just for the beauty of it

“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed 

to have put there just for the beauty of it.” 

― Lee Maynard

It has been a challenge for me to write lately. Its hard to find a reason to do anything other than kiss that little face and spend every spare moment making her eyes light up with laughter (the girl makes you WORK HARD for her giggles). 

She is changing so much and I continue falling so hard. Time is flying fast and the flood of thoughts continuously whooshing through my mind don't linger long enough to be described. 

At first, I worried that becoming a family of three (well, I mean four...we can't wait to get back to our Lucy in a few weeks) would be hard on our marriage - a marriage that was still so new when we found out we were expecting. That first year of marriage had been so good - dating this man who I was lucky enough to call my husband. And I initially mourned the imminent passing of our "single" married days. But that all seems so silly now. 

I have never been more in love with my husband. We are closer now than we've ever been...and we have this little girl...this little life that I can't imagine our family without. I can honestly say she is the best thing that has ever happened to us. This fall seems more beautiful and life so, SO much more full of joy. 

We love you, Lyla Bird. 

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.

a year ago today....

...was the happiest day of my life. 

We are spending a few days away just the two of us to celebrate!

I'm so thankful to be married to my very favorite person in the world.

This first year has been the best I've ever known.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. D! I sure do love you.

Happy New Year!

today's best fit: england wedding

"It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it."
— Roger Ebert

nick+maria • england wedding from Paperback Weddings on Vimeo.

Some days the need I feel to type is aloof in photographs or in

images flowing so beautifully across a screen

that my mind is quite content to let my fingers fall still

and simply breathe it all in.

This wedding video is truly unique and wonderful

and I am left feeling so thankful 

to be married to Mr. D.

That is all today

and so much.

video first spotted here.

photography and food.

"Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second."
— Marc Riboud

 Last night, Amber sent me a couple of pictures from a shoot we did in May after our celebration

and I can't stop staring at them.

I have been dying to see these pictures and I cannot tell you how much I love them! 

It was the second time we were lucky enough to work with Amber and Jon

and I can't wait to share the result! 

I want to cover our walls with her work.

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

Also last night [in between staring at the pictures on my phone]

I made omelets for dinner with our new omelet pan. 

We are so blessed and thankful for all that we were given as wedding gifts - 

every time I use our set of all-clad pots and pans I can't believe we have them. 

And for dessert I made warm chocolate melting cake 

from a recipe we got on our honeymoon. We had it almost every night

and it is sooo good.

First photograph by the amazing Amber of Live It Out Photography

entirely and all together.

"I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, 

and everything he touches and every word he says.

I love all his looks, and all his actions and him entirely and all together."
— Emily Brontë

 Yesterday, we bought running shoes. His bigger than mine. 

And somehow while covered in the shine of perspiration

in a room too hot for breathing

I had goosebumps. 

And even after cycling, my heartbeat never slowed.

And its how he always knows what song I want to listen to 

before I even know myself.

And how he always replaces the soap in the shower before it disappears

and how hard he works to take care of Lucy girl and me.

And how even after a hard workout -

when I feel a complete and utter mess -

he looks at me like I am the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.

And this morning while I lay in bed,

watching the sun rise through the stain glass resting in our bedroom window,

I felt such an overwhelming rush of love for the man beside me.

Who he is.

As he is.

waffles in bed.

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things 

makes home happy and life lovely."
— Louisa May Alcott

 Home.

Yesterday morning, I woke up in our tree house nestled between pillows and draped in sheets

to the sound of pantry doors and drawers being opened and closed...

shortly thereafter, I was served husband-made waffles in bed

and this rush of blissful joy ran through me.

Immeasurable gladness to be home with Mr. D.

Weddings take on a whole new meaning to me now that I'm married -

I have never been more thankful or in love with my husband.

The wedding was beautiful and the friends enduring.

After the wedding we drove to Vegas and hung out 

with a handful of couples who I so enjoyed spending time with.

And now, its good. So good. 

To be home.

----

a house full of reminders

"But I love your feet 
only because they walked 

upon the earth and upon 

the wind and upon the waters, 

until they found me." 

— Pablo Neruda

I love that our house is full of things that remind us of how blessed we are...

a corner hutch built by my grandpa when my parents were first married,

a civil war trunk that I can remember from when I was little, 

oil paintings by an artist I know as my mom, 

a leash hook that looks like Lucy girl from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law,

a reading chair that was in my first bedroom 

among a ton of other hand-me-downs that we truly cherish.

