Yesterday Dave made a wonderful breakfast before church, complete with pancakes, eggs and orange juice. What a wonderful treat! We learned something new while talking with Lucy about breakfast:
Dave: "Lucy, What color is the ORANGE juice?" really emphasizing the orange.
Lucy answered with confidence: "Yellow" (with that cute kid pronunciation "Lellow")
The truth has been spoken. Never argue with a 2 year old, (okay I still have 5 days until she is a real 2 year old) Orange juice is actually yellow. Has the world been lying to us all of these years? I know I sure felt betrayed and didn't know who to trust when I found out that the whole world lied to all the children about Santa Clause. If orange juice is really yellow, what can we believe in and how are we supposed to teach our children how complicated our world is?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Lucy Quotes of the Week
Every Day Lucy's vocabulary seems to take on a whole new dimension. Here are my favorites from this week:
"Big Some" when Lucy wants a lot of something! She says it very dramatically too.
"Hi Angel" While at the Salt Lake Temple grounds on Tuesday, I pointed out the Angel on top to Lucy. She enthusiastically looked up and waved, saying "Hi Angel!"
Here's an old favorite photo of the Salt Lake Temple. My camera is in the shop or I am sure I would have some new ones of our trip this week. This will have to do as far as jazzing the post up goes!
There's a huge water fountain in Temple Square which Lucy pointed out and exclaimed "Water Mountain." We have been talking a lot about mountains (since we have been hiking a lot) and waterfalls (which we have also visited). I thought calling it a "Water Mountain" was pretty creative, ingenious even. Why not call it a "Water Mountain?" Does that not look like a water mountain?
"Marry Daddy" Also while at the temple, while watching a Bride and Groom take pictures we started explaining about getting married in the temple. Dave told Lucy "someday you will get married in the temple." She responded "Marry Daddy." Dave answered her that he was married to Mommy, but that she could marry her own boy. Lucy responded "marry own boy." I love the funny conversations we are having now a days.
"Heby" for "Heavy" Lucy loves to pick up heavy things and carry them around struggling while repeating "heby" and then grunting, of course!
"Hiking Up in da mountain" We have been hiking a lot lately. Now Lucy repeats this phrase over and over.
Friday night at a wedding reception she saw one of the flower girls and while pointing said "Pretty Dress." This girl has an eye for style. She got really upset the other day because she wanted to wear a dress. I got her a dress and put it on her, but she tried spinning in it and it wouldn't puff out. She freaked out because it wasn't puffing out. We changed the dress to a food spinner and everything was fine. Whenever I wear a dress, she tells me "spin Mama" just so she can watch the dress puff out. She's funny!
"Where is it?" She has just started asking about missing things. We couldn't find her sippy cup today, which she has just recently gotten attached to (recent as of this week) and she went all around the house today say "Where is it?" just like I had done. Then she would call out "Sippy cup, are r you?" It was cute.
The other day we were looking for her Belle Phone and she told me it was in the car. Sure enough it was there. Wow! Her memory is really improving. In fact, it is already better than mine!
Lucy is also putting some little songs together. I will try to catch some footage and post. TTFN!
"Big Some" when Lucy wants a lot of something! She says it very dramatically too.
"Hi Angel" While at the Salt Lake Temple grounds on Tuesday, I pointed out the Angel on top to Lucy. She enthusiastically looked up and waved, saying "Hi Angel!"
Here's an old favorite photo of the Salt Lake Temple. My camera is in the shop or I am sure I would have some new ones of our trip this week. This will have to do as far as jazzing the post up goes!
There's a huge water fountain in Temple Square which Lucy pointed out and exclaimed "Water Mountain." We have been talking a lot about mountains (since we have been hiking a lot) and waterfalls (which we have also visited). I thought calling it a "Water Mountain" was pretty creative, ingenious even. Why not call it a "Water Mountain?" Does that not look like a water mountain?
"Marry Daddy" Also while at the temple, while watching a Bride and Groom take pictures we started explaining about getting married in the temple. Dave told Lucy "someday you will get married in the temple." She responded "Marry Daddy." Dave answered her that he was married to Mommy, but that she could marry her own boy. Lucy responded "marry own boy." I love the funny conversations we are having now a days.
"Heby" for "Heavy" Lucy loves to pick up heavy things and carry them around struggling while repeating "heby" and then grunting, of course!
