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.