Saturday, October 30, 2010
Mottos
A few years ago I decided to adopt an annual motto for myself each year. The first time I opted to do this my motto was, "Simplify" and I found myself reciting that over and over again. I still do.
The year after that and this year again, I decided my motto would be the old adage, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." I've been trying to be a little more frugal and realize that most of my "needs" are not really needs at all.
While checking sister's blog, I just read her comments (hope you don't mind Mindy!):
This hit home when I read it. I find that I constantly have an on going list of projects to complete. In fact, I am almost done with a project right now that, when done, will help me keep track of projects. A project to keep track of more projects? Ironic and pathetic, I know. I have lots of 5 and 10 minute increments of time throughout my day but I never feel that those little breaks are enough time to accomplish much on my projects. Perhaps I'm wrong.
I find myself often overwhelmed by the big things on my to-do lists. Then I find myself having emotional melt downs because I don't even know where to start. I remember this happened in high school. I was crying and freaking out because I had way too much to do and not enough time to do it. I didn't know where to start.
Then I remember my Dad sitting me down and counseling with me. He told me that I can only do one thing at a time. He told me to just pick one small thing to do, forget the rest of my list, and just focus on that one task. Then when it's done, move on to the next. Small steps, one thing at a time. Every time I find there's not enough room in my day planner to write down everything that has to be done that day, I think of my Dad and his advice 10 years ago.
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." Alma 37:6
So I know it's a bit early to be thinking about New Years Resolutions, but I think "little by little" would be a good motto for myself next year. Thanks Mindy. Thanks Dad.
The year after that and this year again, I decided my motto would be the old adage, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." I've been trying to be a little more frugal and realize that most of my "needs" are not really needs at all.
While checking sister's blog, I just read her comments (hope you don't mind Mindy!):
"So I finished two pages today, little by little is my new theme in life. Little by little my patience grows, the house gets clean, my cooking gets better, my money is saved for Christmas, my calling things get done, I return calls and emails and get laundry done. By doing things little by little I am finding that more gets done."
This hit home when I read it. I find that I constantly have an on going list of projects to complete. In fact, I am almost done with a project right now that, when done, will help me keep track of projects. A project to keep track of more projects? Ironic and pathetic, I know. I have lots of 5 and 10 minute increments of time throughout my day but I never feel that those little breaks are enough time to accomplish much on my projects. Perhaps I'm wrong.
I find myself often overwhelmed by the big things on my to-do lists. Then I find myself having emotional melt downs because I don't even know where to start. I remember this happened in high school. I was crying and freaking out because I had way too much to do and not enough time to do it. I didn't know where to start.
Then I remember my Dad sitting me down and counseling with me. He told me that I can only do one thing at a time. He told me to just pick one small thing to do, forget the rest of my list, and just focus on that one task. Then when it's done, move on to the next. Small steps, one thing at a time. Every time I find there's not enough room in my day planner to write down everything that has to be done that day, I think of my Dad and his advice 10 years ago.
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." Alma 37:6
So I know it's a bit early to be thinking about New Years Resolutions, but I think "little by little" would be a good motto for myself next year. Thanks Mindy. Thanks Dad.
Friday, October 29, 2010
It's too late to think of a creative title.
We're back from two weeks of vacation and I have LOTS to blog about, but unfortunately most of the pictures I need are on Ben's lap top that has been at work for the past few days! (hint, hint Ben!) So, I'll update what I can.
Lincoln is 6 months today! And did I even get a picture? No. Did I even realize he was 6 months today until now at 2 am? No. Oh well. Tomorrow.
He now has two more teeth. Two days after we discovered his first bottom two teeth, Ben discovered he had one top tooth and another about to break through.
He's mobile. Well, pretty much. He gets to where he wants and gets into everything he wants by rolling around. And thanks to his older brother, there's always plenty of toys to get into.
Before
As soon as we got back from NY we started Linc on solids. He's really not as much of a fan of the solids as Logan was. He doesn't really understand that he needs to open his mouth. It's quite funny. He'll just lean towards the spoon and expects it to be shoved into his mouth. Silly boy. The only way I can get him to open his mouth is by letting him hold the spoon too and then he'll pull it into his mouth.
See? Leaning in for first bite. Mouth closed.
Must be good.
The aftermath
Doing pilates...
He's still a very wobbly sitter. So we have him practice everyday to strengthen his core muscles and Ben calls it his pilates for the day.
Lincoln is 6 months today! And did I even get a picture? No. Did I even realize he was 6 months today until now at 2 am? No. Oh well. Tomorrow.