"Hiking Up in da mountain" We have been hiking a lot lately. Now Lucy repeats this phrase over and over.
Friday night at a wedding reception she saw one of the flower girls and while pointing said "Pretty Dress." This girl has an eye for style. She got really upset the other day because she wanted to wear a dress. I got her a dress and put it on her, but she tried spinning in it and it wouldn't puff out. She freaked out because it wasn't puffing out. We changed the dress to a food spinner and everything was fine. Whenever I wear a dress, she tells me "spin Mama" just so she can watch the dress puff out. She's funny!
"Where is it?" She has just started asking about missing things. We couldn't find her sippy cup today, which she has just recently gotten attached to (recent as of this week) and she went all around the house today say "Where is it?" just like I had done. Then she would call out "Sippy cup, are r you?" It was cute.
The other day we were looking for her Belle Phone and she told me it was in the car. Sure enough it was there. Wow! Her memory is really improving. In fact, it is already better than mine!
Lucy is also putting some little songs together. I will try to catch some footage and post. TTFN!
Monday, August 24, 2009
More Spokane Vacation
June 30
We set off camping with Dave's Folks.
After a short travel, we stopped at this Lake Pend Orielle (prounounced Pond Oray, those crazy french people). It was cold. Dave and Lucy look happy, but if you look closely, Dave is making a very concerted effort not to get any more wet than he has to.
We stayed in this cute little cabin. It was more like a tent with Air Conditioning (the best kind!). Don't get me wrong, I am a wilderness girl, but camping with a child in extreme heat just didn't sound like as much fun as it used to. Don't worry, she is not getting off the hook for good. Someday hen Lucy gets older, we will make her tough it out through the real thing just to build character and such!
Swimming in Newport... I was amazed that children don't mind cold water! Lucy was chattering and still didn't want to get out! Here she is splashing and just having a ball with her Papa Mark.
They are soooooooo cute together!
I think I know where she gets her smile from! SAY CHEESE! This picture cracks me up!
Hey Lucy, the camera is over there!
Water Baby!
Nothing like a cold brisk swim and then a little relax session in the sun! Even Lucy would agree.
This is the good picture, the next one is just for fun!
I thought this one was worth the laugh! Me and Nana are smiling with our eyes completely shut, while Lucy is bursting with... I don't even know what to call that expression... enthusiasm, surprise, wonder, saying "ah" for the doctor....?????. I think it's cute, but then again I am her Mom!
Nana gives Lucy a lesson on how to live the good life!
I really wanted family pictures on the inner tube to hopefully put at the top of the blog (the winter coats at the beach in January are just starting to bother me now that it is summer time, cute though it may be!)
It was tough, but somehow we managed to get all three of us on there.
We never got a perfect one, but they are cute. I decided I would rather not have the picture at the top of our blog be in our bathing suits, especially with our extreme tan lines, but it was a good idea in theory. I wanted something more summery, but bathing suits are a little too summery. We'll keep trying for something in between the winter coats and the swim suits.
I think this was the best we got...
Lucy started freaking out on the inner tube. Honestly, the girl has no problem being flung into the water, but try to make her float on something and it scares her. What is she even scared of? She would love falling into the water! Oh well, here is a sweet picture of me trying to calm her down and get her to like the inner tube.
2 nights in the wilderness, 2 trips to the lake, one game of apples to apples, zero sunburns on my part = a very fun trip!
We set off camping with Dave's Folks.
After a short travel, we stopped at this Lake Pend Orielle (prounounced Pond Oray, those crazy french people). It was cold. Dave and Lucy look happy, but if you look closely, Dave is making a very concerted effort not to get any more wet than he has to.
We stayed in this cute little cabin. It was more like a tent with Air Conditioning (the best kind!). Don't get me wrong, I am a wilderness girl, but camping with a child in extreme heat just didn't sound like as much fun as it used to. Don't worry, she is not getting off the hook for good. Someday hen Lucy gets older, we will make her tough it out through the real thing just to build character and such!
Swimming in Newport... I was amazed that children don't mind cold water! Lucy was chattering and still didn't want to get out! Here she is splashing and just having a ball with her Papa Mark.
They are soooooooo cute together!
I think I know where she gets her smile from! SAY CHEESE! This picture cracks me up!
Hey Lucy, the camera is over there!
Water Baby!
