I suck.

I haven't written in this here blog in a long time. There are lots of reasons:

1. I have been moving states.
2. I have been living with more people.
3. Those people are grandparents.
4. I have gone on vacation.
5. Those vacationing people are my people, and therefore stay up late a lot, resulting in very little time for me to blog as I need most of my free time for catching up on sleep.
6. M has been sick.
7. I have been sick, twice!
8. R has been studying for the bar, which while stressful is not that interesting to write about. It pretty much sucks the same all the time. It's done at the end of July :)
9. I have been reading Harry Potter.
10. R got in a car accident (not his fault, but an 18-year-old's who apparently only looks one way when attempting to left turn through oncoming traffic), and now we have/get to buy a new car with our $6,200 check they are to give to us shortly. R informed me he wants a Toyota Carolla. My sister T informed me that she looked at a Carolla and a Honda Civic 5 years ago, bought the Civic, and doesn't regret it.
11. We are scouring AZ for an apartment with covered parking, lots of storage, near a gym and a bus stop, a security fence, and located on the second floor so we can store R's bike. Plus lots of other things like a playground, no scorpions, blah blah blah.
12. And finally, specific to this night, I JUST WATCHED HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. Booyah!
    

Some things.

So the last few days have been "fun", if you will. M decided to get a fever, a rash and a sassy new attitude all in a few short days. It's pretty amazing. Then today R comes home and M runs up to him and smiles and eats his dinner willingly. It's like he knows how to set up a good bit for his father. R to M: "Oh, how could Mommy slander your tiny little name? She's just making things up that aren't true." But I had witnesses today! Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt H all witnessed the gnashing of teeth and rending of clothing this afternoon.

Of course I love the little man, and I feel genuinely bad about his little viral infection, but the sassy new attitude is quite the new challenge for me, let me tell you. It's easier to give Tylenol and snuggles than to overlook your cute mini-man throwing a little tantrum. It was easy when he used to be this way, because he would still be very sweet as long as I was calm and tried to distract him. Not so any longer. It didn't matter how calm I was, there was a little fit to be had. It didn't stop for about an hour.

So we learned about "taking some time to calm down", and that sometimes Mommies need to do it too (which this Mommy did later). After M took a forced reading break for 45 minutes, things were good for about an hour. But then it went downhill again (something about "ice cream? ice cream!) I could feel the yelling start to come out and promptly plopped into a chair and explained to M that Mommy needed a break. To his little tiny credit he said "break", thought a little about it, and then started whining again.

I don't think I'll give him back though, or sell him to the highest bidder or anything like that. We read a book before bed and when Emmy kissed Timothy the lamb, M said "Mommy kiss!" and jumped down and ran over to me, making smooching noises. Then he quietly listened to scriptures and even knelt down by himself for prayers for the first time. R thinks M is also a wise little shrimp, and that he knows when he's gone too far. I think it's also that Heavenly Father made them adorable on purpose so that even days like this are worth it.

I'm a peacemaker in society

So I discovered today that my life path number is 11, which according to astrology-numerology.com makes me the abovementioned as well as idealistic, intuitive, avante-garde, a fixer, a mediator, etc. R is also a life path number of 11, but he ends up different than me because he's a Capricorn and I'm a Virgo. For example his Birth Tree is a Fir (the Mysterious), but mine is a Weeping Willow (the Melancholy). I think it's fun to read these things, but maybe that's just because I like mine. I can't fully enjoy it without thinking of the very likely possibility that even if I were to have a reading, a website is a far cry from the "real" thing.

p.s. Has anyone got a story about how they don't fit their astrological/numerological signs at all? I'm curious.

I'm kinda a nerd

May 31st: (Another) Day of Reckoning

So I'm typing here knowing full well that while I have kept off the 10 pounds I already lost by March 1st, I have yet to get those pesky "6 more". I'm about to go and weigh myself for the official number. I predict that I have not gotten all 6 pounds, but a mere 2 with 4 more to go. I'll be right back...

...I was right. Poo. However, I shall keep going. I'm wearing my Motivational Shorts today, which are new and cute and just barely too tight. It will feel excellent in a few weeks when they are more loose on the old waist. More salads, more fruits and veggies, more will-power!

One more solemn post

Why it is better than it was a few days ago:

• R is starting bar review classes tomorrow
  
• I bought 2 new pairs of capris, and (gasp) a pair of shorts
• M has his new brown sandals (thanks to generous grandparents :))
• M has been taking 12-hour nights and 3-hour naps: a better schedule than MI!
  
