4 months

“Five tender apricots in a blue bowl, a brief and exact promise of things to come.” 

― Frances Mayes

[on our way to brunch at the South End Buttery on Saturday]

At four months old, this girl is talking like crazy...especially when she is frustrated. Those blablablublablas can be awfully loud and forceful! She went to the doctor last week and at only 13 lbs, this little babe is in the 96 percentile for length! There are so many things I love about this age. She is constantly learning new things and there is nothing sweeter than the sound of her laughter. Oh it just does not get better than baby laughs. 

And Mr. D makes both of us laugh more than any one else on earth. Lyla Bird and I are both completely smitten with him. 

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. 

the best 5 days

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” 

― Rumi

This little girl has been in our lives for only five sweet days, but I feel like she has always been here. 

Every look she gives - every whimper and sigh - seem as though I've seen and heard them my whole life. 

The days are full and the nights are at times quite long, but I've never been happier 

or felt my heart more full. And oh my goodness I love watching Mr. D with her. 

It feels so good to be Mr. D's wife and Lyla Bird's mama. I am so in love with them both. 

prayers answered!

“I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. 

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. 
It doesn't change God- it changes me.” 

― C.S. Lewis

Our prayers were answered this morning...

baby girl flipped while we were literally on our way to the doctor! Can you believe it?! 

The doctor's appointment went great and we got to see our little girl again.

I am measuring a little small, but its ok because baby girl is weighing in at a healthy 6 lbs 9 ounces. 

I am so thankful for all of the sweet emails and support we have had from friends and family 

over the last several days ...and mostly for my sweet husband who

made this morning one of my most favorite yet. 

Its so exciting not knowing yet when our little girl is going to arrive...but knowing it will be soon.

Every moment we have together is a little sweeter and filled with so much joy. 

Thank you so much for all of your advice, prayers and well wishes!

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. 

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. 

Mexico

“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.” 

― E.E. Cummings

We are back from Mexico! Its hard to believe that that will probably be the last vacation we'll take for awhile without our new little family member in tow. The skies were so beautiful and the water so clear and blue. We ate such delicious food and spent most of our time just relaxing in the warm air (an aptly timed vacation as my belly is really starting to grow and I can't seem to get enough sleep these days). 

I forgot our new camera, though - which was really lame and I still can't believe it. At least we had our iPhones and Mr. D remembered to bring along his new HD camera which was fun to experiment with in the water. 

We can't wait to take baby back there with us next time! But for now, its good to be home - preparing for our next move to a new a city and for the arrival of Baby D. 

a January thaw

“Your hair is winter fire
January embers
My heart burns there, too.”
― Stephen King

 As an early birthday present to our curly-haired, four-legged friend, 

a January thaw gave way to a 60 degree day this past weekend.

We celebrated at a park along the Potomac River.  

And even as our house sat tucked beneath a blanket of snow last night, 

I have never loved a January more.

As warm as it is, as cold as it is, as round and curvy as it is...

the moments that fill the days that comprise this very January

have never been better.

 

"Dirty house and all"

I'm a riddle in nine syllables,
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf's big with its yeasty rising.
Money's new-minted in this fat purse.
I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I've eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded the train there's no getting off.

- Sylvia Plath, Metaphors

I promised myself I would never take a picture like this in the bathroom of all places. AND if I did, that I wouldn't dare post it on this blog. But today is just one of those days. So I apologize in advance. 

See, it took me far longer than I'd like to admit to get dressed today. Trying to put on skirts that I wore two weeks ago is like Cinderella's ugly step-sisters trying to squeeze their feet into glass slippers. My ribs are bruised because my bras are just that tight (and a letter of the alphabet I had never seen in real life). I love this belly, but man getting dressed for work everyday is exhausting and often leaves me feeling defeated.

Our bedroom is still full of furniture left over from our living room and our bathroom is somewhere between disheveled and downright gross (thank you, Lucy). After several days out at the country and a couple at a kennel, Lucy's hair turned to matted dreads which Rob had to shave off yesterday in our bathroom (yes, shave...)

So today I drove to work in a bit of a forlorn haze. Nothing is by any means terribly wrong and I am thankful and grateful for everything....but its just one of those days, you know?

And then....I got this sweet note from my husband...

"You looked beautiful today. Right now our house is a complete mess, our dog looks like she got stuck in a lawn mower, we have a trailer full of trash in our back yard, work is...work, there are a billion things to do and yet I have never been happier. I know you aren't fitting into some of your clothes and that probably doesn't make you very happy but I can honestly say that I have never found you to be more attractive in my life. You are beautiful. You have a glow to you that makes me feel so lucky to be with you...."

That man of mine. He knows just how to turn my day around and make gray skies turn into a bright summer's day blue. I can't wait to go home and dance around for joy with him in our messy house with that butchered dog of ours clamoring at our feet...its just one of those days where despite everything you feel so incredibly lucky, you know?!

20 weeks; or Happy Everything

“Hope 

Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering 'it will be happier'...”
— Alfred Lord Tennyson

Its hard to believe that we are already halfway through the pregnancy

which means we are halfway there to meeting our baby girl!

I still get pretty sick late at night and for the first time in my life I know what heart burn feels like, 

but getting to feel her kick and twirl around in my belly makes everything worth it.