Nothing like a cold brisk swim and then a little relax session in the sun! Even Lucy would agree.
This is the good picture, the next one is just for fun!
I thought this one was worth the laugh! Me and Nana are smiling with our eyes completely shut, while Lucy is bursting with... I don't even know what to call that expression... enthusiasm, surprise, wonder, saying "ah" for the doctor....?????. I think it's cute, but then again I am her Mom!
Nana gives Lucy a lesson on how to live the good life!
I really wanted family pictures on the inner tube to hopefully put at the top of the blog (the winter coats at the beach in January are just starting to bother me now that it is summer time, cute though it may be!)
It was tough, but somehow we managed to get all three of us on there.
We never got a perfect one, but they are cute. I decided I would rather not have the picture at the top of our blog be in our bathing suits, especially with our extreme tan lines, but it was a good idea in theory. I wanted something more summery, but bathing suits are a little too summery. We'll keep trying for something in between the winter coats and the swim suits.
I think this was the best we got...
Lucy started freaking out on the inner tube. Honestly, the girl has no problem being flung into the water, but try to make her float on something and it scares her. What is she even scared of? She would love falling into the water! Oh well, here is a sweet picture of me trying to calm her down and get her to like the inner tube.
2 nights in the wilderness, 2 trips to the lake, one game of apples to apples, zero sunburns on my part = a very fun trip!
More Cute Lucy Quotes
While putting dinner on the table the other night, I asked Lucy if she wanted some of Daddy's Sandwich or Mommy's Sandwich. She answered "No. Lucy's Sandwich." I always wondered at what point you had to start buying your kids their own food, instead of feeding them your scraps. I guess that time is nigh' at hand.
My brother, Brian, babysat Lucy while Dave and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication yesterday. We forgot to give him the house keys, so they were locked out until we came home. While Brian was trying to open the door, Lucy pointed at the doorknob and told Brian "Keys." Thinking that maybe she was referring to the fact that she knew where the keys were, Brian asked her "Where are the Keys?" She answered matter of factly, "In the pocket" while pointing at Brian's pocket.
"Right back" is Lucy's favorite saying. She always says it, runs away and then returns. She is so excited that she knows what to do when she says it. Dave always plays the "Right Back" Game with her, which is basically taking turns saying "Right Back," leaving and then coming right back.
"Whats dat?" She asks me all the time. When you tell her she usually responds "Oooooohhhhh..." (really drawn out, WOW!) and then repeats what you called it. This morning it was "Oh, spinach" except she pronounced it " oh, pinak" Now you are all probably wondering what on earth I was feeding my child for breakfast, huh?
"ewww hair!" I really don't know how Lucy developed a phobia of hair, but it really bugs her when she sees hair or any sort of fluff.
"Pendergrass" she tries so hard to say her last name. It usually comes out just jibberish plus "grass" Then she will repeat "Wedy na na grass" "Dave na na grass" "Lucy na na grass" It makes me smile.
She loves learning new things so much. I wonder at what age kids start hating to learn and go to school and such. They were clearly born with a hunger for knowledge. Is it something we do wrong or does it just happen at a certain age?
My brother, Brian, babysat Lucy while Dave and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication yesterday. We forgot to give him the house keys, so they were locked out until we came home. While Brian was trying to open the door, Lucy pointed at the doorknob and told Brian "Keys." Thinking that maybe she was referring to the fact that she knew where the keys were, Brian asked her "Where are the Keys?" She answered matter of factly, "In the pocket" while pointing at Brian's pocket.
"Right back" is Lucy's favorite saying. She always says it, runs away and then returns. She is so excited that she knows what to do when she says it. Dave always plays the "Right Back" Game with her, which is basically taking turns saying "Right Back," leaving and then coming right back.
"Whats dat?" She asks me all the time. When you tell her she usually responds "Oooooohhhhh..." (really drawn out, WOW!) and then repeats what you called it. This morning it was "Oh, spinach" except she pronounced it " oh, pinak" Now you are all probably wondering what on earth I was feeding my child for breakfast, huh?
"ewww hair!" I really don't know how Lucy developed a phobia of hair, but it really bugs her when she sees hair or any sort of fluff.
"Pendergrass" she tries so hard to say her last name. It usually comes out just jibberish plus "grass" Then she will repeat "Wedy na na grass" "Dave na na grass" "Lucy na na grass" It makes me smile.
