Timmy's Need for Technology

Timmy has become obsessed with the computers. When I pull the chairs away from them he still climbs on those chairs and launches himself at the keyboard. Thwack! He's also been known to climb up on the desk and knock over a monitor and then sit behind it on top of the cords and modem and stuff.

Birthday

Last night at bedtime we were informed that Jeremy's little sister Becca is in labor.  Such happy news!  I am filled with a plethora of emotions.  I have known Becca since 1996.  I met her when she was 7 and I was 18.  I've known her and her family for so long that they feel more like bilogical family than in-laws.  (Isn't that nice?  I have all sorts of great family!  I get a great biological family and I also married into a great family.)  And now here she is, experiencing one of the hardest and most joyful things anyone can experience in the life.  Here she is about to give birth (or maybe by now she has given birth - haven't heard anything since 6:00 AM) to her first child.  What an amazing thing that is.  I'm thankful that she and Austin can have this experience.  I am praying that all turns out well.  We want a happy birthday today!

This also turns my mind to my own sweet daughter Jill.  There are a lot of things I hope for her.  (There are also a few things I hope I didn't genetically pass on to her. ;) I think that Becca married well.  She and her husband aren't rich, but she married someone who genuinely loves her and takes care of her well.  I hope for nothing less for my little Jill to have someday.  And I hope and pray that she doesn't inherit the troubles with pregnancy that I have had.  Not all of my pregnancies were troublesome, but over our married life I've had preterm labor, placenta previa, and placenta accreta.  Four of my babies had to be born C-section.  I thank God for every day I have with my babies.  We are truly, truly blessed to have them.  They make me so happy.  I hope for Jill that she can experience the same thing with a lot less trouble. 

God bless these aspiring mothers to be, whether they are 22 or 2.

And speaking of what I want for my children, I think of Helaman 5:6-12 every time I think of how our boys got their names.  That whole chapter is just awesome.  It reminds me of my solemn duty to prepare my five boys for missions.  It is something I take pretty seriously.

And speaking of which, Hyrum has Priesthood Preview tonight.  What a momentous occasion.  He is really excited.

A Couple o' Miracles

I need to type this out really fast because I need to clean the kitchen while I have a chance.  I just want to record this because I'm awestruck and very thankful.

Hyrum has been really sick this week.  On Monday night he started not feeling well.  He had a really sore throat.  He threw up all day on Tuesday.  On Wednesday he wasn't throwing up anymore but still had a sore throat.  He decided to go to school, but he couldn't really eat anything, and what he did eat at breakfast made him feel awful.  I ended up going to get him and nearly choking on his sick breath fumes on the way home in the little car.  Poor guy.  He got some more sleep and got his homework done and stuff.  Yesterday he just stayed home.  He was feeling some better again, but I was glad for him to have a chance to recuperate from being so darn sick.  And he was finally able to eat real food yesterday.  Before he'd only had a bit of broth or some water.  Today he's all good except for some gunk in his throat, and he'll be going back to school.  I'm so thankful to have him feeling better.  It's a miracle how that works. 

Last night at bedtime I was holding Timmy and he was fussing, of course.  I was trying to get Joshua to hurry up and finish the last bit of homework so we could go to bed.  I usually nurse Timmy to sleep every night (and then a few times in the middle of the night), even though I need to be weaning him.  I haven't known what else to do.  Well, last night I kept telling him, "Just a minute, Butter.  I'm sorry, little guy."  (Butter is his new nickname.  Jill called him that one day.  It means brother."  I just held onto him while I helped Joshua finish.  He fussed and fussed until he fussed himself out.  And then he actually stayed asleep as I laid him down.  And not only that, but he didn't wake up when I got in bed and he slept all night without waking to nurse!  I cannot believe it!  I woke up a few times because I was on the edge of the bed and couldn't get any blankets to stay on me.  But he only cried once, and then he was sleeping again before I could roll over and get him.  I'm so thankful! Yea, Butter!

Now, if I could just have room to sleep in my bed instead of falling off the side... ;)

Thinking (Again)

I've been thinking about how from time to time I lament that I cannot stick to a schedule.  When I was in school I could make it to class on time, no problem, but forget about scheduling the rest of my life.  I just couldn't stick to that.  It's becoming increasingly apparent, though, that we need to start sticking to a schedule.  Joshua in particular needs it.  I've been frustrated with the very idea because I couldn't see how I could do it.  In desperation, though, I sat down and though of a few little things we could schedule out and stick to.  I knew that baths needed to be one thing that I sheduled out, just to make sure they happen less sporadically.  I decided to start getting up a little early to get Joshua in the tub every morning, and Hyrum is to bathe every evening.  I decided that after school everyone is to have a snack and then do homework.  This means that I have to make myself available to help Joshua as soon as his snack is done.  And I further decided that while Joshua's in the tub I will use the bit of quiet time with little grabby babies sleeping to clean the kitchen every morning. 

