I am 42, Falling up! & the answer to Everything!

Last Shabbot (Friday) was my birthday. 

My birth date is November 2, 1970.  I turned 42 years old.

I have a thing for numbers, what they mean, cosmically, religiously, etc.  The whole everything means something, signs and tests, nothing is accidental superstitious streak in me... it is strong - if you haven't noticed.

I am a HUGE birthday person.  I LOVE birthdays and celebrating them.  Before kids, I was completely into celebrating my birthday - often for the whole month long!

Post kids, I am really into celebrating the kids' birthdays, but still love mine as well.

This year, we've got tons going on and I was happy about my birthday, but as I have noted before, I am also really really tired.  We decided we'd have a family birthday shabbot dinner and then Jocelyn and I went to see Melissa Etheridge in concert. (I am on a total "go and see women rock stars in concert" kick right now).  So that is what happened.

But like much in life... it was really so much more.

First off, I hadn't even heard Melissa's new album "4th Street Feeling" until the day of the concert.  I figured I would listen to it online before we went.  I did and I really liked it.  At the concert, Jocelyn bought me a super cool t-shirt and the actual CD.  The concert was fantastic.  Totally different than Madonna but wonderful none the less.  Something about women performers over 50, they are liberated from the world's expectations of who and what they should be and it just oozes off them. (Melissa basically said as much during the concert). Think Madonna, Melissa Etheridge, Tina Turner, Barbara Streisand, Meryl Streep - they are free and fabulous and over 50... I want to be like them when I grow up.  Jocelyn and I had great seats and an awesome time at the concert.

Then late late on my birthday (it may have even been early the next morning), my totally great but geeky brother sent me an email.  It said: "Hey there! We tried calling several times yesterday but could not get you. Dad said you went to a concert so I hope you had fun! Just think - this year you are the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything!"

And just like that - the songs of the concert fading in my ear and those words sinking into my brain... it happened for me.  What 42 was all about.  It was quite incredible.

When I read my brother's email, I totally got it instantly - and I could not believe I hadn't remembered.  In his own way, my brother is pretty fantastic himself.  And only he could send me that email.  (Although from now on, I will be giving everyone I know who turns 42 the book, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - because as many of you should know - at the end of that book, it is revealed that the "answer to Life, the Universe and Everything" is the number 42.)  Thank you Michael.

I could not stop smiling after those two events - the concert and the email. 

I wasn't sure what to write for my birthday post.  So many directions to go.  A list of 42 things to do when I am 42... maybe things to do with my kids.  A list of 42 things people did when they turned 42.  A list of 42 facts about 42.  I did some research.  It was all interesting.  But it wasn't what I wanted.  There is a great article I found that has a really great "42" list, check it out HERE. 

But today, while hanging out with my kids - singing and dancing to one of my new favorite Melissa songs with them, it became clear that this is what I wanted to write.

The lyrics to one of her new songs, "Falling up!"
(Listen to it HERE - it is really great!)

I sent a picture to my very best friend
And in the picture was me and my car
At another dead end
If you wanna and come and find me
I can leave you a sign
My heart’s a little heavy but the rest of me is, well
Fine all fine
So here’s to me let’s raise a cup
I’m fancy free and I’m falling
Falling, I’m falling up now
I’m falling up now, I’m falling up now
I get the picture of reapin’ what I sow
It’s getting’ clearer that all that I love
Is all that I know
So here’s to me let’s raise a cup
I’m fancy free and I’m falling
Falling, I’m falling up now
I’m falling up now, I’m falling up now
Every now and then it gets too dark to see
Too dark to see just what’s in front of me
Every now and then I fall off the edge
Right off the ledge heels over head
Am I givin’ in if I’m trying
Am I really falling or flying
Am I really living or dying
Am I really falling, falling or flying
I’m falling up now
I’m falling up now
I’m falling up now
Come on send me a picture
Of everywhere that you’ve been
And then honey, come on, come on, come on
And shake it like a Polaroid

It's a really really good song.  The words and the music.  It is great to sing to and to dance to.  My kids can do both. One day I am going to be able to play it on the guitar.  (I can play the A, D and E7 chords already!)

For now I am going to sing it loud and dance around to it in my empty living room with the kids. And blare it on the radio when I am alone in the car (sometimes, rarely that actually does happen).

Today, I took just a few pictures of my littlest "best friends" with their toy cars - just like it says in the song.  Seemed like the thing to do.

I leave you with pictures of Jonah & Vera and their cars and one of Melissa!  And also with a few facts that are 42ish that were just too good not include.

