TAKCOM is a genius

exp_form0628:ME vs ME vs TAKCOM™ in one day. from takcom™ on Vimeo.

exp_form0628:ME vs ME vs TAKCOM™ in one day. from takcom™ on Vimeo.

For more visual music go to TAKCOM vimeo

my favorites are his Pico, Apoptosis and his interpretation of the song Ida Walked Away by AU.

BabyMama

Taken by my husband Nathanael Cocian

So I had a wonderful time being pregnant. What!? No, this is half true. The first 5 months I was constantly sick and would eat cucumbers and sour candy all day and that's all. Seriously, folks- I lost about 30lbs. I also had some pretty severe sciatica issues and towards the last 4 months and I would wake up at least 4 times (yes that was the least amount) a night to use el bano. The last two weeks I'd wake up every 40 mins, my little bugger was head butting my bladder big time! Other than that though I felt beautiful! Clothes fit me wonderfully, and since I swam everyday, my skin was bronzey. I got compliments everywhere I went... it was awesome! Fast forward to postpartum, and I'm lucky if i can pluck my eyebrows.

Taken by

Diana Radoi of Absolutely Captivating Photography

However, while I was pregnant I imagined the worst was to come after I had the baby. I didn't see the delivery as an end all to my 'suffering' or discomfort... I knew that once the baby was born, that's when all the hard work would start, so I milked it. I slept all the time, moisturized my skin *diligently*, swam and sun lounged, met with friends, really really took in the time I had with Nathanael. I knew that this time would pass like a blink of an eye and I would never have that time, just Nathanael and I, back again... at least not while we were both in our 20's. I was not in any hurry to have the baby and regardless of the aches and pains, I really consciously enjoyed that season of my life!

That's how I approached and survived the sleepless months after the birth of my too-cute-for-words baby. I kept reminding myself that this hard time would pass quicker than a blink of the eye, and my little baby would be a toddler, then a school aged boy, then... oh no, a teenager! During those first weeks/months I would pray that God would allow me to remember his little fingers and toes, and would help me be loving even through the exhaustion I was feeling. I wanted to appreciate this little baby, because I was literally seeing him grow before my eyes and I so badly didn't want to forget how skinny his newborn legs were, and how loud his cry was, because I was too busy feeling tired and engorged. HA! I said it!

The photos below were taken of our family when Anthony was only 6 weeks old

Bug and Bean Photography

The Update

So I had a baby. He is wonderful. The labor was relatively easy, so they tell me. I had the baby within 12 hours, and I only pushed for about 20 mins. Pretty good if you ask me. I love love love him! From day one he was alert and expressive. He would stay up for hours, and just look around to see all that he could see. His eyes would search my face so very inquisitively. He is a big boy, only 6 months and 30 inches long. He waves, sits up and insists on drinking out of a sippy cup. He kisses and hugs me all the time. He likes to scratch things, I sometimes think he believes all things can spin. He is strong and held his head up right out of the womb. Anthony by anyone's standards is a good boy. He doesn't fuss or cry. He gives me 15 min warnings with little whines if he is hungry or tired, other than that he doesn't cry. Even when he head butts me. It hurts me bad, and I can only imagine it hurts him too... but no tears, not even a whimper. The most notable thing about our little Tony is how happy he is. Happy happy baby. The first time he gave a responsive smile was at 3.5 weeks and ever since then he hasn't stopped. I love that gummy smile! He kicks with excitement in his crib when he wakes up and smiles all day long. I now know what it means to say that someone is your pride and joy, because he is mine.


We named him Anthony Xavier. Anthony means praiseworthy and flourishing. Two things we want him to be, and so far he is. Xavier means bright and splendid... also two things we want him to be, and so far he is. It also means 'new house' and that is something that all throughout our pregnancy we were looking for and searching. We wanted that to be in some sense a prophecy of things to come... ha! IT WAS!




We bought a home two months after his arrival. The most precious and perfect house for us. God saved the best for us, seriously. He definitely knows our needs better than we do. It is this cute 3 bedroom 2 bath home, near my parents and there's a creek and green belt across the street. We are close to a park and we have our own courtyard, on top of a front yard. It's ideal and even though we have stuff to work on in the house, we are so excited to make this house our own! Praise God for his provision and blessing in our life.

