Littlest Baby Girl Maxham.

With Felix, I had her name picked out for awhile. With baby girl number two, we knew we wanted to stick with a family name. We ordered vintage blocks of Felix's baby sister's name.

She'll be named after my husband's Uncle Noel (spelt the same way) but pronounced "Noelle." I wish our Noel and I could have met him. 

Ultrasound photos from 3 weeks ago of our littlest when we found out we were having another beautiful girl.

I love that she looks like she's already smiling in the first one and her leg makes me giggle in the second one.

I love that our girls are both named after family (coincidentally, male family members too!). I think it's even more romantic that my husband named her. It's a fitting name for a December baby, don't you think?

Noel Lechuga Maxham, we can't wait to meet you! 

(Lechuga is my maiden name)

*custom name blocks from Vintage by Alex Keller on etsy. I love Alex and ordered Felix's name with her too. She will take photos of different styles until you choose the perfect blocks. Perfect for nurseries/baby shower gifts.

Mother's Day Wish List.

I get butterflies when I think about Sunday, my first Mother's Day. It's pretty special that I'll be celebrating my first Mother's Day with my Mama.

Here are a few things off etsy that I wouldn't mind getting, just for being Felix's Mama: 

Under This Moon bracelet (customized lunar phase charm from the night Felix was born) 

Ombre glitter gold feather clips 

I Party With Jay Gatsby tank (just in time for the movie)

Cheeky coffee mug

Above the knuckle ring *link was broken on pintrest--don't you hate when that happens?

A quote about Motherhood for the space above my computer

But honestly, this Mama wants a card more than anything {the book lover in me wants this one}. Okay, that and to sleep in. And by sleep in, I would settle for 9 a.m. 

Fall in love with Ren Dear.

My friend Lauren just opened a beautiful embroidery shop on etsy called Ren Dear. I'm smitten with everything in it! 

From her description of her happy little embroidery shop: You can find simplistic, sweet-and affordable!- designs made with needle and thread. 

Lauren specializes in lyric & movie quotes like the above, a great line from one of my favorite books (I agree with her description on this listing--we all have a bit of Charlie in us). I need this for above our bed! 

 ^Hands down, my favorite movie line. Gets me every single time

These would make the perfect gifts for any occasion. Housewarming, baby shower, birthday, or for yourself because you deserve a treat. They go with every decor and are everything you'd want in a gift- so pretty (+ handmade!) and incredibly thoughtful.

Such beautiful details:

the back of the embroideries are double-felted for protection

I love she offers a great price on custom orders. I know Lauren, and I know anything she made for you will be with a lot of thought and heart. 

*Lovies, definitely check out Ren Dear on etsy because right now through May 10th, Lauren is offering 30 % OFF with coupon code FELIX. 

crewel wishes.

One of my favorite pieces I thrifted for Felix's nursery is this crewel embroidered owl.

I daydream of coming across a Try A Little Kindness crewel piece like the one in this gorgeous blogger's nursery. I would love a God Bless Our Pad too, please. 

Here are some crewel art in my etsy favorites that I wouldn't mind hanging in Fe's nursery : 

1 from Fire Lake

2 from The Honeysuckle Shop

3 from Mella Fina

4 from Happy Kristen

I wish I could sew. And if I could, I would snatch this Hedgehog pin cushion from Tarnish and Tatters.

Clearly, I need some more crewel in my life. 

Felix's Mama Doll.

Last year for Father's Day, I surprised my husband with a custom Who's Your Daddy doll from Duke & June. I have loved watching Felix play with her daddy doll. Imagine how excited I was when Mandi started making Mama dolls! 

My sweet twinkie Marianne ordered one for Felix for our birthday and lovies--- I am so in awe of Mandi's work yet again. 

Her attention to detail (like my side part, beauty mark) makes the doll one of a kind. Marianne chose the floral dress I wore during our maternity shoot. How Mandi found fabric exactly like my dress makes her (and my doll) even more amazing! She even made sandals like the ones I was wearing.

I love these dolls so much and think how special I hope they will always be to Felix.  I would have loved to have one of my parents when they were young and first figuring out their little family.

We're best friends, didn't you know?

 and then my heart exploded!

Her poses kill me! Oh Felix girl, you are something else.

Marianne, you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift for us. We love you and your thoughtful heart! XO 

Mandi, we love your thoughtful heart too. Thank-you for taking the time to make another extraordinary doll, even with nesting and being 30+ weeks pregnant. I know I say that over and over, but I am a huge fan of your dolls. You are awesome, my friend. THANK-YOU!!! Our best wishes for baby Duke ♥

I do too.

This mug by The Pot Bank made me giggle. I'm one of those that really wants to like tea. And the first time I ever felt Felix kick--I mean really knew that it was her kicking me with her foot or little hand--was while reading Fifty Shades in a bathtub of bubbles. I'll never forget it or how it made me laugh because it happened while I was reading about sexy BDSM and lusting over a fictional character.

Happy New Week, Lovies! and thank-you everyone for the sweet birthday messages here, FB, IG and Twitter.

Speaking of Twitter, Marianne, this mug is so you!

Claire and Christina, am I right or what? ha

Why go anywhere else than Etsy?

Etsy really is my go-to place for any occasion that calls for a gift. I thought I would share my last couple of purchases that went out to sweet friends. 

To me, nothing is better than handmade. I believe in sharing Etsy shops where I wanted to hug the shop owners in person. I love when they go that extra mile-- like when you tell them it's a gift going directly to the recipient and ask if they could include your note. Not only will they gladly do that, but they'll put it on pretty paper. Things like that make me want to recognize these shops (and again, hug their owners!) and always want to buy from Etsy. 

