A new blog

I'm starting a new blog. It just feels time to move on from babybarto. Thanks for reading. If you'd like, you can check out the new blog at Now Keep it that Way.

Drumming

Visit with G.G.

Before driving home, we stopped for lunch at Great Grandma's house.

Watching the train from the kitchen window

Dancing with G.G. (She still dances everyday to her "records" aka CDs.)

Playing the piano in the basement.

Snowy weekend at Grandma's

Watching the snow and the squirrels

Time for a footbath

Turo has his own special spot for movie watching

"Helping" shovel

We love visiting Grandma's house!

Re: E-mail

Here was the response to my e-mail.
________________________
We will not be meeting on the 15th. We will meet for our regularly scheduled March meeting (4th Tuesday)

Thanks
______________________________


I attempted to read it only for what was written and not inject my own insecurity into it. (Like - Why is it so impersonal? What about a "I look forward to meeting you" or a "please come, we are always looking for new members"?)
Unfortunately, I won't be able to go to the March meeting because I'm signed up for an organic gardening class (and if you saw my lawn at the end of the summer, you'll know that I desperately need all the help I can get). I guess I'll have put it on the schedule for April.

Happiness

San Diego

With all the optimism that comes with being in your early 20s, my two best friends and I set off to San Diego six months after graduating from college. Using borrowed walkie talkies to communicate bathroom breaks, good radio stations and cute guys spotted along the drive, we caravanned across the country with all our possessions crammed into our cars.

Shortly after our arrival, I sat on the beach and told myself I’d never leave. My girlfriends said they’d stay a year. More than a decade later, they are still in the Golden State. This makes for an ideal vacation spot. You can't go wrong with great friends, sunny weather and the beach.

\

An e-mail

I wrote an e-mail to the president of Black Parent Group of our local school district. The actual e-mail is in black. The red provides some (unsent) context.

Hello Ms. S,

I recently read the article about the BPG on the ** Public School News website (because I was googling “African American students **” in my on-going search for a diverse preschool). My son, who is adopted from Ethiopia (I hope you will then infer from this that I’m white because it felt awkward trying to insert it somewhere in this letter), will be entering preschool (can you recommend any preschools where my son will see other children and maybe even a teacher that look like him?) in the fall. Starting this process has made me aware of how quickly kindergarten will come. As a parent and former teacher, I am very interested in learning more about the BPG. Will you still be meeting on the 15th at 6:30? (Would it be okay if I came even though I’m white and my child isn’t even in school yet? Because this whole preschool thing has made me very aware that I need to work harder at making connections in the African American community)

Thank you for your time (I wanted to send this ahead of time, so someone would know why this white woman will be showing up to your meeting)
Sara

Another thing that turns my heart to mush

Spontaneous hand holding

Things that turn my heart to mush

Mama: (Taking Valentine cookies out of the oven)

Turo: They are beautiful! Just like you, Mama.

The beach

Two weeks ago we left the cold, gloomy Midwest and headed to sunny California. It was lovely. We saw friends. Met blogger ones in real life. Played on the beach. Sat in the sun. There are at least three different posts in all of that. Things to add to the growing list of "stuff I need to blog about." But I promised myself that I'd be in bed before 12:00 (and it's already 12:05). So, on this night of the blizzard of 2011, I'll leave you with a glimpse of sunshine and warmth.

Reasons why keeping the house tidy is pretty much impossible...

1-15-09

today

A Walk with Turo

Today Turo and I had had a little outing on campus. As we headed from lunch to the car, Turo did the following:
1. As we left the building, he stopped to watch the press conference with the athletic director on our new football coach. Made noises of agreement to the A.D.’s remarks. Pointed out to the student next to us that “you have brown skin like me”
2. Flopped in the snow to make an angel and then invited passing students to take a look
3. Played with all three sections of the chain border between the grass and the sidewalk
4. Climbed up on the raised snow covered grass area but was distracted by snow sweeper
5. Watched snow sweeper machine clean the steps in front of Hill auditorium
6. Put hand in the fire hose connector things coming out of a building
7. Hid in small corner
8. Looked in Michigan apparel store window
9. Found another fire house connector thing to touch
10. Looked at display in sushi restaurant
11. Crossed sidewalk to look at newspaper boxes and asked for money to buy a paper
12. Decided he was cold, got back into stroller and rode backwards “to be warm”

See #1

Doctor Turo

I have all these thoughts about posts I want to write. About the joy that is Turo, about Auntie Jess, about the challenges of three, on the dusty boots in my grandma's basement and there is even one I've already titled "Potty Water is not Holy Water." But when I sat down to write tonight, very little poured out onto the page.

So, I thought I'd at least share a photo. Jose picked this up for Turo's birthday.

Turo Turns 3!