merry christmas

one year



Exactly one year ago, I awoke with a new sensation. Hobbled out of bed, took a shower, and suddenly the sensation turned into a discomforting ache. Dressed for my 9am NST, a weekly occurrence, and asked Bobby to give me a lift just in case.

I tried to remain calm and collected at the doctor's office. The nurse strapped me up and monitored what had become the peaks and valleys of my contractions. Another nurse entered the room, they exchanged looks, and escorted me into another room for a dilation check.

Ouch. "Well, guess what?" the nurse said, "you're between 4 -5 centimeters, so we'll call the doctor and you can just head over to the hospital."

It was so casual. No rushing around the house grabbing suitcases or getting stuck in traffic. Just a leisurely stroll across the street to the hospital where the doctor was already stationed.

We rolled up, filled out the stack of paperwork (which I had already done weeks before - they lie!) between contractions, and waited. And waited. All the hospital rooms were full, so they stuck me in an examination room to wait for a discharge.

I won't continue to bore you with the details of labor, which is truly the most surreal experience I've ever had. But by 5:30, the little bean popped his hairy head out for all to see.

And by the next push, the doctor was plopping him on my chest. And the bump made itself known and practically shouted hello. I was the first to see it and had to point it out - the golf ball-sized lump protruding from his spine.

The nurses quickly examined him and I could hear the concerned whispering. Nurses, take note: don't tell a new mother you've never seen anything like whatever the ailment may be. It's not comforting.

But let's just fast forward, as we now all know the outcome was okay. The bump – an irregular hemangioma – was removed at 3 months of age. He has a scar and an indentation, but he also has a conversation piece...I mean, he could say he was born with a horn. Little boys are weird.

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So, I woke up early this morning just like I did last year, but instead of obsessing over the pains of early labor, I was obsessing over the photoshoot we have scheduled for later today.

We are going to Picture People and to celebrate, the little dude cut a gash in his cheek. So, we'll capture the day, scab and all, and I'll try to stay out of the way. Today, I will be Easygoing Mom and not Controlling Art Director. We'll see...

The boys will wake up soon and I'll make pumpkin pancakes in the shape of a "1."
It's going to be a great day.

handmade nation!

Oh, I do hope you guys will come on Saturday. Not just for the documentary, but to support the 7 Cities Crafters (formerly Norfolk Craft Mafia). I won't be selling, but will be loitering, he he.

i think we'd be friends

At one point I wanted to have one of these parties, but those girls really outdid themselves.

scenes from the state fair

dear new york,

It's been some time since I last saw you. You know, with us it's been touch and go and I was hoping we wouldn't have gotten along so well last weekend. We've had some shaky times, remember? But you just had to romance me with your three dollar taco trucks and your sweet aroma of roasting nuts, right? And you knew you'd win me over with your Lakeside Lounge photobooth (again-hello!) and McCarren Park farmers markets, didn't you, huh? You thrive on torturing me.

I think I have it all until you flaunt what I'm missing. Thanks.

new york treated us well


And I finally experienced the original Pinkberry flavor for Nicole.