Inked

Took a little over an hour to complete, was not terribly painful, and really a wonderful experience thanks to friend A. and to Stephanie. (Love her!)

I chose a bird on a branch for several reasons. I wanted to mark Leah's birth, but also wanted it to be for me. The branch represents the roots I finally feel I'm putting down now that she's in our life. The bird - a hermit thrush (the state bird of Vermont, where I was born) - symbolizes the freedom I now feel, brought by the changes in my life since Leah was born. Some day she'll fly away, but the reminder of how I came into my own will always be there.

I love it, and wouldn't mind doing it again (the tattoo, not giving birth)!