oh my onesie!

You know that feeling when you find a kindred blogger and instantly know you're going to meet one day and fall that much more in love? Faiza is sunshine walking (in knee high boots). I was lucky to finally hug her during our girls' trip this past summer. 

{don't we look like sisters? i was 21 weeks pregnant with Felix}

If you know Faiza, you know how amazing her heart is. She is so thoughtful! Felix got the most amazing package from her Auntie in Canada. I literally gasped when i opened the package to these one of a kind, very Felix's Mama onesies. 

In her card, Faiza explained each one:  For her family heart, your blog heart, your vintage heart, your spanish heart...

the left one is the vintage onesie and has this definition for baby: tiny person; nocturnal mammal; especially prone to dribbling; destined for greatness 

...and your Robbie heart!

I have loved Robbie Williams since i was 10. I literally jumped up and down when i got to this onesie! Even my husband laughed at the caption because I have reminded him hundreds of times already how i will pass on my love of Robbie and his music to Felix, just like my Momma gave Elvis to me. 

Sweet Faiza, 

there are no words to tell you how much each one of these mean to me. On top of these perfect gifts, you also included the softest blanket, wash cloths, AND another pack of onesies. You are amazing i say! and we are so incredibly spoiled but mostly, we feel so loved. You are love. Thank-you my beautiful friend. Someday i hope the Lechugas and the Kanjis get together. 

Felix sends drooly kisses and can't wait to already wear these (bless you for thinking ahead and getting bigger sizes). We love you! xo

a special delivery.

When i was pregnant, my dear friend Alyssa asked me to write a little love letter to Felix on a piece of paper and send it to her. 

The ever so amazing and talented Alyssa embroidered my handwritten note. AMAZING. and because she knows my love of deers she added the pretty fawn you see. 

I would say this is a gem of a gift to me, but just like her package was addressed to-- it's a one of a kind gift for Felix. I love that she'll always have this and know how much her Mama loves her. 

Thank-you Alyssa for this and her embroidered name xo it's amazing, you're amazing! 

*You can find Alyssa's fabulous work at Red Bow Designs. 

love from lauren.

i may have mentioned a million times on my dolce vita how blessed we are to have so many friends shower our baby girl with so much love. This package came from Lauren Nicole, who said ever since i found out we were having a girl, has been collecting things over the past few months. 

the first photo of clothes isn't accurate of everything because there's cute little skirts/onsies folded on top of each other so i could get it all to fit in one photo. i know right? my favorite things had to be the sailboat dress and these sweet rompers which she will wear with her peep toe sandals. 

Lauren added to baby girl's growing library with books like Henri's Walk to Paris, The House on East 88th Street (i love how she sent Felix a stuffed animal that i told Husband he could use as "Lyle the Crocodile" when he reads that one to her), and the classic The Giving Tree. Books always make such great gifts but what made these more special is the little letters she wrote inside to Felix:

"When you're older, I'll send you one of my favorite Shel Silverstein books; that I know by inheriting your mother's love for beautiful books and stories, you'll just love." 

Not only did Lauren spoil Felix, she also spoiled me. I don't think i've owned anything as nice as the anthro set (how pretty are those colors together?) and love the pin-up style of the knickers (which, lets face it-- will be pretty perfect in the transition of getting my belly back to pre-baby size). I love vintage nightgowns and she included lots of pretty girly ones.

L. Nicole (REN), thank-you for thinking of us. There are no words to tell you how above and beyond you went with this and the thing is-- you didn't even have to. Your friendship and support is more than enough. This just shows what a generous and beautiful heart you have. Thank-you with all my heart. XOXO

oh and thank your boyfriend for picking out some of my favorite pieces (so cute). 

with deepest gratitude.

from my girl Erin back home (i love the smell of vintage books)  

hello 38 weeks, day 5 baby bump

Our darling baby girl is days from being born and yet since we made our happiest announcement she has been so loved. We've been overwhelmed by the sweetest kindness from our friends (many of you dear readers) and of course our families. 

At first i was sad that i wasn't going to be able to experience a baby shower back home (just another thing about living so far away). But thanks to work, my brother's girlfriend Christina getting my family together to throw me a surprise one in Arizona, (and this one especially) thank-you to all of you lovies who have sent Felix so much love in the mail... as my twinkie said, it's like i've had a baby shower my whole pregnancy. 

I am so thankful for the showering of blessings and friendship in my life. I am so thankful to you reading this, for being with me through this magical time. It means so much to me xo

happy things with which to end the week.

♥ Felix will be in all kinds of pink and bows but i'm praying she loves sports like her Mama (which you can still be girly about too). I couldn't resist choosing these over the cupcake and heart option. 

♥ do you spy her little jacket?

♥ At 36 weeks, i have officially reached that point where my wedding ring doesn't fit

♥ I mean look at my belly! 

♥ But making my Momma's banana bread recipe (and adding chocolate chips) probably doesn't help with my bump size either.

♥ Bits of a lovely care package from Phoenix {i like to think her card is right, "fun times ahead"}

♥ Baby H&M all the way from Slovenia, thanks to Auntie Sanja 

♥ it's amazing how putting on lipstick (even around the house) instantly makes me feel better

♥ Baby Girl's library is growing! (I'm a sucker for the vintage Paddington book set) Twinkie sent these. How darling will those framed silhouettes of Peter and Wendy be as book ends? Inside the Peter Pan book where it says this book belongs to Felix Maxham she wrote, "May you always believe in Magic. I love you! Auntie Marianne xoxo" 

It's even more precious because Twinkie has always loved the magic of Neverland & of course she threw in a seahorse (another of her loves!) rattle. 