(1)  Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States.  (WE LOVE CLINTON)

(2)  Fox Mulder's apartment number on the X-Files was 42.  (I LOVE THE X-FILES AND FOX MULDER)

(3)  In the year that I am 42, Jonah will turn 4 and Vera will turn 2...

(4)  In 2004 (notice the 4 and the 2), I spent 4 months working in London in the Tower 42 building.  That is when and where Jocelyn and I became friends.

Life is funny and awesome, but strange.  Life is mysterious.  I am 42.  I feel like I am Falling Up, now.  And now, I am clearly the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

Come on everybody, "shake it like a Polaroid!" & Shabbot Shalom!

Melissa singing Falling Up

Talking About Transportation...

T minus 4 days and counting...

Until Jonah's Official 3rd Birthday "Transportation Celebration" Friend Party

What the hell is that you ask?

It is Jonah's birthday party for his buddies.  You have to be either 3 or 4 years old to get an invitation (and you can bring your sibling(s) and parent(s) if you do).

This is our first birthday party just for the kids - so to speak.  Yes, there will still be alcoholic drinks available for the moms and dads... but everything else is pretty much geared to a 3 year old.

Jonah picked his theme.  He did so with confidence and conviction.  When asked what kind of party do you want?  how should we decorate?

He announced loudly and clearly, "Mommy, I want cars, trains, trucks, planes, helicopters, fire trucks, garbage trucks, police cars, motorcycles, spaceships-we need spaceships-and bicycles and things that go."

So that is what he is getting.  A Transportation Celebration.  This Sunday.

The party colors are green and blue.  I couldn't find any decorations that really captured what I thought would work, so we are making most of them.

My big idea for the decorations:  transportation stencils in blue and green!  We tried our first batch of stencils a few weeks ago (pre Jonah's big haircut...) and we used stencils from Dover Publishing, crayola paint and paint brushes.  That worked out OK. 

Then we bought a bunch of art supplies from Discount School Supply through our buddies over at Not-So-SAHM.  Our good buddies, Kane & Cami, are now "affiliates" for Discount School Supply.  We buy our stuff through them and they get a small cut - cool deal, and it is the least we can do considering how often we copy their super cool art projects!  If you interested in getting any art supplies, just click on the link here to get to their blog and there is button on their blog for Discount Art Supply.

We bought the big Biocolor paint set, the transportation stencil packet, a set of small paint rollers, a large packet of the white card stock, and masking tape. The stencils from Discount School Supply are made of plastic and we really love them!  (Although Jonah loves the spaceships from the Dover stencil set!) The paint rollers were a huge hit.  And Jonah really enjoys the various blues and greens -  I think there are about 5 colors to choose from that are sort of blue and/or green in the Biocolor paint set!  Fun!

I still need to organize all of it and figure out "how" to decorate with all this stencil art... but I am sure it will come to me (or my kaleidoscope)! 

We are all excited for the big day.  Here's hoping we get wonderful weather like we did for Vera's garden party! (see here)

First attempt...  why are my kids always eating the paint!!!!

note the hair... awww pre-first-hair-cut

Second try with new art supplies!

loving the rollers!

and the colors...

Today!  Still eating the paint...

and now rollering with both hands!

We got lots of stencil decorations to do something with!!!!

http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-5731055-10658019

He's Three!

Today is Jonah's actual birthday.  I can not believe he is three.  I remember the day he was born perfectly.  And now he is three.  Wow.  One day he will be thirty-three - that just seems crazy to me.  For now, he is just three.

I have I told you how much we love birthdays around here!

Today, Jonah woke up and got to open presents from yesterday's family's party.  Uncle Dave, Auntie Nee, and cousin Sydney hit it out of the park!!!  A huge yellow dump truck with legos... Jonah and Vera were so excited and played with the truck all morning together!  Whoop whoop for you.  He also got two awesome gifts from family friends (momos you know who you are) and one was this "hit the ball" Melissa & Doug toy!  It is the perfect toy for Jonah.  I am hoping he will get out some of his recent "three year old aggression" with this toy.  He really really liked it.

After breakfast and presents and playing, Jonah and I were off to the dentist for his three year old checkup.  He needs it for camp.  He did great.  This was his second trip to the dentist.  He sat in the chair and did everything he was supposed to do, say AAAAAh, spit, rinse - the whole deal.

He earned lunch with mommy for such a great performance.  We sat outside in Dupont and had lunch.  Well, he just drank his juice box and described all the awesome vehicles passing us by... mommy, a really big bus, mommy, a truck, a green one and a yellow one, mommy a delivery truck, and now a mixer truck, look mommy another bus and a police car, and a dump truck too... he was very engaged in the traffic...

