Dearest Roman,
I just needed to say thank you for putting up with your mother, her work, the strangers you encounter on a near daily basis in our home, the wild children who can barely pick you up but who do so anyway, the noise, the lack of regular nap schedules, and the Caramel Macchiato Biscotti that you had for breakfast this morning. Yes I know it contains instant coffee, but you really liked it a ton. Its my nutritionally misguided way of saying thank you for all you take on with me on a daily basis. The worst you did during the Country Living shoot was tug on the photographer's beard when he picked you up (which I'm pretty sure he loved). You didn't fuss when Joyce from Westminster held you as I poured my 3rd cup of coffee during our meeting. You completely went along with being nursed (hushed) 6 times in 2 hours during a flurry of business phone calls last week. Which in my mind compensates for the Caramel Macchiato Biscotti you had for breakfast this morning. There was also that time last week where you woke up from your morning nap, but I didn't come in for a few minutes because I was in the midst of a project that felt too in limbo to put down at that moment. I walked in and found you had fallen back asleep. I'm sorry about that. But maybe you needed that extra bit of sleep, huh? You barely even cried when Eleni, who isn't big enough to get you out of your crib, tripped and toppled you both to the floor as she got you out of your crib Saturday morning. She was very sorry about that, but was excited to tell me that you didn't cry too hard. And there have been an increasing number of unknown things that you've picked up off the floor, chewed up and swallowed before I've been able to make out what they are. Sigh.
I know some days the play corner under my drafting table gets kind of old, but when I look over at you playing happily day after day after day, I am sometimes amazed that you can find fun in it still. But I guess we're the same that way. Playing in our corners. And a few times each day you crawl over to my desk, pull yourself up to my lap and cry for something new. You beat your chubby little hands on my lap for at least a nursing mom, come on. It's the least I can do right? Right. But I should say that so often, without you realizing it, I just waste my work time away watching you play. I don't dare say a word, because I know that if you hear my voice I'll break your happy focus, and my work time will crash. Work time that I often spend just watching you. You are a good, good boy.
I love you Roman Horner. xoxoxo, Mama
Such a sweet letter to little Roman. Some days my life reads a lot like this letter! = )
ReplyDeleteI am one of six children. I remember my youngest brother growing up. Your letter reminded me of those sweet memories. Roman will grow up blessed and full of love!
ReplyDeleteI feel like you took the words right out of my mouth when I get to do my work at home with my little boy playing around me :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! Roman seems none the worse for wear for having had a biscuit with coffee in it for breakfast, in fact, he looks pretty content.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny that we treat our firstborn like they are the most fragile thing on Earth, and then as the next one comes along (or next many in your case), we see how robust babies really are, as they survive the often rough and tumble, love and affection of their older sibling/s.
BTW, I LOVE the rug, actually, I WANT IT! LOL
Kelly :-)
Your post brought tears to my eyes. What an inspiration to all the stay and work at home moms!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
What a lovely letter to your scrumptious littlest man. He is a doll!
ReplyDelete{Love your workspace...and I spy the bird canvas you made on Martha!} :)
~Keri
what a lovely letter!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honesty, It's nice to know that there are others who try and balance work and family life :-)
Awww it makes me miss those moments when my little ones were crawling around. Enjoy watching him grow up! He'll be just fine!
ReplyDeleteGive Roman a hug for me! You are doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteI love how you keep it real and still manage to show how completely charming it is!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely letter ... I bet Roman has a great time having you near by, working or not, having mom close by is the best ... kids need a bit of neglecting, so they develope a healthy amount of creativity, thought we moms "hate" some of the outcome (like paintings on the wall, crumbles all over the floor or an rearranged closet)
ReplyDelete;)
Greetings from Luxembourg
Simone
By God's grace, our kids thrive and think everything in the world is right just by being by our side.
ReplyDeleteLovely and funny! Lucky you to have him around.
ReplyDeleteYou are building a strong, independent little person! Keep up the good work.... stop feeling guilty!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! What a lucky little boy.
ReplyDeleteaw. :)
ReplyDeleteAnna Maria,
ReplyDeleteI am a designer/work from home/mommy of a 5 month old and I thank him every time he lets mommy get a project done or is good on a web call.
