ashleyd /

Our First Date Night Post-Baby

IMG_8556

Can you tell that Bo and I enjoyed our first date night together since Katie’s arrival? Last night’s date night was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past 18 week since we became a family of three and remember the strong foundation we had as a couple before her arrival.

Many of our friends and family members recommended that we plan a date night sooner versus later. Luckily, our dear friend Heather, who happens to be pregnant, offered to babysit for us a few times before she and her husband welcome their own child. Heather was a nanny during college for a young child so we felt very comfortable in her ability to watch Katie. Since it was our first time leaving Katie alone, we decided to leave for our date night after Katie went down for the evening. Heather arrived at 7pm so she could keep me company during Katie’s bedtime bottle and also become comfortable with the nighttime routine and our nursery. While feeding Katie, I walked Heather through our typical routine in the chance that Katie woke up while we were gone. At this point, once Katie falls asleep around 7:45pm she typically doesn’t wake up again until 7 AM. However, if she does wake up, it tends to be within an hour of falling asleep and often times it’s due to a wet diaper.

At 7:55 Bo and I hopped in an Uber towards Red Hook, a Brooklyn neighborhood just ten minutes from our house. We wanted to go to dinner somewhere close, in case there was an issue. The only other request I made to Bo, before we chose a restaurant, was that we tried somewhere new. Luckily, the Michelin Guide’s 2017 Bib Gormand list was released this week – perfect inspiration for finding a new restaurant. In case you haven’t heard of it before, the Bib Gormand list features their favorite restaurants where guests can enjoy two courses plus a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less. One of the restaurants, The Good Fork, stood out to us as it is Korean New American food and located in an area of Red Hook we haven’t visited before.

IMG_8552

The intimate restaurant seats 30-40 people max and we were lucky to be seated at a cozy, corner booth in the front which provided us the perfect venue to watch the people and food go by throughout the evening.

We toasted with an Old Fashion and Dark & Stormy to celebrate our date night and then got to business, studying the menu. The menu is smaller than most, with six appetizer options and eight main course options. This allowed us enough choice without overwhelming us. We decided to share three of the appetizers so we could taste as many dishes as possible, and then ordered the entrée that they are best known for and which has been on their menu since they opened in 2005.

IMG_8566

IMG_8568

We started with the homemade dumplings and scallion pancakes before enjoying the farm salad, which included whipped stilton cheese and roasted fall squash. The pork and chive dumplings were crispy yet light thanks to the delicate dough wrapping that didn’t overpower the other flavors.

For our main dish we shared the Steak and Eggs Korean style which was served kimchee rice, fried egg, arugula and apples. The dish was delicious and reminded us of bibimbap. IMG_8570

Last but not least, we shared two of the desserts although we were too full to finish them. Steve’s Key Lime Pie which is a local favorite from a nearby bakery was tart and sweet but I personally thought the crust was a bit much. In my opinion the S’More’s Ice Cream sundae was the winner though just two bites nearly put me in a sugar coma.

IMG_8572IMG_8574

And yes, we those parents who took a break during our date to sneak a peek at our sleeping daughter on the Nest camera.

IMG_8571

While our date night was only two hours, it was the perfect amount for our first time away from Katie. Our goal is to enjoy at least one date night per month, leveraging family and Heather until we are able to find a local babysitter.

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

Nursery Tour

pink and white nursery

Good afternoon! I can’t believe that it has taken me four months to give you all a tour of Katie’s nursery. This room has become my favorite spot in our home. The cozy space provides a sense of calm even on the craziest of days. When Bo and I decided to transition my home office into a nursery, we decided that the gray walls would remain, as well as the large white Ikea closets. Otherwise, we decided that we would use fabric, prints and other decor to create a peaceful, soothing nursery for our daughter. When purchasing furniture for the nursery, we had to keep in mind that the space of our Brooklyn nursery is only 7 x 12 feet. Many cribs or gliders were too large for the space, so our consideration set quickly reduced. Due to our space constraints, there are some things that aren’t ideal; but overall, we are very pleased with the space.

