he...he...me

Bonne Année!

2012-01-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2011: A Circus of Trouble

2011-10-31T22:00:00.001-07:00

"A Striped Gato" and "A Dandelion Turned to Seed" go looking for trouble at Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA on Halloween Eve with their parents. Ando and Uli continue their adventures growing up as toddlers in Berkeley CA. The boys have know each other all their lives and then some.

More photos: Halloween 2011, a set on Flickr.

+ more here from the likes of the dandelion named Uli.

France: Paris + Provence

2011-10-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Paris & Provence. Our first major family trip abroad. More to come but here is a taste of Paris!

Babbling & Talking...

2011-10-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

Ando's babbling is turning into words. It's so great that he is starting to communicate. I can tell he is so proud of himself that he can start telling us what he wants and what he is thinking. I wanted to document some of his talking while I remember so here are some notes that maybe more interesting later than now.

First word:"Esta" spanish for "This is" Vilma taught him this by saying "Esta la luce" or "This is a light" Ando first thought Esta was a light and would point saying Esta at every light. On another note we thought he was saying Ed-a and maybe his first word was Head. Which would have been funny but it was definitely Esta.

Next words:
"Nana" for Banana, his first favorite fruit.
"Ball" he loves to throw with Papa, the only problem when he first learned this word is he couldn't understand why you could throw a ball but not throw everything else.
"Gato" for cat in Spanish. He still says this even is you say cat he says "gato" he'll also call a little cat gatolita.
"Agua" for water

Ways to say good bye:
He first learned to waive months ago but now Ando is very international~
"Bye-bye"
"Au revouir" followed by a waive
"BYE" is when he pretends he is leaving on his own
"Vaminous" is when he wants to leave
"Go-go" he exclaims with excitement when something rolls, goes, or he is on his bouncy toys.
He will also blow kisses

Now days away from 20 months his favorite words are:
"Bibiclye" obsessed with bicycles he mumbles this word at any moment in the day and will call any two wheeled vehicle this. Also true story when we were in France, Ando was asleep mumbling something. When I leaned over I heard him repeat over a couple times..."bibicle, bibicle"
"Car" even trucks are cars but loves the CAR. He will sit in Papa's car for hours if we let him and can recognize the model of Eric's car on the road and says Papa. He also loves trying to open all car doors and if he has keys will try them on any car too.
"Yellow" not sure if he understands this color but he says it a lot.
"Coo.coo.coo" He imitates a sound of a chicken which Vilma has taken him to see on many walks next door.
"Ouch" when something hurts.
"Ah-oooooh" when he drops something or even throws it on the floor.

More to come but these are his favs. And of course he says "Mama" and "Dada" and "Papa!"

Oh and I almost forgot he loves to say "NO" and funny he has not learned to say "yes".

Toddlerhood

2011-10-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted lately. This little guy has been keeping me BUSY! When Ando turned 18 months things started to normalize for me. I think I have started to integrate my worlds and probably my hormones. Ando is turning into a little person. Busy, moving, talking, doing....it's really fun but fills my world.

This shot is from a trip we took to Nevada City in August. Our last summer hurrah with Elka, Peter & Uli. Elka took this photo. I think Ando is now showing his toddlerness. Such a boy. We stayed in the cowboy cabin~ notice Ando's shirt to match. I better enjoy dressing him while I can. *wink.

Baby Mosh Pit: Part II

2011-08-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ando & Uli's Dance Moves

2011-08-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we were in Nevada City for our last summer hurrah to swim in the Yuba River. We went with friends Elka, Peter and toddler Uli.

After a dinner we stopped in to see what the live music was all about. Ando & Uli hit the dance floor with their moves.

Uli is demonstrating 'Rocker Swaying" and Ando is more of the "Raver / Mosh Pit" kind of guy. It was truly a riot to see them memorized by some mediocre rock and roll losing their tired selves dancing away so unselfconsciously. I only wish I would have filmed all the people standing behind them watching them.

A day in the life: bed time with Ando

2011-07-25T22:39:00.001-07:00

A day in the life: bed time with Ando, a set on Flickr.

We have this little game before bedtime. Ando brushes his teeth and then he knows it's almost bedtime. After he runs and jumps up on the bed and I chase him and pull him down and tickle him. He loves it! Just the phrase..."I'm going to get you..." gets him running and laughing hysterically. We both laugh and laugh every night before sleep. It's our little ritual.

8th Street Park

2011-06-22T23:38:00.001-07:00

8th Street Park, a set on Flickr.

Now that Ando is more active I take him to the park more often. There is a little school by our house on 8th Street that we can walk too. He is not so active but likes to be pushed in the swing or put his hands through the holes on the play ground equipment and laughs and laughs when I grab his finger. The other day he was laughing so hard that all the other kids had to come see what was so funny. He loves to play in the sand. And if there is anything mechanical to do he can sit for 10 minutes and just move something around. He has learned to go down the slide but is still cautious and likes mom to hold his hands. When he goes down the slide himself he turns around and goes down on his tummy feet first and closes his eyes.

Our Favorite Places (05.14.11)

2011-06-22T22:52:00.001-07:00

Even before Ando was in the womb his Papa and I have always enjoyed walking at the Berkeley Marina. Sometimes we even go there 5-6 days a week in the morning. It's such a special place I think Ando will enjoy this park as he grows up.

Here is just a glimpse at one of those special days.

Ando is walking in this video but he is only on day 4 of his free walking still grabs my hand when I am near. Every day he get's a little braver.

Since I am actually writing this in the future of day 4, I will share that in a week or so the story goes....

Ando and I are walking home from 4th Street with Papa. Papa is in a hurry and goes back to the house with the stroller. Ando and I have one block to walk. ONE LONG BLOCK with a toddler. Ando holds my hand and seems to stop every 2-3 steps to look at something walking only when he can hold one of my hands. Finally.... we are at the gallery door. A big black Labrador comes walking by heading in the direction we just came from. Ando loves dogs and just takes off down the sidewalk by himself. He forgets he is not holding my hand. The dog comes with a little two year old girl. And she runs up to Ando and hugs him and holds his hand off and on. At this point Ando has still not looked back for Mom. He continues to walk down the block laughing and following the dog. The little girl seems to stabilize him now and then. I am laughing teary eyed behind him. Ando has now officially walked and has the courage to do it by himself. From here on out, Ando is on his way! I could tell he felt so free and happy.

Ando Walks!

2011-06-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so I'm a little behind so just pretend this post is dated 5.10.2011
Ando walks by himself at 14 months 7 days!

The little guy took his first steps. Vilma had dressed him so here it is in technicolor!

And just because I couldn't decide which is cuter......here's another short one with a yoga twist ending!

And one more to show Andosando mama loves him!
( taken on the same historic day of his first independent walk)

My 2nd Mother's Day.....

2011-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

This is a photo I got for mother's day.....Love my boys! Big Papa & Little Papa!

(p.s. the little sign is a talking bubble)

Tulum Family Vacay 2011

2011-05-09T22:20:00.001-07:00

Visiting the Yucatan with our friends Elka, Peter & baby Uli. Our hot, humid, international family beach vacation where two small families 'try' to find R&R with their 14 month year boys. (Get ready for a lot of photos of Ando in the sand and if your really bored watch our videos~these are for the grandparents)

Click here to see more photos & videos: Tulum Family Vacay 2011, a set on Flickr.

Ando's Groovin' & First His Words

2011-04-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ando is just over 13 months. He is big 25.5 lbs. And more like the size of an 18month old. He is in the 90% for height. 70% for weight. He loves music. His Papa has played music to him ever since he was wee. It's super adorable to see him grooving to the tunes. We caught a little of it on this video:

He is also saying a few words. Besides an occasional Mama or Dada.....His first sentence is in Spanglish. He says...'Esta light'. He thinks 'Esta' is a light and will point in the air towards the ceiling when you say 'Esta?' He knows we respond when he says 'esta' so he babels away with his baby talk adding it in....example; da bah bah 'esta' da ba da 'esta', and then wait for us to acknowledge him in conversation. Then smiles so proud of himself.

He also says 'nana' for banana. And just learned how to shake his head 'no' when he does not want something. He is starting to know he has power in the world. It is a great and sometimes frustrating thing for all of us. Mostly it is great seeing this little guy turn into a little boy. It's hard to remember he was a wee baby not so long ago.

ANDO MIKA HIGASHI POWELL's Passport Photo

2011-03-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

This week I'm getting Ando's first passport, here is the final photo!

+ the making of the passport photo:

Need I say more?

Ando's 1 Year Birthday Party!

2011-03-14T00:25:00.000-07:00

More birthday photos click here.

Dear Ohana,

Thank you all for witnessing ANDO's 1st BIRTHDAY! We always enjoying throwing parties and having our Ohana get together. We do always wish afterwards that we had more quality time with all of you, but that is for another time. We feel so lucky to have such wonderful, talented and creative people in out lives. It was very special to have you all there witnessing this big milestone for us and Ando Mika! Our only regret is we didn't get a group photo in front of the bun truck! So here is our embellished photo.....

Ando had a great time. When I was putting him to sleep he couldn't settle down until 9pm. He usually goes to bed at 8pm. He kept clapping while drinking his bottle of milk. Later that night while sleeping he continued to laugh in his sleep. Obviously he had a happy birthday!

Thank you all for your contributions, gifts & love!
with affection, April, Eric & Ando

Some musings from the mama sharing our gratitude: p.s. I hope I got you all. You can tell it's a rambling .....so let me know if I forgot anyone!