Innovate, Don't Imitate

So this entry has been a long time coming. I have been out of the blog world for almost year. Don't get me wrong, I've still been checking up on all my design blogs- but regarding my own blog, I've been so out of it.

There is a reason; I sometimes feel that blogging is such an inaccurate portrait of myself. I can't possibly be as honest as I'd be if this was a private blog, and I also feel that what I do say leaves me feeling a bit naked. As much as I've been characterized as extroverted, I feel that I've grown into some type of hermit and I don't like people looking at my things and my thoughts.

Also, I am always first. :) Is that too bold of me? I always find things first, like things first, wear it first, hear it first. OKAY! Well I'm sure someone out there has done it, said it and heard it all before me... but I say this in regards to the people I know and the places I go. And you know what? I like that I'm an innovator! I feel like the internet has allowed everyone and anyone to be what they'd like. To show whatever face they want even if it isn't their own. I don't like these masks, that blogs and facebook have been handing out. It's easy for every girl out there to be a 'model', every tween a hipster, a love sick poet, every stay at home mom a photographer, every young dude a bada** tattooed cool guy... the new cliches. Whatever is the latest trend.. So lately, it's popular to be the artist. Now everyone is an artist. I just want to shout:

"NO YOU'RE NOT"

What's wrong with being good with numbers or having a technical mind? That's good, that's brilliant!

It makes me so frustrated. Which is another reason I've stopped blogging. I don't want to be another 'Betty' who blogs about my favorite designer, singer/songwriter, my latest art project, my newest idea. I feel like they're so many imitators out there, that I simply can't stand the possibility of being lumped in there with 'em. And to all the wanna-be's just so you know, I see right through you. :) (This, however, is not to say, that I don't know some incredibly talented and artistic people. I do, and I admire them. It's also not that I find myself the most talented or artistic, I don't.)

But I've decided these reasons aren't good enough. No one can do what I do, and I'll still be painting, creating and picture taking when it's not trendy to do so... and I want my kids to see what I was like at 24 or 25 or 32. To see where I've gone, and how I thought this or that was funny.

So my next entry won't be so critical, but I'll keep each entry re-cap of sorts, until we're all caught up. I need this outlet that allows me to articulate my thoughts, because all day it's baby talk, aboo boo boo.

The 4th- My Favorite

Honestly, the 4th is my favorite holiday! I know I haven't updated in awhile, but in honor of my most favorite day, I thought I would.
Lots of things have been happening!
WE'RE HAVING A BABY! A BOY!
He is due November 9th, but we'll see if he'll feel like he should be coming on that day or not. We are stoked!
We're spending the long weekend in San Diego and so far it's been fantastic!
This month has a lot in store for us and we are so excited! Next week we'll be in Florida for our 'Babymoon' and then my birthday, the week after that is my baby shower, which I'm sure will be fantastic because my sister Emma is planning it in a big way!
AND- we are moving into a new place right by the American River this Monday!

There's the update, and it won't be the last!

Marchin' into March

I can't believe we're already 3 months into 2009! This year holds a lot of changes for Nathanael and I. We hope to be doing a lot of traveling as we've been doing, but we also want to buy a house.... WHICH IS SO EXCITING! We're being really super conscious with our money, and we hope that the right house will come our way when we're ready! It's a big step but we feel 2009 is the right year, especially the 1st time home buyers $8,000 back, if the home is purchased in 2009. So if you are reading this blog, remember to keep us in your prayers- That we will let God lead us in this new venture.

I'm also stoked because I'll be going down to San Diego the last week in March and I just can't wait to see my sister and spend some time by the ocean... Since our first visit to La Jolla after our last cross country trip, when we had just moved from Atlanta to California, I've been noticing that if too much time passes by I really miss the ocean. Since Nov. we've been down the coast every month- I need that ocean fix. There's a freedom and a different and deeper way of breathing there.

Santa Cruz 2009

Light Sculpture

Multiverse, light sculpture created by artist Leo Villareal, may be seen and experienced by visitors as they pass through the Concourse walkway between the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. Commissioned by the Gallery and on view until November 2009, the work features approximately 41,000 computer-programmed LED (light-emitting diode) nodes that run through channels along the entire 200-foot-long space.


Villareal "Multiverse" National Gallery of Art, Washington DC from Walter Patrick Smith on Vimeo.