sara without an h

blog anniversary.

january 9th was my one year blogging anniversary. it's been a pretty incredible year as i've watched this blog grow from a handful of page views per day to hundreds. it's humbling, to say to the least, to know that people i've never met care about what i write. 279 posts into this journey, and i feel like i have learned so much. i've learned that real, true friends can be made online. i may never meet any of these people, but they have helped to shape who i am as a person and a mother. i've learned to take the bad with the good. with this wonderful community inevitably comes a few haters. speaking of which, i've learned that it's perfectly acceptable to block cruel comments. this is my space, and i have the right to censor it. i've learned that this community can also be a detrimental thing. there are thousands of other mothers to compare myself with and thousands of other babies to compare sylvie to. there are mothers who appear perfect, but we all know how easy it is to post only about the good times. there are mothers who have berated me for my decision to stop breast feeding my daughter, which was the best call for her. she is a happy, healthy, giggly, thriving 5 month old. i've learned to ignore (pardon my french here) the bitches. those girls who insist on being self-righteous and hurtful. you may have nursed your child into toddlerhood, but are you really setting a good example for little susie by cutting me down? i've learned that i LOVE blogging more than i thought i would. i've learned that writing everyday is good for me. it's fun, cathartic, and it gives my mind some exercise. i think writing, like anything else, takes practice. i've enjoyed having an audience of willing readers to practice in front of. i've learned that my readers are incredibly kind people. thank you for making 2010 such a fantastic year for me and this little blog. thank you for stopping by to read what i have to say. thank you for commenting and for offering support in those times that i needed it. thank you for being family, friends, and strangers. your overwhelming kindness inspires me to be a better blogger, friend, wife, and mother. 2010 was the year my life changed forever. i think 2011 has the potential to be even better. thank you. i think the best way to end this post is with the reason why i started this blog in the first place. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Tf1mVqKHk]

raised in the wild space between two hearts.

one year ago: photo by geoffrey horowitz of leapfrog photography. today: happy anniversary to my wonderful, sweet husband and the father of my child.  i love you more and more everyday. these pictures are from yesterday, to mark sylvie's one week birthday:

those poor puppies.

since it is almost impossible to predict labor, i've decided to make a list of other upcoming events that have me excited. 1. travis and i will be celebrating our very first wedding anniversary on august 16th. we have no big plans. if little sylvie hasn't made her grand entrance yet, i would like to cook a nice, gourmet dinner at home. i'm thinking pan-seared sea scallops (travis' favorite fruit de mer). i'm still working out the preparation and accompaniments in my head. i know i will be making a lemon tart for dessert. it's his absolute favorite and so affordable and easy to make. 2. the night before our anniversary is the comedy central roast of david hasselhoff. from baywatch to death watch. but seriously, do NOT hassle the hoff. 3. i snuck in an appointment to get my hair trimmed and dyed back to my natural color (brown) tomorrow morning. my roots are looking terrible and i will not have the time for nor the interest in the upkeep red requires. i'm looking forward to not having to worry about it for a while. 4. i actually can't think of anything else not involving sylvie or labor. so let's get this straight. besides our anniversary and meeting my baby, i'm most looking forward to the televised cable network roast of a has been and a hair cut? SAD. if you like hairless, hulking has beens and hair cuts, please take a moment to vote for me on top baby blogs.  all you have to do is click the above banner and "vote here" on the subsequent webpage.  that's it!  thank you for reading!

anniversary date.

tonight travis and i went out to restaurant tallent (where he works) for our anniversary dinner.  we got all gussied up for the occasion.  i apologize for my expression in these pictures.  it was freezing outside and my eyes were watering from the wind. the food was delicious and the company was even better.  we began the meal with roasted marrow bones with toast and some house made chips with truffled dip.  i had pork belly with butternut squash grits for my entree and travis had scallops.  for dessert i had a cappuccino (decaf, of course) and butterscotch semi freddo.  travis had a glass of sauternes and the cheese plate.  so good.  everyone who works there is so nice and it was awesome to finally get to meet travis' co-workers. i think the rest of the night will be spent curled up on the couch, with a dog and a movie.  i hope you all have a wonderful night.  i know i did.

4 years.

today travis and i celebrate 4 years together.  4 amazing, wonderful, exciting, happy years.  i can't believe it was that long ago when i convinced him to skip his monday class and take the train from baltimore to washington dc with me.  we spent the whole day arm in arm (too nervous to hold hands) traipsing around the smithsonian.  we had no agenda that day.  when we got hungry, we ate.  when we got tired, we sat.  i will always remember that first date, and how my heart swelled every time he looked over at me and smiled.  i never would have thought, on that day, that in 4 years we would be married and pregnant. very early on i knew he was different.  a week after that day i woke up in the middle of the night with a searing pain in my abdomen.  i called him and he ran over, drove me to the ER, and stayed with me all night while they treated me for an ovarian cyst.  he held my hand the whole time.  he brought me home late the next morning and helped me into bed.  while i slept off the painkillers, he went to the store and bought me ginger ale, bread, and peanut butter.  when i woke up he made me a sandwich.  i called my parents to tell them about the ordeal, and i broke the news of our relationship by saying, "i'm OK.  my boyfriend took me to the hospital." 3 days after that, i left for 10 days in italy.  i knew he was different then, too.  i missed him horribly and felt foolish for it.  we had only been dating for 10 days, but had been close friends for much much longer.  we had already said "i love you", and i knew i would marry him someday.  as i told my best friend, cara all about him on the trip, i think she knew he was different, too.  in a strange coincidence, there was a graffiti artist at work all over rome who went by the handle travis.  every time i saw one of these tags, i took a picture: pictures can say what i can not.  here are my favorite pictures of us throughout our relationship: dating: wedding: honeymoon: married pregnant: thank you, travis for all that you are.  i love you.