She loves learning new things so much. I wonder at what age kids start hating to learn and go to school and such. They were clearly born with a hunger for knowledge. Is it something we do wrong or does it just happen at a certain age?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Lucy's Finger Discussion
Lucy just came and told me "owie on thumb."
I asked her if her thumb needed a kiss and then kissed it. Trying to seize the opportunity to go over the names of her fingers I asked:
"Do you know what all of your finger's names are?" (you know talking about "thumb, pointer, middle, ring and pinky, which I have been teaching Lucy recently)
Lucy answered while pointing to different fingers:
"Yellow, pink, blue, five" well at least five was on her pinky, which usually ends up being number five when we count them.
It cracked me up. I was probably funnier in person, but I thought you might also enjoy our little finger discussion, thus the quick post! Do laugh and enjoy!
I asked her if her thumb needed a kiss and then kissed it. Trying to seize the opportunity to go over the names of her fingers I asked:
"Do you know what all of your finger's names are?" (you know talking about "thumb, pointer, middle, ring and pinky, which I have been teaching Lucy recently)
Lucy answered while pointing to different fingers:
"Yellow, pink, blue, five" well at least five was on her pinky, which usually ends up being number five when we count them.
It cracked me up. I was probably funnier in person, but I thought you might also enjoy our little finger discussion, thus the quick post! Do laugh and enjoy!
Old Friends. Good Times.
June 29 - Had a fun Little Reunion
While in Spokane we hooked up with some of the old gang for a sweet little get together. We didn't plan to all be here at the same time, it was just a very happy coincidence (that I always hoped would happen someday), so we were wonderfully surprised get together! How cool for Dave to experience high school & college (glad I could be there for the college bit) with such wonderful friends and now see everybody with their cute little kids running around . I'm sure he could have never imagined ten years ago what cute little kids they would all have. I sure wish we could go through the child rearing phase all together too, but I guess there were other people in Texas and Arizona who needed some seriously cool friends!
Lucy and Dakota Daines playing in the Pool.
The kids were pretty tired. This was the best group shot I got. They are sooo cute playing altogether.
And here is the gang. Ahhh, what a good looking group!
While in Spokane we hooked up with some of the old gang for a sweet little get together. We didn't plan to all be here at the same time, it was just a very happy coincidence (that I always hoped would happen someday), so we were wonderfully surprised get together! How cool for Dave to experience high school & college (glad I could be there for the college bit) with such wonderful friends and now see everybody with their cute little kids running around . I'm sure he could have never imagined ten years ago what cute little kids they would all have. I sure wish we could go through the child rearing phase all together too, but I guess there were other people in Texas and Arizona who needed some seriously cool friends!
Lucy and Dakota Daines playing in the Pool.
The kids were pretty tired. This was the best group shot I got. They are sooo cute playing altogether.
And here is the gang. Ahhh, what a good looking group!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FREE EXERCISE with ABConditioning!!!!
David just started a fitness company called Athletic Body Conditioning. As his first Athletic venture he is teaching an awesome exercise class called Outdoor Fitness BOOT CAMP!
It's a combination of circuit training, bodyweight exercises, interval training and team exercises. It's basically as effective as having a personal trainer, but at a fraction of the cost, plus it is outside which doesn't get any better! (I don't know about you, but exercising in a gym when it is nice outside can just be depressing!)
He is running ABSOLUTELY FREE classes on Saturdays - Scera Park Elementary School in Orem @ 8:00 a.m. If that isn't cool enough, you can come to class everyday FREE for 2 WEEKS!!!!
If that is not cool enough, you get 25% off for every person you reffer that joins. Yes that means if you reffer 4 people you can come for free even after your 2 week free trial!
His First Class Starts this Monday, August 17th!!! We are soooooo Excited!!!!
The class is for people of all fitness levels and should be awesome, so please check it out if you are anywhere near Orem or Provo, and if you aren't (which I suspect most of you aren't) around but know people who do live around here, we would be forever grateful for your referrals to help get our business started! Thank you friends! The link to his website (that he has made entirely on his own...I am so proud!)is:
www.abcbootcamps.com
come sign up for your free trial or check it out just for fun. Please feel free to share if you think of anything that could be changed for the better.
It's a combination of circuit training, bodyweight exercises, interval training and team exercises. It's basically as effective as having a personal trainer, but at a fraction of the cost, plus it is outside which doesn't get any better! (I don't know about you, but exercising in a gym when it is nice outside can just be depressing!)
