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.

 

mila, this is three

oh mila. you really are your own little person. such a spunky personality. you are a true rascally character, who keeps us on our toes. you're silly and a joker and we LOVE you. we're learning new things about you everyday. you love to sing and dance...and it was in dance class i learned how much you enjoy being "taught." i watched you in your first lesson and thought you had grown up over night. you listened quietly to all the instruction and followed so well with wide eyes and an eager heart. the first thing you said when you woke on your birthday was "i'm a big girl now, i go to classroom." you are so excited about preschool.

you love being a younger sister and look up to evia with such affection, copying her every move (and in that same role defying her every chance you get)...aww sisters.

you are also mama's girly-girl. you love a good princess dress, princess song, princess movie and you think mama's purse is your own. choosing a lipstick color, out of my things, is like second nature to you. and if mama has a pedicure your toes must match!

adult food is what you choose. pizza, you'll eat it, but not your favorite, macaroni and cheese, your sister never says no. you do. salmon one of your favorites and when i asked you what your birthday dinner should be you suggested salad (your favorite) and nuts. you are a strange child, but we LOVE it.

a kitty is your alter ego and has been since you were two. we never did figure out how you knew so well the nuances of a feline, gesturing and meowing before you could even form sentences. your kitty cat ways continued and when i asked what you wanted the theme to be for your party, a "purple kitty-cat princess party" was your answer. since mama loves party planning, this was a fun idea to let the creative juices flow.

we love you mila-kitty-cat and we had so much fun celebrating you!!

mama made purple kitty stuffies as favors for the wee-est party guests

loved opening the front door to this scene

meow mix and princess cheddar fishies

vintage kitty stickers made perfect cupcake toppers

it rained before the party, filled it with 3 inches of water and cleaning residue...but papa to the rescue

the sun shone bright, at party time

kids had a great time in the bounce house! ayinny and isei, bouncing away

we had some serious family fun inside together.

the actual birthday started with sprinkle pancakes and a birthday song

we went to the animal shelter for some serious kitty loving. we met lots of nice kitties, but snow and lilly were especially fun - sister kitties, meeting sister kitties

her birthday present request (that she has been reminding me of for a good two months)..a pink bathing suit

requested cake, chocolate with strawberries (made my favorite zucchini chocolate chip cake with cinnamon and cloves - amazing!)