Can you imagine...

Can you imagine...I got to go running under the shining sun this morning while Johari finished getting her beauty rest and her grandma waited to welcome her in her arrival to consciousness. And it all worked out well. I ran up to the house and they were looking out the window waving at me. I didn't do so badly on the run either. I can't say I dig the uphill much in my lack of conditioning but the rest of it felt good. I kept saying to myself, I wish I could do this every day or every other day.
Yesterday, we spent part of the day across the street playing with our friends there, Julia, Emma, Joey, Twitney, and Huong. Johari loves to say "EmmaEmmaEmmaEmma". Julia and her play together very sweetly.

Julia

Then we went to the beach in the afternoon. The tide was very low. We got to take off our shoes and wander in the sand and along the water's edge. Johari had a blast. It was such peaceful play. Then we made it back there this evening with Lua. We collected seaweed and filled the bucket with sand. Johari painted my arms with wet sand.

Baby sunbathing

I want to see it

We have had a lovely week so far. We have gotten to hang out with friends throughout the week. Carmel came over a couple of evenings to play. We took her to the mall playground on Monday and Johari wanted to hug her and hold on to her much of the time they were there. We also got to check out a very kid-friendly cafe. Basically this idea that I thought up about a year ago already exists in Seattle. A cafe where half of it is a play area full of toys and books and couches and a kids' menu. We hung out there with Stacy, Ishmael, and Ibrahim. It was a nice time. We also got to play with Cheryl and Jordan one evening this week!! It had been a while since we had really hung out. We made it back to Carkeek Park today with Stacy and the boys. We had a picnic. With a blanket and everything. A little chilly but we just kept layering on. We were waiting for the sun to shine on us. And it finally came out later in the afternoon.
Here is Johari's art project the other day. One green marker can decorate a lot.

Mama becomes the palette

I thought we were both making this face but apparently not on camera.

I got my taxes done in time. It is always good to get these types of annoyances out of the way. To drop it in the mail and no longer procrastinate on getting it done even though it is pretty basic.
Johari's favorite phrase in the last couple days is, "I want to see it."
She likes to sing songs. She tells me which one we are going to sing. Her current top 3 list is a raindrop song. Row, row, row your boat with Wiggleworm variations. She likes to sing only 2 verses of Wheels on the Bus song-- "the babies on the bus go Wah Wah Wah..." and "the mama's on the bus go Shhh Shhh Shhh". And then you can't switch between these 2 verses fast enough. When you are on one, she already jumping into the other verse. Sometimes Twinkle Little Star makes the charts.
This evening, Johari and Grandma were reading this book called Clap Your Hands together and doing all of the things it tells you to do. It was the first time I had seen her really into acting out each line herself. It was very cool and fun to watch!
People tell me that she is communicating more and more when they haven't seen her in a few weeks. I notice but I don't always realize how much changes over just a few weeks because I am just observing the daily learnings.
Johari likes to say 'Hi' and talk to people on the phone. Well, let me amend that statement...she only likes it if it is speaker phone. Well, maybe she still likes it if it is not speaker phone but is not as likely to hold up her end of the conversation if it is not on speaker phone.
She has also been working on walking down and up the stairs without holding on to anything. She is not complete in the process yet, but practicing it more and more. I realized how hard it is really to step up our size steps just using their small legs and leg power. That is not easy! A friend of mine compared it to us trying to step up onto a step that was as tall as our thigh or so. That takes some serious strength to do without holding onto something to help us pull up.
I was thinking the other day about how attached we (in general as people, maybe particularly in our society) are so attached to judging every aspect of everything and especially with children but definitely not limited to those scenarios at all. Everything has to be evaluated to be pretty, nice, delicious, disgusting, not pleasant, boring, ugly, bad, good, and on and on and on. I started to think about when I was having a little mental talk about people always telling Johari that she looks nice or she is pretty or she has on a good outfit. But then my mind wheels started spinning about this. Especially in connection to this whole concept of getting rid of praise. I tried to notice how many statements seemed to be a judgment that came out of my mouth as well as the statements floating out of others' mouths. I started to think about how attached we are to needing to put our judgment into the world and using the negative ones to be the victim of something. I am not in any way suggesting that we should get rid of evaluation and judgment. We all have our opinions and our tastes and so on. I want to be more conscious about which ones really have some benefit in communication and which ones are just trying to impose our views onto others. There is sharing and then there is the other side of putting it out there with an expectation of others or a story that we hold on to with the judgment. I don't think this will be easy for me, but I want to be more aware about it.
Today while we were at the park, I overheard a mother telling her child, "Don't fall." I thought to myself, this seems like a normal thing for a parent to say to a kid, but then what the heck does this mean. What is she really saying, "Be careful." "That looks dangerous." "I am nervous about you walking on that." "It makes me feel uncomfortable to see you in such a vulnerable position." But she said, "Don't fall." What if the kid falls... would she say, "I told you not to fall! And you just went ahead and fell."

