autumn fades

What a fickle season is the fading autumn in these parts: crisp and dappled blue and golden one day. Grey and dull and drowsy the next. Yesterday we even donned scarves and gloves for our evening walk, delivering popcorn treats of thanks to nearby friends. Piglet instinctively discovered the joy of jumping into piles of crunchy raked leaves. The rosy rosies of his cheeks remained extra pink and flushed through bath time and right up to bedtime.

To say the weather is brisk would be accurate; hinting of extra layers and snuggly evenings on the big couch with my three guys and a movie. Beckoning me to curl up with a new book way past bedtime. Whispering of afternoon hot cocoas with Piglet while Nanuk takes his long nap. All kinds of goodness on the horizon. I'd gladly welcome slightly warmer weather for another week or two or three, but perhaps it's not to be.

Tonight we embrace what is to come with our favorite cold-weather meal, and it's carve-the-pumpkins night. Can't wait to see the candlelight give life to my jack-o-lantern.

Blessing

Health. Strength. Desire for knowledge. Confidence. Peacemaker. Friendship. Brotherhood. Sweetness. 

Zero to Newborn in under 6 hours.

Though B nearly became a midwife Thursday evening, our little Nanuk arrived safe and sound. 5 hours of hard and fast contractions, arrangements for M, and we made it to the hospital. The doctor--who was so fortunately there--promptly announced:  "9 cm!" 

What?!!!

I thought he was joking. He wasn't. 

1 hour later, Nanuk was in our arms. And there he will stay. We like him. 

minutes old...

stretching...

with his proud daddy, who was amazing in L & D

mommy and her little ones

"Super Big Brother" and Nanuk, also known as "Baby C" 

Little Hearts

I'm a bit late, but this week is 

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. 

This special friend knows what it's all about. Her sweet baby girl is a walking miracle, despite the many defects that came with her heart. My own grown up B is also a survivor of a congenital heart defect--no worse for the wear. We are are thankful for modern medicine and great faith and all heart babies everywhere. 

productivity

[image via martha]

the blessings of hosting Relief Society at your house (besides all those intrinsic spiritual blessings, of course): increased domestic productivity.

• fresh bed linens
• finished laundry
• paint touch ups (B took care of it without being asked)
• artwork hung--artwork that's been awaiting display for months and months
• kitchen gleaming
• family room  just so
• take-out pizza for dinner + paper plates=no dishes!
• sweet treats for sharing (leftovers for maybe not sharing)
• vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, polishing, scrubbing
• plus story time, play time, lunch time, snuggle time, bath time with the little one. 
• sweet neighbors that bring big fat slices of asphalt pie when it's all over:

And today, I'm tired.  And I had a diet coke. And I'm thankful that I probably will never be asked to teach enrichment. ever. again. 

Congrats

to fellow Petit Elefant co-editor Alma. 

Her first bundle of bouncing-baby-boy-joy arrived over the weekend. All is well with the new little family. And she's already in her normal jeans. 

Blessings & Highlights 2008

1. a little boy that is beautiful, happy, strong, bright, curious and has a keen sense of humor

2. a finished basement--100%. No casualties. Or divorce lawyers. 

3. a healthy pregnancy

4. the great outdoors, like here, here and here

5. special visits from far-away friends and family

6. graduate school straight As for my B

7. The Great Diaper Cream Debacle

8. challenges professionally, spiritually, academically

9. a gorgeous, long Autumn

10. good friends, old and new, like these

11. each other

12. The Infamous Poop Escapades

13. homemade applesauce for my boys (and jam and peaches...)

14. big, ugly, warm, cozy & ridiculously practical winter boots 

15. rather minimal battles with bottles, pacifiers, and big boy beds

16. Our first parental experience with Public Projectile Puke

17. 4 actual dates with my B. Yep, 4 actual nights on the town without child.

18. Where the Wild Things Are, Peter Pan, A is for America,  and other stories, over and over and over again.

19. Landscaping

20. A blessed little life in a pleasant little town

Quoteable

while dining on the sophisticated offerings of the Sam's Club Deli for lunch recently, M reached over to my face and patted it with his little fingers, saying, out of the blue:

"Angel. Mommy's an angel."

...in his sweet, sincere little voice. I'll never forget it. 

Jeffrey R. Holland also once told me I was an angel. Hey B, maybe they are on to something? 

like the pioneers said...

"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"

Seems an appropriate adage right now. My Dad used to repeat it when I was a child, wanting something new or better or cooler.  I learned frugality from him, and I'm grateful. Especially when it comes to weathering the economic storms that lay ahead of us.  While Mr. J's job is not glamorous or lucrative, it is remarkably stable despite financial unrest in the world. We are grateful for  that, and grateful that he loves going to work every day. We are also grateful to understand what it means to live beneath, or a the very least within our means. Our lives are no less rich because of it. We may go without certain luxuries, but never without needs. What kind of world would we live in if we all took this saying to heart? 

Proud to be a pushover...

