we're working on it, martin.

fourth grade students from watkins elementary school in d.c..
video credit goes to the washington post.

this video made me cry,
for the loss of a great leader;
for the pride these children have;
for the hope of peace.

we have come a long way.
we still have even further to go.
the hateful, racist comments that were left on this site
sicken me.
it saddens me that there are people, of all color,
who are raising their children to think that
racial prejudice is something that needs to continue.

there is hope,
as can be seen on this clip,
that our children will carry on the dream
of dr. king.

spread the word.
walk the walk.
open your heart.
it's never too late.

thursday love: has anyone seen my baby?

babychop and hanna.


new years day, 2010.


new years day, 2010.


hanging with the big kids.


christmas shopping + tired toddler + coin rides = no meltdown.


post-brush rinsing of the pearly-whites.


christmas eve. waiting for santa with papa.

me: are you still my baby?
babychop: yes, mama. i still your baby.
me: will you always be my baby?
babychop (throws his arms around my neck): YES!

do you think he means it?
and will he always love me as much as he does now?

word.

i spent my new year's eve
reflecting on the previous 12 months.
pouring through pictures
as i listened to babychop's faint snoring
through the monitor.

in the quiet, i was searching for
a word to focus on in the year ahead.
a single word that will keep me grounded.

i have felt the need to amp up my game.
make time to be a good mama and partner. to be present and not rush.
make time to groove out with my camera so that i feel full.
i need to use each 24 hour period wisely.

yeah. this may all sound kind of sappy.
(ok. it does sound very sappy.)
but dern it, folks. this life...it goes by fast.
and i want to contribute.
i want to be a part of the good energy out there.

energy.
good energy will inspire me to do my best.
feel my best.
fill my heart.

and the bad, soul-sapping energy out there?
be gone.
outtie.
don't let the door hit ya...

so.
there it is.
energy.

word.



taken somewhere on harford road. winter solstice 2009.

merry christmas

it is 3:30 in the morning.
presents are wrapped.
stockings filled.
boy still sleeping.

our boy is going to
freak
out
in the morning when he
finds the empty plate
and the stuffed stocking
and the presents.

hopefully santa will bring
us coffee in four hours when
babychop wakes up.

this is going to be good, people.

merry christmas to all.
and to all, a good night.

taken on 34th street in hampden.

solstice haiku view

from the archives of summer 2009

longer days are promised now.
slowly they'll lengthen,
bring us more light, and we'll dance.

out of the blue view

i looked up in surprise.
did i hear him correctly?

"what did you just say?"

i love you, mama.

"you love me?"

yes, mama.



today.
he told me that he loves me.
no prompting.
out of the blue.

he loves me.

blizzard views

it's going to be a white christmas after all.

thursday love: cure-all

"do you see his house?"

it was ten o'clock at night.
we were driving through the inner harbor,
past the twinkling, light-lined
home-away-from-home of
santa claus.

let's go see him!

"papa and i will take you soon."

now, mama. i wanna go see him.

"we can't baby. he's sleeping."

he wants to wake up.

"no. he is tired. his belly hurts from eating too many cookies."

we'll just give him a big hug. then he'll feel better.

ho, ho, ho views

yes.
babychop believes.
he believes big time.
and so do we.

views on hard lessons learned

mama...it is a toy. see?

how about if i look super cute.
like this.
then will you let me play with it?

i don't WANT to put it on the tree!!!!

i know it's pure torture,
but ornaments are not toys, sweet boy. they are to look at.
sigh...



ornament casualties to date: 4

weekend views

pub views aka: girls night out.

bertha's mussels restaurant. fell's point, md.

are ya feelin' it yet?

if you aren't feeling the holiday spirit
after watching this,
then you are hopeless.

check out PS22's blog and follow them here.

if you need a little extra help,
check out these shiny little people
here, and here.

tree-cutting views

gaver farm. mt. airy, maryland.

evening views

longwood gardens. kennet square, pennsylvania.

pizza by elizabeths. greenville, delaware.

cousin z's journal entry.

BFAM* views

*liam and izzy. brothers-from-another-mother.

check out other december views here, here, and here.

monumental view

papa and babychop take in the music onstage.


the original washington monument.


one world cafe, post monument lighting

the sound of silence

everyone who knows me is aware that
i love to talk.
i am a chatty person.
socializing is part of what makes me tick.
so i am going to tell you now,
i am not sure i can do it.
i'm going to attempt the december views challenge.

photos only.
that's it.
a glimpse into my life
through the next month
without words.

stop laughing.

all is bright

granddad brought these beauties to our thanksgiving celebration.
they were in a box full of ornaments from my husband's childhood.

starting this year,
we'll begin the tradition of
waking up in our own house
on christmas morning.

for the first time as a couple
and the first time as parents,
we are also getting a tree for the holiday.

it has been many years since i have felt the
magic of christmas.
maybe it's because our sweet boy lights up
when we speak of santa claus.
maybe it's the countless times we have sung
frosty the snowman
and rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
and jingle bells
and silent night
and dona nobis pacem
in an effort to pass down the
tradition of holiday caroling.

something about the music
and the crisp air
and twinkly lights...
it all tugs a little on my heart
and makes me a little nostalgic
for the christmases of my youth.

so, the countdown begins tomorrow.
the anticipation of santa coming,
cookies to be baked,
stories to be told,
presents to be given.

the ornaments have to be unpacked.
the lights checked.
furniture moved for proper staging.

it's gonna be good, people.
so good.


handed down from many christmases past,
three generations share the same ornaments.





sidenote: nablopomo ends today, too.
it has been a challenge posting everyday for a month.
30 posts in 30 days!
it helped me shake off the dust that had started
to gather here in this space!

it is nice to be back.