Monday, January 30, 2012

1.30.12

ROSS:
Today, my mom would have turned 57 years old. This is her first birthday since her passing, and it is truly a difficult day. Although I have been spending the day so far reflecting on our lives together, channeling her voice and spirit, and trying to feel close to her, it has been a very somber day.

It is still hard to believe that everything last year actually happened. Although I feel that my mom prepared me well for my own life, I could always still use her guidance. She was always there to ask me the big picture questions. I have felt somewhat lost without her. The bigger picture of my life has direction, it is somewhat confusing and ambiguous, but the general direction is there. Now it is the day to day of my life that I struggle through: the motivation to make the bigger picture happen, or simply trying to feel like I am becoming a better person each day.

I know these observations are personal, but I think they demonstrate how much my mom helped people feel complete. Maybe others who were close to her have been feeling similar. I don't know. What I do know is that today is a difficult day for a lot of people. I have already received a great deal of sympathies today from people who love my mom and who are thinking of her. I know days like today will become easier to get through over time. But most of all, I know that my mom's love lives on.

One of the most difficult lessons to learn is how to feel someone's unconditional love in their physical absence. It is true and real and I feel it everyday. But sometimes there is no feeling more painful than pure, honest, endless love. However, I would not trade this feeling for anything, or ever try to ignore it.

I think Kahlil Gibran captures it best in The Prophet:

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain...

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."

Happy Birthday Mom. I love you and miss you. I am endlessly grateful for you.

Thanks for it all.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Pea is here!!

AYNSLEY:
Eliza Flynne Cohen arrived safely at 7:53am on Tuesday, January 3rd.  She was born at home after an intense 13 hour labor, weighing in at 8 pounds and stretching out at 20 inches.  She is a Capicorn with Capicorn rising and a Taurus moon, born in the year of the Rabbit and just 20 minutes after sunrise.

Gary and I are beyond in love.  This past week has been hands down the best in my life; I can't stop staring at her with intense, fierce wonder and pure gratitude. Gary and I called her The Pea, or just Pea for her entire in utero life; Mom's friends took it a step further and called her Sweet Pea.  And, I have to tell you all, that's the perfect name.  She is beyond sweet, nuzzling our necks and holding onto my fingers while she nurses.  She smiles in her sleep.  She is so mellow most of the time, but even when she's having meltdowns, she still wants to be cuddled and kissed (and I am more than happy to oblige-this is one spoiled kid already). 

Eliza came out a little swollen, like all newborns do.  In her first week, her face has changed a lot, but we still couldn't pinpoint who we thought she looked like in those first few days.   Of course, now we know.  She looks like Mom.

right after birth
 First family photo
 day 3
day 7