Walking!

She is 13 months and she is walking, not perfectly but the ground moves beneath her little feet and her cushy bum catches her falls. She is so proud of herself and carries a sweet smile much more than before.
I can tell both JJ and I are in for a real treat. Yesterday, we went to an Indian Pow-wow, which was just beautiful, Amazing wanted out of the sling so she could walk and explore. She found the rocks to be the most interesting. Keeping her eyes to the ground to watch her feet move she wanted to pick up each and everyone. To see the beauty in the simple pebbles that cover pathways is peculiar to me to, I'm so thankful that she showed this to me again. She looks at each rock so carefully.

We took her to a lake nearby so that JJ and I could enjoy some time together holding hands and walking side by side. We walked for about 1 mile and Mazi was about to jump out of the sling again so JJ put her on the ground and she walked about 1/2 mile holding his hand and moving very very slow with her wee little baby steps.  Feeling her balance with each step. She brought a baby doll that she held tightly and used to balance her every movement. It is fascinating to watch her learn this movement I don't even think about. I have taken for granted the idea that I too had to learn this skill.

We are born so helpless, so vulnerable. I find it strange how we lack all control of ourselves at birth and we go through a stage of learning these skills one after another in such a short amount of time, then as adults we stop thinking about it and we move or react without being mindful or thinking about how our bodies move and behave. I admire Mazi's awareness about herself already. I really want to try and help her keep that awareness as she grows into an adult.

She even had to stop and poop and she did just that. She stopped, looked and her Dad and I, squatted  and made a fart sound with her mouth as she signaled that she was pooping, yes talking about pooping has become such a beautiful thing as I teach my baby to recognize when her body is releasing its toxins and waste, it is no secret in our household, we all watch each other do it and Mazi has caught on almost perfectly. When she walks fully on her own I plan to nail it in a few days time.

Today was a perfect fall day. I took Mazi to the harvest farmers market and got a nice selection of winter squash, sweet potato, green beans, apples and last bit of tomatoes.  There were many vendors with fun varieties of pumpkins and gourds.  We admired all the shapes, colors, and sizes these come in. If only I could have a hand in the growing process of all these, I would love that experience.

Mazi of course wanted to walk through the market and show off her walking skills, she would wave at everyone she could, I joined her at waving and got some funny faces looking at us as we walked down the rows as if we were in a parade.

Tonight was a full moon, and such a powerful one too.  It feels brighter than the last few.  I sat outside this evening with Mazi and JJ, breathing the crisp cool fall air.  I wrapped Mazi up in a warm blanket and swung her on the hammock as we gazed at the moonlight.  I listened to JJ talk, then I gave my gratitude to the full moon and felt such a warmth of gratitude for my sleeping child warm on my breast. She has lived for 13 full moons now and her journey is just beginning.

Today, I am Thankful...for it ALL, because, it is perfect! I just need to open my eyes again.

Harvest Time In the Country

 The 'south' does have some of the most intriguing farms.  As october sneaks by...can't believe its passing so fast, I am pushed to explore more of this country land.  We came across this children's paradise called "Lucky Ladd Farms" filled with rides and creative kid courses all made put of farm equipment. There were colorful creations all over, hay bails made into pigs, lil cars made out of water barrels, tire swings cut into horses, wagon rides, burlap sac slides, petting farm, nature trails...

...the fun never ends with this lil piece of childrens heaven tucked in the countryside of Tennessee.

 We even ran into my ginger goddess friend Amanda and her family. Oh how I love her soo...

 Mazi pretended to ride a hay bail horse...all while holding her rice cracker which she held for the entire stay.

 Metal creations lined the pathways...

 I found the sling incredibly useful for keeping my sweetie safe and close as I played on the slides and swings, I had to do this slide a couple of times, being a kid never gets old. I am long overdue to the playful nature of the child's imaginative mind. I am ashamed of myself for neglecting it for so long.  Finding this place inside me again felt so exhilarating and for a moment again I was full of freedom.

 Mazi is such a stoic little thing, I was screaming and laughing while she looked on analyzing the details of the slide lined with hay bails and why it isn't like the ones at the park that she's use to...haha silly babe of mine.

 Mr. Peek found himself at the top of 'Pumpkin Peak' which was the perfect place for this sweet man of mine.

 Mazi has an obsession with tractors and loves pointing them out everywhere we go. She shows us how those large tires go round and round.

 I am so curious as I watch her try and figure out how all these animals work. She loves animals, as do I and she stares at them with such curious eyes but she is so hesitant to touch and feel what they are all about.

 I help her explore the thick, squishy, wool of the sheep. It's texture feels like our mattress topper on our bed and it is magical to see where it comes from and to appreciate how these animals give to us. I am so grateful that they exist on this world. I hope to teach Mazi to always give back to them.

 As we were chased by this llama, begging for food of course, Mazi looked at his eyes and was certainly not going to reach out and make any contact.

 Watching her in her daddy's arms and holding his hand fills my heart with LOVE for these two gems in my life.

 She is sooo close to walking...

 Tire swings cut into horses...

 Beautiful pathways...

Keeping her close to my heart as we explore and adventure together.

We ran into these lovely babywearing mommies whom I happened to exchange numbers with and am soooo excited to get together and talk motherhood and the joys and struggles of being a woman....EEEK!!

It was a lovely day with perfect weather and my family by my side. Thank you Lucky Ladd Farms for making this whimsical place for others to enjoy.
I plan on seeking out all the fun farms that plague the countryside of Nashville. Harvest time is so splendid!