tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66030242010-04-27T16:57:04.718-05:00Can any of you exist without the others, Or does one of you mean all?--Kenneth KochMariamaria@roundbellybirthing.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-53660156694789353022010-04-25T22:54:00.002-05:002010-04-25T23:51:16.488-05:00

In one way this post could be about Amy Su, how friends this faithful and good rare. We share the ease of roommates (Vive La Bartlett St!),similar love of peculiar detail (Bonacci's and Michael Bolton!), and picked up again easily after 11 years of not. We know each other's twangy tune. I get her love of Ulysses, cross-body bags, graphic prints. She shares my love of Gilmore, eats as slowly

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-81210862158405134252010-04-21T21:45:00.002-05:002010-04-21T22:08:04.205-05:00

I cannot believe that you are gone, Grandma Millie. Clara says that she knows that Pepop can take care of himself now. Calliope hopes that your wheelchair goes to someone sicker than you. Manny still prays that you will get better so that you can be with your friends in your room. Benicio says that he's sad that you have died. I liked you right away. You had an anchoring presence in our

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-11904862481934326642010-04-15T20:53:00.002-05:002010-04-15T22:25:16.303-05:00

Okay, so maybe I thought taking counseling classes would make me wise. It would enlighten me to cope with my relationships, not the easy ones. I thought it would help me find clever and quippy ways to navigate the little family pond here, the sometimes swampy larger family, and the rough and raging sea of relationships beyond that. It would help me cope better, manage stress, give me new and

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-4798172111067304872010-04-10T19:30:00.004-05:002010-04-11T10:23:30.323-05:00

This is the name that my Orthodox brothers' traditions call Easter Week. For them it is the joyful end of their solemn season of Lent, which is observed more strictly and with greater devotion than I have ever known myself. On my sis-in-love's kitchen calendar, it is marked "FAST FROM OIL, MILK." This, while on many of winter's days, my family were comforting ourselves with huge pizzas and orzo

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-38845032995010759732010-04-01T20:43:00.003-05:002010-04-01T21:15:03.122-05:00

Just came from the Foot Washing Service at our Church. My pores are open and my soul is awake. I feel protective of the experience to the point being tempted not to share it but I just can't do that. What can I say? The motley and raggedy Catholics that we have been sharing fellowship with have wedged their way into my stony anti-institutional heart. We process forward, everyone barefoot.

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-35301776310476279602010-03-15T21:05:00.005-05:002010-03-15T21:32:21.867-05:00

Trying to make our basement a sports basement. Eventually, a climbling wall, basketball hoop, ballet barre. That is the goal. Right now, it just looks like Serbia. We have all of our correspondence in three plastic bins. ALL of our correspondence. Geoff to me in college. Me to Geoff in college. Geoff to me in Denmark. My parents to me since college. My sister's to me in college.

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-85466513195606062532010-03-15T20:20:00.002-05:002010-03-15T20:52:53.036-05:00

To our dear baby as you turn three:I don't know where you came from but you have got me wrapped around your finger. This is trouble for me, I know, but forgive me, I am a Mama who loves babies. Your growing pains have been felt in your sibings, yourself, and me and Dad. Getting weaned, dry nights, getting your own cup, making your bed-- these have been hurdles that you cleared this year! Now

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-24488836470162936282010-03-09T21:02:00.002-05:002010-03-09T21:09:22.111-05:00

If you want to see Calliope's third year in pictures, watch this slideshow. Music from Dan Zanes' "76 Trombones."

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-13448556099603265032010-03-08T20:48:00.002-05:002010-03-08T20:57:32.603-05:00

Lists for Calliope.Things You Did Your First Week Being 3:-asserted your way into ballet class (with a recital in 9 weeks)-packed away 1.5 hot dogs-told two boys at nursery school to call you "Sarah"-planted pansies with mePopular Expressions With You Right Now:-Please, I beg you!-Ah hah, your boyish!-Please, I'll be your friend and invite you to my party!-Please, I'll invite you into my club!-

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-30236071386378772072010-02-28T20:25:00.003-05:002010-02-28T21:13:11.793-05:00

In the Fall of Manny's first year at his school, he was invited to a pool party. It was the party that the boys from Lord of the Flies would have revelled in. The whole night I felt like that was the unspoken theme-- shirtless boys flinging themselves into the water and later double-fisting candy and whacking eachother with inflatable swords. Piggy and Ralph would have been proud. First off,

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-51050804075078580382010-02-24T21:55:00.003-05:002010-02-28T21:23:51.324-05:00

Candelaria:"Margot." "Margalo." "Claresie." Nativity-obsessed. Candidate for wilderness school. Linguist. Delights in long, languid baths. Hater of turtlenecks and empire waists. Her performance troupe would be called: Camisole Dancing With Mirrors and Flashlights. Ballerina more like Soul Train and less Anna Pavlova. Couch-fort architect. Never met a vanilla ice-cream cone she didn't

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-440291190200600182010-02-24T21:34:00.003-05:002010-02-24T21:51:49.419-05:00

So many things have transpired since my last post, it's hard to reflect. However, I can say that the past two weekends have proved to be such experiential doozies, that it is almost all I can do to say hello here in the blogosphere. I will tell you that some of the events included the passing of a beloved guru of ours, ER surgery for Clara, and of all things, a Bar Mitzvah. All I can say is

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-90064145299275499772010-02-12T17:23:00.001-05:002010-02-12T17:26:44.086-05:00

These phone-photos are not perfect but this is me trying to capture these things in some way.

