banks, wooden rings and rattles ; baby slippers; and more beloved furry creatures. For those of you decorating a nursery this is almost a one-stop shop.

There's even a tricycle

If you search for an online retailer on their site you'll be directed to shops in the UK, but Amazon has some as well as Alex and Alexa, you can order from their actual site, though that international shipping might be a bear, and if you live in the LA area it's just another excuse to get to Eggy on 3rd.

Joyeaux shopping!

Tane Organics

Am I way behind all hip mamas in that I am just now finding out about Tane Organics? I saw some of their stuff when I was in one of my most favorite baby stores and I am head-over-heels. Want to wrap Luciana up in everything they make. And who are the babies on their site?

Hello beautiful beings!

I would love this quartz-colored kimono onesie anyway, but when you showcase it with her?This heart is melting.

I've never seen a henley onesie, and now I'm pretty sure Luciana would be in one 3 days a week.

This sweet dress is what I saw in Eggy and almost fell over. I know this picture is sooooo tiny but trust me: pair it with some leggings? I'd probably try to borrow it.

And of course (because they're so awesome) they have blankets, toys, and the best booties I've just about ever seen.

I approve of the vintage teddy bear, btw.

And because on top of being beautiful, soft, completely organic, and named for the Japanese word for "seed", Tane couldn't stop there. They're also charitable, and the proceeds from every single sale of this globe rattle goes to an organization which funds education in rural areas around the world. It's their I am the World campaign, which of course is the perfect name.

I think my Christmas list will be at least 3/4 Tane organics. I don't ask for things for me anymore.

Reading Material

I've read some incredible articles lately on parenting and want to share two of them with you. I don't think you need to be a parent to find these very very worth your time.

This first one, from the Atlantic monthly, was given to me by the leader of the moms' group I'm in, which is so wonderful. You'll be hearing more about it for sure. Basically this article talks about how as parents these days we can try so hard to tune into our kids and in doing so give them everything they want and need---and indeed believe that this is helping them to find what truly matters to them and makes them happy----but in fact can leave them feeling empty and lost and that something is wrong if they aren't happy all the time. It's a nice counterpart to some other wonderful material that's out there.

How to Land Your Kid in Therapy

This next one might make you cry. For a couple of days. I know the writer from her days in LA; she lives and teaches in Santa Fe now. Her little boy was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease after his birth--her prenatal tests were negative. It's a heartbreaking yet inspiring look at the power and preciousness of just loving your baby. I'd go get the tissues now if I were you.

Notes from a Dragon Mom

It's beautiful and fascinating to have a whole new realm of reading be top of my interest list. I'd love to know your favorites in this area! Because Luciana and I aren't doing crafts yet, I confess my Marthas from this month and last are sitting there unread. I do plan to get to them this weekend. I'd like to.

I'm Dreaming of a White......

It's early to start thinking of winter, especially when here in SoCal we're having another Indian summer and it's almost 90 degrees on the westside. Growing up in South Carolina and now living in LA I can't say I'm a pro at winter. Real winter. I love to romanticize it, imagine myself in muffs and long wool coats in crunchy snow making my way to my chalet where I'll cook stew, serve rich red wine to a table full of friends, and sleep with 4 dogs under a big fur throw. Faux fur of course. No animals have been harmed in the production of this daydream.

In truth I get cold when it's 60 degrees out and don't know how to make a proper snowball.

The Heath seasonal collection, however, might serve as well as a vacation in the Alps, and if I use that as a gauge, is totally affordable....I love the etching, like branches in snow, and the warmth of the interiors.

It's not too early to start dreaming about winter, after all.

bowl of roasted squash and farro, anyone?

surely a neighbor has some bushes with red berries for this......

But for now I'm going to get a popsicle.

10 Weeks

Halfway between 2 and 3 months. And at 3 months she's not a newborn anymore!

She is now....

reaching for things, especially her green sock monkey Max.

squealing for the fun of it. Sometimes 8 in a row.

talking in paragraphs in her own language. It's astonishing.

rolling onto her side. I catch her thinking about it-her face gets a serious expression--she's really pondering--- and then she does it.

It's crazy. A week or two weeks ago she wasn't doing those things. I'm telling you, I don't need to go the movies anymore (like I could). I just watch her.

It's already going so fast, my darling girl. Every minute of sleep I don't get because you'd like me to be awake is worth it to be with you.

Smock Paper

I think I've been admiring Smock Paper for a while. But not until this weekend, when I picked up a box of Thank You cards at Kellygreen did I realize it.

(those are the ones I got--how lovely?!)

Now I think I might only buy theirs. Smock is the first bamboo print shop in the US, meaning all this letterpressed beauty is totally eco. Not only is the paper bamboo and the ink vegetable based, the print shop is 100% wind-powered. I am IN LOVE.

Not only can one find adorable occasion cards

but you can design your wedding invite or any other special day--I loved the invite to this event I found on their blog-- they do gorgeous custom work which you can and might want to peruse.

I adore how much color there is and the sometimes vintage, sometimes almost a little kitschy, sometimes completely elegant design. The founder and designer, it turns out, founded Snow & Graham, of which I am a fan. But this has the eco-edge. I'm a devotee in one day. And said founder/designer draws inspiration from, among many other glorious sources, the photos of Julia Margaret Cameron. Deep sigh.

I want their entire page of gift wrap, but with the holidays coming up (did I just say that?) I might not be able to resist some mistletoe

And suddenly I need a new inbox on my desk

Someone take me out of the room. Now. This is getting out of control.