2011: Word of the Year!

I've been so busy living life, there's been no time to blog. . . perhaps once a week posting was a bit too ambitious.

Each year one of my favorite bloggers, Ali Edwards, chooses a word as a theme for her year. In past years I've been skeptical. My free flowing personality likes to see how things develop and not be tied to "one" thing. Last year as I let the theme unfold, it just ended up being a lot of me seeming to play catch up and realizing how fleeting time really, truly is. Over my birthday, my time of reflection and annual commitment, I wanted things to be different, more intentional. So, when Ali shared her new word for this year I decided I should pick one too. Just a word, no resolutions, empty promises, or expectations to live up to. This year it did not seem so daunting.

So my word seemed to come to me again and again over the first week of January. I initially did not want to accept it because of fear, my biggest enemy. I wanted something more simple, charming, warm and fuzzy. That is NOT what I'm suppose to be about this year, so I'm learning.

Now, drum roll please, my word, that chose me, for 2011 is OPEN.
Open to love. Open to change. Open to the unexpected. Open to pain, failure and fear.
Open to growth.

I've spent so much of my life in self-protection, not wanting pain and fear to creep in. By trying to keep them out I have also omitted some positive facets of life. Already, as the month comes to a close I have made choices that are breaking the pattern. As 2011 forges ahead, I am Open to becoming.

Happy New Year!!!!

"Time is passing soooo fast!" was the unofficial mantra of 2010! Although I don't expect that to change, I hope to adopt something more intentional and motivating for this new year.

Already today, as I witnessed a bit of life magic while swinging with my daughter, feelings of hopefulness of all the newness this year will bring, flooded my spirit. Somewhere deep in my core I am certain this year will be different. There were many surprises, twists and turns during 2010 but this year will be different somehow.

My personal journey has been very enlightening. New notions and concepts seem to be revealed through regular conversations, silent times, reading randomness. As I become more open to God teaching me about me I hope to share more regularly in this space to process and come to a fuller understanding in making sense of this life, this story that I'm writing everyday.

Happy New Year to all! And one of my goals is to post weekly, por lo menos!

So glad you're here!!

Oh My Dear iPod,

I thought you might be gone from my life forever. The music and stories you brought to my life were suddenly taken away nearly four months ago. The soundtrack of my life was silence. Mundane tasks became dreary in your absence. And traveling was almost unbearable. I did not know what to do. After moving to a new house I'd finally given up hope of never seeing you again. I even began stalking Craig's List for a replacement and even began dreaming of getting newer model.

Then yesterday, in the midst of the craziness of life it seemed as though you magically reappeared just when I needed you most. Who knew, after having your cushions removed, a move, traveling upside down, I would find you contently waiting in the couch for me. Welcoming you with screams and shouts of joy was just a small show of my gratefulness of your presence.

And here we are together again, at last!


So glad you're here!!

Everyday Enchantment.

I'm a self proclaimed blog-stalker. I have folders upon folders filled with blogs from my hobbies to friends to random strangers who's blogs I stumbled upon arbitrarily. Recently a few of my fav blog authors have chosen a theme for the year in order to preserve memories or work on that particular area of life. Instead of being proactive in January, I sat back to see if a theme would surface.

As the months seemed to fly by I thought the theme would be something like, "Oh My Goodness, time is passing too fast and I can't hold onto it, there's no way I'll be able to remember anything from 2010!" As I examined that notion more closely, I felt as though I was try too hard to hold on to time. The tighter I held on the less I felt I was retaining. I was missing more. Like trying to hold on to every grain of sand as it slips through your fingers; the more you close your fist around it, the more you loose. So, I sat back and waited some more.

During this more relaxed time of revelation a theme made itself known. Everyday Enchantment. If I allow myself to be open and more aware of the little things happening around me there's magic in these small moments.

Perhaps it's because I have a small child who is embracing this new-to-her world around her, and I'm lucky enough to play witness to that. Or perhaps, I'm finally at a place where I am able to see and savor the specialness of the seemingly unimportant.

No matter, I am here. Now.

Being 29

With the New Year on the horizon, many are beginning to evaluate the year that is coming to a close. Others are starting to contemplate what they'd like to be and do differently in 2010. Personally, I become much more reflective about such things around my birthday. This event, like the holiday season, seemed to creep up, tap me on the shoulder and shout, "BOO". November 12, came and went without much pomp and circumstance although the day after my wonderful HD planned a small surprise gathering featuring my absolute favorite board game and a new-to-us extension!!!

It wasn't until the very end of my birthday, while lying in bed reviewing the day's events, did I realize that there seemed not to be any future goals in place, nor a record of lessons learned from the year gone by. So, I decided to sit on the dock while the sandman in my dreamboat past me by.

