Happy Valentine's Day.

Five years ago today, I had a grim Valentine's Day. There was a huge blizzard in New York, and I was trudging home from work in the dark, with soggy shoes and a lonely heart. As I dodged slush puddles, I wondered if I'd ever meet my soulmate. Didn't seem likely. Little did I know that two weeks later (just two weeks!) I would find the love of my life. As I've said before, it goes to show that you never know what's around the corner.

What are you doing today? Remember how lovely and wonderful you always are. xoxo

(Illustration by Ellen Van Engelen)

Toby becomes a New Yorker.

We were taking a cab across the Brooklyn Bridge the other night, and Alex and I were feeling winter blues-y. We looked at the Manhattan skyline, which usually inspires us, but instead we just jokingly sighed a Debbie-Downer-ish "Wah waah." One minute later...that's all Toby would say. Babies don't miss a thing.

Here, Toby reenacts his skills the following evening:

On authenticity: Tell us something true.

When I was a new mother, I went through something difficult. For a while, I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk about it on the blog, but my mom, who has always been a huge champion of "authenticity," emailed me recently to say this...

"It seems to me that being authentic is being brave enough or just candid enough to be honest about what you are experiencing or who you are, whether it is popular are not. A person gives a gift to other people when they say, 'This is what happened to me or this is how I truly feel, no matter what the popular belief is about what I should feel.' Whenever you are honest, you are speaking for a thousand silent people who don't have the voice to say what they really feel or are really experiencing. So, if you ever talk about [the thing you went through], you will touch a million hearts. Because you are speaking for more than just yourself. You are never alone in what you are feeling. I love you."

So, I will share my little story on Monday, even though it gives me butterflies. I thought my mom's words were so beautiful, and I want to always remember them. xoxo

Would you want to share something true about yourself? Something little, something big? Something that makes you happy, something that worries you? Whatever you want, as long as it is true. :)

Here are a few of mine, in the meantime:
* I have old-lady undereye wrinkles.
* I'm scared of elevators.
* I don't know how to accessorize with belts.
* I'm sensitive to criticism.
* I always think I'm going to choke when I eat pears.
* I get super cranky when people talk too loudly.

Until Monday... xoxoxoxo

(Painting by Jessie Willcox Smith)

Motherhood Mondays: The hardest two months of my life

In an effort to be authentic, I'd like to talk about something difficult I went through as a new mother. A year ago, I went though the worst two months I've ever experienced. I never mentioned it on the blog. I couldn't; I was too overwhelmed. But now that a whole year has passed, I want to share my experience with you...
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Toby goes gallery hopping

We went to a few Chelsea art galleries when my dad was visiting last weekend, and this photo keeps making me smile. :)

Motherhood Mondays: Baby Names & Faces Book

Pinhole Press has a brilliant new baby photo product: Big Book of Names & Faces. You make one with photos of your child's favorite people. My mom made us one as a gift, and it has become Toby's favorite bedtime story. Since our relatives live around the country, this book helps Toby remember them between visits (and happily recognize them when he sees them again), and I love that the book helps him learn words and names, and show him that he's part of a family that cares about him. Bravo, Pinhole Press!

(Thanks to my friend Laura Ratliff for taking these photos. You might recognize Sharon Beesley's kids in a photo. Pinhole Press is my friends' company and one of my beloved sponsors. )

Relationship tip: Keeping the sparks flying

Alex and I recently started doing something new...
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