dreams in space like flying kites

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, 

and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, 
a new friend, a new love, a new country.” 
― Anaïs Nin

Boston will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Looking back, I know it will seem like a little dream or

an extended vacation along cobbled streets. 

But it is here that we first met our baby girl 

and it was here that we brought her home. 

And here that I saw my husband in new light - 

not just the handsome man and best friend I married...

but also the most fun and loving dad to our baby girl.

Its a busy week here for us...

Rob's mom is here visiting and a realtor is showing our apartment all week. 

A sea of boxes will soon flood our floors...

I can hardly believe our time here in Boston is coming to an end. 

On to more adventures - dreams thrown into space...

last night's dream

“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” 

― Victor Hugo

I should be asleep. 

My husband and baby are both asleep - the latter of which is key. 

And yet

in this quiet, fairly messy apartment, 

I find comfort in being the only one awake. 

I love this tiny home of ours. So much has happened here...

and yet 

it was never meant to last long. 

Even from the very beginning,

it seemed like last night's dream. 

So, as we open the windows letting the fall breeze blow through the hall, 

I hold tightly to the fleeting daylight

and every quiet moment I'm given to take it all in.

pockets full of brownstones and trees

“We need enormous pockets, pockets big enough for our families and our friends, and even the people who aren't on our lists, people we've never met but still want to protect. We need pockets for boroughs and for cities, a pocket that could hold the universe.”  ― Jonathan Safran Foer

Its hard to believe its already September. 

These city trees that once bore blossoms  bright 

will soon lose their leaves along the streets.

Lyla and I walked Mr. D to his metro stop before taking an early morning jog. 

We stopped by Trader Joe's 

and with a stroller full of bread, fruit and sunflowers, we made our way back home. 

While there are definitely some things I will happily walk away from once we move

(so long weekly street cleaning and twice-a-week trash days), 

there is definitely a lot I will miss about the rows of brownstones and old brick sidewalks.

I'd like to carry these things in enormous pockets... wherever we go. 

Here. Now in Boston...

“I want to gather up all the ink cartridges in the universe, because somewhere, mixed in with all that ink, is the next great American novel. And I’d love nothing more than to drink it.” 

― Jarod Kintz

I laid on our bed starring at the four walls around me. Surrounded by a surreal familiarity. It had been so long since we were here. And yet, I felt immediately at home. Home. Here. In Boston. 

And just like I spent most of Saturday and Sunday falling a little more in love with our home and its city streets - taking the time to really look at every little thing...that chevron rug I love, that perfect little office nook, those wedding pictures and the imprint of Bird's newborn feet, those red brick side walks and brownstone steps - so too this morning, I fell a little more in love with being a mom. 

Not just any mom. But her mom. Not just any wife...his wife. 

We are back in Boston and since our time here will someday soon end, I am determined to make the most of the days ahead...so thankful to spend them with my best little girl and her handsome dad. 

Photograph by www.ambermahoney.com, taken at 30 weeks pregnant with Lyla Bird

Back in Boston...

“you are not too old 

and it is not too late

to dive into your increasing depths 

where life calmly gives out it's own secret” 

― Rainer Maria Rilke

My sweet baby girl is asleep in her crib. Something that has become somewhat of a rarity these days. 

I know all the reasons why co-sleeping is ill-advised... 

but this girl will sleep hours on end when she is in between us 

and only two hours max when she is in her crib. 

I know its a habit we are going to have to break...

but for now I am so thankful for all those extra hours of sleep we all get. 

This little girl has sure taken my heart. 

At five weeks, she has already been on three plane rides and one 500 mile road trip.

I hold my breath while boarding every plane, but so far she has been quite a good little traveler --

even though she stays awake for most of the flights...she hardly ever cries.

Now that we are back in Boston,

 I am determined to find my routine and time to write, cook and clean.

Life is a little crazier and quite a lot messier with this little girl in it, 

but man is it good. So, so good. 

Harbor Islands

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” 

― William G.T. She'd

Mr. D got off work early on Saturday, so we took a ferry with friends to one of the

Boston Harbor Islands. I love that Boston is right on the water!

I probably wouldn't recommend the island we went to, but it was still so nice

to spend the day outside with such good company. 

sundays

“All who joy would win

Must share it -- Happiness was born a twin.” 

― George Gordon Byron

I got to spend the whole day with my husband on Sunday...we walked around the city all afternoon.
Ever since we moved here, Ive dreamed of walking around the city with him

and it finally came true! And I loved EVERY single minute of it. 

Boston is fast becoming one of my very favorite cities and 

I am so happy that we have been given the opportunity to be here...

we have met some really wonderful people already and I love where we live.

One day last week, Mr. D mentioned that he is happier than he has been in awhile...

and you have no idea how happy that fact alone makes me. 

Im definitely having to get used to his work schedule...

but I love and treasure every single moment we do get to spend together. 

here in Boston...

“I want 

To do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.” 

― Pablo Neruda, Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair

Mr. D didn't get home until a little after 11 pm last night.

I haven't quite gotten used to missing him all day long...

(and it actually makes me quite sad to think about getting used to it) - 

so this spring weather is just the thing I need to distract and lift my spirits. 

Also, I have a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the oven and its not even 10 am

(one of the joys of working from home)!

Whenever life seems a little daunting, 

it helps so much to focus on those little daily things that make me smile -

like long afternoon walks under the blossoming trees lining brownstone streets 

and the smell of warm cookies filling the air. 

remote bliss

“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, 

and not upon our circumstances.” 

― Martha Washington

While I agree a great deal with Mrs. Washington ...that it is not circumstances or material possessions that make one happy...there truly is no comparison between working remotely in our new little apartment and working back in the box that was my office. 

With the windows open, our quiet little street is filled with a chorus of birds chirping and on the street behind our apartment is a pre-school... so the laughter of children on the playground is dancing through the windows. The sound of pure and unabashed joy, coupled with singsongy birds, makes it nearly impossible to not sit here at my desk smiling. 

So, with comfy clothes on and my legs propped up on my desk,  I am almost, almost convinced that I could not possibly be blue in this current circumstance.

---------------------------------------------

I am about to waddle over to our kitchen to make myself a sandwich and then I am headed out to explore this afternoon with camera in hand. 

we are here...this new adventure has officially begun

“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that,

 the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”
― Maya Angelou

We are officially here in Boston...we even have the license plates to prove it.

And to welcome us, Boston has been a bit of a mid-summer dream. 

The weather has been unbelievably beautiful - 

perfect for exploring our new neighborhood and city streets -

and I could not love our little apartment more. 

We still have some unpacking to do, 

but I have already begun feeling much more at home than

I ever thought I would.

I met my new doctor this morning and really liked her which is a relief.

I am measuring right on schedule for eight months, 

and baby girl's heart beat was as strong as ever. 

We are off to a good start...

for life truly is pure adventure.