abby try again

a little reminder

I'm sure it's annoying to keep posting about this, but just wanted to give a head's up...today is the last day my etsy shop and bigcartel shops are open. Tomorrow I am shuting them down for maternity leave. There are still some clearance and sale prints in both of the shops-and type "baby20" at the checkout to save 20% off your order in with either of the shops. I'm just trying to do one last final "push" before he gets here. Once he's here I have no clue when I'll feel up and ready to do the whole shop thing again.

Thank you and happy Monday!

 

five senses friday

Happy Friday!

Well, I hoped to have my latest roll of film developed to share with you here, but this week got a little crazy. I took a spill and had to get stitches...kinda changed my schedule a bit. The baby is ok, I'm just a little sore...so I hope you don't mind these shots pulled from my archives :)

For those of you who are new readers (or maybe never understood what I was blabbing about) five senses friday was started years ago by my friend, Shari Altman. I use it weekly as way to sit down and reflect on what the past days have been like for me. I would love for you to play along in the comments or on your own blog.

Tasting:

watermelon agua fresca

Hearing:

Beirut

Feeling:

the sensation of my skin being sewed together (and surprise at how getting stitches didn't hurt)

Smelling:

a mixed bouquet from James' friends

Seeing:

my cacti grow like crazy in this heat

* * * *

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

a little peek

Here's a little peek from my baby shower that was here in Austin this past weekend. I wrote about it over here at my baby blog if you are interested. Thanks to my pal Aimee Wenske for these great photos. 

five senses friday

Happy Friday to you all!

For those of you who are new readers (or maybe never understood what I was blabbing about) five senses friday was started years ago by my friend, Shari Altman. I use it weekly as way to sit down and reflect on what the past days have been like for me. I would love for you to play along in the comments or on your own blog.

Tasting:

wood fired tacos from Dos Batos

Seeing:

tiny tomatoes at the farmer's market

Hearing:

an old favorite song, perfect for summer

Feeling:

the baby's movements turn from jabs and kicks to waves of movement as my skin stretches to accommodate his growth

Smelling:

fresh, clean sheets

 

* * * * *

I hope some of you will play along. Thank you for the sweet comments as of late.

* * * 

(and in case you missed it in the last post...both my etsy shop and bigcartel shops are open from now until August 15. I will then shut them down for maternity leave. There are still some clearance and sale prints in both of the shops-and type "baby20" at the checkout to save 20% off your order in with either of the shops. I'm just trying to do one last final "push" before he gets here. Once he's here I have no clue when I'll feel up and ready to do the whole shop thing again.)

 

august

 

(edited to add: since so many are asking about the book shelves-I thought I'd share a link. I talked about them over at my other blog, baby t. They are $4 ikea spice racks-orignal idea found here. Thanks!)

In search of calm

I am typically fairly open here although the past year I've found myself holding back.

I knew freely writing my feelings about conceiving a family would open me up to a whole world of potential advice and comments that I frankly-wasn't sure I'd be able to handle.

But here I am, on the verge of giving birth to this new life and I am ready to share a bit.

We've decided to give labor in a local birthing center. I am young and in good health, so to me it's an obvious choice to avoid medical interventions while I can. I realize this choice is not for everyone, but for me-it's been an incredibly powerful choice.

I am amazed by how much I've learned about birth, maternity care, and pregnancy these past eight months. I've immersed myself in as much literature as I could stand. Many people told me to steer clear of all this info, decide my route and be happy with that-but I've found that this information is completely liberating. I love learning about how our bodies work. I admire the trials and tribulations of women in the past and am honored to be supported by such caring and knowledgeable midwives.

Several years ago the idea of giving birth sent ice through my veins. I was literally terrified of it. The way it's often portrayed in the media is less than flattering-it's down right scary. I thought of labor as a sort of "means to an end" instead of a beautiful part of life. I am so thankful that I've been able to hear positive experiences from my Mother, sisters, friends and colleagues. They've given me the hindsight to see that this could be more than just a traumatizing time...

My biggest lesson so far is how much my health can be affected by the environment I am in. With that in mind I'm trying my best to create a calm environment here at home for these next few weeks. I realize fear and anxiety over labor will only put myself in a bigger frenzy when that time is near. I am notorious for being a Nervous Nelly before important events and for the first time in my life I feel like I can conquer this trait.

I am actually looking forward to the day when I'll experience so much pain, love and emotion-I seriously cannot wait for it!

