Soul Shine

Amidst the elements that shine light and love into the deepest,darkest crevices that reside within, I am restored.

She wanted to have a tea party inside, I wanted to play in the dirt outside. We compromised by planting hen and chicks in tea cups.

long time coming

So much time has passed and life has been lived since I last posted here. The wee one is no longer so very wee and the big wee one declares that she is "off the charts" every chance she gets since last month when the doctor told her she is off the chart for her height. I oscillate continuously between the sentiments of feeling like each day is the longest day ever and those of utter shock at how fast the weeks are slipping away. So far this summer has been filled with all things good and sticky- watermelons and berries dribbling down chins, sprinkler runs and lake plunges, morning porch time and evening strolls. We have been on the road to spend precious moments with loved ones we don't see often enough and have filled our home with loved ones from near and far. We have celebrated a union of love so profound and true it became contagious and a birthday of 95 full, gracious years. These are days to savor indeed. And this morning I was able to do something that has been three years in the making, create with others in our basement, a space finally ready to brim over with sweet messes made by little and big hands, all led with big hearts. I have envisioned using this space with girlfriends, sharing time and space amidst paper, glue, paint, and beyond, and what joy it brings me that my inaugural crafting time down there was with these three little girls who have come into Annalie and I's lives in the past year and enriched us both so dearly. Our theme was the peoples and cultures of Africa, and surrounded by music and cumulative inspiration from my mom, we made jewelry and the makings of a village and my heart sung.

six months

 

one half year ago this sweet one joined us.

reflection: he's been here three months

morning walk, originally uploaded by AnnieLaurel.

sleeping three month old, originally uploaded by AnnieLaurel.

snuggle love, originally uploaded by AnnieLaurel.

These three pictures taken this morning are in honor of today being our son's three month birthday. He and I rise hours before the rest of the household so this morning we set out on an early morning walk to celebrate preceded by a little front porch bouncer time, something that is soon to be a scarcity with the cold mornings ahead. Then after taking little A to preschool I crawled back into bed for a morning snuggle with little T and reveled in the sweet bliss of studying a sleeping baby's face and movements- the little jerks, shifting eyelids, occasional hints of a smile, the arms stretched over head, a sight that just completely melts a mother's heart, no other words for it. I am grateful to be where we are, past the swirly early days and yet still so much ahead. The blessing of all of this is never, ever lost on me.

connection

smiley2, originally uploaded by AnnieLaurel.

To be able to connect with this little one through sound and sight is astounding. We already had the sense of touch connection going on but the reciprocity in a sweet smile and gurgle is astounding.

N i c h o l a s - W i l t o n: Life as Art

N i c h o l a s - W i l t o n: Life as Art

i stumbled upon this this evening and it really moved me.

he's here. love abounds.

 

these early days are precious. and exhausting. and everything.

reflection: this sweet one

 

here she is: the big sister-to-be, the apple of our eyes, a three-year-old beautiful, spirited, compassionate girl who spends a good part of each day rehearsing all of the ways she will care for her little brother once he arrives. here she stands amongst the flowers she planted with her godfather in the section of his garden he created for her just after her birth, such a wonderful metaphor for what we are embarking upon together as a family now. i am not sure when I will return here but wanted to take a moment before the coming birth to reflect on what an honor it has been to mother this sweet child over the past years and how much I know I will learn from her as she steps forward into her new role in the family. oh how we love her so.