Waiting

March 17, 2011

James bonding with Brees, December 22, 2010

Baby Rees is due any time now. I can’t wait to be an aunt, I can’t wait for my sister to be a mom and I can’t wait for my children to meet their cousin.

According to NASA, Saturday, “a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It’s a super ‘perigee moon’—the biggest in almost 20 years.”

In addition to my sister I have two very close friends past due with their babies—they, too, are waiting.

Waiting.

Some people believe more babies are born when there’s a full moon. I hope this is true. I hope this Saturday brings a big, beautiful moon and big, beautiful babies.

“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers—strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.” —Barbara Katz Rothman

Mid-January Andy’s sister Lizz came for a visit, along with her boyfriend, Eric, and Andy’s parents. Sophie baked a cake (with help) for a belated birthday party for her aunt. We had such a nice visit—we just with it had been longer!

“Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” —Franz Kafka

Sophie’s Room

February 22, 2011

Sophie’s room is slowly coming together. Months ago Andy’s Dad painted her bead board white, three walls a soft pink and perfect stripes on the wall behind her bed (quite different from the grownup, wallpapered nautical theme it used to be, when we moved in). And recently my mom brought over a beautiful, handmade quilt for Sophie’s bed—a birthday present, and something my mom, I know, spent hours and hours on.

And even though it’s not finished, Sophie loves her room. Anytime someone comes over she insists on showing them her room.

We’re so lucky to have the help of our parents.

Thank you.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” —Nelson Henderson

Thing 1, Thing 2 & Aunt Janeil

January 26, 2011

“An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship.” —Spanish Proverb

Brees’ Baby Showers

January 21, 2011

Over the holidays we had two baby showers for Brees (Baby Rees), due March 23. I’m so excited for Katy and Tom, and I can’t wait to be an aunt!

opera cream cake from BonBonerie

The gifts were tucked into a handmade cradle with my grandma’s beautiful baby blanket in it.

parents-to-be!

crocheted snowflake ornaments

lunch at The Corner House in Lewisburg, Ohio

Sophie, refusing to smile

Katy and Mom

Katy and Andrea

The food was delicious. Sophie especially liked the pickled watermelon and sparkling lemonade. I loved the look on her face when the fizzy drink touched her lips—I wish I had filmed it.

Jessica and Kelsey

Alise and Janeil

Katy opening a play mat Mom made for her

Mangan family

“A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.” —Carl Sandburg

Christmas—A Pictorial Essay

January 7, 2011

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” ~Charles Dickens

Emilie Visits!

September 13, 2010

Grandma, Sophie, Emilie, Ben, Kelsey, Mom holding James, Aunt Ann holding Owen, Uncle Corey

Emilie and Owen

Emilie holding Owen; Uncle Corey holding James

Ben reading to Sophie

I love when the Mangan family comes to visit. They come in with a flurry of hugs and kisses and food (Grandma made a delicious blackberry cobbler with fresh blackberries from my Uncle Roger’s crop) and so much talking! Emilie, who lives in Kansas, had yet to meet the boys so I was so happy to see her and show them off. It’s always so quiet when they leave and I always feel a little lonely—even with three kids at home. But I guess that’s a good thing. I guess that’s love. And love them, I do.

“You’d have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room. Those relatives!” —Cynthia Rylant