Tee-Ball Time!

AJ had his first tee-ball practice this week! It was so adorable! I always love watching little kids sports, but it was even more fun seeing my own little cutie out there.

It is a six week class put on by the city parks program. Long Beach has one of the best park programs in the nation. The teachers are great - they are natural with kids and make it a really fun class. It's an intro class for ages 3-5... It was the only one that I could fit in our schedule this season and I really wanted to get AJ started in some kind of sports activity.

The first class had big lessons such as "this is 1st base" and "here's how you throw a ball"... etc. It was so adorable to see these little kids try it out for the first time.

AJ hit the ball perfectly and made it all the way to the home plate. Then he played the pitcher position (although there's no pitching in tee-ball) and was great at getting the ball... perhaps a little too great :).

His big lessons of the day were: let others get the ball too, cover your position rather than running around the whole field chasing the ball, and to pay attention while the teachers are teaching!

Here are some pics:

Learning the basics

Made it to first base!


Check out the pitcher

Looking forward to watching some more!

Love, Mama

A BIG Hair Cut!

We kept AJ's hair long for most of his first five years. We did cut it once before, but even then it was still fairly long.

There were several reasons we kept it long, even though it was not widely accepted by some family members...

First of all, his hair was perfect! Great color, shine, texture, thickness, you name it. I *WISH* I had this kid's hair. He looked adorable. Secondly, he loved his long hair. He wanted to keep it long. Another reason was one that I had read in some books on ancient traditions. I learned how many would not cut a child's hair until they were older as they believed cutting it altered their personality. Something about that stuck with me and rang true inside. I preferred to hold off on making him fit in with the world - a bit - to allow his natural being to develop as much as possible. I know integration with the world is important. I like to be very conscious and selective of how I participate in that....

Well, we finally did it! He got his first real hair cut. We decided to do it for several reasons... One being that he didn't really know how to take care of his long hair and messy long hair does not look the best. Another was that we felt it would be good for him to know what it feels like to have short hair - an exploration of balance. How could he know what he likes if he hasn't really tried the other? It was time for a healthy change.

So just a few months into kindergarten, we took him to a fun haircut place for kids called Cool Cuts for Kids. He was ready and excited. He sat in the race car chair and watched a movie, hardly noticing that he was getting a hair cut. The woman did a great job. Thanks to Jami, I knew to request that she use the scissors rather than the electric razor. She cut it very short. He came out with a very cute custom look. And best of all, he liked it.

Upon his return to school the next day, everyone thought they had a new student. Some of the teachers and students hardly recognized him. It was a BIG change.

Here are some pics of the big day:

Before: Getting ready to go inside (with Daddy)


This place is cool!!! Can we come back!?


After: All done!!! He looks like a whole new boy!!! Well... kinda!

It was hard not to stare at him for several days after. He looked GREAT and sooo different.

He does miss his long hair (and mommy does too at times), but he looks great. He can grow it out again if he wants to - when he knows how to take care of it! :)

Singing Songs

Being my usual self, I was singing AJ songs in the car the other day. Goofy kinds of songs that stared him. He was ignoring me so I asked if he liked my songs.

"I do not like all of them," he replied.

I playfully gave him a hard time, "how could you not love all of momma's songs about you?!"

"Well I like 90 of them, but I don't like 80," he said.

"You don't like 80 of my songs?" I teased.

"Well... actually, I just don't like 2," he sweetly broke it to me.

So fun to play with him. He's such a cute character. <3

Mama Feel Better

When I had my wisdom teeth taken out, AJ knew that I wasn't feeling good. On his own, he made me a little song to cheer me up :). He took my phone to record it and then shyly played it back for me. He was very attentive the whole time I was in pain. Such a sweetie :). He'll stay like this forever, right??!

Off to Kindergarten!

(I already posted this on my main blog, but wanted to post it here as well as a keepsake story of AJ's life).

Well, my little baby boy has gone off to kindergarten! It’s been as big of an experience for me as it has been for him, I’m sure. Each step of being a parent has surprised me. I discover who I am as a mother, how it feels to have a child, and witness the growth of life so closely (yet not too direct that its hard to see). It’s a beautiful unfolding that I treasure dearly - some of my greatest experiences of life.

I never anticipated it would be such a big deal for me to send him off to school. But now that I’m here and it’s him, it has been a very big deal. It felt like I was officially letting go of a piece of my heart as he enters the world on a larger level.

I always enjoy my time with my little cutie. Every stage I wish he could freeze him in that age, thinking it can’t possibly get better… but it does. I treasure them all. However, there’s something so special to me about his age right now that I will always hold extra dear. An innocence. A genuine presence. A gentle love. He’s my favorite little buddy. It is with heart-felt tears that I introduce him to the world. First tears of pain, followed by those of great joy. My little boy is growing up.

Amazing how fast time goes and life changes - all the time - once you know what you love.

