Once More...For Real

It was Grace's second "first day" of school - this time the real thing. All the kids looked so small lined up and waiting for their teachers. Of course I got the time wrong and we were there 25 minutes early, but that's better then being late I guess. The kindergarten classes are having a color week and today was their RED day. Here's Grace at school in her nifty red shirt that only cost $3. :) What a big girl she is!

New Roomies

We are starting to get things ready for baby's arrival. First step in our plan: move Grant out of the crib and down into Merritt's room. We debated whether we should get Grace a new bed and put Grant in her old toddler bed, but in the end we opted for bunkbeds. Merritt has taken to having a roommate very well, he seems to like the captive audience! Grace now has Merritt's bed in her room, which she likes very much, and she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new roommate. She misses Grant.

First Day of School!

For Merritt, it was for real...the 3rd grade and all its attendant excitement. For Grace, it was an introductory-type day. I went with her, the kids played some games, sang a song, read a book and then headed outside for playtime and cookies while the adults stayed with the teacher and went through all the information we'd need to survive kindergarten. (I'd have much rather gone outside and played on the swings but I guess I need to be all grown up or something.) Kindergarten testing takes place the rest of the week, so no class until Monday, but then all things school begin in earnest for Gracie, and my afternoons will get a whole lot quieter. I'm not sure how Grant and I will feel about that.
He is so big! I can't believe how time flies. I love how excited he was for school to start, but how he also had a titch of nerves and so asked me to come with him and wait. We held hands and talked and when we reached his line, he bounded over to say "hi" to friends but always came back for a quick hug and a chat with mom. I love that kid like crazy!! And yes, I cried as I walked back to the car.

This was one excited little girl! Grandma came over and stayed with Grant so that Grace could be my focus while we were at school together. Every time the teacher announced what would be happening next, Grace would turn in her chair and give me the thumbs up sign, or a big smile, or even silently clap for a bit. The teacher made an interesting comment to us as parents, "Kindergarten children are so special. They've only been alive for 5 years, and three of those years they don't really remember, so everything is new and fun for them." It made me think of the joy Grace gets from rocks and flowers and echoes and other everyday things...they are new and exciting to her! I should adopt some of that excitement for the world I live in and stop being so blase about the wonderful things around me. I'm looking forward to all the growth and development this school year will bring to Grace.

And finally...just for fun...
He's adorable!

It's The Small Things

When I lived in Wyoming there was a saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change." I've heard the same said here. I've come to apply that in my life..."If you don't like how you're feeling, lie down and wait 5 to 30 minutes and it will change." I'll maybe feel better, maybe feel worse, maybe fall asleep, or maybe throw up. It changes though, and change is good. I've come to realize the power of small things: an incremental feeling of wellness throughout the day that culminates in being able to successfully eat dinner, prayers offered in a sweet child's voice that "mommy and the baby" will be blessed and that "mommy wont' barf", being able to do for myself, tomatoes on a salad, a phone call from a friend asking how things are going, cauliflower soup from my mother, the gentle and patient solicitude of my spouse, time to think and read and pray instead of run here and run there, tiny punches and kicks from my womb's latest occupant, and crazy cravings that make me laugh and restore my faith in food. Case in point: I've given myself a $3 to $5 budget at the grocery store to buy something that looks awesome to eat because I've learned that if it looks good and I eat it...it will stay down. Wandering through the produce aisle produced my most recent jackpot this past Saturday. I bought a pineapple and a bag full of brussel sprouts. It's not exactly pickles and ice cream but wow! Yum-O! As I finished my shopping and contemplated my "treat" I had to laugh at myself...I couldn't think of anyone else to whom this would seem appealing, but I was thrilled! See, it's the small things that make life.

A Different Sort of Birth Day

I've got birth on the brain. I don't know why...;) I've thought a lot lately about my birth experience with Merritt, and how, though I had my wonderful husband by my side, birth was essentially a solitary experience. In the end, I accomplished for my son something no one else could do for him: I birthed him into this world. Well, I recently saw Merritt birthed again...and I didn't do it. I watched from the sidelines, the silent encourager, as his father led him into the waters of baptism, as his father uttered the sacred prayer, as his father immersed his body in water and brought it forth again, and as his father conferred upon him the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was just as essential a birth as the one I performed, and I was amazed to see the light and life in both their faces. I birthed Merritt into this life, a living soul, and Chad birthed him into a new life as a disciple of Christ. We all have work: mother and father, man and woman, creator of human tabernacles and priesthood holder, I am so grateful for my role, and grateful for a worthy husband who faithfully fulfills his own.

Update

Thanks to copious amounts of what is termed "first trimester bleeding" I'm on partial bedrest. I am gradually going nuts because I'm weak and sick and have to accept lots of help from people. Oh the blow to my pride!! I've got dinners coming in from family and ward members, the Mia Maids are going to weed my garden on Wednesday, my visiting teacher runs away with my children so I can rest, and people are offering to come do my wash, go grocery shopping, and clean my floors. This is a lesson for me in humility and accepting service with grace. That is a hard lesson to learn! This pregnancy has provided me with all sorts of experiences though, not just the accepting service ones. I've compiled a list I think is funny...hopefully you will too.

Places Where I've Yakked Up My Guts:

Church
Target
Trash can next to a bus stop
Juniper bushes at the Boy Scout offices
Dick's Market parking lot
Leaning on the front of my car in some random neighborhood
Pavilion at the city's 4th of July breakfast
Tree at the side of a restaurant (we didn't eat there, I just used their tree)
My sister's sink (Sorry Heather, did you know?)
Park bathroom
Hospital
Doctor's office
Phlebotomist's chair
More bushes...this time next to the duck pond

The next list is two items too long!

Places Where I've Almost Fainted:

Church - I was sitting in the pew when I started to feel hot, then cold, then light-headed. I knew if I didn't lie down I would pass out, but I didn't want to get up AGAIN (I look like a jack-in-the-box at church) so I asked Chad if he thought it would be okay if I sat on the floor and put my head on the pew. He said yes, so I did, and it helped tremendously. And I looked like an idiot.

Dick's Market - If you collapse at the check out line the nice workers will bring you a chair and some milk.

The End!