Story Time: Adventures in Lolly Land

Once upon a time.... It took all of four days to have a "Panic Moment" in Parenting Land.

It all started with Groupon. We bought two Groupons for the local asian fusion restaurant Ele. My mom (who's grandma title is currently "Lolly") is in town helping us through the first week.  She offered to keep Sweet Baby while we met friends for a dinner. The experience was great, all was well.... until we got in the car to head home. I noticed a message from an unknown Savannah number on my phone.  It was my sister, Anna: 

"Blair... I think you need to head home now..." *hang up*

I looked at David and said, "They called from a Savannah number... that makes me worried... why would they do that?" -- He started driving, and I called back.

"ELLO!?" (Raspy Savannah ghetto neighbor voice.... not my mom or my sister... uuuhh....)

"Hi, I got a call from this number..."

"Oh yeah. Yo mama don' locked hersef out dah house! I let her use my phone." *hang up*

That was the whole conversation. In the blink of an eye, I'm thinking: "Oh my god... is the baby inside, and she is locked outside? Is the dog eating the baby? Is the baby suffocating under a blanket? Is the baby locked outside without a blanket in the cold? What's the worst that could happen?..... That's probably going on right now, and I'm on the other side of town, relaxing with a red curry!"

"DAVID!!! DRIVE!!!"

(I'm not gonna lie, there might have been a moment of hyperventilating before I reigned it in.)

We got home. No sign of huddled masses on the front step. We bolted into the house...

Lolly and Anna were cheerfully grilling chicken for dinner... baby was snoozing placidly in his chair. Mom took one look at our saucer eyes and panic stricken expressions and couldn't stiffle a little, "Tee hehe! Oops."

Long story short... all was well... baby was with them, bundled up snuggly warm... my neighbors are fabulous & accomodating... and I got my first taste of the absolute animal intensity instinct to protect my child. Wow. Life's lessons are already coming down the pipe hot and heavy. Thank goodness for family that keep their heads cool in bad situations and keep smiles on their faces through bumpy roads.

The end.

The KawaMama

He's here...

Eames Walter Kawa has made his appearance!

on October 24, 2012 at 12:38 pm
8 pounds, 8.4 ounces - 19 inches long

Birth story, fantastically cute photos, and mom-er-hood anecdotes to follow...
For more labor photos, visit Sarah Kohut Photography in the coming days.

Couldn't Be Happier,
The KawaMama

P.S. Our Internet at home is regrettably down. A brief "new baby" hiatus may ensue, but we'll be back ASAP.

Baby Shower a.k.a. Glamorous Fete

The ingredients for an absolutely fabulous party are simple.... food, friends & a little sparkle will do it... but when brilliant people get a hold of simple things, they become EXQUISITE!!

A few months ago (yes, I'm tardy to present) my dear friends concocted a surprise fete to honor little BabyKawa & KawaMama.  Mint & Gold formed a charming theme that ran throughout desserts, decor, & delicious delicacies.  I was blown away by the attention to detail, and I know you'll love every inch.

Erica Kelly & Aeriel Whitworth deserve gobs and gobs of credit for their ingenuity, sumptuous taste, and hard work.  I'm convinced, these gals could turn an old shoe into a work of art! 

A little polish and a unified color scheme goes a long way to turning a Fun Gathering into a Glam Fete. Thanks a million ladies... it was an evening I will never forget.

Cheers,
The KawaMama

(All photos are the original work of KawaMama. Pin them and Blog them lots! But link back to us.)

Strong is What You Have Left...

Labor & Delivery is about mental power.

People like to compare Labor & Delivery to running a marathon.

My husband is a marathoner who trained competitively with Olympic level athletes.  He's good.  He's real good.  He says the last 3 miles of those 26, the only thing that keeps you putting one foot in front of the other is the knowledge that you're one more desperate step closer to the end.

I asked him, "What if there was someone next to you the whole time holding a magic pill that would take away all the exhaustion and let you finish without the agony... and it was totally ok, totally acceptable, no shame, no judgement, just part of the game, par for the course... would you take it?"

I want to labor naturally.  That's insane.  That's freaking INSANE.  Yeah, women have done it for thousands of years... but we don't have to any more!  And the outcome is pretty much the same. We've got a "magic pill" now that is remarkably safe for mother and baby. Side effects so incredibly, infinitesimally small that not taking it is almost ridiculous. But I want to do it.

But can I?  With that "magic pill" sitting right there within my reach the whole time... just knowing that there is a door out might make the struggle harder... I don't know...

Strong is what you have left when you've used up all your weak.

I'm pumping myself up for game day.

This is my Intense Face.

Focused,
The KawaMama

PS If taking the door out is the right thing for me & my husband, I'm going to take it... and if you judge me or think less of me, so help me God, I will show you what else Strong is good for! =) This is my other Intense Face.

XOXOXO

I've been tootling away in Graphic Design land again today.

I wanted to make a set of chic greeting cards with a sorta-kinda-holiday inspiration... which would nevertheless work as every day love notes also.

I came up with "Hugs & Kisses."  The hand drawn quality and the iconic simplicity are very charming, if I do say so myself.

Do you have a favorite?  Are you an X's or an O's kinda person? 

I've gotta go O's...

Cheers!
The KawaMama


Design, Design, Ahead of Time

People tell me all the time, "When baby comes you won't even have time to shower!!"

"Lucky" for me, Baby Kawa will be arriving just in time for the Holiday bustle... & it struck me that I might want to go ahead & design my birth annoucements or thank you cards.

I came up with this whimsical design based on baby blocks & Alphabet flash cards.  The message is tres tres appropo!  "T is for Tired Thankful"

 

 

 

Now that I've revealed them, I'll end up designing something else!  But they're pretty cute, huh?  

 

I toyed around with the idea of start a little "Etsy Printables" shop... you could buy the high resolution design file and print it yourself... or just email it to your friends and family to save the cost of postage.  I could do custom colors & of course custom designed orders. 

 

I think it could be the next generation version of the Paperie!

 

La dee dah... I love to dream...

What do you think? 

 

Cheers,

The KawaMama

Nerd Goggles & Other Eyewear

This weekend found me donning my nerd goggles & writing some revised contracts for a Business Logo Package I was recently hired to design. (It's for a massage therapy business in California... and for now that's all I can tell yah... Eeeekk!!)

Of course, I can't really do a post about contracts... because they're boring... but nerd goggles... In the words of Mr. Mugato: "So hot right now."

I'm loving the always-chic Angela Lansbury in these rockin nerd goggles. What an icon!  My aviators usually play the role of a headband and keeping my fly-away hair in check.  I never spend more than ten bucks on glasses because they end up getting sat on or lost within the year.  With Tar-geeet fashion being what it is, I wouldn't even spend $10 on sunnies for my baby boy.

Buuut... if I was going to drop some serious dough, I'd want some shades from Sons and Daughters Eyewear.  The Lenny for me... The Hunter for him...

 

Yeah, yeah, I know... it's Fall. My posts are not seasonally appropriate... Blogger Fail. =)

 

Cheers,

The KawaMama