September through November

 This fall has been so different than last year. Sal is at school every morning so Milo and I have lots of one-on-time. Mostly he is content to play with cars or go to the park. We read together and he chatters at me while I clean up around the house. He is a funny, strong-willed boy. He wanted to build this tower and wouldn't stop until we had used every square duplo in the set. I've learned that telling him "no" has the opposite of desired results, so I rely on distraction and humor if I can. One of his first phrases was "go away!" So now we say "no, YOU go away" back and forth until everyone is laughing. He likes to get into his car seat without any help, which means that when we are in a hurry or late it's a wrestling match to get him buckled quickly. You should see my arm muscles. Milo can also be very sweet. He loves giving kisses (on the mouth) and is very gentle with his stuffed bunny "Rose," tucking it in at night, sharing his pacifier, and giving it hugs. He can't say his "L's" and instead pronounces L words with a Y sound. So he'll say "I don't yike that." Also, when he prays, he ends them with "Jesus Christ, OH MAN!" I know I'll forget all this if I don't write it down.

 Milo takes a nap every morning before we pick up Sal, which is great because I can teach on some days and have some alone time on others. He still sleeps in a closet in his portable crib. I don't think he would nap if he could escape. He finally learned how to climb out of his crib, so I set up another bed on the floor and often find him there when I wake him up. Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby? I almost always have to wake him up so we can get Sal from school. He is often disoriented and grumpy, which requires me to wrestle him into his bike seat or stroller. I need a picture of the bike we have because it is awesome. Milo sits in front of me in a seat and Sal rides behind on a tag-along bike. We are quite a sight, but it's so fun to ride around the neighborhood and to the park.

 Milo was supposed to be a lion for Halloween. He loved dressing up in the costume until the actual time came, and then, of course, he refused to have anything to do with it. He ended up in some black clothes with Kitty ears. Oh well, he only made it through about 5 houses before he lay down on the sidewalk and refused to go any further.

 Sal was a skunk for about the 4th year in a row. I feel like maybe I should tell her that she's allowed to pick something else, but this is so nice and simple. Maybe next year.

 I turned 30 in November. Here I am on my birthday. I can honestly say that I love being 30. I love getting older. I feel like I'm finally becoming more confident and sure of myself. I feel like I'm finally starting to figure some things out. My beliefs are changing. I'm better at mothering. I'm better at making friends. I'm a better violinist and teacher. I'm better at feeling happy.

In October I went on a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon with some friends. We flew in a small airplane to the canyon and then hiked 24 miles rim to rim in a day. It was one of my favorite trips ever, however, I was definitely the weak link in the group. I only kept up out of pure meanness. I could hardly walk for days after, and I'm still waiting for my blackened toenail to fall off completely. After that I decided it was time to get in shape. I loved exercising in high school with a team, but despised exercising by myself through my 20's. Now that I have a reason to get in shape I'm finding it much more satisfying. (I don't want to be the wimp! Also, I want to be a strong hiker.) I joined a personal training gym and am doing a boot camp class three times a week. It feels great. It also hurts. A lot.

I also started playing with a group called Classical Revolution. They play classical music in a non-formal setting (mostly at a local pub, I think.) I did a Schubert quintet and Debussy quartet last week and will be doing some Brandenburg next week. Chamber music is my favorite thing to play and I've been wanting to do something like this for years. It feels great to play such awesome music for no other reason than that I want to do it. Playing with the symphony is fun in its own way, but it still feels like work.

Scott and I have been reading a bit on meditation and Buddhism. We listened Buddhism for Mothers on our drive to Utah for Thanksgiving and I feel like it has started to change my perspective. I really like the ideas, and would expound if I was any good with words. I think my ideas on what matters is changing.

Here is Sal. I shot this in our backyard and I like it so much I think I will use it for her kindergarten photo. I can hardly believe this is my very own daughter. She shines.

Sal has had a great few months. She loves kindergarten. Every day I say, "How was school?" and she says, "Great!" She loves getting hot lunch (they have chocolate milk) and she's reading and writing better and better. Violin is coming along. I try not to be a tiger mother, and she tries not to be whiny. Her sound is getting better and I think her ear is improving, although she still can't really carry a tune with her voice. She is a great mimic and looks a lot like me when she plays. Serious face, swaying a bit. I think her favorite thing is dance. My friend teaches a dance class at her home and Sal loves to get all dressed up in her leotard and tights and go. I try to balance it with plenty of getting dirty and picking up bugs at home. She's awfully cute in gymnastics class. She has no apparent talent, but is built like a gymnast and bounces around the gym with a grin on her face.