31

I can't quite believe that it's been a year since I wrote my last birthday post, but when I look back I realize that it's been a very eventful year! And a good one. Pretty much all of the ennui I was wallowing in last Winter has evaporated somehow and been replaced by lots of awesome. Within the past year, we've decided to stay in Pittsburgh and moved into an amazing new home. I've figured out where I want to go with my career (transition from writing to illustration, while continuing to dabble in alternative health and seeing if that ever leads anywhere organically), and I've gestated our second and last child almost to completion. At the moment I'm looking forward to a new baby, a babymoon with all my Gyres, then the excitement of discovering our new environment and whatever is going to happen next more thoroughly in the spring.

The house is still in a major state of flux (for one thing, the future living room is an active construction zone), but even having a few rooms to expand into has been amazing already. We've got a bedroom and a separate room to hang out in, working heat, hot water, and laundry, and as of this week even kitchen cabinets, counters, and full cooking capabilities. It's kind of mind-blowing, really. I feel incredibly lucky to have found this place, and also for the massive amounts of work that James and many of our friends have put in to get us situated before Violet arrives. We're really looking forward to having more folks come out to see it once things have calmed down here a little.

And of course, River continues to be delightful. Really, he deserves a post of his own soon, but I wanted an excuse to put in this picture.

Did I mention that today is my due date? I don't think it's gonna happen, somehow, but I can't really complain about having a day to relax, hang out, and wallow in gratitude.