He is running ABSOLUTELY FREE classes on Saturdays - Scera Park Elementary School in Orem @ 8:00 a.m. If that isn't cool enough, you can come to class everyday FREE for 2 WEEKS!!!!
If that is not cool enough, you get 25% off for every person you reffer that joins. Yes that means if you reffer 4 people you can come for free even after your 2 week free trial!
His First Class Starts this Monday, August 17th!!! We are soooooo Excited!!!!
The class is for people of all fitness levels and should be awesome, so please check it out if you are anywhere near Orem or Provo, and if you aren't (which I suspect most of you aren't) around but know people who do live around here, we would be forever grateful for your referrals to help get our business started! Thank you friends! The link to his website (that he has made entirely on his own...I am so proud!)is:
www.abcbootcamps.com
come sign up for your free trial or check it out just for fun. Please feel free to share if you think of anything that could be changed for the better.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Things Lucy Says and other deep Wendy realizations
I have great news for those of you who are curious or who have toddlers that use profanity, I haven't heard Lucy use the f-word in about a month and a half, and even Heidi came to visit last week (because Heidi couldn't refrain from laughing, Lucy used to yell it at her over and over just to make her laugh). Hallelujah!
I told Lucy that "Daddy gave Mommy my ring at the temple and we got married" a while ago. Now whenever we pass a temple Lucy recalls "Daddy Mommy ring temple married!" and then while pointing at the angel Moroni she exclaims "Careful Guy" " Ball" "Fall Down" "Careful." She came up with that all on her own and it cracks me up! I guess she doesn't realize that angels can fly yet!
She says her own prays which are a bunch of babbling and then "amen." It makes my heart melt every day.
"her ago mama" when she gives you things "for here you go mama." It doesn't really matter what she gives you, you can't help but smile when she says that to you.
"pease" for "please,"
"I do it!" at least 30 times a day. In fact, last week she opened the car door, climbed into her carseat and buckled herself completely in, all on account of that phrase. Today she hiked at least 75 % of our hike to Stewart Falls and back (about a 4 hour hike with Lucy) while I carried the empty baby back pack.
"Mama's toy" when I told her the computer was not a toy (one of my new recent phrases for "you can't play with that")she pointed at it and questioned "Mama's toy?" It caught me pretty off guard. I finally said "yes, you are right. It's Mama's toy." Kind of makes you think a little bit about how much you are using the computer, huh?
"Hold non" instead of "Hold on" she says this all the time. Anytime you can possibly hold on to anything.
"I get ana pillow" for "I will get my pillow" We just got a her a Belle pillowcase and she won't go upstairs without it.
"Luff you" for "Love you." Now the days are all blurring and I can't remember if she said that for the first time yesterday or 2 days ago. The day before she said it for reals she faked me out by saying "Luff you Mama" I started rejoicing and then realized she was pointing at her "Mama, do you love me?" book. I was crushed. I thought that was her first spontaneous "I love you Mama," but it didn't take long. The next day when she said bye to me she also included "Luff you" without any prompting (she has been saying "Luff you" for a while, but only when we ask her to).
Yesterday she even said "Bye Swing. Luff You" which she most definitely does. We put her on the big kid swing these days and she says "High. Fast" and "und dawg" for underdog. If she is not being pushed way too high for me to feel okay about it, she is upset. But I will be the first to admit I encourage her adventurous spirit despite being worried about her sometimes. I really don't want her to be a fearful and worried child. I want her to enjoy life, even if it means she gets hurt sometimes. I finally figured out that kids get hurt all the time and that they are resilient if you let them be.
Dave just taught Lucy after she gets hurt to brush her hands, brush her knees, then shake it off and give a triumphant sigh. It has worked wonders (we are talking magic here people) and I feel great that we are teaching her to be strong and have a great attitude towards life. I want her to realize that sometimes hard things happen, but you just pick yourself up and then keep enjoying. My testimony has really grown lately that it is through pain we learn. When we have hard times, we learn things and we grow. When I find myself struggling, I have been trying to think "What can I learn from this?" I almost feel like as soon as you really get the message and grow, all of a sudden your trial is either gone, or you at least start to see some solutions. Sometimes you just have to have a little headache to appreciate how awesome your body is when it is functioning at full speed. (I had a headache last night and I seriously can't stop thinking how great I feel right now without one).