It's so nice not to feel like I'm the only one!
sweet sweet post
ReplyDeleteI just had a baby boy 3 weeks ago -- and just now I stole a minute to read your blog as he slept. Your post made me cry, realizing that I will ask a lot of my son as he walks through this wild world with me. I don't have a "normal" job -- I am a singer/songwriter that dabbles in handmade goods/sewing, so my hands are always moving. I hope he will be patient with me. Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteHe looks unaffected by your schedule~ happy with a bottle next to your desk on your beautiful rug! I just got your Handmade Beginnings book today, but have to wait until later to look through it~ torture, but a reward for getting my work at home done. :)
ReplyDeleteI was working on a new project this weekend, that I needed to figure the math for, and my son (who's close to the age of yours) climbed in and out of a box over and over and over.
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
They do grow up all too quickly. I am glad that as busy as you are you find time to take time.
ReplyDeleteI worked from home as a calligrapher when my girls were babies and thru grade school. They forever worked on my desk, around my desk, under my desk in the "fort". Your post reminded me of those wonderful times. How great it is to be able to work and have your children with you, however stressful even that may be!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful love letter from mommy to son.
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh, how adorable. The letter AND...ROMAN!
ReplyDeletexo, Cheryl
So sweet! And also - a little note here to let you know that I just got in my copy of your new book (pre-ordered from amazon) today! What an excellent early mother's day gift! :) Now to start sewing for the babies-to-be in my life... and hopefully soon another of my own! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful day!
precious..what a happy, well loved little boy...what a blessing you are to each other.
ReplyDeletexo
I miss those days!!!! I have one 2nd yr university and another 13 yr old asserting her independence - assertively - on a daily basis. Ahhh, I do miss the "Mom, you are my world" days! Enjoy! A lovely letter to a lovely baby! Can't wait for your new book! The cover looks great!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that is so precious, and I'm so glad you're enjoying him so much, even amidst your busy work life!
ReplyDeleteI love this and love reading about how you love your babies! And if you ever feel slightly guilty, know that some of us moms who don't even have another job besides the house and babies do the same things, and end up apologizing for the same "neglect!" I don't know how you do it- you are amazing!
ReplyDeletewhat a lucky lucky baby and a lucky lucky mama!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe this will seem strange, but your post really warmed my heart. We have an 8 week old baby and I feel like I have to put my life on hold, work to give her a good nap schedule, etc., etc. to make life "good", but Roman is happy and content in the midst of your creative work and it sounds like you are all thriving. It gives me hope in some strange way that it can all work and I can be my normal self in the midst of baby and preschool days. Thanks for letting us into your life.
ReplyDeleteLovely post! I've just found your blog, but this one I just loved. I work from home and spend most of my time watching my little ones. Glad to see I'm not the only one. :)
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like a delightful little boy!! With a pretty great life, too.
ReplyDeleteHey, little Roman! I LOVE Caramel Macchiato Biscotti, too! But I'd rather have mine with a cappuccino than milk. What a love he is!
ReplyDeleteThis is about the sweetest letter ever. He is so precious, you are a lucky Mama. :)
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteI always read your blog. I'm a brazilian mom, that left the carrer to take care of my Bela (Isabela).
Beautiful your text. I'm a crafter, and I always had fear of work in my craft work with my baby girl, but now I'm doing just like you, I work, I watch her and my life continues on...
Good idea, I think I will write about my little pumpkig too!!
God bless you!
I pre-ordered Handmade Beginnings in February and could not wait for it to arrive. When I came home from work today it was waiting for me on my doorstep. I am excited to start sewing! Thanks for writing such an amazing book.
ReplyDeleteoh, what a sweet post. :)
ReplyDeleteI do believe that if the house was quiet - just + him - and no-one ever visited, or you spent all your time fussing over him, and never left him alone in his corner. And he never had big sisters tumbling with him.
ReplyDeleteI do think he would be bored and lonely and not quiet so robust and able to adapt as he is.