parks, great people and the pool

On Wednesday, we met some new friends, Stacy (the mama), Ishmael and baby Ibrahim at Carkeek Park in Seattle. It is an awesome park because you drive a few minutes down a windy road out of a Seattle neighborhood and you are suddenly in the wilderness, but still in Seattle! The park is full of trails through the woods. Hills. Fields. A great playground. A bridge to the beach over the train tracks. A nice stretch of beach. A park that I think we could spend our whole days at if we brought enough food and if napping wasn't necessary. We both had a wonderful time hanging out with our new friends. They are great! I feel so completely fortunate to be meeting such awesome people. People that I feel like are on the same page as me in so many ways. What a treasure find! It was a wonderful day. And the sun shone on us! My face was a bit sunburnt. I forgot to watch out for that. But the sun did feel delicious. Johari seemed to be into eating the sticks and bark of the park. She made some bark soup and spooned it up. She also wanted to eat the bubbles from the bubble stick. When asked if these things are delicious, she would reply with a smile, "yeah!"

Ishmael and Johari on the playground

Johari and Ibrahim chillin' in the grass

The next day, we went the playground at Greenlake. Then, Grandma came and met us for some lunch then we got back to the playground for a bit. Johari really likes the sand. We met a nice mama and baby in the cafe, Erin and Eden. Johari loves to check out the babies. We are lucky that we can find so many around us to fill her appetite for the baby love. Hopefully, we will purposefully run into them in the future.

Serving me pretend cooked apples from behind bars

Last night, Johari got interested in doing her puzzles for the first time while she was playing with her Grandma. She has mingled with the puzzles a little bit in the past but last night she was really putting the pieces in. And she got them out to work on them again this afternoon. Just a spontaneous sort of thing. It goes to show that it is really not necessary to "teach puzzles" or be concerned with her learning how to do puzzles. These things will all come in their own time or not and of her own accord. It sounds kind of funny when I read over those lines. Like a bit ridiculous, nonetheless something that I was thinking about while she was doing them.
Johari has been climbing up into her car seat on her own. I notice little bits of independence pop up every day. It is so awesome to watch.
Last night, we had another late night outing to the bookstore. A nice hang out. There is a train table in the kids section that she has really taken to playing with. A book I have been wanting for her was on the bargain rack!!! At almost a third of its cover price. How lucky!
One night for dessert, ice cream and olives. A bite of one and then the other! Maybe it is actually a delectable treat that we haven't discovered yet. Feel free to try it out, yourself.
Today we went to the indoor pool since it was a rainy day. We had to wait to get in because of all the spring break children. We had a good time. There is something that is a mystery to me though. Whenever I go to a swimming pool, I come away from it ravenous!!!! Like I can really eat something up. And seeing as I was only hanging out in the kiddie section with Johari. We weren't running around or anything, I can't attribute it to exertion. What is it about a swimming pool that can make me feel so hungry afterwards? Does anyone else have that experience?

A poem with shoes on

So this poem has come up a few times in my life recently from different places and people. And I think about it often. So I would like to share it here and share in the thinking about it as we parent and relate to children and learn about ourselves and the children in the world.

It is from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your
dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that
His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
-Khalil Gibran

(A couple years ago, a different Khalil Gibran poem about marriage popped up from different places. I don't mind if his words keep finding there way into my life and thoughts. I like them and can relate to them.)
Johari has put on her own shoes a couple of times now. Both times the left was on the right and the right on the left. We just rolled with it that way. Who is really to decide which shoe should go on which foot? As long as she is comfortable and able to accomplish it of her own accord!! It looks funny to my mind's eye to see the feet looking like they are going to head off in different directions, but developing independence is a beautiful thing.
Yesterday night she wanted to get out of the house late at night and go for a walk with her stuffed animal dog and her baby doll. As we were passing by our car, she decided she wanted to roll out. So I started driving not sure where we should head to, when everything is closed or closing at 9 o'clock at night. But we ended up passing by Barnes and Noble and she said that she wanted to go in. We looked at books and played around with things in the children's section. We are getting to know the woman that works that section some nights.

