It is Back

Have I shared this before? It is old but it is so fabulous that I just have to make sure that you've seen it. This is a TED talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love. It is one of the most inspiring, touching talks on the creative process that I've ever encountered. Please watch it if you haven't already!

Nurturing Creativity

I have returned to my book revisions after a couple months of ignoring it. I had to put it away for a while and wasn't really sure if I would ever come back to it. I told people I would get back to it in the New Year but really, I wasn't sure that I would. I was maxed out and frustrated and I felt like I was up against a wall - not knowing how to carve and shape it into something worthwhile.

But it has nagged at me and ideas have begun to visit me - mostly in the dark of night when I am half asleep/half awake and not thinking quite clearly. Little bits of conversation or character traits begin to drift through my awareness.

So I am back to it now - doing a total re-write and eliminating a whole main character. She got me to start writing the book but it wasn't long before someone else showed up and took over. And that second someone else (a character I first started writing about when I was a teenager) is where the real juice is for me. And I am following her.

I am in the grips again.

Christmas Glimpses

Gingerbread man that Satvinder decorated - his limbs did not last long.

This may be the last year for a Santa pic - we'll see. Satvinder and our friend, Elia, agreed to do a picture with Santa to appease me and give Sukhjot the experience. Satvinder figured out the Santa myth quite some time ago. And she has been rather disgusted with us for supporting such a "lie." I talked to her about being the keeper of the legend, sharing and supporting the story as a way to bring the feeling of magic and wonder and the underlying lesson of giving from the heart. She just looked at me and said, "But it is a lie." She doesn't want to tell Sukhjot the lie. She wants no part of it. Satvinder's name does mean "spreads truth" so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

It has brought me to evaluate my attachment to the story. I wanted it for her because I enjoyed it as a child. But Satvinder never really got into it, she always questioned it, and now she says, "Why not just talk about giving and sharing instead of telling the story?" It has brought me to realize there is a lot of magic in wonder in the reality. We give love and gifts and time together. And that is a beautiful thing.

So Santa. We'll see. I'm fine with putting that ritual to rest. We can find rituals that have more meaning for the actual people involved. But for now, I like the picture. I like that the kids are not dressed up in velvet Christmas clothes - they are just themselves. I like that they have their own funny expressions. And I like that, despite not being into Santa themselves, they were sweet enough to take some funny Santa picture to make me smile.

Christmas tree at my in-laws' house in Flagstaff. Please notice the door with the big red ribbon. They prepared and painted that door for our house - to replace our rotting back door. This new door pleases me greatly.

Opening presents

Breakfast on Christmas morning - home made cinnamon rolls. The recipe uses cottage cheese, which made for the most moist and perfect cinnamon rolls I have ever tasted.

Wishing you all a cozy, peaceful, and happy holiday.

Laughter

Satvinder & Sukhjot: Laughter Video

It makes me smile.

One Year

Sukhjot turned one year old on December 2nd. That day we flew, with our CA family plus my mom, from California (where we'd been visiting over Thanksgiving) to Texas (for a quick visit and family reunion.) Nine of us on the same flight - welcomed into the loving arms of the Texas family. Sukhjot was serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by a room full of family when we got to Austin.

This has been a busy week, after returning home from two weeks of travel. Just this week Sukhjot waved for the first time (her first wave was to her Mimi as we left my mom's house in Austin), she said, "hi" for the first time, and her very first tooth (finally!) has peeked out from her little gummy mouth.

This one year milestone paired with visiting family (many who I hadn't seen in 10+ years) has really left me reeling with the feeling of "Wow. It is all going by so fast." Life. Life is so fast. Honestly, it has hit me so hard that I almost don't know how to process it. So instead, I'm just trying to take in every moment, taste it as fully as I can, and be grateful for what is.

It reminds me of the Dr. Suess quote, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." These girls, this life, friends and family give me so much to smile about.

Sukhjot in the deep tub at my brother Mike's house in California. Aaahhhh...nice, deep tub for nice, deep baths.

Satvinder and Sukhjot at the family reunion/Christmas party where over 60 people from my dad's side of the family got together.

Sukhjot with my brother Bill in Austin...sitting on a rooster with a cowgirl hat on.

