Hmmm....

Burp cloths in our bed...scratch mittens on the coffee table...bottles usurping the shelf where espresso cups once lived...  Yup, our baby is here!!!

One month (and one day) ago, on Saturday, February 19, Zakaria Philip was born weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and 20 inches long.  He is an amazing, precious little bundle, growing and learning daily, and Mos and I absolutely love parenthood.  He is a gift beyond anything we could have dreamed and we are so grateful for the whole new world he brings.

 

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

Yesterday was our one year anniversary!  And lo and behold, we are both still standing.  :)

Really, it is the most incredible journey with the Heart that unites so completely with your own and to create new little Hearts together.  

"You want me to spend how many more years with you?!?!"

Peanut at 30 weeks - 10 weeks to go...give or take...

Here's our little one at 30 weeks and a very active little one he is!  I swear he is already trying to find the exit as he's constantly kicking, tumbling, rolling, and it even feels like he is trying to dig his way out sometimes!  Funnily enough, as soon as Mos puts his hand on my stomach he is perfectly still...  Guess we know who the disciplinarian will be!

Spread some Good Will!

My extremely talented and dear, dear friend Shana LaFore is applying for a Pepsi Refresh grant, a very generous program which funds charity/community/non-profit ideas throughout the U.S.  Shana is applying in the $50,000 category with her proposal for an Arts Center which supports independent, emerging artists who in turn give portions of their sales to a local non-profit of their choice.  It's a beautiful idea promoting the arts, encouraging artists and investing in local non-profit endeavours of all kinds.  You can learn more about her idea and vote for, H.O.M.E. by LaFore, at:

http://www.refresheverything.com/homebylafore

You will need to sign in with an email address but it does not result in any kind of spam or ridiculous promotional materials.  It simply allows you to vote for up to 10 ideas, each day!! that you would like to see supported.  It doesn't cost anything but a few spare moments to share in the excitement of dreams that will improve lives and communities.  And this happens every month so once you are signed up you can continue to help ideas with your votes year-round!

So please consider supporting Shana and her gorgeous heart, and if you want to learn more about her visit, http://www.homebylafore.com/

Happy Voting and Good Luck Shana!!

Giving Thanks

The American holiday of Thanksgiving is this Thursday and it’s one of my favourite yearly celebrations.  The emphasis is all about food, family and friends, gratitude… every day things really but their necessity is exactly why they are so very precious.  Each one is essential to our nourishment and growth; food for the body, family and friends for the mind and heart (and yes, even relational challenges cultivate such!) and gratitude for the soul to have peace in and joy for life's gifts.   

In that light:

Thank you to my husband of almost one year in physical time but really my husband of eternities in the measurement of time that actually matters. 

Thank you to this little tumbling being inside me already bringing and inspiring profound heaps of love. 

Thank you to family and friends who I don’t even have the proper words of gratitude for but, trust me, the lump in my throat and my heart know them fully. 

Oh and one more… thank you to holiday music currently playing in the background! (I know, judge, eye roll, up heave all you like but I am proudly one of the poor saps that love this stuff and I’m enjoying it until January 2!)

Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday and even for those not celebrating, I encourage you to make a special meal at some point this week and enjoy it thoroughly giving thanks for all that you have. 

Peanut at 21 weeks - Over half way there!

See how you have helped!!   

Being The Gift