Gosh I need to write Sunday a new letter. So much has changed! We have reached the age where Sunday sees something going into my mouth and wants it in HER mouth. Thus... graham crackers at a friend's house last week.
She chowed down!
The accountability has official begun!
I've had the pleasure of spending my 29th birthday with these sweet girls. Oh, the smiles they brought to my face! I find it fitting... 29 years... and I'm finally settling into contentment with who I am. I smile thinking of what my thirties will bring. Here's to finishing up my twenties on a high... How about days filled with more sweet baby kisses, lasting relationships, and "the little things." That's what matters. That's what makes this life worth living.
Community and parenthood... they should go hand in hand.
Soon after I found out I was pregnant, I dove right into community. Both online and in person, I became active in groups that offered a safe place to express concerns, ask questions, and just chat about pregnancy, birth and what being a mom is all about. With a variety topics and passions, each group offered an assortment of points of views and experience.
Through the brilliance of Facebook, finding community seems a million times easier than it used to be. With 24/7 access, the facebook groups I am a part of have come to the rescue for me in the middle of the night on more than one occasion. (Like when my baby who once slept through the night is on night five of waking every hour... that can make a mama lose her mind!)
Some of my favorite online communities:
Of course, nothing is better than meeting together in the presence of like-minded souls. On the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month I experience a beautiful community that is The Motherhood Collective Cafe. The women involved are welcoming, encouraging, loving, and most of all, truly caring. Their passion is to help encourage and support one another in our journey of motherhood. The environment is warm and cozy, with candles and coffee, conversation and support. It's such a sweet little escape from my normal routine of life.
For the past few months I have had the honor of being on the leadership team of the cafe and we've been brewing up some awesome things. On July 1st we launched a new brand, website, and we became an official non-profit organization. My favorite thing about the launch is that we have a new blog so we can start to share our passion with women outside of the Lynchburg area. So wether you are local or not, please head over to the site and check it out!
I am honored to be a writer for the blog as well and I recently shared about my new obsession with Coconut Oil here.
Unedited (except the b&w processing) pictures of quiet, beautiful moments... these take my breath away. I love these two so much.
Last Saturday I was doing my usual browsing of social media on my phone while Tommy was driving us someplace. Saturday evenings are the time of the week when I miss my career the most. I have lots of photographer friends on Facebook and they all share pictures of the weddings that they shoot. All day long. A reception shot here, a cake shot there… details and kisses and smiling bridesmaids galore! And I long for that environment. So much. I really miss shooting weddings. So I have to work to redirect my thoughts. Back to my sweet little girl who is cooing in her car seat and my husband who is drumming on the steering wheel. This is where I am meant to be. Loving him, raising her... creating memories with my family.
I pray for a fresh perspective and it comes. I have a job I love and long for (so many people don't have that), I have a supportive and caring husband, and a sweet, sweet girl that wants me more than anything in the world right now.
So I take a deep breath and I say a prayer of thanks. Thank you, God… that today my only job is to create and capture our memories.
Here are a few pictures of our activities last Saturday. Sunday is LOVING the pool. How could I give this up? I couldn't.
That last picture is of her saying "Okay! All done!"
“Liz Cook is an incredibly talented and attentive professional. Her sweet and gentle countenance is paired with her ability to capture the most tender and joyful moments of the births that she photographs. Liz’s photos will bring you years of enjoyment as they draw you back to the delight and bliss of your birth experience.”