What a wonderful colourful, bright and cheery world he is being raised in.
his name is a delight that rolls off the tongue. and oh my, what a wonderful boy he is. and the mama ain't half bad either. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is probably the sweetest thing I've ever read outside of something found in a fiction novel or an old poem written eons ago. Thank you so much for sharing that with your readers.
ReplyDeleteLovely way to raise a sweet boy Anna maria. He is so cute and so loved.
ReplyDeleteYour children are very lucky to have you as their mom. You do it all. Enjoy every minute. They are all so precious. You should be very proud.
ReplyDeleteI am the "surprise" youngest of 5 -- 10 yrs younger than my siblings. I remember being given huge wads of Hubba Bubba gum by my brothers, and going to university classes with my sister and riding around in my brother's car while he delivered pizzas . . . not your typical childhood, but I loved it and I'm very good at entertaining myself from all the benevolent neglect and I'm very adaptable from being dragged around everywhere. It'll be all good. What a cutie, and I too love the carpet. Are we going to get to see those lovely roses appear on something soon?
ReplyDeleteAnna, I visit you often...and you always inspire me...yet I've never left a comment. This post made me smile and cry at the same time. I have 4 little ones...we're in the countryside of rural Maine. I'm tripping over my children all the time...and I love it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHe is so handsome and reminds me of my own parenting moments while running my fabric shop out of our house. I have three kids (5, 3, and 5mo) and today breakfast is cookies and toast.
ReplyDeleteReading this was just so lovely. You are as talented with words as you are with fabric.
ReplyDeleteUgh - your beautiful letters to/about your children always make me tear up. Wish I had such poetic works for my little ones. You speak for so many of us!
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteAw! Gives those of us TRYING to make a career out of a hobby hope that maybe kids CAN fit into that picture! :)
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww!
ReplyDelete: )
hilarious!! i'm so in love with your studio.... doesn't that color make you go crazy?? i wish my whole house was wrapped up in it!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I work from home, sewing of coarse!, and my little ones are with me all day. Aren't they wonderful for putting up with us?!
ReplyDeleteoh how i love this post! so hilarious. so sweet. what a little cutie.
ReplyDelete*sniff* Tears. Thanks for being so real.
ReplyDeleteJust got your latest book in my mailbox today (via amazon)!
ReplyDeleteWOOT! WOOT! And YEE-haw!
...off to flip through the pages now...
Sweet, sweet, post! I'm so impressed at the way you have made your career such a part of your home and family life- you go, Mom!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! Love just drips and oozes from that letter. I am sure he will cherish it in the future when he is a grown man.
ReplyDeleteAaawwww! That was the sweetest, most loving thing I have read in a long time... It just brought tears to my eyes, and I am normally not a very teary person. THANKS for sharing!!
ReplyDelete(My first baby is 6 months)
I love how real your life is - I can totally relate to this as I work with my baby under foot.
ReplyDeleteYou are both so blessed Anna Maria!
ReplyDeleteAnna, just love this post! I'm a creative working mom too, and it's such a great reminder to be thankful for my supportive, patient family. It's a crazy, wonderful life, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, this made me cry! I am in the same boat working and mothering at home. I am so blessed, and my boys so patient at times. But it is so hard to be everything to everyone and it gives me peace knowing that you struggle along with the rest of us to be superwoman and supermom, and lay the guilt aside because we are doing our absolute best!
ReplyDeleteYou made me cry at my desk this morning at work. I hope someday I can be as good of a mama as you seem to be.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your post, I love your blog in general!! I'm no where near as successful as you are but also love sewing and feel like this daily, My girls 5 months and 2 1/2 yrs are so amazing to put up with the chaos.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have come across your blog and I must, must, must tell you how much I enjoyed it. It was super nice to see your pics of your oldest and your youngest together. I have five children with the eldest entering her teen years and the youngest only a few months. Sometimes I am discouraged by comments I receive concerning the difference in their ages as well as the number of children I chose to have. Your blog made it all better! Thank you!
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What a lovely post! Roman seems none the worse for wear for having had a biscuit with coffee in it for breakfast, in fact, he looks pretty content.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny that we treat our firstborn like they are the most fragile thing on Earth, and then as the next one comes al
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