Friday, October 30, 2009

Milestones


On Saturday, October 10th, Jacob was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Marty performed the ordinance and gave Jacob a beautiful blessing. We were thankful to have most of my family in town for the occasion. My father and my brother David were able to assist in the confirmation. I can't believe my "baby" boy has reached this important milestone already. We are so proud of you, Jacob!




The next day, Sunday, we blessed our baby Abram in Sacrament meeting. It was truly a special weekend for us as we reflected on the past eight years with Jacob - how much he has grown in both body and spirit - and at the same time, celebrated this brand new life.






What a wonderful time this has been for our family! These are the moments that shine through the monotony and difficulties of everyday life, and make it all worth it.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Things I Really Don't Enjoy

{Based on a true story}



Getting up at 1:30 a.m. And 4:30. And 6:30.



Dinosaur Train.



Grocery shopping with three children age 5 and under.



20 mph school zones with a screaming toddler kicking the back of my seat.



The way the kids use a whole bottle of shampoo in a total of three showers.



The words "He kicked/pushed/bit/ran over me first!!"



Mysterious wet spots on the carpet.



The entire hour before dinner every day. Nothing good ever seems to happen during that hour.







Things I Really Do Enjoy:



Naptime.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Amusing Grace



A few humorous/heartwarming moments brought to you by Grace:


*We very much enjoyed the LDS General Conference earlier this month. The kids behaved very well, and we actually got to watch all four sessions. Grace turned to me after Elder Holland's talk and said, " 'At was a good story, Mom. 'At's a good story." It was the only comment she made during the whole conference. Even a 2-year-old could appreciate the power of that talk.


*During the second session of said Conference, we participated in the sustaining of our Church leaders. Grace wouldn't raise her own hand, but she did raise Tickle-Me-Elmo's.


*Grace LOVES to pray. She often says the blessing over dinner. (Yes, Grace says grace. Ha ha.) Every time it was her turn, she would look at me and say solemnly, "A chocolate cheeses, Mom." What? I couldn't figure it out, and finally concluded that she was voicing her wish for the dinner menu.

This went on for weeks. Every time: "A chocolate cheeses, Mom." Yesterday it dawned on me.

"I talk to Jesus, Mom."


*Grace is very concerned/perplexed by the baby monitor we keep on our kitchen counter. She thinks the baby is IN the monitor. Whenever he cries, she runs to the speaker and yells desperately, "Uh-oh, a baby, Mom!!" as if she expects me to rescue him from the depths of the appliance.

Yesterday, Grace discovered the other half of the monitor in my bedroom where Abram sleeps. "Another baby, Mom!" she exclaimed. I taught her the word "speaker" and tried to explain the concept on her level. ("See, there's the baby, and there's the speaker.")

A little later... "Look, Mom - it's the spirit! Spirit upstairs, spirit downstairs!" Feel free to come up with your own Sunday School analogy.



*Grace continues to learn new Primary songs, and sings them continuously. The boys think this is very entertaining because she makes a few predictable "alterations":

from I Am a Child of God: "...and so my needs are grapes."

from I Love to See the Temple: "I'll prepare myself while I am yum..."


*I took Grace to the doctor last week for a flu shot. The nurse put a little round bandaid on her thigh, with the customary princess sticker on top. All day long, Grace admired that sticker-bandaid. She was very upset when we finally had to take it off. Yesterday she found her Thomas the Train sticker book, peeled off a dozen large round stickers...and stuffed them down her pants.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Profile of a Newborn



...or my favorite things about this stage:





Big yawns.



Superman stretches.



The wide-eyed look he gives me when he wakes up, which seems to say "Where am I, and how did I get here?"



The way he just drapes himself on me and falls asleep.



Fuzzy baby hair that smells like vanilla after a bath.



Tiny baby feet.



That pursed-lip, wrinkled-forehead face he makes when he stretches.



Fleeting, sleepy smiles.



Snuggles with Mommy.



And of course, the sounds: tiny squeaks, coos, and grunts.


Now that is perfection. Quite a payoff for a few lost hours of sleep.