We have a big week around here: family to and fro, a birthday to celebrate, Thanksgiving.
new charming haircuts, same charming faces
Also, we tore into a wall in our kitchen to fix up some last things and ready for the new owners of our home, their home.
So, things are happily bananas what with the construction zone, holiday and birthday gift making, visitor and party prep, work, trying to pry the patio furniture and sandbox toys out of ice since it appears the little warm up we usually get early to mid-November isn’t happening.
Believe it or not, this is now glittery, beautiful ornaments. I’ll show you soon.
before the haircuts, long blond locks
thankful for friends with haircutting skills who make house visits.
I was so surprised Margot wanted it “all gone right now mama” after over a year of begging her hair longer. I have no idea where she got this spontaneous, decisive characteristic.
Margot, er, Magort sings Boto to sleep, Ruby has a picnic and campfire on the bed
I am really looking forward to this week, for it is the times when all the stuff I love happens at once and it feels like too much that I have the most fun. I mean, really, what is there too much of? Prettying up our home? Making presents for people I love? Hosting parties, meals and family? OK.
sneak photo capturing one of my new favorite regular occurrences in the car
In this week’s mama digs, I wrote about birthdays and the power they hold for those who were born and the mama who birthed them. It was specifically inspired by Ruby Jane who turns two on Wednesday. Click to read mama digs: birth day.
Wishing you all a week of thanks and love.
xo, dig
55 Comments
I love all you guys!! Love the new ‘do for the kids. M is looking so much older these days! I hope you have a wonderful week of warm fires, good beer, hot coffee, good music and excellent company.
xo
Melina
Happy sweet birthday Ruby! I love the still life with Alice – she always makes me miss my Buckley – they share the same curious expressions for sure. But I believe that Alice thinks she’s more human than dog.
Soak it, suck it, breathe it, dance it, simmer it, savor it this week. Happiness to your clan.
-Jennifer
That’s it, its official. And I am not afraid to admit it here in cybernet space.
Alice has my heart.
She can see into my soul.
It feels good 🙂
Have a great thankful week!
I will be celebrating my little boy’s Birthday also on Wednesday AND I just had a conversation, with a friend, a few days ago – that was about the very thing your mama-digs column was about. We are sharing a train of thought 🙂
Hip Hip Hooray for Birthdays and Hip Hip Hooray for Mamas!
I love your still life shot. Makes me want to capture more pics with my dogs!
Tots holding hands is the best! I was able to snag a pic of my nearly 2yr old son and his buddy holding hands last night at a birthday party! SO PRECIOUS!!!
Thank you so much for sharing. I don’t know if I’ll have the opportunity to be a mother, but I feel that tug when I read about others’ children. Happy Birthday to Ruby. Happy Thanksgiving!
Read both posts and loved them…Happy Birthday Ruby!! I think about both my kids all the time moving inside me and think “that was you, babe.” I hope I always feel as connected to the time that they were 100% a part of me.
If I’ve already told you this, pardon me because I tell everyone when the subject of butternut squash comes us, but let me share my favorite way to eat it. Cut in quarters or slices and roast in olive oil and rosemary. I know it sounds like an odd combination but it is AMAZING!!!! 🙂
Happy Birthday to the peanut and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
I hope Alice gets some of that squash – too sweet.
When did Ruby grow?!?! Wow, she has gotten so big! Their haircuts are just too cute, love the styles. Enjoy the madness and memories of the holidays!
Loved your mama digs “story”. So thankful it is now a story! Happy Birthday to Ruby and I couldn’t agree more that birthdays mean more to the mama than the baby!
Hi! I enjoy reading your blog!
I just wanted to share this article with you about winter coats and carseats!
http://rediscoveringdomesticity.com/2010/12/17/carseat-quip-winter-coat-trick/
Thanks for sharing your words and pictures with strangers 🙂
“I have no idea where she got this spontaneous, decisive characteristic.” REALLY?!!!!!!?