He now has two more teeth. Two days after we discovered his first bottom two teeth, Ben discovered he had one top tooth and another about to break through.
He's mobile. Well, pretty much. He gets to where he wants and gets into everything he wants by rolling around. And thanks to his older brother, there's always plenty of toys to get into.
First solids!
BeforeAs soon as we got back from NY we started Linc on solids. He's really not as much of a fan of the solids as Logan was. He doesn't really understand that he needs to open his mouth. It's quite funny. He'll just lean towards the spoon and expects it to be shoved into his mouth. Silly boy. The only way I can get him to open his mouth is by letting him hold the spoon too and then he'll pull it into his mouth.
See? Leaning in for first bite. Mouth closed.
Must be good.
The aftermath
Watch your back Lincoln... Logan was jealous of all the pics being taken of his brother and had to get in too. :)
Doing pilates...He's still a very wobbly sitter. So we have him practice everyday to strengthen his core muscles and Ben calls it his pilates for the day.
So this picture is from way back in August, but it's one of my favorite stages so I wanted to post it. I love the "grab my toes and shove them into my mouth" stage.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Surprises
I got three surprises today:
(WARNING... this started off as a quicky post, but turned out rather journalistic. I think these are amusing facts, but I'm not offended if you choose to skip over the details. :-)
Surprise #1. Two bottom teeth poking through on this guy....
I had no idea! Today I happened to catch a glimpse of something white in his mouth and sure enough, there were two little nubbins sticking out of his gums. Logan didn't have teeth until at least 7 months, so I wasn't suspecting anything yet!
Surprise #2. Logan can now, finally, tell me in advance (even though it is a short advance) that he has to throw up.
How do I know? Because today he projectile vomited in the Costco food court during lunch rush.
We had just sat down to eat our pizza and polish sausage. I took one bite and Logan wouldn't take a bite. Finally I coerced him into taking one bite and then he started crying and told me he had to throw up. Panic! In about a three second time span I had the following thoughts... "what do I have that would catch barf? I could move the pizza to the polish sausage wrapper and use the plate... but that wouldn't catch anything. I could use my cup - oh wait it's full of lemonade. Maybe I could take him to the garbage...." thoughts interrupted by major throw up coming out of Logan all over the floor under the table and simultaneous gasps from the crowds around me.
Then I try to figure out what to do next. Terrified that more is about to come up, I forcefully ask the lady next to me to watch my baby while I rush my screaming child back to the food counter. Cutting in front of 10 hungry people, I approach the happy Costco food guy I had been joking with 5 minutes earlier. I hear him start to say, "Oh it's you again..." but stops mid sentence as I avoid formalities and reach right in past the glass barrier and help myself to an empty cup, (I think adrenaline makes one forget their manners... :-) While my grubby, un-sanitized hand is reaching in his direction I loudly explain, "he's about to throw up!" I can still see the disgusted look of horror on his face.
The moments after that are all blurry... all I remember is my hands were shaking out of embarrassment; I tried to apologize to the nice, unfortunate people sitting next to us; I tried to figure our what to do with my hardly-eaten food while making sure Logan wasn't throwing up on my just-barely-purchased coat; and I remember standing there next to the chunky puddle, avoiding eye contact with everyone, waiting for the poor teenage maintenance worker who showed up with a mop bucket. I feebly apologized, offered to help then thanked him for cleaning up our mess.
At least it didn't get on anyone. At least it didn't get on him. At least it wasn't in the car! At least Logan can tell me now when he has to throw up, right? That's the silver lining. :-)
Surprise #3. I got my second official invitation to a Primary child's baptism!
Ok so I know this is weird, and really not important in the grand scheme of things. But it actually really means a lot to me!
Since I've been in the Primary the past 3 years, I've been at every baptism because baptisms fall under one of my responsibilities, and because I love seeing the kids be baptized - so sweet. Well I think all the kids and their families just expect that a Primary leader will be there at their baptism, I help plan the program anyway and most of the children probably don't even bother giving out formal invites to their baptism, so I usually don't get an invitation to attend. Which I'm totally not offended by. I don't expect it.
Well, there is a little boy who began coming to Primary with his friend about a year ago. He is so sweet, always smiling, and so excited to learn the gospel. Since February, he has known the exact date of his baptism. His family was baptized in April and I can't express the pure joy I feel for this boy and his family and their conversion. I have been looking forward to this baptism all year.
