Grey Goods

This magical creature that made me a mama turned 2 and we’ve been in such a love bubble, we barely even snapped a photo. For Arthur, who is a gentle compass. Wildly intelligent, unabashedly imaginative and radically kind. We are beyond grateful just to know and love you.

3 years ago, we said goodbye to my mom. It was in her bedroom, at sunset and, in her final act as a mother, she had convinced her mind to postpone the inevitable far beyond her body’s capacity. I’m often consumed with how much has changed since she’s been gone and how much time has passed since we last spoke. But today, I’m flooded with how short 3 years is. How it’s far too early to boot up her phone and look through our most recent pictures and texts. How it’s still okay ...to feel wrecked and cracked open and unaccepting. So, for now I’m still looking way backwards to our oldest memories. Ones that aren’t even really mine. Ones that exist only as photos and stories told. Ones that are so far away, they remain safe and certain. So here’s my mama, in April ‘85, newly immigrated. She would have just found out she was pregnant with my brother, or maybe would in coming weeks. . . . #grief #griefjourney #loss #deathwithdignity #motherhood #motheringwithoutamother

This is us. I opened the shop almost one year ago. I did it because I couldn’t fathom being away from my 5 month old baby. And because I had just made the journey into motherhood and wanted to bask in this phase of life as long as I possibly could. It has given me such pleasure to meet you pregnant and then see you again as mothers. To watch your babies and families and lives grow. ... And these last months have been so hard. This is just to say, we’re still here. We’ve dug our heels in and I don’t know if it’s determination or foolishness, but we are. Gratitude for every single time you bore with the sleeping kid in my arms, the loud sound machine or an impromptu diaper change. I’m so fortunate to have mothers as customers. . . . #motherhood #mothering #mother #motherandson #postpartum #rebuildthevillage #shopsmall #shoplocal #downtownmartinez #babyshop #babyboutique

For the Mamas: -Morning Sickness Relief Bands -Magnesium Soak -Everything Oil -Organic Herbal Bath... -Anywhere Balm -Postpartum Underwear All from @mothermothershop, now in shop! . . . #motherhood #postpartum #fourthtrimester #mothergift #mothering #motheringthemother #smallbusiness #smallbatch #sustainablebeauty

Today would have been my mama’s 60th birthday. It’s fitting that our little town’s parade falls on the 3rd of July each year. We spent so many of her birthdays there, including her last one. Time knows just how to break your heart into a million pieces. Each year without her is another year from the last time I saw her face, heard her voice, held her hand. She had so many more seasons left to give so here’s hoping I’ll always be able to find her in a garden walk, cup of tea..., simmering pot of food and of course, our annual July parade. . . . #grief #griefjourney #loss #motheringwithoutamother @ Benicia, California See more

Here’s a picture of the moment my never-tooth-smiling baby daddy became a baby daddy. To all the papas out there: may your days be filled with celebrating this equally strange and beautiful journey. And may you never lose that flutter of fear and wonderment you felt at first sight.