[i] LoveLife

Around here these days...

Sigh... Poet is settling in nicely around here. She's a pretty sweet soul nestled somewhere in between the extremes in her sisters temperments. So far. At first glance - she looks just like Penn. But when her eyes are open - she takes on a look that is all her own... which is just amazing to me. She is amazing to me. It's hard not to get a little emotional when I look around here these days...

Life is rich + full in our house right now. It's a little messy. Upside down. Blurry. But, it's SO GOOD. We have all slowed a bit to find a new rhythm and flow. It's amazing how much has changed. And how little. I love having a newborn... I can say that now. And mean it. Oh, I loved the other two as babies, too - but I am somehow very different because of how much the first two have taught me - which just makes me love them a little more. I don't mind long nights so much. I don't mind slow days. I have come to appreciate the little things that kindly make way for the things I used to think were so big.

These four amazing creatures are my world. I am trying desperately to memorize every moment. Desperately. Because I know that I will barely remember these days and that nearly breaks me. The girls are excited big sisters. They are BOTH really sweet and attentive in their own ways and I did not expect things to unfold that way. I am so happy. It's extra sweet because Dan is able to be with us for a couple of weeks and he is amazing with each one of our girls. Me included.

These guys are settling in well, too. Crash is a seasoned pro at family-expansion, but this is Norman's first addition and pack shift. He didn't really notice at first, but now the crying gets him pacing and he likes to sit or lay by Poet's chair. It makes me smile...

I have the best friends in the entire world... we want for nothing. We are eating like kings and drinking DAVIDsTEA tea like queens. Our freezers are as full as our happy bellies and even our laundry has been tended to... that's amazing and I am so grateful. THANK YOU ALL. "I am so grateful" doesn't sound nearly as thankful as I am... but, I AM SO GRATEFUL. Thank you for the love you've shown us. Interweb friends: thank you for the checking in on me and leaving such beautiful comments and well-wishes. I read every single one. Thank you. So much.

So long January... you brought many wonderful things. Especially her. I will have a Poet-post to share soon.

Today: we are still settling. Poet + I are going to see how she likes spending the day in my painting studio so that I can get back to working on my ONLINE CLASS and getting myself sorted. I am twice as inspired as before and can't wait for February 28th to come. So much newness! I can already feel good NEW things coming.

First, a little coffee. GO!

Hello Poet.

I am beyond words + my heart is happily resting. From this little nest in life's big tree I am painfully aware how lucky I am... and how full of love each breath is.

Meet Poet Olli Kostenchuk...

Shhhh....

Today.

 


Today: is a beautiful day to meet a new person.

Random.

RANDOM LOVELY. For some reason these two images seemed funny side-by-side. LEFT IMAGE: is Dan packing up the new BULLETPROOF IS BEAUTIFUL prints for the VINTAGE PART1 class of Nurture Your Creativity + Be Bulletproof series. (It's running right now.) PART2 is starting on February 28 and gearing up to be twice as good. And filling up very fast. If you're considering it - register sooner than later because missing out on this is just a darn SHAME. RIGHT IMAGE: this scene caught my attention last week at the mall. Body CHAOS. Reinvention. And somehow - so beautiful...

This weekend was all about pulling-it-together. Our internet is fixed up. Our freezer is stocked up. Our babysitters are lined up. Our groceries were topped up. There's an eery calm around here... as we anticipate Baby3's arrival. Pilot is so excited she can barely stand it. Penn has NO IDEA what she's in store for. The dogs are fidgety. Dan is walking around with a glassy look on his face. And me, I'm bracing. I'm ready to meet Baby3 and all that comes with opening a new chapter. The good, the bad, the ugly, the hard, the lovely, the great. I'm pretty excited.

Today: I am going to set the third floor in order. The laundry will be caught up, folded and put away (for a change). I have an enormous pile of POST-ITs to tack onto all of my IN-PROGRESS work so I know where I'm at whenever it is I get back into my studio. I have lists to make. The girls beautiful HELLO BABY books are patiently waiting some memories + scribbles. Life is good.

GO!

Chilling.