CHRIS NEFF thanks for suggesting the bun truck! super big hit! Also for being part of the Shibumi community. OLIVIA thanks for sharing Ando's birthday, it makes it extra special to know that you both are born on 'girl's day' SHERRY OLSEN special thanks for being 2nd wife and coming to make slaw and help consulting on Ando's outfit! CHRISTIN &EDEN POWELL thanks for the zuzus, they are strangely adorable. Also so great to have Eden & Rowan so near to grow up with Andosando. Hope the boys are feeling better. JIM & JUDY POWELL special thanks for coming down for this occasion and getting to know Ando as he grows! Also for the stuffy. FREDERICA DROTOS (fd) & MICHEAL thanks for the special toy that Ando's mom loves so much, for having exquisite taste and also for the emergency boot loan! DIANA & SUMMER so glad to share our little ones growing up together. We are so happy to know you all. Sorry Josh couldn't make it. When should we tell Ando & Summer about their pre-arranged marriage? Thanks for the lucky $. CARLA POWELL aka 'ANDO's GRANDMOTHER' thank you for all your visits and the love you have poured into Ando. Love the pj's an sweatshirt. KAREN, PAUL & LOLA thanks for the yummy homemade wine. Also for being a creative reference point for us. We really admire all you do and it's wonderful to cross paths with such busy lives. Also many thanks for all your generous big time hand me downs and understanding style matters. Lola is so adorable....looking more like Karen these days. So enjoying watching her grow. ANNIE DECAMP thanks for the gold baby guruda. very special, very generous. MAYA KINI & SHAMUS thanks for driving down and being here. Ando loves his caterpillar and we finally hung your beautiful butterfly mobile. Hugs to Delilah June. We want to come visit you for a lazy summer day in Sacramento. Let's really do it! Also thanks for driving Sherry down. ANGELINA DE ANTONIS & JACO special 'birth auntie'!!! thanks for being at Ando's birth, I see it has set up an amazing bond with you both. You are so generous and such a good friend! We are so lucky! Missed Oliver big kiss to him. ELIZABETH SHYPERTT& DICK So rare it is to have friends & work overlap in such an amazing way. Thanks for being here. CAROL LOURIE 'special' auntie. would Ando be here with out you? Thank you for the world's most amazing cake! It will forever be our favorite. Yum! ELKA, PETER & ULI so special watching our boys grow up and having that connection with you. From womb to birth to growing up SO quickly. We treasure knowing you all, don't move away! Thanks for the sweet air plant. DAVID GUILETTI ANNA & FOREST thanks for your support and witnessing of life & work. So nice to meet your kids again. Ando loves his hedgehog, who wouldn't. CATHY, CRAIG & ZANE love you guys. Thanks for your continued friendship & so great to see you. We look forward to many more years, trips to Hawaii & so wanted a Cathy piece for Ando's room. Thank you. We might need to commission or see what you might have for a painting. Also Craig, thanks for the vision / design on Ando's room. Love it! TARA RECH & PAUL GOWER thanks for moving with our ever changing life. Tara you are a true fashionista who adds a splash where ever she goes. Paul thanks for grounding the ship! You know what I mean.Love the ecco Zebra. NICK & BETTINA ZURICK you are both lovely. lovely! thanks for all your visits, yummy meals and witnessing our lives. We love knowing you are near. Ando loves his duck, he tries to run the cats over with it. ANN TAYLOR gift giver, complement giver. We feel uplifted by your energy. thanks for the train and teddy in the box & CHRIS BROWN good neighbor, good sport, thanks for hanging in there as Ando grows and screams and all our noise next door. Very happy to have you as our neighbor and friend. RAE DUNN & JOHNNY WOW rae.rae. it's been so long, and many roads we've walked. So nice to see you with your handsome man. Love to come for happy hour soon. Your gift was wrapped so beautifully and so it unfolded to such a thoughtful marker of time. merci! JEANNIE PAYER thanks for coming. I've loved how our paths keep crossing over the MANY years. It seems fitting that we should have lunch soon. We like the book? It's not for girls? Ando's will appreciate it when he stops tearing pages. Love to meet William sometime too. ANNA KONDOLF (& PETER BROCK) Thanks for your great style and support in the gallery and life. You always bring me such interesting people. So appreciate it and also love your kindness and gentle energy. Ando loves his tool set. He takes it apart every day. Hi to your mom. We missed Peter but could NOT have done the room without you! Thank you Peter!!! FIONA MORK thanks for holding down the Shibumi fort. Also for your great energy and love for Ando. He lights up to see auntie Fi. CAROL HACKER you are such a good auntie to Ando. You totally look out for him and we know you are there. Thank for his wonderful book collection, backpack! We never have to worry about his style with you around! RACHEL, JASON, LUNA & PLUM so fun to see you all more and more. Glad you have moved to this side of the E. bay! Your girls are lovely, Ando definitely has a crush on Plum. Luna too but something between him and little Plum. Ando loves his hammer set. He is hammering everything including the glass doors. SCOTT, SASHA, FINN & BERG you have all been great to see and know as our wee ones grow. Lots more brunches and good times. Thanks for the cute ball. REBECCA HASELTINE you are so good with Ando. Thanks for all your visits and keeping a thread with us and him. Very special indeed to have you in our lives. MONICA & HOWARD neighbors! We are so happy that you have moved to our side of the block because we get to see you so often. I'm sure we'll see you much more and Ando is looking forward to duck's nest. Thanks for the great book, bear, & puzzle. GARY, SAGE & LORELL old time friend of Mr. Powell. Wonderful that you could attend and great to see your kids grow up so big. Value that you could come and Ando is intrigued by his cobra. SETH QUITTNER sethy.sethy. thank you for witnessing my/our lives, being a good friend and always being there. Wish Heather would come too. love you uncle seth! AHNA, RUBY & CHAROLOTTE ahhhh the girls, you all look like you are out of the Victorian era. The girls are so beautiful, it will be hard for Ando to chose which one he will marry. ha. Miss you at Shibumi and glad you could come. Thanks for the cool card & book! COLETTE O'BRIEN great witness, beautiful bear from your collection, we will make sure Ando feeds him and brushes his hair. Thanks for coming lady in red. SHAYA DURBIN & JAMES thanks for coming and joining in again with the Shibumi family. James new haircut makes his eye even more beautiful. So glad you could come. CECILE MOOCHNEK we love the little bird book. You are a great giver of books and stories. thank you for sneaking away to visit us. KELLY NEEDERMAN & HUSBAND DARIUS fun to see you married, we all are so happy for you! Thanks for coming, we'd love to catch up more. Ando's new lizard is very cute and green. ANDREW, ZOE, ANAIS & MIIKA wow. what a journey we have all been on. Your girls are BEAUTIFUL beings. Could this all have happened in the last 10 years or however long we've know you. We so wanted that book! Very merci! LISA, MARK, SONIA & MARTIN thank you for coming down. We don't see you much but have loved that you show up and are your lovely selves. We'd love to come up for a visit this summer. Love to Lucia.....and thanks for all the very generous hand me downs. We will send them along down the new baby line! CATHERINE BUTLER & THOMAS love you guys...thanks for the representation Catty, send our love to Thomas. Ando will frolic with the fairies in his new sun attire. We will enjoy taking these along to Tulum next month! To be continued.....MICHELLE & DOUG you two are too fun. Great looking and thanks for the positive spirit you add in our lives! DEBORAH BOSKIN what long road we've been on. Thanks for coming and bringing your great colorful self! We love your sense of humor and you. STEVE, MARTHA, AUDREY & JACKIE thanks for cooking our books. JUST kiddin'. You are a true original. Glad to find an accountant with such flair! That push cart will keep Ando busy for months! Thank you all....and your beautiful girls! HEIDI STRUBLE hawaiian auntie. you are family. truly. we love you. the tiger-fish will love his mobile once we find a place for it. RENE AVALOS tia na na. great to have you back. Ando likes fishing for cats with his new toy and poking us with his new tweedy stick. KATIE HAWKINSON & JOE SLUSTKY thanks for coming, we will leave Ando's rocking chair for Joe in our will....ha! DONNA & RALPH BRISKEN glad you could stay awake for the party. You are both wonderful. We wish you would give other art collectors lessons in your genuineness. Thanks for the sheep for New Zealand. We have to send you a photo of Ando in his Tiger fish outfit. JUNE SCHWARCZ the oldest and the youngest person I love at one party. We love you. Thanks for being you. JULIA TURNER we love having you in our lives. Your talent and beauty amazes us. We are so lucky to know you. The tulips were indeed bright in the celebration. TEX GIELING you don't have email so you will probably never see this but you are a true original! Glad to get you over here! CHIA, GARY, KIA & ISAMU You win the award for most beautiful package presentation. Ando has a super crush on Kia and it is so nice you are near. We hope to see Ando & Isamu out on the town when they are teens! MICHAEL DIPETRO true witness. thank you. you are dear. BERNARDO LOPEZ We love your spirit and your work. Would love to do a get together and talk, hang out and discuss gardens! BEN & MURIEL thanks for showing up! Muriel hurrah we get to see you again and much appreciation for brining June. Look forward to your future celebrations! LLYR & WILL GRIFFITH you have changed Eric's life! And so great to see the boys growing up together. Thanks for coming and celebrating with us! Missed Jenny. JAYMIE & KENAN MALIK so excited for you all. Jenan is coming soon. Ando loves his cork toys. We will enjoy gathering to celebrate your soon to be new arrival. You have been so dear in our lives and witnessing our many events. Love you both. MOSE & ANU VAUGHAN you really are family. I know you are there and we can always count on you. It is very dear to know. NATHASHA, CHRIS & BABY NICO special thanks for the youngest member of planet earth to attend his first party. We look forward to watching your family unfold. Will come visit SOON! CHARLIE POWELL thanks for representing the Powell crew. Uncle Charlie, Ando seems so comfortable in your big arm. He is so lucky to have you all in the family and be so near. Love to Jess, Corrina & Owen. ROBERT POWELL & DIANE PETERSEN last but not least.....god parents. "Come visit me more I'm growing up fast!" says Ando. Love you.

MISSED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
JULIE FRANKLIN & ANDRE
SARAH GRAHAM, STRUMMER & MICHAEL AMATO ando does love his wooden xylophone it is complimentary to use with his new hammers
TAYLOR VOGLAND & BRAD thanks for the crayon set. how'd ya know?
ALCINA HORSTMAN
FELICIA ROSCHE why did a birth come on Ando's birthday~ you are HIS doula...kiddin' thanks for his rolling frog.
LISA PEPPER SATKIN & FAMILY
BRAD BROWN & DAPHNEE ZEPOS
MIKE HOLMES & THOM HILL
JUANITA
SANDRA ENTERLINE & DAVID / WALKER
SUSAN CUMMIS
ANDREW KORNIEJ & CHUCK
SHANA ASTRACHAN
SANDY & BOB SIMON
KELLY BURKE
ALIDA & SOPHIA BLAIR
KAREN LEE
GABRIEL, SUZANNE, AMALA
VERNON THEISS
ROBIN, TOVA, MICHAEL
JONATHAN, SAORI, KAYLAN, AND KUZUKI
NICK & HEIDI VAUGHAN
JENIFER, MICHAEL & ZOE
GRANDMA OBA thanks for the $ grandma oba....I'll ask my mom to buy something nice for my new room.
UNCLE KEVIN
AUNTIE BETH

.....to be continued.

Ando Mika is 1!

2011-03-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

TODAY is my little Tiger-fish's 1 year birthday!

Our friend Kelly Burke just sent this beautiful illustration she did. We are so lucky that Ando will grow up around all these talented and passionate people!

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

Last year this time I was going into labor.

Ando is such a happy sweet boy. We feel so lucky. He has learned to clap and say "yeah!"

We are having a BIG bash on Sunday.....
stay tuned for the festivities!

We are giving Ando his own room for his 1 year birthday.
Now to try to get him to sleep there. It is a day away from being finished. We had to enclose the balcony.
It is a beautiful room with windows that look out over the bamboo.

He is lucky boy!

We are lucky parents!!

Happy Birthday Andosando.....we love you SO much!

Thanks for picking us as parents.

Family of three.

2011-02-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

It feels good to be a little family of three. Ando is weeks away from turning one. He is crawling up stairs at a rapid pace and keeping us SO busy. I can hardly get anything done. He adds joy to our lives and makes plenty of guest appearances in the gallery and in the studio. It is one big barrel of monkeys over here. I never thought I'd learn to live with an element of constant chaos. Well what choice do I have? He teaches me new things every day. Stay present!

A day in the life goes like this.... Yesterday while I was in the gallery, in the backroom my goldsmith Chris was there, Fiona my gallery assistant was in doing enamels and Shaya my other gallery assistant was in photographing work. Eric was doing a drawing for a new gate and Ando was crawling around amongst everyone playing with an extension cord. (unplugged) I'd bring Ando in the gallery to say hi to clients and then set him back with Papa. See what I mean creative chaos.

My first trip away from Andosan / Pub Crawl

2011-01-31T21:47:00.000-08:00

Last week I went on my first business trip away from Ando to Tucson to the big gem show that they have once a year. I did pretty well but I kept thinking....I wonder where he thinks I went.
His Papa kept sending me videos so that was helpful. It was only for three nights but it felt like a long week.

I returned to a happy well adjusted boy. Seems like he missed me but doesn't seem clingy just happy to see me. Now there's my Andosan, rolling along with life.

See what he and Papa did while I was away......a little pub crawling. YIKES!

Ando's Crawling!!!

2011-01-31T21:39:00.000-08:00

So guess who's crawling....?
Andosando!!!

"Who me?"

These photos were taken at Christmas and he was in the pre-crawl stage then. Now he crawling like a little SUV. Up and over everything. So just for the record, Ando crawled at 10 months.

Here is a video of him in his early stages. I also like the video because you can hear him say "mama!" I'll post another video of him in full crawl~ next! It was amazing how quickly he caught onto crawling. And now there is no turning back.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T22:58:00.001-08:00

We spent New Year's Day with friends at Muir Beach.....so much to say about the holidays! I feel blessed to have brought Ando into the world. To have a loving husband to raise him with. Dear friends who I love and are part of our community. Family which gathers at our place to celebrate everything dear!

Eric and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on the Winter Solstice this year! And this January marks 10 years of being together. Which is the real number of years we've been together.

And because I didn't post this earlier....this was our holiday card for 2010. Yes I know I got two holidays out of this photo. He looks so small in this photo. Tomorrow marks Ando's 10 month birthday!

9 Months Update

2010-12-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

Our little lad. He was 9 months when these photos were taken thereabouts. Ando is getting more personality every day. We are often amazed at what a happy baby this guy is. He loves engaging with people, even strangers, slowly breaks into a mischievous smile when they look at him. He loves the attention and can't figure out when people just pass him by. He'll give me a look like "what's wrong with them?"

Last week we went to his 9 month old check up. His current stats: 29 3/4" in height 90%. Last month he grew over 1.5" in under a month. ouch! Like bamboo, I swear I can just sit and watch him grow.

Weight 23.8 lbs 80%. Yes my back is killing me. He is heavy! There is part of me that will be happy when he starts walking so he can pull his own weight. Seriously no one ever told me how hard it is to lug a kid around. Vilma his nanny calls him her "little rock", she is even wearing a special belt around her waist to pick him up. I hear ya sista!

55cm head 100% + + +, my kids got lots of brains in there and don't you forget it! Last month at Thanksgiving he might have said his first word. We were sitting around with the Powell's talking head size and Ando says....."Ea-da". Everyone turned and said together. "He said HEAD!" The jury's still out but that would sure be funny.

Ando is on the move by scooting and one might call it a semi-crawl. He likes to pull himself into standing position and have you walk him around the room. He has a walker and chases the cats. The cats look at me like HOLY SHIT now were really in trouble. Every day he is more and more mobile. With all his new activity, the good news is that he is only waking up 2x a night. Good for mama!

Ando can also play quietly by himself with his blocks and his toys on a blanket. When I walk by he says "Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" and throws both his hands in the air. It is so sweet to see him break into a big smile when he sees it's me. This look must warm every mothers heart! He is also learning to wave and that is super sweet.

Happy Owloween + Fall Days

2010-11-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Owloween! Hoo Hoo.
Fall has come and our little owl is 8 months old. He is getting not one, but two teeth in the bottom front of his mouth. He hardly complained as the teeth were breaking the surface. Not that he has not had discomfort but he has been pretty tough with this new occurrence. You can feel them coming in but barely see the little white teeth surfacing. He is sitting up sturdily, very curious and grabs at everything in sight. He loves to try to be a big boy and drink out of a glass cup. Tummy time is more bearable but he is still quickly flipping over again to his back, he is still not ready to crawl. Maybe we should enjoy the peace of mind that where you set down Ando he stays put.

Fall has come and Papa continues to film him in daily life. Here is a sweet video of Ando discovering the bamboo leaves in our backyard. Of course the end of every story is that everything must go in his mouth. All of his little happens are such a joy to witness.

Happy Child

2010-10-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so I think I birthed the most extroverted child. He loves people, younger babies are his new thing. This boy is so excited to interact. I went to Berkeley bowl last week and Ando was strapped into the cart. I could only move a half isle at a time and then he catch someone's eye and they come up to us. He loves siting in my arms faced out so he can interact with people and see what is going on. He's a happy child!

Notes from Papa

2010-10-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ando is sleeping ok, still waking up 3-4 times a night, I'm suppose to sleep train him. But the doctor said don't do it until you can keep it consistent. I am waiting until we build his room which I hope is SOON....he get's up anytime between 5:30-7am. Mostly it is around 6am which is well, TOO early. Since I am the one who gets up with him during the night the deal is when he is awake and ready to play. That is when I hand him to Eric and he gets up with him. This is his time with Papa. I go back to sleep.

Eric has been filming and drawing Ando since he was born. This was an espically nice journal entry about him. I love it besides the fact Ando looks like a toddler. NOT YET, your still my baby. Well kind of. 7 months and doing well!

My little marsh-mellow sits up!

2010-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Just a few days ago Ando learned to sit up. He is a few days away from his 7 month birthday. Like everyone says......it goes SO fast! Where did my baby go? We are working on crawling next. He seems to want to go straight to walking but the osteopath and other experts say that crawling is the main function that integrates the right and left brain. Eric is setting up a morning obstacle course that Ando must finish before he get's his 8am bottle.

Now if you want to see the sitting in action check out my little marsh-mellow's balance. This is only after a few days of sitting. It is amazing how each day he learns a little bit more about his body and his coordination. Good job Andosan! I think he's happy about this new accomplishment.

Andosan on the Cashmere Trail

2010-09-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

Ando is six months old. He is going to be ACTIVE. He is not crawling yet but check this out. He has found his own way to get from point A to B. Gotta watch him of he'll be in Nevada before I know it.

This months check up.....
Weight 17 lbs 10 oz 60%
Length 24.5" 80%
Head....ah over 100% ( A Powell for sure!)

Good job Ando. Keep growing & keep going!