Well, tonight he hand-delivered an official invitation to his baptism. This gave me warm fuzzies. This invitation means that he knows who I am! I'm not just some weird lady standing at the front of the primary room talking every Sunday. Sometimes I wonder if that's all the kids think.
Let me clarify, I don't really care that people know who I am. That's not my point. My point is that I try hard to know and serve my Primary kids and be involved in their lives outside of Primary and try to know their families. So when I hear them say my name and when I get an invitation to their baptism, this means I've succeeded and that they know I care about and love them enough to attend something so meaningful to them. My goal is for them to know that there is at least one person who loves them in Primary. So tonight I feel like I have succeeded at least a little bit.
(WARNING... this started off as a quicky post, but turned out rather journalistic. I think these are amusing facts, but I'm not offended if you choose to skip over the details. :-)
Surprise #1. Two bottom teeth poking through on this guy....
I had no idea! Today I happened to catch a glimpse of something white in his mouth and sure enough, there were two little nubbins sticking out of his gums. Logan didn't have teeth until at least 7 months, so I wasn't suspecting anything yet!
Surprise #2. Logan can now, finally, tell me in advance (even though it is a short advance) that he has to throw up.
How do I know? Because today he projectile vomited in the Costco food court during lunch rush.
We had just sat down to eat our pizza and polish sausage. I took one bite and Logan wouldn't take a bite. Finally I coerced him into taking one bite and then he started crying and told me he had to throw up. Panic! In about a three second time span I had the following thoughts... "what do I have that would catch barf? I could move the pizza to the polish sausage wrapper and use the plate... but that wouldn't catch anything. I could use my cup - oh wait it's full of lemonade. Maybe I could take him to the garbage...." thoughts interrupted by major throw up coming out of Logan all over the floor under the table and simultaneous gasps from the crowds around me.
Then I try to figure out what to do next. Terrified that more is about to come up, I forcefully ask the lady next to me to watch my baby while I rush my screaming child back to the food counter. Cutting in front of 10 hungry people, I approach the happy Costco food guy I had been joking with 5 minutes earlier. I hear him start to say, "Oh it's you again..." but stops mid sentence as I avoid formalities and reach right in past the glass barrier and help myself to an empty cup, (I think adrenaline makes one forget their manners... :-) While my grubby, un-sanitized hand is reaching in his direction I loudly explain, "he's about to throw up!" I can still see the disgusted look of horror on his face.
The moments after that are all blurry... all I remember is my hands were shaking out of embarrassment; I tried to apologize to the nice, unfortunate people sitting next to us; I tried to figure our what to do with my hardly-eaten food while making sure Logan wasn't throwing up on my just-barely-purchased coat; and I remember standing there next to the chunky puddle, avoiding eye contact with everyone, waiting for the poor teenage maintenance worker who showed up with a mop bucket. I feebly apologized, offered to help then thanked him for cleaning up our mess.
At least it didn't get on anyone. At least it didn't get on him. At least it wasn't in the car! At least Logan can tell me now when he has to throw up, right? That's the silver lining. :-)
Surprise #3. I got my second official invitation to a Primary child's baptism!
Ok so I know this is weird, and really not important in the grand scheme of things. But it actually really means a lot to me!
Since I've been in the Primary the past 3 years, I've been at every baptism because baptisms fall under one of my responsibilities, and because I love seeing the kids be baptized - so sweet. Well I think all the kids and their families just expect that a Primary leader will be there at their baptism, I help plan the program anyway and most of the children probably don't even bother giving out formal invites to their baptism, so I usually don't get an invitation to attend. Which I'm totally not offended by. I don't expect it.
Well, there is a little boy who began coming to Primary with his friend about a year ago. He is so sweet, always smiling, and so excited to learn the gospel. Since February, he has known the exact date of his baptism. His family was baptized in April and I can't express the pure joy I feel for this boy and his family and their conversion. I have been looking forward to this baptism all year.
Well, tonight he hand-delivered an official invitation to his baptism. This gave me warm fuzzies. This invitation means that he knows who I am! I'm not just some weird lady standing at the front of the primary room talking every Sunday. Sometimes I wonder if that's all the kids think.
Let me clarify, I don't really care that people know who I am. That's not my point. My point is that I try hard to know and serve my Primary kids and be involved in their lives outside of Primary and try to know their families. So when I hear them say my name and when I get an invitation to their baptism, this means I've succeeded and that they know I care about and love them enough to attend something so meaningful to them. My goal is for them to know that there is at least one person who loves them in Primary. So tonight I feel like I have succeeded at least a little bit.
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