cherished time :: emily's baby shower

my ladies

i've noticed since being a mama, that my time with women is sparse. i have lots of time with my little sweeties while hanging with other women with their children, but the social time spent is interrupted and child focused. i've learned that i cherish the moments i get to spend with other women, solo...just ladies. it seems to me we've become so much more solitary, in general, as a society. we communicate through social media and texts and i WELCOME those social gatherings where i sit with women...learn from them, laugh with them. i always walk away feeling whole. perhaps it's engrained in our human make-up, a practice lost centuries ago as our habitat and culture changed. this weekend, i had one of those special female experiences. it was my sister emily's baby shower. a few hours dedicated to celebrating her and the upcoming birth of her baby boy. it was nothing short of wonderful.

i co-hosted the shower with my sister anna, our life-long friend (more like sister) marisa and my mama. we came together in the afternoon for savory and sweet bites. everyone chatted and just enjoyed each others company. 

the only activity we organized for the shower, was interactive and exemplified the feelings about coming together as women and sharing with one another (while celebrating the mama-to-be!). we made a mobile for the baby with feathers, based loosely on the navajo tradition of a blessing way. each guest picked a feather from the jar and individually approached emily, presenting her with the feather as they gave her motherhood blessings, or words of advice and to inspire. often people shared what a bright light emily is. many of us were in tears while listening to all the love coming her way. it was truly magical and so reflective of who emi is.

i can't wait to meet baby h and be his auntie! love you em. 

anna assembled the mobile with polished driftwood and colorful string, tying each feather emi was presented with, with a ceramic bead during the blessing so it was complete to gift to mama-em at the end of the shower. each one of our wishes will dangle in baby's room for his gazing pleasure.

my mom hand painted each of these favors "bless this nest" and a feather, with oils on pieces of wood (talented mama!)

my sewing handywork these days. a blanket for baby boy h and a pair of leather moccasins

her besties of all time, marisa and elizabeth (beth coming all the way from the lone star state!)

we might as well all be related. aka, the pearson and elledge girls.