5 months & on the way to 6 months

2010-08-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

The months have been flying by. In about a little over a week Ando will be 6 months old. We had a re-shoot with our photographer Leon that had photographed Ando at 3 months. We were lucky Leon had us back, Ando peed all over his fabric, backdrop, carpet etc. Leon said he'd have to have a man to man talk with my wee man before the second shoot. Ando lost it with exhaustion the first shoot, before we got a good mama son photo. So this 5 month shoot I had many that I loved to choose from.

Ando is SO much fun! We couldn't ask for a happier baby. I like to say to him everyday..."Ando try to be in a good mood today." He is eating food and actually was so excited his first few meals he would scream in between bites. Shortly after learning to eat he weaned himself from breast feeding. At first I was sad and tried to prolong it but then I realized. Ando is so his own person. I need to respect who he is. And now I'm totally fine with it. And he never looked back. I have a theory that Ando is so ready to be a toddler and infancy just wasn't for him. From the second he popped out he was wide eyed and knew what he wanted.

He loves people, the more the better. He is so happy to interact with anyone. Even if he sees a non kid loving person. Ando will try to engage them by smiling at them and looks perplexed if they don't smile back. Then he'll try again. And then with no response go back to kicking and playing.

We went to Hawaii in July and boarding the plane Ando was facing forward in his carrier. Walking down the aisle I saw everyone seated on both sides of the plane smiling back at us. I looked down and Ando was turning his head to the left and then to the right and back again. He really knows how to engage with people. Or in this case should I say...work the crowd.

Both Eric and I have a great relationship with him. I love how he lights up when I enter a room and look at him. That said I am very happy that he is so generous with his joy and feels secure enough to go to anyone at this point. I love my Andosan. It just keeps getting better.

Ando has learned to crawl backwards. By this I mean he lays on his back and scoots backwards. He can pretty much travel across the whole length of the room if we let him. I can only imagine how active he'll be once he starts crawling and walking.

We got some nice family photos too this round. I was so happy to get these too. Let me know which one you like?

#2
#3#4 #56 months ~ right around the corner...

all photos: Leon Borensztein

4 months old ~ "my little Kook-a-nogin"

2010-07-16T18:14:00.001-07:00

I am posting this a wee bit late~ but these photos were taken on his 4 month birthday. It has been a joke in our house that I say pass me his little sock, hand me his little shirt, get me his little shoe. But one thing that I don't say is look at that little head. We call him Kook-a-nogin as one of our nicknames. It is from a Jonathan Richmond song but we changed the world Kook-a-nockin to Kook-a-nogin. But isn't it a cute head indeed?

Stats are in from his four month old check up which confirm it. Head 45cm 97%! Yeah Ando good work. His weight was 14lbs 14oz putting him in the 50%. His height was 25.5" 75%. So the question is....if his weight is in the 50% and his head is 97%, just how much does that head weigh? And is that why he is progressing more slowly in sitting up? Not that we really care it's just fun to think about.

He's our little Kook-a-nogin. The song goes...

Kook-a-nogin, Kook-a-nogin, I love you.
Kook-a-nogin, Kook-a-nogin, I need you.
Kook-a-nogin, Kook-a-nogin, oh oh oh ohhhhhhh......

First Father's Day!

2010-06-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Photo: Leon Borensztein

I have always wanted a good father for my child. My father was somewhat absent. With Eric, I have really GOOD one! It makes me so happy to see the way he relates to his son. This was a special day for me as well to know I have a Papa in Ando's life that really loves him and wants him to be all that he can be.

One Year Ago....

2010-06-13T18:04:00.001-07:00

Ando was conceived.

We can't image life without him.

Ando Mika ~ 3 Months Old

2010-05-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

When Ando was inside the womb. I use to call him Mika as his nickname which mean New Moon. I watched my belly, a flat mound like new moon and with every week grow fuller and fuller. After we found the name Ando I kept getting the feeling while he was inside me that he was a funny guy. Ando Higashi Powell just seemed so serious. So we added his nickname...Mika which lighted it up a bit.

Today Ando Mika is 3 months old today....and as you can see he is a funny guy with lots to say. Scroll down for my experimental movie making, where you can see more of his personality.You'll see why we needed Mika in his name.

And now
Andosan...The Movie

Ando Cat

2010-05-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

Do all parents look at their kid and say...OMG he's just so damn cute? Well I'm not saying I said that but here are some new photos. Ando is 2 1/2 month old and 11lbs. He is following people with his eyes, reaching, grabbing, and along with cooing~ he is squealing with delight! We feel lucky to have his fun & sweet personality. Well most of the time, except when he is hungry look out! He can get MAD. But let's go back to cute & funny! Enjoy...

But isn't he so damn cute!

My first Mother's day with Andosan...

2010-05-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

My first Mother's Day! I felt kind of emotional knowing what a long path I have been on to be a mom. To be honest I was kind of weepy today. But happy to see my sweet boy in my arms.

We visited my dear friend June Schwarcz who is 92 this year for this special day of celebration and introduced her to Ando. She is my friend / mentor and we adopted her as family! We met when I was 30 and she was 80. It was at her 80th retrospective and I went up to tell her I admired her work. But instead we started complimenting each other about the other's skirt. We both loved clothes, enamel, art! A match was made immediately. Three months later I started working with June. April & June. We are fifty years apart and I never think of her as an old lady. She is who I hope to be when I grow up.

So sweet to see her holding Ando. I am so happy she got to meet him and hold him. I felt teary seeing the two of them together 92 years apart, the oldest person and the youngest person I love dearly!

On another note......Look out I just got an iphone with video! Here is my smiley Andosan and my very first editing attempt with imovie.

I made this for my mom for mother's day who is on the East coast and does not get to see him as much as she'd like. We wish she was closer to see him growing like a weed. He misses his Grandma Joyce but will see her for her birthday in July.

Really this is kind of silly but I'll get better. I literally worked on this for a few minutes. So enjoy!

2 Months Old!

2010-04-28T23:46:00.000-07:00

My little Tiger-Fish is 2 months old today! Wow the old cliche is true. He is growing up so fast! Yesterday we had a pediatrician visit and he is now 10 lbs and 1 oz. His weight is in the 25% but his head is in the 75%. Eric jokes that he has a 'fivehead' instead of a forehead, so I have a joke with Ando and say to him. "That is the chance we took.... you do have your father's fivehead."

We have another nickname from him which we modified from a Jonathan Richmond song: we call him 'Kukanogin' because of his big head. I also call him my little 'Nipple Urchin', 'Milk Breath' and 'Andito'. I'm sure the nicknames will keep coming. The other day I thought I should say his name more or he is going to think his name is Kukanogin.

He is a very alert baby and has been smiling from very young. Now his smiles are more connected to what and who he sees. He is also laughing and cooing. His demeanor is very sweet and playful. He always has his hands going moving and touching things. You can see from the middle photo above he is modeling his 'blast off' pose. (ha! ha!) He seems like he is a very good natured baby. The only thing that really gets him mad is not getting his food fast enough. And then he can really scream!

We are really enjoying our time with him, sleep deprived and all. He is getting into a schedule of sleeping; mid-night, 3am, 5:00am, 6:30-7am and somewhere around 8am we drag ourselves out of bed. I tell ya sometimes it is not easy getting up. I actually think I'm going to die. And then I see this cute little face that is all smiley and hungry. So I do it. Eric is very helpful and loves his bonding time with him and changes his diaper and hands him to me.

This week also I am going back to work part time. Just two half days and Saturdays at the gallery. I want to start back slowly, my gallery manager is pregnant with twins so this is pulling me back sooner than I would otherwise go back. But I'll ease in and still have lots of time with him.

Ando Mika is 2 months old today! I have to say I think he is going to be a little flirt. He already knows he is very charismatic. I think today is a big milestone. We go from counting his birth weeks to months! Happy 2 Month Birthday little guy!

Our First Family Trip

2010-04-22T20:14:00.001-07:00

We loaded up the car on Sunday April 18th and set out on our first family trip to a place Eric and I have always loved, Wilbur Hot Springs. It is just beautiful there, Japanese style long hot soaking tubs, an old style house with a group kitchen and trails for walks or hikes into Lake County.

Ando did really well. They allow a couple rooms for kids and we keep all his needs met so he was fairly quiet. Eric and I took turns in the tubs and made dinner and just enjoyed our new little family. Even though we still got up every 2-3 hours, I know I did get to relax because I started dreaming again.

It was my birthday, but I already felt like I had my birthday present this year.... Ando!

Ando is almost 9lbs but still too tiny for our beater hand me down BOB stroller we brought along. He was a good sport about rattling around in there and we did get to take a few walks.

And now a few more photos of this very special place....

My Birth Story of Ando

2010-04-10T09:55:00.001-07:00

I will preface the story by saying that I wish that I’d had a longer labor. I’m not even sure I'm telling the truth by saying that in retrospect, but here is our story...

I had been having regular braxton-hicks contractions for 3 weeks prior my due date with some early signs that I might be going into labor. I was pretty convinced he was going to come early so when I hit my due date I was more than ready for his birth. His due date passed and I went to my acupuncturist to be induced. I was determined to go into labor naturally and did not want the doctors coming after me with pitocin to start my labor. She did a strong treatment with electricity. I was ready and I hoped he was too!

Two days after my due date, I woke up and went to breakfast with Eric. I had been loving carbs during my pregnancy, pancakes especially, and this morning I ordered the biggest stack of buttermilk pancakes I had ever eaten. I could tell I was having braxton-hicks contractions again and told Eric. “I think he is coming soon.” We normally take morning walks at the Berkeley Marina. The sky was rainy. I wanted to drive down there and sit in the car even if we couldn’t walk. When we arrived the sky opened up and the sun was out. It felt like spring was here. We got out and walked. My walking the last week had slowed down to a very slow casual stroll. We made it around the marina and visited the owls. When we ran into a friend, Eric told her that the labor was coming in the next few days. I said, “I think hours.” She put her hand on my belly, like she knew it would be today. On the way back to the car I stopped to pee I noticed some mucus and a little blood. As we returned to the car the rain started again lightly. Eric was gracious and present with me as we walked. The walk and the morning seemed like everything was going in slow motion.

Returning home, I waited a few moments downstairs for the cleaning ladies to finish upstairs. How polite this boy was to wait until the house was cleaned, I was feed and we got our morning walk in. I called my naturopath Carol and told her I thought his birth was near. She told me she’d come over. I sent one last work email and headed upstairs to my bed. My naturopath did a light acupuncture treatment and had her hand on my belly, timing and feeling the contractions. They were very light but regular. She left and told me she be back at 6pm to check on me.

I thought I’d take a bath and wash my hair. I made it through two more light contractions and then went into full active labor. Needless to say I never washed my hair. The contractions started really strong and fast. I tried to stay in the bath but I was bleeding so much I went to the toilet. I had Eric call our doula Felicia. She said to check back in a ½ hour. A few more contractions and they were rapidly increasing in strength. I told Eric to call her back and tell her to come now. Eric was trying to time the contractions but they were coming so fast. So we never timed even one. We barely sent out an email to our friends that had asked them to think of us for a quick and easy labor and asked them to light a candle for us. I typed in one last comment at the end of the email, NO CALLS. I knew this was only going to get harder and I need them there in spirit only.

I was starting to panic, the pain increased and I started feeling like I wasn’t going to make it through this without drugs. I wanted to go to the hospital now! Eric went down to let Felicia in. The blood was still streaming out of me. As I stood up and tried another position another contraction started. I could literally feel his head descending down my birth canal. I couldn’t tell maybe I was just being dramatic? By the time Felicia started up the stairs she could hear me hyperventilating and ran up. She got me focused and told me that she wanted to sit with me through two contractions. The three of us were in the bathroom and I was on the toilet. I felt like I had to sit with my legs spread as far as possible probably because his head was there. The toilet paper holder was in the way of my knee. I asked Eric if he could remove it and he quickly ripped if off the wall. After two contractions Felicia agreed we should go to the hospital. I could barely walk but she got me dressed. Eric was madly packing the remainder of our stuff.

I made it down one flight of stairs. I was sitting in a chair, Felicia was encouraging me that I could do this and I was ok. I was kind of panicky thinking I might have to go through seventeen hours of this. I sat in a chair, my eye’s locked on Felicia’s big brown eyes. She had her finger with her black painted fingernail on my forehead and we were breathing and chanting “ HE, WHO, HE, WHO”. She could tell when I got to the top of the contraction and she would tell me, “Ok now the contraction is descending”. Then I had this urge to push, my body just started this low groan and it started pushing with the next contraction. She told Eric, “ We need to go NOW!” The breathing helped me not to push but at the end of the contraction my body would just push a bit anyway. How I made it down the next long flight of stairs I’ll never know. I just remember falling on the floor on my hands and knees for the next contraction. Our office assistant was there and I was wondering what is Taylor thinking of this. I was screaming and Felicia got me breathing again.

Felicia helped me up and got me to the car. I didn’t have any shoes on. Felicia asked me if she should follow us. I looked at her and said “PLEASE come with us!” The contractions just kept coming and she wedged her self in between the seats and helped me breathe all the way to the hospital. It was the longest ride I’ve ever taken. By now my breathing with Felicia was the only thing that was keeping me from pushing him out. Eric was driving and the three of us were now yelling all the way, “ HE, WHO, HE, WHO”. Eric called my friend Angelina and told her to come to Alta Bates. We made it to the hospital and Felicia asked should I get a wheel chair. I nodded yes. I was sure that there was a big pool of blood on the passenger seat from the ride. In retrospect maybe that is when my water broke? She wheeled me into the hospital and I had no shoes on. We stopped at the entrance, in the elevator and in front of the reception desk doing the breathing exercises to help me from pushing and to get through the contractions. It was something I would have expected in a movie. I had no idea or cared if anyone was looking at me, but I’m sure they were.

At the check in desk they asked me general questions, like “what is your birth date, when did your water break?” I could barely answer. Felicia turned up the volume and said “we need to get her into a birthing room, she is pushing.” They wheeled me down the hall. I heard them say room #21. I asked Felicia if we could stop on so we could do the breathing. She was my saving grace. The nurse walking with us heard me bearing down and grabbed the wheel chair out of Felicia’s hands. She said, “we can’t have her pushing in the hall.” I almost think that she had the wheel chair up on the two back wheels as she pushed me into room #21. From there as out of control as I had already felt I have to say it got worse.

