Nap Time

Just because he was resisting and delaying nap time each day, it didn't mean he didn't need it!

I felt pretty bad when a woman in the grocery store pointed out to me how tired Ked was. I was busy comparing prices until I saw his heavy eyelids, rubbing eyes, and finally the head go down. I found a bib for some padding and he slept while I quickly finished. Ked is not usually the type that will sleep anywhere other than his bed (or occasionally in his car seat).

Ked has been resisting his naps (crying and climbing out of his crib and destroying anything he could find in his room when I'd try--a major battle for hours some days) ever since I took the pacifier away. (This also made bedtime much more difficult, but he would at least eventually sleep.) After a week or two I gave in and handed him back the pacifier. Bliss. I love that thing. Except when he wants to keep it while he's awake. That's a whole other battle (especially when I'm trying to get him to eat), but one I'll gladly take over the alternative for the time being. . . It's been so nice having him sleep again!

Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center

We had a great visit to the temple during Sam's spring break. Someday we hope to live much closer to a temple. (Right now it takes about 4 1/2+ hours to get there.) It was so good to feel nearer to my Heavenly Father, to feel the warmth and peace and clarity of mind, and to be reminded of the great blessings we receive as we live faithfully. Sam and I went in separately so we could take turns watching Ked. Ked enjoyed the visitor's center a lot. I enjoyed watching him enjoy it. (I won't mention how much he exhausted me since he never wanted to sit still!)

Ked 18 months

Fort Fun

Ked loves when his dad makes him a fort. Ked has taken on the responsibility of pulling the cushions off the couch and putting them on the floor--apparently the fort is not complete without them.

This was when we made the fort as part of our Monday night Family Home Evening. It's been fun as Ked has been getting older to cater more to him in our activities. We try to play with him anyway, but it's nice to have one night when he's guaranteed a lot of attention from both of us together. He loves it! Now if we can just get him to sit still during his 30 second scriptural lesson. . . Actually, he does a pretty good job with that too. He likes to point at things in the pictures.

Feb. 28, 2011

I Shall Be Whole

Rinita, la Bonita. That's what I called Rina when we were neighbors and then roommates; a great friend of mine (and of many). I was pretty excited to open the Ensign and see this painting with her as the model. (The author, Al Young, is the father of Elspeth Young, also an amazing painter and person and another friend who was in our ward in Provo.)

Rina taught me much about having faith in our Savior, and also about charity, compassion, service, perseverance, and striving to do what is right. So it is appropriate that in this painting, she represents this woman from the Bible.

"And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

"For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

"But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."

(Matthew 9: 20-22)

Surprise Greetings

After just a few minutes in the bathroom, this is what I found when I came out. Except when I first came out, his diaper was in his hands. I'm not sure how I feel about this new independent stage. . . especially the part where he can undress himself.

Yesterday I left Ked in his room during nap time, even after I heard him getting out of his pack-n-play. I was listening and knew he was getting into things, but didn't realize the extent. Lesson learned. (His diaper bag had snacks and a roll of toilet paper--to be used as tissue--in it.)

Ked 18 months

Our Little Dish Washer

Ked LOVES dish washing time. Hopefully he still feels that way when he's a little older and it's his job. . .

Ked is very insistent on being involved once he hears the dishes clanking and the water running, and will do anything to get to the water (as you can see here). It's gotten to the point that Sam won't do dishes until after Ked is in bed, keeping things much easier and drier.

On the rare occasions I do the dishes, Ked and I have a deal. I wash; he rinses.

Ked 17 months

Babies in the Oven

As Sam and I knelt down to say our morning prayer together one morning in the living room, Ked quickly seized the opportunity to get into the kitchen, open the oven door, climb up on it, and play with the racks and the stove above. (Thankfully he can't turn it on.) As you can imagine, this made a fair amount of racket. As Sam was praying, he asked for a blessing on "the baby in the oven." I thought it was a little odd he used this phrase in a prayer, but then when I heard Ked clanking away in the oven, I couldn't help but release a muffled laugh, and (being a Z) I couldn't stop the whole way through the prayer. On hearing me start to laugh, Sam realized why I was laughing and added, "bless both babies in the oven." Well, it wasn't the most reverent prayer, but we were sincere!

I was pleasantly surprised with an ultrasound at my first appointment, and I was amazed at how fully formed and squirmy and kickin' and punchin' our little sprite was! Pretty amazing, and while I've already been really excited, seeing such a confirmation made me ecstatic! We are due in August.

Oh, what do you do in the winter time...?

Do you turn your table upside down like this. . .

after finding your kid multiple times like this?