New desktop background……my granddaughters holding hands….love!
xo
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Love the hand holding in the car. 🙂
Love the girls new adorable haircuts! Luuuuvvvv your writing!
Favorite parts…
“Because there is another thing that happens the moment one becomes a mom: she eagerly gives away her spotlight. Her place on stage shifts: visible and important but with bright company. She has found new humility, bigger perspective and depthless pride in her child’s triumphs.”
“It is a story now. I remember wishing it would be a story some day and it is. It is a story that feels distant. It has been archived.”
I am pretty sure your bucket list included writing a book. I am waiting and ready to pre-order the second it becomes available.
Love,
Jill B (Overland Park, KS)
I love the hand holding photo 🙂 & loving Margot’s new do!
,,,love the haircuts, m&r are simply adorable!,,,have a beautiful holiday, enjoy your family, friends, food, wine and all the things that come at this wonderful time of year,,,
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Happy “Birth”Day to you both!
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This made me smile & cry at the same time!
So beautifully written
Happy birthday Ruby & Happy Birth Day Mamma! xx
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Love!!!
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My favorite Mama Digs…evah! Happy birthday, Ruby (and Nici!)
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So beautiful, and so true how the moment we become someone’s mama, the world shifts a little and the center (at least of our own universe) is no longer ourselves, but the tiniest little being we have just created. Amazing. Happy birthday to Ruby, and happy birth day to you!
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A new favorite piece, among many favorites. Wishing a joyful celebration of life and love to your family on the upcoming birth day!
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Here I was reading this post on my lunchbreak at work, and had to put down my sandwich so I wouldn’t accidentally snort it as tears sprang to my eyes! What a beautiful post – happy birthday to little Ruby!!
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I feel so much the same way about the shift in perspective that a birthday of your own child brings. Happy Birthday you two!
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your beautiful essay brought this mama to tears. you have a way with words that can also tug right at those achy places in the heart!
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Totally hear you on the changed perspective…Ever since my first was born, I send my mom flowers on my Birthday and when we go to a baby’s first birthday I bring a bottle of wine for the mama! Happy Birthing Day to you!
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Oh really?! I love the idea of sending flowers to my mom on my birthday. That’s awesome.
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This post brought tears to my eyes! What an amazing journey, Ruby is adorable! Thanks for your posts, I look forward every week!
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I love this story! I feel the same way…. I was fortunate enough to have a dear, sweet father to help me learn this lesson early. We always slipped out on my birthday to buy my mother a bouquet of flowers and have breakfast (just the two of us). Then, at 7:50pm (the time of my birth) we would cuddle together as Mom and Dad told the story of me…and them! My mother has been gone for almost 3 years now, but I still buy her flowers for my birthday! It is her day, too!
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I completely cried at this scene, so tenderly painted. Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to learning how to make those ornaments!
Adorable haircuts…no matter the style you can feel your daughters’ personalities shining.
Brace yourself for holiday sentimental. Ready?
Feeling so connected to you in beautiful ways this week. Maybe it’s the holidays. Maybe it’s our shared appreciation for family and our girls and creating good things. Either way, Montana doesn’t seem quite so far away. I so loved this week’s Mamalode. The achy mark…I know it well. Happy Birthday, sweet Ruby. Happy Birth Day, Mama. Happy Thanksgiving, Clines.
Ruby’s new haircut kinda looks like mine! Ha!! Man, she really doesn’t look like a baby anymore, does she.. and I love both their awesome grins 😀
Happy thanksgiving Nici and family!!
Happy Birthday Ruby!!