I don’t know how many people emerged into the room. Eric says he counted 9-10 people not including me. They threw me up on the birthing table, put an oxygen mask on me, and positioned me on my back and tried to find the baby’s heart rate. She asked me if I had been checked for dilatation and I had told her not since yesterday and I was 1cm. She never told me how far I was dilated but if I could have asked, I was at 10.3cm. I never knew one could be more than 10. When they couldn’t find the baby’s heart rate, they immediately stuck a fetal monitor into his head. I heard someone say, “oh he has brown hair.” His heart rate was low. It was at 70. Which increased the speed at which they wanted me to get him out. I couldn’t process all this at the time but they seemed kind of mad I had come into the hospital so late. No one ever said this was an emergency but I could feel the urgency in the air and in my body. The doctor was there and she quickly pulled a vacuum out of the box. She told me she was putting the vacuum on the table to "motivate me." I kid you not. I couldn’t talk but the words rang through my head. A threat to motivate me? Felicia and Eric asked the doctor if I could try another position. She did this hand motion, like she was brushing crumbs off her lap and said, “Well hurry up.”

My contractions were still coming quickly and I felt like I could barely move. The IV person put an IV in my wrist. I didn’t know was my baby ok, was I doing a good or bad job, would they wheel me into surgery and just cut him out of me. It seemed totally out of control. All I knew is that, THIS WAS HAPPENING. I wanted to do as good a job for his sake and mine.

The IV was poking into my wrist with any move I made. I turned on my side. His heart rate shot up to 120. I pushed on my side for a while. The doctor was yelling at me, directing me how to push. I was confused by her direction and couldn’t place my body or my breathing with this. Wasn’t this something I should know how to do? I tried another position. This time I was squatting on the birth table with my arms over the back of the table. This position felt much more natural but after a few pushes my legs started to shake violently and I had to return to my side. The doctor kept directing my pushes. My vision was blurred and I only focused on Felicia to my right and Eric on my left. At one point I put my hand up towards the doctor and said. “That is enough.” She then said something that finally made sense. “I want you to push at the top of the contraction.” Well why didn’t you say so and why the hell are YOU telling me when to push I thought. I can feel my contractions, not you. Felicia later commented that she was directing me like some one who had an epidural. I stopped listening to her mostly at this point. I knew what to do. Felicia and Eric pushed my legs up when I would tell them the contractions were coming so that it would provide a bigger opening for the baby’s head. The doctor would tell me to relax in between. Basically my legs were shaking so much that it would take me the time in between the contractions to get my legs straight and try to take some deep breaths and then another would start. I started for the first time in my labor feeling some confidence that I could do this and he was coming out soon.

My dear friend Angelina got there for what was probably the last two or three pushes. When I pushed I would let out a moaning scream. The doctor told me not to waste my energy and use it for the pushing. Well I can tell you this was helping me push so I continued to scream. There was a mirror and I did watch him crown. The doctor wanted me to watch so it would motivate me. I felt like more that watching his head come back and forth I needed to focus. So I stopped watching and pushed with all my might and screamed again. Out he came. Eric says his head was there and they sucked out the fluids and merconium from his mouth and nose. Another push and he slipped right out. Eric helped with the catch and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his chest so the doctor quickly unwrapped him and told Eric they must quickly cut the cord. They did so and his slippery little body was up on my chest.

I DID IT. I DID IT! I felt so proud of myself. This is my boy. As he lay on my chest he was quiet and when I talked to him he burst out crying. He sounded like a little cat. I delivered the placenta, easy! And then the doctor told me I needed a few stitches. My legs were shaking so badly they got out some stirrups so my legs could rest. They continued to shake and I didn’t even care that I was being stitched up. My boy was here, crying like a little cat on my chest. He had his own trauma of a quick birth being shot down the birth canal. He had taken a couple knocks on the top of each side of his head. He had two big bumps they call Cephalohematoma, which is blood under the skin. He was still beautiful, crying and puffy.

They tried to get him to breastfeed but as Felicia said, he was working something out. He cried for a while and did eventually attach himself to my breast. He was here. I can only say that this birth took me days to process and quite honestly I think I was in a state of shock after he was born. I knew that I loved this little guy, I knew Eric had been there with me and I knew that Felicia grounded me in this birth and I was extremely happy to have her support in this journey. But in retrospect I wish I had had more personal care from the doctor and medical staff. I do think I got caught up in the medical establishment and that natural birthing is starting to be lost in America, but that is another story I’ll post at some point. I will say that I wish there was more support to empower women in their birthing. We need it!

I am happy that he was healthy 6 lbs 11ounces and 20" long with elegant hands and big feet, that he came down in the right position, that he waited until my house was cleaned and he allowed me a short labor. I was also proud of myself for not taking any drugs, not that I really had a choice, but I did it. My son was here and I felt in the next hours once in my own room away from the chaos that love flow in and we bonded as he slept on my chest. I couldn’t really sleep because I kept looking at him. He was here. My boy was here. I did it. He did it. We did it together.

In short, the schedule of Ando’s birthing seemed rather civil, under four hours; I had a nice breakfast and my morning walk with Eric. My naturopath came and gave me a treatment and my labor started sometime around 2:15pm, after the cleaning ladies left, and he was out by dinnertime 5:49pm. What a polite little tiger-fish.

When I left the hospital I could hardly believe that I got to take him home. That 03.03.10 at 5:49pm we got to start out life with him. I could tell Eric was ecstatic to be part of the birth because he was right there with me and need I say he described it as “fun.” I know what he meant. He was totally into it. I never knew what women went through in birthing but I can say it was the most intense thing I have ever done in my life and my heart opened even more meeting my son. I feel so lucky I get to be his mom.

My little Ando Mika is here and WE DID IT!

Birth Group Gathering...

2010-03-22T19:22:00.001-07:00

Sunday we hosted our birth group gathering, couples we learned how to prepare for birth + babies! It was so fun to meet all the little ones after the awaited arrival and birth preparation. Two couples couldn't make it but here is the group shot of the babies and some shots from the day. We hope to all meet up again. It would be fun to see the little ones grow.

We ate and shared birth stories. We all made it. All vaginal births & healthy babies! We did it!!!!

Where's Ando you might ask? He is the little one being crushed second from the right? Meet Acacia, Leo, Neko, Anna, Ando & Teagan.

Some of these photos are take by Julie Kay in our group, who has an interesting photography business which documents life through photographs and sound.

Our First Days Back Home

2010-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Baby Ando is doing just great! He is mostly a happy calm & happy boy. He gets a little fussy at nighttime but not always and he lets us sleep with maybe a 3-4am wake up and then again at 6-7am. I have learned to breast feed lying down so I can usually just fall asleep with him. The early days I would just lay awake and look at him in all his perfectness and pure energy. I can't believe he is finally here. The days have been sweet and simple learning to take care of him and recovering myself.

He was in a really good mood the other day. Here are photos of him on day 10. Quite a little model, although after this shoot he broke out in baby acne, so his perfect skin is also adjusting to life out of the womb. He had the hiccups in the photo above and that was just cracking himself up. He is quite an alert baby and we joke about how "advanced" he is when ever he accomplishing anything. Like when his umbilical cord feel off day 3. "Oh your so advanced Ando." Ha,ha. Don't we all like to think that about our kids.

I have had a fair adjustment back. My first days were rather rough. My labor was so fast that I honestly could not process it all. And found my body and mind in knots for days afterwards. I am going to write about my birth story soon, but with the fast delivery my body could not relax and it took me 4 days until I could actually sleep at night. I'd lay there exhausted and couldn't sleep. Which leads a gal feeling crazy, not to mention the uber hormones you have running through your body. But after "my team" of support came rushing over, my naturopath Carol, my friend Jaymie giving me a massage, my sister-in-law, Diane, coming over to do some cranial sacral work my body slowly remembered how to relax. Not to mention the help of my mother in law Carla, the Lactation Consutant, Katie and my doula Felicia. It was a whirl wind of support and I needed it.Not to mention Eric who was amazing! Finally I could sleep, process the birthing and my milk came in. It was rough. But now I think we are on an uphill slant. No one ever tells you about the post partum stuff but it can be hard mixed with a blissed out feeling. Breastfeeding is my middle name, I think we participate in this sport 6+hours a day. But it gives me lots of time to bond with him. I am so grateful I am feeling better and can now enjoy my boy.

We were playing a game the other day where I'd hold him up and then drop him down. He liked it. He really looks deeply into your eyes. He is an intense little soul. I think he has a version of my eyes, my nose, and my dad's ears. He definitely is a blend of both Eric and me but we are still trying to form in words what he has of Eric's. I see his intense look in his eyes as Eric's and something about his forehead. It will be great to see him grow and evolve.

We have had a lot of visitors to introduce them to Ando, it has been really fun to hang out with people and share this little guy and be brought all these yummy meals. We are so lucky to have you here Ando! Please don't grow up too fast!

We are so in love with our little tiger-fish!

2010-03-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

We are in the early days of bliss meeting our boy. I am processing the birth, it all happened so fast, maybe too fast if that is possible. In between the sleep deprivation, we are getting our new routines down and learning how to care for this little earthling. He is so tiny and beautiful! I can't wait until I have some time to write his birth story.....and now for some photos. More later.

I love my tiger-fish!
(Just before we left the hospital) I can't believe I get to take this baby home!

We are home baby Ando.

Baby Ando loves sleeping on us! Espically Papa! I'm still a little to sore to enjoy this but little do you know Eric has Ando on his chest and our cat Jaguar under his knees. Eric's boys...

Baby Ando at 1 week....it's already going so fast!

Ando Mika Higashi Powell

2010-03-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Announcing...

Ando Mika Higashi Powell
03 . 03 . 10

6 lbs 11 ounces
20"
5:49pm

Pisces / Year of the Tiger

We are well & adjusting into our new life. I had a super short (intense) natural birthing under 4 hours! Our baby was almost born on the way to the hospital! We are in bliss, he is an amazing boy!

With love to all of you for all your support & good wishes!

April, Eric & Ando

Ando / pronounced (ahn-doe)/Japanese for Peaceful & Stable, also means East.
安(an) = peace, stable
東(dou, higashi) = east

Mika / pronounced (mee-ka)/Japanese for New Moon. (We were married on Winter Solstice '06, Wedding Party on Summer Solstice '07, Doctor called us to tell us we were pregnant after 6.5 years on Summer Solstice '09!)

40 Weeks ~ Today is my due date!

2010-03-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

Today is my little Tiger-Fish's due date: 03 . 01 . 2010

I'm feeling amazingly calm and grounded especially after being so impatient the last few weeks. You might not know this but I've been waiting for my baby for 6 1/2 years now. We made it to 40 weeks! A major milestone.

Not much longer.....I can't wait to meet you my little guy! You can't stay in there forever, we are all waiting for you!

Today starts 39 weeks. I have only one thing to say....READY, willing, & able.

2010-02-15T23:11:00.001-08:00

I have a hunch baby boy might come end of this week. Now whether it is really a hunch or a hope we'll have to see.

Will he be an Aquarius or Pisces? Asks the impatient Aries.....soon to be mom.

Photo: Leon Borensztein

Babies & Wombs.

2010-02-12T19:36:00.000-08:00

It might be because I am going to give birth any day to any week now that everything is about the baby and the womb. This is a random leaf we found on our walk the other morning. Tell me it is not a baby in a womb?

The other thing that happened on our walk is there were two new mothers and their babies of 4 weeks old chatting along the path. When they saw how pregant I was we all started talking. I was complaining a bit at how ready I was. They told me that they didn't even remember being pregnant and any discomforts. WOW really? That is why no one told me. Ok they were younger than I was but maybe it's true? Maybe after you have your sweet baby in your arms all your pregnancy discomforts fade into the past. That would make sense with why people do give birth again.

I thought I'd use some of my waiting time to detail the things 12 things I loved about being pregnant and ok, just 12 of my complaints. So I can look back and remember this.....or maybe not?

Loved.
1. Feeling him move inside me.
2. Feeling two people's energy blended as one.
3. The way it deepened / expanded my relationship to Eric, my husband.
4. Having Eric take over cooking and take such good care of me.
5. Eric reading to me almost every night birth stories and birthing information.
(all the pregnancy books always ended up on his side of the bed)
6. The community of people you have and meet that are so happy for you!
7. Buying tiny little clothes for your little person.
8. Having my cat Yuko curl around my belly and purrrrrr.
9. Rubbing my tummy. Some people say it's like a cat licking her kitten.
10. Trying to image who your baby will be, what will he look like?
11. Loved when Eric told people "that it had been so fun being pregnant." (ha!)
12. Knowing that your baby is finally coming!

Didn't love.
1. Gaining weight & having to carry it around all the time. (I felt like I was losing my elegance.)
2. Getting bigger & BIGGER & BIGGER. (especially my swollen legs)
3. Having baby push on my tailbone most of the pregnancy (ouch!) and having my right ear plug up and couldn't hear, well maybe 8 of the 9 months. :(
4. Having to buy clothes I'll never wear again.
5. Having my mind loose words, thoughts, and even know what capable of anymore.
6. Not having some friends understand what you are going through or even asking.
7. People telling me up through 8 months that I didn't look pregnant. (?)
8. Sometimes it scared me having him move inside me.
9. Nausea and food. I wasn't a happy eating pregnant woman.
10. Looking down and seeing new spot on my shirt that had dribbled down on my big belly sticking out.
11. Not being able to sleep on my back and having my pelvis ache while walking.
12. Having to pee ALL the time.

It truly is amazing a woman's body can do this! If you can believe it, it is still hard for me to believe there is a baby inside me. I can't wait till I can touch my toes again.

Any day.... any day....soon we'll meet our son!
My new mantra.

38 week...update

2010-02-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

So 'we' had some interesting shifts this week. I went to my naturopath this week and had an acupuncture treatment to start the process of my body getting ready for birthing. I came home and was getting ready for my opening at my gallery the next day and could hardly stand and felt very strange. When I woke up the next day I felt extremely cramping and achy. I called my naturopath and she told me I was experiencing pre-labor. I called in my gallery manager, Ahna to work for me and I slept for most of the day, feeling unready for this event but tried to surrender and stay calm. Eric was running around getting ready for the opening, taking care of me and then installing things in between. I think he was trying to channel that energy of the birth maybe coming soon! At 4 pm I went down to the opening and greeted the artist + a room full of clients. It was surreal talking to them about the show and having parallel thoughts of that I could be giving birth soon. Leave it to me to have my last opening and go into birth that night.
Well that didn't happen. Things have subsided a bit but it was a good dress rehearsal. I can feel my body making some significant changes and so he maybe coming sooner or maybe it's nature's way to shift in my body and my mind to sloooooow down. All I know is I am getting more things off my plate this week & packing my bags for the hospital.
Hopefully he'll give me a week and I can be more ready and more relaxed but I guess I don't get to decide. He does....tomorrow starts my 38th week. He is officially full term!