We decided, from the beginning, that we didn’t want to go overboard with a theme for our nursery. We chose Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit as an overarching theme as both our childhood nurseries had this theme. These prints and this adorable mobile are the main Peter Rabbit items in the room, while there are also some smaller touches like the switch plate and a few books.

Nursery 1

nursery book shelves

We placed the mobile above the changing table versus the crib as a book recommended this as a great way to help babies enjoy diaper changes more AND sleep better when they go down in the crib. We also placed a round mirror over the changing table to open up the room and provide a fun activity space as we read that babies love mirrors beginning as young as two months of age.

nursery changing table

Instead of buying bedding and accessories that tied into the theme, we chose pastel prints and a few stuffed animals and books while letting the rest of the nursery have a pastel tone. My friend Amy gave us this beautiful framed print which fits perfectly over the glider.

Once we found furniture and items we thought we liked, we added them to our registry and then, for the items we bought on our own, waited for sales. Luckily, we were able to get most of the larger Pottery Barn items 40% off during a sale!  After spending two different evenings looking at furniture in their Upper West Side store and taking countless measurements, we settled on the Kendall Dresser & Topper set and the Kendall Low Profile Convertible crib. We liked that once you remove the topper from the dresser it can easily be a dresser in a child’s room and the Kendall crib was more compact than many other styles while still being a convertible crib. We decided to use a gray Keekaroo Peanut on top of the changing table instead of a cushioned, covered diaper pad after having multiple friends recommend this. We have LOVED the Peanut and have even given it as a gift to a friend!  Since the room does not have any windows we wanted to use lots of white and color to lighten the space and ensure it didn’t feel like a cave. However, since the French doors do let in quite a bit of light, especially during the morning hours, we chose to invest in black out roman shades which block the light while also adding a pop of color. The found the fabric for the shades, Zoey’s Garden Fabric by Tanya Whelan Pink Green and White Faux Plaid, on Etsy. We then worked with SewLovelyByKelly to bring our vision to life!

pink and white nursery

The most difficult item to find was a glider that fit the dimensions of our room, was comfortable and could hopefully be used in a living room or family room in the future. There were so many lovely gliders that were WAY too large for our space as the corner dimensions were quite tight. A few of the smaller “NYC size” gliders we tried out in show rooms were either uncomfortable or way too narrow. In fact I remember basically getting stuck in one glider which is crazy since, before giving birth, I had average hips! We were thankful that a few of our friends and family gave us money for our baby shower which we put towards buying the Monte Designs Como Glider. When my mom sat down in the glider for the first time she said “Oh my gosh this is the most comfortable chair ever!”

We wanted a bright, soft rug that would bring color into the space while also being a comfortable place for us to play with Katie. As soon as we saw the Haper Rug we knew that this was perfect for the nursery and love the vibrant pink color. Another way we incorporated color into the room, while also saving some money, was to buy a poof in a light, mint green instead of ordering the ottoman that matches our glider. We found a poof on Etsy which was only $50!

Last but not least, the sheets for the crib are a fun pink and white bunny print which weave together the Peter Rabbit and pink theme.

If you have any question about our nursery, feel free to let me know!

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

Virtual Coffee Date–Farewell Maternity Leave

 

coffee date

Hello! I apologize for the silence on the blog this week but it’s been a challenging one on this end. Between some early teething, adverse reaction to her four month shots, and my computer getting a virus it has been a challenging few days. But, the good news is that, as everyone says, this is all a phase and this morning all three of us woke up feeling much better. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do especially when sunshine and cooler weather greets you when you wake up! While I am still trying to access the Nursery Tour blog post I put together yesterday before my computer went crazy due to a virus, I though today would be the perfect opportunity to check in with you guys and share some thoughts during a virtual coffee date. I have a lot on my mind and while I’ve shared some of it via Instagram Stories, I know that not everyone uses that platform.

So, refill your coffee mug and join me for a virtual coffee date.

