Larken at 1.5 weeks

This little girl has captured my heart. She is such a sweetie, very quiet and dainty. She sleeps alot, of course. She is so little, and her noises and smell are so perfect. I love her. And I am blown away by God. He is so good to us.

We are getting used to life together with a new one. I remember now how difficult it is to wake up to nurse during the night, but somehow, I have enough energy and rest to make it. Trevor's final semester of law school is in full swing, and it feels like the end is in sight. I am so very hopeful for our next chapter of life. He has a job interview coming up in February that we really would love to see work out... so pray :). Trevor's birthday was on the 19th, and even though we didn't do much to celebrate, it is still a milestone... he's 29. I can't believe how close we are getting to thirty. Life is such a gift. 

Be back soon friends.

xo

meet Larken

Larken was born On Friday, January 13th, at 9:02 in the morning. She weighed 6 lbs 8oz and was 19 inches long. She came 13 days before her estimated due date. Labor was difficult and intense, but she is here, she is healthy, and that is all that matters. She is beautiful and perfect. I can't stop looking at her... she is so sweet and little. Trevor is smitten. Piper is so excited. We just got home from the hospital... I can't believe we are finally a family of four. It feels so right to have her here and to be together. I am so thankful for this gift of life that God has given us! So thankful to have my family, and for this amazing, epic story that God has written for our life.

xo

piper at 2.5

My little girl is two and a half, and I can't believe how grown up she is. She has such a bright personality, she loves being around people (like her dad; I am totally an introvert), and she talks about everything. She loves to talk. She's a beautiful little person. Seeing her grow and change and emerge makes me so thankful that we have another little girl coming our way.

xoxo

hi 2012

2012 completely snuck up on me. But my house is in better 

shape than ever.

So an update since I posted last... Christmas ended being different than we thought it would be, but it was wonderful. My dad was admitted to the hospital on Friday the 23rd to get a couple of blood transfusions. Turns out he has had ulcers for a while, and they were causing him to lose blood. Now that he knows and can treat them, he is feeling really good. He says he got the gift of his health back for Christmas. We decided to drive up to SC for the holiday instead of celebrating here so that we could be with him, my mom, and Trevor's family. We still put up a tree, and did a few small things to decorate and celebrate here at home, but having Christmas in our own house has not yet happened. I don't care, I am just glad that my Dad is okay. And it gives me something to look forward to planing. It is scary to see someone you love in the hospital with IVs and all the monitors, especially if they look sick. Remember my mom's illness? She has an autoimmune disease. She is still dealing with it, every day, taking meds and trying to live life.

My sister and her family came from Arkansas and we got spend New Year's Eve (and my sister's thirtieth birthday a little bit late) together. I am so glad that I got to see them, especially the kids. They're in SC now, and Piper went with them to spend some time with her cousins. She is in heaven. In the meantime, being here without her has been weird. The house seems so empty without her little footsteps and her sweet voice. I miss her alot. I wasn't going to cry when she left until Trevor started crying :). He is such a sweetheart, he loves her so much. In her absence we've been working on projects, making space to welcome Larken into our family. I made some fitted sheets for the crib and Piper's bed, Trevor finished the mid-century dresser for the girl's room that has been in the works for a long time, I washed all the newborn clothes and got the Moses basket pad recovered in a sweet print, packed the hospital bag. I hung up the Leah Duncan calender for 2012 that Trevor gave me for Christmas... isn't it perfect? I love it. I am amazed when I look around at my house at how it has all come together. In Portland, we lived in a 425 square foot apartment for three years. We brought Piper back from the hospital to that little home. We didn't own a dresser. Now, in the past 2.5 years, through the generosity of family, thrift stores, craigslist, ikea, and really all of it is and was God's giving hand, we have put together a home that is totally us. I love our space. It isn't perfect but it is a sanctuary, a place of rest, play, comfort, color and light. It's still a work in progress and probably always will be. It's a constantly changing, organic process. The nursery is almost complete, full tour to come. Perhaps a house tour as well.

When will this little girl decide to be born? We'll be 37 weeks on Thursday, so we're just about full term. She has settled so low in my pelvis that mobility is a challenge for me :). Our whole family is so ready to meet her. I just want her healthy, however that looks... but really, early + healthy is okay with me. Really.

And did I really say I was going to stop making bags? I miss my sewing. I have some thoughts and plans for this new year, but I am not sure that I'll be able to stay away from the bags forever. It will be a little while, though. I guess it all depends on what kind of little person this girl is, and I am totally open to not working until she is older... but we'll see. In the meantime, I am scheming some ways to grow as a photographer, cooking up a website, learning about the business, thinking about where to go equipment-wise. Things to take my mind off of the waiting, I guess. 

Can't wait to introduce you to our newest little nestling, but in the meantime, I'll be back soon.

xoxo

blogging, nesting, and the beautiful holiday

Oh wow, it has been too long. Really. I miss my blog :)

But I am happy that I have a found a place where I can blog here and there and not be too worried about it. I feel more open to blog when life allows it instead of making it something that is another item on my to-do list. Also, my blog isn't really something I want to update every day; I think of it more as a place to share my images, record large-scale movement in our family's life, and cultivate a place that reflects my aesthetic. So thanks for reading along. If you like the pace and experience of reading and looking here, then I want you here. I know I promised pictures of Piper in my last post. Those are still coming... I just want to show how grown she is getting. Such a bright, shining little girl.