To demonstrate this principle on a much bigger note, let me recap an experience. Last Fall, I had been praying to be happy again. I felt like I used to be happy, but between sleep deprivation and adjusting to 24 hour Momhood I just couldn't get back on track. I knew that your attitude was entirely up to you and I kept thinking "okay, today I will be happy" but then I would feel so tired from lack of sleep and after taking Lucy to the park, reading her books, making her food, and cleaning, all I wanted to do was sleep and my good attitude would fade as I continued to try and take care of Lucy until bedtime. I finally decided with everything that I could muster, that I would force happiness and then, Lo and Behold, Lucy was hospitalized due to food poisoning (all this was taking place in South Korea). She didn't keep down any food for over a month. At first I was so upset that my whole happy attitude didn't work. I thought to myself "Look where trying to be happy got me? Huge trials. Lots of Misery! I should have never asked to be happy. At least it wasn't this bad" I felt so angry and so helpless to control any part of my life. But you know what actually happened looking back, I enjoy my days with Lucy so much more now. I am so thankful that she is alive and healthy and that she can eat and we can go anywhere we want. We can dance together and swing together and run together. Whenever I am having a bad day and Lucy skips her nap and I don't get "me time" and I am tempted to just being annoyed with my circumstances, I think back to that experience and I know that my day is absolutely and completely awesome compared to being stuck in a hospital with a suffering daughter. I start to feel grateful that she actually has the ability to go without a nap, rather than be so sick that she sleeps most of the day and night. And when I am tired, at least I get to lie down on a big comfy bed, instead of sharing a hospital cot with Lucy while trying to avoid laying on the IV tube. I have suddenly realized how it is possible to be grateful for your trials (I used to think the people who talked about being grateful for their trials were kind of nutty, but I really am one of those nuts now). Trials can wake you up. They can make you grateful. They can change your life for the better. They can actually give you exactly what you wanted. I wanted to be happy and the Lord answered my prayers. I didn't realize that my answer would actually come in the form of a trial. Sometimes your prayers can't be answered overnight. Sometimes it takes a change of heart and some new stretch you experiences to have what we want. I am happy now and I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, although they may be in mysterious and difficult to understand ways. You could say "be careful what you pray for," but really as much as we try to avoid trials, how much more awesome are all of us because of the trials we have had to face. I mean if we had never had any trials, we would be as helpless and dependent as a baby. As much as we love babies, I am sure most of us are glad that we don't have a big overgrown body with the mental capabilities of a baby. The reason we aren't babies is because when were babies we had trials and we grew. We pushed ourselves to crawl so that we could reach something that we wanted. And we still face trials as we reach for the things that we want and hopefully we grow. If we don't grow, its just a miserable downward spiral that is probablly more painful than the challenges we face as we strive to become something great. Anyway, these are my latest insights on life. I didn't intend to write a novel about my experiences, this started as a post about Lucy. I guess I will have to go add a little bit to the title now. I must have had a lot more in my heart than I realized when I started typing. I better go before I start wishing trials on everyone and you all end up hating me!
I told Lucy that "Daddy gave Mommy my ring at the temple and we got married" a while ago. Now whenever we pass a temple Lucy recalls "Daddy Mommy ring temple married!" and then while pointing at the angel Moroni she exclaims "Careful Guy" " Ball" "Fall Down" "Careful." She came up with that all on her own and it cracks me up! I guess she doesn't realize that angels can fly yet!
She says her own prays which are a bunch of babbling and then "amen." It makes my heart melt every day.
"her ago mama" when she gives you things "for here you go mama." It doesn't really matter what she gives you, you can't help but smile when she says that to you.
"pease" for "please,"
"I do it!" at least 30 times a day. In fact, last week she opened the car door, climbed into her carseat and buckled herself completely in, all on account of that phrase. Today she hiked at least 75 % of our hike to Stewart Falls and back (about a 4 hour hike with Lucy) while I carried the empty baby back pack.
"Mama's toy" when I told her the computer was not a toy (one of my new recent phrases for "you can't play with that")she pointed at it and questioned "Mama's toy?" It caught me pretty off guard. I finally said "yes, you are right. It's Mama's toy." Kind of makes you think a little bit about how much you are using the computer, huh?
