Gigi's Visit & A Whirlwind NW Experience

Gigi arrived this week to spend a few days with the family in San Diego.  Harrison was thrilled to have Gigi join us in our daily activities, including a few trips to the park, a cold day spent at the nursery picking out trees,

checking out airplanes on our walk,

and just relaxing around the house.

And then back to the Northwest: so lush, green and lovely... refreshingly foodie and eclectic.  Although this felt like a whirlwind experience, a few favorite moments from our time in Portland and Hood River included a gorgeous hike along the river where I spotted this ground cover after a morning rain...

A dinner with my favorite brother at Pok Pok (this thai street dessert however sent me over the edge)...

And of course we had to make a trip or two to St. Honore patisserie where Harrison and the rest of us indulged in some greatly missed croissants and other delightful treats.

After a few days in Portland visiting family, we made our way up to Hood River where we rented an adorable house dangerously close to our favorite coffee shop (Ten Speed).  I was able to savor a daily latte made to perfection...Aaahhhh....pure indulgence.  Harrison loved our daily walks to coffee, getting bites of breakfast sandwiches and checking out the roasting equipment.  

Mother's Day

A perfect mother's day itinerary:

Good morning kisses from my two favorite men.
Dance party in the kitchen.
Delicious breakfast at the Orange Blossom Cafe - serving up tasty traditional crepes in a cool beach side hideaway.

A walk through Solana beach design district - home to a few inspiring warm weather garden shops including my favorite succulent studio, Chicweed (www.chicweed.com) and a store featuring gorgeous hardwood tables and artwork.

A trip to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla for an undersea adventure.

Lovely flowers.

And an early night for this tired mama.

Thank you Andy and Harrison for making me feel so loved and appreciated.  

Reflections on motherhood

 With Mother's Day just around the corner, I have been reflecting on the support and inspiration my mother has shown me over the past 31 years, as well as my own journey thus far through motherhood.

It is fascinating to me how life's events have the ability to greatly shift our perspectives and preconceived notions of the way things are.  Motherhood is definitely one of those life altering roles, and it is through becoming a mother myself that I have developed a much deeper appreciation for my own amazing mom, and for mothers in general.  Mom, I can't thank you enough for the incredible love, encouragement, and grace you bestow upon Scott and I!

Then:  Harrison (6 days old) & Mom

Now:  Harrison (19 months), Mom & Baby Girl 

I am frequently in awe of how much our little boy is teaching me, and I am so grateful for the time provided to us.  Beautiful lessons such as truly absorbing the moment unfold in such simple and exquisite events on a daily basis.  From seeing a snail slowly glide across the grass to hearing wind rustle through the trees, one of the greatest aspects of being a mom is the opportunity to re-experience life through the young eyes and hearts of our children.

My journey as a mother continues to be blissfully rewarding, challenging and humbling...one that evolves on a daily, if not hourly basis.  Perhaps one of the most significant lessons in life I am learning through my child is that of letting go and realizing that we have relatively little control over many aspects of life.  Life on life's terms as some say... and though these aren't necessarily our terms, I am finding that most things have an interesting way of working out rather well if we can allow ourselves to let go of our expectations and desire of control.  From Harrison's birth experience to his sleeping habits, there are some aspects of this adventure I would have chosen differently in a perfect world, and yet it is through these challenging moments that we get the opportunity to truly expand and grow.  I am no zen master, and though I struggle with this concept daily, I find it helpful through the moments of frustration inevitable in motherhood, to take a deep breath, give it my all and relinquish control to the greater forces at work.

We embark on this journey as mothers through a leap of faith, and with the support and wisdom of our partners, extended family and community, we can hope to cultivate kind, responsible and grateful human beings who will strive to leave the world in a better place than when they arrived.