The urge to nest, to cull, organize, and make my home environment beautiful and functional is a very strong instinct for me. I really do want to throw out/sell every unnecessary/unattractive item that is in our house. Simplify. I know this is part of pregnancy and everyone experiences it, but I am honestly surprised at what a driving and motivating force it is. I am thankful for it-- I am tired, my back hurts, but I have this urge to make everything right before she arrives, and it helps me stay focused. I am finishing the last of my holiday orders, I already finished holiday markets, and I am focusing entirely on my home... preparing for Christmas, preparing for Larken Winter, beautifying  Piper's room and spending time with her and Trevor. Sweet Tyler threw a wonderful baby shower for Larken, laid-back with food that tasted amazing and white decor. I was and am amazed at the generosity of friends who came together in support of our family and this new little life. It was perfect. There is still so much to do to prepare for Larken's arrival but things are starting to come together, especially now that Trevor's semester is over and he is home. His final semester of law school is coming up. I am so happy.

Our first Christmas tree is up, and Piper is so excited about it... she had a hard time falling asleep last night, and every time we went up to check on her she wanted to know if the tree was still here. I think I mentioned this before, but this is our first tree because for the five years we have been married, we have traveled for holidays. We lived in Portland, OR for our first three years, and have driven from Georgia up to SC for the last two. So this year is the first year that we have done some Christmas celebration of our own. It's so beautiful. I hope to do a post about it all, complete with Piper pictures :)

Merry Christmas. Be back soon.

xo 

33 weeks and some links

Hi friends!

Today I am 33 weeks along, gearing up for my last craft fair, and taking care of a sick Piper. Piper has had some rather persistent ear infection issues on both sides. This has meant antibiotics and a little girl who feels icky. Sleep has been hard for her, and so has eating. I hope we can get her healthy, poor thing.  I'm selling this Saturday, December 10th, at Treehouse Kid and Craft on Broad Street. I think the market starts at ten and lasts till five. After this, I get to focus on Christmas and getting ready for Larken to come. There is so much that needs to be done and I am so much looking forward to getting my house decorated and in order. Nesting. All of that.

Trevor is in the middle of exams. He has one semester of law school left after this; he graduates in May of 2012(!). I really cannot believe how quickly it has gone by and how hard it has been. But also sweet in s many good ways. We are still waiting to hear about a possible move to Colorado, and still thinking through some other options. I loved hearing from all of you about the rad places you live! There are so many great towns out there. Whether we stay or go, I am excited. There would be benefits to both. 

A couple of things I have been enjoying recently:

Dear Friend is a blog by artist Rebekka Seale. I love her blog and her art, and she is lovely. She and her husband are in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia, which I think is so beautiful. I would love to have her design a tattoo for me. But I haven't even asked her if she does that yet. 

I watched The September Issue and regardless of what you think about the fashion industry, this is a fascinating look behind the glossy pages of Vogue. Grace Coddington blew me away. Her vision for photographs is amazing.

I seriously love this piece of furniture, at a local vintage shop downtown.

I bought my glasses at Dynamite Vintage on Jackson here in town. I really love this little place. There is so much goodness on Jackson Street-- Rocket Salon, where the lovely Arti cuts my hair, and Community, another great shop that carries my bags, sells vintage and new clothing as well as work by other local artists, and hosts artists markets. 

Once Trevor finishes his exams and papers for the semester, we are in full-on Christmas mode. As a Christian, this is such a beautiful time of year for me... the incarnation means Love broke through darkness, bringing hope, freedom, and life, and for me, for our family this is everything. I have some decorating projects planned for the house, which I will share of course. Be back soon with some pictures of Piper, since they have been so rare, and a report on how my (potentially) last market(for a time) went.

xoxo

since Thanksgiving

We stayed in SC for almost a week. I sold at a holiday market on the 28th, at a venue in Columbia called 701 Whaley Street. I took these pictures (and some others) of bags that I made for the market. All in all there were about 20 new bags; I'll post pictures of the other on the Lightnest fb page.

I decided to forgo the December market that I usually do here in town, Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa, in favor of a market at Treehouse Kid & Craft. It's on December 10th, at their location on Broad Street. I would love to see you if you live in Athens, especially if you read my blog. Readers are often shy about saying hello in person, but I really do love meeting the people who are connected to me through this journal of sorts. You're all so nice too,and lots of you have blogs or shops of your own. I have noticed a few new readers, by the way, and want to say hello to you all and thanks for reading along :)

Some notes from the past week: Piper has been dealing with some sickness and antibiotics, but is such a sweet little girl. She is getting so much older, and turned 2.5 on November 29th. She talks SO MUCH. I reached 32 weeks of pregnancy, which is awesome. It's hard to believe I only have 56 days left before we meet Larken, plus or minus a few weeks. I am starting to feel a little tired and uncomfortable. The next 8 weeks (or longer) will be a challenge I think.  We are having Christmas here at our house for the first time, not just as a family but even as a married couple. This means we get to pick out a tree, decorate, cook, all of that. I am so excited. 

I hate to run, but I will be back with a couple of artists/bloggers/shops that I have found and love. 

Yay for handmade holiday gift giving.

xo