34 weeks.

6 weeks left to go + i am so very anxious to meet this little one. it is amazing the amount of love i have for someone who i have never met. every kick + movement makes me smile + fills me with so much happiness... there really are no other words to describe it.

i had another check up today + everything looks good. looking forward to the check up in two weeks where we get to actually see him again!

hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful sunshine today!

33.5 weeks

{and my clothes do not fit!}

the nursery | dresser/changing table

my sweet friend called me about a month ago while up in calistoga to tell me she found the perfect dresser/changing table at a consignment shop on lincoln avenue. since i have been working around the clock i wasn't able to get up there right away... and as the weeks went by, we were both pretty convinced that it would be gone by now. it wasn't until after a good freak out session this past week that i decided to make getting the room ready a bit more of a priority + called the consignment shop to see if they still had it! when they said yes, i knew without looking at it that it was meant to be...  + headed up there without question. i really can't tell you how happy i am! love everything about it... especially the price, which was a fraction of what i was going to spend on a new changing table.  

ps... we have decided to not put the whole nursery together until after we move into my house this summer. as much as i am desperate to hang curtains + paint the walls, it just doesn't make sense to spend the time or money on something that we will only use for a month. 

hello again.

{deliciousness from andie's cafe... picture taken for alexis' napa}

yes, yes, i know. i have once again been mia. 6 weeks left in my pregnancy + real estate has taken over my life... both professionally + personally. + the rest of my free time has been working on photography for alexis' napa + a few other freelance clients (once they post their photos, i'll share over here). honestly, i have had no time to even think about this little man who will be entering our world before we know it! oh, but i didn't get a chance to do my first load of baby laundry. very exciting (making a note of that feeling now because i know in a few months i will not think it is very exciting)! 

so, dear friends... while i am trying to wrap up work, please take a peek over at alexis' napa this month. lots of yummy posts like this one about andie's cafe.  or this post about another favorite, the fremont diner!

xo

happy birthday...

{to little miss lexi.} 

nursery inspiration | otomi fabric

{image via remodelista.}

While visiting Mexico about 8 years ago, I was desperate to find these embroidered dresses from my childhood... I was on a mission and dragged my father around from town to town, vendor to vendor having him translate something that I didn't have the proper name for. We were semi successful on that trip (funny enough, they are all over the place now!). Last year, I found myself once again dragging my father, Terri, and aunt Nancy around La Paz trying to find these bags we all love in bulk to give as gifts at our wedding. After a long afternoon of walking in what seemed like circles (on a very warm day) we found exactly what we were looking for (at a hardware store of all places)! And now again this year, I gave my parents a mission to find these Otomi fabrics for the nursery while they were visiting Guadalajara last month... I know they are available here in the US, but I think there is something to be said about finding them on your own in Mexico. I gave them full reign on color choice and size and let them know that I would figure out the nursery colors based on what they come home with (no pressure or anything).

I have known since before I considered having this child that I wanted these fabrics to be incorporated into a nursery one day. I have been in love with these textiles since I was a little girl... and when I see them now, they remind me of grandmother and the time we spent down in Mexico while growing up.  There is something about the Mexican culture that makes me feel happy, loved and alive. The music, food, artwork and decor all move me... and I can't think of a better feeling to want for my child. 

My parents are home until Monday and I can't wait to see what they brought back! Will definitely post some pictures this week.

{image found here.}

{our wedding china . reminds me of the fabric.}

nursery inspiration | just a few more things...

1. world map from these are things | 2. jonathan adler horse lamp 3. dwellstudio home wool rug draper stripe major {brown cream} | 4. elegant white moses basket from petit tresor | 5. jonathan adler moroccan pouf {silver} | 6. blabla kids classic dolls | 7. pjas basket from ikea | 8. hable construction storage bushel {sweet pea beads} | 9. gymnasium storage shelf from urban outfitters

3 years.

{mustard in oakville . march 2011}

good morning! today is the three year anniversary of my first post on i heart napa. it started as a creative outlet for me... a place to journal my life here in napa, share the things i love and explore more of who i am and want to become. i am shy by nature and blogging has been so good for me to shed a lot of my anxiety and care of what people think. there is nothing fancy about it. i am not the most original blogger or the best photographer, i do not do this to make money or have any grand ideas of ever making money... in truth it is just for me. with that said, i do love how it is unfolded and brought about a connection with people i would not have otherwise met or communicated with. there are days i want to cancel the entire thing (a lot lately) and just hide in my own little private world, but then i think about all of the positive things it has brought to my life and i continue forward. trying to remember that this whole experience was about overcoming what people think and to not let that one person bring me down (although they are trying damn hard to do so). 

so, thank you. thank you. thank you to all who do read this blog and have said the sweetest comments. it means so very much to me.

xo - nicole

30 weeks.

{30 pounds in 30 weeks. oops.}

i am getting big. really big. so big that when i went to my doctor's appointment last week, my lovely obgyn told me that my baby was "obviously well fed." not very nice of him! he also informed me that i am on track to gain 40 pounds by the time this little guy is born... 15 pounds more than my dream pregnancy weight gain, but oh well. he is healthy + i am happy. i also feel a bit at ease knowing that we have already set aside money for some serious action over at downtown pilates. sandy whipped me in to shape a few years back + i am hoping she can work her same magic again this summer.

hello.

i just wanted to say "hello" and let you all know that i will be back to posting regularly after this week. we have had a lot going on here at casa bruce, as well as more work than i ever imagined in both my real estate + photography life (it really is all about feast or famine)... and as a result there has been little time for fun! 

on a happy note, my new camera equipment arrived last week... it is incredible + i am soooooooooooo excited to start playing with it! 

happy monday :)

xo