bring back bonnets: briar handmade

 

In case you hadn't noticed, we are pretty big bonnet fans around here!  Claire's a baby who has been blessed with lots of hair, but it certainly has grown in oddly.  Headbands are an absolute no-go, mostly serving only as a toy she can quickly rip off or to make her bangs stick straight up!  I have a drawer of them just sitting, while our bonnets, well....let's just say I don't think we can ever have enough!  

These pretty ones are by one of my very favorite companies, Briar Handmade.  They make beautiful bonnets for children in natural fibers, all constructed in the US.  For little heads this summer, they are the absolute best way to keep the sun away!  Who has a baby that will keep on any other kind of hat?  Not I!  Claire will quickly rip off a bucket hat or fedora, but the tie on these bonnets is baby-proof.  

They are lovely and light, never making Claire too hot or uncomfortable.  We're practically chased down by moms wanting to know where to buy when I take her out in these, because frankly cute baby hats are nearly impossible to find. Old Navy and Gap come out with one or two hats each summer, both mediocre looking at best in my opinion and always quickly sold out.  Switch it up this summer, and bring back bonnets!  They're releasing brimmed bonnets this summer which I am SO excited about, because who can keep sunglasses on a baby?  Not I!  They also make beautifully warm and even sherpa lined bonnets for winter - this is one of my favorite photos of Claire with her red velvet Christmas bonnet (and swoon, 6 month old tiny Claire, be still my heart!)  

You can find Briar Handmade's website here (they restock frequently but sell out fast!) so I also suggest following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.  

The cream linen bonnet Claire is wearing in the top photo was given to us, but rest assured that all opinions here are my own - I personally bought the watercolor and velvet pom bonnets for her previously, and will continue to buy them for her as long as they fit!  

the weekender/easter egg-citement at eckert's farms

As a parent, you get told a lot (especially when you have a baby) "enjoy these moments!  These days go by so fast!"  And sometimes, it's hard to take that advice to heart - like when you're grocery shopping and the cart is filled in the checkout line and suddenly you realize your baby's diaper has leaked in the carrier (yes, that happened to me last week) and really you have nothing else to do but let the checkout worker finish up and wait until you get out to the car to change the baby.  Bonus, you're covered in poo, the whole drive home.  

Moments like those I sometimes want to smack the well-meaning older ladies who say "enjoy this time!  Don't blink!"  

But then, THEN there are magical days like yesterday where I remember their advice and I truly get it.  Yesterday we woke up early to get dressed in some springy clothes, head out into the sunshine and drive to Eckert's Farm not far outside the city for Easter Egg-citement, and it was one of those days I know I'll be siphoning happiness from for a long time.  When Claire is 12 and sassing me I'll be thinking of yesterday, these memories, and how good that day was.  I must have taken 500 photos in an attempt to capture everything, every sweet smile, but I'll refrain (reluctantly) from posting ALL of them here.  These are a few of my favorites!  

 

 This is how excited Claire was when I told her we were going to Eckert's!  Actually, she just learned how to clap and so EVERYTHING gets a standing ovation from Claire!  She's our biggest (tiny) fan!