I figured we should swing by Stride Rite for some shoes for camp.  So we did.  Jonah got these very very cool, Spiderman looking (they a red) Kean sandals for camp - covered toes and waterproof.  He also got multi-colored Crocs with the little charms - Superman, Batman, Buzz Lightyear and Thomas the Train.  He made out at the shoe store!

This afternoon, some buddies came over to play in our backyard in the sprinklers and hang out.  They brought him a present too!  He was so excited!  He ripped it open and it was this awesome set of Hebrew Letter and Number wooden blocks.  Jonah and Vera loved playing with it together .  (Later this evening, Jonah was building towers with them all night...) We also went to dinner at Comet right down the street.  We have never been and it is a very fun and kid friendly place.  They have ping pong in the back.  Jonah and his buddy attempted some ping pong - but they are bit too short and don't quite get the hang of it yet.  But they had fun!  It was Jonah's birthday dinner outing.  It was very fun.  I was so happy we got to hang with our buddies. They are totally cool and it was nice that Jonah had another 3 year old to share it with (and nice for me to be with other moms (yep another 2 mommy family) of a three year old).  We even had a piece of cake with a candle.  Jonah was really excited about that.  He told Nana and Mama all about the cake with the candle and dinner with his "best friend." (Full disclosure... Jonah had an "accident" at dinner and Vera had a complete meltdown once it hit 7pm - but other than that it was fantastic!!!)

Mama made it home before Jonah's bed time tonight.  And she arrived with another present.  (I have to note here that I am not so into the presents aspect of birthdays - I am more of a celebration kind of girl... but when kids turn three everyone else seems to be really into the presents.  The problem is Jonah is totally into presents so I can't begrudge him the gifts  - he will only be three once...)

Mama gave Jonah - wait for it... the Buzz Lightyear that talks (see here).  He was so happy!!!  Even though I hate the whole "materialistic obsession with gifts that we don't need that are made out of plastic... blah blah blah..." the look on Jonah's face when he got the gift was pretty wonderful.  The anticipation while Mama tried to get it out of the box was tortuous to watch. Watching him play and talk to Buzz and wanting him to take him to bed with him... it was just like watching the Toy Story movie... it was priceless.

Jonah's asleep now.  In bed with him is Elmo, Lightening Mcqueen and Buzz Lightyear.  He is happy.  And he did make sure to tell us that Buzz's best friend is Woody - you know just in case we didn't know it.  (The best is I don't think he has ever seen the whole movie Toy Story!)

Happy Third Birthday my sweet Jonah!  Go Jonah Go!

(Next up for Jonah - his friend party at the end of the month - A Transportation Celebration... I told you we like birthdays around here!)

Good Morning! Presents!

The Big Truck!

It has a hammer - and you hit these balls...

brushing at the dentist

flossing too!

Lunch with mommy and the traffic

new shoes

birthday dinner with buddies!!!  - and ping pong!

and watching our buddy's iphone...

while Vera plays with mommy's blackberry

cake & ice cream!!!

yummy!!!!

and finally, mama brings home Buzz!

Cutting the Curls!

Today was the day! 

We came, We saw, We conquered...  or rather

We woke up, We cut hair, We ate ice cream!

As you know we have been talking about this for a long time.  Jonah's big hair cut.  I was waiting till he turned three.  There is a Jewish tradition upsherin that you wait until your son is three before you cut his hair, and well, I love Jonah's hair and I am into traditions, so we waited.  (see my previous post here) 

Last night Jocelyn and I partied it up with her former high school classmates at her 20th reunion.  We stayed out way too late and slept in a hotel room in Baltimore while the kids were with grandma.  This morning, we woke up really late and ordered in room service - it was divine!

Then we packed our stuff up and went to Grandma's house!  We arrived around lunch time and everyone was great.  The kids were happy as could be - Jonah told me, "no mommy, I don't want to leave... I love it here with Grandma!"  After bribing him with too many treats, we all got into the car.

After 10 minutes in the car, both kids fell asleep!!!  Goodness - my kids and cars!  We arrived at the place right on time. 

Now, I need to set the scene.  Jocelyn's family's house in Baltimore is in a "not-so-great" neighborhood.  It is an amazing corner brownstone, but the neighborhood has steadily declined since she lived there.  It is pretty much a lower income all black neighborhood.  Ironically, if you drive about 7 miles from this neighborhood into Pikesville, you end up in this Jewish, pretty religious lower to middle income white neighborhood.  The haircutting place was in that neighborhood.

