Evolution

Wow, it's been a long time, hasn't it?

Since I last posted, life has changed substantially around here and, amazingly, all for the best. I've learned a lot about myself through the crucible of significant life experiences that happened last year, namely career upheaval and--most importantly--pregnancy and the arrival of our new baby girl.

I felt like I lived an entire lifetime last year. Just as our circumstances changed, so did our home.

In April, we were overjoyed to find out that we were expecting our first child; almost instantly, despite my pregnancy nausea and job-related stress, Adam and I dove headfirst into a long list of to-do's to prepare ourselves for our baby who was due in December. Our ambitious preparations bordered on mania, with us keeping both a room-by-room Google doc project list and chalkboard task list to keep ourselves accountable...

We took on a lot of work in several spaces, including our half bathroom, master bedroom, dining room and, of course, the nursery. I plan to share each room here in the coming weeks, but I couldn't wait to share a sneak peek.

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

But, I'd be remiss to finish this post without addressing my absence, the title of this post and how I'd like to continue with this blog. I took time off because, like many, I became very exasperated with blogging. The pace seemed too much. The pressure seemed too much. I was sad far too often when I felt no one was reading.

Now, though, I'm not so interested in chasing the popularity and sponsorship of other bloggers (good for them, though! honestly!). I'm not concerned with everyone and their uncle reading this blog. I'm not all that frustrated when I take photos of my home and the white balance is off or the pillows aren't fluffed. 

Here's the reason for my evolution and the evolution of this blog: Astrid Delphine, our daughter.

She arrived three days before Christmas and redirected and recentered our lives as soon as we laid eyes on her. I want nothing more than to give her the best, to give her all of my attention and love. Her coos make us melt and her smiles make us grin ear-to-ear. Because of her, I feel more open to share more of my interests here so expect more posts on gardening, style and the occasional mommy/baby post.

So, with that said, hello again. For those who have read for some time: thank you for allowing me to grow, expand and evolve this blog; for those who are new: welcome. I look forward to getting to know you.