Shirley

My dad wrote this for my grandmother's funeral service, and I love it so much I have decided to keep it here, where I won't lose it. 

"There are delicate, cursive comments at the top left-hand corner of each of Chopin’s Preludes.  The faded, pencil notations still teaching, still illuminating the musical poetry hidden within a jumble of lines, dots, curves, notes… “plaintive mazurka like”, “composer at peace”.  These, and other worn pages of Haydn, Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Bartok, are my most treasured of material gifts my mother left me.  The last several years her fingers could no longer fill the room with joy, sadness, drama, romance, represented in these pieces, but I can still remember.   I am so lucky that such memories flow whenever I bring one of her favorite pieces out. Whether I listen or play.   A Bach Invention, a Mozart Sonata…  But it is the Chopin Nocturnes that capture her spirit.  The subtle melodies embraced by exquisite harmony. 

And how much she did for us.  Our childhood birthday parties were master classes in logistical asset deployment that would have impressed most generals.  Cakes, ice cream, Kool Aid, balloons, games, party favors, and she made every one of our friends feel it was their party.  As Sergeant at Arms she made sure beds were made, chores done, we were out the door to school in time.  As Chief Medical Officer scrapes were properly doused in hydrogen peroxide, band aids applied, feelings soothed, appropriate doses of St Joseph Aspirin given.  As Minister of Education, homework was done, simple as that, report cards scrutinized.  As travel agent, while my Dad was making sure the tires were good, brakes fair, radiator full, my mom made sure the pantry in the camper was properly filled with the important things, chocolate, marsh mellows and graham crackers.  (She didn’t tell us about the Scotch)

Our vacations started before dawn, dad carrying us still snuggled in blankets into the camper.  We woke up to the sun rising over the Mojave Desert, as we headed to the Sierra’s, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Canada, Washington, the Pacific Coast.  Dinners were always delicious (I seem to remember a lot of beans and hot dogs) , cooked on a Coleman Camping Stove, after cleaning our plastic dishes in cold, soapy dishwater we sat around the campfire, smoke in our eyes, watching the embers pop and burn out in the black night sky.  Mom, those nights were epic.  

I was so happy to take her to France, and will always remember her standing at the entrance to Eglise St-Germaine l’Auxerrois in Paris where our great, great…….. great grandmother was baptized in 1645, so happy we had to pull her from the ceiling.  

On holidays everyone was welcome.  As kids we were the luckiest.  Wonderful aunts and uncles and cousins…  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and as we had our own families your grandkids felt your care and love…. And every Christmas Eve will be forever treasured.  

And how proud you made us.   Mom went back to school and graduated from CSUN with a degree in Education.  And we graduated together.  That was awesome.  And she made sure she was at our kid’s graduations, whether it was Arizona, Los Angeles or Tuscaloosa.  

And now her Nocturne is over as the E flat chord lingers  ….  Decrescendo Pianissimo"

 

The Littlest Yogi; A Birth Story

On Friday, February 1st at 11:02 am, our daughter was born.

As an aside, throughout this pregnancy, I had a very intuitive connection to my daughter. I didn't feel like I had this kind of intuition when I was pregnant with my son, so having gut feelings about things that I couldn't let go of throughout this pregnancy was very surreal for me. She told me that she was a girl. She told me her name. I had a gut feeling that she would come a few days before her due date, and that she would be a big girl. I can't tell you how, and I doubted these feelings' legitimacy until I had evidence to prove them, but I felt these things to be true... and then they were.

My final prenatal checkup was Wednesday, January 30th - I was 39 weeks and 2 days. The midwife asked if I would like to be checked and if I would like my membranes stripped. I declined the membrane strip because of what happened last time, but agreed to the cervical check because I was curious. 1 cm dilated and not really effaced. She didn't even tell me a percentage. She just said maybe I was effaced a little, but not really. She remarked that I was the picture of a perfect, healthy pregnant woman, said to set up an appointment for next week, and that she hoped I didn't make it to that appointment.

Yoga Baby 2; 36 Weeks

So... I sorta stopped taking bump photos. I didn't mean to, but it got cold outside, and those little black tank tops were getting too tight (they're mostly size small and I have not felt like going to buy a bigger one). Today baby and I are 36 weeks. It's less than a month to her estimated due date and quite a few things have changed in the last 8 weeks.

Cravings: Yes! Though I don't have a lot of room in my stomach, I have had the same type of "cravings" I had with my first - mostly for sweets, and always after the thought has been planted by some external source - like the Great British Baking Show. I texted my husband and asked if he could stop at the grocery store and pick out a Danish for me... because it was Danish week. Then last night we watched some youtube video of a guy on Tasty trying to hide pickled vegetables inside brownies. Even though I maintain that does not sound good - I immediately made a batch of brownies.

Aversions: Getting better. I'm still not really interested in red meat, but I have been drinking lattes some mornings, which makes me happy.

Nausea: No nausea. Dizziness is back with a vengeance though - always when changing levels (sit to stand, lay down, etc) It started when I had a cold about a week and a half ago and just hasn't let up. Trying to move slowly, and I always brace myself because I'm pretty used to it by now.

Gender: Girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 28 Weeks

Not much has changed pregnancy wise since my last post, but plenty has been going on...

Cravings: I actually don't have much of an appetite most of the time. I'll eat, but I think I've reached the point where I get full very quickly and don't find myself getting very hungry.

Aversions: Just the coffee thing. I've been able to have them out and about - I especially like having coffee at my parents' house, but its a major no-go at home.

Nausea: No nausea. Had another instance of lightheadedness the other day. I was worried I might pass out, so I skipped class that day - didn't want to be so far from home again if I did end up passing out.

Gender: Girl.

Yoga Baby 2: 26 Weeks

14 weeks to go! That seems far too long. Not much has changed since my last update

Cravings: Haven't really had them lately.

Aversions: Can someone explain this to me? I don't want coffee at my house. I can have lattes elsewhere, made at coffee shops, even at my mom's house, but not at home. Just no. Weirdest aversion ever.

Nausea: No nausea. I have a really strong gag reflex lately though. I think that's allergy related, not pregnancy related though.

Gender: Baby girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 24 Weeks

I need to figure out a better camera set up for my weekly photos. This quality is shoddy.

I am officially 6 months pregnant, and this is how things are going...

Cravings: Haven't really had them lately.

Aversions: Been feeling better about chicken and steak. I still don't get excited about coffee in the mornings, but I'm not really missing it, so no complaints there.

Nausea: Still free from nausea

Gender: Still a girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 22 Weeks

We appear to have had a bit of a growth spurt this week. 

Cravings: Still really into burritos. They are definitely my go to for most lunches lately.

Aversions: I've had a couple lattes here and there, but in general the thought of coffee makes me cringe. I still can't really eat chicken and steak unless their mixed into and hidden in something else.

Nausea: No nausea. Just short of breath all the time and lightheaded at least once a day (see last baby bump update re: fainting)