{sling diaries} History

Lately, more than ever, I've been feeling the need to reconnect with my own heritage, as well as preserve it for our children and generations to come. I was young when Mark and I got married (and now I'm so old!), and I spent a long time trying to adapt and get used to a new culture after moving to the US. Now, years later, after finally getting myself rooted in this no-longer-new life, I'm beginning to realize that I've been quite out of touch with my original roots, with the rich culture I was raised in. And I miss it now, more and more each day. I long to go back home and visit places that I took for granted in my youth, places where life stood still, where some of 'endangered' 100-years-old traditions and ways of life were still the norm. I don't know when we'll be able to go back there as a whole family. But until then, we will continue sharing stories, memories, art and any knowledge that will help our children develop a connection to the history that they are tied to.







Last week we celebrated Pioneer Day here in Utah, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to remind our children some of the history, both local and personal. We attended local celebrations, made simple family tree charts which encouraged us to pull out some old photos (Mark's really good at things like that), visited This Is the Place Heritage Park, watched Native American dances. Our children may not understand the significance of such activities at this age, but I hope that as they grow and as we continue to make efforts to stay in touch with our past, they will build respect for those who came before them and made their life possible in one way or the other.








(she nose planted just minutes before this picture)

p.s. Don't know what I'd do without having my phone to take pictures with. Meanwhile I'm trying to get a hang of another D200 that I got for free because it doesn't autofocus, but still works pretty well for some shots on manual focus. It's a challenge, but I'll admit, it's kind of fun, and I'm rediscovering my love for unintentional blur.

{sling diaries} Communication

My baby girl is growing up. Less baby, more girl. Of course, in my eyes she is still a small being that needs plenty of love and closeness. And most of time she really does, but on her own terms. She wants me to be with her when she can't sleep at night, she holds on to me when she thinks I'm going somewhere without her, she calls for me when she is upset, or bored, or tired, or... you name it. Yet, I can tell that in her eyes she sees herself as big as her two years of life allow her to. And when life doesn't sit still, neither does she.

These days she would rather run as fast as her little legs can carry her, doing face plants and nose dives from time to time. Her knees can prove that. But sit still? Let someone else carry her when she can be in the middle of all the action? No, thank you. She says that loud and clear. I don't call it being 'uncooperative', I call it communication.

There are no photos of a content baby snuggled in a sling this time, and it's not for the lack of trying. So here's an honest glimpse at this stage in babywearing, when your baby lets you know with all her being that she is capable of moving herself from place to place, that being carried while her older 3 siblings are running and skipping can seem like a torture. She knows that running on her own two feet allows her to control how fast she gets to discover the world around her. I'm ok with it right now. Because I know it will pass, it usually does. And before I know it, she will be 4 years old, still enjoying being held close and carried in a sling...











p.s. Just as I made peace with Ivy being set on not getting in the sling before this post, she decided to tell me yet again that everything has to be done on her terms. This time holding my grocery bag and wallet to go buy 'bananas!' seemed to be a perfectly reasonable offer in exchange for riding in the sling. But only until we got inside the store, because there are little carts that are just her size. Who would want to miss that?

Girls camp

I recently got back from girls' camp. I'm not even going to try and recount all the wonderful experiences I had there, such task would require too much uninterrupted time. But I will write down a few random thoughts:

:: being gone for days for the first time in Ivy's life was... interesting. She didn't wean, and she got really clingy. When she sees me by the mirror getting ready, or putting my shoes on, she gets a bit hysterical. Poor girl...

:: backpacking night was wonderful. Hike was beautiful, and food from the fire pit was especially good. Bringing my own piece of wild salmon was worth it. My body was not happy with all the beef I was having that week at the camp...

:: bringing home my lifeless camera *body* was depressing, but at that point I was just happy to be home and with my family again (because I did miss them). It's still dead with no signs of life and who knows when I'll get to replace it. Could be next year. A tip to myself - don't flood my tent next time and don't set the camera down into 1" deep puddle of water.

:: realizing just how terrified I am of heights all of the sudden was not fun. And no talking to myself could convince me otherwise. I used to be a natural tree climber, up until I started having kids and felt like I needed to keep myself alive for their sake. Hopefully one day I can slowly get myself to the point where I can be comfortable with climbing up to my own height.

Well, my time is up, kids are making sure to let me know that they can't live without me about every 30 seconds...

Celebrating {part 1}

She is two now. For the first time since becoming parents we have a 2 year old and no new babies in sight, so we can fully appreciate and notice this age. She is a handful, always wanting to do everything herself, and I mean EVERYTHING. She is quite independent, that one. Which often results in tears. Either our tears of joy and frustration, or hers, because she can't manage to do her own carseat buckles, and we are not willing to wait for another 10 minutes in a hot car. She's also our earliest child to potty learn. Comes with being independent, I guess. Oh, and having 3 older siblings definitely shows. She can stand up for herself and knows how to get what she wants. She loves books, just like her sisters and brother, and often brings the same 10-book stack to you whenever you try to sit down on the couch and relax. She is fun, charming, bossy, rough, bunny-loving 2 year old now. And Joy is her middle name.

(our last minute unofficial birthday celebration at the park. Ivy is a total puppy-hog)