Archive for 'Personal'
As things begin to settle down with our big move just 6 weeks ago, we begin to prepare (as much as we can) for the new baby boy who’s bound to come into our lives in the next week or so (and I hope for my sake it’s sooner rather than later!). Most of the boxes around the house are unpacked (or strategically hidden). Things are starting to find their place, even if I have a feeling I’ll move things around 100 more times before the end of the year. I knew in order to find my sanity, I would have to get a few rooms in complete order before the baby came. First room, my office.
With my first “maternity leave”, I was still fairly new in my business and had only a few weeks before had my last day at my previous day job. I intentionally hadn’t lined up a lot of sessions before or after my due date not knowing what I would feel like and how I would proceed with business after Sam was born. This pregnancy, I have a lot lined up and I didn’t turn down sessions until I was over 8 months pregnant. I created a lot of work for myself, but I don’t regret it! I knew though I had to get some organization in my office so I could wrap my head around the work I needed (and still need) to get done before the new baby gets here. So, thanks to my husband and fabulous mother-in-law, my office was the first thing in the house painted! And once that was done, I felt I could really start to organize. My desk is still a mess, but it typically is. But my files have a place. My supplies have a place. My equipment has a place. My frames have a place. And I have a place where I can work. There are still some things to do over time (add french doors so I can keep little people out, manage my ridiculous “cord problem”, update the photos in my Organic Bloom frames), but I am so happy with how it turned out. I couldn’t help but share. 
My favorite thing in the office is that rug. It was a risky e-Bay purchase from Turkey. It lasted 40 years in a home in Turkey and was beautifully kept. Two weeks in our house and Sam found a way to put a stain in it, but such is life! I wish it were bigger, but it makes me happy and I love how bright it is.
I really feel as though this house was made for us. It wasn’t in the area we thought we would be in. It isn’t what either of us thought we would end up with. It’s more than we imagined we would have. And I really feel indebted to our realtor, Astrid Ermanis. Phil and I couldn’t be more different and we were looking for different things in a home – which is a challenge for any realtor as you can imagine. This house is everything both of us wanted and them some. If you are in the northern Maryland area, I STRONGLY recommend contacting Astrid for any real estate needs. Buying or selling, she goes so above and beyond what other realtors will do for you. And I know we wouldn’t be in our dream house without her help.
Thanks for looking!
Last month I was up to my eyeballs in boxes while packing, this month I am up to my eyeballs in empty boxes as we are still unpacking. To say I’m in a fog would be an understatement. It’s a lovely fog to be in though, and one I haven’t seen in quite a while. I’m trying to focus on the things that are happening in my life – moving into our “forever” home, preparing for another baby, soaking up as much Sam and Mommy time as I can as I realize the chance may come around less often come mid May. As I sit, hillbilly style, on my John Deere in the garage on my laptop writing this, Sam is playing in the dirt, which is also his new favorite thing to say over and over. This is dirty, that is dirty, thats dada’s dirt, etc. It’s a lovely fog to be in for certain.
I think it’s safe to say that my life will probably never be the same. I’m in a slight panic thinking about how will I ever get anything done when there is another little boy here. Will I ever paint my office so I can hang up my shelving and start to really organize? Will the baby’s clothes ever have a dresser set up so I can wash them and put them in their place? Will I ever get that bookshelf set up in Sam’s room or are his books destined to be forever scattered on the floor, making each of us slip and sometimes fall daily? Will I ever find my can opener and ice cream scoop? How will I ever shower again when there are two of them and only one of me?
So while all of those thoughts are constantly in my head, I sometimes choose to stay in a state of fog over one of reality. I think it’s a wise choice. And I might just stay in that state for a little while. At least until I get used to my new normal, whatever that may be!
My craziest month of the year. Nearly every year since 1998 when my house burned down as I stood in the cold early morning air and watched standing next to my mother. And then years later losing my Henry in March, and then welcoming Sam. Whether highs or lows, the month is always crazy. And this month is proving to be no different. We bought a house, and are (hopefully) moving before the end of the month. Another life changing event. A very high high, but still crazy.
So as I am up to my eyeballs in boxes, I find I can’t tell whether my exhaustion is from being over 7 months pregnant with an incredibly active, and somewhat large, baby boy, or if it’s from keeping busy with the photography business, or possibly from sorting, organizing, and packing our house. If I could only stop my mind from wandering I might be more productive, but I am so excited to mentally place furniture where I think it will go. To think about which drawer in the kitchen will be for utensils. Which way Sam’s crib should face in his new room. Day dreaming all day long. And so excited to have a fresh start in a virtually brand new house. It doesn’t even have a sidewalk yet, and I’ve already envisioned us all stamping our hands and carefully writing “2012″ on the freshly poured concrete. Exhaustion has my eyes heavy and closed, but that single thought can get me smiling no matter what else is going on.
So here I am . . . in March 2012. Excited. Growing. Exhausted.