A friend once shared a theory about how we learn with me. She suggested that each new piece of information we learn is like a new string hung in ceiling of our mind. When we learn something new that pertains to our current knowledge base the two strings are tied together. As new strings are added more strings are tied together. It occurred to me that with all of the information I am learning and how interconnected it seemed to be, I must have a knot in my mind. Recently, it seems as though everything I was imputing was connected. From conversations with friends, music being listed to, sermons, books, advice, letters dropped randomly in the mail, a theme seemed to emerge. I decided to take a second look at the knot in my mind, this time from a different direction. What I saw wasn't a knot at all. It was a beautiful intricate web, with the most complex pattern.

This ignited a small fire of encouragement in my spirit. Everything that is happening around me are lessons that I am learning. They are shaping me into something more beautiful than I could ever imagine. God is gently teaching me to see me how He sees me.

The overall lesson of the last year was: Be. Being in This moment is all I can do. I can't change what I did even two minutes ago just as much as I can know what two minutes in the future will bring. All I have is right now. God has me gifted this present moment. I am worthy of it. Am I allowing my purpose to manifest itself right now? This is something that I am striving to live with every breath.

To build on this in the coming year, my goal is to learn to be comfortable in my own skin. There is a list, as long as my elasti-girl arms, of things that I'd like to be different about myself and my life. But all I have is now. Most likely, tomorrow, if I wake, things will not be perfect. That's okay because through this next year I will allow myself to Be.

The BEST job ever!!!

What's better than combining two things you love? Take a look!!

Frida's Here! from Deidre C. on Vimeo.

See more here.

Crazy for Cupcakes!

Let me introduce you to the self-proclaimed "Cupcake Maven". Sometime in the last few weeks I've become a bit obsessed with cupcakes. It was almost like I woke up craving them. Perhaps it was finally finding a vegan cupcake recipe and making them for Zea's birthday. Whatever the case may be, I, the Cupcake Maven, am on a hunt for the best cupcakes in the Maryland/DC area. There are a few bakeries that exclusively sell cupcakes and that is where by search has begun. I will share my results of my quest with you, here on the blog!!

So here's my first review.

Georgetown Cupcake

My expert team of cupcake tasters!

Two sisters opened the shop in February 2008 and have made a name for themselves on the east coast. In the year and a half that it's been opened they have been featured in People magazine, the Washingtonian, the Today Show and even Martha Stewart!

Lovely selection of cupcakes

On Zealand's birthday, Adriana/Lalilo, my partner in crime, suggested that we start our cupcake adventure. What a better way to celebrate? So we chose this particular shop mostly because its location is one that we like very much. Between the three of us we purchased four cupcakes.
Red Velvet, Chocolate Hazelnut, Lemon Berry and Chocolate Banana.

Soooooo yummy!!!! The icing was light and flavorful, the cupcakes fluffy and deliciously flavored. The one that I thought I would hate the most was the chocolate banana. Usually products with a banana blend are overpowered by banana flavoring. Not this time. The banana was perfectly balanced in the icing and in the cupcake. The red velvet cupcake tasted fresh and was complemented perfectly with cream cheese icing. Chocolate Hazelnut nearly like a Ferrero Rocher in mini cake form. The lemon berry wasn't too heavy and beautifully decorated although the bright pink icing did stain Zealand's shirt.

The overall rating is, drum roll please, 5 out of 5 cherries on top!!!


drinking in the scent (red velvet)


Zea test. . .


. . . totally passed!!


Chocolate hazelnut (someone's trying to steal it. . . )



Chocolate Banana


Lemon Berry

Agust in review. . . as promised.

Lately when folks ask what's been going on around these parts, it seems hard to recall. As it all comes back, it's hard for me to believe that the month is OVER!!!!!!!! So where to start? Well, why not at the very beginning.

August 3rd.
HD and I celebrated SIX years. I know it's not long but, it just has passes so fast. We've had more than our share of ups and downs in this relationship but we are doing our best to realize that we aren't the One holding us together. In an effort of doing that, we had our second annual spiritual retreat. It was a fantastic time focusing solely on God and recommitting our relationship to Him.


. . . all the other stuff.
The month seemed to pass in a blur and I'm not quite sure if the following highlights occurred in August or July but here we go.

Zealand is walking! She was very cautious about the entire process. There was a lot of walking with support and then gingerly lowering herself, like a sumo wrestler when she was feeling unsteady. Suddenly she wasn't holding on. A few steps at first by herself, then more and more!!! Now she's everywhere. No, we haven't baby proofed the house. But we've created a Zealand-contained area in half of the living room where she can "run" and play.