Miss McGillicutty and a fun day

We really packed in the activities today. We kicked it off with Johari's first dentist visit. I was not looking forward to it. Luckily, it was short. Mainly, just a quick scan of her teeth. The teeth checked out fine. A lovely set of pearly whites!

The sticker from the dentist well-placed!

Then we tried out another new park for us. It had a bit of wooded area and grassy fields and a nice playground.

Johari had a midday nap and then we headed to the zoo. We checked out more animals this time. First, we had to check in with the baby gorilla and she and her mama were as cute as ever. Then, we tried the carousel. She rode a horse that happened to be named Miss McGillicutty. Funny because there are times when I use that as a random term of endearment for Johari. Then we checked out bears, orangutans, monkeys and pythons!

Johari and Miss McGillicutty (her horse)

On the carousel with the joy of black raspberries on her face

After the zoo, we headed to the beach close to where we live, Picnic Point. It was windy and cool but full of sunshine! Played in the sand. Threw rocks in the water and ate snacks.
This evening the FedEx guy delivered a horse for Johari from her Grandpa in Montana. Very cool. She rode around on her horse tonight. She has been a naked bundle of fun this evening.

Bedhead that lasted all day. And I kind of like what the bed did this time.

Do olives have any nutritional value? Johari loves them. She can feast on some Kalmata olives. I didn't start liking olives until I was about 30! I guess I was just in time to love olives along with Johari. The other afternoon, she only wanted to snack on olives and popcorn!

parks and good fortunes

Walking the dogs in the woods

Pants got wet on the slide!!

This morning we went to a park we had never been to before with Grandpa Marvin and the dogs. McCullomb Park. It is nice because not only can you take a nice walk in the woods, there is a great playground there as well. First, we walked the dog through the woods a bit. Then, we hit the playground. We had the playground to ourselves for a bit and then more and more girls of all ages kept showing up. Johari seemed to want the place for herself. I am not sure what was going on for her there. I guess she had just enjoyed pretend cooking apples for us before the various crews of girls arrived.

Tryin' on Grandpa's gloves

Adventures with lotion!

The other day, I gave Johari a fortune cookie while we were picking up some teriyaki chicken!! She gnawed on it for a bit and then I opened it up for her. Her fortune read...
"You are a leader. Others soon will need your inspiration." I thought that was a great fortune for her to get.
I have begun listening to Naomi Aldort's CD series from series of workshops she did called "Trusting Our Children, Trusting Ourselves." It makes me think about all kinds of stuff concerning my own growth as a child, raising Johari, education, the impact of so many commonly accepted ways of treating children and on and on.
The other day, Johari said "Thank you" when I wiped her snotty nose for her. I couldn't believe it. I mean she REALLY doesn't like getting her nose wiped. But since she has been more snotty lately she has been a bit more accepting of it. In fact she talks about her boogers in her nose now. She informs me when she is aware of having lots of boogers in there. And she has even shown me her nose a few times so I could check them out.

Johari often says she wants to go to the "store" now. When we are out and about or when she is itching to get out. I didn't really think she even liked being in the store that much but apparently I have already passed some materialism on to her. When it is bad weather though, sometimes that is the cheapest outing. We have to hit the parks and beaches and playgrounds more!! I thought we hit them pretty often. Sometimes we have gone to the playground a couple times in the day. Or maybe there is just something fun about the "store".

zoo, sick house, book reading

Lookin' at the Mama Giraffe and her 2 kids

Mama and Kiddo sweetly neckin'

Watching Mama Gorilla and her baby...getting nyo-nyo's???

