beside the garden wall

j and i got to spend new years weekend with some lovely friends in seattle, and on sunday we visited the gorgeous vounteer park conservatory, my new favorite place in seattle and such a relaxing, fun way to ring in the new year.

i feel like i don't have much to say because my life these days is basically just working and being pregnant, but both are going well (especially since i've discovered maternity tank tops / camisoles!). i'm actually really loving this stage - a belly big enough to be obviously pregnant (instead of possibly just bloated) but not too big that it's awkward, and our little guy is moving around all the time, which is so much fun. still working on a name for him though...

hope your new year is going well!

{ stardust ~ hoagy carmichael }

it's getting better and better

just got back from iowa, where we told my family the gender of our little baby, so now i get to announce that...

* * * it's a boy!!!!! * * *

i'll admit, i was surprised. i grew up surrounded by girls (i have 4 sisters and 1 brother) plus the three of my sisters who have kids each had a girl first. so we're breaking tradition, and i'm so excited. plus i really love green and blue (no pink for us!). now we just need to come up with a name! we're wanting something unique, so we'd love any ideas.

that sweet fortune (top pic) was one i got after dinner the night of the design*sponge book signing (where i did the photo backdrop) ~ seemed like a good one to hold on to. the middle shot is a polaroid i took yesterday flying back to the lovely green northwest (from the lovely brown-right-now midwest). and the bottom shot is of a vintage baby shirt i found at an estate sale. isn't it adorable?

hope you're having a lovely week. (it's a boy!!!!)

{ beautiful boy ~ john lennon }

everything echoes a new song

i wanted to do a little *thankful* post before we take off for the holiday weekend. so here's the short list:

~ you. your comments and support and enthusiasm over our happy news seriously blew my mind. i felt so much love and i sent all of it to this tiny baby, who you can see in that top pic - it's curled up upside down. so little and cute! and yes, we do know what it is but we're waiting to announce it until we tell my family in person tomorrow. which leads me to the next thing i'm thankful for...

~ that i get to see my family tomorrow! well sadly not my entire family but more then i've seen at one time in way too long. it'll be a crazy madhouse with kids and pets and tons of delicious veggie food and i. cannot. wait.

~ this extraordinary little being in my body (i can feel it moving around as i type!) and the amazing guy i'm lucky enough to be sharing this experience with. i don't talk about him much, but i've gotten to see jeremy interact with kids (it's actually his job!) and he's so great with them. he's seriously drawn to them like a magnet, it's so much fun to watch. i know he's going to be the best dad and i'm so glad we're taking this journey together.

hope you have a *wonderful* week!

{ to be surprised ~ sondre lerche }