Circles

Today we took a little trip down the road to the historic district of Ellicott City.  It was cold and grey and wintery.  It even snowed.  I had big plans to take some nice pictures.  

Too bad I didn't charge the camera's battery before we left. 

We ate lunch at The Phoenix.  The last time we'd been there?  3 years ago.. A few hours before Will proposed.  Being there today, as a threesome felt pretty cool.  Happy... kind of proud. Loved.

Old.  I also felt old.  And much wiser... and kind of weathered. 

In a good way. 

at lunch today

That day that we got engaged was really special.  It was raining, I had finally taken a huge licensure exam that morning, which had been looming for months.... We were away from the city.  

Will was so nervous.
{which was cute// so I suspected something was up}

He wrote the sweetest, best, loveliest song about that day.
On a banjo.. And, you know, I'm in love with banjos.
And songs about the day that Will proposed.
And Will.  
The song is a complete Love fest.
  Listen below :)




Today was one of those full circle days.
The kind that remind you that you're in the right place.
 Those days are like hugs.
{sorry, did you just vomit from the sap? it's true though.. and those days are good to find in the dead of February ;) }

XX

Cassie

Equinox /// Happy 9 Months

This evening, post bath.  

Today our little ladybug turned 9 months old.  

{So, she's been on the outside for as long as she was on the inside... Thus, "equinox".}

It's becoming pretty clear that she's moving away from infancy and into..... something else...

At an alarming pace.

Isabel, between 8 and 9 months, you were very hard at work. 

You're now an accomplished crawler.  

You remind us of a puppy the way your crawl becomes something of a scamper, with panting, drooling, and a stop to gnaw on something, anything.  {yes, that shoe will do}.

You pull yourself up to stand with anything and everything.  You're perfecting your balancing, and working your muscles like a little ballerina at the bar doing plies-- up and down.  

You'll probably be walking in no time {feel free to slow this down though!}. 

Our house is slowly becoming Izzy-proofed... Because you have a knack for zero-ing in on the closest wire/hot thing/electrical outlet/ glass thing/ heavy thing/expensive thing/tall thing/.  

It's impressive, this skill.

You also started waving this week.  And the wave is quite possibly the cutest thing you've learned yet.  {Although the crawl is also really really cute}.  You love to wave.  You'll get everyone in the room waving, hi, goodbye, hello, oh yes I see youuuu! :) 

You've also started to eat a lot!  Sometimes I'm surprised at how much food you can put down, and each time I'm so proud.  Not to mention the fact that your palette is well on its way to great refinement. ;)

You love a game of peek-a-boo, or a little play chase, or a pretend wrestle. Your squeals and laughs are getting louder and more deliberate.  This is so much fun. 

I just can't believe you're 9 months already!  And am having a hard time finding the words.  {the fact that it's close to midnight is also part of the problem}.  But I wanted to be sure I got these things down. Today. 

Because tomorrow, you'll be 9 months and a day....

You're the most wonderful little creature Isabel, and we still pinch ourselves daily, because we can't believe how lucky we got with you.  

{And when you're sleeping, we miss you, and look at pictures of you.... #wearethoseparentswefeared}

So happy 9 month equinox to you sweet sweet girl. 

You're the moon & the stars.  

XO, 

Cassie 

Tonight, post-bath

Forests for Trees

That saying, the one about not being able to see the forest for the trees..It's been on my mind a lot over the past couple of weeks.

I've been thinking about it.... as it relates to different issues, different angles.... Separate ideas and conflicts... 

Although, maybe, since we're talking forests, the issues are all related.  {well duh, Cassie}

I've been thinking about what it means, to not see the forest for the trees....

And have shouted in my head: "NO!  You're missing the forest!!!". 

It's true that we each have different forests//our own forests// different sorts of forests//different views on forests//different dreams for our forests//different relationships with our forests.

But I find myself wanting to focus on the trees, and having faith that if I give my all to the trees, then there is no way that the forest could falter//wilt//be stunted// fail.

I don't necessarily want to focus on the forest.. Nor do I want to give in to the push to grow and capitalize and keep up with the forest's status quo.  {maybe we've taken on the wrong forest//a too large forest} 

Where is the joie de vivre in that? If we are so busy just keeping things alive....making more....working for more, then won't we miss all of the nuances in the changing seasons?  Will we be too tired to care about or absorb.... life? The little things?
{The trees} 

We'll be too busy to notice that this is even happening.  

And then what good will it be to have all of these trees, if we can't even savor them?

And excuse me but, what about visiting other forests??
I want to travel to other forests, dammit!! (:

#lordhelpmebalancetheforestsANDthetrees

#weallhavemanyforests

XO,


Cassie

 

Mid January Pics

This week has been a busy one.  We've had 1 very special birthday dinner, 2 perfect girls brunches, 1 rambunctious playdate, and 1 winter storm warning {currently.. along with the return of the polar vortex}.

Eh. Snow is beautiful and all, but it is most definitely not my love language. 

Izzy lately:

Playdate with Ruut {and her girls}:

Brunch at the Four Seasons for Kelly's baby #3 {!!!!):

THE most divine ribs  For Our Dadoo's Birthday



XO

Cassie