Dresser

A few months ago I picked up this 1950's dresser from the sweetest old lady. She was selling most of her furniture so she could move into a smaller house- the last of her five children had long since moved out. Her youngest son helped get the dresser into my car. I couldn't believe it was his when he was a little boy- he was a large man, and looked to be in his 40's now. The dresser only needed some refinishing, but I wanted to add something new to it. I cut up some scrap booking papers I'd bought at Michael's and Mod Podged them in the drawers and cabinet. I added a mirror to the cabinet door. It will be her future costume closet. Here and there are scribbled notes or cut-out images for Emmylou to find when she's older.

 

You belong among the wildflowers

You belong somewhere close to me

Far away from your trouble and worry

You belong somewhere you feel free

-Tom Petty

Surgery Today

for months, i've felt like this day was so far away. and then here it was. i got to the hospital at 7:30 am, and was having surgery a bit after 9 am. just before leaving the pre-op room, i was given a dose of something and was out before getting to the operating room. it was 11:15ish when i woke up in the recovery room. all i've heard about the surgery is that the tumor was larger than expected, and a few of my lymph nodes were also removed. mom is staying the night with me, but alan stayed with me for a few hours this afternoon. tomorrow morning i'll be released.. i still need to get the drain in my neck removed. hopefully the rest of my recovery goes well- i'm ready to get on with life.

i couldn't quite get that eye open while the anesthesia was wearing off.

Two Posts

I haven't had any time to write lately, unfortunately. There is so much to write about, but no time to do it. We haven't been getting much sleep and the days are really running together. During the first days home from the hospital, I couldn't tell day from night. I would wake up thinking I had left the light on in Emmylou's room, only to realize it was the sun shining through her curtains. Aside from that, I don't remember much of what we did that first week. I'm still getting used to breastfeeding. The first week and a half was rough! Emmylou may have ended up on formula if I hadn't read "Breastfeeding Made Simple: 7 Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers" by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett.

June 21st

My last day at Freebirds was May 26th, the day before Emmylou was born. On Tuesday the 24th, I told my manager not to put me on the schedule for the next week. I had a feeling that Emmy wasn't going to wait for her original June 1st due date to arrive. I guess it was mother's intuition or something! Anywho, I had planned on returning to Freebirds after I had the baby and continuing working until I had my thyroid surgery, and then looking for a new (and improved) job. It wasn't until the 26th that my manager informed me that my leaving to have the baby was considered a voluntary termination, but that I could re-apply there as soon as i felt ready to do so. It definitely wasn't a job worth re-applying for when I wanted to find a new job anyway. So, I've been able to have time off with Emmylou, which I am so thankful for. She's growing so fast, and I'd much rather spend time with her than at a job I don't particularly like. Now to get to the real point! One day, my mom and I were at Joann's Fabrics and stumbled across an ad.. a woman needed someone to sew appliques, etc. on children's clothes a few days a week. It sounded like a potentially good opportunity, so I called. It turned out to be everything I hoped! A job that allows me to work near/at home, and will teach me what I need to know about starting a business. I feel so lucky right now. A lovely little family, perfect job, and my goals finally seeming within reach. Now to get this surgery out of the way. Nervous.

PS: Alan turned 25 yesterday. Happy Birthday sweetness!

Love,
L

First Photoshoot

Yes, I made that there beautiful baby. Yesterday, she had her first portraits taken by Shannon, who has photographed my brother and I since we were in middle school. I still remember the first time she photographed us- she's something else! She captures moments that not many people are able to differentiate from any other moment, until the film is developed. This particular photo is just a peek at what's to come, taken from my phone. I am so fortunate that we know Shannon- it was so important to me to get professional photos of her at a week old. She will never be this way again. And photos taken by me with my phone or my digital camera just wouldn't capture that perfect newborn-ness. She's so dainty, small, and innocent. It amazes me that her thoughts and opinions about what she sees and experiences in her first years will be influenced by me. While I'll can't be certain how much my approach will affect her ideas about things, I'm going to be doing a lot of thinking about how I introduce her to the world around her.

Love, 

L

Photos From the Past Few Days

photos from the hospital and coming home


your first diaper change.. your dad was surprised by the tar-poopy.. maybe if he'd listened in lamaze or read up on babies he'd be in the know

Today