Jun
13
2014Each Friday I interview a local business owner who caters to new moms and their little ones. My goal is to expose you to some great people you would otherwise not know about. I want you to meet and grow to love these brave local men and women who enjoy serving you.
Greenville SC Modern Baby Boutique: La-Di-Da Baby
La-Di-Da Baby is a mother-daughter sewing team that specialize in modern designs for little ones. Debbie is a homemaker, mother of 3 adult children, and grandmother to 2 granddaughters ( one of whom you can meet here!). She has had a lifelong passion for creating with a sewing machine. Missy is a homemaker, ER nurse, and new mom. Visit the Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ladidababy Give them a Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ladidababy
Interview with La-Di-Da Baby
Tell me a little about your family.
Debbie has been married to her best friend for 32 years. She now has an empty nest, but looks forward to time spent with her granddaughters. Missy has been married for 8 years. She has developed an interest in sewing since the birth of her daughter.
What advice do you wish someone had given you as a new mom? What advice would you give to a new mom?
Limit unnecessary activities that overtax family time and tend to separate everyone in different directions. Be faithful in the God given responsibility of raising your child–don’t trust that to someone else. And, most importantly, faithfully follow God’s direction in His word concerning child rearing and trust Him with the results. He IS faithful.
What have been your favorite moments of motherhood?
Saturday night homemade pizza dinners, swimming together in the swimming pool, playing flashlight tag with the neighborhood children, the special smiles, hugs, sloppy kisses from toddlers. Things money can’t buy.
What has been your most challenging moments of motherhood?
HOMESCHOOL. For ten years. Hardest job I ever had, but worth every second, by God’s grace. Fatique, sleepless nights, worry over the future of each child.
What inspired you to start your business?
With the impending birth of our first granddaughter, we discovered that most of the baby items were “run of the mill” and expensive for mediocre quality. With a sewing background, we thought–“we can make this” and make it boutique grade!
What products do your provide for new moms?
- Ultra soft sheet savers with a unique design features
- Burp cloths made from premium cotton, warm and natural batting & cotton chenille.
- Burp cloths using flannel front &cotton terry cloth back
- Unique and colorful bibs
- Pack n play sheets
- Rag quilts
- Swaddle blankets in XL sizes
What is one product that you provide that you’d rather not live without?
Sheet savers are a huge time saver for a sleep deprived new mom. They protect the crib sheet from the inevitable mishaps that happen at all hours. We have a unique design for our sheet savers and they are a much higher quality than what is available in the box stores. Our sheet savers have detachable ribbon ties than can be unsnapped from the ties, avoiding having to retie the sheet saver every time it needs washed. 
Special Discount for Quiet Graces Fans!
As a mom of twins with reflux and MPI, I would have adored these sheet savers! We were constantly changing sheets in the early days! Grab yourself or a friend one of these fantastic sheet savers with the following discount code! 15% off with minimum purchase of $25.00 at La-Di-Da Baby’s Shop . Use coupon code QUIETGRACES15 to receive discount. Interested in Newborn Photography? Check me out as well.
Jun
11
2014
A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting Emily. She’s such a fun and spunky 3 year old.
This precious girl lights up the room with laughter and smiles.
Her mama, Mary, calls her a “Prissy Tom-girl” as she digs in the dirt with her shovels and carries around her purse.
Emily can sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” She loves to twirl and dance. She’s mostly a typical 3 year old.
Except Emily isn’t a typical 3 year old.
She has a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. EoE is an inflammatory disorder where most foods cause white blood cells to attack the esophagus. Most EoE patients can eat 5 or fewer foods and depend on specialized formula that costs over $700 a month. There is no cure for EoE and the treatment is incredibly invasive.
Emily’s brave mama is on a mission to help bring awareness and research funds to eosinophilic esophagitis. Right now at the Bi-lo on Hudson Road in Greer, Mary is hosting a fund raiser called “Hope for Emily.” You can donate with your cashier at check-out through June 18th. Here’s a short clip of Mary talking about this fundraiser.
If Emily’s story touches you, and you’re unable to go to the Hudson Road Bi-lo, you’re welcome to donate to the research fund here.
Jun
09
2014I know… it’s another one of the boy. He just stays put longer than his sisters. And he wanted to be in the hammock with me so much…
Jun
03
2014Okay… so these images are sort of staged. I mean, I’m in the studio with the camera on the tripod with the sole purpose of taking pictures. So it’s not like I captured us as we really are in daily life… or did I? 
Watching Aeralind and Bronwyn do the back and forth running to set off the shutter and get back before the 10 seconds were up was hilarious. Totally worth a few “staged” portraits.
May
28
2014
Zoey is a miracle. She was delieved at just 25 weeks gestation when her mother was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and HELLP Sydrome.
Zoey weighed just 1 pound and 4.5 ounces. She was in the NICU for almost 3.5 months. This is her actual newborn picture.
By the time I photographed Zoey she was almost 4 months old and at 41 weeks gestation. She had been released from the NICU about 1 week prior to our session. Greenville SC Preemie Baby Photography does not often occur in the tradition first 3 week period of newborn photography. These little miracles require their own timetables.
She weighed just 6 pounds and 1 ounces. She was full of Joy: the experience of good in the midst of suffering. Zoey Joy smiled at me: a miracle made possible by modern medicine and brave NICU staff.
Photographing preemie’s presents additional challenges to the photographer, the first of which is safety. These babies have weak immune systems. What a photographer thinks is just a touch of cold could be a dangerous virus called RSV that would produce life threatening consequences for their weak lungs.
I never take preemie’s into the studio unless my whole family is free of sickness and I always wash and then sanitize my hands before touching a preemie. If I’m sick, I’ll happily refer any newborn clients to an alternate photographer with availability.
Preemie’s are also past the 0-14 day stage we like to refer to as “womb memory.” Womb memory is the extra flexibility in a baby’s joints from being so recently tucked inside his mother. Womb memory coupled with a newborn’s propensity for sleep, allows newborn photographers to pose the babies all those curly positions.
Preemie’s don’t have womb memory and are far less flexible. They also possess more strength than a newborn due to chronologically being older. Finally, many preemies are sensitive to excessive touch. So posing a preemie is a delicate matter of trial and error to see which positions are comfortable for them. Zoey loved only a trio of the traditional newborn poses and we varied those up with different styling, blankets, and props.
Lydia and Micheal, thank you so much for sharing your precious miracle Zoey Joy with me. It was an honor to serve you during this season of celebration for your family.
If you just delivered a preemie or micropreemie, don’t hesitate to inquire about booking a session. I’m willing to attempt a newborn type session for any baby up to 45 weeks gestation. You deserve to celebrate your new little one.
Additionally, I’m happy to come out to the NICU and photograph a complimentary session so you can have professional images of your little ones brave first days.
