Being Present

We've taken a little break from regular blogging, and honestly it's been nice. I read the article "Positive Uses of the Internet" in the June Ensign magazine and received new insight into this amazing technology that shrinks this great big world and puts it, literally, into the palm of our hands. The article mentions limiting our time on the computer, and an example was given of a woman who spent a lot of time blogging. "Her mind was always in 'compose' mode - mentally writing a blog about what she did with her children instead of just doing things with them. She realized there had to be a balance."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it...Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best."

I really do love to blog, I love to write, and I love sharing funny things the kids do and say. It has become our family journal and an avenue to virtually keep in touch and updated with family and friends. But, for me, with that task comes occasional guilt when I don't keep up. I'm still trying to find that sometimes-elusive balance, but I have to say I've been more present in the recent moments with my family, rather than automatically shifting into "compose" mode.


Anyway, it's been on my mind a little.



We're occupying ourselves with:

• yard work - The garden was planted a month ago, and it's always exciting to see plants popping out of the ground. The heavens have opened up and dumped buckets of rain for the last few months. Come on already...plants need sunshine too!


• house work - It took almost a month, but our house is now deep-cleaned from top to bottom. There's not a room, closet, drawer, cupboard or window that hasn't been wiped, scrubbed, organized, purged, or washed. And our master bedroom has a fresh coat of paint too. Aahhh sure feels good. Now for real I'm ready for summer to arrive!


• trips to the library, park, home improvement store, garden store, fabric/craft store ("crab" store to Seth - better than "crap" store that he originally called it), and outings with friends.

More randomness:

One of our many trips to the neighborhood park. We love living within walking distance! Lydia's now sporting a total of 8 teeth and as of Sunday she's walking!

Easter party with friends from church.

What kind of childhood doesn't include some bathtub photos? Seth is 1) trying to wink, 2)channeling his inner pirate or 3) wincing at soap in his eye.

Lydia sporting a classic Alfalfa 'do.

"One little monkey jumped on the bed.

He tripped on some pillows and whacked his head.

Mama didn't call the doctor but instead

She kissed it and said no more jumping on the bed!"

Hike to Coal Creek Falls with some girlfriends from church and the kids.

Check out this amazing electric green moss!

Here's to being present in each moment!

To all the hip mamas and pops out there

I actually feel kinda cool for driving a "swagger wagon" myself. Enjoy!

Baby, Baby

Head on over to the Praiseworthy blog. This week we're posting about baby stuff...tutorials, clever baby gift ideas, a giveaway and more!

What will you create today?

Happy Birthday, Sweetie "Pi"

Sunday, March 14, aka "pi" day, was our little Lydia's FIRST birthday! What a year it has been, and oh how we love this amazing sweet girl.

I've loved her from the beginning. The first three months and even beyond that, though, I admit there were days when honestly I did well to tolerate her. Acid reflux made her face turn red and the screaming commence whenever I put her down. Diaper changing was dreaded, and sleeping was non-existent. She despised swaddling, pacifiers and the baby swing. She grew out of her tummy issues, and on came the ear infections, finally remedied by the wonders of modern medicine. Everything I thought I knew about caring for an infant were challenged. every. day.

That said, I grew ever closer to her and was awed by her strength and sweetness in the few quiet moments we enjoyed together. I learned to seek out the goodness rather than expect it, and that was good for me. Endurance and unconditional love have brought me through the difficult times, helped me appreciate the fun times, and my reward is the happiest, most content, loveable girl. I am completely enamored by her. She's a girl who knows what she wants and will do just about anything to get it. Like her mom, she is curious but "cautiously adventurous." Content to observe, she is happy to watch life unfold before her and jump in and really participate when the urge bites. Just as there is a special, unique relationship between a mother and son, or father and son, so exists one just as special but different in so many ways between a daughter and both of her parents. I see myself in her, but I see her own personality forming on its own, and it makes me excited to witness her "becoming." You've come a long way, baby. We all have.

To celebrate, we had a little party on Saturday to celebrate her entrance into the "birthday by years" versus the "birthday by months" club. Since you should be able to do whatever you want on your birthday, here's what she chose to do for fun:

And here she is waiting hanging out with Daddy...

...and waiting for her party guests to arrive.

The spread of delights, using two things I don't get out very often...my Sandstone serving dishes and the cheery Sudoku harvest tablecloth I made.

Here's my take, ahem, attempt at petit fours - more of a glorified cupcake instead of a perfect little iced confection. Still, they tasted yummy!

Let the fun begin!

(Remainder of photos courtesy of Jason - thank you, oh talented and generous one!)

Sweet! My own phone! I thought I'd have to wait another 15 birthdays to get one of these. What's this? No texting?

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Here, little sis. Let me show you how it's done.

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I must give kisses to every present so the givers will know just how much I love them!

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Yay for me!

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Blowing kisses to her adoring fans:

mmm...

...mwhah!

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Cake time!

One candle for one special girl

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I'm goin' in.

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Yay for sugar! If you think I'm done, well I'm just getting started!

Trying to be as ladylike as possible.

Happy birthday, sweet Lydia. You are loved by many.

Brave little one

Big day today! Bright and early this morning, Lydia and I made a trip to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle to get tubes put in her ears. We've endured 7 months of ear pulling, discomfort, and 6 rounds of different antibiotics to clear up infections, and a myringotomy seemed to be the most promising, long-term solution. The team of doctors and nurses (especially this special person) ensured the utmost confidence that my sweet baby would be cared for and made well again for the short time she was in their care. Here she is in pre-op wearing her stylishly-tiny hospital "dress."

(I'm easily distracted by shoes and shiny, spinny things)

(Still hangin' on to the shoe and my favorite toy Mom brought from home)

(OK now I suspect something's up)

She came out of the anesthesia very well, and I held her until she was fully awake and ready to get dressed and go home. All in all, the whole experience was less than 3 hours (including admitting, waiting, consultations, waiting, procedure, waiting, discharge).


And this was our super happy little sweetheart later in the day. She still plays with her ears a little bit, partly because of the slight discomfort at the incision site and partly because it's a new sensation for her to be unclogged and hearing better than she has in her whole 11 1/2 months of life! Here's looking forward to pain-free ears and a little girl returning to her sweet, happy self!

Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference

Please join me in the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge! More info over at my other blog.