(Ked, Jan. 2011; 16 1/2 months)

Christmas, etc.

Ked was ecstatic to be greeted by a new dog when we arrived at Sam's parents for Christmas. (One of Ked's first "words" was "Issadog!") Ked and the dog both loved each other and drove each other crazy.

Ked has enjoyed this homemade Christmas present. . . but it wasn't quite as cool as his cousin's new bike.

Ked also liked his harmonica, but he wanted me to blow it.

Ked and Sam outside the Nauvoo temple, waiting for the bride and groom. It was cold! One of these days I'll get some pictures up of the happy couple--Shannon and Kyle. We were so happy to be there with them.

Shoveling Snow

What do you do with a boy with bounteous energy?

You put him to work!

Christmas Eve Day, at Sam's parents'. Ked loved the snow shovel.

Nativity Temptation

Figuring out where to put my Nativities this year was tricky--they had to be out of Ked's reach. Of course, he still found ways to get to them. . . He especially loved the nesting dolls a friend gave me and the little sheep of the porcelain set that my youngest sister made me.

I love how he is cradling the baby Jesus here.

I eventually moved most of the Nativities to a shelf in the bookcase. But then Ked figured out that he could climb onto his toy box to reach it. So I took the lid off of his toy box. . . and he put it back on. So I hid the lid, and finally, all was safe.

Studious

I love viewing Ked in his quiet moments. Except this one made me nervous. . .

(Ked 12/15/2010; 15 1/2 months)

He does like to look through books on the couch (usually upside down, as both of these pictures show).

(Ked 1/13/2011; 16 1/2 months)

Keeping Mom Busy

(Ked) One day I figured out how to move the chairs all around the house and get into anything I couldn't normally reach--top drawers, shelves, the sink, the stove--and I could get onto the kitchen table even when Mom and Dad remembered to push their chairs in.

(Ked, 12/1/2011; 15 months)

It was great until Mom hid all the chairs in the back room (and subsequently got holes in the knees of her jeans from kneeling down at the kitchen table all the time).

Then I figured out I could still use my push car to get a few places. That worked until Dad added child-proof latches to the upper drawers too.

(Ked 12/5/ 2010; 15 months)

Then I figured out I could open the oven door, climb on top of it, and play both in the oven and on the stove! Mom does NOT like this, but so far she hasn't been able to figure out a way to keep me out of it, except to guard it very carefully when anything is hot. She's glad I can't reach to turn anything on.

(Ked 12/8/ 2010; 15 months)

Mom turns the desk chair on it's side so I don't get into everything on the top of the desk, and so I can't hit the button on the computer that makes it crash every time. (She doesn't even know what button I push, but I hit it all the time!) I don't get upset when she turns the chair over (like I do when she takes the other chairs away), because at least it gives me my own personal jungle gym.

(Ked 12/5/ 2010; 15 months)

Ked's Flip

Ked got himself into his pack-n-play twice this morning (with the aid of a chair and with the purpose of retrieving his pacifier). I didn't see him either time (though I did hear a thud the first time), and I decided to see if he'd do it again with me watching (and recording).

If I'd known how he was going to do it, I don't think I would have encouraged it. This is definitely not what I was expecting! (I guess it is the same thing he does on the couch all the time, but the couch is a lot more padded!) Notice how he glances at the pacifier, gives a little excited laugh, preps and bends his knees, then just goes for it!

Ked 16 months

In Gratitude

I used to tell my 9th grade students that they were richer and lived better than most of the kings and queens who have ever lived on the Earth. And that even the poorest in the room lived better than millions of people who currently exist. They would look at me like I was crazy, until I would explain.

For example, take into account how long people have been around and how long modern day plumbing has been around (and where it still doesn't exist). Have a flushing toilet? What a great convenience we so easily take for granted. I remember a Filipino teacher of mine (one of my favorites) telling me how amazed she was at the flushing toilets when she came into the airport after first arriving here. I, on the other hand, often lament that I do not have my own washer and dryer in my home. But then I also recognize that I should still be very grateful I can still take it to the laundry room a hundred yards away. And that even if I had to wash it by hand, I still have water running out of a tap with almost no effort on my part. And that water is clean, and it can come out hot! Again, with practically no effort on my part.

