(Extra) Sleepy Beautiful Monday

There are a few fairly benign objects and/ or activities in the world that make me anxious. #1. Fish. I've been told there are therapies for this. My mom has investigated these therapies for me. I think I am improving. At least I can swim in the ocean. Until something rubs against my toe. #2. Talking on the phone. Perhaps because I think I sound like Mini Mouse on the phone. #3. Fruit. Again, I am conquering my own fear here as I am a recovering picky eater. I am no longer as freaked out by overly soft ripening fruit on my kitchen counter unless it leaks. #4. Cooking.

So that is why I am so surprised that "cooking" for Miss. D gives me so much joy. Making baby food brings me way too much happiness. I cannot wait to select a new fruit or veggie to steam and puree for this little seven month bundle of joy. I dreamt about it last night in fact. I am suddenly fine overpaying for a Pink Lady apple and don't even blink an eye at the register. I marvel at the amazing vibrant colors of each puree and do my own taste test before sharing it with the little one. (The Pink Lady apple sauce was delicious but my sentiments were not shared by the wee one.) We are starting out with the basics: apples, peas, sweet potato, and carrots. Ben and I are amused by the selection and variety of facial expressions that are communicated during this very special 15 minutes of the day. I am excited to start using some recipes from the babyfoode website. Imagine carrots and nutmeg or beet apple & clove. (Side note: in my dream last night I could not find the beets and could only find prunes. This dream was the best out of a series of 12 dreams given that Miss. D is slightly feverish and is up multiple times during the night). So in case you are wondering what I have been up to besides work & trying to sleep, I have been breaking in the immersion blender and enjoying every moment of spooning a little sweet potato to a mouth that sings her anticipation to the spoon every time.

Weaving

Story time!

Maybe next time we will face the right direction. 

This week has been full of cuddles, sweet text messages, attempts to remember words to nursery songs, children's story books, a trip to grandma's house to meet more family & Minnesota natives, barbecue ribs, a virtual shopping trip with Kelly (and sightings of terrible unicorn sweatshirts and floral print tight pants), campfires and thus s'mores with Kit Kats, church small groups, showering in many different people's homes, a visit from the cousins and Aunt Rachel, and lots of episodes of Parenthood & New Girl while she feeds (thus resulting in a craving to buy a whole new wardrobe). This week felt snuggly (100% cotton fantastically paired with sleepy baby body) and occasionally milky. My brain power attempted to calculate ways to work less and stay home to cuddle more (but failed). I accomplished pumping bottles of milk, one solo trip to Target with Miss D, and one group trip to JoAnn Fabrics with Miss D, Cathy, and Avery. I feel utterly blessed with this very special time to bond with my small one. We are weaving her into our lives and she has provided so much more dimension to our world. 

Lucky Seven

Gearing up for Ben and my seven year anniversary this Saturday.

You know. 

When my hair was blonder and I was not yet out of graduate school.

 Before Ben grew his beard and took on the enormous project that is our house. 

Before we learned what it really, truly means to commit "for better or for worse". 

Before we learned the absolute beauty of the aftermath of sticking it out through "better or worse". 

I am so grateful that the rational and logical Ben chose impulsive and emotional me.

Ben and I on our honeymoon in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

Unfortunately we will not be celebrating our anniversary this year camping with Pat and Kelly as usual.

However, we will be celebrating with a little munchkin who is the product of our seven years. 

(Yes. I tried to make her look like a firefly using two pairs of tights.) 

(Yes. I love being home from work with this small one.)

Happy Anniversary, Ben. Love, Jenny.

Skinny Love

And so begins the laundry. 

