Lately Noah has been on a big "mama" kick. I mean, poor James has gotten the shaft! I know there can be ebbs and flows to parental favoritism, but boy, I don't think he could adore me any more if he tried right now...and I love it. He comes into our room every morning to wake us up, but he will come into my side of the bed and only cuddle with me. And even if I can convince him to climb into the middle of the bed, he wants to face me, hold my hand and be about two inches from my face. He will also play with my fingers, my nails, and tell me how "beautiful" my wedding ring is. "That's so beautiful, mama." It's so great.
If I have to leave the house at night to go to book club, a baby shower, etc., like this week for instance, major tears flow, begging to come with me and his not understanding why something is only for mamas and not for little boys, too. It's tough, I'll grant him that.
Then, when it is finally time for me to head for the door it is time for the obligatory "Hug and a kiss! Another hug and a kiss, mama."
At bed time, he wants me to stay, too, for "one more widdle minute??" And I can't turn him down when he says "widdle minute", I even tried; and I just can't. So I stay for another widdle minute and hold his hand and he'll say to me, "wets (lets) cuddle." and I do...
This week while we were playing games on the floor, he came over to cuddle with me (because "you're so soft!") and I got Noah to agree that even when he's 8, or 9, or even 15, that he'll still cuddle with me whenever I want...he promised. and now that it is documented, he's stuck.
I know that one day my son will be over 6 feet tall and will be far too big (or old) to cuddle with me on the floor - so I've got to make the most of this time while I can. And I love it.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween Treats
Halloween - Batman Noah striking a pose.
James - the Magic Eight Ball.
And this is James, the pie-eating winner in our church congregation. He beat out MUCH younger men...way to go, baby.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Another Year Older
I recently celebrated a birthday. It was beyond great. Not only are my 30s fantastic in general, but this birthday was definitely the tops. Not sure how it could possibly be beat next year. Well, yes, I do - I could be pregnant - that would definitely top this year's birthday. But short of that miracle occurring (and that is definitely what it would take), this year's birthday will be nigh impossible to beat anytime soon.
I was spoiled in the best of ways. Yes, yes, very generous people showered gifts upon me, and it was lovely and enabled me to justify going birthday shopping, which amidst our general "spending-freeze", I've been unable to justify quite as easily. But much greater than those gifts, was the tremendous outpouring of love from friends and family that accompanied this year's birthday in the form of "love letters." Dear friends, in cahoots with the best secret-keeper of a husband ever, sent out emails to friends and family asking them to essentially eulogize me before I'm dead. So I can bask in the love and stories while I'm still around and not from the other side. And bask I did. Now if any of you weren't contacted and feel the need to eulogize me - go for it! Late entries always accepted and appreciated. This collection of entries was so deeply affecting, it brought tears to my eyes for hours and was foremost in my thoughts for days. I was so incredibly touched by people's feelings, thoughts, and memories.
I gleaned several lessons from this collection that I have greatly appreciated during this rocky year in my life. First, that I am loved by many, that I can rely on these friends for big things, and that they want to help and be part of my life. Second, that although I am sometimes overly critical of myself, I was shown what many consider my best qualities, and should try to focus on those more and leave the bad stuff behind. Third, my love letters was a reminder that joy does not come without pain, and happiness does not come without sorrow. It is the opposition in all things that enables the good to be experienced while enduring the bad. I am confident that the notes I received would not have been so sweet, so soothing to my soul, had they not been the balm to my sorrows and trials of this year.
So, thank you dear friends for being in my life and celebrating me with such graciousness. I am still basking in the love and feel even greater gratitude for you all.
I was spoiled in the best of ways. Yes, yes, very generous people showered gifts upon me, and it was lovely and enabled me to justify going birthday shopping, which amidst our general "spending-freeze", I've been unable to justify quite as easily. But much greater than those gifts, was the tremendous outpouring of love from friends and family that accompanied this year's birthday in the form of "love letters." Dear friends, in cahoots with the best secret-keeper of a husband ever, sent out emails to friends and family asking them to essentially eulogize me before I'm dead. So I can bask in the love and stories while I'm still around and not from the other side. And bask I did. Now if any of you weren't contacted and feel the need to eulogize me - go for it! Late entries always accepted and appreciated. This collection of entries was so deeply affecting, it brought tears to my eyes for hours and was foremost in my thoughts for days. I was so incredibly touched by people's feelings, thoughts, and memories.
I gleaned several lessons from this collection that I have greatly appreciated during this rocky year in my life. First, that I am loved by many, that I can rely on these friends for big things, and that they want to help and be part of my life. Second, that although I am sometimes overly critical of myself, I was shown what many consider my best qualities, and should try to focus on those more and leave the bad stuff behind. Third, my love letters was a reminder that joy does not come without pain, and happiness does not come without sorrow. It is the opposition in all things that enables the good to be experienced while enduring the bad. I am confident that the notes I received would not have been so sweet, so soothing to my soul, had they not been the balm to my sorrows and trials of this year.
