my word for 2012: open

photo by sarniebill1

As I was preparing for the start of 2012 I thought a lot about resolutions and to-do lists. Chris and I are the king and queen of goal-setting, so the beginning of a new year is always exciting. But as I thought more about it, I wasn't interested in setting specific benchmarks for the upcoming year. For the first time in likely a decade, I'm not really sure what the next 12 months have in store. There's a lot up our sleeves: Chris' film Cowboys vs. Indians is in pre-production, I'm authoring a new blog, Simply Defined, I joined an awesome working group of creative, action-oriented women as part of Lisa Work's Visionary Mom Team. The upcoming summer is jam-packed with travel, and family and weddings galore. And the turtle is leading us into new adventures every day. But where might this all lead? A move? A new job? A new space? A new home? Who knows?

So instead of resolutions, I decided to choose a word for 2012 - Open. In 2012 I'll try hard not to over-plan, over-think, or over-anticipate what's next. But, to some extent, let the world unfold, listen to her cues, and respond to her calls. And we'll see where she takes us.

leaps and bounds

crayons, books and crafts

One of the turtle's favorite words right now is , "Super!" He runs into the room, throws his arms up in the air, screams "Ta Da. Super!" Yup, my little guy thinks he's a superhero. And he's right. I mean, the way he's growing and changing and learning. He's leaps and bounds from where he was a week ago; not to mention where he was this time last year.

For example:

barn animals

He snaps in time.
He recognizes the words, "apple" "dinosaur" "hi" and "baby."
He knows in which drawers he can find his pants, his shirts and his pajamas.
He knows our routines.
He knows that when we turn on the iPad, there's a good chance we're going to talk to "Pops." 

He has favorite songs. Favorite toys. Favorite T-shirts. And, as of this weekend, he is 100% weaned from his bottle. My baby is a little boy.

felt the need to repost...

I felt the need to re-post this. Something I wrote in October 2009, when my little turtle was just a wee thing growing inside me. Oh yes, my friends, how I love being a mom. How I truly love being a mom.

 

original post date: Sunday, October 4, 2009

the artist

When I was maybe sixteen I watched a film about Camille Claudel and became obsessed with sculpting. I began to imagine myself in the unfinished basement of our home, using my fingers, hands and elbows to slowly mold the gray putty I had bought at the downtown art store into something profound. Even then I was desperate to live a life with meaning and purpose. I wanted to create something beautiful.

But clay wasn't the right material. And, I struggled for years trying to find my artistic medium. But now as my body changes, making room for the creation inside me; I wait and watch in awe. I have finally become the artist I always wanted to be.