  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you how thankful I am that my company allowed me to enjoy 4.5 months of maternity leave. This time with Katie, our first child, has been so special and I can’t imagine going back a day sooner.  My maternity leave was 4 months paid followed by vacation and some unpaid leave. We have created so many memories together during this time and really found a great groove. Whether it’s enjoying fresh air during a park workout or reading books together on the nursery rug, it is a time that I know I will always treasure.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you how thankful I am that we found a child care option that works for us. Katie will be joining a nanny share next week and we think it is the best of both worlds. The family where the share is hosted lives just a few minutes away from us and their two boys, ages 1 and 3, will be such wonderful influences on Katie both emotionally and developmentally. A nanny share will help her learn socialization and things like sharing, while the small number will allow the nanny to also give her the attention that we want at this young age. Our nanny is originally from Germany but has been working in New York for 12 years as a nanny.  I know it will be a transition and adjustment for all three of us but we are hopeful that it works well. I will keep you guys posted as we learn our way through the transition.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that as nervous as I am to transition into a working mom, I am excited for the challenge.  I grew up in a family with a working mom and always thought she handled life’s challenges with such grace especially the way she managed her schedule to be a mom for us and also a full-time nurse. Bo and I had a long conversation about our hopes and expectations which helped during my initial conversation with my manager. Personally, we are going to do our best to be 100% focused on Katie during our morning and evening time with her versus trying to multitask. I have also asked to minimize work travel, when possible, to no more than two nights away at a time. While this won’t always be realistic, I’m thankful that my manager is supportive. I know that my role will stretch and challenge me, especially these first few months and I hope that the challenge will help me keep my mind off of Katie and the hours fly by. But, I have asked that our nanny send me at least a few pictures each day so I get my daily dose of Katie smiles.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that I am very thankful for the book The Fifth Trimester.  When I opened up on Instagram stories last week about my anxiety around returning to work many of you recommended that I get this book and I can’t thank you enough! It has been so helpful in framing the realities of this period of transition while also giving me the confidence to know that I can do it! Each chapter I find myself nodding my ahead in agreement and taking notes, whether the author is discussing ways to get ready faster or tips for sharing your goals and expectations with your manager post-baby. If you are a working parent or manage parents, I highly recommend you read this book as it is such helpful perspective.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that I now understand why mom mom always said that she doesn’t know much of the music from the 80’s. These days Bo and I know the words to almost every classic Disney song and nursery rhyme but rarely listen to new, hit music. In fact, the only time I listen to recent hits is during my runs. What songs are you loving right now that I should add to my Spotify playlist? Or, do you have a favorite Spotify playlist?
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that Bo and I are going on our first date this weekend since having Katie! Luckily, a good friend of ours offered to babysit Katie a few times a month. Since this will be our first time leaving her we are going to go out somewhere in the neighborhood after she goes sleep. I’m thankful for good friends and plenty of neighborhood spots for a dinner and drink date night within a few blocks.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that getting dressed is hilarious these days. I’m totally in between sizes and at this point I think I’m going to wait a few more weeks before buying anything else. I have some great, new Fall accessories like booties and necklaces that will help me put together a few different looks with the basics I’ve purchased. Unfortunately, as many people predicted, one of the blouses I bought three weeks ago is already too big since my 36C boobs have reverted back to 36A. I’m so ready for cooler weather so I can wear leggings, tall boots and sweaters since that is so much easier to wear when I’m at a transitional size. Getting dressed these days presents many of the same challenges I experienced a year ago when I was still trying to hide my pregnancy; I feel a little bit bloated in the mid-section.
  • If we were sipping coffee together today, I would tell you that I’m not sure what the future holds for this blog. Blogging has brought me so much joy over the past eight years and I can’t imagine giving it up altogether. However, creating content takes time and right now I want to spend every spare moment with Katie. Sure, I could blog late at night or early in the morning but those are times that I’d like to reserve for workouts and relaxing with Bo. Don’t interpret this as a farewell, more like a request for some grace and understanding as I navigate the next few months. Since Friday Favorites tend to be the most popular posts of the week, my initial goal is to blog at least two times per week, Monday and Friday, while still sharing content daily on Instagram.                

Okay friends, it’s time for cuddles and playtime with Katie so I’ll talk with you guys more later! Have a wonderful rest of your day and thanks for joining me for this coffee date today!

Share Button
Follow: