One Week with Holland

Holland Diane was born on November 11th at 12:38 PM, weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces. It was a surreal and beautiful experience to see her when they pulled her out. I couldn’t believe she was here! Since then, we have been on cloud nine, learning about her, enjoying getting to know her, and settling into our new life as a small family.

We were fortunate to capture her at 48 hours old in these beautiful photos taken at the hospital. Every nurse and doctor at our hospital was terrific, and I felt privileged to be there and learn from them. I spent three nights in the hospital and four days. Recovery from the c section has been challenging, but I feel better and better each day.

Before leaving the hospital I wrote Holland a little letter on social media:

Hi Holland,

It’s your Mama. Where do I start, sweet girl? One thing is for sure - your Daddy and I will always be your biggest fans. And we’re so excited and thankful.

Your Daddy Derek is on the way to pick us up and take us home. (I love it when he calls you sweetheart.)

We want you to know that you are accepted and loved. Truly loved. Not because of anything you’ll do or need to do. Not because of who you are or who you’ll become but simply because you’re our daughter.

I know you’ll read this someday, and I want you to know that I have never felt more beautiful than when I touched your face for the very first time.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Here’s a photo of us leaving the hospital. We have a car seat with wheels attached to hit the road easily.

The day we took her home, Derek and I kept peering over her every couple of minutes in awe that she was ours and she was here. She instantly became a part of who we are.

Grandpa was waiting in the hall during the delivery and visited the hospital during my stay.

Since he lives next door, he comes over for his Holland Fix every couple of days. We were almost finished with our dinner on this day, and he barely touched his meal. But, there was something on the table more exciting than food. It is a thrill for me to see my Dad enjoy her. "Look at those fingers; there she is moving again," he exclaims, tickled with every move she makes.

From bath time to bedtime, it’s been an adventure from the start. I couldn’t be more grateful for this space, and I feel such gratitude and thankfulness, even after the restless nights, slow recovery from surgery, and whirlwind of emotions.

It’s been a little over a week of Holland Diane, and I wake up every day thankful for the gift of motherhood. What didn’t have to be is now a gift in my life.

I am excited to share her with family and watch her do a wide-mouth grin with anyone who makes eye contact.

I am excited about her Christmas dress and her new fur-lined velvet boots that she has to grow into.

I am excited about her looking at the lights, and driving around our neighborhood, showing her my Mom’s favorite houses that she always asked me to go by on the way home.

I am excited to share her with you through posts, pictures, videos, and blogs.

Thank you for being a part of our story and loving our family. We will update you soon with more adventures from Holland Diane. She is visiting the doll shop next week - what an adventure that will be!

In Love and Dolls,

Rachel

It's that Magic that Makes You

Dear One,

It has been a challenging week with the eBay update, no doubt stressful for so many people because of the economic impact and the message it sends to collectors and patrons for over 20 years who helped build the website.

Wiping the page of categories for dolls, bears, miniatures, and many other major collecting segments leaves us all with tender hearts for more profound reasons than economic ones. As an early adopter of eBay, I know my Mom would have hated this.

Doll collecting is SO much more than a poor decision that a corporate giant website could ever make. And no matter what happens, we will forge ahead, link arms and stick together. We will adapt, find new ways, and most importantly, continue to flourish and love our dolls and each other.

Collectors like us have always been on the right side of history; we would never do such a thing that eBay did. We understand that our interests and love of what we surround ourselves with reflect more than a pretty dress. Our dolls tell a story about preserving history, and our dolls and playthings are a culture in and of themselves.

Not everyone uses eBay but many do, and while this is a bump in the road, today, I want to remind you to continue to dream all the dreams when you feel discouraged.

No matter how many heartbreaks you have, no matter how many times you fall…that magic you were born with, that fire that has propelled you to create, collect, sew, and dance - that magic is yours, sweet one.

It’s that magic that makes you, and if you ever feel like that magic is starting to fade, just look deeeep inside because you will realize it never went anywhere.

It just needs permission to shine again.

We will figure this out. Today, focus on the magic that is you.

Love you to pieces,

Rachel

PS - I asked Derek to take a couple of photos of me at 35 weeks in my favorite place at the shop, surrounded by my Mamma’s favorite things, which are now my favorite things. Which one do you think I should get printed for the nursery?

10 Things People Over 40 Should Have In Their Home

Recently, I came across an ‘article’ by Elle Decor entitled “40 Things No Person Over 40 Should Have In Their Home.” Number 29 on the list was “Creepy Old Dolls” saying, “If they start to give you the willies, or look like they're always judging you, don't keep them around.”

In light of this recent list, I decided to come up with a list of my own of items that I feel people over 40 (OR ANY AGE) should have in their home + real world examples of these items inside homes of individuals over 40.

1) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll collection of famed Colorado Artist Helen Kish (Over 40)

2) Whatever the heck they want.

Diane Hoffman’s Doll Collection (Over 40)

3) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection of Doll Artist Gregg Ortiz (Over 40)

4) Whatever the heck they want.

Collection of Jason Corrao-Reilley (Over 40)

5) Whatever the heck they want.

Rachel Hoffman with Robert Tonner’s Doll Collection (Under and Over 40 and loving it)

6) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection residing at The Grovian Doll Museum belonging to Michael Canadas and David Robinson (Over 40)

7) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection of Marion Fala (Over 40)

8) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection of Billye Harris (Over 40)

9) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection of Paula Walton (Over 40)

10) Whatever the heck they want.

Doll Collection of Diane Hoffman (Over 40)

In this digital age, it seems as someone always has something to say about how one should live their life and what they should surround themselves with.

I have to say, live it the way you want! The ONLY rule should be that what you have around you makes you HAPPY!

We must stick together and support one another in how we want to live our lives and surround ourselves with what makes our hearts smile. And for MILLIONS of people around the world, it is surrounding themselves with beautiful and amazing dolls, toys, and bears…or really, just whatever the HECK THEY WANT!

Blog Author Rachel Hoffman is a doll blogger, enthusiast, and creator of the world’s FIRST fully-digital Virtual Doll Convention. These conventions have been attended by thousands of individuals of every age and with global participation from over 95 countries and counting. She also co-owns Turn of the Century Antiques in Denver, Colorado - one of the nation’s largest brick and mortar doll specialty shops. She is 34 years old, fills her home with whatever the heck she wants, and thinks you should, too.