So far it is working really well.  Joshua was thrilled with the idea of taking a bath every morning.  I've been cleaning at least the downstairs more regularly (baby steps!).  I even had a chance to mop this morning before Timmy got up.  It's great, and I hope it's something I can stick with because it makes me happy and it helps Joshua.  I've also looked at the things I have been able to do meticulously every time it was time to do them.  I realized that I've been following something of a little schedule for years.  That means I can do it.  I mean, for example, for forever I've been showering and shaving my legs every Sunday regardless of how often I got to shower in between Sundays.  If I can do that, why shouldn't I be able to follow other little scheduled things?  I feel encouraged. :) (And yes, I do realize that this is all pathetic and is something I should have figured out years ago, but I'm on my own schedule, I guess. ;)

This morning as I was cleaning my kitchen I was thinking again of my college days. I remember that one year the library started lending out music CDs, and I would check them out from time to time. I was a music major and figured that if I was going to be a music major I should become more aquainted with music of the world. I checked out music from several old composers to try out and see how I liked it. I found out that I did indeed like Mahler. Another time, however, my curiosity drove me to try a CD full of nose flute music. I was fascinated by the very idea that somebody could play a flute with their nose and that they would, in fact, choose to do so on purpose. I popped the CD in my player and turned it on. I was appalled. It was awful! My Japanese roommate exclaimed through her laughter, "I think you make a mistake, Chlistine!"

Temple

I was able to go to the Temple on Friday.  I officially decided that it's time to stop feeling bad about taking time to do it (I feel particularly bad leaving everyone and making Jeremy babysit).  It felt so good to just be there.  I've decided that it is as essential to me as breathing.  It is just lovely.

Jill's Prayer

Just now I was helping Jill say her prayers to go to bed. (yes, we are mighty late.) we went through the routine of her repeating what I was telling her to say. I noticed she was repeating more of each sentence I said. Then I paused a bit to think and she said all on her own, "Please bless Timmy.". Sweet girl! And even in a complete sentence! She really has been working on her talking lately, and I'm thankful for moments like these. It reminds me that when I was expecting Timmy I worried that Jill would have a hard adjustment with not being the baby anymore. As I talked to Heavenly Father about it I was told that it was ok and that they were already friends. That has been a lovely thought to me on numerous occasions.

I other news, Timmy seems to be following in the footsteps of his older brother Hyrum. He was all giggly this evening, and every time I exclaimed, "Timmy!" in exasperation he just giggled! Argh! But it's so darn cute! (Hyrum used to giggle when he was in trouble.)

Impledible Timmy

(For those who don't know, "Impledible Plistine" is what my aunts and uncles called me when I was little because I was always climbing and getting into things.  My grandma called me "Incredible Christine" one day, and one of my little cousins heard and copied her.  The name kind of stuck.)

The little guy is still growing by leaps and bounds.  He's still struggling against weaning, but he makes it pretty clear that he needs big people food.  He's even been eating his baby food on occasion.  And when he gets hungry he sure makes it known.  Yesterday I was working at the computer when he got hungry.  After crying and running around me he grabbed my hand and bit my finger.

Timmy is also obsessed with the kitchen.  He loves all the buttons and knobs and all the kitchen tools, pitchers, and other things that are stored at his level.  We always have pitchers and kitchen tools on the floor because he likes to pull them out and drag them around.  I guess it's that fascination with sticks that drives him there.  I'm contantly washing things that I just washed.  And I have to guard my ziplocks pretty close.  He likes to grab the box and pull the bags out one by one, throwing them on the floor.  If I try to distract him his attention can only be held for a short time.

And his latest fascination is with the oven.  I've mastered the art of mixing stuff while holding the oven shut with my knee.  Once in a while I'll be busy and he'll go in there and open the door and freak me out.  A few times he's even done it while it's on, but he hasn't burned himself yet.  (If he did would he finally learn to leave it alone?  I don't think I could bare to purposely find out.)  Just now I heard him messing around in the kitchen, so I sent Hyrum to retrieve him.  Timmy had opened the oven, pulled out a rack, and climbed on it.  He was busily playing with a pan on the stovetop.  Arrgh!  Yes, Mama, he is indeed my son. ;)

Jillisms

For the last few weeks I've been keeping a list of the cute little things that Jill says because I don't want to forget them.  Every time I think of another one I jump up and write it on that list on the fridge.  And now I think it's long enough to share here.  Here are some of the cute things that Jill says and what they mean:

1. a luff (enough)
2. lockeet, then chockalutt, and now choe-clate (chocolate)
3. bahjij (garbage)
4. swăshwoom and now bashoom (bathroom - those are short a's  like in the word "fat")
5. haw'corn (popcorn)
6. nuck (milk)
7. trink a wadah (drink of water)
8. shwimmin' poe (swimming pool)
9. poop a potty (go potty)
10. baff (bath)
11. gimme pig (guinea pig)
12. pockeet (pocket - oh and it should be noted that she thinks that her shirt front counts as a pocket)
13. buckeet (bucket)
14. ere yar (there it is)
15. ag (eggs)
16. han-gaburger (hamburger)
17. a huckum (you're welcome - she often says, "Thank you, a huckum." :)
18. făller (flower - that's a short a like in the word "fat")
19. zawna (lasagna)
20. a shake it (Papa's protein shake)
21. Yaycho (Rachel)
22. lollipops (Pops cereal)
23. ut now (right now)
24. crockagator (alligator? crocodile?)
25. And last (for now) but not least, a week or 2 ago I was rocking Jill at bedtime and she was in a silly mood.  She saw the smoke detector on the ceiling and pointed at it and said, "Us dat?" (What's that?)  I told her it was a smoke detector.  She replied, "Monkey doctor?"