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-59499777397744490582010-02-12T17:19:00.001-05:002010-02-12T17:23:30.058-05:00

Benicio agrees to indulge my thrift triumph. Calliope and her insistence on privacy.

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-75146120835905411402010-02-12T15:48:00.002-05:002010-02-12T15:59:00.489-05:00

Clara and Calliope in the Cathedral 5th Floor. The cast of players for my birthday talent show.

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-32410409452461793582010-02-08T23:53:00.003-05:002010-02-09T00:13:14.720-05:00

Emmanuel:"Manny," "Day", "DB", "D Rock." A vigorous and synaptic 8 yr old full of beats and impersonations. Excels in the arts of origami and finger weaving. Maker of water bombs, gallon-sized snow hunks in lieu of snow balls, and re-interpretations of Bionicals. The always hungry, veggie-chopping, chef whose preference for Bobbi's hummous is diminishing his college fund. Celebrates

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-19557981649169440902010-02-05T14:32:00.003-05:002010-02-05T14:53:09.316-05:00

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."--C.S. Lewis"Unveil yourself, God of glory. Wake us up to know you, Savior-King. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts. Drive away the darkness that blinds, chokes, and shrinks us. Make us see." --Dr. Powlison from the book of EphesiansI told Geoff that I think I'm

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-31440167976571252022010-02-05T13:59:00.002-05:002010-02-05T14:31:46.109-05:00

If our upload speed weren't glacial, I would post photos of:-The gifts they made each other for Christmas (girls to boys:macaroni glued onto framed photos and spray-painted in gold. And boys to girls: stories they wrote about birds in laminated books, tiny birds, wicker nests that came in machine-sewn cases they had made during Advent.-Their adventure to Wertz Candy on Cumberland St. where they

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-55725384971979306072010-01-28T10:05:00.003-05:002010-01-28T10:31:15.656-05:00

-pile of Whole Foods coupons-two different pairs of headphones for my mp3 lectures-Lenten issue of The Word Among Us-recipe for white bean and kale soup-Amy Su's lime green, extra large Baggu in its zip case-pack of Chinese New Year paper-green Filofax from college that I am trying to implement again

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-59779330721453054972010-01-24T06:07:00.002-05:002010-01-24T08:01:32.108-05:00

I have begun graduate studies. The first of my two toe-dipping online classes has begun. I came downstairs to Geoff after listening to the first lecture, and I felt like I had spent those hours away from them. I have a very real trepidation that pouring my attention and time into these studies will sap me for Geoff and our kids. I write this list as a reminder that the kids have places where

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-4534115098035870842010-01-13T21:33:00.002-05:002010-01-13T22:06:53.157-05:00

The answer to whether or not I wish I were pregnant. Our baby is going to be three in a few months. We have a diaper-free existence. I am able to discuss books and films with my kids, ethics, faith. I can go rock-climbing with them. We can all go for a pedaling bike ride down the street. I can use the sleek, two-tiered shopping cart rather than the plastic faux-truck monstrosity. Everyone

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-38239905241943841792010-01-12T22:39:00.004-05:002010-01-13T21:33:44.433-05:00

On Monday, Geoff was still on break. He and I found ourselves home with our Calliope, who was on her second day battling a virus. After seeing the boys off, I changed sheets and drank my coffee. Then I brought Clara to school and went to the Y for a run. It was as if I was in frenetic-buzz mode. Coming home, I stumble-slide into the laundry room to re-dose Calliope. The scene I find stops

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-4612219814266445662010-01-10T22:09:00.003-05:002010-01-10T23:16:09.136-05:00

My brother, Mike, had this friend, Nate. In fourth grade, Nate's family brought Mike to New York City to see the Knicks. If that weren't enough, they stayed at the Four Seasons. (That particular year, had been the year cemented forever that my Mike was no longer my exclusive play-mate. Being in the same school for the first time, I could see that his fourth grade world was far away from my

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-50114394747675870452010-01-05T20:24:00.002-05:002010-01-05T20:38:15.072-05:00

donegal- a scary person or monster who comes out at night-- Calliope"Dads are serious, handsome, wise and tall."-- Clara"My New Year's Solution is to learn to take my own shower and to wake up earlier."-- Benicio"My New Year's Solution is to be a better example, and to not hit."-- Clara"Mine is to not hit and not bite people's eyes."-- CalliopeOur Winter Break wrapped up so fast. The weekend was

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603024.post-45732372508217533502009-12-31T11:54:00.002-05:002009-12-31T11:59:14.948-05:00

I would like to quote my (still) favorite writer:Not forgiving is like swallowing rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. "You can either practice being right or practice being kind." both by Anne Lamott

Mariamaria@roundbellybirthing.com208321843828744213609'/>5