Miss D joined us two weeks ago and I have since found myself trying to delay the passing of time. I crave super slow afternoons but only find that 4:00 comes too quickly. Hours are moving by and all I do is stare down into a sleeping bundle of glow-y baby wrapped in an assortment of warm, cuddly blankets. This is heaven and I do not want it to end. We have been blessed these two weeks with a parade of loving friends and family, nurturing nurses who help me learn how to feed my baby, a delivery of warm homemade chicken pot pies, celebration sour beers, friends who sneak in and clean our "studio apartment", encouraging texts and phone calls, and most importantly, a gracious baby who is patient as I learn to navigate this mama-hood stuff. My favorite moments are when Ben and I are stretched out on our bed (located in the living room) watching Miss D stretch and yawn. And although she has markedly gained weight since we arrived home from the hospital, she is my little skinny love. 

Christmas 2012

A few pictures from this Christmas...

Unexpected out of towers... or is that Teo?

Christmas Eve after our church service

Pippa... the dog wearing a thunder vest in hopes of 

comforting her stranger anxiety Christmas morning.

This year's Christmas ornaments. I loved the patterns I had to work with this year!

My 50 year old Christmas elf. 

And a few Christmas carols. 

Ben's Birthday

Can't really complain about our thirties. 

Note Mark a lounging in the back of the sail boat. Lurve.

Angelas Birthday

Of course Jill was there

A very dear friend from graduate school referred to our bible study as "a party with Jesus". When she was overwhelmed with homework or studying, she would call me and with great sadness report "I don't know if I can party with Jesus tonight." I loved this idea of party Jesus sitting around with us at a table eating Lilian's homemade Chinese food (usually wearing his white tunic with purple Mari Gras beads around his neck). I loved the way Mamie could talk about Jesus and not sound like a crazy person but rather a woman so in love with Jesus that she inserted him into everything we did. There he would be- in a wool jacket with a fur (fake) lined hood hanging with us down by the Mississippi river in Minneapolis, Minnesota circa February during our lunch break.

So last Wednesday I was reminiscent of that feeling that I was partying with Jesus. My bible study took a day off from our normal Wednesday responsibilities to attend Moody Bible Institute's "Founders Week" where we listened to our favorite Christian author Jill Briscoe and another passionate man named Frances Chan. Two people so radical in their love of God and with a fire in the belly to serve Him and the human race. Wow. I cannot encourage you enough to find some time to cozy up with your computer and watch Miss Briscoe's presentation. She is Brittish, hilarious, and my ultimate hero that I aspire to become. If you are inspired by Jill, try Mr Chan who is wild and full of ideas of how God wants us to participate in this one, precious life.

If you wish to truly mimic my amazing day of Jesus, spend an hour in Anthropologie and/ or a beautiful flower shop between the presentations with close loving friends. Soak in the beauty of a winter's blue sky and all the beautiful textures and colors around you. Have a cup of tea and completely indulge in some guacamole. Take a group nap in a public place and giggle often. Feel so inspired by your surroundings that you cannot stop taking pictures. Choose to walk 1.5 miles rather than take a bus and literally stop to admire the way a turquoise door pops against a red brick building. Feel convicted. Feel inspired. Feel a fire rumbling in your belly. That is a day full of God's love and amazing artistry: a party with Jesus indeed!

Jill Briscoe 2-8-2012 Presentation Here

Highly suggested book: Prayer That Works by Jill Briscoe
We heart Jill.

A Night of Paper

One night of card paper goodness & a few friends

Of course I had to photograph the outcome

And the work

And Jin's very first homemade crafted card.

Look at her excitement.

Some January inspiration!

A little redecorating of my office

Some of those cards are 10 years old!

A scrap page by Maye & I

For her scrap book

Craft prodigy: I heart her so much

Fabric stores and Brunch with Cathy & my mama

Two different events but delicious and indulging!

Christmas 2011

Anticipation: Teo on Christmas morning

A family jam... Literally everyone but me playing an instrument.

I need to get serious about the violin again.

Ben and I were blessed this Christmas by time spent eating yummy dinners with friends and family all week. We could not feel more fortunate to have such lovelies in our lives. This year was titled the year of change- new jobs, ability to move into new places in our home, a big change to a smart phone for me (miss you flip phone!), and other little changes. Perhaps that makes next year the year of adaptation! Hope you all are having a most lovely of holidays as well.