So, thank you dear friends for being in my life and celebrating me with such graciousness. I am still basking in the love and feel even greater gratitude for you all.
Monday, October 12, 2009
There's More Where That Came From
My son is funny. Lots of other people's kids are too, I just happen to live with this one and find him very entertaining, even when he's angry -- which doesn't help me keep that "must-have-straight-face" look...
Incident no. 1: One woman's pain is another woman's joy?
Yesterday at church Noah was mad that while the sacrament was being passed around, I fought him off from eating more than one piece of the bread, and he was livid about it. It was like he thought his breakfast, lunch and dinner were on that community platter, and he did NOT want to see it go. So I'm wrestling my son, and handing the bread plate to James and Noah shouts out (in the middle of the most quiet part of our Sunday worship service) "I HATE YOU." Yikes. I was upset, of course, those are not my favorite words to hear; but I also couldn't help but to laugh in a room full of 300+ people trying to be closer to Jesus, my son bursts out with this love-anthem. So I haul him out of there, threaten the soap in the mouth if he says another mean word in his life, and we have quiet time in a quiet room, and then go back. Two funny responses to that. One, his friend, age four, told his mom upon hearing Noah, told his mom, "He's not going to get a sucker, is he?". (Nope. no sucker.) and two, a woman who just moved into our ward from attending the singles-congregation, THANKED me for his outburst (like I had anything to do with it), because it made her feel at home - that this was the congregation for her. Cracked me up.
Incident no. 1: One woman's pain is another woman's joy?
Yesterday at church Noah was mad that while the sacrament was being passed around, I fought him off from eating more than one piece of the bread, and he was livid about it. It was like he thought his breakfast, lunch and dinner were on that community platter, and he did NOT want to see it go. So I'm wrestling my son, and handing the bread plate to James and Noah shouts out (in the middle of the most quiet part of our Sunday worship service) "I HATE YOU." Yikes. I was upset, of course, those are not my favorite words to hear; but I also couldn't help but to laugh in a room full of 300+ people trying to be closer to Jesus, my son bursts out with this love-anthem. So I haul him out of there, threaten the soap in the mouth if he says another mean word in his life, and we have quiet time in a quiet room, and then go back. Two funny responses to that. One, his friend, age four, told his mom upon hearing Noah, told his mom, "He's not going to get a sucker, is he?". (Nope. no sucker.) and two, a woman who just moved into our ward from attending the singles-congregation, THANKED me for his outburst (like I had anything to do with it), because it made her feel at home - that this was the congregation for her. Cracked me up.
Antic no. 2: the world revolves around ME
N (while listening to Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat song with lyrics, “Lucky I’m in love with my best friend”): “Are they singing about me?”
Antic no. 3:
N likes the RED BOX movie boxes. No, that's an understatement; he loves them. He tries to be good in the grocery store just so he can sit there at the end, while I pay and pack-up, so he can look at all the movies coming out, and hopefully, take one home with him. He always asks, "Mom, is today a very good day for a Red Box?"
Antic no. 4:
N (tired and frustrated after having seen Dad yawn): “I can’t get a yawn!”
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Latest Antics
Latest antics by Noah:
1. "I wish I had a baby." (join the club, little man) "I wish I had a baby sister. I would name her baby Hazel. Or, baby Goliath."
2. "Call me batman, mom. And you're bat girl and dad's wolverine."
3. "Pretty good." His default answer to any question - how was lunch, how was school, how was the zoo, how do you feel, etc.
4. When is your birthday? "December twenty-teenth"...somewhere in there...
5. "Stupid." "Butt." and all those other boy mean potty words. But he whispers it, says it to himself, and covers his mouth so I won't hear. Because it doesn't count if I don't hear.
1. "I wish I had a baby." (join the club, little man) "I wish I had a baby sister. I would name her baby Hazel. Or, baby Goliath."
2. "Call me batman, mom. And you're bat girl and dad's wolverine."
3. "Pretty good." His default answer to any question - how was lunch, how was school, how was the zoo, how do you feel, etc.
4. When is your birthday? "December twenty-teenth"...somewhere in there...
5. "Stupid." "Butt." and all those other boy mean potty words. But he whispers it, says it to himself, and covers his mouth so I won't hear. Because it doesn't count if I don't hear.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
New Family Photo Shoot
I should have mentioned this in the previous post, but it deserves it own post entirely. My sister is a very good photographer (check out her stuff!). She took time and we drove around industrial parts of the city to find some funky backdrops for our latest family shot. I LOVED the windows of this factory, and the fact that they complimented my dress (and of course, the rest of our little color-scheme, too) made me super happy. Then there was a sunflower garden in an apartment yard, and the spray painted storage shed, too.