♥ my beautiful niece Marisol saying good morning lovies! she hopes you have a beautiful friday. 

Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

the sweetest package for felix.

My vintage soul sister Amanda sent Felix the sweetest gifts handmade with love. All of it was every bit of wonderful with a personal touch, which is just the kind of heart Amanda has. 

{i mean she even included my favorite cookies (milanos!) and her favorite cookies + the tea she swears caused her water to break when she was past her due date with her son Odyn. These are the things i love, the stories behind the gift}

i can't get over these bibs! the fabric she chose for the front and back and the embroidered F-- you just know the time and love she put into the details for my baby girl.

Picturing felix's little feet in her hot pink Maryjanes warms my heart.

Probably my favorite gift was the baby quilt Amanda made, because of the story she shared. Please read about "fuzzy" on her blog post *and also to see both sides of the quilt (my photo is it folded over) and better photographs of everything. I can't wait to take Felix's newborn photos on this quilt!

I am so in love with everything! 

Amanda, thank-you for touching my heart. I hope you know how much it means to me and my family. I'm incredibly blessed to know you xo

Sweet gifts for Felix from my sweetest (blog) girlfriends.

I've been meaning to share what my vintage soul sister Amanda sent our baby girl : the cutest vintage book, along with a bag she made. She wrote this note, "When I made this bag I pictured fun beach days with your love but now I picture toys, baby wipes, and fun snack for a day at the park with baby Maxham!" Not only is Amanda a sewing goddess, she's a gifted artist as well. She included her watercolor illustration, Swimming in Words for Felix's nursery. It's beautiful! 

 My bestie Marisa sent Felix her first teddy bear (so soft! love those floppy arms and legs) and the sweetest note. I can't wait to hang the "f" in her nursery.

Each gift so thoughtful and perfect, just like each girl XO 

(see other sweet gifts for felix here)

My 2011 Ornament Swap.

Forgive me for this long overdo post. As host (especially as host) of the ornament swap, i've been meaning to blog about my end of the exchange and showcase everyone else's thoughtful gifts to one another. 

so without further delay, these are the beauties i received and sent. 

since we had an uneven amount of exchangers, i paired myself up with two wonderful girls. the first one was Bianca from Romania. 

what Bianca sent me : unfortunately, the postal system wasn't kind in transit and two of them as you can see were damaged. i tried to get the pieces of the snowflake back together but i think small pieces fell out of the envelope. drats! but it's the sweet thought that counts... Bianca, thank-you for my ornaments and the chocolate (the bottom right one is actually a magnet and she's currently holding my grocery list). 

what i sent Bianca : i went with a flight of fancy theme for her. My fingers were crossed the glass bauble would travel safely across the atlantic and i was happy when she emailed to say it did. Thank-you air mail!

i also paired myself up with Lauren Nicole over at Letters, She Wrote, a good friend of mine. I had planned to swap ornaments as Christmas gifts with my close friends and it was perfect when she joined and suggested we be swap mates. She had never got around to sending mine from last year so as her cute note read, "i present the Lechuga-Maxham ornament collection of 2010-2011!"

what Lauren sent me : don't you just love every one of them? she said the skating shoes are what it would look like if i designed skates (sparkly and pretty). i adore the anthropologie M from last year and this year and i can't get enough of that hot air balloon! but everything is absolutely gorgeous. 

what i sent Lauren :  i fell in love with the deer glass bauble and had to include it but the above two are the ones that really stood out as very lauren.


those were the ornaments for my third annual Ornament Swap. Below are the ones exchanged between me and my closest girlfriends as part of our holiday tradition and christmas gifts to one another (because honestly, is there anything more sweeter or fitting for Christmas?)

what Claire sent me : a cute little birdie from Anthro (her most favorite place) and a glittery heel for our shared love of shoes.

what i sent Claire : i thought these mini kisses were adorable and what says Christmas more than a christmas tree ornament? (i was a sucker for the pom poms too)

what erin sent me (both made me gasp, both were so perfect!) :  the sweetest deer ornament and festive Rockin' hot chocolate a la ELVIS, knowing what a fan i am of both.

what i sent erin : because she's a sucker for a cute snowman, this little one just seemed to have her name all over it! rosy cheeks included.

what my bestie sent me : i fell in love with the charming vintage/country feel to the ornaments M sent me this year. Don't you just love the fabric candy canes? and the key one is perfect from my soul mate since she carries the key to my heart always. 

what i sent Marisa was a combination of my favorites : the glass deer bauble (like the one i sent lauren) and the fabric christmas tree (like i sent claire). 

sweet surprises from sweet girls : a cowboy boot from rhianne, a locally handmade ceramic star from gracienne, and a winged christmas fellow from athanasia.

what amanda sent me : a hand made ornament of our wedding kiss... magical! 

what i sent amanda : a mermaid ornament from jupiter designs (combining her love of crafts and mermaids)

what april sent me :  hello birdie! i love the beads and the romantic vintage feel.

what i sent to april : a day of the dead sugar skull ornament from liz miera embroidery. how awesome does it look on her christmas tree?

i had to show you this cute mug i threw in for april who loves polar bears. look at the little one sitting inside the mug!

i'm such an ornaments girl... there's nothing like hunting for the perfect one for dear friends and swooning over the perfect one they find for this girl. xo

since i've already overloaded you with photos, tomorrow i'll round up your photos, promise!

ps. who else is sad to be taking down their christmas tree?

(see my ornament exchange 2011 & 2010)