Words are coming. She is signing a bit to let us know the basics such as, food, milk, more, potty, etc. Don't be surprised of you receive a call from Zealand.

Give this little lady a cell phone and she knows just what to do with it. She's already called a few folks by accident and then will answer, "HI". Even when no one is there she'll answer then, hand it over as if to say, "It's for you."

She'll even "text".



Or she may be trying to get in touch with you to share the news about her first birthday party!! I can't believe a year has nearly passes already. HD and I are finally feeling like we are getting our footing on this parenting thing. Although, curve balls are coming at us left and right we are playing on the same team.

So of course there are big party plans. Were having a butterfly themed party. This is my consolation for not including my favorite insect in her name, Mariposa, as I'd originally intended. Though we'll be celebrating Zealand's arrival it will be more of a celebration of, "Wow we happened to keep another living being alive for more than a couple months." This is the reason we don't have plants or animals. . .

All in all, things are going well. On a business note, I recently completed an introduction workshop for Birthing From Within. A childbirth education alternative. This is the first step in becoming a Mentor, not a teacher, with this particular birthing ideology. I am VERY excited and in order to share more about the actual workshop, it would need about 50 post to share all of the revelations personal, professional and spiritual that were gleaned from this experience.

I hope that September will bring more frequent posts. This month boast of big things, not only sweet Z's first birthday, but a visit from my dear friend, Heather! There'll be plenty more fruit picking and hopefully even some canning. Stay tuned.

Why I do what I do. . .

Recently it seems as though a slew of my friends and acquaintances have been/are pregnant. Wanting to be a good friend and not bombard them with all my birthing knowledge unless asked, I've kept relatively quiet. Here, I can share some information without making it too personal. My passion is to share options during pregnancy and childbirth. Too many times I hear, "If I had only known before." Well, if you don't know your options, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY!!!

Birth Matters Virginia recently sponsored a informational movie contest about, you guessed it, birth. This video won third place. It blends information on childbirth in America and personal encouragement and women strive to have their best birth!

Wordy Wednesday. . .

Here's the mega post, as promised. . . If you hang in there multi-media surprises await.

Zealand @ 7-8 months!
Time just seems to be flying. The last couple of months this little person has obtained so many new skills, such as clapping, jumping, dance/swaying, waving, kissing, crawling, pulling herself up and walking with support.

At seven months we introduced more solids to Zea's diet, which in turn, introduced us to a more solid and stinky poop. Neither Mama or Papi wanted to change those diapers. HD had the brilliant idea to have her pass her bowls like we do, on the potty. She gives clear signals when it's time to go potty so we've been putting her on and she knows now that's where business gets taken care of.



There were no official photo sessions from seven months but, here's one that was taken on a trip to the National Arboretum in DC. At that time she had barely three little teeth but was biting EVERYTHING.


Shortly after her eighth month birthday, Zealand rode on an airplane for the first time!

There have been quite a few flights I've shared with crying babies and my heart always goes out to the parents. Needless to say, I was a little bit leery about our experience. Our plane was scheduled to leave around her bed time so, we had her bathed and supped before we boarded. Upon take off I breastfed her and sang like we usually do before going to sleep and she drifted off and slept the entire flight! Boy, was I proud. As we disembarked a few folks commented that the didn't even know there was an infant on the flight! She did well on the return too!

We went to Vero Beach, FL, same as last summer. This time instead of having a baby inside, she was out and there were so many things to introduce to her. . .

Why a daughter needs a dad!
#077: so mom can take fun dad/daughter photos.

#083: to teach her how to be cool!


#094: to show her how the waves can tickle her toes.


#101: to be held tight in his strong arms when she's afraid!



#115: to hide her face in his shoulder when she doesn't want see what frightens her.



#121: to give her rides up high and hang on to ear handles.



#138: to have someone to enjoy each day with the breeze in her face and a song in her heart!

Though the initial beach intro didn't go so well after going everyday for nine days she grew to like it.


Her favorite part? The sand. Yum!


One last highlight of the beach trip: While out jogging HD spotted this little fellow making his way out to sea. You may remember him from wordless Wednesday a couple weeks back. Well here's a close up of the baby logger head turtle. We're not sure if he was last to go or just an early bird but it was so cool to see him.


Saratoga Surprise
Our vacation time was completed with our annual surprise destination. Each year the one of us plans a surprise destination for vacation this year it was HD's turn. He was craving the mountains. After much research decided to take us to the Adirondacks. We visited Lake George and stayed in Saratoga Springs, New York. It was soooo beautiful. Our first day there we hung out at Lake George and toured the surrounding area. I'm sad to report that I forgot my camera to capture the amazing vistas. The following days we did a driving tour and visited the city of Saratoga Springs. Very quaint little place and it made it to the list of places HD and I want to live when we grow old. I really only took pics of the baby, but in a local park HD shot this one of Zea and me!


