Now that Bee’s on the move, I’ve been taking greater measures to ensure her safety in our home (I’ll be sharing a few peeks soon!). I won’t lie – it’s been a bit hard to make a few design sacrifices in the spirit of baby-proofing, but I’ve also found it easier than I thought it would be in a lot of cases. Exhibit A: Bean bags, which can make excellent stand-ins for ottomans and also provide a comfy spot for the mini in your life. (If you can get past the attached memories of college dorm rooms and childhood basements, that is!) Here are 10 of my faves (2 of which were just released last week!):

MORE >

Dear Bee,

You are wildly mobile these days, pausing for nothing and everything all at once. I’ve had my suspicions for a few months now that you’re going to be a very active baby, and this week God delivered a notarized letter of confirmation when you began an official attempt to move the furniture around our living room. I used to do this, too (although certainly not at eight months), so I think God and my mother are in cohorts together and this is a twisted form of karmic interior design.

MORE >

These updates have been so fun to share, and I love hearing I’m not alone in some of the registry mistakes I’ve made. Here’s hoping this series is helpful for a few of you first time mamas! Today’s installment offers a few new recommendations for bath and potty time!:

MORE >

You guys. I didn’t even include bibs in my registry, if that gives you any idea as to how desperately need to revise this section of my recommended registry. Here we go!:

MORE >

I absolutely missed the mark in choosing what I’d dress our baby in, so today I’m sharing with you what I’d change about this section of our registry. (Don’t worry – I’m making fun of myself, too. I must have the kindest readers for not virtually rolling their eyes at some of these choices a year ago…)

MORE >

Dear Bee,

You’re eight months old now, which means I have to stop buying frozen pizzas in bulk at the market and telling the grocer that I have a newborn at home. Because Bee, you are no newborn. You’re a kicky, squishy, squirmy being – one that your father and I are trying our best to keep up with. And in celebration of the massive personality you’ve grown into over the past few months, we wanted to capture your spirit in a more visual way in today’s letter:

MORE >

Now that Bee’s eight months, I’m slowly updating my registry guide to share which products made our lives easier and which fell flat. Today’s update is the nursery, where I totally missed the mark in SO many ways (but fared surprisingly well in a few departments!):

MORE >

You knew this post was coming, yes? First-time mom registries are so very funny. We furiously add products day after day, discovering new miraculous lifesavers that promise to make the transition easier and the baby happier and life all around more magical. And then the baby comes and you realize that he hates to be swaddled. And she needs a louder sound machine. Or that bathtubs are sort of unnecessary.

MORE >

Raising Bee to have a respect and fascination for cultures other than our own is of utmost importance to me. Our world is small, indeed, and we have much to learn from those that walk this great Earth among us – whether they’re poets hiking aimlessly through the mountains of Austria or, in this case, artisans settling into the dry foothills of West Africa. And until Ken and I gain enough confidence to travel the world with an infant, we’re making efforts to surround her with objects that tell the stories of those living elsewhere. Exhibit A: charming baskets handwoven in Senegal.

MORE >

I mentioned last week that I’ve been noticing a resurgence of artistic, design-driven parents that are inspired by – not despite – their children. It’s been a refreshing trend to watch as I’ve been experiencing my own personal spark of creativity after Bee’s birth. Parenting is demanding, yes, but it also has a way of granting perspective and flexibility and focus – all necessary tools that any creative should be so lucky to find in their proverbial tool box. And perhaps if this trend is here to stay, designer Lucas Maassen can be awarded the title of grandfathering in the movement with his latest ground-breaking project…

MORE >