Live Free

So Fast

I think, generally speaking, I am a pretty calm, reasonable person. I sleep well and sound. I usually feel rested and relatively balanced. Today, though, I woke up from a 10 minute power nap with a bit of a mini anxiety attack. Or just a blaring realization. That Beatrix, is, in weeks at least, turning six months this week! In calendar months, she's just about 5 1/2 months. Half way to one year!

And I'm sure that my thoughts and feelings are familiar to many mothers. Like them, I am dumbfounded when I think of where all the time went. And then I ask myself: Have I cuddled her enough? Have I snuggled in bed with her enough? Have I sang to her enough? Have I gazed into her eyes enough? Have I carried her around with me wherever I go enough? Have I enjoyed this short, sweet time enough? Have I savored enough? Recorded enough? Photographed enough? Oh gosh, I hope so. Did I witness it all? Impossible.

I know. She's only six months. The poor child still has a whole life ahead of her. There's still time, you know. To be there for her. To be a good momma. And I think I've already done the best that I can. However, I think back to the day we met her. I remember everything. The phone call. Calling Byron. Packing up the car. Driving and driving. The quilt shop that I used the restroom in. The landscape. Arriving at the hospital. Meeting our social worker in the lobby. Taking the elevator to the third floor. Zig zagging through the maternity ward where we had a chance to meet Beatrix's birthmother. Walking down to the nursery. Laying eyes on our daughter. 

It all happened so fast. I remember the years we waited to become parents. It took a long time to find our child. I can't say I'm ready to let go of this baby that I yearned for for so long.  Though, it's only natural progression. In a way, I'm thankful for the path to parenthood Byron and I have journeyed. We'd both love to have more children. But we know, that no matter how great our desire - our means are limited. If we are blessed to have another opportunity to adopt another child, we could be none the happier. There's no guarantee. And all the more reason to love this little girl up and savor each moment.  

The Natural Child Learning Community

So, here it is.  Our little space. For our children. We worked really hard this summer and suffered bouts of guilt. Wondered if this was the right thing to do for little Bea. But in the end, I can't think of a lovelier surrounding for her to grow up in. Yes, she will be among others. But most importantly, she will be with me and we will be here and I am so happy about that. 

The children arrive on the 31st.  Until then, L and her two little ones and Beatrix and I like to hang out here because it's so darn sweet.  

We could not resist Ida Pearle's alphabet cards. They are absolutely gorgeous. Ida is really sweet too.  

For the child, the metal inset work is a special way to create beautiful, and even intricate design work. The guide knows that lots of good metal inset work also helps to develop the hand, which promotes muscular development needed for handwriting. 

The heart of any Montessori environment is the practical life area. This is where the activities needed for daily household chores and art activities are kept. Here, children can choose from a variety of tasks: dishwashing, painting, clay work, polishing objects such as wood, silver, and brass, plant care, flower arranging, and so much more. It's a lively area with a busy hum about it. 

Our Waldorf inspired play area. Because we know that creative/imaginative play is important as well. Children grow through purposeful activity.  It's our hope to provide an environment filled to the brim with purposeful actiivity. 

In the imaginative/creative play area, we decorated the wall with the beautiful and calming water color paintings by Ruth Elsaesser. We purchased them from Nova Natural. 

The mobile is placed in our infant area. Primarily, it provides a beautiful dance of color and shape for the babies while lying down. But also adds another level of beauty and calmness for all to appreciate. The framed black and white cards from Wee Gallery  will be rotated so that the babies have a variety of simple, yet beautiful images to admire. At home, Beatrix has had these cards attached to a wire mobile. She's spent hours laying underneath the black and white images excitedly watching as the animals drifted in and out of her view.  

The geometric solids introduce the scientific language of basic geometric shapes such as sphere, cube, ovoid, ellipsoid, cone, etc. Through games, children learn to feel the shape (without looking) and associate the name to it. They are challenged to find these shapes within the room, then within nature. Soon, they discover that these basic shapes are the foundation of nature's design. And indeed, our world is complex, yet simple!  

Where children come to reflect after working or playing. Our quiet corner is a place to snuggle up with a good book or to listen to classical, jazz, folk, (and perhaps some Beatles or Johnny Cash thrown in there - the possibilities are endless!) It can also be a place where the child can choose to do nothing. Just, sit and watch, and take it all in!  

I hope to post more about our space as time moves forward. We have so many ideas on how to insure that this place truly becomes a home away from home for little children. A place where children are allowed to slow down, to be present, to blossom into the people they were meant to be, where they can discover beauty within themselves, others,  and in the world around them. Thank you for stopping by!  

Rolling and grabbing

Beatrix is growing very much these days. She is no longer a helpless newborn infant. Her skill set grows larger each day, it seems. This girl has an agenda in mind. She is eager to taste and touch every piece of this world that she can get her hands on. Almost two weeks ago, she rolled over for the very first time from back to tummy. She waited several days to do it again. But now, I profess her to be a fluent roller. She's sitting up in tripod pose and longing to grab everything in sight. Just a little more balancing and she'll master this all important milestone. The other day, she was sitting in her bumbo, knawing on her bird mobile. Um...okay, time to hang a grasping toy, I suppose.

She loves books.  This was us a few nights ago at a time when she use to be reliably asleep.

The little infant who was such a champion night sleeper has been waking up every three hours. She nibbles at her milk as she is so preoccupied with everything around her. I really believe that she is so enthusiastic about the world that she just can't sleep for those long stretches like she use to. She is even beginning to cling to me as I carry her around the house. It's so adorable. 

Life around these parts is good. We could use more rain, less heat. But overall, we are basking in joy that this little girl shines on us each day. Even in the exhausted wee hours of the morning, as I roll over to reach for her or as I scoop her up from the hammock - she flashes that knock out smile and I'm there. Awake and sucked in. 

old friends, their babies, and 500 miles

I'm lucky to live 20 minutes away from my childhood best friend.  Together, we've experienced many sweet, tragic, goofy, honest, and funny moments through our 20+ years of friendship.  She's the one that I use to call on the phone and spend hours talking with and sometimes, as odd as it sounds now, not talking.  We'd just hang out together over the phone.  Crazy. I can't imagine having that much time on my hands now... Over the years, we've drifted in and out of each other's lives, but we never really left each other's hearts. I can't say how comforting it is to have people like that in my life. As if she were a family member, she knows my story, my family, my roots. How fun it was to take a road trip with her and her little girl, Kate - even though her lack promptness leaves me astounded! After all these years, I discover all over again, that she still runs reliably, severely late. We made our way back to our small hometown in Louisiana in a record long driving time - 12 hours! And a trip back to our mother land - so to speak - couldn't be complete without some embarrassing 80's music, Shipley do-nuts, and a stop at Wal-Mart. 

"Daddy, I know what this looks like - but, I promise, I stayed buckled the whole trip," defends Baby Bea.

Kristie was a good road trip partner. She was just as excited as I was at the sight of Shipley's donut shop.

With a good camera, you too can capture sweet and intimate looking shots such as this one in do-nut shops located along the the feeder road of I-10 in Houston. 

A journey worth taking. This granny (and big cuz) were both so thrilled to hang out with their little Bea.