"Babys are Better" by Satvinder

(Click on image to see a bigger view)

Birthday Party Glimpses

3 Snow Princesses: Satvinder and two of her new friends from school, Piper (L) and Sophia Rose (R). Befriending these two has helped her school outlook a lot.

Sukhjot and baby friend, Narayan. I think she was longingly eying the keys he had in hand. (Sukhjot's outfit was picked by Satvinder months ago - it was requested that she wear a white dress and kitty ears. And so she did.)

Making bookmarks - they got books as party favors. Because we are book people around here.

Lining up for the snow ball hunt - it was hard to get pictures of the actual event because the kids were moving so fast to find the snow balls. The finding of the snowballs was over in a flash - most of them scooped up in 60 seconds. But then the kids got to unwrap all their snow balls and see the little presents they got. And that seemed to be a hit. (YAY!)

Pin the hat on the snowman.

Satvinder receiving her birthday song. She told me later that she felt a little weird - not sure what to do while everybody sang to her (explains the expression.) She is not a fan of cake so we did ice cream with toppings.

Kids getting their toppings. One of our favorite dessert places is Yogurtology - where you self serve your yogurt and toppings, getting as much or as little as you want and picking exactly what is to your liking. So we aimed for the same idea here.

Success: A fun day with lots of great people and a happy birthday girl!

Winter Wonderlanding

Today has been for "winter-wonderlanding" our house - making it ready for Satvinder's Winter Wonderland birthday party, which is tomorrow. I was burning up and sweating as I taped snow flakes around the back yard and hung the "pin the hat on the snowman" poster.

Even so, this poem by Robert Frost has come to mind:

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

At this point, I am very much relating to those last three lines. Still so much to do. And, with or without a party, there are always so many miles to go before I ever get to sleep. (Sukhjot wakes up more frequently than a newborn these days and sleep deprivation is just a part of life now.)

I keep meaning to write on here about the funny things Satvinder says or the cute things Sukhjot does. What was it Satvinder said? See, now I'm sitting here, ready to type and I've forgotten.

Oh, one thing recently was: "Oh for goodness sake, Sukhjot! How are you so cute?" And one of her favorite words has become "asinine," which is funny to me. Asinine! Everything is asinine now.

And Sukhjot has recently gotten into pointing. Her little pointer finger is busy pointing at so many interesting things in this world.

Satvinder reading and hooping - because it is not enough to do just one.

Baby

Sixty-something snow ball presents (they look like snow balls, right? Please say yes or, at least, sort of.) This is for a snow ball hunt - same idea as an Easter egg hunt but with little gifts wrapped in tissue paper. Hopefully it will amuse the kids for five minutes - it took me hours to make. haha.

11 Months

The happy-maker turns 11 months old today! Everywhere we go, people bubble with joy just at the sight of her. She is like magic. Magic!

That doesn't mean she has any hesitation to yell at us when she doesn't approve of what we are doing. No, she is has no problem speaking her mind - even if it is in munchkin speak. Baby gates...oh, you are gonna get it! Fishing the precious bits out of her mouth that she has managed to pick off the floor (even after I've just swept!)...there will be words had. Sister restraining her as they disagree over the proper possession of a toy...you get the idea.

But she's funny and bright and adorable. And she still has her little gummy baby smile - no teeth yet.

Gnawing on a pizza crust - she doesn't ingest much (with the not having teeth) but she really likes to gum it.

Today is the Day

Satvinder is so excited that she got dressed three hours early. But that has given plenty opportunity for picture taking. She is dressed as a snow princess and the baby is a kitten.

Happy Halloween, everybody!

Halloween Week

I've been doing a lot of yard work. Mostly it has been destruction - the cutting and removal of large bushes. It leaves our yard looking stark but spacious. Yesterday, I took a break from the demolition and, instead, planted a succulent garden. This is just the beginning...

Satvinder and I carved pumpkins the other day. My big victory was getting her to actually touch the pumpkin innards. She thought it was gross and smelly but liked the end result.

Kids and happy face pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. The baby's hat was just for show - it is actually 85 degrees here today.

Full

This week's highlights were the two birth related conferences that Sukhjot and I attended. I'm feeling inspired from being around so many women who love birth and are passionate about bringing the next generations to our planet in peace and love. Just think about how the world would change if every baby came to life being wanted and loved and welcomed respectfully.