Time to Catch Up on Summer Fun
Yes. there was lots of summer fun to be had for us. Not only did we relish our "Friday Adventures", but we also took two weeks and went to visit friends and family. We had a PACKED agenda -- as my sister, our hostess, can attest to. We called this a "trip" and not a "vacation," because although there was lots of fun, good food, and friendships, there was no beach or pina colada or lounging-around in sight. Highlights included:
1. FAMILY. Sigh. We miss 'em. We got to see cousins on both sides of the family. James cheered for cousin Dallin in a football game. I braided Isabella's hair and walked her to school. James has a standing wrestling match with Isabella and Sam every trip. We watched the kids exhaust themselves at Kangaroo Zoo bounce-house (a win-win if you know what I mean). And Noah followed around his older cousins like a puppy dog.
2. Jasmine. Speaking of puppies, my sister purchased a little poodle named Jasmine, and she definitely deserves honorable mention as a really good thing that comes in a tiny fur-lined package. So sweet and pretty. Noah would talk in his baby voice when addressing her and liked to carry her up and down stairs. Amazed Jasmine hasn't had a broken bone yet due to all the kid-love she gets.
3. Friends! We saw so many of them -- lots of James' friends from college, and their darling wives and growing babies. We even took a day trip to Cedar City to catch up with a few more friends that live in So. Utah. I had some quality time with Coco, my dearest friend since college, even if she dragged me on the longest run of my life and while I was near-death, she hardly broke a sweat.
4. Dad. He popped up for a long weekend from Arizona to spend time with his daughters, and that was great. We also had a big-'ol family reunion dinner of sorts at Aunt Rebecca's house -- with 40+ people? who knows how many were there. but on short notice, lots of family showed up!
5. Sundance. Sigh. For James' birthday this year I bought us a Sundance package that included 2 meals, hiking, an overnight stay, and a massage. Sigh. It was divine. A little slice of vacation in our hectic "trip." We also had a celebrity siting that turned our romantic dinner for into "shhh. don't talk - I'm trying to eavesdrop on Melanie Griffiths and Antonio Bandaras!" It made for a funny story for the rest of the trip. and can I just say that that food there is incredible!
6. Girl time. Martha and Coco and I got some good-quality girl time for a whole day! So much fun to just hang out and be goofy and shop (what else did you think we would do?) and eat. and eat some more...
7. Lagoon Amusement Park has to be on the list if for no other reason than to serve as a reminder to me not to take Noah back there till he’s at least 20. Who knew he was SO motion-sensitive that none of the rides looked appealing to him. And when forced onto a few of them by me, well, lets just say that James told me so and I should have listened. Never again. I had fun for the most part – but can’t wait for a slightly more adventurous stage so he’ll try more than the train-ride around the lake and LOVE it.
Here are highlight pics:
1. FAMILY. Sigh. We miss 'em. We got to see cousins on both sides of the family. James cheered for cousin Dallin in a football game. I braided Isabella's hair and walked her to school. James has a standing wrestling match with Isabella and Sam every trip. We watched the kids exhaust themselves at Kangaroo Zoo bounce-house (a win-win if you know what I mean). And Noah followed around his older cousins like a puppy dog.
2. Jasmine. Speaking of puppies, my sister purchased a little poodle named Jasmine, and she definitely deserves honorable mention as a really good thing that comes in a tiny fur-lined package. So sweet and pretty. Noah would talk in his baby voice when addressing her and liked to carry her up and down stairs. Amazed Jasmine hasn't had a broken bone yet due to all the kid-love she gets.
3. Friends! We saw so many of them -- lots of James' friends from college, and their darling wives and growing babies. We even took a day trip to Cedar City to catch up with a few more friends that live in So. Utah. I had some quality time with Coco, my dearest friend since college, even if she dragged me on the longest run of my life and while I was near-death, she hardly broke a sweat.
4. Dad. He popped up for a long weekend from Arizona to spend time with his daughters, and that was great. We also had a big-'ol family reunion dinner of sorts at Aunt Rebecca's house -- with 40+ people? who knows how many were there. but on short notice, lots of family showed up!
5. Sundance. Sigh. For James' birthday this year I bought us a Sundance package that included 2 meals, hiking, an overnight stay, and a massage. Sigh. It was divine. A little slice of vacation in our hectic "trip." We also had a celebrity siting that turned our romantic dinner for into "shhh. don't talk - I'm trying to eavesdrop on Melanie Griffiths and Antonio Bandaras!" It made for a funny story for the rest of the trip. and can I just say that that food there is incredible!
6. Girl time. Martha and Coco and I got some good-quality girl time for a whole day! So much fun to just hang out and be goofy and shop (what else did you think we would do?) and eat. and eat some more...
7. Lagoon Amusement Park has to be on the list if for no other reason than to serve as a reminder to me not to take Noah back there till he’s at least 20. Who knew he was SO motion-sensitive that none of the rides looked appealing to him. And when forced onto a few of them by me, well, lets just say that James told me so and I should have listened. Never again. I had fun for the most part – but can’t wait for a slightly more adventurous stage so he’ll try more than the train-ride around the lake and LOVE it.
Here are highlight pics:
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