Simple Pleasures

Blue Eyes and I headed to the Rutgers Farmers Market, scrounged up every metal disc in the car and counted $4.03.  I tasted some sausage and some wine and a butter-toasted pecan then spent what I had:

Spinach turnover                                                                        $1.50
Ear of "picked this morning" sweet corn                               $.45
Wild flower honey straw                                                          $.50
Heirloom tomatoes 1 yellow, 1 maroon, 1 striped green   $1.50

We took our small meal to Rutgers Gardens and ate it under a fine tree.  Then we explored the flowerbeds, discussed the processes of photosynthesis and pollination (no, he didn't understand, but he's a good listener) and did some yoga on a grassy lawn.   I enjoy the simple things most. 

Favorite Passtimes of a 10-month-old

• Emptying the shoe rack
• Climbing on top of the empty shoe rack
• Climbing on top of the toy chest
• Climbing on top of the printer
• Staring longingly into the bathtub wishing those things would come out so that he could throw them in again, then turning his attention to the trashcan.  No!
• Being in the same room as mommy (unless daddy is home)
• Sitting underneath the coffee table, bouncer, or desk then getting stuck between the bed and the wall 
• Reorganizing the DVD collection... onto the floor
• Scavenging for lost cheerios... among other things.  Don't eat that!
• Saying "ba ba da ba da da" with gusto
• Testing the strength of the screen door with his lean
• At all times having the company of a foam letter, a block, a sock or a wetwipe package in each hand (When he crawls with blocks, he sounds like a woman in high heels and socks cause him to slip and slide as he goes). 

The miniseries, Human Trafficking, is on Netflix right now if you are interested in learning more about the business, victimization and fighting of human trafficking from this fictional film.  I recommend that you listen to the informative speech delivered in the closing scene in the YouTube link below (FFW to :38 - 3:00). 

The Fullness of Emptiness

After 9 months of pregnancy and 5 months of kicks and flips and hiccups, I had grown very close to my son.  Pun intended.  And once his body left my body, I felt... well empty.  Deflated.  And a little cold.  Like the bread bowl must feel after the soup has been eaten.  But in the minutes that followed, when I held him and watched his little eyes watch me and Chris, my heart felt very full.

Now, 9 months later, I still know the meaning of empty fullness.  Being a mom is very emptying... of time, of energy, of sleep, of concentratability, of self-centeredness, etc.  Yet, even though I am poured out and drained, I feel so full. Undeniably, I have never felt this full. 

Fighting Human Trafficking through Legislation

There are currently three bills being considered in congress that could dramatically improve conditions for child victims of sexual exploitation and enable better enforcement of US laws against human trafficking.  Look at the EPCAT website to learn how to support these bills. 

 Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2011
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
Business Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act