Locked & loaded.

Ack! Monday already. The weekend blew by. Too fast. Too quick! It was full and fun and random and just really, really nice. As always, I love having Dan around... really, that's the only thing that makes the weekend distinguishable from the rest of the week for me. And I love it. Hey, this post is geared up to be totally random... Hypothetical blog vomit. The content is not bad - it's just helter-skelter not related today. Too bad.

Still working on my stealth collection of Hi-I'm-your-mom photos with Pilot. We take a couple a week and most of them are pretty sketchy. I don't care. I think it's important. If not for her - for ME. I want to see myself with her as we grow because I can only imagine how quickly time will disappear... she will be 5 months next week and it feels like a flash.

This is Pilot's Uncle Matt and this is the first picture of the two of them together. He's finally comfortable holding her. Whew. I wanted to post it. AND I wanted to explain that they are pointing at the NHL playoffs on Uncle Matt's really, really big TV. I think she digs it. Good Canadian girl that she is. Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!

I like these two photos. They were taken about 2 hours apart after Dan's EXTREME HOME makeover. IT WASN'T ACTUALLY A MAKEOVER. He just waited longer than usual between hair cuts. I like the short version...

Having Dan around - frees up some time for me to paint. I worked my butt off on Custom Tiny Art Ladies... but, I also put the finishing touches on the penguin piece. It's called Little One. And I've been wrestling with whether to give this one up or not... I did it for me and Pilot. Actually, I painted it in the post-partum let-down back in January and to be completely-completely truthful there are more tears than paint on this canvas... SO. I thought I'd like to keep it forever. BUT. I have made a committment to live loosely. And by that I mean to hold lightly... TO LET THINGS GO and live with their memories in my mind. THIS is what I mean. I still get a lump in my throat when I think about painting this... And I think that maybe it's okay to let that lump in my throat go. I know where it will be and I know it will be in good hands. AND. I ALSO know that it is time because yesterday - while Dan and I were discussing why I felt like I needed to keep it so badly - IT FELL OFF THE WALL. It's been snug as a bug - hanging since January and EXACTLY WHILE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT - it just fell down. If that's not a sign then there are no signs.

Today: We have a lot of running around to do in the morning - delivering some photos, delivering a painting. COFFEE. I have lots of little paintings I'd like to work on in the afternoon. I'm going to make lemon & beet cupcakes in between juggling Pilot and breathing and the day to day chaos that is yummy life around here these days. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

Ariba! Ariba! Let's GO!

Comments

[Lexy]

Oh I need some Ariba'ing around here! I'm only finishing off my work NOW, at 9:17pm, and I have to leave on a plane for a meeting in Melbourne at 4am. And I'm checking your blog. Ha! Priorities!

I love the penguin. Saw it go up today. So heartfelt. Love the cascading words. And it's almost hints of deco blue... Does Pilot still make baby penguin sounds?

Like the Hypothetical blog vomit too. I don't know what happened to my weekend Hypothetical blog vomit - it's gone!!! Will have to fix it on Wednesday.

And yep. It's a sign.

G'night!

[beth]

dude. i almost, yes, almost, started crying reading about the penguin piece and again reading what you wrote on the piece. it's amazing. maybe it will help another mama now, too.

here's to a week that makes you happy!

[camport]

speaking of beets, I've been meaning to tell you that Simon and Felix's favorite page in Cargo & Woot is the one in which Woot is holding the "boo beets" sign.

A few months ago, they both got big on the potty words and "boobies" is their favorite...and absolutely, postively most annoying word in the entire world to me after hearing it constantly, in every volume, every tone, everyWHERE. So imagine their joy when Mommy reads, "boo beets." They really get a kick out of that line and any time I tell them to knock it off with the boobies, I get, "but it says it in the book."

I just thought that might make you smile. To be quite honest, it's my favorite page in the book, too.

:)

[cathy]

I totally almost cried, too, when you were writing about the penguin piece. geez girl, your soul is as deep as the ocean. love it. and love it that you live loosely. Happy Monday to you.

[Melanie]

I want that Little One piece - I know I don't have a chance of getting it, of course - but - it is so ME and MINE - anyway, I have just started reading your blog recently and don't know about the 'let-down' in January, but from that piece it sounds a lot like what I went thru with my first born. Anyway, your work just brought a lot of those old memories out - and thank you for that - sometimes I need reminding of how far I have come since then.

[Heather]

I would love to buy a print of this.. I love, love it.

[ssh]

weiner -especially unattractive when said the 10th time. are lemon and beet cupcakes good? your blog thumps my heart. thank you.

[Katie]

I love blog vomit -- it's the way life is....all over the place!

LOVE that red right up top -- such a great red mix. I'd love to see more of that piece! Then I was thinking I'd love to see all the lady pieces you do. Will you post all the custom ladies in your tiny art section (or elsewhere) for all to see?

I see that Pilot is all ready to use your camera. She's SO trying to get your camera in that photo. Anyone who stands BEHIND the camera 99% of the time should understand about being in your child's life in photos -- It's great that you try hard to MAKE yourself be there. Pilot will love that.

The two pictures of Dan crack me up. When I first scrolled down I thought it was one picture...Dan and his twin brother. HA!

And your penguin painting...gorgeous. And wonderful. and heart wrenching. You are so brave to be able to sell your work -- there's so much of YOU in it. (Course, that WAS a sign if ever there was one.)

I hope Pilot was cooperative for you today and now sleeping soundly.

[Snakecharmer]

I totally get the goal of living loosely and love your spirit in doing so, but when I see that penguin and all the emotion that went into her, I want you to save her for Pilot. How can you argue with it falling off the wall... I know.. maybe a print for Pilot. I also think you should make a book of all your Pilot inspired art for the lovely Pilot. I know your fans out there {me included} would love it.