LAKE JANE - design, decorating, fashion, food and all the other good stuff.

he likes to move it move it

2012-05-21T05:26:00.000-07:00

Since retiring, my dad has been busy tackling many DIY woodworking projects and I've had no problem finding new ones for him. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was looking for a very simply wooden activity arch for Theo. I didn't want it to be too busy or expensive but everything I found was over the top and overpriced. I had barely finished describing what I had in mind before my dad and brother started cutting wood. Two hours later, Theo's very own wooden activity arch was complete! It was made using old wood that my dad had lying around as well as odd bits and ends like Jenga pieces, curtain hoops and door knobs. I gave it a few coats of paint when everything was assembled and it was good to go. Theo has yet to enjoy lying on his back - even to sleep - but the arch certainly distracts him and gets his limbs wiggling.

My baby has a mullet

2012-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Actually it's more of a Friar Tuck kind of look. He has lost most of the dark hair he was born with except for the ones in the nape of his neck. They continue to grow, to our dismay. He is also working on a little bald patch back there. The resulting hairstyle cracks me up to no end.

Nailed it

2012-05-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

Mike took Theo out for an evening walk so I took some time to a)shower, b)have a glass of wine and, c)paint my nails two summery shades. Bliss! Essie nail polish has become a bit of an obsession. I can't go to the pharmacy without picking up a new bottle. My two latest purchases were Fifth Avenue and Tart Deco. What colours are you wearing these days?

Crisscross

2012-05-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm on a self-imposed spending freeze since I've been indulging in too much online shopping as of late - it's way too convenient and a nice way to pass the time when breastfeeding...Anyhoot, that doesn't mean a girl can't browse though! Next up on my wish list are Madewell's Crisscross Boardwalk sandals. Classic, simple leather sandals that would look amazing with rolled up jeans or a long skirt. I have to stop writing about how great they are though because I'm finding it difficult to find reasons not to get them...

Winner - Coulson Macleod Giveaway

2012-05-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

What a great giveaway! Thanks to all of you who entered! Unfortunately there can only be one winner of a handmade artwork by Coulson Macleod and that winner is...JESSIE!

Congratulations Jessie! Please contact me at lakejaneblog@hotmail.com by May 20th to claim your prize.

pancakes and tiny fedoras

2012-05-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning I awoke to a cranky little baby who was struggling with some bad gas. I am not referring to Mike. It was Theo, our little 7 week old who was clearly uncomfortable and needing some help. I spent a good hour comforting him and helping him find some relief until he finally let it rip. We locked eyes and then he smiled at me, as if to say "we did it!" In that moment I was reminded of just how much my life has changed. I am a mother now and helping Theo feel comfortable, safe and happy is my greatest goal. Helping him relieve some gas, although not very glamorous, was a perfect way for this new mom to celebrate her first Mother's Day.

Mike was there to celebrate my achievement but quickly got out of bed to go prepare a brunch fit for a queen. My family was also in town so the men all chipped in while the women watched the Food Network and awaited their mimosas and blueberry pancakes. Not too shabby. My mother and I snuck out after brunch to visit the market and pick up some flowers, herbs and plants for my balcony, which is now officially ready for BBQ season!

Mother's Day ended with cocktails at my in-laws and Mike surprised us all by bringing a homemade Bakewell Tart. He actually spent an hour peeling blanched almonds by hand on Saturday. By hand! Insanity. But well worth the effort. It is now my absolute favorite dessert and I must say that the man has mastered it (recipe here).

Although it was Mother's Day, the afternoon seemed to be more about staring at Theo and making high pitched noises in hopes of getting a smile out of him. Add to that a very tiny baby fedora I purchased over the weekend and you have yourself hours of entertainment.

New shades

2012-05-09T05:28:00.000-07:00

I treated myself to a new pair of sunglasses over the weekend. It was the first time I ordered shades online but I am feeling pretty confident that these frames will suit my very round face. In fact, Westward Leaning claims that their frame "looks good on anyone." That's right, the company only sells one frame. It comes in three different finishes - traditional black, matte black and tortoise shell - but they can be customized with a unique material inset into the side of the frame. Each material relates to a specific social cause or progressive issue and is tied to a charitable component.

I chose the Teddy Roosevelt frame, which is adorned with sustainably-sourced antlers. I can't wait for them to arrive in the mail! I promise to share a pic when they do.

Giveaway - Coulson Macleod

2012-05-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a long time fan of Coulson Macleod, the UK based design typography and illustration studio. They make beautiful artwork printed on natural and reclaimed materials like stone and wood and use modern and traditional processes to create their artwork. Plus they work with local craftsmen. What's not to love!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when they offered to give away one of their beautiful pieces of art to a Lake Jane reader! That's right, one lucky reader will win one piece of art from Coulson Macleod's Winter Tree Collection!