Some friends recently referred to me as a "pushover mommy", mainly on the point that M still has a chupa (pacifier) at bedtime. OK, fine, yeah, it's been hard for me to take it away from him and easy to find reasons to let him keep it. I'm getting there. In  other areas though, I feel I'm a toughie: Balanced meals, whatever is prepared. Please and Thank You. Baths nightly. No video games.  The Naughty Corner--until the timer dings and he apologizes with hugs. Bedtime and naps are observed with great regularity.

I am, however, a sucker for one thing that's certain: snuggles. I welcome each and every opportunity for snuggles and cuddles from my little M. Like when he wakes up in the night crying "Afraid! Afraid!"  Like when he wants to read stories and plants himself firmly in my lap and rests his head against my chin for story after story. And like tonight.

Our bedtime routine has been challenged lately, with the introduction of the "big boy bed." Going to bed is not the problem, but staying in bed is. We finally put a lock on the outside of his door.  After 25 minutes of sobbing and pounding last night, he fell asleep on the floor up against the door. Tonight it took only 20 minutes. A couple of hours later we moved him to his bed and he asked for a song in his half sleeping state. A verse of  "Jesus Once Was a Little Child" then B left the room. I laid down next to M and stroked his forehead as he began to drift. A few minutes later, he turned his face close into mine, smiled and softly whispered "More. Jesus."   

Who could resist? 

I obliged and continued to stroke his forehead until his breathing deepened and his limbs relaxed. As I rose from the bed he bolted upright, asking me to lay down. I willingly obliged again. As he began to drift off to la-la-land, he rested his feet upon my side, and, eyes closed, took my hand in his, placed it on his chest, and squeezed. With one soft little hand he clutched my thumb, with the other he stroked my fingers.

Again, who could resist? 

There I stayed until his hands fell to his side in deep slumber. Reluctantly I made my exit. I will snuggle him as long as he needs. Or, rather, as long as I need. Because I do need, as I need oxygen to breathe.  I know these sweet tender moments are bound to disappear all too soon.  I haven't the desire nor the will to resist them now, despite his frequent 2-year-old-naughtiness. If it makes me a pushover, well, I'm OK with that. 

Come on, could you resist this?

internet dating...but not really

in case you were wondering, this gal is every bit as delightful, radiant and genuine as you might expect. lucky me---I met her for lunch today since we both now call the same little town home. Lunch was fine, but the company was quite sparkling. Marta kept making me talk to myself! I loved it! ;)I instantly felt like hugging her (which I did...I hope that's not scary) and calling her a dear friend. if you haven't already, pay her a visit here or sample her creative genius here.

Marta: thanks so much for the scrumptious b-day gift, all packaged so cute and fun! 

image from marta herself. 

The Birthday Girl

That's me. Or rather, it was me a few days ago.  When I returned home from Camp, I was welcomed by sweet loves from my little M (my own separation anxiety we'll save for another post), kind messages from dear friends,  and some happy little presents:

this, which is awesome. At least I think it will be, if I ever master it.

and this,  Now on my list of favorite things ever.  

bonus: it came packaged in this gorgeous gift box, a gift itself!

What is your favorite birthday gift of all time?

{party hats via martha}

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

No, not really, That's just the sort of song that comes to mind when B's family gets together for the holidays. And I mean that in the nicest way possible, really.  It's a big, loud group, with lots of funny stories, lots of football (Go Cougs!) and plenty of junk food like I never buy because I can't stop myself from eating it.  I certainly ate my share last night. M had a ball with his much-older cousins, and I was so glad to see him seeking out play with them. He was bubbling over with giggles and energy. Cousin MW to M: "Give me a hug! Give me a hug!" Cousin MN to all the others: "M only wants to play with me! No! He only wants to play with me!" How he had the energy to stay up 3 hours past bedtime, without any naps at all, I don't know.  It was as nice a visit as one could have with 32 relatives and little smokies!

If that weren't enough excitement, we survived a rather serious (and when I say rather serious, I actually mean should-have-been-fatal) car crash on the way home this morning, unscathed. Except for the vehicle and some soreness. Still, in my mind, all I can see is the tanker truck speeding toward us as we spun completely out of control in it's path, and M's terrified expression when we finally came to a stop, his little body tense and rigid, gripping the sides of his car seat. We are un-bruised, un-wounded and quite shaken by the experience. This could have been much much much worse. Highway Patrol was amazed to see any of us in one piece.

Just minutes after we finally arrived home (too late to catch my YW meeting, too late for choir practice, and too late for the church Christmas program), a gentleman from church whom we'd never met knocked on our door with his 12 year old son. They wanted to give us a small gift and introduce themselves. I quickly (and I'm sure not very warmly) explained that it was a very bad time: car wreck, just got home, feeding tired baby, etc., and thanked them for the stop (did I actually thank them?). 30 minutes later they came back with a sweet note written by their son and keys to their SUV, insisting that we use it until our own can be replaced/repaired. I was stunned that a total stranger would be so generous and trusting and kind. Word quickly spread about our little crisis and so many people have been compassionate and wonderful. We aren't even injured! It's the Christmas spirit all over the place. I get the feeling that these are the kind of people who exhibit the spirit of St. Nicholas all year round. There are many prayers of gratitude in our home today, and warm wishes for all those around us.