The picture of your girls holding hands made my heart smile. Sometimes when I get home after picking up my youngest, her big sister is waiting in the driveway, ready to climb into the van to give her little sister a kiss. Happy times!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Trying to focus through my watery eyes……so loved your different perspective on birthdays….Birth Day for Mamas. I’m hoping this catches on 🙂 In fact, my husband’s birthday is today, and when he came home for lunch his “Mumzie” called to wish him happy birthday. I should call her back (’cause he won’t—haha!) and wish her Happy Birth Day—of her first born 🙂
And like everyone else, LOVE the new haircuts! I just posted some pics today of the haircut I gave my baby girl….bittersweet. And take it from me, boy haircuts are WAY easier 🙂
Best mamalode post ever. Happy Thanksgiving week!
Happy Birthday, Sweet Ruby! Oh, please give her a tight squeeze from us. Man, we love her so.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday to your sweet tiniest girl! They both look so grown up with their new haircuts. Thank you for sharing them with us. It’s wonderful to watch them grow and appreciate the beautiful life they lead.
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LOVE this so… …there is another thing that happens the moment one becomes a mom: she eagerly gives away her spotlight. Her place on stage shifts: visible and important but with bright company. She has found new humility, bigger perspective and depthless pride in her child’s triumphs.
Just beautiful. Especially poignant as I feel my #3 kick & roll inside my belly… waiting to meet him any day now.
Happy *almost* birthday to Miss Ruby and to you too Mama!
xo
Kate
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Oh #3! Those holiday babes are pretty awesome, I think. Sending warm vibes to you and yours. xo
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Wow, Happy Birthday Ruby! My little one is exactly two months younger than Ruby. We did not birth her, but were fortunate to be in the room holding her birthmom’s hands the moment she entered the world. Heartbreakingly beautiful; pure joy and pure sadness too. Surreal now.
I just realized in reading this post that Ruby shares her birthday with another little girl whose blog I follow. Molly turns one on Wednesday, and has also proven herself a fighter; her battle is not over, but she’s kicking ass and taking names (http://molly-campbell.com/w1/node/1 if you’re interested).
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Beautiful, Nici. Happy, happy 2nd birthday Ruby! xo
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Oh. So true!!! Birthdays are all about Mummas.
My boy turns two next week. I too get ‘stinging eyes’ when I think about his wonderous arrival. Even though he was son number 2, HE was the one who really made me a mother. I think birthing number 1 was such a shock.
Thanks for once again putting into words something I’d only barely figured out myself.
And, Happy Birthday Ruby!!
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Sigh, so true, so well told, so timely. My daughter turned 5 today. I went back and forth between three thoughts all day: “5 years old, where did the time go?” … “she is such a beautiful girl” … “5 years ago today, I became a mom, crazy” it’s a roller coaster isn’t it?!
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Thanks for sharing and Happy Birthday Ruby Jane! My mom always snuck into our room to take a photo of us sleeping right before we woke up on our birthday morning. Now she has trained my husband to do the same and he will post for her!
I agree I love the flowers for mom idea!!
Thanks Nici!
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Love this perspective. Right on.
Happy Birth Day to darling, strong Ruby Jane and to her amazing, strong mama.
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oh i love this so much. It sums it all up on one page: birthdays are for celebrating the miracle and gift that is life. Well done.
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So beautifully written. You and your words — man, you are so damn talented, my goodness — it just overflows! Seriously though, thank you so very much for sharing. Happy sweet 2nd birth day to the delightful perfect Ruby Jane and Congratulations to you, mama bear! A beautiful celebration indeed! xoxo
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Happy happy birthday Ruby Jane! Pictures of you always bring a smile to my face.
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I couldn’t love these comments any more! xo
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Lovely post. Lovely indeed. You write so elegantly. I love “fucking” thrown in there for good measure. And so hapopy she is happy and healthy!
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happy, but hapopy seems like a neat made up word to exclaim happy hopping
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Happy birthday Ruby! This is especiallly touching to me because I *just* birthed my second girl on Tuesday. My first vaginal birth and, wow! You are so right about how much those birthdays are about us, becoming mothers, and yet we so quickly step aside for our children to fill that spotlight.