Making+Listening

in the process

ellie helps

done with embroidery

peacock different angle

end of the day

ellies back

MAKING: Yay! I finished embroidering the Peacock! It was so much fun and I am hooked! (I wanted to post earlier today but I’ve been busy walking the streets with a teething baby, so these pictures are a bit shadowy at the end of the day- I kind of liked the way they came out). But, I managed to get it done here and there and I even added some fabric to the ends. I’m very much looking forward to framing my Spring Peacock.

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LISTENING: I received this in the mail this week and I have been playing it whenever I get the chance. I’m a huge fan of Broadway (for those of you who do not know me personally) and a huge fan of Audra McDonald from back when she was in Ragtime. I’ve followed her career, got to see her sing once at Pepperdine University in Malibu and one of my guilty pleasures was the drama Private Practice which she  had a role in for awhile. I’m so glad she has gone back to her Broadway roots though. The songs she chose for this album are lovely and dreamy and just plain good.

*joining Dawn for Making + Listening this Thursday.

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Weekending!

yard sale day

pretty trees

more trees

 

spring

 

reading rainbow

9 mo outtake

outtake 2

 

outtake 3

burnt hillside

burnt hill grade

 

climbing the stairs

 

new mirror

 

Doggie walks, yard sales, hot weather, cooler weather, nine month old photo shoot outtakes, driving by the fire damaged hillsides, visits with Gramma, Grandpa and Auntie Katie, listening to the Reading Rainbow theme song over and over, springing up areas of the house, a baby girl making it all the way up the stairs (yikes!) and getting a mirror for a special someone’s bedroom. These are all things that made up our weekend. How was yours?

 

*linking up with Amanda.

Portrait Project

17/52

happy girleloise: you are one funny little girl these days. Exploring the house, getting into things, making mommy freak out about baby proofing everything… and you are one vocal little girl too! You love hearing the sound of your own voice, thus constant screaming, growling, dadadadaing and other such noises are constantly being heard throughout the house and everywhere we go. I like this shot of you because we get to see you in action, yelling with that gummy grin and trying to crawl outside to get to those doggies

*joining jodi for the 52 project

Just Write: Protect

cradled in my swollen belly

safe in your swirling ocean world

pushed out into my arms

held close and gentle tight for all time

from belly fed to chest

my breasts protect from illness

they calm your cries each solid latch

you’re nestled snug in pulled tight cloth

against my heart I feel you breath

the world outside stomps loudly by

and you just dream protected

Sleepy stirs, you toss and turn, wriggle close to my warmth

I am there when wakefulness disrupts

eager to help you find your way back to slumber state

scooting round my caterpillar girl

growing day by day

walks while riding close to mama’s heart

watching the world pass by

face buries into shoulder or smiles are given away

never do you feel your emotions are not true

in synchrony for years to come

I promise my shield at your ready

little fingers, little toes splayed out in the crook of my arm

you venture out, my lap your base

green grass and world to explore

from belly to arms to wrap to world

you are ready and I am here.

-joining Heather for Just Write

Weekending!

yard sailing

kindred

new bib!

bibing

the zoo!

elephants

zoological gardens 1

gramps

giraffe

lion

daddy and ellie at the zoo

the fam damily

mama and ellie

a good day at the zoo

This weekend was full of yard sailing (I found a lovely vase), new spring reading material (I am very much enjoying by the way), a new adorable bib came in the mail from a fellow blogger, and we took Ellie to the zoo for the first time! I was very excited and anxious about the whole thing. My parents and sisters decided to join us as well and it turned out to be a very nice day. Nothing to be anxious about in the least. Ellie seemed more interested in the fountains and bars surrounding the animals and it was a little hot for the animals (we didn’t see many awake) but none the less a very fun first time at the zoo for baby girl. The grandparents bought her a zoo book and our weekend ended with a just that- a zoo story before bed.

How was yours?

Just Write: Happy Morning – A Poem

Since it’s April and April is National Poetry Month and these “Just Write’s” are to get me writing freely, regularly, and to give me practice, I thought I’d write this week’s prose in poetry form.

 

Happy Morning

 

I lay beside her.

Her little tummy goes up and down with her breath.

I watch her eyes flutter under her eye lids.

She awakens slightly to find my breast.

She nurses quickly, then falls back into a peaceful slumber.

Her warm little body snuggles me close.

I open my eyes.

Sun is streaming in through the windows.

She smiles at me on all fours, scooting around the bed.

I kiss her head.

We get up.

Leave a snoring Daddy behind.

I pat the furry head sleeping downstairs.

We turn the t.v on. Find out what’s happening in the world.

The sun is rising higher now. It fills the room with quiet light.

I open the shades and let more in.

We settle on the rug.

My coffee mug in hand.

The one he bought me from Seattle.

Dadadadada she repeats, rolling the sounds around in her mouth.

She scoots around on the rug, crawling over my knees, trying to get at my mug.

I smile at her as I sip my tea and crunch my granola.

Al Roker starts singing a silly song.

She turns toward the t.v. and stares.

Smiles.

She looks back at me and goes for my tea mug again.

I put the mug down, pick her up and give her a cuddle.

She chews on my face.

Her teeth are still not coming in, but her gums certainly are sore.

I kiss her and start to sing the good morning song.

We hear Daddy come down the stairs all sleepy eyed.

The little dog follows him, sleepy eyed too.

She sees him and smiles big.

She waves her hands excitedly.

He smiles real big and picks her up out of my arms and kisses her on the head.

He asks for tea.

I get him his mug.

The one I got him for Christmas.

It says Daddy.

We watch the news together on the rug.

She crawls on top of us trying to get our mugs.

We kiss each other.

We smile.

This is happiness.

-joining Heather for Just Write.

Weekending!

tulips birthday

handmade kitty

brthday balls

birthday walk

antique market

antique tools

easter tulips

easter basket

easter plans

ellie likes her toys

easter bunny fun

making food

birds nest dessert

birds nest part 2

eating ellie lunch

mom made deviled eggs

the set up

eating

the plate

candy and tulips

strawberry shortcake

passed out

As you can see from all the photos, we had a very busy but very fun weekend! Friday we said goodbye to Jeff’s parents as they headed back across the country to Boston. Saturday we spent the day in Los Angeles at a very special first birthday party. Ellie got to meet her two Great Uncles, cousins she had never met  and a slew of other family. It was a really lovely day! (That kitty was the handmade softie I made for the birthday girl). Sunday was Ellie’s first Easter and we had Easter dinner at our house. First we made a pit stop at the Antique market before we got a rained out and headed back home to prepare for Easter dinner. Then we enjoyed good food, family, friends, and lots of tulips and candy. It was such an exciting day, Ellie ended up falling asleep right after dinner and then waking up just in time for bedtime. It was a long, busy, lovely Easter weekend. How was yours?

*linking up with Amanda.

Portrait Project

13/52

naked baby

eloise: you are all of a sudden moving! Scooting and kind of crawling and just getting places. You haven’t quite mastered the art of synchronizing those hands and knees to get a real crawl going, but boy that scoot and drag you have going on is certainly getting you places. You resemble an inch worm, inching along at a pretty good pace. We are definitely putting baby gates in the budget for next month. 

*joining Jodi for the lovely 52 project!

My favorites from last week are blue eyed Jessica, the fact that there are new babies being born throughout this project and how can you resist a child and their books.