Brrrrr... Today saw our internet lines affected by the cold weather. Which was weird. But, I guess it happens. Wires can get crossed - so I'm sure they can get cold. Cold is cold and it's been effin' cold here. Which a lot of people complain about but I happen to like. It's extreme. It's one of those wow-factors that brings a whole new light + appareciation to pina coladas on the beach or a spring rain or just being able to go outside without causing pain to your finger tips. I like winter. I EVEN like the deepest part - right now.

The illustration above is part of a large group of thoughts I finished this week. The lines. I've been challenging myself to communicate my point in the fewest distance. Great exercise for contour line drawings... and a bit of a metaphor for life. Simplified. But, weighted. That's how I feel right now. Simple, but full. I finished a small series of paintings featuring an owl called Le Grand Duc titled Pendant la Nuit. One of which will be appearing on wine bottles in Australia this spring. And all of which I hope to post on the painting side of this blog soon.

Many, many other drawings + small paintings + thoughts + sparks + reflections + plans + goals... and all the lovely jazz that is part of making space in my heart for the sweet soul that we will meet in a few days. I know there will be paintings borne of her goodness...

because I am swimming in this moment.

How do you like them apples?

Some kind of wizardry wires outside our house have frozen solid. Minus a million will do that. So until the technological masterminds figure that out - blogging will be light. Boooo.

To you...

Happy Birthday Dan. Today is his ACTUAL birthday. For some odd reason he doesn't believe in celebrating BEFORE the actual DATE. How weird. That kind of thing does not even register in my brain. I believe in celebrating for the entire month my birthday falls in. And then some. Because what's the point of getting older if you can't celebrate? I wanted to make a big deal about his birthday this year because it's a milestone and that's a BIG DEAL. Especially when you're a pretty awesome guy getting your special day sandwiched by all kinds of holidays and small people's birthdays and arrivals.

Happy Birthday to my amazing husband! (Check out that sweet cake! Take that Martha Stewart!)

Today: I have my last OBGYN appointment, some art to post, some coffee to drink and some laundry to do. My mom has to fly home this afternoon and I know that the girls will be sad to see her go. It has been a week of EXTREME imaginitive play around here and I was often screamed at because I stepped on an alligator's head or kicked over a baby elephant shrine of some type. What's a girl to do? Watch for some fun line drawings to surface over the next day or so. I found a bit of a sweet spot.

GO!

Easy vs. hard

EASY: listening to s'wonderful jazz while I work.
HARD: not doing some kind of art project for Valentines Day's impending arrival - like this one

EASY: sipping my favourite new tea from DAVIDsTEA. Gold + Glittery
HARD: keeping leg + footcramps at bay by staying super-hydrated

EASY: reading + studying + anticipating Pilates
HARD: not jumping on my reformer RIGHT NOW

EASY: dreaming about newborn softness
HARD: pretending it will be easy

EASY: setting goals
HARD: following through

EASY: shopping online
HARD: not online shopping (ha!)

EASY: reminiscing about the good
HARD: reliving a little of the tough

EASY: this particular pregnancy
HARD: accepting that it's my last

EASY: sitting still
HARD: BEING still...

Today: I'm going to try painting again in the morning. I wasn't as productive as I'd hoped BECAUSE SITTING ISN'T ALL THAT COMFORTABLE anymore. And staying focused was hard with all the laughing and giggling I could hear on the floors beneath me as the girls and BabaLuba played their hearts out. Our small people are throwing a birthday party for Dan this evening so there is a big fluffy angel food cake to be made and streamers to twist + tape. And balloons. Let the festivities begin!

GO!

Brush work.

 
It is my hope and intention to wake up this morning with a clear and refreshed head and settle in to a morning of painting in my studio. I have a few things to finish (you know who you are) and I simply haven't had the chance to sit and paint. This morning I do. I'm quite certain I will only get done half as much as I need, but TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY.

Today: Paint. Errands. Ideas. My mom might not have been prepared for this kind of visit.... the kind where I throw the girls at her and RUN LIKE A BANSHEE. And I don't mean anything by it. I just really need a chance to get my head cleared and my projects done. So off I go. Painting, errands, IDEAS. I'm not even going to colour that list with a latte.

GO!