And now, 

we are surrounded by wedding gifts - so many I can hardy believe -

and each reminds me of their giver.

Mr.D and I are so thankful for all that we have been afforded and blessed with. 

And while true riches are not gathered in material things, 

the people behind them could never be replaced.

PS  I swear that even water tastes better in our new orange glasses...

[month] six.

Our union is like this: You feel cold, so I reach for a blanket to cover our shivering feet.
A hunger comes into your body, so I run to my garden and start digging potatoes.
You asked for a few words of comfort and guidance,

and I quickly kneel by your side offering you a whole book as a gift.
You ache with loneliness one night so much you weep, 

and I say here is a rope, tie it around me, I will be your companion for life.

- Hafiz, Our Union 

 I can't believe we have been married for almost half a year already. 

It has been the best and happiest five months of my life to date

and I am more excited than ever before for all that lies ahead. 

We have been facing a few trials as of late, but we have only grown closer together - 

and our home has become all the more full of love and a place of harmonious refuge.

 So much so, that I can honestly say that I have never been happier 

or more thankful for Mr. D and our marriage.

Thankful for every struggle that makes us stronger.

And that Mr. D comes home...even after a long day, 

and we talk and day-dream, laugh and count every single blessing we have. 

Six months ago I was given the most stunning gift 

and married the funniest, kindest and most handsome man I know...

he makes me feel beautiful and smart 

and most of all inspired.

I still get just as excited to see him at the end of every day as I used to

after months of being apart long distance. 

first photograph by Carin Davis

cake & flowers

"When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. 

When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist 

 Whenever I get a little stressed thinking about the day or the next 6 months...

I think about our wedding day - a reminder that everything always works out, 

a token to just enjoy every minute.

On New Years Eve, the day before our wedding,

we went to the flower market in NYC to pick out flowers

and later that night we walked a couple of blocks to this little bakery on the Upper West Side

where the sweetest old women anxiously whipped together our wedding cake. 

I treasure each and every person we ran into that weekend

and their shared excitement and joy even though we were strangers.

 Hope you enjoy every minute of the weekend -

knowing full well that it works out...

sometimes even better than you could have imagined.

photography by Carin Davis

birds and lace.

"I've got nothing to do today but smile."
— Simon and Garfunkel

We celebrated this weekend dancing with those we love.

And tonight we are about to fall asleep feeling more 

blessed than ever before.

Toasts that made my eyes water with thankfulness and joy

and well wishes that mean the world. 

I will never forget this weekend and how much it meant to us.

a time to celebrate

"We should consider every day lost 

on which we have not danced at least once."
— Friedrich Nietzsche

 A tiny sneak peak from the photo shoot in April with Amber and Jon of Live it Out Photography.

It was really so much fun to work with them - their creative energy is seamless and dreamy.

I can't wait to see/share all the pictures! 

-----

Today is my last full day at work as we get ready to celebrate this weekend!

I can't believe how blessed Mr. D and I are - so many people are flying in and its been 

better than Christmas at our house with such amazing gifts appearing on our doorstep.

We are seriously so thankful and overwhelmed with all the kindness shown from friends and family.

I really can't wait to be with everyone and dance.  
A lot of dancing.

-----

Photograph by live it out photography

unhinged birds

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?"
— Oscar Wilde

Today I woke up feeling differently than I do now. Not bad, but different.
This quote comes to mind:  

"Love is that condition in which the happiness 

of another person is essential to your own." 

— Robert A. Heinlein

 

If Mr. D has a lot on his mind or feels an unusual weight, I too walk tenderly. One foot slowly and firmly in front of the other. Its one of the best things about marriage - you go through everything together.

So, when I awoke at 5:30 AM in the obscure stillness before the sunrise - 

when the only creatures awake were the chorus of unhinged birds out our bedroom window -

I went out into the damp glimmering air feeling quite light and hopeful in my solitude. 

My thoughts were on cooking and tomorrow night's meal.  On baby presents and vet appointments, photoshoots and celebration decor.

But now my thoughts are on husband.
How thankful I am for him.

