Celebrating life, cuddles, business progress, and each other

“Appreciate and celebrate each moment. There’s nothing more sacred” Pema Chodron

The past few weeks have reflected back to me the many different ways we can be present and celebrate, from official birthday parties to the quiet sacredness of moments at home.

I have such an on-the-go personality that slowing down since Isaac’s birth has felt strange, but I’m doing my best. He’s spending more time awake this week and so I’m spending more time cuddling, singing, chatting, and walking around the house to show him things. We’re getting to know each other day by day. 

Here we are on a recent morning:

This picture totally gets me every time. I love how he turned his body so we were facing each other. I love how little he is. I love the memory of lying there and just listening to him breathe.

We’ve also been celebrating some birthday milestones lately. My mom turned 60 and my Nana turned 90 and so the past weeks have been spent seeing family and eating too much cake. Here’s my beautiful Nana with Isaac at her party last weekend:

Aren’t they the cutest together? I’ve been enormously thankful for family lately. From helping me take care of the baby to simply being there to give me a hug and the reminder that it’s okay for this early stage to be super hard, I’ve been grateful every day.

With all of the support I’m starting to slowly feel like myself again (and what more can I ask for?).

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I’ve started experimenting with how to get work done on my business while taking care of Isaac and so far it’s been a combination of short bursts during his naps, a few quick things here and there during family visits, and occasionally typing with one hand while he’s nursing. Even now he’s currently sleeping in my lap. :)

One of my main goals this summer is to spruce up my shop photography and so I’ve been working on gathering props, brainstorming photo shoots, and updating old photos that are no longer working.

Here’s one of my set ups where I photographed note cards recently:

It’s not a fancy set up, but that’s one of the best secrets! You don’t need a fancy set up. In addition, here are a few of the props I’ll be using to help create scenes with my artwork:

I’ve already photographed some of the new artwork and so two of the animal note cards are now available!

Check them out in the shop here. Both come in sets of 6, though there’s also the option to create your own set with different designs.

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I also want to share how I’ve been feeling lately.

In my current state of sleep deprivation and within the general overwhelm of raising a newborn, I’ve felt so disconnected from the world. There’s been so much sadness to feel, so much injustice to respond to, and it’s all felt just outside my reach. I want this to change.

Now more than ever I know we have to stand together in love. Now more than ever we have to work to understand each other, to speak up and break the silences, to admit when we’re wrong or prejudiced or misinformed. We have to celebrate our differences and appreciate what connects us.

Print available here. 

I feel more acutely aware that Eric and I have a responsibility to teach Isaac all we know about love, compassion, respect, and an unbreakable sense of right vs. wrong. To help the next generation stand strong together in courage and hope.

My heart feels the world’s pain so deeply. May all suffering be replaced by peace, all sadness with healing. I’ll do what I can within my own life to speak up and not remain complacent.

I don’t know the right answers yet but I’m currently searching for the right questions. Right now I’m sending so much love out into the rest of the world and I hope you can feel it.

With love,