Happy 2nd Birthday to Noa Bear!

I can't believe two years have flown by so quickly!  Our little Noa Bear has turned into a bonafide toddler, full of fun and sass, loving and easy to please, but always a few seconds away from a crying-on-the-floor tantrum.  While her first birthday was a true undertaking, we kept this party decidedly low key with a Cinco de Mayo theme and burritos from Baja Fresh (one of my favorite fast food joints!).  I bought almost all the decorations from Amazon.com, making the party super easy to throw together.  We also kept the party at our condo, which put Noa at ease and free to roam about like the queen of the castle.  Here are some photos from the party!

 Delicious naked funfetti cake by my talented friend Jen from LoveMercat

Flowers from Trader Joe's

 Eyeing the cake (which she calls a cupcake)

Fiesta themed dresses!  Me in Marc by Marc Jacobs (super old), 

and Noa Bear in Hartstrings.

Gilded Natural Baby Shower for Jen

I helped throw a baby shower for my good friend Jen (remember her bridal shower?) recently.  We piled into a private room at Zinc Cafe and Market, a restaurant I had actually never been to but had been dying to try.  I'm not really into vegetarian food but the food was seriously so delicious and so fresh.  That avocado toast...drooool.  

Having the event at a restaurant made party planning SO much easier.  Less slaving in the kitchen means more time to actually enjoy the party!  We could concentrate our efforts on the decorative elements like the florals and the dessert display.  Early morning trips to the LA Flower Market can be a bit stressful, but it's so gratifying to put together your own florals.  We always go in with a general game plan, but end up being surprised with what we find.  This time we found these gorgeous, open, blush pink dahlias.  I also happily used this party as an opportunity to trim down my mom's way overgrown succulent container as part of the party decor.  I've been obsessed with succulents ever since my wedding (has it really been 6 years??), and my obsession hasn't waned.    

Jen is actually due the week before me, and I feel blessed to be able to go through this pregnancy with her!  We enjoy commiserating about pregnancy woes such as pelvic pressure and shoulder pain from sleeping on our sides.  And I already know that having each other's support will be crucial during the newborn months when we are up all night on nursing/diaper duty.  I can't wait for our kids to start playing with each other! 

Avocado Toast!

Asparagus sandwich with cauliflower puree, poached egg, and toasted breadcrumbs

Chef's salad with lemon dressing

Gold spray painted alphabet blocks

Vintage baby books

 

I was obsessed with finding a cloche!

Confetti geronimo balloons with fringed streamers
 

Albanese pink grapefruit gummi bear favors (the BEST flavor!)

Expecting Baby #2!

It's crazy how quickly time flies.  It has been almost TWO years since the birth of our first baby bear, and here we are expecting #2!  And I'm already at 29 weeks!  I definitely think this pregnancy has gone faster overall, mostly because I'm not obsessing over every little ache or pain and rather am just trying to enjoy it.  Although, that first trimester was hardly enjoyable.  I had the works again - the fatigue, the nausea, and the vomiting - the hardest part being that I wasn't sharing our pregnancy news with anyone at that point.  Leaving in the middle of rounds to go puke and then coming home to go to bed at 7 PM every night was no fun.  Thankfully this time around it ended a bit earlier around the 12 week mark, and I soon entered the much cheerier second trimester (dreary, cheery, and weary, as the saying goes).

This past weekend, Dr. S and I left our baby bear with my parents and attended a wedding for a co-resident.  When I first saw the invite that said "Black Tie," I groaned (sorry, Phil!).  Finding maternity clothing is hard enough as it is, but a formal maternity gown??  Do those even exist?  At least at a reasonable price point?  I searched for rental options like Rent the Runway but struck out.  The dresses I found seemed plain and a bit overpriced to rent for just a night.  Thank goodness for Asos with their wide collection of maternity dresses!   For those looking for sizing recommendations, I ended up with a UK size 8, which is equivalent to a US size 4 (non-pregnant, I'm usually a size 2-4 depending on the brand).  The bottom half had plenty of room, and I could easily wear this dress to full term, had I more black tie events to attend!      

 

Black lace overlay maternity formal dress: Little Mistress at Asos (love these options too: option 1, option 2).  Bracelet: DIY.  Lipstick: Tom Ford Bruised Plum.