So right now - perhaps more than ever before - I am giving thanks for today, praying for husband and feeling oh so blessed.

photography by Carin Davis

it was the busiest of times, it was the happiest of times

"We love the things we love for what they are."
— Robert Frost

 I have never been so cold as when we took these pictures. 

(and how amazing Carin and the little team of my new family members who helped and braved the weather are)

Today is supposed to get up to 86 degrees in the District, 

and while I will be in my box for most it... I am sneaking away to have lunch 

with Mr. D and Lucy in a couple of hours.

Things have been so busy lately - and they are only going to get crazier in the next couple of weeks, 

but I am so happy to be where we are now - loving all of it for just what it is,

and especially husband for who he is.

-----------

We celebrated a friends upcoming marriage on Saturday with a bridal shower in the country.

Everything was so beautiful and I am so happy for her and her new adventure.

It made me so thankful for my own marriage and family. 

This is such a happy time of year!

portraits of blossoms and a family of three

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; 

if it were voices instead of colors, 

there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night." 

— Rainer Maria Rilke

This has been my most favorite weekend. 

Maybe it was the spontaneous spring rain shower across the field in the country,

the blue sky still shining through.

Maybe it was reading aloud with husband first thing in the morning, 

or the smell of fresh lemon poppyseed bread in the oven. 

Maybe its the cherry blossoms and the masses of people who have come here from all over the world 

just  to see trees in bloom. Simple blossoms in all their glory. 

Maybe it was the Friday night date Mr. D and I went on to celebrate our weddedness or how

I love my little family and our first family pictures ...just the three of us. 

Sometimes weekends fly by so quickly that I feel like they've somehow been stolen out from under me,

but then there are other weekends that feel so full of hope and thankfulness that I feel

stronger and more comforted because of them. 

3 months.

"Who, being loved, is poor?"
— Oscar Wilde

 

Life has never before been more abundantly rich.

So thankful for all that we have been blessed with -

it proves to be more amazing every day.

photography by Carin Davis

our story

"You had to be willing to fight in order 

for a love story to last a life time."
— Cristina Marrero (The River: The Unsung Love Story) 

 Sometime, I will share our story on this blog. 

I relive it often. It was hard fought and full of so many wonderful memories.

I woke up this morning, after finally sleeping soundly (thank you, Luz!),

feeling so lucky to be married to such an amazing man.

After dinner last night at Ted's Bulletin on the Hill (sooo good!),
we went on a family walk with Luz around our neighborhood.

I wish I could spend whole days just exploring and talking with husband -

about our days, the houses we like and the future ahead...

with little Luz running alongside all the while making us laugh at her clumsy joy.

Today, I am lost in happy memories...and wishing it was Friday.

Photography by Carin Davis

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

thankful for clarity of what is truly important in life

"Ireland is a land of poets and legends, 

of dreamers and rebels. 

All of these have music woven through and around them. 

Tunes for dancing or for weeping,

for battle or for love."
— Nora Roberts, Tears of the Moon

 It has been an unusual week so far - 

and I think this is part of the reason why all night I felt like I was running, 

even though I was assuredly horizontal all night long. 

Yes, I'm sure I must have slept...

Mom and I took a quick reprieve from the hospital yesterday afternoon 

and the topic of thankfulness came up and how we are told to give thanks in everything.

So, when I awoke this morning feeling as though my mind had been lost in the darkness of the night,

I gave thanks for the sun shining through all the windows of our tree house and

the sleepless birds singing at the top of their lungs. 

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

Thankful for the nurse who tells story after story laughing so joyfully you cant help but smile 

even if you dont quite understand what she is saying through her thick accent.

Thankful that last night my dad seemed much more like himself as he laughed heartily at Modern Family.

Thankful for my mom's patience and the constant love she and my dad have for one another.

Thankful for the arrival of Spring in the District and the Forsythia blooming on our street.

Thankful that today will have a high of 65 and tomorrow...77 degrees!

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

Thankful for my husband and the two rings I wear on my finger as a sign of our commitment
I love him so much and am so proud of him. He works so hard and does so much for our little family.

[and as a side note, I adore my one-of-a-kind ring and the flawless clear diamond Mr. D picked out 
and carried around with him knowing he wanted to marry me. ME!]

"May the road rise to meet you;
May the wind always be at your back.
The sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May the Great Spirit hold you in the hollow of its hand."
— Irish Blessing 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!