Odds and Ends
As of today, Zealand has 5-6 teeth. (that last one just broke the surface this morning)


One of her favorite hang outs is the laundry basket.


And next week she'll be nine months!! I can hardly believe that time has past so incredibly fast.

On different note some of you may know that I was working with a group of doulas at Holy Cross Hospital (a local hospital here). Due to budgetary restraints they've cut the program but I'm soooooooo proud to announce that we are going into business for ourselves!!!! These wonderful ladies and I

are now part of a private doula group named: By Your Side Birth Services !!!!
I am still taking minimal private clients but being in this group gives me flexibility to be with Zea and still do what i absolutely love!! I'm working on expanding my career so stay tuned for future updates!

Well I hope you enjoyed this "little" catch up post and as promised here's a little video of Zea with some clips from about a month ago.

70% accuracy.

According to one of our childbirth ed teachers, 70% of mothers who don't find out the gender during the pregnancy, intuitively know the sex of the baby. Recall with me,this post. Surprisingly enough, I fell into the majority. But it wasn't until last week that I saw the face that I dreamt. Today I share it with you!



We're still waiting on the curls to come in.

Month Full of Firsts!!!!

Just yesterday, Zealand turned one month! My! How time has flown by! Her one month check-up was yesterday. She is now 10lbs 6oz and 23 1/2 inches long! This month has brought a lot of firsts for Zea. Here are the top ten for this month!

10. First Bath! (she loved it)


9. First Classical Recital (she made not a peep)

8. First Wedding (slept through the whole thing)

There's Aunt Denise and Uncle David! Congrats!

7. Heard Dad's first sermon at the new church (and looked cute too)



6. First iChat (with the California tias)


5. First Shopping trip (accompanied by the shopping queen, Tiffani)

4. First Meeting with Abuelito (@ 2 weeks old)


3. First Sabbath afternoon to the "Flower Gardens" aka Brookside Gardens!


2. First road trip (going down was tough, but she enjoyed the ride back)


1. First meeting with her birthday buddy (Grandma Ruthie was sooo excited)


It's impossible for me NOT to take pictures like crazy and we are consistently adding pics here to the blog but even more to flickr. If you click on the badge on the right of this blog, you'll see more Zea!

Here are some bonus shots from our one month photo shoot.

Whoopee New Jeans!!!

So, they really aren't new jeans but, it sure feels like it. Today HD and I planned a trip to the grocery store. For the last 14 days (since the baby arrived) I've only felt comfortable leaving the house in maternity clothing. Since my favorite preggo jeans were in the wash, I decided to reach into the stack of pre-pregnancy clothing.

I'm sure you've all heard stories where a new mom couldn't get into her clothes for months after birth and had to get a whole new set of clothes for that interim period. I was so sure I would share the same story.

On a whim, combined with no other option to turn to, I reached for the jeans and stepped into them. Already thinking that they wouldn't close, I was ecstatic to discover that they were just as good to me as before!!! It truly felt like I had a new pair of jeans!

Name that Baby!!!

After much deliberation HD and I finally decided on a name for BC. This summer a portion of our vacation was dedicated to going through a fantastic baby naming book that provided a number of activities to get the creative juices flowing. Once the names were chosen it was decided that they should be revisited as B-day drew nearer. Once BC was here we spent a few days getting to know the little lady before we gave her an official title. Even then we waited until the last possible moment to come to a final decision.

On the fifth day after her birth, HD and I hosted a Naming Ceremony. We sung hymns, shared scriptures and told the baby about how Jesus loves her and what He did for her. Then the big reveal!!!!

Her name is: ZEALAND ADRIANA COUTSOUMPOS

Once the ceremony was officially over, HD participated in one last tradition. Lifting the baby to meet the sun as a symbol of offering her up to God. (Yes, very Lion King-esque). Here's our history making pic below.

D + O = BC

Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting BC for the very first time--live and in person. BC made an entrance at 11:05pm on September 16, 2008. After a long and rigorous labor we were thrilled to introduce ourselves to our new daughter!!!

The yet-to-be-named BC (Baby Coutsoumpos) weighs 7lbs 11oz and is 21in long. Highlights of the birth include: 5 doulas present, Deidre catching the baby, successful birth at home. More details to come...

Enjoy the following pictures of Lady BC.


Our expanded family


BC and Yaya


BC and Abuelita