NINE!!!!!!!!!

Havana Ruby, from the minute you were born I had a sense of who you are as your sweet easy nature was present from the start. Your joyful, happy essence radiated from your 9 lb self! As a second time mom, I too was more relaxed, so you and I fell into an easy rhythm.

I called you Happy Buddha Baby because of your round Buddha belly and the smile you wore most of the time.

As you have grown over the years, I have discovered that you are a sensitive little being. Your imagination keeps you entertained with things like drawing, playtime with your dolls and reading all of which you can do for hours. Loud noise and big crows are things that you shy away from and you don't like to be the center of attention. At home that is not always the case. You put on shows for us, dancing, singing and shaking that booty! You make us laugh  daily with your quick wit and the talented drawings you have gifted meus grace the walls of both the house and my office.

As you have gotten older we have begun to see a stronger side to you. You can be quite fixed in your choices. You don't like to hear 'no' and it's a colossal waste of time trying to get you to taste new foods until you are good and ready. Yet you don't fuss too much and when you too have your moments of outburst, they don't last long. Most crying occurs when you are losing a board game or your allotted TV time is over. You don't like to lose and you love the Disney channel! But after you do your temper thing and cry, we end up all huggy and kissy!

I especially love your kisses as I can never get enough of your 'juicy lips' (my name for them!) You won't let anyone but me give you lip kisses. That's okay, I sure don't mind!! You do like hugs from your dad and sister but unfortunately big sis is not a big hugger. Not that it stops you from squeezing the heck out of Amara almost daily (and I think she secretly loves that!)

You love your friends and you love school. You are a smart young lady, who's quiet nature often leaves me fooled. You surprises me often with  new facts, like a species of butterfly that flies by or the name of a bird we might see in a tree.  You move at your own pace but you work hard at school and have proved time and again that you an intelligent and thoughtful person.

You are a bright, creative, imaginative and kind hearted person Havana and you bring immeasurable amounts of joy into my life. I am so thankful you landed in our family. I am fiercely protective of my Baby Girl; the person who has brought rainbows into my life and made my world so much brighter.

                                                                             

School's Out for the Summer

June 15, 2018

June 15, 2018

Goodbye 3rd & 5th Years

So much learning, so much growing.

Fun, challenges, changes.

Bodies & Minds evolving.

Life continues on at a rapid pace.

School supporting the development of these two small gems.
But now it's time for summer fun.

Goodbye 2017-2018 School Year.

September 2017

Make New Friends But Keep The Old...

Georgia, 2012

About 9 1/2 years ago I went for a walk around our old neighborhood. I had Amara in the ergo and was about 3 months pregnant with Havana. As I turned a corner, I spied a pregnant woman also talking a walk. A pregnant woman in my neighborhood. That was rare. My natural curiosity go the best of me, so that and my friendly self caught up with stranger and made introductions.

Her name was Valerie and she had recently moved to the Bay Area with her Air Force husband Brian. Bran was newly stationed in Berkeley with the Air Force ROTC program and settled in just down the street from us. Valerie and I talked a bit. I learned she was an author and that she was due very soon. I got her card and we went our ways with promises to meet up again soon.

We connected again, however it was after their son Eli was born. Even as new parents, their Southern hospitality reached out and had us over for supper. I initially was not sure what we might have in common with Southern, military folks. However, once again, the Universe conspired to remind me that we can never judge a book by it's cover. Both Valerie and her husband proved to be open minded, open hearted, generous and kind people.

Over the course of the four years they were stationed here, Val became a dear friend. Our kids played together; she helped me get my mom's group to grow even bigger and eventually was one of two others who got our babysitting group off the ground. While we navigated parenthood we shared own our journeys. Together we found many common denominators from a love of photography and writing (she is far better and accomplished), adventure and the importance of feeding one's soul and building community.

