Farewell to 2011

It's time to say farewell to 2011.

This has been a unforgettable year for me.
My word for 2011 is Creativity.

Did I ever create big things in my life:
Becoming Pregnant, Giving Birth to Jacob
and Getting Married.

As well as discreating things that no longer
serve me: getting rid of debt, leaving my
job, getting rid of things to make room for
baby.

Also, the sad things that can accompany any
year: Death. I lost a cousin this year and
on Thursday, my beloved brother died unexpectedly.

In any year there can be stunning beauty and
deep felt grief. We have to take the good and the bad.

I look forward to 2012. I hope you all do.
Your life can look like your dreams. It takes
patience, courage and fortitude.

Dream Big, my friends! Wishing you all
a bright and shiny new Year. See you
right back here in 2012.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Here is a reposting from 2008 of me
reading Twas The Night Before Christmas. Enjoy!

The Sun Returns

It's the first day of Winter, something
else magickal happens today. It is also the
Winter Solstice.

From this day forward, the Sun begins its
return back to us...



That's right every day the Sun will stay
a bit longer. By my birthday in late January,
the sun sets around 6pm.

To celebrate the Winter Solstice you can...

Get up and greet the Sun.

Burn yellow and orange candles.

Wear colors of the sun on you in
form of clothes and jewelry.

Make a wish of what you like this
returning Sun to shine it's light down
on brighter for you.

Write I love Winter list of things
you like to accomplish this season.



Celebrating the Winter Solstice is
a great way to bring some quiet and
reflection as the seasons turn in the
midst of this busy Holiday season.

I'm wishing you all a Happy Winter and
Solstice.

Happy Sunday.

It has been an intense two weeks.
I find being a new mom is like
being on stage with no script.
Pure improv 24-7. There have
been beautiful moments and other
moments where I feel painfully inadequate
as a Mom. I'm learning.

These are my four favorite things that have
helped me during these past two weeks:

1) Fisher Price Newborn Rock -n- Play.
Jacob loves this. So do we. It is bright,
cute, lightweight to move from room to room.
If anyone is pregnant or just had a little one
this is a must have.

2) Raising Hope which comes on Tuesdays, 9:30 pm. It is
a hilarious show with a sweet tender side. The premise is
Jimmy Chance unexpectedly finds he is a father of a
six month old girl after his one night stand with a
serial killer. Yes, I did say serial killer. His mom and dad,
along with maw maw all pitch in to help Jimmy raise Hope.

3) The Actor Within: Intimate Conversations with Great Actors by
Rose Eichenbaum.
Acting has taken a back seat for a while. Reading this book
filled with interview with Ruby Dee, Hector Elizono, C.C. H. Pounder
Joe Mantenga to name a few made my acting heart sing.


4) My husband, Sean.

I call him the baby whisperer.
His experience of taking care of his little brother when he
was a baby along with his calm and laid back nature. Makes
me feel at ease all the time. One of the many reasons why
I married him.

What is your favorite things. Please share, I love
to hear them.

Happy Monday

Happy Monday.

Did you all enjoy the full moon in Gemini? The clouds
here hid her from me. I could still feel her lunar touch.

I have survived my first hands on week of motherhood. Sean
and I have been doing the around clock feeding for
Jacob. So it's little sleep..still it's a joy
to wake up to see Jacob's happy face. Or to kiss
Sean and call him husband.

I'll be back again this week with a regular post.
Also popping in with some new Jacob pics as well.

Hope you are all having a great Monday. Is it just
me or is it unreal that Christmas is about two weeks
away?

My New Family

Hi everyone. I have wonderful news to share.

First, Jacob, is coming home tomorrow!
YAY!!!!!

Sean and I are so happy. It has been two months
of him being at the NCIU at our local hospital.
The grind of that experience has worn us both
out. Our reward is Jacob is healthy and strong.
He's now almost up to 5 pounds.

Here are some pics. This was last Thursday in
his infant incubator.

This is from Monday. Here's Jacob sleeping in
his bassinet.

Big Thank you to all for your encouragement, love and
your own preemie stories with me. It helped me get through
this challenging time for me and my family.

But wait there is more...Sean and I got married last Friday!
This is us right before leaving to go to City Hall.

We had no idea you had to wait 24 hrs after the marriage
license to get married. So we had to get a special waiver
to get married on that day. Here we are being married
in front of the judge. I am now Mrs. Graham.

Hearing those marriage vows in person, almost made me
cry with happiness. We always wanted to get married
with just two of us. We couldn't have picked a more
perfect day.

It has been a whirlwind few months. I am happy
to kick off December with my new family
all together. I'm also happy to share this all
with you. Have a beautiful weekend, everyone.