Provision

Dear universe,

Thank you for kindness in the world. Thank you for connection. Thank you for provision. One the eve of Ezra's 3rd birthday party, an unexpected package arrived from Connecticut. I unwrapped it in surprise. What could possibly be in this package? As we unwrapped the presents, we discovered a Flip Video Camera. All of our videos of Ezra in the first 3 years of his life are grainy, poorly lit little videos.

This video camera seems to transform even a dimly lit room into a kindly lit setting, and we have already filmed Ezra in action. Thank you to Lauren and Nico, for sending such an unexpected gift that has returned daddy Arie into the Paparazzi of Ezra's first years!

Kindness,

Noelle Aguayo

The Passage of Time in Toddlerville

Before I gave birth to Ezra, many told me to value and cherish his babyness, because it would disappear in the "blink of an eye" and many other iterations of the same message and metaphor.

I do my best to enjoy every single moment with him and I thought I was in the moment until today, when he quite suddenly turned three. Yes, three!

Last night, I held Antara's brand new baby girl Aven. I looked into her tiny face, eyes closed, no longer than my fore arm, and I wondered how it could be that Ezra was ever this tiny and fragile.

Aven's peaceful countenance, her little squeaks and chirps, her creatura nature was a powerful reminder of the state of fragility in which we start our lives and how incredibly we depend on our parents, our community to nurture us along the way.

In that vein, I am blessed to be in the circle that will love and cherish baby Aven, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful community of friends, family nearby, and family overseas who send their love and consistency despite the distance.

On Ezra's birthday, I send thanks to the universe to have such a beautiful, loving, humorous, intelligent and joyful son who connects me so fully to the life process.

Happy Birthday Ezra Cole!

My Lime Green Monkey Business

I recently hired Santa Barbara photographer Lindsey Eltinge to do a photo shoot for my business, Lime Green Monkey. Here are some adorable shots of some of my models with Snottykins. All models seen are owners and users of Snottykins organic cotton handkerchiefs. Just as soon as another block of time arrives, I will update my website with our latest designs at www.limegreenmonkey.com

That Half Marathon and Other things

Just like any long journey, I suppose I needed time to process my half marathon, which was a month ago yesterday. I did it! All 13.1 miles of it! It was an exciting experience to run with 20,000 other people, to be up before dawn, to feel the excitement build, to be in a crowd silenced by the first notes of the Star Spangled Banner and to feel tears actually welling up in my eyes.

I was impressed that so many people all over the country were training for this event--all scheduling training runs into their busy schedules, with friends or alone. It really gave me a sense of solidarity I haven't had in a long while, because training for such an event is not part of our daily culture--especially after you graduate from college and no longer participate in sports.

Luckily, Barry and Chyrss were there with me to experience a few hours of running in the city of Anaheim and in parts of Disneyland. Would I do it again? Nope. Once is enough. But, I see a 10k in my future, God willing.

Other things! I am so happy to be alive and healthy and to have friends and family that love and care about me. How lucky is that? How blessed is that? Very very blessed.

Peace and Love,

Noelle

You're running what? Why?

I'm running a half-marathon this Sunday, September 6. 2009 in Disneyland, Anaheim, California, at 6am in the morning. I know it sounds crazy. At least it has always sounded crazy. Like, why? I like my knees just the way they are!

Most people I tell say "oh. That's cool." My mom said "You're running what?" She didn't say the why, but I saw it there on her tongue. And she's not reserved in sharing her thoughts, but for some reason she let the letters dangle just on the other side of her vocal chords and then she swallowed and said something encouraging.

I took notes. I'll need them in the future I'm sure, when Ezra tells me he's hiking the Appalachian Mountain Trail in a week's time.

Anyway, this whole half marathon business wasn't my idea. It was Chryss Yost who put a little spell on me (must be all that time she's spending in Haiti learning about Haitian culture and Santeria.

Anyway, for some reason I said yes. I don't remember if I said it casually, or with an upturn at the end, but regardless, this Sunday I'm doing it. 13.1 miles of one foot in front of the other in Disneyland. I'm sure many have accomplished this feat in Disneyland, but at a pace that makes me look FAST!

Okay, on a less silly note, I am rather excited about it. Not nervous yet. But when I see the other 17,999 people in the race, I think it'll kick in.

Barry Miller, Chryss and I have been training for a few months now, so I actually feel prepared. I saw Dr. Brown, my favorite naturopath who teaches the Morter Health System, on Thursday for a preventative tune up.

I feel like I'm ready and I'll let you know how it feels to run 13.1 miles. I'm sure it is in our biology to do this, just as I am sure my human ancestors were also impatient. We must have run this far in the past, before cars and wagons and domesticating horses and inventing rollerblades. There must have been something a few hours away that we felt a desperate need to run to and see within a short period of time.

Perhaps I will have a distant memory and connect with my ancestral roots--wanting to visit my Jondular in a neighboring tribe. I'm thinking I had a Jondular in a few tribes, why else would I run so far?

If you don't get the Jondular reference, that's probably a good thing.

I'm publishing this without re-reading because I've got a little boy calling my name!

If Toddler's Could Write: Advice Column #1

If something doesn't go your way, roll your lower lip down as foreshadowing.

If possible, eek out a few crocodile tears to make your eyes look dewy.

Then, take a deep breath and give it your best howl.

Chances are, once you start howling, your tears will start flowing more naturally, which adds to the drama and can increase effectiveness.

Someone will come give you attention.

Success rate of getting your way with this technique: 37% (42% with extra tears)

Safety Joe

I am really into safety, especially since Ezra came into the world. I wouldn't drive over San Marcos pass the first 3 months of his life as it seemed so unsafe and he was such a fragile little thing. Now that he is approaching 3, I have lightened up considerably, but I can't help but hold his hand extra tight when we are walking along a busy street.

Last week, I saw a mom at a busy intersection holding a baby with a toddler boy about Ezra's age playing wildly. She didn't hold his hand and he ran in circles, flapping his hands wildly with glee. From inside my 2 ton metal box zipping by them, I was terrified that the little boy would chase the imaginary thoughts in his mind right into the street. I shared some version of my concern with my husband and he thought it was good that this little boy was wild and free. Obviously, he seemed to know the boundaries of where the sidewalk ended and live frogger began, but why on earth would you take such a chance?

At the same time, I see children in my neighborhood not older than 6 or 7 caring for their younger siblings while their parents walk ahead with a baby in the stroller, all attention focused on the new addition. And they get by. They know the rules and they have their wits about them because they have the space to learn on their own.

I can't help but think of the John Prine song Safety Joe. Joe doesn't have any fun as all he can think about is safety. You want to give Joe a shake and shout "live a little!"


I know there is some middle ground. I'm fairly certain Ezra wouldn't step off the curb into the street. But I won't be letting go of his hand with my fierce grip anytime soon.