Rooms I love

If this isn't cool, I don't know what is.

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(Also, I can't look at a beautiful room anymore without immediately picturing my son destroying it. I look at this and I'm thinking, "First we need to clean off the coffee table, move the print to a higher spot before he tears it, then move the terrarium before he eats all of the dirt and plants in it. Can he reach the guitar? Can he tip over that potted palm tree? Is zebra stain resistant?...")

Did you happen to read this post by Kelle at enjoying the small things? So many of the things she writes about strike a chord with me. This post - about celebrating with friends as they welcome new life - has me smiling through tears. (Again! That happens a lot when I read her blog!) 

My family is expectantly awaiting some new additions. My brother and his wife are due to have a daughter in June. It's a joyful time. We just can't wait to cover that little girl in kisses! But there is pain too. We are still grieving the loss of their first daughter, Maggie, last May and a miscarriage in July. My sister and her husband are expecting too. They are completing the process of becoming foster parents, with the intention of adopting the children who come into their home. More cause for excitement and happiness, but it is bittersweet too. I believe that God has a plan to bring just the right children into their family, but we know that these little ones will likely come from a past filled with pain and brokenness. 

There will be heartache along with happiness.

There will be many more tears along the way for my brother and his wife, for my sister and her husband, and for all of us, as we support them on their journeys. Kelle's post reminded me of how important it is to be there. To be the village that helps raise a child and support the parents. Her post reminded me, above all, to celebrate. Because, although it is never easy, every little one is so very precious. She writes:

"Having a baby is a life-changing, soul-stretching, glorious occassion, and if there's one opportunity to deepen a friendship, it's rallying to celebrate the miracle of birth, the triumph of adoption, the undeniable fact that having your heart stretched with love for a new child is a very, very big deal.

Someday, several years from now, my friends and I will gather for coffee, and we'll talk about our kids' college applications. How much car insurance costs for teenagers. How we love our daughter's boyfriend (Oh God, I hope). But we'll remember that the depth of our cherished friendships began when we showed up long ago. When we held out our arms to hold eachothers' babies for the very first time. When we made mothering an infant seem a little less isolating because we stopped by, we brought meals, we rocked and kissed those newborns and we celebrated.

Because it takes a village."

Stephen, Joy, Vanessa, Grant - we love you and we already love your children, too.

xoxo

Signs of spring

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Every year around this time I get a pretty serious case of spring fever. 

It manifests in a variety of ways: 

Obsessively scouring the ground for the first crocuses. 

(I know they're not going to show up until the middle of March. Still, I look.) 

Filling the house with flowers and green living things - this year that includes our own greenhouse. 

(Cilantro, basil, rosemary, and tomato sprouts.)

Also, Easter candy. Lots and lots of Easter candy.

And trying on all my favorite summer sandals. 

Just to remember what it feels like to bare my toes.

In the meantime, even if we have to bundle up I will wear bright pink lipstick.

(Michael's pointing to a picture of a cow here. 

Seem's he is also anxious to get outside and get closer to nature.)

We will play in the sun, even if it's indoor sun...

...and we'll pour our energies into the important things. 

Like learning to wink.

Hope your week is off to a fantastic start!

xoxo

Rooms I love

I want to put on my best pair of sweatpants, take a hot cup of coffee and spend a sunny afternoon daydreaming in this room.
It is just perfect.

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In honor of the upcoming Academy Awards, a couple of infographics. These (from Vulture) made me laugh:

See the rest of the slideshow here.

We went out to play

I know it's blurry, but I love this picture. 

He has done a lot of this in the last couple weeks - walking around our little condo, pushing his car and smiling proudly, his valentine balloon bobbing along. There's not much space but he has a great time. 

I've been dying to take him outside and turn him loose in the fresh air, and yesterday we had our chance. It was even better than I thought it would be.

He took off with a big grin and didn't look back.

He noticed everything. Pinecones, leaves, the wind in the trees. 

He showed it all to me, pointing with his tiny little finger.

After a little while he got tired and started to sag a little bit.

I offered him short rides on his car, and he accepted grudgingly. He seemed to think that rides on the car are for sissies, and real babies stand up and push the car.

I still can't believe how cool this kid is.

I've never had so much fun going out to play.

Is there anything happier than this song?

Feels just right for this sunny morning :)