babymoon

“A writer never has a vacation. 

For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.”
― Eugène Ionesco

 I've never been more excited about a vacation than I am now -

waking up that first morning to the sunrise over the ocean

and having absolutely no plans, but to relax and drink in the sun. 

They say it takes a couple of days before your body fully feels like its on vacation, 

but I'm pretty sure I'm already there.

I can think of no better way to kick off this third trimester of pregnancy...

See you next week!! 

"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?!

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.

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

soaking in the weekend sun and pleading with it to stay

“The whole point of the week is the weekend.” 

― Angela Montenegro 

I want so badly to savor every moment of this weekend... 

I can feel Monday approaching with the cool breeze blowing the branches of leaves against 

our bedroom window. But the late afternoon sun is still warm against my skin 

and so I am making a point to really soak it in. 

Spending the day with Mr. D and Moose

and I would not have it any other way. 

I love our little family oh so much. 

I hope you are somewhere savoring your weekend too!

nurturing herbs and solitude

"Loneliness is black coffee and late-night television; 

solitude is herb tea and soft music. 

Solitude, quality solitude, is an assertion of self-worth, 

because only in the stillness can we hear the truth of our own unique voices."
— Pearl Cleage

 I have started an herb garden. 

Not quite the garden I imagine for my future- 

where the roots of the plants will actually dig in to the ground beneath my feet-

but its a start. A potted and well-lit start.

And when last night's vegetable baked ziti called for basil, it felt so good to reach over 

to my very own fresh basil plant and pick the exact amount needed.

I really love this excerpt from the quote above,

"Solitude, quality solitude, is an assertion of self-worth, 

because only in the stillness can we hear the truth of our own unique voices."

Tonight, I am reading and writing and letting myself be fully immersed

in quality solitude...

[something that comes pretty easily for an only child, 

but can be so easily drowned out if not nurtured ever so often]

photograph from weheartit.com

thankfully, it sure feels good

"Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me."
— Bob Marley

 You know life is good and you are blessed

when the ground beneath your feet is a little rocky

and yet, you have simply never been happier before in your life

 at this very moment

walking down the narrow path.

I haven't just been writing in my head lately...

I've been singing, too
and it sure feels good.

-----

Baseball game

followed by a Bachelorette party 

and a whole lotta ice cream and Friday Night Lights

the art of being present.

"Right now we are here, and nothing can mar our perfection,

or steal the joy of this perfect moment."
— Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

 Sometimes I get to feeling like I'm in need of something new...

A different skyline or job maybe, 

but almost immediately following that urge for displacement - 

I am made aware of the present. 

And as if an answer to prayer, I become so thankful for everything surrounding me. 

The huge front porch standing proud in front of our house 

and that safety and peaceful joy I feel when I walk in our home. 

The Potomac River floating alongside the road like a ribbon dancing carefree in the wind

and the Washington Monument unwavering and strong framed perfectly in my windshield 

on my drive home each day.

Singing in the kitchen with Lucy girl frolicking at my heels as we cook dinner for husband each night -

the breeze blowing through the open windows of our tree house --

I wouldn't trade it for anything in sight.

And Mr. D, who makes me laugh more than any other person

and feel like a winged bird soaring through the sky.

And I get the feeling that there is no such thing better than this -

to be here in the District, the luckiest girl married to the best guy.

So as long as we're here - wherever here may be - 

nothing can take away my joy of the present.

Photograph by the amazing Amber of LiveitOutPhotography

"Everyone in me is a bird, I am beating all my wings" — Sylvia Plath

"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance"
— E.E. Cummings

 The theme on Saturday has a lot to do with birds. For many reasons. 

And in anticipation, the birds have joined in getting ready for the party by making

the most perfect nests I have ever seen 

with the most beautiful blue eggs inside of them. 

My mom sent me these pictures of not one, but TWO perfect nests in her garden in the country.

Even as the world seems to be bursting at its seams,

birds continue singing and creation once again has me still.

whispered secrets.

"Because paper has more patience than people. "
— Anne Frank

 Sometimes I don't even dare let the ink of my pen whisper my thoughts to its paper friend -

even as its stark white silence beckons. Drawing me near.

I've learned that there is not enough patience in the world for all of the thoughts I have.

Even my own mind betrays me.

So I've taken to the company of trees.

They are always abiding, as beautiful and alive as they are.

We have this silent agreement

that no matter what I say - they will never back away,

only bend and sway.

photo by the marvelous annette pehrsson

the absence of distance

"I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam."
— J.R.R. Tolkien

 [There is something really beautiful to me about a simple gold wedding band.]

When things are hectic and there is not time enough in the day, 

if I pause just for a moment to think of what is truly important and sacred to me -

its like standing fully clothed on an empty beach...

its there

right in front of me.

All I have to do is run toward it.
There is such a joyful peace that comes with that. 

Thankful husband is minutes not hours away.

Meditating for even just a solitary moment can bring so much clarity to me,

letting stress wash away with the never-ending tide.

photo by annette pehrsson

Annette.

Annette Pehrsson has completely captured my mood today. 

Her amazing photography has me no longer searching for words, 

but content simply feeling.

originally spotted on SallyJaneVintage

new space.

My apartment is currently in disarray and I am getting ready to downsize
and pack up only the necessary, most loved items of my apartment.
And I have to tell you I am thrilled at the idea of having no clutter. 

Its amazing what one person can collect over the years and I am excited to cleanse.

I have grown so fond of simplicity and am searching out the minimalist somewhere inside me.

As I was posting pictures on here last night, 

I longed for more white space...so now the pictures can be bigger

and the space crisper [new banner soon to come].

Here's to a fresh and simplistically beautiful weekend.

light and death

I am tired. Not just a little, but really fully exhausted.
I am pretty sure I could fall asleep.
Sitting up.
In my box.
My weekend was full in the best possible way.
And now life is on my mind in a new way
a way that only death can bring to light.
I have been fortunate so far in life
to have evaded death in the lives
of those close to me.
But I always knew this hiatus
would eventually come to an end.

And somewhere lost in the sunlight
this morning, I felt nothing but
thankful and blessed.

photo one and two

simply delight.

I cannot wait to get my first roll of film developed today. 

There is something a little wonderful about having to wait to see

the results. Kind of like getting a written letter in 

the mail instead of an email. 

Saturday morning we rode our bikes

to the Cherry Blossom Parade down Constitution Ave.

We sat next to the sweetest older couple from Pennsylvania who 

shared their breakfast with us. I am learning how to

 appreciate and simply delight in having

no plans on the weekend. I don't remember ever having to look

at my watch and yet everything worked just like clockwork.

I am also learning how important it is to set time aside to 

focus on things that inspire you. Sometimes I write in my head

instead of putting it on paper...I need to take the time to really

write.  It is so important to find things that really inspire you...

but finding it is the easy part, devoting yourself to it

takes time and patience and that is something 

I am not very good at.