Is it really possible?

One year ago I was snuggled up in a hospital bed exhilarated and exhausted. Ian was born, all round and red with a head full of dark, dark hair. And he was just so beautiful– the perfect little features, his button nose and rose petal mouth. Oh, and that fresh baby smell, and the feel of baby breath against my cheek, rubbing my nose and chin in his soft hair. Could that really have been a whole year ago?

We started the day out in new jammies, opening presents. I had planned to include a haircut into the festivities of the day, but that didn’t happen.

I did make a cake, though. I tried to be all prepared and on top of things by making cupcakes last night– cupcakes of the healthy variety. While I did fill them full of things like honey, whole wheat flour, carrots and zested lemon, I forgot the baking soda. Oops. Results– not chewable by a baby.

So, I tried again

and he was impressed. For a little while.

Until he tasted it. Logan said, “Mama, can I not have carrot cake for my birthday?”

Sorry, I promise there will be chocolate next year.

And lots of ice cream.

so, that’s the end

I think my favorites are 12, 14, 19, 23, 24, and 25. How about you? Which were your favorites?

This was such a fun project for me. I love setting up and rearranging my collections of seeds and nests and sticks and rocks. I’ve had them piling up for ages– stones from my first trip to the beach (when I was 18– geesh), seedpods from my college days, playground gravel from visits to friends in Tennessee, sticks from an anniversary trip to Garden Valley Idaho one summer, driftwood from San Francisco the next summer, even shells saved from Barry’s boyhood trips to Ireland. These are the colors and beauty that make me dizzy with awe and gratitude for nature, fresh breezes, loving memories. It was fun to try to share the visions in my head with you all. Thanks for watching and commenting.

The nightly ritual. Arranging and listening to this. It felt so good to do something creative everyday that was simple and intuitive. I would love to draw or paint everyday, but for me it takes a lot of quiet time and concentration and I’m coming to accept the fact that this is just not the season of my life endowed with quiet time or concentration.

Now back to regular programming. I did do other things in February, so stay tuned for some catch up!