Marie-esque

Marie: (singing)Sweem sweem mitin-ga-ehl. translation -- Sing sweet nightingale.
Mommy: (singing)Sing sweet nightingale. Hi-i-i-i-igh above me.
Marie: Don't sing dat. Bad girls sing dat.
Mommy: Cinderella sings that too, doesn't she? She sings "high above me".
Marie: Yeah. My friend Cinderella sing dat. I wove her (complete with head tilt and eyelash flutter). She's a girl.
Mommy: You love her?
Marie: Yeah. Do you wove her?
Mommy: You bet.
Marie: Yay. Clap hands three times.

Clapping hands three times is her new trademark move. She does it anytime she is excited about something that just happened. Going potty. Getting in the car. Eating dinner. Reading a book. Everything. So darn cute.

Some good friends of ours had the wonderful privilege of adopting a baby girl back in January. This was after several years of longing to bring a child into their family. Brandon and I couldn't be more thrilled for them, as we knew what incredible parents they would be and we prayed continually for their desire for children to be realized. This is only one couple of so many that we know that have struggled with infertility and the process of adoption.

I have learned through them, if only on a small scale, of the heartache that infertility can cause and how it can change a person, a marriage, and even a family.

This week is National Inferility Awareness Week so Rebecca shared this video on her blog. I couldn't help but pass it on.

What IF? A Portrait of Infertility from Keiko Zoll on Vimeo.

I almost turned on the TV to provide background noise while I was making dinner. (The kids and Brandon are enduring a very windy day outside.) Instead, I decided to listen to this talk. Best decision I've made all week. Thank you, Sister Beck.

The second general Relief Society president, Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: “We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.”

Let's Go Fly a Kite

To say that William was excited about flying his Easter kite would be quite the understatement. Every day for a couple of weeks we would "watch" the wind and were disappointed daily when it would pick up right about noon and then be gone by the time Daddy got home.

Daddy even braved the crowds at the park one evening and gave a valiant effort to fly the kite, even though he was confident there wasn't enough wind. All for the love of William.

Finally, a couple of Fridays ago the boys got to have their kite flying adventure.

Success!

Runner-Up For My Facebook Profile Picture

I couldn't help but share this. I could never be a model because even in a photo shoot such as this one, which I requested, I don't know how to pose and end up with awkward pictures. Then again, it does make for a good laugh. Anyway, here's the winning caption for the moment:

"Oh, no! I just sneezed."

Because it Wouldn't Be a Mommy Blog Without a Bit of Potty Talk

See this sweet princess? We haven't seen much of her lately. The princess in this picture is wearing a diaper. A blissful and carefree little princess.

Now our darling little girl wears underwear. She has had enough successes in the past 4 days that we feel obligated to deem her "ready" for this big step in her life.

On the other hand, last I remember her screaming at me as frequently as she has in the past 4 days was when she was about this size,

Her world has been turned upside down and my world right along with it. I was just thinking the other day what a nice routine our family has fallen into. Life had become as predictable as can be expected and all were content and happy. I was cherishing the moment, knowing that it would all end in July.

Then I had to go and end it 15 weeks sooner.

I am mourning the loss of diapers right now. Mourning the days when elimination could be taken care of on my time line. Even a stinky diaper can wait two minutes while mommy applies her mascara. Not so do-able when the two year old announces, "I have to go potty!" or better yet, "(with a screech) Mommy! I going pee-pee in my underwear! (screeeeeeech) Mommy!"

I fear that by the time she has really figured this potty training business out we will then bring home a new baby to throw her world into a brand new bundle of chaos.

Such is life, I suppose. Bring it on.


I think.

The Belly: 25 Weeks

A doctor's appointment Wednesday confirmed that:

1) Everything is just fine with both mommy and baby.
2) I am now 3 for 3 with a 10 pound weight gain between weeks 20 and 24 of my pregnancies. With my first two I then only gained between 3-5 pounds for the rest of the pregnancy, let's hope that is also a pattern that continues. Oh right, I fired the scale so really I don't care. Uh huh.
3) Baby weighed 1 pound 12 ounces. The squirt has gained more than half a pound since my last belly shot. Go baby!