mom – Page 2 – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Announcement July 31, 2014

Isla’s Rifle Paper Co. Inspired Birth Announcements

At long last, Isla’s birth announcements have been sent! I am so relieved to have completed this major project – one which started well before she was born! I did the calligraphy on all 100 envelopes prior to her birth (thank goodness!), cut the envelope liners using this Rifle Paper Co. wrapping paper, stamped our return address using a custom stamp from Angelique Ink, and created the design for the announcement (which was printed by Czar Press). When Isla arrived, all I had left to do was update the design with the appropriate information, get it printed, have Isla’s photos taken by Taylor Lord and printed locally, add the photos to the glassine bags, punch holes, tie bows, and voila – done. Whew. Yes, I am exhausted, but so happy to have finished my second big project (first being Sasha’s graduation announcements). Baby number two will likely have an e-card (ha!).

Duplex announcement card printing by Czar Press

Ribbon and kraft envelopes from Paper Source

Wildflower Liner from Rifle Paper Co.

Isla photo by Taylor Lord

Custom return stamp from Angelique Ink

Dr. Martin’s Pen White calligraphy ink from Paper and Ink Arts

Glassine bags from JenStampz

Calligraphy and photos by me

Baby July 29, 2014

A Photo A Day

Every year, I create a Shutterfly book that encompasses all of the big events and trips I take. You can view 2012 here and 2013 here. I’m almost caught up with my 2014 book, and quickly realized that as of June 2014, it will be all about Isla – except our trip to Mexico in September for Paola’s wedding! I also wanted to create another Shutterfly book with one photo a day for the first year of Isla’s life. It astonishes me how much she has already changed in under two months, and I know that I’ll love looking back and seeing her grow day-by-day on her first birthday.

Have you seen other creative ways to chronicle life’s big events? Do you use Shutterfly? I know that my friend Mara does Project Life, which I love as well.

Baby July 9, 2014

One Month Milestone

Isla turned one month on Friday, July 4th! Time is flying by – it’s ridiculous. Although I’m very ready for Sasha to get home every day, it seems like we haven’t accomplished much by the time that happens! I love spending my days with Isla and dread going back to work. How will I leave this cute face? We snapped some one month photos in her Wedding Chicks Genny Monthly onesie that is rather large (0-3 months). I imagine she’ll move out of her newborn clothes and into that size soon though! She now weighs 9 lbs 11 oz and is 22 inches long! That’s 89th percentile for height, and no, she didn’t get that from me.

Note: I’m NOT a big bow person, but I had to.

Hope you had the best Fourth of July celebrations! Isla was decked out in Baby Gap (as talked about here) for this festive occasion! No late night fireworks for us this year though!

Baby July 1, 2014

Carter’s Footed Onesies

Isla has mixed feelings about bath time. We bathe her around 5:45pm, then feed her from 6-6:45 every night. She’s typically pretty fussy leading up to the bath, but when that diaper comes off, it’s wail time. Once she’s physically in the warm water, she’s happy as can be, but when she leaves the heat and is back in the air conditioned bathroom, she loses her marbles. I’ve learned that the fastest way to soothe her is to put her immediately in a warm, footed onesie – something we didn’t have many of when she was born. Her entire newborn-sized wardrobe went from about 4 onesies to nearly 14 outfits, and is expanding this week by a number of Carter’s “pjs,” as we’ll need them when we head to Durango in a few weeks (still cool at night!). She is growing quickly, and I imagine she won’t be in the newborn clothing for many more weeks, so I ordered some 0-3 month sizes too. I love Carter’s clothing – almost as much as Baby Gap! Her new outfits are below – my favorite is the floral footed onesie on the bottom left. Which do you like the most?

Top Row: 1 // 2 // 3

Middle Row: 1 // 2 // 3

Bottom Row: 1 // 2 // 3

USA June 30, 2014

Our Durango Adventure

I learned two of my favorite quotes from my American Literature course at The University of Texas at Austin. Both relate to nature (such a treehugger!). I posted the Thoreau quote here. The other one is a quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” I love the thought of creating your own path in life – taking unexpected turns and making ad hoc decisions. Cue the decision for Sasha and I to move to Durango, Colorado for 8 weeks. We tossed around the idea one day while walking our dog (pre-Isla) and sort of said, “why not?” Sasha put in his two weeks at work this week, and I’m taking maternity leave until mid-September – our adventure will start in two weeks, after Sasha finishes his capstone assignment in Austin. I am so excited. Our days will involve hikes, bikes, walks, playing horse shoe, reading on the patio, walking along Main Street, and letting Isla become “one with nature” (ha). I’ve never been so ready for an adventure in my life! I’m ready to leave our trail.

You can read my Durango travel guide here

Pictures from my sister’s wedding weekend in Durango here