The Origin of Her Name

Ava Pearl has been destined to come into this world long before I ever anticipated her to.  Her name is proof of that to me.  When James and I were dating, about 8 months along, he proposed to me.  I had no idea it was coming when he took me on a date downtown San Antonio.  Even when we walked up to the Little Church of La Villita where my parents tied the knot, did I even suspect.  But right there on the steps of that church, he popped the question.  Even more to my unknowing, many of our loved ones knew what was happening.  James had asked my parents, my Nanna, his parents, my best friend & his best friend at the time all for their blessing to marry me!  I couldn't believe it.

Rewind to a few days before... James and I were having the 'if we ever babies what would we name them' talk.  He told me he loved the name Ava.  Partly b/c of Angels and Airwaves, but he also just really loved the name and how the letters flowed together.  At the time I thought it was sweet, but definitely not on my list of names I had been hoarding since I was in my teens.  (anyone else do that???)

Fast forward to the morning after he proposed to me.  My parents took me out for celebratory breakfast tacos.  My mom was so giddy and full of joy that her baby girl was getting married.  Over breakfast with pure delight she told me that she just couldn't help but to lay awake all night thinking of baby names for us!  Ha ha, jumping the gun a little???  She was so excited.  She said she was reading a book and came across a really long name (I wish I could remember what it was now), but she said it started with AVA and she thought it sounded to pretty.  I couldn't believe that her and James both came up with the same hypothetical baby name within a few days of each other without knowing it.  So from that moment on, Ava has been our name picked out if we ever had a girl.  We lost my mom to cancer just 4 short months after getting married, so this one day baby girl name felt even more special when we finally got to use it almost 9 years later. 

Her middle name was changed a few times.  At first James wanted it to be Claire b/c he has had a long time boy crush on Claire Danes.  But I talked him out of that. ;)  I have always loved the name Pearl, and it has always reminded me of my mom.  She loved that name too.  When she was a little girl she came across a Poor Pitiful Pearl doll at the store and she told her mom that she wanted to take that doll home b/c she thought no one else would want her.  She loved the unloved from the beginning.  She also loved Janis Joplin who's nickname is Pearl.  And my birthstone is Pearl (and it was almost Ava's too).  Once I started saying the names Ava Pearl together I just knew it was right.  James fell in love with it too.  We love it so much that we call her Ava Pearl most of the time instead of just Ava. 

I just love that her little name feels so special.  This was a story I wanted to write down for her to have one day.

Ava's First Bath

There are so many firsts with newborns, and each one is so precious.  We waited until Ava was 2 weeks old to give her first bath.  I was so happy that the hospital we ended up at (a story for another time) was so respectful of all my wishes, and no bath was one of them.  The creamy substance on your newborns body has immune properties and when left on leaves a layer of protection while your baby's immune system adjusts.  It also allows for more uninterrupted skin to skin time with your baby in that first hour.

Waiting was a bit hard b/c I was looking forward to this special moment, but the fact that I had lots of stitches myself made it easier since I needed to wait about two weeks before getting in the tub myself.  This moment, just her and I was so precious.  Daddy took a few photos and hung out for a bit, but then left us to be for a while.  I remember the soft blinking of her eyes and the way she relaxed into the water after a bit.  I knew she was going to be a water baby having so much Cancer in her birth chart.  I have always been a water lover myself, and I took a long soak in the tub almost every night when I was pregnant with her.  I'm sure it was something she was already familiar with.  I have still only given her one bath without myself in the tub with her and that was b/c of a huge poop explosion!  Oh, and she did poop in the tub with me once, that was super fun. ;)  It's our special time together though.  There is something so sacred about this time with her.  And I'm not quite sure what it is and why it is so specific to bath time, but every time I lay her on her back in the tub she looks just like me when I was a baby.  It's like I'm staring into myself as a baby which is a very intense feeling.  It's really the only time I fully see it in her though.

Do you remember your first bath with your little?  How did it make you feel?