"Hold non" instead of "Hold on" she says this all the time. Anytime you can possibly hold on to anything.
"I get ana pillow" for "I will get my pillow" We just got a her a Belle pillowcase and she won't go upstairs without it.
"Luff you" for "Love you." Now the days are all blurring and I can't remember if she said that for the first time yesterday or 2 days ago. The day before she said it for reals she faked me out by saying "Luff you Mama" I started rejoicing and then realized she was pointing at her "Mama, do you love me?" book. I was crushed. I thought that was her first spontaneous "I love you Mama," but it didn't take long. The next day when she said bye to me she also included "Luff you" without any prompting (she has been saying "Luff you" for a while, but only when we ask her to).
Yesterday she even said "Bye Swing. Luff You" which she most definitely does. We put her on the big kid swing these days and she says "High. Fast" and "und dawg" for underdog. If she is not being pushed way too high for me to feel okay about it, she is upset. But I will be the first to admit I encourage her adventurous spirit despite being worried about her sometimes. I really don't want her to be a fearful and worried child. I want her to enjoy life, even if it means she gets hurt sometimes. I finally figured out that kids get hurt all the time and that they are resilient if you let them be.
Dave just taught Lucy after she gets hurt to brush her hands, brush her knees, then shake it off and give a triumphant sigh. It has worked wonders (we are talking magic here people) and I feel great that we are teaching her to be strong and have a great attitude towards life. I want her to realize that sometimes hard things happen, but you just pick yourself up and then keep enjoying. My testimony has really grown lately that it is through pain we learn. When we have hard times, we learn things and we grow. When I find myself struggling, I have been trying to think "What can I learn from this?" I almost feel like as soon as you really get the message and grow, all of a sudden your trial is either gone, or you at least start to see some solutions. Sometimes you just have to have a little headache to appreciate how awesome your body is when it is functioning at full speed. (I had a headache last night and I seriously can't stop thinking how great I feel right now without one).
To demonstrate this principle on a much bigger note, let me recap an experience. Last Fall, I had been praying to be happy again. I felt like I used to be happy, but between sleep deprivation and adjusting to 24 hour Momhood I just couldn't get back on track. I knew that your attitude was entirely up to you and I kept thinking "okay, today I will be happy" but then I would feel so tired from lack of sleep and after taking Lucy to the park, reading her books, making her food, and cleaning, all I wanted to do was sleep and my good attitude would fade as I continued to try and take care of Lucy until bedtime. I finally decided with everything that I could muster, that I would force happiness and then, Lo and Behold, Lucy was hospitalized due to food poisoning (all this was taking place in South Korea). She didn't keep down any food for over a month. At first I was so upset that my whole happy attitude didn't work. I thought to myself "Look where trying to be happy got me? Huge trials. Lots of Misery! I should have never asked to be happy. At least it wasn't this bad" I felt so angry and so helpless to control any part of my life. But you know what actually happened looking back, I enjoy my days with Lucy so much more now. I am so thankful that she is alive and healthy and that she can eat and we can go anywhere we want. We can dance together and swing together and run together. Whenever I am having a bad day and Lucy skips her nap and I don't get "me time" and I am tempted to just being annoyed with my circumstances, I think back to that experience and I know that my day is absolutely and completely awesome compared to being stuck in a hospital with a suffering daughter. I start to feel grateful that she actually has the ability to go without a nap, rather than be so sick that she sleeps most of the day and night. And when I am tired, at least I get to lie down on a big comfy bed, instead of sharing a hospital cot with Lucy while trying to avoid laying on the IV tube. I have suddenly realized how it is possible to be grateful for your trials (I used to think the people who talked about being grateful for their trials were kind of nutty, but I really am one of those nuts now). Trials can wake you up. They can make you grateful. They can change your life for the better. They can actually give you exactly what you wanted. I wanted to be happy and the Lord answered my prayers. I didn't realize that my answer would actually come in the form of a trial. Sometimes your prayers can't be answered overnight. Sometimes it takes a change of heart and some new stretch you experiences to have what we want. I am happy now and I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, although they may be in mysterious and difficult to understand ways. You could say "be careful what you pray for," but really as much as we try to avoid trials, how much more awesome are all of us because of the trials we have had to face. I mean if we had never had any trials, we would be as helpless and dependent as a baby. As much as we love babies, I am sure most of us are glad that we don't have a big overgrown body with the mental capabilities of a baby. The reason we aren't babies is because when were babies we had trials and we grew. We pushed ourselves to crawl so that we could reach something that we wanted. And we still face trials as we reach for the things that we want and hopefully we grow. If we don't grow, its just a miserable downward spiral that is probablly more painful than the challenges we face as we strive to become something great. Anyway, these are my latest insights on life. I didn't intend to write a novel about my experiences, this started as a post about Lucy. I guess I will have to go add a little bit to the title now. I must have had a lot more in my heart than I realized when I started typing. I better go before I start wishing trials on everyone and you all end up hating me!