I considered alternative options for teaching him such as home-school. I was very open to what is truly best for his overall growth and weighed several options. I am happy to be at peace in my choice of having him go to the public charter school that we chose. It offers different approaches to learning concepts and meaning. It is not as technically focused as most. It’s more rounded and personalized than any other we saw.Attending this school allows him the direct experience in the world and the confidence that brings while providing the balance of learning that we prefer. I look forward to having my development space and also supplementing his growth at home with things not taught directly in school such as love, living, spirituality, etc.

He had been waiting eagerly all summer long after attending an orientation that got him very excited about going to school. He came back saying they were building a new playground just for him and asking impatiently when he could go to school.

When we went school shopping for back packs, rather than go for his usual Noggin characters, he went for a more mature anime one. It’s one that his older sister would like. It was adorable because it was so unlike his normal style and obviously a very conscious decision that he made to grow up. We had a great time buying his “official supplies” and yummy snacks for lunches.

By the time the day finally came, we were all happy to move forward. We had been anticipating it for so long… It has felt great to guide him into being excited about it and highlighting the fun rather than my usual non-stop “I’ll miss you!!!” I helped him enjoy the experience rather than putting too much focus on what’s going on.

On the first day of school, he woke up early and helped me make pancakes. He was in a great mood. As he put his backpack on he said, “wow this is heavy” while casually struggling to put it on. It was almost as big as him and heavy from his lunch. We took a picture of him outside of the front door. Upon his request, we also took a silly one.

He carried an air of confidence as he entered the playground yard. He was ready. He is going for it. He gave us a kiss good-bye, got in his line, and tuned into the activity all around him. A few minutes later he yelled across the blacktop to me, “Mom! He has a Mario Galaxy backpack!!!” The kid with the backpack enjoyed being acknowledged and asked if AJ had the game. With a cool look on his face, AJ said, “yah.”

AJ’s teacher took the kids to the grass and sat them in a circle. They talked and counted how many were in their class. 17. They stood up and walked crazily around the parents and through the playground, making it fun. AJ waved goodbye without even a glance as he walked through the door.

All day I couldn’t wait to hear how it went for him. When I picked him up, he had a gift for me. It was a pink bead. He had made me a bracelet, but lost it. The bead was what was left. “Don’t worry, mom, I’ll make you another one. But it won’t be the same, okay? I’ll make it with macaroni.” So adorably thoughtful.

He was happy to see us and had a great day. He was excited to come back again the next day. We went out to go get him a new pair of shoes (that I wished I had gotten him earlier). “Mom, I got your poster. Thanks!” he said referring to the love note I put in his lunch.

His favorite happening of the day? “There are four resets!” He meant recesses. During recess he, “played on the bikes and went on the slide. I’m too scared of the monkey thing, but I went on the playground and played with friends.”

The second day he came home with his spirit flying. He had a great time at recess singing songs with his friends. As happens often when kids start at a new school, he caught a light cold. It triggered his asthma. He had to miss the third and fourth day due to heavy wheezing. I was concerned he may find it hard to return after being back home or that he may lose motivation. He returned on Friday and he was ready again.

AJ has impressed me greatly with his attitude. School started two weeks ago and he has been consistently driven and strong. I am amazed at how focused and ready he is. I am so happy to see him enjoy the opportunities he has rather than battling with them. It is lots of fun for me to see him go for growth, prepare for change, and stand up to life.

Now we have created a new daily schedule. We take time to discuss what we experienced during our time apart. I ask AJ questions to prompt more sharing. We both value our mornings and afternoons more together as our daily time has been greatly reduced. I slow down much more during these windows of time that we have and he really appreciates my presence. While he's gone, I have more space to get my work done, allowing me to be more productive feel better naturally.

We are growing both on our own and together. He’s inspired me to grow more too, making it fun and exciting again.

Here we go baby!!

Can't Get Enough!

AJ is in one of the cutest stages ever. I notice that I've thought this all along, but his words right now are so adorable. The other day on the way back from getting out to eat and enjoy a treat, AJ said to me,


"There's nothing like a great mom like you, Mama".


Awwww, my boy. :)

That's How to Celebrate!

Immediately after returning home from our vacation in Las Vegas, AJ wakes up and says first thing in the morning - while still in bed, "Can I have a treat?" He treasured the family moments and the extra fun.

It was daddy's 35th birthday and AJ had lots of ideas about how to celebrate! He was not impressed with my ideas of a relaxed birthday after a weekend out.

A five year old's presecription for a great birthday:

• Lots of presents. When I suggested he draw something, he said, "No, mom. I mean real presents, you know... a present, a thing. You put it in the wrap paper. You gotta get him a lot of presents."

• A birthday cake. "Where is the birthday cake?" And don't forget, it needs icing!

• Decorations. "The things that hang down from the walls...and balloons!"

• Write a special poem. His idea was a little piggies story and here's what he came up with:

This little piggy plays pretend.
This little piggy goes to read books.
This little piggy draws a picture.
This little piggy wants to have fun.
This little piggy has a birthday everyday!
Oink. Oink. The End.

It seems I had forgotten some of the details of what makes the big day feel special. :)
AJ made it a blast.

(Note: This cake was created by Amber and Crystal!)