These beautiful pieces are painted by hand on a frame made from reclaimed antique Victorian roof timbers. They are weathered and so unique!

To enter, simply leave a comment below. The winner will be able to select the Winter Tree piece that they would like for their home! The deadline to enter is Sunday May 13th 2012 and a winner will be announced on Tuesday May 15th 2012.

Make sure to visit Coulson Macleod's website to check out their amazing selection of prints and Like them on Facebook to follow what they're up to in the studio!

Week 6

2012-05-07T11:20:00.002-07:00

So many mom friends - and readers - told me that I would start to feel better around the 6 week mark. How right they were! I would say that I started to feel better physically around the 4 week mark but at 6 weeks, last Wednesday, I began to find a rhythm. It was like a fog was lifted. Although exhaustion is still a struggle, small tasks no longer seem daunting. More importantly, Theo began to make eye contact, smile and just generally up the cute factor. He and I have really started to have fun together and I am no longer terrified of being on my own during the day. He has me wrapped around his very tiny pinky finger and I could not be happier about it.

Picnic in the park

2012-05-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

This was the first weekend of the year where it actually started to feel like summer. The sun was bright, the air was fresh and the grass was getting greener by the minute. We joined some good friends for a birthday brunch in Parc Lafontaine and it was glorious.

Our friend Julia threw a beautiful brunch for her husband Dan's birthday, complete with bagels, lox and mimosas. It was a great reminder that sometimes the simplest celebrations can be the most memorable.

It was so great to see other groups of people at neighboring picnic tables also enjoying some good food and good laughs. Montrealers sure do make the most of a sunny day.

Lake John: Midweek Jams

2012-05-02T13:05:00.001-07:00

You'll literally try anything to get your baby to fall asleep. Lately, Theo crashes to New Age music. It's a little unsettling because his room feels like a dimly-lit massage parlour for seniors. Seriously though, between the unending chorus of hushed panpipes and ethereal breathing, Theo is one bearskin rug away from turning into the main character in a Harlequin novel. By the time he's five he's going to have long, flaxen hair and travel exclusively by tiny stallion (bareback, of course). He's Tristan from Legends of the Fall, only gassier.

So the challenge is finding music that is soft enough to put the little guy to sleep, but good enough not to drive mom and dad up the wall. I'm happily adding Beck's new cover of the Flamingos' 'I Only Have Eyes for You' to that category. As part of Doug Aitken's Song 1 series at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, it's a dreamy rendition suitable for nurseries and slow dances alike. A wonderful precursor to summer.

... if this floats your boat, Beck's Record Club is packed with great covers performed with the likes of Feist, MGMT and Devendra Banhart. I highly recommend his Leonard Cohen series.

that face

2012-05-01T05:47:00.001-07:00

Theo recently began to make eye contact and to focus in on objects and people. I feel like my heart could explode when he locks eyes with me and smiles. Or frowns. I'll take either one.

{Photo taken by my friend Daniel}

HoMa with my homies

2012-04-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned stylist Chantelle Grady's blog in the past and I continue to sing its praises. The Aussie moved to Montreal last year and she has been busy exploring the city and sharing her finds ever since. Now that we're feeling slightly more mobile (and confident) with the baby, Mike and I decided to check out one of her recommended spots, this one located in a part of town I have never explored: Arhoma bakery in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve or HoMa.

So we headed East - far east from where we live - on a Saturday morning in hopes of having a great coffee and a good croissant. Well, our wishes were granted if not exceeded. Arhoma is more than a coffee shop. It's a bakery, sandwich and butcher shop. I was blown away bu the baked godos on display. I went in for a few pastries and came out with a full lunch order of roasted lamb sandwich, chicken salad roll and creamy squash soup. While paying, I also grabbed a hot pistachio croissant (OMG), a molten chocolate lava cake and a raspberry chocolate loaf. I could have bought one of every pastry on display but I decided that it was best to save some treats for my next visit. Until we ate everything and I went back inside to buy a chocolate chip cookie and another raspberry chocolate loaf...

Although it was pretty chilly, we decided to park ourselves outdoors in the sunshine. Theo was fast asleep and bundled up in his stroller so we took in the rays while waiting for our order. I was so happy to people watch and explore a new part of town. Turns out HoMa is a pretty happening place nowadays and I will definitely be back to hang out.

god bless the ergo

2012-04-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

This week I've discovered that the Ergo baby carrier is not just for the outdoors. In the morning I strap it on, plop Theo in there, eat my breakfast while walking up and down the hallway and entertain Penny by kicking around her favorite toy. Sure, it feels like I'm carrying a small 10 pound furnace and I'm usually drenched in sweat by the time he wakes up but that hour where I have two free arms is glorious. Plus I get to sniff Theo's fuzzy little head the entire time. Why do babies' heads smell so good??

lake janes loves...

