P is for.....Push Presents

As you already know I recently gave birth to my second darling little girl. After a tiring and challenging pregnancy, this time with a toddler in tow some days I felt like it would never end while other days I silently and sometimes not so silently asked myself what the heck I'd gotten myself into. All the while dear hubby did his best to be supportive and understanding and most importantly helpful. I've joked before that while holding my hand during labour or massaging my back, watching me get poked and prodded and with tears streaming down my face that he's no doubt playing a track over and over in his head.... a track that goes like this "thank God it's not me! thank God it not me! thank heaven it's not me!" After all that we go through to bring a child into this world it's nice to receive a little appreciation! So as you can imagine I'm an eager advocate of push presents!



I think it's funny that push presents have gotten so much press and hype about them in recent years. In my circles it's pretty standard... my father purchased little tokens of appreciation in the form of jewelery for my mother after the birth of each child and it's a pretty common practice in Jewish society and especially here in Israel. Actually truth be told, local custom dictates any holiday, birthday, you "fill in the blank" as a good occasion to buy ones wife some baubles here... but that's material for a whole other post. Now don't get me wrong I'm not advocating the pretentious notion of demanding such a gift, that would be down right tacky! put I wasn't entirely surprised to be presented with one either. Most women/mothers I know have received some sort of jewellery for the occasion of birthing a child and it needn't be ostantatious or have you refinancing your mortgage either.


For the occasion of my older daughters birth Dear hubby bought me an eternity ring. He knew I'd wanted one for some time now to wear beside my wedding band, and the symbolism of the ring, worn beside the one solidifying our marriage seemed fitting, even more so as we became a family of 3. I must disclose that I don't generally lust jewelery or collect it, outside of my rings I own just a few simple pieces I like to wear on special occasions. Having two daughters though I especially like the idea of jewelery as I've decided that we should present them with the present I received in their honour somewhere down the road.. maybe when they themselves become mommies... we've got time to decide being that they are just 28 months and two months... (and yes I know it's weird that I'm already thinking about them all grown up and being a grandmother....but heck I'm weird like that...and the thought definitely wouldn't surprise any of my friends!).



Last week while doing some blog hopping. late one night I stumbled upon The Vintage Pearl and what can I say I swooned with delight! these have got to be the perfect gift! unique. handmade, hand stamped, personalized keepsakes you can wear proudly. These lovelies can be personalized with your children's names, initials, and birthstones in several fonts and finishes and with their signature little pearl. Needless to say I want one!! any one! I really like the mama bird with her two pearls and I almost fell out of my chair because one of the examples could have been made for me! with very affordable pricing and worldwide delivery I'll be hinting to dear hubby that these are just the thing! go ahead and leave this open for your other half to see... you know you want one too!

so simple and sweet!

loves it!

for the whole clan....

*All pics are via thevintagepearl.com

And then we were Four!

I'm thrilled to announce the arrival of my precious daughter Princess M! born on Thursday January 21st. Bouncing baby girl, daughter to myself and dear Hubby and a little sister for Princess L! It's been a month and I'm feeling great! Little one has me enamored and I love our little family of four! Four is perfection! I absolutely love saying "My Girls" or "the Girls"! I wouldn't want it any other way! nevermind that I've always had a thing for symmetry and even numbers...

Four also brings along it's fair share of sleepless nights, lots of juggling and mountains 'o mountains of laundry! amongst the hubble and bubble of family life I have rare moments of quiet to myself, besides cozying up with a good mug of java or indulging in a long hot shower my preferred means of escapism is reading my favorite design and parenting blogs. I read ohdeedoh and apartmenttherapy religiously and check in for any new stuff on Babble daily, there's nothing like a little eye candy! unfortunately all this eye candy either sends me on wild goose chases tracking down "stuff" I just have to have for the kiddos or ends up on my ever growing list of wants. Blogs also seem to have a way of leading you into a black hole as I jump from one to the next bookmarking and "favoriting" away... there are so many talented and inspirational individuals out there that my list of projects and DIY'S I'd like to try keeps getting longer too.

It's really difficult trying to organize and keep track of all my links and favorites and sometimes after seeing an image somewhere I'll spend a frustrating hour of more just trying to track it down again! If you have any suggestions on setting up an organized and user friendly system for filing I'm all ears...

Some days when all is under control I pat myself on the back and think heck you're a domestic goddess other days I stare at the pile of dishes in the sink and the smudges on the white floor (yes very impractical...not my choice it's a rental...) and tunnel vision starts to set in... it's probably too early to tell as were just a month in but life with two in tow will no doubt be a learning experience with some strategic tactical planning and a bit of flying by the seat of my pants but I'm excited by the process and hope you'll tag along for the ride.