These Days Are Numbered

My maternity leave is coming to an end next week,

and I find myself feeling very sentimental about 
this wonderful opportunity I got to share with my son.

I am so grateful for it.

 I know it will be good to get back to work,

but I also know it's going to be hard to say goodbye

 to these sweet days with baby Kieran.

Guinney & Kieran getting in some quality time.

He has made me such a happy Mama.

It tickles me so to hold my baby in my arms 
and see him looking up at me with those sweet blue eyes,

and let's be honest, spit up dribbling out of the corners of his mouth.

 (I am getting very used to baby spit up becoming a part of my daily wardrobe.

As you can imagine, it's incredibly glamorous.)

But all kidding aside, 

no matter how much everyone told me that I would love being a mother,

I love it more than I ever could have imagined.
I mean, it's a pretty awesome feeling knowing that sometimes
all he wants in the world is to be in my arms,
and nuzzle into my chest. 

I could melt sometimes.

I am amazed at how fast he is growing,

and am loving all the things that come along with 

him reaching new milestones.

Like actually enjoying tummy time! Yay! 

But some of my very favorite things 

about being Kieran's Mommy 

are things like:

Hearing his enthusiastic squeals when he sees something

that excites him. And his dry laugh when he's getting a 
diaper change from his Daddy who tickles his belly with his beard. 

Or the way he stomps his feet and slaps his hands 
in the water every time he gets a bath, goes in a pool 
or has a trip to the waters edge at the beach.

It's so fun witnessing his fascination for new things,
his serious stare, and focused mind.

He likes giraffes. Obvs.

And I love how he is down to just hang out and chill 

when I decide to take him on little adventures, 

like my first hike with baby last month along

 the Palos Verdes hills overlooking the ocean.

 Not too shabby for your first hike dude! 

It's so cool how sometimes when he is feeding, 

he puts his open hand flush over my heart,

and I can't help but smile in awe of how sweet that is. 

Or like when he is finished with a particularly long feeding,

how his ear is imprinted on my forearm.

I have found myself staring at it, running my fingertips over it,

secretly wishing it could stay there forever.

I love that I get to pick him up when he is tired, 
and giggle at how he tucks his feet under his bottom, 
arches his back, and sticks out his butt.

It's by far the cutest thing ever.

I love that he gives me an open-mouthed scrunched-nosed smile 

when he sees me first thing in the morning.

And I love how his lips curl down when he is sad, 

and it takes everything in me not laugh because it is so darn cute.

But my favorite, favorite moments of being Kieran's Mommy

are the quiet moments, the still moments.

When his warm head tucks perfectly under my chin,
I can feel his fine hair on my cheek,

 I can smell his perfect new baby smell,

and all I want in the world is to stay in that moment forever.

It's those simple flashes of life that permiate love 
into the deepest corners of my heart.

I know I will still get to have these moments

even after I return to work,

but I also know that my going back to work is the end 

of the very beginning. Of having a baby.
 Of being a new mom.

And that will be bittersweet.

Proud Mama!

As hard as it may be,

I'll try to focus less on the bitter,

 and more on the sweet.

XOXO

Aimee 

Moving Mom

We moved my Mom into her new home last weekend.

This is my sweet Momma.

And although there are tons of things about moving that suck:

The prep. 
The packing for what seems like forever.

Sifting through EVERY LITTLE THING bit by bit.

Wrapping fragile items in newspaper,

and your fingers leaving smudges of gray
 on your face when you go for an itch.

Throwing things away.

And the daily stops to the donation centers,

sending things off to be reused by others.

And OH, the tiring task of moving day itself. 

But amongst the nitty gritty of making a move happen,

there are some sweet moments along the way.

Like the rare moment when all three of
your siblings are in one place at one time,

and it's not a holiday, or a birthday,
or a monumental occasion.

The time you get to spend with your mom,

going through all her things

and laughing and reminiscing about the good old days,

and finding sweet treasures amongst the clutter.

Like these old gems:

Mom as a baby.

School pic. I'm guessing she is like 10 years old?

How cute she is!! 

Mom (right) and a neighborhood friend.

New Rochelle, NY. c. 1955ish.

Mom's parents, James and Emily Egan. 
New York, c. 1935

Finding old letters she received from loved ones,
and brief notes she wrote to herself,
her soft voice transmitting through paper.

Seeing what she keeps on her bedside table.
Things that she wants to read, see, revisit, or touch 

right before she falls asleep at night.

It's an intimate affair. 

Packing up the life of someone you love. 

And for as much work and stress and time it takes,

it's all worth it in the end.

Because when you come out the other side,

it somehow feels like an awakening,

a testament of your beginnings,

a reminder of why you love this woman.

A woman who stands before you,
and who always walks behind you,
supporting everything you do.

Wishing my Mom many, many, many 

more wonderful memories in her new home.

XOXO

Aimee

a home office

Besides planning a nursery for our lil' one,

I'm also in the midst of planning a design for my home office/studio,

and I'm looking to pinterest and tumblr for inspiration.

I am beyond thankful that my boss is allowing me to

 work from home a couple days a week post-maternity leave,

and I am looking forward to creating a space 

that will be functional, comfortable and inspiring.

Here are just some of my favorite home office examples. 

I hope to meld together some of these elements 
using my existing furniture, while adding
a few fun accents here and there.

I admit,

looking at spaces like these make me a bit dreamy,

and I find myself writing stuff like this:

i crave a home office

with bright light shining

through white framed windows.

wooden floors,

planks side by side.

soft paint on walls,

& clever wall art in cute, caring arrangements.

i crave a desk with things

both minimal

and maximal

all in one.

neat, yet full.

i want books (in stacks)

and flowers (in vases)

and paper and pens (sprawled about).

i want things

old and new.

antique and freshly made.

i want it all.

ideas abound.

life inspiring.

color enveloping.

heart throbbing.

now, if i can only just get it.

create it.

make it.

have it.

i'll be content.

I think rainy days also make me dreamy.
There is something to be said for getting cozy in
 boots and scarves to welcome the change of pace.

Happy rainy Thursday friends!

XOXO

Aimee

See above pic sources and my home office inspirations on pinterest.

Picture Yourself There

So, I've been looking at a lot of pictures lately.

Shhh. Closet Tumblr addict.

And I admit,
I feel a bit of nostalgia for places I've never been,
and people I've never seen.

And it got me thinking. . .

"Beach Baby" By: Bon Iver

(I could listen to this song on repeat, like, a million times.)

Have you ever stared at a picture

and wished that you were right there in it?

That you could touch and feel and smell what your eyes see?

Has your heart dropped into your gut thinking about how it might feel

how it might be

and how it might change you?

How it might steal your soul,

and pull your very heart right out from underneath you?

I have.

Photo creds: http://pugking.tumblr.com/ , http://www.m0rtality.com/post/24925762843,

                          http://over-there.tumblr.com/post/17169363956,  http://xrubenchavezx.tumblr.com/post/16389510575