Baby Blessing Party 01.24.10

2010-02-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

We had a Baby Blessing Party a couple of weeks ago~given to us by family & friends. It was big & wonderful to see our community show up for this momentous event. We hosted it more like and open house with yummy food. We are not ones to exclude and it got quite big. But it was wonderful to see everyone and I was happy we invited women, men & children. I'm not so into the traditional baby shower. We love our friends & family. So nice everyone could turn out!

As I got dressed in my black maternity dress, one of the only things that fits me, I felt like I was getting ready for my second wedding. It felt that huge, a celebration to pass into parenthood, to welcome our baby boy!

Everyone who came got a beautiful porcelain candle made by Eric's mom, Carla, with a candle to light when I go into labor to send us good vibes for the journey. I joked that everyone must stop what they are doing when they get my going into labor email and run to their candle. ( he.he. ) It was a funny vision.

We are feeling more & more ready to meet you baby, it won't be long now....3 1/2 weeks until my due date. My doctor says baby's head is down, he has dropped and I am feeling ready. Well almost....it could be any day.

Here is the drawing Eric did as a thank you card & the text I wrote to our friends & family:

Thank you for being a part of our Ohana Community!

In Hawaii they have a word for extended families which is
also part of Hawaiian culture. 'Ohana' means family in an
extended sense of the term including blood-related, adoptive
or intentional. We feel fortunate to be surrounded by such
wonderful creative individuals and look forward to having our
child meet you. We are both very inspired and respect the way
each one of you have carved out an individual life and feel that
there is a wonderful group of people around us to influence
our child.

We believe it takes a community to raise a child. No obligation,
only an invitation. Thanks again for coming to our Baby
Blessing Gathering either in person or in spirit! We feel even
more inspired to bring this child into the world knowing you all,
our Ohana, are out there!

with love, April & Eric + 1

BIG New Year!

2010-01-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

It's a BIG new year! Speaking of big~ I think I am popping. Baby boy Higashi/Powell is growing fast now. What a surreal experience to have a BABY inside you. I say to Eric almost every day. "Eric there is a baby inside me....?!" Half in disbelief that this process is actually happening. I think that is what nature does, it keeps you in this surreal process and I'm not sure when I'll actually feel like it's reality. I'll let you know. Labor maybe? The other day I was holding my nephew and it still didn't compute. I turned to Eric and I said, "Hey we are going to have one of these."

I am trying to embrace BIG because I know that means he is coming soon. 6 1/2 more weeks and that is my expectant delivery date more or less. I can't wait to meet this little guy. He sure does pack a strong kick. God help me if he has half as much energy as Eric does, well I might be in trouble.

We been receiving gifts from our generous friends. This is one of my favorites, who can beat a hand made sweater. This is from Taylor who works with us. So cute~ it's going to be perfect for my stylish little man. I want him to stay this size for awhile just so he can keep wearing the sweater. Maybe my cat will get it as a hand me down. he.he.he.
Wishing you all a wonderful new year! I am thinking of all you on the adoption wait list. May this year bring you your child! And as I know the path is never straight it has many bends.

Baby Moon

2009-11-24T23:53:00.001-08:00

Baby Moon has two meanings for me. Eric and I were married on the winter solstice, we had our wedding party on the summer solstice and when the doctor called to say I was pregnant it was again the summer solstice. So seeing that the solstice always starts on a new moon...I have nicknamed my baby boy as he grows inside me, Mika. (Japanese for new moon) Also the process of the baby growing reminds me of phases of the moon, starting new and small and growing big, like my belly.

The second meaning others told me when I mentioned we were going on our last trip as 2......people say it is called a Baby Moon.

So earlier this month before the holidays hit the gallery and before I got too dang big, we went to Kauai for some rest & relaxation. I wanted to float my belly in the ocean. So now a few shots of our adventure:

We stayed on the North Shore in Hanea. Beautiful, wet, rainy, humid & relaxing. Here is my belly and the mountains behind me have 12 waterfalls pouring down from the rains.

A muddy climb to the first look out point on the Nepali Coast. I didn't go any farther, too much extra weight to keep going, but I did want to see the view down the coast line......breath taking.

Eric sketching in the Limahuli Botanical Gardens, the mosquitoes where having their way with me.

Eric and his pods. Everywhere we go Eric is always picking up pods and photographing leaves.

Nepali Coast Sunset and me in the ocean, I did get to float my belly but didn't get a photo of that. Too bad.

It rained so hard the Hanea bridge over flooded and we were trapped on the other side. This is the way we spent a lot of time because of the rains & flash floods. Eric strung up a Ukulele in the apartment and wrote songs. You can see the rains running off the roof. They have big raindrops in Kauai.

And me, well I rested, read, ate,

& felt baby Mika moving around. He's growing so fast....

It was actually a vacation we came home rested & ready for the holidays!

(note* the photos in this entry were taken at 24 weeks, I am currently at 28....the clock is ticking!)

Who's in there?

2009-11-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

My little guy is certainly bumping around in there. I started feeling him moving on exactly 20 week date and he seems to be getting more active all the time. Or just bigger & hence bigger movements. OK so for those of you requesting belly photos here is one. We really haven't taken many photos so I'll try to remember to take more. I know I don't look huge but I am feeling huge. There is a reason that you won't be seeing me from the backside. I guess it is good my hips are spreading but I thought perhaps I'd be spared of that since I've always had wide hips anyway. Well hopefully it will aid in getting him out quickly and easily when the time comes. I know I have a ways to go. When I read the books and see that he still needs to get 8x bigger I think, I don't know if I can do this. But that is what I thought when I read that he needed to get 15x bigger and here I am.

I'm through the nausea so that is one plus on my side. I spend my time thinking.... just who will this little guy will be? I can't wait to meet him! The whole pregnancy thing is still shocking to me. I can't believe it is happening some days and then I try to bend over and yep it's real. 23 weeks~ and I'll just say we are doing great! I'll save my pregnancy sufferings for another day. Honestly the whole thing is going fast. Much faster than our adoption wait. I do hope that the doors to International adoption open soon in Kyrgyzstan. My thoughts are with you all! I'm still keeping tabs on what is happening. Fingers crossed for you out their waiting!

20 Weeks...

2009-10-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Half way there! Wow pregnancy it is still surreal. A baby human is growing inside me. We had our 20 week ultra sound and looks like he is developing as they say "normal". Which is good! I'm feeling better (finally!). I had major, major nausea and unlike most ideas of being pregnant, and enjoying eating away, food just hasn't been my favorite part of the day. I think the strangest symptom of pregnancy has been an acute sense of smell. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But eating is getting better and my belly is getting bigger.

Today I had my first stranger ask me when I was due so I guess I am passing the April's putting on some weight vs. pregnant mark. Below is my favorite ultra sound photo......a little hand. I have felt slight movement but still waiting for the first real kick. He's growing!

p.s. Just as I am writing this I am feeling someone knocking from inside my belly. He knows I'm writing about him.

Adoption vs. Homegrown

2009-08-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to write about adoption vs. biological child. Since I have only been in the process of both I will write about that. We are currently on a list for International Adoption. Our journey for a child began about 5 years ago when I was 36. When we did not easily get pregant I will say that I experimented with some milder fertility treatments in the beginning. I felt pretty insane hormonally and decided I did not want to take this any farther. My hormones were screaming to procreate but intellectually and heart-fully I knew I wanted to be a parent. I did not need it to be my egg. My husband felt the same.

We started to investigate adoption. I am Japanese/French/German born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. (yes really!) My brother and I being the only half Asians in our school growing up, I had always been somewhat treated like I was from a different country other than born and raised in Utah so it felt natural for me to look to an international adoption for our child. And now living in the Bay Area I knew my child would be accepted as any race.

We found out that since we had only recently been married, even though we had been together for many years that this was an issue. Most international countries ask for 2-5 years of marriage before you can apply. Others have restrictions for age. Which my husband was at the 45 year mark and that is out in some countries. One thinks these rules are strict, I do agree, but with an international adoption one has got to see things from their point of view. In Central Asia where we eventually picked, people life expectancy is into their sixties. So from their perspective, why are we adopting over 45 if we might live to 60?

We just barely met the requirements for Kyrgyzstan, a country south Kazakhstan and west China. I loved the mix of the people and liked the idea that if our kid didn't want everyone to know they were adopted that they could probably pass as our kid. Not that I cared, I wanted the kid to find their way to fit into this world. An issue any kid has adopted or not.

What I have learned is their are advantages for adoption, I have met a whole extended family in this world. I have met kids that melt your heart. I have read that only 1% of kids without parents find a forever home.

I also know how incredibly hard it is to wait, and wait, and wait. I would tell people if you are interested in adopting it will most likely take you from 3-5 years. Yes really. Currently the International climate is not easy to adopt. Waits are very long and countries close or are put on moratorium for political reasons. This is what happened to us. Since August 2008 adoption in Kyrgyzstan came to a screeching halt. All through 2009 we have been trying to decide on other options. Things did not seem promising and we had been waiting almost two years at this point for our adoption.

Well I surrendered frustrated with the adoption process. To make a long story short, with the help of a very talented Naturopat h who worked with homeopathy and acupuncture, at 41, I am 3 months pregnant!

I had given up even wanting to be pregnant. I would have been totally happy with an adopted child. Not that I am not happy now, I am thrilled. I only wish those kids who need good families could find their way into loving parents homes more easily.

So it's a boy! (surprise) We wanted one child but maybe baby o will still come from Kyrgyzstan? We are still on the list, after all..... I surrendered right?

The only advise I have since it is such an individual process is that your heart does open down each path you take.

Cloud Street

2009-06-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

How did it get to be June? This is an actual photo of a cloud formation called 'cloud streets' which are rows of cumulus or cumulus-type clouds aligned parallel to the low-level wind. Unreal? No real.

I picked this photo because a 'street' is a pathway, a road to follow. + Skies have always given me the simplest comfort knowing there is such a simple beauty on any day we breath air. Just look up, in light or dark there is always something there with you. I also love their ethereal glow that comes even in a dark sky or through a back lit cloud. The sky truly holds god's light.

On our road to have a child I have explored, well everything....well almost.

Each time a new decision is explored I see my emotional system getting in a new line. And then looking back at my past decision and seeing it fade.

I will say one thing that with Kyrgyzstan being closed till at least February 2010, I have kind of let International Adoption go for now. We are still inline, but our fingerprints just expired. We can pay again if something seems hopeful but I just couldn't march down to the office to get them reprinted. Besides I also had a bad gardening accident and don't think they would have taken my prints now anyway.

I have learned so much about myself in this journey to create a family.

With this emotional roller coaster I will say that I do not judge anyone on their pathway to having or wanting a child, or for that matter to choice to not have children. There are so many things that come into play that can make me sway one way or another. I have made decisions that I thought I would never make and then they fade away and another door opens. The thought I still have despite all the many pathways I have been down, is to be open to that special child to come into our lives.

I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me, this is a spiritual journey. I am open. I love the sky. I am present.
I also know I am being abstract and ethereal, but what ya gonna do?

Dear Universe,

2009-04-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

We have gone through the motions of investigating domestic adoption, interviewing agencies, finding out what it would take to convert our home study, adoption attorneys....etc, etc. Let alone the pragmatics, I tell you the hard thing for me / us is the emotional switch over.

I even made a blog for the "Dear Birthmother" or as I have learned the even more PC term is "Dear Expectant Mother". I had fun doing all the collages so I thought I'd share them with you. Eric did the writing and it is live, but since I am not certain we are actually going through with starting domestic adoption. I'll wait to share it. It feels so strange to be marketing ourselves? I don't know why, we do it all the time on our art to make a living. Somehow I am waiting for more wisdom from the Universe!
I'm listening....

For now I'll share our life in photos:

Our home, my studio, Eric's office & my gallery all reside under this roof!

Daily morning walks at the marina, owls and our cats.

Eric's studio, his public art projects, gates & sculpture.

My jewelry, my bench, my gallery.

My family, my dad's from Hawaii, my warm spirited mom, my grandfather's painting, my brother and me as kids.

Eric's family, the Powell Brother's singing trio; Rob, Eric, Charlie, Eric's Pa Jim with our niece Eden, Mama Carla with niece Anu. My sister in laws Diane & Jess, a.k.a. ARIES GALS!

Our extended family on both sides at our wedding celebration.

Travel Adventures to Japan to see dear friends.

Just us in our spare time while we wait for news from the universe about where our baby will come from.

And don't worry there are plenty of images lining the side of us with kids in our lives...these are only the collages.

I do, and then see what feels right. I am not good at just deciding on an idea and then going for it. I need to feel my way into it and I usually feel a click. I'm pretty intuitive and something is telling me to wait. So I am.

Hey up there, I am listening Universe...I'm not getting any younger Universe, just so you know.

"The Happy Couple"

2009-03-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

So here we are, the happy couple! As we are exploring other options in adoption,we found out we need a good photo of us. As I sorted through our past photos, as artists it seems like we are not big smilers in photos. I guess you are more mysterious looking, more artsy or something? So this didn't really show our bright, happy side. So we had to do a little photo shoot over the weekend. It was pretty funny to get one we both liked......and while this is the winner. I wish I'd have pulled up my other sock? Do you think that will be a big factor when a birth mother is looking for adoptive parents? Ah well, nobody is perfect.

New Pathways

2009-02-28T17:40:00.001-08:00

The thing about dealing with something hard is that it is possible to move through it. While we have not given up on baby o coming from Kyrgyzstan. We are now both open to other possibilities..... domestic adoption and even still trying again to get pregnant. And this means our world is open on where and when baby o will come. I do have to get into a new mind set for many possibilities to be open. The thing I do know I want to do is explore other pathways.

