Dear baby girl,
I can hardly believe that we’ve been together for 7 months already. Over the last few weeks we’ve been very busy house hunting, planning photo shoots, revamping websites, researching baby stuff, working, seeing friends, etc. You are such great company and I cannot thank you enough for putting up with me and all the busyness I create around us! For one thing, life is full and we cannot complain!
At 28 weeks I still feel absolutely great although definitely a bit heavier, so the doctor cut us off from ice-cream & chocolate (sorry! girl!). But other than that, it is pure bliss to have you in there. I’m still super inspired and energized. Besides, over the last months you’ve taught me so much, the most important thing being lessons on how to let go. You make it so easy for me to be gentler with myself. You’ve given me permission to take slow walks instead of power walks, you showed me the joy in a prenatal yoga class versus the sweaty ashtanga, you’ve allowed me to take more naps, push some deadlines, listen to my body more, and to just fall gracefully into a very mellow pace, without feeling guilty.
As you grow and my belly expands, you also have this magic way of making everyone that comes in contact with me, be more generous and kind. I often wonder… What is it that makes people smile at pregnant women for no reason? I get so many smiles lately! And so many offers of help! Even the grumpiest people are nice to me now. I think it must be that they can sense new life, and new life has the power to envelop us in a mysterious happy energy that is contagious! New life is also the pure definition of possibility and potential, which also makes me wonder why then there are so many books and remarks about all the negative aspects of becoming a parent. I seriously feel like writing the underdog book featuring all the great things about motherhood. I just want you to know that I feel totally comfortable in this path now. And honestly, for no other reason than the fact that you move me, you change me for the better every single day already, so I can only imagine how great a lifetime with you will be like. Thank you for choosing me/ us to bring you into this world.
ps; Your dad is completely crazy about you. He cannot get over how big my belly is these days! He hugs and kisses you madly. He also painted your nursery with so much dedication and excitement. You are so so loved!
xo
Archive for May, 2010
Week 28!
Nursery Inspiration
1. smitten, 2. Cookie Mag House Tour, 3. Cookie Mag House Tour, 4. Tif Fussell, 5. Gum Tree, 6. little birdies hangy-me-jig…, 7. Pile of books, 8. i do…, 9. Nursery, 10. Cozy corner, 11. Bloesem, 12. norahs nursery
(click on links to see images full size)
Okay, I confess… I’ve turned into a crazy mommazilla!!! I am now totally and utterly obsessed with prepping for the baby. From house hunting to nursery decor, gear, schools, everything! It took a while for that instinct to kick in, as I had been preoccupied with photo shoots, website design and etc… But oh my oh my… I’m on it now!
And who knew? It turns out that I love pink too ;) My inspiration is in dreamy whites, sorbet colors, creams, pinks, yellows, aqua blues… with some bold details. Everything very soft and very crafty and thrifty. You will see that this softness was an influence in my last shoot as well, which I will post next Monday (finally!!) on the new site.
This week I finally settled for a crib, dresser and wall paint. Sounds like nothing… But I actually researched everything there is to know about all the above for a couple of weeks in order to make the decision. I went with a vintage looking crib and dresser in white that is as environmentally friendly as it can be on a reasonable budget. I was shocked to see that some “green cribs” can go up to $3000! That is insane people! Being wasteful and outrageous is not green on my book.
So now… Let the painting begin!! I chose a nice pale color from Mythic Paints and Rich will get to work this weekend. I’ll watch and take pictures :)
Seriously, craziness aside, there is something beautiful about this nesting phase. I catch myself wanting to impress my girl with the purest kind of love in this process. It is not about anything else but wanting to create the safest warmest place on earth for her to begin her life. I feel good about that. I’ll keep you posted.
xo
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jo & Jen’s vineyard, Sonoma @ 25 weeks.
Happy belated Mothers Day, friends! I have been off and on at this space as you well know, but things have been wonderful around here.
Last week I wrapped a fabulous photo shoot. Every time I shoot a fashion job, I feel even more certain of the choices I’ve made. It is so much happiness! I feel light in every single bone, muscle, blood vessel! Even pregnant I was able to be so on, so focused, so full of energy throughout the 12 hour+ day. Cannot wait to share images from that day with you on my new site, soon to be launched.
And speaking of… Yes! The almighty new site is coming along and now ~ truly ~ almost there. I want to launch it with all the bells and whistles and new work. Stay tuned! I think first thing next week!
Gypsy Girls Guide is also going to change. Once my new Photography site is up, I’m going to get my gypsy project on its way. Site has been redesigned and is also ready to rock and be launched too. I know… Ambitious! So much I want to do. So little time. And such a transition time for me too. But never mind. I’ve decided I’m okay with doing things badly over not doing anything at all. This is my year to “nurture and grow” and I’ve learned that in order to grow I really needed to nurture a lot more than I expected. Like I said before, I am pregnant with a baby and also so many projects!! I believe that in its own time, everything will be born.
On that same topic, I’m excited to report that I’ve reached out and got some extra help. I’ll be working with a few lovely interns to see if I can still keep the business moving along in my last few months of pregnancy and beyond, when my baby arrives. We’ll see how that goes. I can’t wait to try this new approach.
On some baby news: This week has been all about crib & car seat research, as we must make those decisions soon. I’m actually late on ordering the crib!! It takes 12 weeks to deliver and I am due in about 14 weeks! Oy!
Next step after crib is dreaming of nursery decor. I definitely don’t want a super babish looking room (especially not all pink!). Ideally I’d love to create a room that my girl can grow into for a while. Lots of handmade items and artwork from my talented friends. I may even attempt to make a sock monkey!
Also started working on the baby registry as a way to get myself organized in terms of what is really needed. I don’t want to overly shop. As I look at what is available these days, I am reminded that I grew up with a lot less and still… I turned out just fine. Besides, there are so many others out there that need to be mothered, loved, fed, etc. We are lucky to have enough around here. I want to keep things in perspective.
We’ve also been spending time with family (via phone & Skype), close friends, and mostly, nesting. I guess I forgot to mention that one of the big things that’s kept me occupied is that I’ve been madly shopping for houses. I’m suddenly drawn to move to Berkeley. I think that over there it will be a lot mellower and nicer for gypsy baby girl. It is so much easier to get around, there are tons of parks everywhere and it’s way sunnier! So that is how the baby list goes: crib, stroller, clothes, diapers… HOUSE! :)
Anyhow, things are good around here. I’ll see if in the next couple of days I can manage to post a new baby letter and a few things that have been inspiring me lately.
How about you? Tell me something beautiful and magical about motherhood, womanhood, your mother’s day, your kids… Anything you’ve got. I miss you all.
xo