2012-04-23T11:16:00.003-07:00

...house numbers by Heath Ceramics. You select your tile font and colour and then slide it in a teak framed track. The tracks come in a range of sizes to accomodate the amount of numbers you use!

in bloom

2012-04-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

ok so we got 3 cm of snow last night. and we have freezing rain all day today. but the tree out back is definitely dressed for spring, colourful blooms and all. the view from our kitchen and living room windows gets more breathtaking every day.

4 weeks

2012-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Four weeks ago, at 6h27pm, our little Theo came into the world. I had my eyes closed for the last hour of labour and was only focused on pushing through each contraction. The doctor suddenly exclaimed "open your eyes!" and this tiny little baby with big eyes and - to our surprise - a dark head of hair was placed on my chest. I remember how hot and wet his skin felt. He let out a little yelp but then stared at me in silence. Mike and I both sobbed and laughed simultaneously, completely overwhelmed by what we had just accomplished. I remember feeling an immediate connection with Theo. He had his daddy's eyes and toes identical to mine. He was ours. No doubt about it.

The hours following his birth were euphoric. Mike and I sat in the darkness of our recovery room, marvelling at his tiny little body and talking about the last 48 hours of our lives. We just kept saying "can you believe he's here!?"

However that euphoria quickly disappeared when we came home. This tiny little being was now hysterical and we were completely lost. I was in pain, I was exhausted. I wanted to breastfeed but the baby wanted none of it. That bond we had in that labour room now felt like it had disappeared. I felt like my baby disliked me and to be honest, I kind of disliked him. I felt like a terrible mother and I just wanted to crawl under my blankets and make it go away.

Now we're 4 weeks in and things have certainly calmed down. I've had a chance to get acquainted with Theo and he's getting familiar with his clumsy yet well-intentioned parents. It helped that we ironed out some of his eating issues and that I feel so much better physically. Turns out, little Theo is actually pretty darn charming when he isn't screaming.

There have been a ton of tears over the last month (mostly mine) but I'm finding that my heart is opening up in a way I didn't know was possible. As Theo learns to eat, sleep and basically just be out in this big world, I am getting used to being a mother. We both have a long way to go but it gets easier and more wonderful with every hour that goes by - and boy do they ever go by quickly!

Table for two and a half

2012-04-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

We decided to wrap up Mike's last week of paternity leave with a dinner out. As in we would actually leave our house and venture into the outside world to eat food. The thought of this made me break out in hives initially but then I decided that if I was to have anything close to a normal life once Mike was working again, I would have to get comfortable with the idea of being out of the house with the baby. We chose Nouveau Palais for our first family outing because it's casual, close to our place and I had been craving their banana chocolate pudding for weeks...

Haven't you heard - car seats are the new purse.

Nouveau Palais is a funny little place in the heart of Mile End. The diner was relaunched last Spring by a dynamic team and I adore what they did. They didn't change the décor - the wood panelling and tacky art still adorn the walls - but they did revamp the menu, which features classic diner fare made with fresh ingredients as well as some seasonal surprises. I love that they kept the classic paper placemats and the original sign out front.

Mike ordered the Matzoh Ball soup and the burger (again - he says it's one of the best in town) while I opted for the Soup of the Day (kale and fennel in coconut milk) with the Springtime Spaetzle, handcut German noodles with fresh green peas. And for dessert, we ordered two portions of the chocolate pudding so that we wouldn't have to share. We are very territorial with our food.

As for Theo, he was an angel. He slept in his car seat the entire time. What was I so nervous about?! Although it took us a bit longer to leave the house, we actually felt like our old selves for a while - with darker under-eye circles and spit-up stains on our shirt collars.

Green with envy

2012-04-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

I think I wore black leggings every day for the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy. So I am SO ready to be wearing my own jeans once again. I also excited to buy a few new pairs of "non-spandex" pants for Spring. First up on my list were a pair of kelly green pants.

{via}

Although I love a pair of skinny jeans, I am really digging the loose khaki style of slacks that are all over the place lately. So I picked out a pair at the Gap and I am anxiously awaiting their arrival in the mail.

Happy birthday Mike

2012-04-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

My husband, best bud and parenting teammate is 30 today. That's right, I married a younger man. A fact that Mike loves to rub in my face. But I feel better now that he's joined me in the Thirty Year Olds Club. Although we won't be throwing a big shindig in honor of his birthday, Theo and I are most definitely spending today giving Mike a boat load of hugs and kisses, probably in our pyjamas, in bed. Oh how our life has changed...