*Btw, all opinions I ever post on here about what we chose to do with our babe are purely my own personal experiences + opinions.  I am a huge supporter of 'what works for you is best' or 'to each his own'.  I am not here to tell anyone how to do something when it comes to their child and I hope that respect can be returned.*

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE CAPTURES

I have been sharing my 'Pieces of Home' features for quite some time... but these images are not always taken at home, although they usually are... I feel like they needed a new caption though... So now these simple 10 photo posts will be called 'A few of my favorite captures'... b/c essentially that is all they are.  I snap photos all day long everyday.  It's just part of what I do.

THREADS // EARTHY PASTELS

Cheers to my first solo outfit post since Ava was born!  I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to keep doing these or not... Having a baby has completely changed my priorities.  But I have missed it some, so if I have the time and inspiration to do one, then I will.  If I don't, then I won't!  This is kind of how I feel about everything right now.  If it feels good, then yes, if it feels draining, then no. 

I will say this is a way for me to exercise my self confidence, which I admittedly talked about on an instagram post the other day after cutting my hair.  You can feel so silly and guilty even worrying about your postpartum self when you have this beautiful little baby in your life!  But at the same time, I think it should be talked about for that very reason, b/c all of our feelings are valid.  When there is shame and guilt around something, it should be looked at and examined.  It has been trying learning to love my postpartum body and all it's millions of changes.  I'm pretty positive if you are human and you have had a baby, you probably have felt some of the same things.  It's a whole new world post baby... the extra pounds, the hair loss, the skin changes, the way you function below the waist, joint issues, perpetually less sleep... just to name a few.  It all adds up and can be easy to feel self defeating.

So, I'm working on it.  That's all I can say.  I'm learning to cut myself some slack, to focus on more important things, and remind myself it's a transition.  That's why they call it the 4th trimester after all.  It's a very real thing. 

Speaking of change... I am doing a MAJOR closet purge.  If you follow me on instagram than you already know.  I'm selling half of my closet over on @laurashomeandcloset and still have more to list!  Since becoming a mama I feel so much changing, including my style and my need for ease.  I feel like I have been decluttering for a year now and could do so for another year.  I've been going through my closet over and over again, pulling out things I haven't worn in a very long time, some I've only worn once.  I hold on to these things b/c they are beautiful, or because a friend made it... but if it's not getting the proper love it should in my possession, I feel it should move onto another who will show it more love.  So even though I am letting go of some very special things, I feel good about it.  Knowing they will live a new life! 

I'm also saving up for my dream couch and this closet sale is helping me.  In the movement of decluttering I am also rethinking some of the pieces in my home.  Our couch is a great couch, we got it passed down to us from our friends and we have loved it alot!  But it's a sectional and I really just want a regular couch to create more space in the center of our home.  Bella was the only one that used the part that sticks out, and now that she is gone, I feel like I can let go of this couch.  Plus, my brother needs one, so it's already getting a good new home!  The three couches I have owned in my life have all been passed down from family or friends.  I'm really excited to pick out and buy my own couch for the first time! 

Btw, that beautiful mala... it's a natural teething necklace for Ava!  Check out Little Biting Tree!

Even though so many pieces in my closet have been transitory over the years as my style changes, some pieces never leave.  I have some things in my closet that I have owned since I was about 15!  This kimono I found at f21 years ago, and it is still one of my favorite things to wear.  Same goes with all of my Blowfish shoes!  They are the most comfortable shoes with the yummiest earth tones.  They are all keepers.  I'm so in love with these sand colored booties.  And this hat I found at World Market quickly became my favorite.  I wear it ALOT!  My rings from Bella & Chloe are also some of my go to's.  I wear alot less jewelry most days now b/c of Ava. Maybe a cuff or ring or two, maybe a necklace, sometimes none... and that's it.  I'm sure that will change as she gets older, but for now, I'm loving the simplicity.

I'm pretty obsessed with this color pallette right now too.  If you check out my pinterest, you can clearly see what my eyes have been drawn to lately.  Earthy pastels... mauve, peach, tan, cream, sage green, dusty blue, burnt umber & sienna, grey.  Really since I got pregnant these colors have stuck out to me. 

Apparently it feels good to blog again!  I had alot to say!  Hopefully I'll be back soon. Peace.