We will leave things in place in Kyrgyzstan, our dossier is approved, so we wait and see if it does open again and under what conditions. If not we will switch to Kazakhstan. And since International Adoption is so out of our control, we will do a little exploring on the domestic side and just be open to which happens first.

I'm actually feeling much better now that I have moved through the dead-end I let myself put up. The dead-end was caught in an idea of exactly how it would happen. Why do we like to feel like have to know exactly every detail. Unknowing is hard. And the truth is, the world has vast possibilities and "she" or "he" is out there. I just know it!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrgh!****

2009-02-13T18:36:00.001-08:00

I remember last year on Valentine's Day I mailed in our application to commit to our agency. We had been thinking about adoption for awhile but that was the day I really committed. Well one year later we are still waiting and Kyrgyzstan still has not re-opened. It doesn't seem hopeless but every month we hear that the next month looks positive. It is so frustrating!

I have recently starting looking into changing countries, I mean how long can I really wait? I had opted to do adoption over fertility treatments, even thought my chances of the fertility route looked really good. I guess I should say both my husband and I really WANTED to adopt and felt like that was the right option for us. BUT boy government does NOT make it easy. I am so frustrated! I already say that, but I think it deserves a second mention. Ahhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrgh!****

What to do.....what to do???

I really don't feel like doing another stack of 12" of paperwork or getting mentally prepared to adopt from another country or writing more checks. If we switch we would probably stay in Central Asia and move to Kazakhstan. Any thoughts from you all is appreciated.

The rain is pouring down tonight in Northern California, it is comforting and cozy all at once. I do look forward to more tangible movement in this journey to parenthood.

Maybe NEXT month?

The future of "baby o"...

2009-01-17T15:26:00.001-08:00

What lies ahead for the future of baby o?

Our agency thinks that the international adoption process will start to resume in Kyrgyzstan this month. I have also heard other speculations that it may take until spring for things to get up to speed. I really, really hope not! I do have faith that I am with a good agency and whatever is possible they are doing.

I thank you all for checking in on us. Yes the wait is long & although I try to stay busy with my art work & my life, I'm definitely in a waiting stage, thinking of a sweet baby in my arms often.

Anu, my niece on Eric's side of the family, did a drawing of herself and baby o. Anu envisions baby o's skin to be a nice peachy color while hers is a gorgeous brown. I would say that Anu and baby o are seen here in the future. I love their very glamorous dresses. Hmmmh maybe she will take after me.

Anu was adopted from Nepal and is VERY excited for baby o. Her mom tells me she did a school report on baby o last year. So as you can see I am not the only one who is excited and looking forward to meeting her.

Anu has shown a great talent for the visual arts and I had been asking her for awhile to draw a picture of baby o. Thanks so much Anu!

OK, well I guess back to waiting.....and life....and this gorgeous Californian weather! It's January right?

All I want for Christmas...

2008-12-10T19:38:00.001-08:00

This is the most beautiful package I can imagine getting for Christmas. This photo is of another adoptive family's baby girl who is with my agency. I just can't get over how they wrapped her up. I got permission to post her photo, and this little girl has made it back to her new home in the states. And she is a beauty.

Kyrgyzstan was a republic of Russia so you can see the Russian doll influence here. What I love about this photo is that they probably just grabbed a blanket to wrap her up in and set her down on another. It may be unknowingly artful.

Dear Santa, that is what I want for Christmas: Bring us a referral for baby o in the new year, pretty please.

I have to say that I have been a bit discouraged. Eric & I have been waiting over a year now & tick, tick, I am getting older. We are somewhere between #5 - #6 on the list for a girl. The numbers keep fluctuating due to the emotions of other adoptive parents switching programs because of the long wait. It can bump us backwards if they signed up with the agency before us.

I did hear some good news today, that the Ministry of Education has approved a new adoption committee in Tokmok. So things may start moving again in January.

I have been so busy with my business during the holidays I figure that I'll readdress my options in January with the new year. I have to say that I still am attached to Kyrgyzstan and have thought of the country and baby o every day.

OK so maybe there is a tiny part of me that is glad I am not traveling to Central Asia in the dead of winter. But I would have done it. Maybe I'd have gotten that Norma Kamali sleeping bag coat but I would have gone.
Happy Holidays......may your holidays be merry & bright!

I personally am looking forward to the New Year! ---Next year is the year, I can just feel it.

Thankful Thanksgiving...

2008-11-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving always makes me reflective on what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my family & Eric's & my friends & all my extended family. ( Including friends) We spent Thanksgiving up at Eric's dads in gold country out in rural Placerville and enjoyed just slowing down, seeing family & of course eating.

We found this beautiful leave on our country walk. I love the way that the bugs have eaten through this leaf. Ahhhh nature!

I love this holiday because it involves family, friends and/or any combination of the above, it is a holiday that to me is very inclusive.

I wish baby o were here to meet everyone. I'm planning on checking in with my agency this next week to see what is really happening with this slow down once again. What a ride this international adoption is!

And so starts the holiday season. Warm wishes to ya all, and thanks for checking in! We thought we'd have at least met baby o by now but then again....life isn't always the way you would have planned it. Is it?

I guess I just need stay focused on what I am thankful for and keep on waiting......

Pride.

2008-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama with his mother

I can only imagine what it feels like to be a proud parent. I have been a teacher and also had many young people work for me. I have been so proud of their accomplishments while under my wing.

What would it be like to see you child become President? Cross racial boundaries, inspire the young, empower others and create a loving family. Not to mention deal with other with such integrity.

I do know what it is like to be multi-racial. I do know that baby o will be muti-national. I do love that Barack Obama will represent our nation in the upcoming years. I am so happy. I am so proud. I love diversity.

Barack Obama has inspired the world. It is quite a time in the world. I am glad "baby o" will grow up with Obama as our President.

What if every child had the confidence to be who they wanted to be?

Do I hold hope for Obama's presidency.......I do. But getting there was more than half the battle.

President elect Barack Obama has already changed the world in many ways. I think baby o will be really happy too!

It feels good to give & be involved!

2008-10-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

I guess that is one of the reasons that ones' heart wants to parent? To give our precious baby o, ( who will come someday) love, support & to be involved in her life. The thing about giving, it seems to always give back in some form. I think giving opens the heart.

Speaking of giving.....lately as you know I have been very involved in our election for a certain Presidential candidate who starts with an O! I want our country to be a better place when baby o gets here. My gallery along with many of my artists & other jeweler friends participated in raising over $20k for Obama at the Fashioning Change show in San Francisco. It was incredible to be a conduit to help in what I feel is a life changing journey of Barack Obama (hopefully) to become our next president! (oooooh chills....) It was so exciting to see so many young people out at a presidential fundraiser. It was an incredible feeling to be part of and I am so looking forward to a change in our government. And what a good sign that the young people are inspired too!

A shot from Fashioning Change runway show featuring Ocelot Clothing & April Higashi
enamel jewelry.

As a jeweler, one aspect of my work is making wedding + commitment rings for my clients. I have been doing a lot of same-sex couples rings lately.

One day a month or so ago, a beautiful, thoughtful woman walked into my gallery and she was waiting for her partner to discuss rings. I said, "Are you marrying a man or a woman?" She had just married a woman and they would have there celebration party later. I love that I can ask that question, and I did so kind of matter of fact.

Turns out the three of us did a lot of work to find out what they wanted and I found them some unique & beautiful stones. When they received the quote, they felt very torn between spending the money on themselves as a sign of their commitment to each other or donating the money towards NO on Prop 8. No on Prop 8 is a proposition here in California which keeps the rights for ALL to marry.

I really felt deeply and strongly that this issue concerned me too. I offered to donate $500 towards OUR cause, of my profit so they may possibly do both. Now mind you I did this because I felt truly compelled that this cause aligned with my inner beliefs of equality.

The commission when forward, the clients were so touched they sent me a wonderful gift certificate to my absolute favorite restaurant. Now I was even more emotionally touched.

But more than that I am so glad I had the opportunity to contribute to something I believe in! And my clients gave me an opportunity to see and be touched by their lives, their struggles and their hopes. I can only respond to what touches me and be myself.

I am so excited
&
tense
&
excited
&
sad
&
ready to cry
(in joy or sadness)

for the outcome!

I'm still waiting for you baby o.....but in the meantime. I'm not sitting around!

p.s. please come soon.

O !

2008-10-04T20:11:00.001-07:00

Oh.

O?

What is the "O" for?

Well I haven't written much these days because I've been quite worried about this dear country of ours. The one I want to bring "baby o" into.

The election / the stock market / all the people losing their homes / the soldiers in Iraq...shall I go on.

As many of you fellow & future adoptive parents do, I read blogs about adoption in some of my free time. Now this issue has really gotten my goat! I won't say where I read it but it is on several adoptive mom's blogs.

Now one thing I can't understand is why do people who are PRO LIFE feel like they need others to live by their values. Why would they want our government to dictate what we do with our bodies? I am PRO CHOICE.

As a future adoptive parent, I'm glad I have alternative choices to creating a family. What if our government controlled our choice to adopt? How is that any different? Why should government play God?

I'm all for people having choices in their lives, and I guess what this blog post is about the biggest O, I can think of right now.

O B A M A

I am voting for Obama because I truly think he supports all kinds of people and encourages them to be critical thinkers in this world. I am all for it!!!

As a jeweler, lately I've been doing a lot of same-sex wedding bands. San Francisco leads the way in yet another issue I think that should be each person's choice. Marry who you love! I can tell you these same-sex couples are as diverse, excited, and committed as all the opposite-sex couples I make rings for. I love that they are getting to commit to their partners and their families with acknowledgment by their society. And some of them have adoptive kids and have been raising their kids for years. I personally have sometimes dreamed of being raised by two gay men. They would take me shopping at Barney's and brush my hair.

Hey we all have our story, our blended families, both from choice, fate, and chance!

So O is for...

my baby o

Oh let me make my own choices based on my values!

Opposite & same sex marriages

& the biggest, most important O right now....

O B A M A!

oh please!

DNA...the family genes

2008-09-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

Eric & I just returned from the moist flowery air of Honolulu, Hawaii where my father was born and raised. My grandparents were born there before Hawaii was officially a state. That makes me Yonsei (fourth) generation Japanese-American. My other half, from my mom's side, is 5/8 German & 1/8 French.

We stayed on the property my dad grew up on. My grandfather, Kennith Kameo Higashimachi had built a little studio on the lot of the main house, after his wife Hisa passed away in the 1960's. He lived into his 90's as a working artist, a prolific painter, world traveler and teacher.

My grandparents were born; him-1901, her-1902 and had an arranged marriage. Hisa was from Samari class and Kennith was from Farmer class. Not an ideal match for Hisa but she was the youngest of 11 children. By the time her parents got to arranging her marriage it was not such a big deal. She passed away before my parents were married so we never met her.

The little studio had not been cleaned out since Tu-tu, as we called him passed away 18 years ago. Eric & I had not intended to go to clean out the space, but upon waking up our first morning at 6am from jet lag...we looked at each other and said let's get this place in order! My mother and maybe father are thinking of retiring there, so this little project would be a great help. And besides there was something in me that needed to put new energy into this little place.

Although I knew my grandpa Tu-tu....when I saw him he was a man of few words. He'd often take me drawing but we would not talk much. He spoke English but felt more comfortable around Japanese. I think he was most comfortable when he had a pencil or brush in hand and didn't have to talk at all.

Cleaning out his stuff I learned more about him than I could have imagined; about his life and my DNA. As I looked through his dusty stuff, I thought about how much we had in common. We both appreciated art, travel, beautiful hand-writing, flower arranging, painting, and the process of documention. By the size of his body of work I know he had a serious dedication to his creativity and spent many hours a day in this process.

When I was a kid, upon returning from his travels from Las Vegas, he would stop and see us in Utah. A Keno man, he would hand my brother and I each a crisp new $100 bill. He was usually on his way out of the country. He'd say... "I'm going to travel to every country before I die."

In his studio there were many boxes of neatly tied bundles of sketches, documenting his travels, not to mention a lot of photos.

Just when I said to Eric, I don't think he made it to Africa, I opened a sketchbook and he was standing with the a pygmy tribe.

He was a prolific painter and studied at the Chicago Art Institute along with Georga O'Keffe. He had two very distinguishing styles, one traditional Sumi brush painting.

And the other, paintings of the Hawaii tropical flora and the sea.

Stacking his art and books into neat little piles, I saw a partial mirror to my own life. I saw similarities of what had been important to me and certain aesthetics I had naturally incorporated into my work. Organic forms, color, composition, mine were more abstract but we were both studying the subtle beauty and the balance in our art.

Does our DNA predetermine what we do and who we are? I wondered this while sorting through his stuff.

On the left is one of his flora paintings.

On the right is one of my painted enamel brooches.

And to my surprise he even dabbled in making some jewelery. Below are some Bakelite rings he carved. Notice the gold ring on the bottom left is a recent design of mine I currently have in my show case.

Each piece I found that mirrored me in some way was validating. I opened each box as if their might be gold inside. And to me there was.

In reflecting on my family DNA, I felt sad that I would not be able to hand this lineage down to baby o. Maybe that is why people have such an urge to have biological kids. So when they rummage through the family photos they too can find bits and pieces of them self. A line back in time that ties them to their families.

But then again, what if I would not have taken the trip to Hawaii to clean out Tutu's stuff, would it make any of my talents and interest any less important or true? Would I have even known how much we had in common. Is it chance anyway? And is the reason this was so important to me based on the memory of knowing him and having him in my life?

We will have to share with baby o the remarkable way one's genes come through no matter if you know your true biological family or not. We will share stories of where her talents might have come from. Think of all the great things I have inherited that I will never know the source.

In one of the boxes I found this amazing photo. I am assuming it is a family photo but of who? I will have to ask my dad to see if he knows.

Part of life is a mystery & no matter what we know, some of it is imagined or remembered through story and memories. And we all will have a story of how our lives have unfolded and who is our family. Biological or not.

Pondering.... career + baby

2008-08-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

With the adoption delay, I have been keeping myself busy with my work. And GIRL, have I been busy! I just did a show, The American Craft Show at Fort Mason in San Francisco selling my jewelry and whew what a lot of work.

Women friends of mine who have had their babies and are still running their business.... I AM WATCHING YOU CLOSELY. How is it possible to fit the new little one into an already busy life?