Sliding down at the Zoomazium indoor playground

Well we started the week off by getting to the zoo on a beautiful day. We saw the 5 month old baby gorilla a couple of times which was wonderful. The gorillas are my favorite. And to get to watch this adorable baby gorilla with her fantastic mama was awesome. The baby rides on her mama's arm. Mama is highly protective of the baby. The baby can't stray more than a few feet from Mama's arms.
Then, the rest of the week we have been enshrouded in illness. I think everyone in the house was ill this week including dogs. Johari was totally out of it on Wednesday. She had a fever and slept in my arms the whole day while Grandma and Grandpa stayed upstairs with their stomach flu. Then it was my turn to have the stomach bug on Thursday, but I anticipated it's arrival and managed it pretty well by not consuming much besides toast, saltines and apple sauce. I think we are all on the mend. Not at 100% but working our way there. And it is snowing today!!!! It would be nice to get out for a walk while we are feeling a bit better but so far the snow falling is keeping us in.
I don't really watch TV. But for the past couple days it seems that was most of what I did. I got to see a few of the shows that people talk about when I go to playdates and have no clue what they are referring to. I went to a playdate a few weeks ago and 2 of the mamas were talking about this couple that had twins and then had sextuplets. And the way they spoke of the couple I thought they both knew them. Come to find out it is a reality show about this couple and all their kiddos. So now I am in the loop a tinsy weensy bit.
I finished reading Three Cups of Tea this past week. It was good. Very inspiring and thought-provoking. For one, I thought about how Greg Mortenson empowered so many girls in these rural parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan by focusing and stressing the importance of education for the girls. Then, I juxtapose that with my critique of formal education when I think about what I may want for Johari's education. How I could come to believe that it is so empowering for some and think that in many ways it is so disempowering for others. The other topic that the book made me think a whole lot about was how powerful and unifying Greg's work is to people of these countries which the U.S. just attacks and destroys in the name of fighting terrorism. Where empowering people through education, sustainable work, healthcare and a good water supply is far more anti-terrorist than war. But then again, I guess that is not what these wars are really about. It is more of a fight for control of resources and land with the guise of anti-terrorism and freedom-fighting.
Now, I have begun to read Eat, Pray, Love. I am definitely enjoying it so far.

beach in the evening

We went to the beach this evening. It was a beautiful day. Sunny. About 50. In the evening we went to the beach to play in the sand and remembered to bring the bucket and shovel this time. Hyon, Lua, Jung Gyu and Sung Jin met us there. Everyone enjoyed looking for treasures, sifting through sand and rocks, filling the bucket, throwing rocks in the water, and eating apples.
My camera died soon after we got there so I didn't get to snap away like I wanted to.

a little bit of fun laughter

I had never posted a video clip before. It took quite a while to upload it. But I think this one of her laugh is also cute. So I think I will try to share it as well.

that....three four....high heels

Hey!! Check out this look!

Johari found the box of zip loc baggies. She decided to wear them as shoes for a bit. A new stilo!!!

This is a new look that she uses often now. The furrowing of her brows! I am not sure if she came up with it herself or if it is a reflection of how I look often. I am sure you all that know me well, know which one it is .

Last weekend, we went to Carmel's first birthday bash. And it was definitely a BASH!!! Huge. Johari found some play high heels. First she found only one. She seemed to walk quite well in it. I figured it was because she still had some grounding with the non-high heel foot. But then this boy, Rowan, found the other high heel and delivered it to Johari to her delight. I thought for sure that would be some falls with 2 high heels on!!! But she was a high heel pro. Unlike her mama who has no interest in any heel!

Johari likes to say "three four" sometimes just "four". I guess 4 is the magic number!!! It is funny because it is in no context or anything. I guess it is just from hearing counting in various places. She is also referring to many things as "that" which makes it difficult to know what she is talking about. She will just point in some general direction and say "that". And then it is mama's time to guess away. 20 questions!!! Or less before it becomes frustrating, probably.
We went to a Naw Ruz (Baha'i and Persian New Year) celebration in Seattle yesterday night. It was fun. After Johari warmed up to the scene she didn't want to leave the dance floor. She really liked to dance and run around and check out the other little kiddos. And discover Trader Joe's triple ginger snaps. Something we both appreciate! She was ready for some late night partying!! Mama got tired before her, but then again she napped on the way there.
I tried to get out and take a jog yesterday. I haven't attempted that in a while. So I was glad to be getting out and trying to syke myself to be able to run for a bit with Johari in the jogging stroller. She let me run for about 8 minutes. Just getting started and then she insisted on getting out and walking her cat (a stuffed animal). One of those mama moments when you just have to talk yourself through surrendering to the moment. Surrendering to what Johari needs. How is mama gonna get in some exercise! In time, it will happen. I have to believe. Somehow, somewhere, some way.