Name: Laef Owen (due soon!)
Location: Fort Mill, SC
We named our boy Laef Owen after Leif Ericson, the great viking explorer who discovered America. So we chose the theme of voyage, explorer, nations, maps, paper boats, ships, lanterns, burlap, etc.
I wanted to create an eclectic, rustic, vintage feeling by using mustard yellows, army olive greens, copper rust reds, browns and grays.
I repainted an old dresser to make a great changing table and bought a few items from Ikea for organization. My friends and family made our son dolls, toys, blankets, boats and the mobile above his bed.
Thanks, Rebekah! Readers, see more at Tirzah Photography.
(Images: Rebekah/Tirzah Photography)
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This is charming!
I love the dresses, toys, and mobile. And now I am very curious (1) why did you name your son after Leif Ericson? and (2) why didn't you spell it "Leif"? It has nothing to do with design, just wondering . . .
Love this! So handsome and sweet. Your color combinations are gorgeous, as are the handmade touches.
I was curious, so I followed the link and found out that the paint color on the walls is Sherwin Williams' Willow Tree. EK76, the link also notes that they named him after Leif Erickson as the viking explorer who discovered America, and that the spelling change was to get the "layf" pronunciation, which I believe is closer to the original than "leef", which is how most Americans say Leif.
Love it! I love the idea of an explorer room.
I recently found this fabric at Hawthorne Threads and it's a viking theme. Maybe some of your handy family or friends might be interested it for future projects for Laef. Burp cloths? Lounge pants? Bibs? Bean bags? The colorway has rust and brown! http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/timeless_treasures_house_designer/vikings_organic
I love your explorer theme! I have a wee Leif as well. We pronounce it "layf." People where his dad and I grew up do that too, but we live on the east coast, and everyone here calls him Leaf. I have seen other people spell it "Lafe" to get around the pronunciation problem.
My understanding of the pronunciation is that there are three correct ones in the Nordic languages - layf, leef and life. So it really boils down to what feels and sounds most natural to you. And to us, that's layf!
I really love your home made touches! The rust blanket is beautiful!
I was actually wondering about the name spelling change too! I am Australian, 37 weeks pregnant with my half Norwegian baby, living in Norway (Right where Leif Ericsons parents came from). My partner and I are trying to decide on spellings for a few of our name choices.
Did you change it to make pronunciation in English easier? or was it just a personal thing? We have some great Norwegian names picked out, but I am worried they will be pronounced incorrectly when we one day move back to Australia.
@TRACENIK: Layf and Life are both common pronunciations, but Leef is never correct, because it sounds exactly like the girls name, Liv in scandi languages. Swedes often pronounce it almost Leh-f with their trademark sing-song down-up tones.
We decided to spell Laef's name "Laef" so that people wouldn't called him Leaf, they would say "Layf". We wanted people to at least think about it after they see the spelling.
It is definitely a different way to spell it. So far people love it. ;)
Thanks for all the sweet comments on his room. He actually was born on Friday and we are so happy. He's a very big boy with chubby cheeks. ;)
<3
Congratulations! Well, see, I always thought it was pronounced "leaf," so I guess you learn somethign every day!