We are having a lot of fun preparing for our new little family member....

we ordered the crib last week and I am so excited for it to get here!

2011 was a pretty amazing year, but I have a feeling 2012 is going to blow it out of the water. 

Here's to a happy new year,

a happy one year

and a happy halfway there.

dancing the night away with our girl.

“I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear.”

― George Eliot

My wonderful, amazing husband tore up the tired, old carpet in our living room and hallway. And even though our house was just a bit disheveled, I could stare in wonder at our hard wood floors all day. Displaced furniture is nothing compared to glorious sweepable hard wood floors (especially in our little house with Lucy's giant paws and baby girl on the way). I am so thankful for that handsome husband of mine who  always works so hard and takes such good care of our little family. And hooray for wood floors!

Last night in bed, baby girl danced and danced for the longest time real low and on the right side of my belly. We just laid there feeling her move about. I think she liked having Mr. D's hand there to kick.

I had never been happier or felt more love. Surrounded by my little family. Mr. D's hand on my belly while baby girl danced the night away.

I thought this time, my heart surely would explode.

our girl.

“It's a GIRL. It's a little girl, with scrunched-up petal lips and a tuft of dark hair and hands in tiny fits, up by her ears. All that time, that's who was in there. And it's weird, but the minute I saw her I just thought: IT'S YOU. Of course it is.” 

― Sophie Kinsella

As my belly swells and baby girl's little movements become more frequent (or rather more noticeable), I can hardly suppress my excitement. Already I can't imagine not having this belly...this belly I'd dreamed of for years but didn't expect so soon. The moment the doctor wrote, "Hi Mom and Dad, I'm your daughter!" on the ultrasound screen, I thought my chest would burst with joy. I immediately felt so much closer to the little babe growing in my belly...no longer referring to Baby D as "it" but rather "she." We love her so much already.

I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms. This baby girl I already know. 

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

We are on our way to New York City for a few days!! Oh how I love this time of year.

It's a...

and we are SOOO excited!!!

our weekend plans

“Life is a series of surprises and would not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Peppermint ice cream, wrapping presents, baking cookies, a Christmas party, buying one or two 

more little gifts, taking Lucy girl to the park, long walks....

AND anxiously waiting for that Monday morning doctor's appointment (!) 

Hope you have a happy weekend!!

 

One within one.

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
― Marcus Aurelius

 Having life growing in my belly - the surreal idea of it as a whole - 

has wrapped me up in a calm I have never felt before.

Every morning I wake up and lay my hand over my growing belly just to make sure its still there

and the affirmation fills me with so much joy and excitement. 

We did everything we could to be "responsible" and "safe" in planning 

this pregnancy for a [MUCH] later date...

but now even those words seem kind of silly to me because

I feel like this is exactly where we were always meant to be. 

I am so enjoying this time we have as a family of three and a half...

I wouldn't trade a single moment of it for anything in the world.

This growing belly, Lucy girl and the kind, fun and handsome man by my side

and this plan that is so much better than we could have ever laid out ourselves

brings me such an amazing and peaceful joy.

17 weeks.

“May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien

I can hardly wait to find out if sweet Baby Davis is a boy or a girl. 

Mr. D thought boy all along until last week when he switched to girl. 

I still think the little babe in my belly is a boy...

Hooray for only one more week of guessing!!!

The best thing this week has been feeling baby move 
at night and sometimes in the morning. 
Truly the most wonderful feeling in the entire world! 

a sudden gift at a sudden moment

“Sometimes love is a surprise, an instant of recognition, a sudden gift at a sudden moment that makes everything different from then on. Some people will say that's not love, that you can't really love someone you don't know. But, I'm not so sure. Love doesn't seem to follow a plan; it's not a series of steps. It can hit with the force of nature--an earthquake, a tidal wave, a storm of wild relentless energy that is beyond your simple attempts at control.” 

― Deb Caletti

 We ordered pizza in and watched Modern Family last night while I addressed envelopes.

It was around 10:30pm when I finished the last of the addresses and Mr. D had just headed in to the bedroom. I laid back on the couch stretching my feet out and stayed really still. Suddenly for some reason, I just knew I was going to feel baby. AND if not seconds later...I felt four little taps like fluttering wings below my belly button. 

And THEN what felt like a little wave rolled through my abdomen...

I ran excitedly in to the bedroom and laid flat across the bed and pushed on my stomach a little where I had felt the fluttering and with Mr.D's hand right over the spot ...we both felt a distinct little kick! 

It may have been little, but our eyes both grew big with amazement. Thats our baby! 

I could hardly sleep last night and when I woke up 

it felt like Christmas morning.

Lights and an evergreen candle.

“Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small, but it was strong.  
It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low 

but no winds would make it flicker because it would not give up.” 

― Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Long Winter

After dinner last night, we sipped hot chocolate in the glow of Christmas lights  
and watched a movie together.  It was a perfect December night. 

Our Christmas decorations are rather low-key this year...but its simplicity sits right with me.
I do want to get a wreath for the door, but other than that... our simple Christmas tree, the nativity snow globe that my dad gave us and my favorite Christmas candle that smells like fresh evergreen
is filling my heart with so much cheer that I think it might explode.

Mr. D and I heard our baby's strong little heart beating at the doctor this morning...
I don't believe either of us have ever been more happy or thankful than we are this Christmas season.

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