Friday, December 19, 2008

what do you think of this one?

Click on the image to read the column. Yeah- just add "hearing it from your own parents" to the columnist's answer and you'll have a day in the life over here!

The thing that's left out are the wonderfully warm and cuddly moments. Such as Paloma singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star. Wonder... what... girl... DOINNNNNG!!!" (Her hilarious take on the song. She knows a star is a ball of gas, thankyouverymuch. The star must be wondering about her!) Anyhoo. On to the column. Thoughts?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

parkour?

I've learned over the years that I'm a pretty physical person. Ehh, ok, so the past few years I've been pregnant or recovering from being pregnant. But in general, I'm happiest when I'm running or dancing or hiking. A lot.

I used to take dance six times a week with a notorious and fantastic drill-sergeant-y teacher, Reginald Ray Savage. This was years ago, but my body still remembers how good it was. More importantly, my mind still remembers the confidence engaging in that sort of movement. I still retain this comfortable confidence in my body's abilities because I survived those classes. And even enjoyed them. :)

So then I left the area to go to law school, and came back, got married, had kids, la la la. I went to dance in DC (where I went to law school) but it was not the same. I practiced yoga and I still enjoy that, but there's a different kind of physicality to that. I even tried surfing and also was an editor at Surf Life for Women (RIP). And being pregnant kind of thwarted my efforts (although it didn't have to-- there are tons of perfectly healthy pregnant women who take class).

Now I live not quite close enough to my old studio and am not quite in that era of life where I can go to class six times a week, two to four hours at a time. But in the back of my head, I was remembering that my brother in law Sam had said that the chase scene in "Casino Royale" had a name, that it was a form of martial art or a sport.

Why did this random piece of info stick in my head and float up now? Who knows. Anyhoo, a bit of googling revealed that the chase scene features parkour, which is about getting from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. It may also be known as free running, which has come to mean something a little more aesthetic, focusing less on the efficiency and more on the freedom aspect.

It also keeps a focused, committed, calm mindset front and center, which is essential for any physical practice I undertake. In fact, I associate this mindset with what I developed in Savage's jazz class and what I did in labor and delivery.

So that's why I'm interested in this sport that looks like it's just for 15 year old skater boys. It's simple, very physical and can be beautiful (see that Casino Royale scene again). Anyone else doing this? Interested?

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

wistful

I had my postpartum appointment today, which wraps up my hospital visits in connection with this last pregnancy.

Although the appointment went well, I felt a little sad and wistful. This is the end of an era, so to speak, since we're planning to have just two. The last postpartum appointment seems to mark that with such finality.

Maybe I'm just feeling wistful that pregnancy is over and postpartum is coming to an end, because I associate those times with feeling (if not being) liberated from outside concerns. Not that things like work and family didn't affect me, because of course they do! But just that I allowed myself to really honor my own priorities without guilt. Priorities that ranged from my health, happiness, my babies' health and happiness to my career, to D's career. I let my priorities shift as I saw fit, instead of feeling constrained by what others wanted or might have (or might not have) thought.

This is, I suppose, something I can continue. That was a great gift of pregnancy for me, to feel free to live life just exactly as I felt was most healthy for me at that moment. Now I just have to work harder to hold onto that lesson/gift -- without being pregnant! But what a wonderful lesson/gift. I do think this is one way, of many, that pregnancy and parenthood changed me for the better.

Monday, December 08, 2008

etsy review: woodmouse

Here I am, touting etsy.com again. With good reason-- it's the best shopping on the nets. One of a kind, custom made clothes; vintage items; all sorts of well-crafted items.

This video is a beautiful window into the process of an artist at work. Amber, aka "Woodmouse" on etsy, shares her philosophy that simple, open-ended toys (i.e., toys that aren't made for a specific purpose but allow the child to decide how to use them) are best. Her toys are endearing wooden figures inspired by a child's crayon drawings.

They're also going *fast.* Her shop is very popular and is also closing at the new year. She probably has even more fabulous stuff in the works, but until we get to see what that's all about, grab your Woodmouse toys now!


Friday, December 05, 2008

well, obviously

I cannot resist posting this. Being hugely against Prop. 8, hugely for comedy and secretly for cheesy comedic musicals (of which there are far too few of quality), how could I not post this? Enjoy!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

your energy levels?

Ok, I'm in week 6 postpartum. It's going pretty well, I think-- my recovery in the past week seems to have picked up. I think the healing process is moving right along. I've got my postpartum check up in a couple weeks and I think, HALLELUJAH, I won't have to face the nightmare of silver nitrate on any leftover wounds.

(Last time, I had to have silver nitrate to close up some tears that persisted, and holy hell did that stuff knock the wind out of me. I seriously preferred the freaking ring of fire and childbirth to the burning of silver nitrate.)

I have no idea why I'm getting this energy spurt (you might notice my more regular blog postings!). Here's what I'm doing that might be helping:

- taking the prenatal vitamins
- taking an omega 3
- taking lecithin (to avoid plugged ducts, which haven't been an issue this time around)
- getting out and about little by little
- trying to stretch a little more
- keeping a list of things to get done and enjoying checking things off
- trying to maintain good relations with family

That last one might be the real winner of the list. It's requiring a lot of deep breathing and a complete and total embrace of Buddhist principles like lovingkindess and non-attachment, but maybe it's freeing up a lot more energy than I thought.

Hey, birth mamas out there: did you have a similar energy spurt postpartum? And *did it last*??

Honestly, I feel like right now I have more energy NOW than I did pre-pregnancy. ?! Whatever this is, I want to keep it going. (And give some hope to other mamas out there that it's possible to feel good postpartum!) Anybody else experience this? How do you all keep your energy up?

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

blog props

Today's Blog Props go to:

Margaret and Helen!

If you haven't met these two bloggers, I highly highly recommend. I don't want to be like them when I get older-- I want to be like them right now.

They are best friends, in their golden years, smart, left-leaning, and *hilarious.* They say just what they're thinking (and because they're smart, it's good thinking). Lots of political commentary and state-of-the-neighborhood/state/nation/world ramblings.

Margaret and Helen get tons of comments, too. You get a sense of what people from around the country (that would include both Real America AND Fake America!) think. Their frank, honest, no-nonsense style seems to inspire the same in the comments. HOORAY!

Monday, December 01, 2008

empathy

It's gratifying and downright beautiful to see empathy developing and emerging in Paloma. The other day Derek was reading to her from her Clifford the Big Red Dog book. There's a part where someone throws a shoe at him. Clifford's feelings are hurt. Paloma's eyes filled up with tears! We were so moved by her sensitivity. It's such a good and healthy thing to see how she shares her feelings fearlessly.