I'd love to hear from you mothers.... from both kinds....those who work & those who are raising their babies without following a career path. What do you love about your life? What do you miss? What can you share? And how do you do it all or why are you glad you don't do it all?

I know that babies just manage to fit into our lives, but some days I just wonder how it will all work out? After the weeks I've just had, staying home with 2 kids seems pretty relaxing. (in theory)

I'm still madly looking forward to meeting baby o....but some days I bet even when they are in your arms, you still wonder. How will it all turn out?

Well I'm off to Hawaii to ponder this question some more. Maybe the moist, flowery Hawaiian air will give me some insight. I know the last post I was laying in a hammock but really I didn't get enough.

Aloha!

***baby shoes above, brought to you by my beautiful & creative adopted niece Anu & her lovely, thoughtful mom Elaine. They are just back from a trip to visit Anu's birth land, Nepal. Anu is also excited to meet her cousin baby o...the next adopted member of our family. Anu is trying to guess baby o's future name.

I'll never tell.

We are all waiting for you baby o!

Low Down on the Slow Down...

2008-08-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

There has been a slow down with the adoptions from Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrg. government is putting in place new members on their adoption committee and that is changing the regulations or making them more strict. I don't want to post too many details because there is so much information out there & I'm not sure what is true and what is not. But what I do know is it taking sometime for things to fall into place and get the adoptions going on a regular track again. Our agency won't get any referrals until October and haven't had any this summer.

I also know is that 'baby o' will be coming much later than we expected. Now we think we may not travel on our first trip until early 2009. Which is when we had hoped to have her home. So I am a bit sad that we will wait longer.

Sometimes I forget we are even on this journey...although I think of her everyday, even though I have not meet her........ The sky always gives me comfort even on a gray day.

One place the sky is always so beautiful and filled with light is Santa Fe, New Mexico. We just returned from a long weekend to celebrate Eric's birthday and visit dear friends. They have a beautiful, restful home. So talk about slow down....well we did & it was just what we needed!

I always love the way the sky meets the land in Santa Fe. Just the sight of this beauty reminds me that life and relationship are a spiritual journey and this I must keep in mind while waiting for our baby o.

baby o will come when she is ready...

B.A.K.E.

2008-08-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

We had our first Bay Area Kyrgyzstan Entourage BBQ last week. It was great to meet some of the other families in our area and share stories. There are 3 families in the Bay Area that have brought home babies...quickly turning into kids. And around 7 or 8 families waiting.......for our referrals.

Both Eric & I really enjoyed meeting everyone & starting this Kyrgy community. That is what I love about the Bay Area. You can always find someone to share in your hopes & dreams.

Now meet some of the Kyrgy kids:

Dylan, now 10 months old and back just a few months. Son of Ivy & Bill.

On the left with the wine....Suzanne our gracious host, waiting to bring home her Matilda,
trip #2 soon to come for her. Right Ivy & Dylan.

Suzanna & Isabel (sisters) daughters of Tina & Art.
Suzanna is a great big sister to Issy....what a sweet pair they were.

And Jack the little blond Russian-Kyrgy boy sharing with Issy...they are both 2 and
CURIOUS!
Me getting a baby fix with Dylan.

And last but not least....the beautiful colors of the Kyrgy feast.

My Nest

2008-07-02T22:29:00.001-07:00

Our agency has received our dossier and it is now out of our hands. So time to nest.........

What does that mean?

-Reading blogs, and that can mean over doing it too. I just hit a new jack pot from ladybug's blog site. That gal, Lisa, has everyone on there that has/or is adopting from Kyrgyzstan. And I thought I was a prime time reader. I love when you find a new blog & they have already gotten your blog linked. This means: I'm not the only one watching all your cute little kids grow up and come home.

-Reading my daily yahoo Kyrgyzstan digest. This yahoo group is just great! Today I got special advise on what kind of formula to use and how to transition your baby from the baby house. That kind of stuff and more tiny tidbits to keep my self occupied & yes informed. I can't wait till we have a big reunion when we all have our Central Asia babies home. Everyone has been so supportive & great. BIG HUG & WARM THANKS!!!

-Making NEW work. I've started some drawings for new work for my jewelry. I have a goal to make a new body of work before baby o comes. I started last week, it was quite a heat wave, so instead of using this precious time in my studio, I laid on my couch reading Steppe Magazine, a georgious, designy, panorama of Central Asia.( did I say pricey?) I was absorbed by the beautiful photos & my god the contrast of daily life. My favorite story was about the Aral Sea and how the fisher men pray for REALLY cold winters. Why? So the ice would freeze 1.5 meters. Why? So that the ice will be strong enough to bring their camel on the outing to pull the fish out. Otherwise they have to do it themselves.

Imagine.... miles of white ice/bundled fishermen/camels with frost on their hair / a sled with hay for the camel / flounder laying on the ice.

Ok, well I'm on step #1 for new work, empty one's self out and fill with new things of interest. Well Central Asia seems to be on my mind so I'll start here.

- My Vow: I vow to edit my Wedding Celebration photos. We got married on the Winter Solstice of 2006 at SF City Hall with our mom's. (top secret mission)*wink. Then six months later had a big Wedding Celebration on the Summer Solstice '07. A truly amazing day of my life! Now one year later....I need to crack open those 700 photos and edit them and put a book together. Now or never right? A shot I like below: me & Sophia, the little red beauty.
- Save $: Well I'm proud to say; that me, Ms. Self-Employed Artist, I have only $10k left to save for the adoption. (So visualize ring sales.) Sigh....it was only at the beginning of this year I was wondering: How in the he"ck" or "ll" does one pay this much money for an adoption? Imagine a goal, it it will come....well I had to work hard for it but still it came & it can be found in savings account!! (pat..pat..pat on my back) OK thanks to Eric too, he helped pay all our mortgages so I could focus on saving. Give the job to the woman to save for ze baby! The man can pay for the nest!

-Build Baby's O's Nest: Well I'm getting to that. I wish I didn't like well designed things. I'm lusting for the Stokke Crib in walnut. I don't want the whole set but it's cool that it can evolve up to a small child's bed. (remember when one use to lust for boys or a new dress) But I'm refraining until the coffers are full. Well I have bought a few items of clothing for her & I did get a load of hand me downs, one being this snuggy little baby carrier from my friend Angelina (all hand dyed) that I tested it out with Yuko my favorite cat. (practice baby Yuko weighs 10 lbs so it's almost an actual simulation) She liked it. See what she has to put up with?
- And last: Enjoy my summer with Eric, our friends & family + of course & the cats.......Happy 4th everyone!

-Oh 2 more things...Tina gave me permission to Sleep In, which I am uh doing a bit anyhow.
-& very last- Sending Good Thoughts of Strength out to Barack Obama. It has been a very long 8 years. I'd love baby o to come in with Obama!

A trip to Sacramento + our DOSSIER is DONE!

2008-06-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Does this look like a drive through the countryside in Italy? I wish!!! I just held it to the window while I was driving through the beautiful farmland on my exciting journey to Sacramento.

I had hoped to take the train to Sacramento, I had wanted to pretend I was taking a European vacation with my friend Catty, carrying some top secret documents, but she got a last minute job. So a new plan surfaced. Eric's dad & step mom offered to drive down for the certifying celebration and take me to lunch at Zocolo, an upscale Mexican joint. Thanks Jim & Judy! So since my illusions were changing. I just did the simplest thing. I drove. Seeing that gas is $4.69 a gallon. I guess the whole round trip cost me right around $500.

So it worked, $410 dollars later Greg, acting for the State of California had certified all my documents and put a gold seal on each and every one. Now how much more official can you get? They seem officially bored there at the notary department. When I had returned they had checked out both our websites and asked me all sorts of questions about Eric's work. I think the guy secretly wanted to weld steel. So I'm glad to know where my $410 are going....but I got my gold seals and baby o will thank me for these. EUREKA! Well as for Sacramento, that side of town by the capitol was actually really nice. I liked the old houses, the warm weather and people lingering around at outside cafes. It sure wasn't' Italy, but I did enjoy putting all the paperwork today in the mail, overnight of course, with a traxing number. My work is done!

Now to update my paper pregnant time line.

Good News / Bad News (but mostly good news)

2008-06-19T14:50:00.001-07:00

I went to my homestudy adoption agency yesterday in San Francisco to pick up the last pile of notarized paperwork. Yeah!

Last (I hoped) to San Francisco City Hall, to pick up copies of my marriage certificates. You know the ones that were suppose to come by mail weeks ago.

Well surprise, June 18th was the first official day for same sex marriages! So lots of action and marriages happening in the rotunda. I can't tell you what a sense of joy it brought me to see just about every combination of folks getting married. Families in tow, hugging & talking photos. I felt so honored to attended. (uninvited) to witness this day. I have a strong sense of justice and this just made me feel good. That families could be blended in whatever form felt right for them.

Last summer, I had a couple in my gallery I was making rings for. They had their two kids with them. I asked them if these were their updated wedding rings. No, they were both divorced and had found each other after they both had had kids with their first partner. The woman turned to me and said; "We are a blended family!" She was so comfortable with her answer and it made perfect sense to me. I have now thought about that comment a lot. There are a lot of blended families out there. And when you adopt, you are a blended family.

Oh and as for the marriages certs! GOT 'EM! After they were in my hot little hands, I enjoyed the marriages of several couples and soaked in a day of equality!

Well and the bad news is, today I was looking though my newly notarized paperwork AAAAAAHHHHH............... one document is still missing.

The good news is, the agency is fed-xing it to me tomorrow. (fingers crossed)
Soon to Sacramento.

So mostly good news and a treat to be at under the dome at San Francisco's City Hall on June 18, 2008! ...maybe a historic day for many of us who want to expand our families.

Maybe I should start to pray?

2008-06-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

Well it seems like the baby referrals are coming in slower the past months in general. I keep saying that I am fine waiting for fall or when the right time comes but you know what? I'm getting nervous & antsy... that baby o won't come? I guess everyone goes through this. All I know is that I am babying my cat Yuko more so I guess I am getting more ready to be a mom.

The good news is, my blog friend Suzanne B, also adopting from Kyrgyzstan, and fellow Bay Area gal, got her referral and she is probably on a flight back after meeting her little "melon". I am so happy for her, and a bit more encouraged that this might actually happen. Her blog is closed to outside readers but her little girl is so cute. (encouraged again)

I have been waiting to get our notarized marriage certificate, and just found out that SF city hall canceled my order for my marriage certificates. Yes that's right, they just decided that I didn't need it and didn't tell me. So here I am waiting, waiting, waiting and it never would have come. I am going right over there tomorrow and getting them in a day....then off to Sacramento for the state certification by train next week. I'll surely post a huge HURRAH, when the dossier is finally off. It should by middle of next week! Fingers crossed I can actually get it in a day + pick up the final paperwork from the first agency. God I hope everything is really in order when I arrive in Sacramento. I'm ready for the actual waiting phase. tap, tap, tap.....which I can't lie, has already begun. Even Eric runs up to my computer to see new baby photos of newly arrived adoptive kids. I think even he is getting more ready to be a dad!

Also (above) my saint that is watching out for baby o, eric & me is now backed by some gorgeous Central Asian Ikat fabric from Uzbekistan. Which I know is not Kyrgyzstan but as I said I am enjoying learning more about that side of the world in general and I LOVE textiles, craft and beautiful things hand made. Just wait for my new jewelry work, influenced by Central Asia; the land of extremes.

Oh I feel a bit better, maybe she will come. Maybe we all pray in different ways.

Kyrgyz. Film: Beshkimpir, The Adopted Son

2008-05-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

We have been very interested in knowing more about Kyrgyzstan traditions and way of life. Eric found this movie, Beshkimpir- The Adopted Son, which we just watched. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festivals as one of the first contemporary Kyrgyz. films. Ironically it is about a family in a small village in Kyrgyzstan who can not have children and feel that a childless home is no way to live. They adopt a baby who they wish to bring the family luck. We really enjoyed the film's simple story and a small glimpse into the country. Maybe some would think the film slow. I found it beautiful and if you are adopting from this country, well worth it! We rented it on Net Flicks.

My favorite part is when a younger boy goes to help Beshkempir court a girl he has fallen for. After this little guy has done his job in retrieving the girl for Beshkempir and the couple ride away on his bicycle, the little boy will have to walk back to town. A tiny little mule walks by with two other small boys on its' back. The two boys barely fit. You hear yelling, probably the little boy asking; can he get a ride? They two boys yell back "no it's too crowded." Not listening at all, the little boy flings himself on the mule and the three on the smallest mule you ever seen, ride off the frame of the film. This moment is actually just a few seconds but is so charming.....the film is filled with little simple happenings of a slower paced life.

review...

The film is a simple story treating universal issues of growing up in a rural landscape. It depicts several Kyrgyz customs - including the ceremony of placing a baby in a cradle (biseke salu), the funerary ceremony and the engagement ceremony. The ceremonies depict several ethnic Kyrgyz artifacts, like the tekemet rugs of the region, the kigiz felt carpets and the Kyrgyz cradle or besik.

The storytelling is simple and direct, and the plentiful visuals of nature and village life is complemented by soundtrack recordings of accentuated village sounds and the sounds of nature. The film is shot in black and white, occasionally interspersed with color sequences. The color sequences typically depict colorful focal themes like the girl Aynura, colorful Tekemet rugs, or a hoopoe (a kind of bird).

Most of the shooting took place on location in the village of Bar-Boulak in Kyrgyzstan.

Finishing our dossier

2008-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today I am working on my final paper work packet for the government of Kyrgyzstan. Yeah!

Kyrgyzstan had closed down for a few weeks, but apparently it is open again. I was not too worried but will share with you that International Adoption is NOT an easy process. It seems as if the bureaucracy is what stands in the way of more adoptions happening. Apparently the Adoption Minister resigned. We do not know more about this other than they seem to be scrutinizing adoptions more carefully, probably because there is so much interest in their country. On one hand I do think it is good that the babies are monitored to go to good homes and be legitimate relinquishments from the birth parents, but there has to be an easier way for these children to find adoptive parents. I am part of a few online blogs and there are SO many people out there who would love to take in a child but the cost and the strict requirements stand in their way. I have also meet some people who have and/or are adopting. They have stuck out all the paperwork, waiting, changes and have a whole broad of internationally adopted kids. They AMAZE me!