For Christmas, I sent Lauren a plush Narwhal (two things she loves) from Pink Chocolate. Chanel makes her plushies by hand and without a pattern. Because of that, I couldn't believe how reasonable the prices were for great handmade quality. 

For our friend Phoenix's birthday, my twin sister Marianne and I purchased this beautiful embroidered pillow from Sincerely Micah. Phoenix's husband calls her bunny so we thought this pretty would be perfect for their home. 

Remember my ornament swap? (the one I swore I would post a showcase about and then motherhood happened? I promise to showcase them in November during sign-ups. Ugh forgive me!) Christine was so understanding when her swap partner had something come up and wasn't able to send her something in time. I wanted to surprise Christine, just like when she made these ornaments for me. I sent her this cute vintage Santa ornament from Sweetgyrl and Pops.

I asked Anne (the shop owner) if she would include a note for me and look at the notecard Anne sweetly printed it on. 

For our future sister-in-law's birthday in January, Marianne and I played detective and surprised Christina with this open back yoga top that was in her Etsy favorites. Sexy for her 30th birthday and practical since she's a yogi. It's from Lychee Grove where you can find handmade, hand dyed fitness/loungewear apparel.  

Another Etsy and shop owner to love is Maria of Minimalista Clothing. Marianne and I sent this Frida Kahlo onesie to our friend Jessy, who just had her first baby, a beautiful girl named Frida. Maria included our note on her pretty stationary. 

It's these little touches that make me want to shop handmade always. 

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Target. But when it comes to getting something for a one of a kind friend, they deserve something one of a kind.

What was your last purchase(s) from Etsy? (even if it was a gift for yourself, I wanna know!) I'm always on the lookout for new Etsy shops to love. 

For keeps.

I was only six months pregnant at the time, but I couldn't resist buying Felix a Who's Your Daddy doll from Duke & June. I actually got it for for husband for Father's Day. 

Seeing her with her doll now makes me smile. It's one I hope she'll always have. 

(Duke & June now has a blog! Mandi posted about a custom couple order. I'm thinking Felix needs a Who's Your Mama dolly) 

Sharing Sundays... Etsy Faves, Valentine Edition.

You Have My Heart crochet and antique lace garland from itchin' stitchin'

Mini Sequin XO from twisted twig

Children's Heart Headband from casual cuties

Ernest Hemingway print from oh my deer

Heart Cut Out Sweater (elbow patches + stripes & a heart? YES!) from Bglorified Boutique

PS. Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

For my friend Erin.

One of my first close blog friends was Erin of Pugh's News. We are still incredibly close and now that we both have iphones (hurray!) I love that she is just a text away. 

She was one of the first persons I told I was getting married. It was during our first Skype date and she had little Sawyer in her lap. Not surprisingly, she was one of the first I told about Felix. After we found out baby Maxham was a girl, Erin sent me this onesie she custom ordered from Gentry's Closet. 

I remember this particular gift made me feel like this was really happening. My dream of being a Mama was coming true. Something about seeing her name and the star on her birthplace. I couldn't wait until Felix could wear it and at the time it seemed so far away.

Auntie Erin, this photo is for you!

Erin, Felix has been playing in her onesie all afternoon. It's perfect! Thank-you again. We love you so much XO

a sweet holiday tradition.

I'm so in love with our White Christmas tree. I love that this year--as with every year--I got to decorate it with new ornaments from dear friends. 

I ordered an owl ornament (which you'll see below) from Christine's etsy shop and she was so sweet to surprise me and Felix with this penguin cutie and a crochet heart. Don't you love random kindness? 

The twinkle star is from Gracienne to Felix. Precious!

I love that I met Erin through my first ornament swap and we've been exchanging ornaments ever since. This year she sent me a fluttery pink (pink for baby girl's first Christmas) paper ornament that she picked up at a Christmas craft fair she goes to every year and a glittery reindeer from here's the thing on etsy. She included that amazing vintage fawn candle while at an antique shop for Felix's nursery. Erin, every year you outdo yourself. I love you sweet friend! xo

Rhianne made these two for me. Handmade are my favorite! 

Speaking of handmade goodness, check out this one of a kind ornament my darling artist friend Phoenix made of Felix! It's Felix in her Halloween costume, one of the first times I caught her smile on camera. love love love. 

My vintage soul sister Amanda sent me three most thoughtful ornaments: vintage rudolph, a handmade cross stitched ornament that looks magical with twinkle lights shining through, and a photo one that we've already put a picture of Felix with her Santa hat, to always remember this first special holiday. 

Please take a peek at Amanda's blog post because her photos are much better than mine. While there, you should really follow her too. Her blog is such a cozy corner of the internet. 

some I sent out : 

photo borrowed from Amanda's blog : I scored these vintage beauties from an etsy shop called by the wayside. I just loved the gold snowcap and the gold and pink ombre one was from Felix. I thought they were perfect for my vintage soul sister. 

 The owl I was talking about earlier from Christine's shop, Dela Chic. Christine makes so many adorable owls it was hard to narrow it down, but I chose the pink and tan one for Lauren-- so she'll always remember it was Felix's first Christmas year.

These were in Erin's etsy favorites so I decided to surprise her with something she loved. I love that there were four bells and there are four Pughs :) (look how pretty one looks next to her favorite angel ornament)

Such a sweet holiday tradition among my favorite girls.