Happy birthday monkey. xo

café ellefsen

2012-04-09T07:47:00.001-07:00

One of the best pieces of advice I received when Theo arrived was to accept help - food, cleaning, errands - just say yes. I knew that this would be challenging for me but after the first 24 hours at home with a newborn baby, I quickly realized that help was needed! Our families and friends amazed us with their generosity. I actually think that they kept us alive for that first week at home because I don't think we would have eaten or slept had they not been there with meals, support and some doses of normalcy. During week two, my mother-in-law dropped in for a couple of hours and encouraged us to leave the house and go for a walk. I was still far from walking comfortably so we decided to walk around the corner to Café Ellefsen, our favorite neighbourhood joint. We ordered 2 lattes, a pistachio caramel cake and a chocolate bread pudding and just stared at each other in disbelief..."We have a baby. We have a baby." Although it feels like part of our posse is missing when Theo's not with us (it's amazing how quickly that happens), leaving the house and spending some time as a duo was incredible. I don't think I've ever loved Mike more.

While we're talking about Café Ellefsen, how cute is the paint job on their mismatched bistro chairs!

baby smell

2012-04-06T10:03:00.002-07:00

I am still struggling to find time to brush my teeth or apply deodorant so daily blog posts are far from realistic at this point. But things are much more calm over here and I am relishing the precious moments in the day and night when Theo has been fed/changed and is just ready to cuddle. Smelling the top of his fuzzy little head is my new favorite activity.

I hope to get back to more frequent blogging - including non-baby posts! - very soon. have a great weekend! xo

A few things I know for sure

2012-04-04T09:22:00.001-07:00

If you spoil your cat with attention, she will not appreciate having less attention when a baby comes into the house.

Hats with ears are very cute on babies. As are white socks that are 3 sizes too big.

Trying to breastfeed is the hardest thing I've ever had to do - both physically and emotionally. Possibly harder than giving birth.

Seeing Mike hold our son for the first time was the most beautiful moment of my entire life so far.

Bringing Theo home

2012-04-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Phew. Where to begin?

I have been staring at this screen trying to process it all so that I can find some way of putting it into words but I don't think that's possible. The last 2 weeks have been the most emotional, demanding, exciting, exhausting, moving and rewarding of my life.

Labor and recovery were both long and painful. We came awfully close to a C-section but luckily Theo came out on his own thanks to some skilled doctors and 3 hours of pushing by yours truly. We spent a total of 5 days in the hospital which is rather long nowadays. 36 hours of active labor will leave a body pretty banged up and I needed some extra time to heal up before heading home. To add to all the fun, the baby wasn't nursing and none of our nurses seemed to agree on the best course of action.

Coming home was overwhelming in every way imaginable. I was so happy to be out of the hospital but completely terrified that we were now responsible for this little human bundle. The first 48 hours were ROUGH. We were given some contradictory advice by the hospital and by a lovely lactation consultant so Theo was not adjusting well. And our heads were spinning. Luckily a nurse came to see us and she helped us sort out many of his eating issues and after nearly a week of Theo being born, Mike and I felt like we were meeting our baby for the first time. He wasn't hysterical. He was alert, curious and happy. He was also pooping up a storm and settling in to his new role as our master.

We're still working on the whole breastfeeding thing - man oh man is it ever tricky!! - but otherwise our household is starting to find its groove. And by groove I mean that we're no longer like the Walking Dead. The laundry is piled up, the cat is always terrified and confused, there are burping cloths on every surface, and I don't remember a time when there weren't tiny socks strewn all over our floors. But we are happy. So so so happy. We can't believe that Theo is all ours to keep.

Cleaning spit up on my duvet...

Thank you so very much for all the supportive comments and tips you sent my way both through the blog and email. They were invaluable to me and I am beyond grateful to each and every one of you. xo

Photography by our dear friends davina + daniel.

An introduction

2012-03-26T05:33:00.002-07:00

Theo August Samuel Johnson

Born March 21st, 7 lbs. 13 oz.

Not surprisingly, we think he's pretty close to perfect.

We spent 5 days at the hospital and are only just starting to settle into our new life at home. I won't lie, it's been a real struggle. My body has a lot of healing to do and this little guy has not taken to breastfeeding. Not at all. So there are a lot of challenges ahead - and many more sleepless night - but it is so worth it. Life is just incredible.

I hope to be back to blogging in the very near future but this week is all about getting back on my feet and getting Theo to eat like a champ. See you all very soon! ox