When it was time for Valerie, Brian and Eli to return to Georgia it was hard to adjust. I often lament over the lack of community, sincerity and scarcity of deeper human connections here in the Bay Area, where we may be progressive and liberal yet our roots do not go far below the surface. To lose a rare connection, well it was a sharp pill to swallow.

I am a loyalist however and so is Val. So not too long after they returned to their Southern roots, our family made a trip to Southern Georgia to visit the girls great grandmother and great uncle (on my side). We made sure we met up with our old friends for a rejuvenating Fall hike and lunch together before we said our goodbyes again.

Brian and a wee Eli

A couple of years later, during a layover in Atlanta, Val and Eli drove to the airport to say hello. We had less than an hour together but typical Valerie brought some goodies for the kids to play with on the long flight to Buenos Aires. Little things like that, they mean more than expensive gifts. Once again, I saw the similarities between my friend and I; honoring a friendship and going out of one's way to say hello. And even though our visit was short, it sure was good to see them. It was also good opportunity for the girls to learn that when it comes to people you care about you make the effort to spend time with them and that this is something that works both ways. For relationships are about give and take.

About two years ago we got o see each other again when I headed to Georgia to celebrate my grandmother's 90th. This time however, I drove the two hour drive to Val's home in Athens where I got to spend the night and then had a short but lovely morning visit as Brian gave me the tour of their beloved hometown. It felt good to see a place that means so much to someone who has has meant a lot to me.

And now, the ever adventurous Valerie has embarked on a 40 day cross country road trip with a now 9 1/2 year old Eli. I was thrilled when we got to  To see how his face has morphed into a little man; to be able to swap stories about his Montessori school and ours, and to see the kids pick up where they left off, even though their memories are vague, well it brought a smile to my heart. And it urged me to write the story of how I met Valerie and her family and what friendships are about. I want my girls to know that true friendships don't come easy but are worth the effort to maintain; that there are ups and downs in any real friendship; that there may be physical distances that cause long gaps between face to face visits but when you see each other again, you can sit in the yard and talk about things deep and meaningful and it will not feel like it has been six years since you lived down the street from each other. I want my girls to know that a true friend will always be in one's heart and that something that is to cherished.

Nature Scenes from South Florida

 

Family Scenes from South Florida

 Just a couple of weeks ago, I unexpectedly found myself on a plane headed for Miami. My mother had gotten ill and after her initial insistence from her hospital bed that I don't come, I did what I often do. I didn't listen to my mother!

I was most thankful for air mileage that allowed me to get to Miami without much financial distress (the Creator truly provides for us in all ways). From there it was a short drive to where she was in rehab, in the West Palm Beach area. For close to two weeks, I held down the fort at her condo while also spending each day with her at rehab.

Most of my family, on both sides is in Florida. (meaning the adopted side and the bio side ) And while this trip trip was taken under serious concerns for my mother's health, I was able to take the opportunity to  spend some well appreciated and meaningful time with my sisters, bio-dad and nephews and nieces and my beloved almost 94 grandmother. 

I love Florida, the land where I incarnated this life time. I love the sun, the water, the heat. I probably gained a few pounds savoring all the foods that I love the most. But I especially love my family.

So while my mother's health was my first and foremost concern, I was very thankful for the time to spend nurturing myself in many ways, while I also took care of her,.

My nephew Alex and his inwardly and outwardly beautiful wife Haydee. 

My great niece Bella. My newest BFF.

My great nephew Alex & his sister Bella Bean!

The bio dad and his long term partner Margaret, with his beloved Shelby and new VW Bug!

My favorite brother in law, T-Rod (Uncle Timmy to the girls!)

The Universe's message while in Islamorado

Paternal half-sisters, (left) Natalie & Sabrina (right). They like to call me boss in Spanish because I am the oldest sister and I act like the boss/mother! (there are seven of us on my father's side)

                         

Almost 94 & she still gets out and washes the car and gardens!

My older maternal sister, Kimberly. My heart.