Did you catch the candy conversation heart nod in the title? I always get a kick out of those, especially the modern ones that read things like “Text Me” or “Tweet Me.” They’re silly, charming, and somehow perfectly on brand for Valentine’s Day. The real purpose of this post, though, is simple: wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day and sharing a few gratuitous photos of Clara. These are the same pictures we mailed to family and friends with a funny little Valentine’s card featuring a Burger-esque chihuahua on the cover—got to represent both kids, after all. Consider this a virtual version for you, our online friends.
We used a dollar-store stuffed candy heart from Target’s dollar spot as a prop, and it was perfect. It’s amazing how a tiny heart-shaped pillow can pull a photo together, especially when you have a baby who likes to keep her fingers firmly in her mouth. To get those little smiles and curious looks, there was a lot of high-pitched singing, silly faces, and enthusiastic dancing by mom and dad. No shame there—whatever it takes to capture the moment. When you know three sets of expectant grandparents are eagerly waiting by the mailbox for the card, you get creative fast.
For our weekly photo project, we also photographed Clara with some heart-patterned fabric. John painted the week number onto the photo with a bit of Photoshop, changing the usual circle into something more Valentine’s themed. If you’re curious about the rest of the series, we have a collection of her weekly photos and project details available on the blog for anyone who wants to browse the entire run of images and see how she’s changed week by week.
Okay, I’ll step down off my parenting soapbox for a second. I know how it looks when a mom turns into a walking photo album, shoving wallet inserts and snapshots at anyone who will look. But there’s something satisfying about sharing the little moments—especially on a day that celebrates affection in all its forms. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with a partner, a pet, a friend, your family, your favorite magazine, or even hosting an anti-Valentine’s gathering, I hope it’s a day that feels meaningful to you.
In the spirit of balance—one of the resolutions we wrote about earlier—we decided to take it easy today. We’re going to savor the day as a family of four, chihuahua included, and enjoy some time together without rushing. It’s also a special day because Clara turns nine months old. It’s hard to believe she’s been out in the world longer than she was in my belly. The pregnancy felt like a long haul at the time, but now it seems like time has sped up since she arrived. Every stage passes so fast that you want to slow it down and soak in every tiny, laugh-filled second.
We’re not disappearing from the blog, though. If anything, our obsession with this space means you’ll still see us around. Later today we’ll post a Valentine’s giveaway that’s full of little tokens of affection, and tomorrow we’ll be back to our regular schedule. We may even share some photos of our dining table project—progress has been slow but steady, and we’re excited to show how it’s shaping up.
Until then, big wet kisses from the whole Petersik clan. Don’t worry—we’re all healthy and energetic, no mono here—just full of love, a little sleep-deprived at times, and immensely grateful for the good people in our lives who make everyday moments feel special.