We arrive at the Salon Kids (see link here) and the place is empty.  They are waiting for us and greet us with a big" hello Jonah!"  The shopping center is filled with "Jewish" shops including a Kosher pizza and ice cream store and most of the people walking around the shopping center are either black or wearing black hats (which means they are religious Jews...) - to say it was a little bit of "worlds colliding" is an accurate description. 

Now, remember, Jonah was sleeping?!?!  He was groggy when we walked in and was slowly getting his bearings.  I had no idea how it was going to all play out.  Vera woke up and wanted to play with the toys.  The deal in this place is that there are plenty of toys around and it is a very "fun" looking place with bright colors, etc.  Jonah was very into the toys and wanted to play with the trains at the train table - still half asleep.  So we had some negotiations, the stylist set up a DVD player with Thomas the train on it... and while I was with Jonah in toy area deciding which toys he was going to take to the "special chair"... he had an accident...

(Here I will mention we are deep into potty training.  Jonah is not wearing diapers, he wears his shorts only.  He still wears diapers at night.  He has been doing very well during the day but we do have accidents.  Today we completed our first week without diapers...) 

So we had to get cleaned up and the stylist and receptionist were very nice and took care of everything-I changed Jonah.  We visited the potty to be sure we were done with that and returned.  He decided he wanted Buzz Lightyear as his toy.

We got him into the seat.  Tyra, his stylist, put on his smock.  And that was it.  She started spraying and combing out his hair and he was talking to Buzz and watching his show.  We decided to take 2.5 inches off (Nana please relax!!!) - His hair was over 5 inches long!  After Tyra combed his hair out with this special comb (it is called the Knot Genie - and I bought one - I think it has changed my life - see here), she started cutting.  Jonah was perfect!  He was asking some questions, he wanted to hold the regular comb, the special comb, the scissors, the spray bottle, the mirror, but otherwise he was great.  She was collecting his curls to give to me in an envelope and when some would fall on his smock, he would hand them to me and say, "here mommy, take my curls..."   He sat through the whole thing and was amazing.  At the end, he looked at himself in the mirror and said, "just like Mama!" with a big smile on his face.  Jocelyn and I looked at him and we both sighed a big deep sigh - he is still the cutest little boy in the world, but he isn't so "little" anymore... he is just a little bit bigger, braver and wiser... and at first he didn't look like our Jonah!

Then they wanted to take his photo for the certificate, well he wasn't so into that -- he just wanted to go play with trains -- so we didn't get a very good official picture.  He got a lollipop and a tattoo.  He also got a gumball from the gumball machine.

On the way out we said the Shehecheyanu. (see the prayer here)  Jews say it when something new happens to thank God for getting us to this time and allowing us to be part of this new endeavor.  We were so happy to be with Jonah on his first haircut!  You know, there is nothing like the first time!

Then we went over to Mama Leah's for some Kosher pizza and ice cream! (see here)  It was yummy and fun.  The kids ate and we even talked to some very nice people in the next booth.

In honor of DC Pride this weekend (even though we missed it -we were there in spirit!) I just want to say, sometimes life is awesome!  Here we are are this totally "progressive alternative family" - the interracial lesbians with their Jewish black children. We woke up in inner city Baltimore and got our son's first haircut in Pikesville, MD and then had Kosher pizza and ice cream.  After, we returned to Baltimore for a party with all the Aunties and cousins to celebrate Jonah's upsherin with homemade macaroni & cheese, pork, ham, turkey & and a cake decorated with Lightening McQueen!

My kids are very lucky.
I am very lucky.
The 21st century is very lucky to have us in it.

Whether we are cutting Jonah's curls, or one day in the future braiding Vera's hair, the truth is our babies grow up - the most important thing is that they are surrounded by love and supported by diverse and wonderful people - of every color, shape, religion and creed!  That is what real "progress" is about.

This nontraditional family did everything traditional this weekend - reunions, first hair cuts, family parties... and it was fantastic!

Thank you Jonah & Vera for being great kids!
Thank you Grandma for babysitting!
Thank you Salon Kids for a job well done!
Thank you Grandma and all the Aunties, Uncle Dave, the cousins & Grandpa -for a wonderful celebration for Jonah!
Thank you Baltimore area for weekend well spent!

sleeping Jonah pre haircut

in the seat - BEFORE

combing it out

Vera was having fun!

checking out what is going on

the first cuts

talking to Buzz

Vera is making tea...

checking out the Knot Genie comb

let me try to comb it



AFTER:  short curls and a lollipop!



mama, I look just like you!

now i get to play trains!

we want gumballs!

Vera- you'll have to wait till you turn 3!

ice cream!

this was a good outing! treats!

the official certificate

Jonah;s Cars Cake!



Jonah's curls!