Lily's Party
June 20 (I am so behind I have to date my posts for now. We just moved...so give me a break. Actually don't give me a break, I will always have another excuse!)
And my Did this little girl know how to party! Last month we visited Spokane, and I didn't tell Renee (my favorite sister in law) that I was coming until later. We made a surprise visit for Lily's (their daughter) 1st Birthday Party. Renee is just a wonderful person to surprise. She gives you a huge reaction. It was great! And I met Lily for the first time and she was just a little doll!
Anyway, I offered to take pictures of the Party and Renee graciously obliged. I really wanted to mainly because I love taking pictures and I knew Dave would love it if I got some of my picture taking need out on other people. I also know it is nice to enjoy those moments without worrying about taking pictures, but mostly I just like to pretend I am a famous photographer (sorry if you thought I was just lovingly doing service for you Renee!) so I had a complete ball!
FYI: my camera got sand in it and hasn't been working since July 17. I need to go get it cleaned because I am going crazy! Today we hiked to Stewart Falls and I just died wanting to take a hundred pictures of Lucy. Is it wrong to not want to do cool things because I can't take pictures? Oh well. I am learning to enjoy the moment, instead of just capture it and then embellish how awesome it was on my blog! Ha ha. At least I am not taking a million pictures and then getting even more behind on my blogging! Beware of the upcoming summer picture dryspell.
Anyway, the party was wonderful, but Lily was the best part about it. She ate three whole cupcakes! It was a blast watching her chow them down. She is seriously a better eater than my almost 2 year old (yeah, just a few weeks will make 2 years! I can't believe my baby is all grown up!) I put way too many pictures of Lily eating cupcakes in the slide show. They just made me laugh so much, I really couldn't choose between all of them. Even if you don't know this cute baby, it is worth watching the slide show. She will make you laugh, and leave this page smiling. Happy Babies just do that to you sometimes, huh?
Well here is the slide show. More Spokane Vacation Posts to follow soon! Enjoy!
And my Did this little girl know how to party! Last month we visited Spokane, and I didn't tell Renee (my favorite sister in law) that I was coming until later. We made a surprise visit for Lily's (their daughter) 1st Birthday Party. Renee is just a wonderful person to surprise. She gives you a huge reaction. It was great! And I met Lily for the first time and she was just a little doll!
Anyway, I offered to take pictures of the Party and Renee graciously obliged. I really wanted to mainly because I love taking pictures and I knew Dave would love it if I got some of my picture taking need out on other people. I also know it is nice to enjoy those moments without worrying about taking pictures, but mostly I just like to pretend I am a famous photographer (sorry if you thought I was just lovingly doing service for you Renee!) so I had a complete ball!
FYI: my camera got sand in it and hasn't been working since July 17. I need to go get it cleaned because I am going crazy! Today we hiked to Stewart Falls and I just died wanting to take a hundred pictures of Lucy. Is it wrong to not want to do cool things because I can't take pictures? Oh well. I am learning to enjoy the moment, instead of just capture it and then embellish how awesome it was on my blog! Ha ha. At least I am not taking a million pictures and then getting even more behind on my blogging! Beware of the upcoming summer picture dryspell.
Anyway, the party was wonderful, but Lily was the best part about it. She ate three whole cupcakes! It was a blast watching her chow them down. She is seriously a better eater than my almost 2 year old (yeah, just a few weeks will make 2 years! I can't believe my baby is all grown up!) I put way too many pictures of Lily eating cupcakes in the slide show. They just made me laugh so much, I really couldn't choose between all of them. Even if you don't know this cute baby, it is worth watching the slide show. She will make you laugh, and leave this page smiling. Happy Babies just do that to you sometimes, huh?
Well here is the slide show. More Spokane Vacation Posts to follow soon! Enjoy!
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