A Momentous Occasion



Today marks a momentous occasion.  Today I decided for the upteenth time that I absolutely could not stand my diaper bag any more.  It's pretty darn dumb.  (It's another that fits in the category "bags that I have made thinking they would turn out awesome, but did not live up to expectations in the slightest.")  I made it using a pattern from one of those crafty web sites I like.  The example looked so cute I just had to try it.  The only problem is that I didn't have the stabilizer they called for, so instead of holding its messenger bag shape it more often than not resembles a sausage with a shoulder strap attached to the ends.  And not only that, but it's a leaky sausage that spills its contents out both ends.  Argggh!

I've been dealing with it for surely more than 6 months.  But I finally decided that today was the day that I would clean it out and replace it with the one I got from Time Out for Women this year.

You're probably all (all 1 of you? XD) wondering why in the world I continued to lug it around for so long.  Well, it all has to do with a few of the contents of said bag.  Every time I opened it I giggled on the inside because it's just funny that they were there.  I have no idea how they got in there, but I figure it has something to do with our move.  As you can guess from the picture above, yes, these items are indeed a screwdriver, a plastic spoon, and one of Jill's toothbrushes.  I knew it would be just too silly to move them to the new bag, so I put off swapping bags until now.  But now the dirty deed is done and I feel a little sad about.  These items have been removed to more appropriate places, and so, brothers and sisters, I'm calling for a moment of silence to commemorate this momentous, if a little sad, occasion.  No longer will I look into my dipaer bag and giggle.  Sad times.

Jill

I just asked Jill, "Do you want some cereal?"  She replied, "No. Ice cream - me. Ha!"  Now, there's a girl who knows what she wants. ;)

Later in the afternoon she started singing the Monopoly song ("Come on, let's play Monopoly...") except that her lyrics say, "Wet's go a Mloply."

Timmy and the Times

To tell the truth there is a lot I've been planning to write about. But by the time I get around to getting to the computer it's all gone. It makes me sad because I don't want to forget anything or fail to record something that I will have been sad to not have recorded late. At the same time, though, I've had trouble getting to the gym and getting enough sleep, and it's kind of put me in an emotional funk. To top it all off we've all got colds and a few of us have had horrible coughs. I've been hating finding lunch, and when I don't get a meal it throws off my blood sugar for the whole day and makes me feel rotten. It all takes its toll. I feel like I spend a lot of time in a zombie-like state where I'm aware of what's going on around me but not fully aware of what it all means. It's just like that point in the morning where you realize that you've been running on autopilot and haven't been fully functional upstairs.

However, as the new year rolled around I realized that especially in the last few months I've been blaming certain things on this, that, and the other thing and complaining about how things are. I suddenly realized that some of these things I've complained about are things that are at least partially my own fault and I decided that it was dumb to hold myself back for dumb things like that. And it's dumb to waste time and effort blaming and complaining, especially when there's something I can do to fix it. So I'm trying again to get to the gym. I'm trying again with the housework. If I can just focus on one day at a time I think I can do it. That fire has been missing in me these last few months, and, by golly, I want it back. I want that excitement back. I have been to the gym twice this week. It's hard getting back into running but it is well worth it to me and I'm thankful that Jeremy helps me go.

I also have been thinking about this time in Cedar City. Jeremy doesn't want to stay here after he graduates. That kind of makes me sad because when we moved here we were kind of planning on just staying. I was going to get my degree and our boys would have a university to attend in town when they're old enough. I am not sure how things will end up, but I'm a little sad to not be on the same page anymore. Of course, if this is where the Lord wants us, we will be here. I just am really happy here. I like it here. I think it's a great place and it's been good for our kids too. I just wish it would snow! ;) (And that's another thing. Jeremy hates the snow a lot. ;)

So, back to the title of this post, I do want to write about Timmy. He's so darn cute! I have oodles of fun every day just watching him wander around the house. This morning I was cleaning the living room and he was following me around undoing everything I was doing. I love how he sees a car, so he walks to it and starts up his car sound before he even grabs the car. I love how he says, "Oooooo!" with his lips so small when he sees something he likes. I think it's kind of cute how he says "Mmmmmmmmmm." Pretty often that's how he cries. I love his excitement for everything. I love his little gap-tooth grin. I love how passionate he is. When he is excited or happy or mad he goes all out with his emotions. And I love how he growls. I love to see him running to me, and I'm thankful to be his mommy, the one he loves and needs a whole lot. It's really neat to be that for somebody.