LotusHaus Mama

Apple Park Pals } Cute organic softees!

These Apple Park toys are so cute and certified green! In my search for Baby Einstein puppets, the Apple Park hand puppets are a better option!

I want a Cubebot!

 
I'm loving this Cubebot, an eco-friendly version of a transformer robot! Made from sustainably harvested cherry wood and super posable!

Introducing Rafael!

I've been up in the clouds getting used to my new role as a mommy to our little angel Rafael. It was a challenging labor (still processing it), but I will tell you more about it later. We had a planned a home birth and our experience at home was beautiful and peaceful. There were some complications during the pushing stage and we eventually had to go to the Valley Medical Birth Center where Rafael was delivered by an emergency cesarean section. Although this was not ideal, we are grateful that Rafael and I are safe and recovering well. We stayed at the Birth Center for 4 days in recovery where we received excellent care and treatment.

We are finally home and enjoying this stage of getting to know each other! I am taking a break from my blogging for awhile until I get back on my feet. Thank you for reading my blog and for all of your well wishes and support! I am excited for 2010, the year of the Tiger! Rawr!

Rafael's 1st Thanksgiving (age 5 days old) from Joanna Dyckhoff on Vimeo.
 

Organic Noonies } Snug like a pea in a pod!

 

These Noonies are like swaddle blankets with hoods, keeping baby snug! There are several eco-friendly and healthy options made with organic sherpa inside and organic fair trade fabrics outside, along with reclaimed wood buttons! Aww, these are just too cute!
 

My Master Bedroom and Nursery - "Pagoda in the Heavens"

 
Our master bedroom/nursery makeover was inspired by a calming palette of turquoise, khaki and chocolate. My husband and I pulled together Asian inspired details from antique paintings to pop graphics. Here is the nursery side of our master bedroom. I used Illustrator to draw Chinese and Japanese cloud motifs and printed them at a larger scale using Blockposters. Then we traced and painted them onto the khaki wall using Benjamin Moore's sample paints. These small paint samples had great coverage. The crib is from Target and the shelving is from Ikea.

These are some detail shots from the room... Some inspiring figurines, a pagoda mirror, a Ukiyo-E Japanese Wood Block Print (thrift find!), and a kimono fabric scrap that I plan to make into a pillow...

In the crib you can see a teal and lime colored  "Tummy Time Play Mat" that I will be using as a changing pad at first. I think it's so cute and practical and it has a measuring tape printed on it so I can watch our baby boy grow in length right before my eyes! On top of the play mat is a brown Boppy Noggin Head Support that prevents the baby from having a flat head. The crib is outfitted with an organic cotton flannel sheet and a Nojo fleece sheet saver from Target.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the baby are two friends, a Yomiko Classics baby panda, and a homemade doll (made by my friend's aunt) swaddled in a Kiddopotamus bamboo fabric swaddle blanket. Also pictured is the Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow (folds into a square) that I used for a bit, and a hand crocheted baby blanket from my cousin! These things will be removed when the baby comes because it is much safer for the him to be in a crib without extra things like pillows, dolls and crib bumpers (prevents suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

This is the adult side of the room. In case you haven't noticed, the bed wall and ceiling is painted a chocolate brown and gives us a sense of privacy and intimacy, while the rest of the walls are painted a neutral khaki color. The bedroom artwork consists of Chinese scrolls and artwork I've found over the years at various antique stores. We didn't have it in the budget to buy a new bed, so we updated our existing Ikea rattan frame by staining it dark brown. I really love how our bedroom turned out! Can't wait until our boy can enjoy it too!

Babyletto Modo Convertible Crib

 
My dad got us the crib we wanted, hooray! I love this Babyletto Modo Convertible Crib in Espresso! It's modern and the wood finish is rich and smooth to the touch, plus it's the perfect height for this 5'0 tall mama =) It converts into a toddler bed and comes with the side railing. For a stylish and modern crib it's pretty affordable too. Available at Target.

A couple of cute things

    

I splurged on a couple of cute things from Skip Hop.

1) Swipe - a handy wipes container that has a red slider that makes it easy to grab a wipe and keeps them moist (We all know that resealable sticker tabs only stick for so long). Plus you can sling it onto your bag handle or stroller.

2) Splash Bottle Dryer - I just had to get this one because it looks like a lotus flower and has a handy bottle brush in the center.

My Baby Shower! Sneak Peek

I can't believe I'm already 32 weeks along in my pregnancy! My baby shower is this Sunday and being a DIY-er of course I had to throw some things together! Here is a sneak peek at my invitation... I uploaded this image to my event web page at www.pingg.com. It's a great online invitation service and a wonderful way to save money and the environment!!!

Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kits

These eco-friendly lunch kits by Citizenpip are too cute! Via Inhabitots.

WonderToast Organic Cotton and Foodie Alphabet Onesies!

Supercute and tasty! Have your lil' ones in comfy, eco-friendly organic cotton onesies by WonderToast and spread the love for global cuisine at the same time! I love these alphabet foodie onesies! Via Inhabitots.

Earth Friendly Baby Bamboo Mobiles by Petit Collage

These bamboo baby mobiles are super stylish, cute and eco-friendly for your nursery! Check the out at Petit Collage.

Sckoon Organic Cotton Children's Wear

Oh my goodness! I really love Sckoon's collection of Organic Cotton Children's wear! Since I've scoping out boy wear, I am so sprung on the Asian stylings of their Japonesk and Zen & Kabuki collections and the retro modern stylings of the Organic Pear collection! Check them out!

I'm also researching cloth diaper systems, and Sckoon's organic cotton diapers are definitely an option!

Koto Japanese Lounge Set - super cute!

OMG, total cuteness! Buy a set for your lil' one at Etsy!