Anyway...I am just sharing these thoughts here about my own experience so far-not trying to start any sort of debate about anyone else's birth/pregnancy choices etc...

With the idea of calm in mind-maybe you can help me with something? My midwife advised me to compile 10-12 hours of calming music to have on hand for labor. I would love any of your suggestions about particular songs/albums.

Thank you and happy Monday!

(and in case you missed it in the last post...both my etsy shop and bigcartel shops are open from now until August 15. I will then shut them down for maternity leave. There are still some clearance and sale prints in both of the shops-and type "baby20" at the checkout to save 20% off your order in with either of the shops. I'm just trying to do one last final "push" before he gets here. Once he's here I have no clue when I'll feel up and ready to do the whole shop thing again.)

 

magnolia

When I was a very little girl I played with my next door neighbor almost every day.

She was a bit older than me and a bit younger than my next older sister-so us three along with my little sister were always together. In the valley of Central California we were lucky enough to have pretty mild weather for most of the year and spent a lot of time out of doors.

In my own backyard my Dad had built us kids a great wooden fort complete with drawbridge, slide and even a bar to do tricks on. But truth be told, we spent most of the time in Emily's backyard. Emily had the most glorious, gigantic and beautiful Magnolia tree smack dab in the middle of her otherwise boring, yellowed lawn. 

To this day I am convinced that tree was meant to be climbed. The tree still towers at least as high as a two or three story building and it's trunk is huge and sturdy. The branches start just a couple of feet from the ground and made for easy access. We spent hours up there. I couldn't even tell you what we played or what we were doing exactly-but climbing up and down and hanging from the branches was a pretty much daily occurrence. 

I remember making concoctions from the giant petals, leaves and seeds. I remember the almost too pungent smell of them and the way it stung my hands when we ripped the petals into small pieces. I remember the leather texture of the petals when they started to change with the weather. I remember the tiny lakes and ponds that formed at the roots with the spring time rains.

It's funny to think of my own child being four, five and six years old. Would I let him climb the neighbor's tall tree? The thought of it gives me a minor heart attack...but I cannot imagine my own childhood without that feeling of freedom. 

I took the photos above when I was back home a few weeks ago. Funnily enough the tree is just as big and inviting as it used to be.

* * * * *

So...as most of you know, I'm expecting a baby soon. I'll be at "term" here in three weeks...but it could be seven weeks until he comes. You know, I think that one should be given a "due month" instead of "due date" because that's just way more accurate....

Anyway, both my etsy shop and bigcartel shops are open from now until August 15. I will then shut them down for maternity leave. There are still some clearance and sale prints in both of the shops-and type "baby20" at the checkout to save 20% off your order in with either of the shops. I'm just trying to do one last final "push" before he gets here. Once he's here I have no clue when I'll feel up and ready to do the whole shop thing again.

****

Thanks for the kind comments and emails. I must admit, I've been terrible lately-focusing almost all my energy on the baby's arrival-so if I owe you an email I apologize.

Back soon I hope!

a special week

So I realize it's Wednesday but...did you know this week is 'Roid Week 2011 over at flickr?

I love browsing through this pool and seeing all of the great shots.

The above shot I took a couple summers ago in Oregon. I hated it at the time and never posted it, but it's since grown on me. I'm going to try and get outside and shoot, that's if I can withstand the heat.

Are you playing along with 'Roid Week? If so, feel free to leave a link in the comments to your photostream. I'd love to see.

Thanks!

high summer

Since Austin's been experiencing 100+ weather since May, it's safe for me to say we're in the middle of summer (although technically I guess the true middle isn't for awhile yet). 

Our markets are full of melons, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Swimming pools are like hot tubs during the day, snow cone stands are popping up everywhere and every one is thanking their lucky stars for the invention of the air conditioner. 

The local library has been my best friend-I'm currently curled up with this lovely read. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes are simple but interesting. I tell you what, a good cookbook can keep me entertained for days!  James and I are also reading this book-an informative with lots of photographs.

I'm trying to enjoy these last weeks of being "baby less". I'm writing way over due letters, cooking new things, purging old thing and the like. Did I mention I'm knitting this baby blanket? It's funny to be knitting in the summertime. The pattern is just the simplest, though and I hope I can whip it up before he gets here. 

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far.

five senses friday: silent edition

(cameraphone pics..be back with film next week! Happy weekend!)