Joel's mom threw Bowie a baby shower to welcome her into this world.  Instead of typical presents (which everyone sent me when she was born - SO SPOILED), she asked each guest to bring a book of their choosing.  It was a lovely day to see family I too rarely see.  Now Baby Star has a rather enviable library.

That evening, while I cuddled Bowie after her feeding, I smelled the intoxicating mixture of several woman's scents combined on her.  It reminded me of the realization that women need other women, and that Bowie needs them all.  I fancy myself apart from this cliche, but no female is impervious.  We need to remember we aren't the first, and we aren't the last.  

Bowie also received her father's baby blanket and sweater/hat set that Gma Jean had saved for his offspring.  It was a touching moment.  Also touching was meeting my cousin Amy's new daughter, Kenya.  She is a miracle in so many senses.  I feel moved to the core when I consider the journey Amy has embarked upon to find her daughter.  

Toward the end of the baby shower, Jessica and Becca received the news that their father had passed away.  It was one of the most profoundly sacred and deeply sad moments I've ever witnessed, the inner circle of unabashed, unfiltered mourning as the initial blow is delivered.  I struggle to make meaning of it, but I am left with something about the cycle of life and death.  Here was a room of women celebrating life and the enjoyment thereof through family and literature, while simultaneously choking on the profoundly real knowledge of human mortality. 

Goodness me!  Is it really already Friday afternoon?  What a  blur of a week.  As you may have noticed, I've been concentrating most of my bloggular energies over at mine and Kelly's baby, Pretty, Please...trying to get that off the ground and into the already inundated world of design/professional blogs.  There's nothing like hoping, right?! ;)  (Feel free to add us to your following list anytime!)

I've also had the immense pleasure of helping Umber with her show this week in promotion as well as the ever-important task of holding little paintings while she hammers in nails. From my perspective, it looked something like this:

I realize that it's Monday night and I am just now getting to it, but Joel and I had quite the busy weekend. I spend all day Friday making a dress, Saturday exploring a possible new home, grocery shopping, then attending an anniversary party, and Sunday celebrating my family birthday with a long drive to Suntop Mountain, a fried chicken dinner (my favorite!), and homemade ice-cream pie. Perhaps by now you are cluing into the fact that my mo-in-law is wonder woman.

I topped off Sunday night with finally meeting a dear, dear pen-pal, with whom I've been spending this week. You'll see those pictures soon...

But to tide you over...

Making the dress...

Entire album here:

Entire album here:

Jenn and Candace Family Birthday Drive

Entire (mini) album here:

Tell me, have you ever eaten a pig that has been cooked in the ground for 15 hours? Have you ever had raw salmon salad, cured by salt and lime? Have you ever seen so many people that you thought you would be able to recognize, but actually had no idea who most people were? If not, you've never been a Hawaiian or met a Gomes.