Eric & I are getting more excited and we are #9 on the list. The agency gets between 2-4 referrals a month, both boys and girls. I keep my blog updated on a post called "Paper Pregnant....Time line" if you want to check in to see if we have more news. And I am sure to post more as the time gets closer. Basically we are just waiting. So we are still still expecting our first trip to be in September of 2008 and to return in November to pick her up. (hopefully this is the way it will go, but one never knows....)

I am just mildly exploring staying in the country between trip 1 & 2 to visit the baby house and give myself a sabbatical from my life here. That would probably be 2 months away from my life here. Right now I am craving a space to make new work and expand, and well could it be in Kyrgyzstan in a small apartment while I visit my baby to be? I have been told that one can get a modest apartment for $100/mo. I am sure it is not in the luxurious American standards. But that really might be fine. A chance to help at the baby house, draw and write in the afternoon, and send emails, and explore? Well I don't speak Russian so this could be challenging? And no one has attempted this before in the adoption community. I am deeply curious and interested to know more about this great country, culture and this place where baby o will always be from. I feel like our adoption from Central Asia is opening up the other side of the world to us.

Like I said just a thought....but who knows where that leads? Adoption was just a thought too....but we are totally committed to this journey.

THE-BIG-4-0!

2008-04-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the day...I'm officially 40! I'm off to the Wilbur hot springs for a loooooong weekend with Eric.
More about this day,this age & this doll later!

Warm thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Special thanks to Suzanne B & Tina from my Kyrgy yahoo group for dinner out last night at oola. Great Kyrgy conversation & stories. Cheers continued friendship to share our stories of Kyrgyzstan and our children & children to be. It's going to be an exciting year! *Tina* made me this great doll for my birthday. I love her and so will baby o!

Mama Hope and Miss Madina from Kazakhstan

2008-03-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

Well people have certainly been generous to us in our adoption journey. Last week Miss Madina & her lovely mom Hope have donated just gobs of clothes and goodies for our little central Asian girl to come. The extra clothes we will bring and donate to the baby house when we go. This is just great, we are so appreciative of all the hand me downs and it feels good to see STUFF being passed along.

Pretty darn beautiful little girl eh? We thought, wow, maybe we should switch countries and then got ahold of ourselves. Of coarse if you are adopting or thinking of adopting or just watching a friend adopt you wonder. Will she be a beautiful baby? Don't tell me it isn't a worry. I know it's a totally real fear out there and I also know how hard I have seen people fall so hopelessly in love when their referral comes.....so we wait. Maybe life just gives you what you need and one of the things with adoption, you have to let go of some of that control and "hope" that the perfect one for you lands in your nest for you to love.

Thank you Hope & Madina (+papa Andy who was away for the visit.) We also found that we had another thing in common besides adopted kids from Central Asia. Amongst the chatting over babies and Central Asia, across the room, I spotted an art object from an artist we both happen to know and collect... Alma Allen, and I have to mention his dynamic partner Nancy. Alma creates just the most odd & beautiful sculptures. How nice to have things in common. This just keeps getting better.

Also thanks Madina for pouring me at least 20 cups of your imaginary tea. It was DELICIOUS!

*Warm thanks to sister Chris, Phil & Eden + Llisa, Mark, Lucia, Marin & Sonia for their GREAT and GENEROUS goodies for baby o. ***This is like Christmas*** Makes both Eric & I really excited that this is actually happening soon.

Looking forward to being parents!

Our TRIBE...calling all Aunties & Uncles!

2008-03-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

So here is our tribe....

This is a photo from our Wedding Celebration which was last June '07, around the Summer Solstice. We got married in San Francisco's City Hall on the Winter Solstice 12.22.06 with our mom's as our witnesses. We had our celebration party six months later. No we did not have our party on the tracks, we had a little adventure walking down to the railroad tracks while our tables were being set up for dinner. We liked this industrial backdrop for our cast of characters. The weather was superb, everyone was in good but genuine social form!!! A perfect day and so much fun! I for one thought that having the official ceremony and the party separately was perfect for us. The guy in the orange turban is the security guard next door.We were all forming into position waiting for the photographer when he ran up along the r.r. tracks carrying the bright yellow ladder. The colors of the orange turban and yellow ladder were unexpected and made everyone burst into laughter. Of course we invited him in for the photo. See the shadow of our dear friend Jaymie on the ladder in the photo?

So this adoption, to include baby o, into our tribe has got me thinking. Families are spread out all over the country, and some people in our lives, we wish were family anyhow. Just how many people does it take to raise a baby. I say a WHOLE TRIBE.

My good friend Angelina had her son, Jacobi, a year and a half ago. She had a hard labor which put her back in the hospital a few days after she brought baby Jacobi home. I had just returned from Brazil and Eric & I went over to stay with her NEWBORN so that papa Oliver could get some rest. Family flowed in and out of the apartment and back and forth to the hospital. Music was being played, the baby passed & cooed over. Food filled the kitchen table. We were all on shifts. Eric & I even spent a few nights with baby Jaco sandwiched in between us to care for him through the night. While this story unfolded under unfortunate circumstances for Angelina, both in being away from her new one, and also having to recover, we felt so privileged that we could help and be part of their lives. It was a precious moment that usually only new parents have. I felt my strong protective hormones kicking in seeing this little six pound being breathing between us and hoping for Angelina to get better. Which today by the way, Angelina is fine, a great mama and makes a beautiful clothing line, Ocelot, and Jaco spends his time running all around her studio and is growing like a weed.

Another story about family by extension; My dad grew up in Oahu, Hawaii. I will always remember visiting over there when I was six years old and calling every person I was introduced to as Auntie & Uncle. Now how can this be when my dad is an only child?

Our talented friends Craig & Cathy, parents to Zane, live part time in Hawaii and everyone is Auntie & Uncle to Zane, even the mailman is Uncle. Zane, now five this week, seems to be raised knowing that a whole community is raising him. No they are not hippies, but open to the influence of their creative & intelligent friends. I think this is great and I'm signing up people to be Aunties & Uncles either genetic or not, to be part of our community and baby o's life. No obligation required, only a desire to share yourselves.

Grandma Carla is already signed up for some Saturdays so I can be at my gallery. We are all making room for this exciting transition. We want to be inclusive with this new part of our family.

We also feel fortunate that we are starting to meet many families in the Bay Area who have adopted children and may I say...they have been just great to us! Your lucky when you adopt, your definition of family is asked to be reconsidered and you must leave the blood lines behind.

In Hawaii they have a word for extended families which is also part of Hawaiian culture. 'ohana' means family in an extended sense of the term including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. And 'hanai' means adopted family...here is a great story about hanai.

Paper Pregnant...Time line

2008-03-08T14:55:00.001-08:00

10 . 01 . 07 Sign up with our home study agency
02 . 12 . 08 Turn in all paperwork for home study
02 . 13 . 08 Mail in application for Kyrgyzstan Agency
02 . 19 . 08 Paperwork mailed to San Francisco CIS
02 . 22 . 08 Paperwork confirmed arrival to SF CIS
02 . 25 . 08 Home study finished!
02 . 27 . 08 ON THE LIST #16 ,including 3 families with referrals waiting to travel
03 . 01 . 08 Working on dossier for Kyrgyzstan Government; told to notarize in May.
03 . 18 . 08 Finger printing appointment
03 . 24. 08 #12 ON THE LIST
04 . 01 . 08 In our mailbox today; yeah our I-171H all approved!
05 . 04 . 08 Just check in with the agency....#9 on the list + hoping all reopens soon in Kyrgz.
05 . 06 . 08 News that the embassy is open again.
06 . 25 . 08 Dossier officially state certified.
06 . 26 . 08 Dossier is out of my hands on it's way to be translated! I think we are #8 ON THE LIST.
08 . 2008 Slow down on the adoption, we will not travel until at least Winter.
10.04.08 Number #5-7 on the list, 2 families on hold in front of us...hence the sliding number.

still expecting....Maybe a referral for baby o in September 08...
06 . 26 . 08 update: well, maybe later....referrals have been slower...so maybe October? November?
10.04.08 Probably Dec - Feb?

So there you have it, we are 7cm paper pregnant. I couldn't find the ruler in inches but you get the picture. I thought I'd post our time line and update as we know more. Unlike a pregnancy it can go slower or suddenly faster. Now you know what I've been doing.....paperwork and research. I can say one thing, I'm having more fun waiting to adopt that waiting to get pregnant.

Kyrgyzstan....where & why?

2008-03-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

I have heard Kyrgyzstan referred to as the wild west. This was only after we decided to adopt from there but it kind of has that adventure ring to it. I think they meant that in relationship to Kazakhstan, which is considered the wealthiest of the Central Asian countries because of their natural resources. Kyrgyzstan is considered the Alps of Central Asia, being about 75% mountains. Well there it is on the map. The little blue country sandwiched between Kazakhstan and China, bordering Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It is a small country, I read it is the size of South Dakota. Central Asia is comprised of five independent republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. So the "stans", but not all of them. It is for many of us the other side of the world. It will take us around 23 hours with stopovers to get there from Californ-i-a.

I always said that if we could just adopt from Japan I'd do it in a heart beat. Our exploration of adopting from Japan was, it is very difficult and super pricey. We also did not find the folks except for two very nice women, Eryn and Nancy, very open about sharing their experiences. I know that adoption is not common in Japan and not talked about so maybe the extended community reflects their wishes? We did find one agency, thanks to Hope, who did have a new program. This was all towards the end when we had almost picked Kyrgyzstan. We were rejected after they examined our photo for a week ...was it personal or really my husband's age. (47) Or was it fate?

Asia was always CENTRAL on the adoption scope although for a brief time we entertained domestic. For me I was more interested in a connection to somewhere in Asia. So after we finally decided on Vietnam their government and ours started and continue to clash. I have heard actual stories of people that are having difficulties getting their baby back to the U.S. and that it is unstable for now. We were sad to leave our great Bay Area Adoptive Vietnamese families behind. They had all been so kind. So again, researching another country......we then were reminded about Kyrgyzstan.

I was at the bookstore getting some books on Vietnam when this beautiful book titled, Kyrgyzstan leapt off the shelf. Beautiful people and traditional costume in Kyrgyzstan. Wow I was intrigued and truly taken by the beauty. For those of you who know me you will know BEAUTY might just be near the top of the list of things that drive me. Also I would have to add community to be big on the list which includes family and friends. So later that night instead of reading my books on Vietnam I started researching Kyrgyzstan and also returned to my original thought of Kazakhstan too after meeting Madina, child of Hope & Andy, possibly one of the cutest little girls from Kazakhstan.

Let's just say the instability of Vietnam adoption, beautiful culture that it is and having to stay in Kazakhstan for 2 months, us both being self-employed. Seeing and reading about the people of Kyrgyzstan and well the The Tien Shan Mountains kind of sealed the deal for me. More beauty, I'm a Japanese-German- French American raised in Utah. The mountains called out to me. I am a mountain girl of mixed heritage. Suddenly my first pick of Japan seemed to rigid and pure. Kyrgyzstan it is.

For those of you who are just starting your adoption journey or folks that have not adopted.....International Adoption is not like a pick chart of selecting just ANY country that might catch your fancy. There are many guidelines, most strict, set by each country or the agency, from age, weight, number of years married, who will consider single women, etc. Age gets hard after 45 to adopt an infant, and for years married they like to see 3-5 years and well I can tell you that I did not meet Korea's weight requirements. And if you know me I'm TALL not fat.

So as some of my other adoptive community friends say.....once you pick your country you can't imagine adopting from anywhere else.....KYRGYZSTAN IT IS!!! I do have a backup plan in case this small country runs out of babies but let's not talk about that yet...I have my trip to the Tien Shan mountains and baby o waiting for me.

She... did it!

2008-02-25T23:48:00.001-08:00

Over 5 years ago a little girl name Aliya crawled up on my lap at my mom's house in Washington DC. Aliya was adopted from Kazakhstan. Aliya looked at me first very seriously looking at my face and then laughed. What are you laughing at I said. She said simply,"Hey we look alike."

I knew right then and there that you bond as close with an adopted child.

She was the one who planted the seed. The seed to adoption, the seed to Central Asia. Cheers to Aliya!

She...did it.......and them too!

Some of our friends kids + our nieces & nephews:
Jacobi, Anu, Kaelen, Zane, Anais, Corinna, Owen, Sophia, & Kizuki

baby o : Introduction

2008-02-24T19:41:00.000-08:00

So here goes our ride to parenthood. For the sake of our soon to be daughter we are calling her "baby o". Both Eric and I are excited for this journey but it did not start here..to back up we have been "trying" for around four years. But truth be told we had always entertained adoption and felt maybe having kids at a later age, the fact that it be OUR kid seemed less important than having a child in our lives. So we have finally made the decision that international adoption is the right choice for us.

The introduction meeting at UCSF for IVF (fertility treatments) kind of sealed the deal for me when I walked in (20 minutes late) and there were 300 couples, YES 300, sitting in this large auditorium. I myself came alone. I knew then that I was not going to go through this no matter what my 39 year old hormones were screaming at me. My judgmental mind was screaming, but why do you all you people have to have kids from YOUR genes? Slowly the voices and fears instilled from society released and adoption seemed like the perfect option. I am in no way judging that wanting to having your own kid or do fertility treatments is not the right answer for some. Just seeing so many people in my same boat just kind of brought it home for me. And I walked up to my doctor and said thank you and good bye.

There are many good things I see so far about adoption, I am sure I'll know more once we actually have the little one in our hands. My friend Heidi says that adoption is good because it leaves less of a footprint on the earth. Eric likes that reason. But truth be told I think he just has a lot of love to give. For me I think that I have always had a soft spot for ethnic kids and immigrants newly living in the US. Maybe for me adopting parallels the same need one has to relate to your kid. Maybe it was that we wanted a girl. My friend Cathy says, pay now or pay later. I guess we are choosing to pay later. (Cathy, let's compare notes again when our kids our 18) I just have to be honest, if it would have happened naturally...great. But with some deep soul searching I learned that I just wanted a great kid and did not need it to spawn from my genes. They say parenthood is a self less task anyway, so adoption might really be this. The statistics are that 1% of orphans in the world are adopted. So maybe we'll at least feel good about giving a baby a home.

So here we go.....our adventures of baby o, my dear Eric and me! Who will she be? And where will she take us?