Elsie Joan
After nine months of dreaming, planning and preparing for our daughter’s arrival, we are pinching ourselves about our all-new life with a little one! We named her Elsie Joan, and she made her debut on September 27, a week earlier than her expected October arrival. The two weeks that have passed since then have been a total blur in time, forcing us to slow down and connect only with what really matters–her. I’ve been taking a much-needed, unannounced break from blogging, in addition to my day job, emails, social media, errands, and pretty much anything that falls outside of our home’s walls, to adjust to motherhood. Sleepless days, feeding challenges, diaper blowouts, and lots and lots of trial and error in soothing our tiny 6 lb. newborn have made these first few weeks beyond exhausting and overwhelming. At the same time it’s been an incredibly exhilarating adventure of pure love–from her big blue eyes staring up at us sweetly to seeing my husband in this new light as her adoring father–my love for them both grows stronger than I thought humanly possible each day. Some days my heart feels like it might explode.
While I continue to savor this time turning off the outside world to focus on Elsie in these special newborn days, I wanted to quickly pop in to share our happy news and a few photos of our new family of three. I’m not sure how long my post-baby break from blogging will last, but I know I will undoubtedly be drawn back sooner than later as I pick up the pieces of where I left off prior to her arrival. I still have so much to share for those interested in my take on motherhood–my pregnancy essentials, Elsie’s nursery reveal, maternity photos, and more. And of course, as I get back in the kitchen, there will be recipes again…and as projects get completed around the house, an office makeover to share…and as I slip back into my pre-baby jeans, some simple style posts (in fact, today I fit into my favorite Rag & Bone pair–testament to having a dedicated pregnancy workout routine!). So thanks for hanging in there with me during this “quiet period” and for all the congratulations from readers far and wide… it means the world to me, and I hope you’ll check back in and plan to keep reading as I work this place and all my passions back into my new life as a mom!
Photography by Joe Craig