Baby Trunk Show at Kobo

This weekend is the Seattle Chinatown-International District Summer Festival and one of my favorite stores, Kobo at Higo, will be celebrating kids and families with a special Baby Trunk Show! I missed the trunk show but purchased some cute ornamental baby shoes last year from one of the participating local Seattle designers.

Sakura Bloom } Naturally Modern Baby Sling

I would really like to use a baby sling to promote bonding and rekindle the cultural art of babywearing and childrearing. I love these baby slings from Sakura Bloom that I saw over at Twig & Thistle! (My baby boy colors are teal, orange and green... and there are some perfect color combos for me here!). There are beautiful options in organic linen, sustainable dupioni silk and even styles for the daddy types! I am impressed by the Sakura Bloom collection as well as their commitment to donating a portion of their proceeds towards the well-being and sustainability of the Tibetan community. Oh and check out the awesome instructions on the art of modern babywearing here.

Dream Eco-Friendly Stroller by UPPAbaby

After reading lots of reviews and stalking poor unsuspecting moms, my dream stroller is the UPPAbaby Vista Stroller in green (if I were a rich girl)! UPPAbaby is committed to developing products that are eco-friendly and safe for our children. You can read more about their environmental commitment here. What I like about this set, is that it's compact, sleek looking and the baby has the option of facing you or the world. I love the soybean fiber/cotton lining in the bassinet, the spacious undercarriage for my belongings and how easily it folds up. Watch a video on the Vista stroller here.

10,000 Blessings Feng Shui } 9 Tips for the Nursery

 
Gwynn Warner from 10,000 Blessings Feng Shui in Oregon graciously sent over these wonderful 9 tips for creating a restful & safe environment for babies’ & toddlers’ rooms. Whether you are trying to conceive or are already pregnant, it is in ideal time to have a Feng Shui consultation to support your journey!

In the meanwhile, as you begin to set up the nursery, please keep this Feng Shui wisdom in mind:

 1.  Make sure there are no “poison arrows” or sharp corners from furniture or objects pointed towards their heads or bodies—cover any sharp edges with fabric or trailing plant leaves.  Use furniture with rounded edges wherever possible.  No shelves, cupboards or storage structures should be above their crib or bed.  See your friendly consultant if you have beams or slanted ceilings in the room.

2.  Select soft, restful colors for their paint and mural colors such as lavender or blue.  Avoid bold and active patterns or colors in the décor (including bed linens). 

3. Place the bed in the command position so that your child can see the door.  For a baby, place the side of the bed to a solid wall; for a toddler, the head-board should go against a solid wall.  Neither should be in direct line with a door nor against a window.  Also avoid the bed sharing a wall with a bathroom, toilet or utility room.  Choose a room for them that is far away from excessive noise such as a tv or loud neighbors.

4.  Avoid stagnation by bringing in at least 15 minutes of fresh air each day and using natural aromatherapy cleaning products.  Keep movement in the room with mobiles or a wind-chime hung at the window to catch the breeze.   Or use small fan running on low (however, do not place a ceiling fan over their bed!).  You can also play gentle and beautiful music.

5.  Keep the room very clean including frequent washing of bedding.  Clear all clutter.  You can use aromatherapy (such as lavender) in a diffuser or spray-mist bottle to invite more calm.  Make sure there is a carbon monoxide detector if the nursery is next to or above the garage (but avoid their room being in this position anyway!). 

6.  Store stuffed animals and toys out of sight at night.  Also curtain off mirrored closets.  Both can disrupt sleep.  Use window treatments for protection from the outside.

7.  Minimize unnecessary electronics and keep them away from their heads.   Keep the lighting in balance—not too bright so they can rest deeply; yet not too dim or yin so they can grow and thrive.

8.  Add restful imagery to the room such as a Laughing Buddha with Children around him as a symbol of joy and benevolence.  Avoid overly yang (or active) images or aggressive animals such as reptiles, dinosaurs and tigers.  Nature scenes (but avoiding overly watery pictures) are fantastic to promote growth.  A family portrait is also ideal for comfort.

9.  Have a Feng Shui Blessing Ceremony in your nursery and home.  It is the strongest method for clearing energy blockages and increasing the flow of chi as well as inviting in vital health, blessings, prosperity and good fortune. 

*All Text courtesy of Gwynne Warner
www.10kBlessingsFengShui.com
www.10KBlessingsFengShui.typepad.com

Kate Quinn Organics Summer Collection!

Oh I can't wait to find out what gender our baby will be! I am in LOVE with the new Kate Quinn Organics  summer collection! Check out their new prints and beautiful richly colored organic cotton crib bedding with matching window panels! This bedding collection is perfect! (I'm so sick of all the pink and blue options). The color theme I have in my head is peach, lavender and mint green. I also love that Kate Quinn Organics is based in the Seattle area with a showroom in Kirkland and Saturday Sample Sales at their outlet on Rainier Ave!

Baby Earth

Hey eco-chic moms! Check out babyearth.com a beautiful, modern and easy to navigate online retailer for healthy, safe and earth friendly baby items and accessories. gDiapers flushable diaper kit, Zolo Wear Hemp/Organic Cotton Ring Sling, and Q Collection Organic Cotton Bedding.

Lucky Wang and Nonchalant Mom

Now that I am finally pregnant, I can just picture a pint sized version of me in these incredibly adorable kimono style onesies and mandarin style jackets from Lucky Wang! Buy these cuties and other fabulously modern and colorful selections over at Nonchalant Mom! (Photos by Lucky Wang and Nonchalant Mom.)

Shanghai Baby } Ornamental Booties

Aren't these baby booties just the cutest! These are available from Forgotten Shanghai but I picked up a cute pair of green lotus brocade booties last summer from Kobo Seattle!