Sukhjot at the midwifery conference on Thursday - with our friend, Nirmal. Sukhjot was quite pleased with the experience of sitting on a tricycle.

Me and the the girls today

This week leaves me feeling as full as last night's moon.

She loves the dishwasher

More Entertainment

Delighting the baby with a sister face at the back door window.

Satvinder got this doll house as an early birthday present. (Thanks, Mimi!) We couldn't hide it anywhere in our house so Satvinder got an early start. (And that's fine by her...if she had it her way, she'd be celebrating her birthday year round.) Sukhjot likes it too. Satvinder incorporates her by saying she is a "baby giant" that shows up in the Barbie world sometimes. It makes sense - Sukhjot does like to chew on Barbie feet.

Stack. Knock Over. Laugh. Repeat.

Children as Spiritual Teachers

My latest post for www.Yogamint.com acknowledges our children as amazing teachers. As parents, we are so focused on what we need to teach our kids - meanwhile, they are teaching us all kinds of lessons just by their existence and reflection. They may be tiny but they are powerful in their push for growth.

Here's the post: Little Buddhas

Cuteness Overload

My clever husband made this picture - for those of us who just can't get enough of Sukhjot. (click on the picture to see a bigger view)

Glimpses

Here is a short video of Sukhjot taking a step. Learning to Step. This video is from a few days ago. Since then she's already learning to do 2-3 steps at at time.

Satvinder making chocolate chip cookie bars the other night

Sukhjot loves this pig. It is Satvinder's pig but luckily they have been willing to share.

The start of our little fall garden.

10 Months

10 Months now. She says "Ma Ma" for me and "Bah Bah" for Mangala Sadhu Sangeet. She steps. Her crawl is fast as lightening. Exploration: every cabinet, tiny spaces between pieces of furniture, inside my mouth and behind my teeth. She wants to know about it all.

She does not want to sleep. She wants to go and go and go.

And so she does - with a smile on her lips and joy in her eyes.

My Favorite Things

Tonight I can't stop singing My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music. I also love this version that I discovered recently. My life is full of wonderful things - big and small.

Sukhjot took her first step today! I didn't get a picture of the actual event - in the moment, we were both just immersed in the laughter and delight. This is a 'standing around banging on electronics' picture.

The Trax Mix Formerly Known as 'Peanut Butter Cup Trax Mix': I woke up to find this bag had the peanut butter cup part neatly blocked out to indicate my husband had eaten them all during the night. Funny that he ate all the candy and left the rest. Funny that he altered the bag to identify it properly. Funny that he did it in such tidy, precise blocks and just silently left it there for me to find. He cracks me up.

One of Satvinder's recent drawings: the blond with the tiara is her. The boy (that she connects to with a heart) is a boy in her class that she thinks is "soooo cute." Please notice how she is moving away from stick figures and towards the pincher claw variety of humans.

These are a few of my favorite things.

Soft Tiles

When I bought these Soft Tiles recently, I thought I was getting them to make a soft floor area for the baby so she would stop banging herself up on the hard tile floor. I was quickly alerted to their other purpose when they arrived and Satvinder started making stuff with them. She mostly makes containers to put her sister in - but she's really had unstoppable creative inspiration with these things. Who knew?

Here's a video of a "candy shop" Satvinder made. Her associate was not quite so enthusiastic about selling candy. In fact, if you listen closely you might hear her saying, "Mama, save me! Don't you know about the child labor laws?" Candy Shop Video

And some pictures of a few of Satvinder's other creations that I happened to take pictures of:

 

Yet another way to put a baby in a box

The Soft Tile Cave was not really a win in Sukhjot's book but I thought it was pretty neat.

This was kind of like a Soft Tile Corral.
Satvinder put her sister in the corral while she had a snack at the table. Sukhjot didn't mind - apparently Soft Tiles taste good too.

Meanwhile...

Sukhjot is emptying out the recycling bin.

And also...

Guess who else is writing a book? Satvinder has started her own writing (and illustration) project called Harry Potter: 100 Facts by Satvinder, age 6. Here is a sampling of some of her pages:

Fact 1: Harry is a pure blood but was raised with muggles.

Fact 2: Harry finds out he is a wizard because of Hagrid. Fact 3: Hagrid showed Harry Diagon Alley.

Oh, snap.