Wine and Cheese

Trader Joe's supplied the wine...Meg produced the cheese. 
I love this goofball - she makes grocery shopping way more fun!

Ride

I was so happy to steal part of this gorgeous day to....you got it, take my girls to the dog park!   This is my little Fergie, getting big so fast, wearing her big dog collar and catching the breeze on our ride.  

Wow

Okay. It's on.  I've got my gym buddies, Jenna and Meg. I've got Pandora in my headphones.  I've got my gym sneakers, still pretty shiny and new. And, I've got this strong healthy body that is ready to move again.  Time to get my sweaty groove on. 

Vibrant

I am in love with these gorgeous orange tulips - a client sweetly brought them in as a gift to celebrate spring!  

Out Like a Lamb

It was such an honor to welcome this final March baby.  Although her labor began with an induction, this momma still had the experience she hoped for and gave her baby boy an incredibly gentle, peaceful birth into our world.  A photographer friend of mom was also with us, and it was new for me to be on the other side of the camera throughout the night.  I made sure to take out my camera and snap this one photo of Baby Jacob, however, before he and momma took their ride to the postpartum wing.  It was an amazing day!

Doula Bag

Although I tell my birthing mamas to "just do your life" during their last days of pregnancy and in early labor, it can be really tough to follow my own advice.  It's been a long day of waiting by the phone and getting ready to join my client who is being induced.  I did take the opportunity today to care for myself, nap, shower, eat, and repack my doula bag.  Green Tea, Vitamin C, almond butter and jelly sandwiches, Lara bars, and my trusty water bottle have gotten me through many long labors.  And now, back to bed for me before that middle-of-the-night call comes.

Golden

My drive home from acupuncture was especially heavenly today.  The light was so beautiful, creating brilliant shadows and patterns of warm, golden light.  I always feel like my drive to and from Maynard is an important part of my acupuncture experience.  As the road opens up to big sky, open fields, and reaching trees, I feel my my driving slow down and my breath become deeper.  I ease into my "driving meditation" filled with gratitude for this day.

Hugs

When I was leaving Solana and Amaia after a fabulous day of colorful clay, animal games, wild silly laughter, and snuggles galore,  I pulled them both in along with Mosey and requested a "group hug."  Of course, saying goodbye usually takes at least half an hour with lots of extra hugs, kisses, tickles, giggles, and "do it agains!"  Tonight Solana prolonged my goodbye with extra requests for the "Hug Group!" Yes, please. Do it again.

Peek-A-Boo

One of the many fun things about living with four animals, is that you just never know where you'll find them.  In a cabinet. Under your clothes. Burrowed in a basket of scarves and hats. This morning, I found Bad Boy in Meg's overnight bag.  He was just the sweetest surprise.

Crisp

Even though our second day of spring brought snow, the shift in seasons always reawakens my love for big hearty salads. I'm so happy to have a fridge full of fresh raw veggies, and thoroughly enjoyed today's lunchtime masterpiece.

Left Brain

I find it ironic that this photo has decided to import upside down, and won't seem to rotate.  Working on my taxes sorta makes me feel like I'm hanging upside down, with all of this blood and pressure squeezing my brain, until they are finished.  I'm feeling relieved to be DONE with this number-crunching-data-entering-receipt-sorting activity, and so grateful for Deb Neiman, my dear friend and accountant extraordinaire.  And now, it's time to get a massage! 

Happy Spring

Spring cleaning. Open windows. A neighborhood stroll.  An extra long visit to the dog park. Sunday shopping. And a pause of gratitude for my peaceful day, for the people I love, and for the ability to bring home three bags of groceries for my family.

Slide

Today was such a good recovery day: time spent with my sister in the morning, followed by lunch and a trip to the playground with Lee and Andrew.  Fresh air, play, heart-to-heart talks, resting my body, and relaxing with people I love - wheeeeeee! 

The Prize

The grand prize for all who shared in this 36 hour labor of love: welcoming healthy 10lb Baby Emmaline in all of her robust glory!

Sit

Often, the hardest skill to practice in midwifery is patience. To just sit, listen, encourage, and hold that space for a birthing mom are also the most powerful tools in helping moms through labor. I am grateful to be sitting with two patient and amazing midwives as we wait for this baby. And, as the end of the second day comes to an end, it looks like baby won't be sharing the day with St. Patrick afterall.

Aqua Bliss

The birth tub is a pool of relaxation and bliss for many moms in labor. (Filling it is often a labor of love for their birth partners.) It's been awhile since I've been at a birth for this long. I'm grateful for this practice in patience, trust in birth, and the aqua doula giving me this much needed break.

Daylight

This photo hardly captures the elation I feel, stepping out of my treatment room at 6PM to still be greeted by daylight.  Thank you, sun.

In Like a Lion

The March babies are coming!  While this amazing homebirth kept my hands really busy with lots of massage and apprenticing duties, I was able to snap a quick photo of this cute baby boy being weighed by his Dad.  It is such a privilege to witness these special moments in the life of a new family.  

Date Night

Oh, how I love a surprise dinner date with this woman at the swanky Bambara!

Restaurant Week = Prix Fixe Yumminess = Dessert = Swoon

Belly Laughs

Sister days are food for the soul.

Just a Note

A note from Meg before she heads out of town for the weekend.  It's the little things.

Back in Action

We celebrated Luna's suture removal (and the melted snow!) with some trail stomping at Fresh Pond!  It was SO great to see my happy girl running her sweet little heart out once again.

Hump Day

I hereby declare Wednesday nights, Pizza Nights.  Feeling pretty thankful for this glorious dinner in a box.

Precious

I learned that a woman I went to high-school with died on Sunday of cancer. She was 34.  As I sit today with Bethany Pacheco's memory and send her family healing energy and love, I also give deep thanks for
this breath
this moment
this day
this precious life.

Pajamas

This is Fergie impersonating my pajamas.  I think she believes there's a possibility I might not notice her and she'll get to sleep on the bed tonight.

Blissful

Heat turned to off. Windows open. Fresh balmy air. Back porch reunion.  It's enough to make you want to lie on your back and blissfully roll around.

Wait

This is one of those moments I feel grateful for everyday; coming in from a walk with the girls, they both run to the top of the stairs and turn around to wait for me.  I love these sweet girls.

Natural

So, my other favorite place to spend time is Cambridge Naturals.  Especially when I have a gift certificate from a friend!  I had a blissful visit with the tea and spice wall.  

Card Catalogue

My Thursday afternoon without plans (gasp!) brought me to one of my favorite places - the library! I find so much satisfaction in looking up my reading list in the catalogue and exploring the stacks for my books. The Watertown Public Library offers this sunny reading room with its beautiful brick walls. I loved being in this space today.

Burst

These tulips and I are bursting at the seams, waiting for spring to arrive.

Coffee Break

A sunny window and a vanilla soy latte with Meg  = a nice way to break from a long day.