A Babies Shower for Lisa

This is our lovely friend Lisa. She's expecting a boy and a girl very soon and a group of us hosted a babies shower for her. After multiple IVF's, a very sick pregnancy and bed rest, Lisa deserved a big celebration!

We had lots of great food.....

.....and dessert of course!

The paper orbs that we created....

....and these unique terrariums were the favors.

And a photo booth is always in order....

...and so much fun!

The party was a group effort and a wonderful success!

And of course, an awkward pregnancy photo is always appreciated.

Thanks to Kate for the pictures.

CALisms

Charlotte waving.

Aubrey: "Who are you waving to?"

CAL: "My shadow."

Walk outside at night.

CAL: "Moon you're back! Hi moon! I missed you."

(Charlotte and the moon have a special relationship - she really does have conversations with the moon at times).

Aubrey getting all worked up relaying a story to her sister.

CAL: "Aubrey, calm down!"

(Charlotte only really calls me Aubrey now. Sometimes it's mama, but that's getting more rare and it doesn't bother me. I don't correct her).

Aubrey laying down.

CAL: "My back hurts too. I need to lay down."

(My little copy cat. I didn't realize my back hurt that often until she started copying me).

Walking together.

CAL: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Aubrey: "I don't know."

CAL: "Are you thinking about turtles or dinosaurs?"

Aubrey: "Both, now that you mention it."

Saying goodnight at bedtime.

Aubrey: "Good night Charlotte. Have good dreams."

CAL: "I'm going to dream about you, Aubrey."

Oh my little Charlotte. We have interesting conversations at times and you always makes me smile.

Happy International Women's Day

Since today is International Women's Day I thought I would share some thoughts. I recently went to a nonviolent communication workshop, hosted by the women's center that I volunteer at, and felt so good and uplifted afterwards. I left thinking if everyone sat through this same training then so much good could be done and peace be felt.

The main message is empathy for others and truly understanding how to listen to others with respect, while also communicating your needs (if necessary). It is my understanding that everyone wants to be validated, understood, heard, and accepted. Effectively communicating our emotions and feelings can be so difficult and complicated that a lot of times it can result in either no communication, suppression of feelings, or violent communication. However, if we could all learn how to truly listen, truly empathize, and connect with other human beings then the possibilities of goodness are limitless.

I love the quote below and feel like it captures what listening means to me:

"Listening carefully, he let everything enter his mind, birthplace and childhood, all that learning, all that searching, all joy, all distress. This was among the ferryman's virtues one of the greatest: like only a few, he knew how to listen. Without him having spoken a word, the speaker sensed how Vasudeva let his words enter his mind, quiet, open, waiting, how he did not lose a single one, awaited not a single one with impatience, did not add his praise or rebuke, was just listening. Siddhartha felt, what a happy fortune it is, to confess to such a listener, to burry in his heart his own life, his own search, his own suffering."

Siddartha by Hermann Hesse

Updates

Because our lives are so exciting, here are some random updates:

- Charlotte completed her first swimming course (8 week class) at the MIT pool. She loves swimming and is now considered a "beginner beaver" (the mascot for MIT is a beaver, which I still find humorous).

- I am the newly elected secretary of the MIT Rowing Club, which basically means I have lots of logistical work to do, as well as wake up wicked early and row. The season starts in April, but we've already started the prep work and I'm currently debating if I will row or only cox.

- A while ago Stuart completed his thesis proposal and oral defense of his qualifying exams. The next big step is finishing and defending his thesis (hopefully by next Spring).

- I continue to volunteer and work with women at a local women's center and sometimes learn way more information than I anticipated.

- In January I committed to exercising 4 hours a week with some friends and surprisingly I'm still staying strong.

- Stuart is completely obsessed with bikes now, but especially his own, which means he now takes lots of pictures of his bike....but I like this one.

- And lastly the biggest update of all: my parents are in the process of selling their home (the house I grew up in) and plan to leave in July for a new adventure (see here and scroll down to Utah). Still adjusting to this one and not happy that they will be gone for 3 years.