How about how long it takes us to prepare our food? Granted that a king or queen may not have to prepare their own food (or wash their own laundry, etc.), but for the vast majority that have ever existed, even they couldn't obtain a fresh orange or head of lettuce from another country in the middle of a frigid winter with the ease we can, or have something heated within seconds of their requesting it as we can with our electric heating conveniences. Most horrifying to me is the thought of not having an electric heater in the midst of frigid winters. And now that I live in what can be the very hot and humid east, the thought of not having an AC in the summer! While being pregnant or caring for a very young one, especially. And speaking of pregnancy and young ones, or any medical condition for that matter, can you imagine what it would be like, not having the security of knowing there are many medical techniques, medicines, machines, etc. that can help you out if something goes wrong?

Well, I could go on and on and on, but instead, I should just try to be more grateful. And what I mentioned here is more on the materialistic side, but what I am most grateful for is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and family. And freedom, which best allows for both of the aforementioned. And if I wrote about having gratitude for those, then you'd really see a long blog post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ked's First Tear

I don't know if this is common or not, but I had never seen Ked shed a single tear until today--at 14 months of age. I'd seen some moistness just around the eye occasionally, and a small amount of liquid gathering in the corner of the eye, but never a drop sliding down his cheek.

Ked was feasting on his pieces of tomato and peeled cucumber slice. (Somehow, very undeservingly, I produced a vegetable lover! I am very grateful this kid won't have to spend many long nights at the dinner table trying to not gag, staring and poking at the dreaded vegetables as I did!) Seemingly out of nowhere, he suddenly started to cry in agony. I'm assuming he bit down on his cucumber right where his swollen gum is working on a tooth. I knelt down beside him to comfort him, and was surprised to see the liquid in his eyes welling up. I commented to Sam that it almost looked like he might get a tear, and sure enough, one blink later, there it was! A beautiful little droplet sliding down his cheek, adding to the tender-heartedness I was already feeling towards my poor boy's suffering.

You probably can't see it in this small picture, but it's there. I'm guessing that since he's been teething today and already passing excessive amounts of liquid through his nasal and oral orifices, there was also an excessive amount of liquid readily available for his ocular channels. Thankfully, he was happy and content just moments later.

Chutes and Ladders, Ked-style

When an empty chair was left up against the couch, it took Ked no time at all to figure out this new activity. He did it over and over and over again, getting more and more hyper as he went. (This was taken after he'd been going a while and was getting a little worn out.) Sometimes he'd kind of somersault as he headed down. I love how he pauses to squeal into the couch in this shot. (Sorry, Sums, about the abuse to your couch!)

Ked 14 months

Up

I'm trying to refrain from posting too many of these types of pictures, but all this boy wants to do is climb and explore!





















Somebody left a chair out. . .

















Thankfully, only one type of "Fall" was viewed on this occasion.












This was the day that Ked realized he could use his little push car as a portable stool. He took it all over the house to explore new areas he'd previously been unable to reach. Look at those tip-toes! (Sorry this one was right after a diaper change and before I could catch him to get his pants on!)








Ked between 13 and 14 months

Halloween

Wednesday we had a great time at our church's Trunk-or-Treat.




The only requirement I had for Ked's costume was that it involved a stick. My sister suggested Harry Potter with a wand. The blonde and glasses-less Draco Malfoy was easier. Ked only carried his stick wand for a while, but he loved his broom.


















Peanut Butter and Jelly. Sam came up with the idea; I came up with the costumes. We thought about performing the song together. . .












Ked and his cousins Lindy, Paige, and Kaden















It was great to get to see Summer and her family there too!












This is the only full family photo we've had in a while. . . time for a new one!


Ked wasn't into the whole Trick-or-Treating thing (which is fine, since he wasn't going to eat any of it anyway), but we had fun seeing all the costumes and handing out candy.

Can Stacking

For the last few weeks, Ked (13 months) has been stacking cans. (Of course the only place he wants to stack them is on our living room table! I guess it's a good thing it was already dinged up when we got it.) He carries them from the kitchen, one at a time. I love watching him figure out how to stack them so they "connect." He's more successful some times than others.

Three cans had always been as high as he'd tried until I was watching him this time.

Second try success! And he's back to the kitchen for another. . .
The leaning tower of Ked.

This is a split-second before the mean mommy ended the game and the little boy cried. Notice that's a 29 ounce can in his hands.


Before he started stacking cans, he was just "setting the table" from any kitchen item he could reach. He still does this, and I love watching him walk back and forth with different items while I work in the kitchen. And I especially love that he is now sometimes putting things back too!
For a month or so, I've been meaning to put these things somewhere out of his reach, but now I'm not sure I want to (though the heavy cans definitely concern me). The bananas were NOT supposed to be within his reach, though--he got those off the table. And proceeded to take a few bites off the top and spit them out.

10/5/2010: Ked 13 months