Christmas

We had such a great Christmas in California.  I didn't take nearly enough photos-- but here are a few good moments from there and from here, all jumbled together:

Mind/Body Growth in Children

The body and the mind--  as we get older I think we sometimes try to separate them.  But the tango between the two is a powerful beautiful thing in children. 

My 8 month old is learning more and more every day how to use her body-- her legs are getting strong and so is her will.  

I came into the living room yesterday and she was standing, holding on to a tub of Christmas decorations-- overwhelmed with jubilation and pride-- grinning, laughing, able to see tall and high across the room-- her mind dancing around, soaking in the new perspective; her strong stout little core straight as a post.  

Later in the day, I went to put her down for a nap, and peaked into the room 5 minutes later, only to find her like this: 

That strong little body is now going to enable her protest of sleep.  The mind and body of a soon to be toddler-- I'm not sure I'm prepared quite yet to take this on.  

Then there is my 5 year old who has become completely enamored in all things ballet over the last couple of years.  It's the music, and the stories, melded tightly with the the flounce and strength of the dance itself. 

I've always enjoyed ballet, but I've never truly understood its full appeal until recently.  It's one of those mind-body marriages; storytelling and physical movement; costume, color, twirls, and music.  

We watched V in her rehearsal yesterday for her mid-year show.  In a modest room in the community center, with a mop and broom in the corner, these spunky little dancers brought sparks and life to the rainy evening.     

There's no real ending to this post.  I just wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past day's happenings.  So much growth is happening around us as this year comes to an end, and I feel lucky to witness it every day in these two little elves of mine.  

8 Months

I think if I looked hard enough behind the slats on Eloise's crib, somewhere etched in baby scritch-scratch on the wall, I would find a list of activities this small child has mapped out for herself and one by one marked off over this past month.  

The list would look like this: 

Sit up. 

learn to crawl.

eat an entire banana in one sitting.

grow two front teeth. 

tackle cat. 

attack curtains

pull up on coffee table

etc.... 

 

Because it feels like the past few weeks have been time lapsed-- every day she gets out of bed ready to take on the world a little more with fierce determination.  

Earlier this month she learned to maneuver herself from back to front to sitting up-- often times she'll wake herself up, her little body has propped itself upright in the middle of the night, and she's sitting there holding a bunny, half asleep, wondering what happened.  But we come in, and she's laughing, pleased as pie, as only Eloise can be.  

Thanksgiving came, and she took it upon herself to learn how to crawl.  

First slowly, now full speed-- like a field mouse.  

She's made her way to all things not baby proof-- we have crates and boxes set up as blockades to contain this little whirligig, and our drapes are tied up in knots because she's learned how to pull up and swing a bit on them.  

Oh dear, Eloise.  You make your mother worry.  

Violet has a nativity scene set up, and this morning I came in the living room only to find Eloise sucking on one of the kings.  She had pulled herself up to the coffee table and grabbed the poor fellow; he never knew what hit him.  

8 months, and every day is an adventure with this little joyous creature.  Sleep is still on and off; there's too much happening to ever settle into a schedule with this one.  

One thing is for certain-- this Christmas will be extra Merry and Bright, because our Eloise is here in all of her exuberance.  

      

PNB Nutcracker

To the dancers, the musicians, the directors, the stage crew, and everyone involved in the PNB Nutcracker--  I know that it can't be easy spending so much of the holiday season on stage.  I know that many of you dancers are far from your families, and that there are probably moments when the loneliness, the injuries, the exhaustion of putting on a perfect show-- as much as you are living your dream-- might not always seem so glamorous.
So I just wanted to write and say thank you. I want you to know how special you have made this season for so many of us.


Here is something I will remember for as long as I live:

My 5-year old daughter sitting next to me in the balcony in the grand McCaw Hall.  She's in her bright red dress, covered in chiffon roses, and she's reading the program cover to cover.  

We are there to see the Nutcracker.  She has never seen it; but she's all grown up and 5 now.  She's ready.  She knows all the music from her tiny-tots ballet class at the YMCA.  She is completely present.  We don't go to many shows, and this was a Christmas splurge for us.  We feel like royalty waiting for the theater to darken.  

I want to save this memory somewhere safe.  The way she whispered to me throughout the entire thing, narrating the story, humming along, eyes wide wide wide open.



How is it that it took me nearly 33 years to really understand the story of the Nutcracker, but this tiny child completely gets every detail?
She is sitting there explaining it all to me--  See mama?  Clara is dreaming and sees the story of Pirlipat in her dream.  Then at the party Herr Drosselmeyer recreates the dream with the three dancers, and Clara is scared, so Drosselmeyer gives her the nutcracker doll.  Fritz was so naughty!  I'm glad the parents are sending him to bed   etc etc etc.... 
Clara's killed the rat king with her shoe!!  She's dreaming again and she's going off with the Nutcracker who's a prince and she's all grown up and off they go to a far away land!  Oh my gosh!  It's the Peacock!!  It's the flowers!  And it's the Pas De Deux!.... etc etc etc.... 

It was a completely magical show.  Bravo, to each and every one of you-- Bravo and Thank You!  It's a beautiful thing to inspire and excite a child.  My daughter will carry this day of music and magic with her always.