• I'm going to the Medicaid office today to apply
• I'm calling around for a car repair place to replace our back tires
• I just need a Wal-mart* trip for groceries and hangers (to make me feel super-duper accomplished)
• Jess took some amazing pics of M (and even a couple of M and me together), that shall be posted forthwith
• M liked the nursery in a new ward
  
• M went to the gym's day care today for 45 minutes without crying too hard for too long
  

So it's looking up my friends. I feel like I can just take this one day at a time and eventually settle into loving my new surroundings. (It helps to speculate with R about returning to MI with our kiddos someday for a football game, some cider mill adventuring, and even a trip down to Cedar Point.) (It also helps to think that come November of this year, we won't be gearing up for 5 months of winter. Sorry Ann Arborites :)) So, catch-22.

*Although I have a bit of a moral dilemma when it comes to evil Wal-mart it is overshadowed by our lack of fundage.

AZ for me

So we're here, and I'm all weirded out by not posting to y'all on my own computer. It's just not the same. I'll have to write more later when we figure out the stupid internet connection for our trusty laptop.

Here's a quick rundown of what we've accomplished in the last few days:

• had movers come to our house on Monday to pack everything
• had our car moved from MI to AZ
• flown from MI to AZ with M and very heavy, nearly-bursting luggage in tow
• settled into the basement at R's parent's house
• gotten M to go to bed at 7pm local time and stay in bed until the next morning at 6:45am (even if he did wake up at 5:55)
• seen lots of cousins and family

Here's a quick rundown of what's hanging over my head to get finished:

• put together the real crib so M doesn't have to sleep in the Pack 'n' Play
• call the Medicaid office so we're covered for the summer (M has a 2 year appointment to keep)
• oh yeah, pick a freaking pediatrician
• buy hangers
• buy some pants that fit that aren't long, but capri-ish so I don't die when the heat picks up soon (it's actually only around 80-90 the last few days we've been here)
• buy M some brown sandals and some khakis for church

The stress level has lowered, and I've been lucky enough to score a free gym membership to the gym R's family goes to. (Not as much luck to the men that married into the family.) This is great, because they have lots of good cardio classes every day at 8 or 8:30, and they're just around the corner, and I've been able to work out most of the moving stress by getting, well, moving. More to come after further settling...

Book List: A List of Books

My friend K recently inspired me to return to my journal-writing tendencies, which I had lost a few years ago. I bought some composition books for about 89 cents apiece and labeled them: Books I've Read and Scripture Journal. I figure that between those two and this here blog, I should be trying to keep myself well-documented enough to qualify for adequate family history coverage. But as I wrote in my book journal (basically a paragraph blurb of each book I read as I go, so I will remember more about each one) I got to making a list of books I wanted to read. Then I realized that I got more excited about current and future books if I listed them. Something to look forward to makes the difference for me.

Plus if I list them here, I hope to generate any and all interest in more of you recommending even more books to read. I love the Friend Recommendation, so please feel free to suggest, coerce, and even threaten, depending on how much you like the book you're recommending. And without further ado...

...these are the books I want to read in the near future:

• The Book of Mormon (seriously, I've been slacking, and now it's on my list)
  
• The Doctrine and Covenants (see above)
  
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
• Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
• Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
  
• The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
• A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds
• Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
  
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
• Democracy In America by Alexis de Tocqueville
• Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
• Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee
• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
• The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
• Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
• Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
• How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will Too! by Sal Severe (yes you read the last name correctly)
• How To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
• What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know: Preparing Your Child for a Lifetime of Learning by E. D. Jr. Hirsch
• The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them by Elaine Aron
• The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking

So there you go. A strange list in some ways, but it's true, this is my list.

As M would say: BOOM!

There's a really cool thunderstorm going on outside my window right now. The thunder is so close that you don't have much warning and end up jumping now and then. I just finished The Secret Life of Bees on the recommendation of my sister T who loves it. It's set in South Carolina for the most part, and whenever I read stories set in the South (like the Flannery O'Connor stories that I just read) I get to imagine all the humidity, heat, lemonade, farms, porches, drawls, big yellow fields, etc. And then summertime kicks in wherever I am and it just makes my imaginings even more tangible, because of the thunderstorms.

In CA growing up there weren't as many as in UT, MI or AZ, so it's not like I can remain as cool as a cucumber when they come around. I get all excited like a big nerd and watch and listen and revel in the awesomeness of them. And I picture the storms as a Southern thing, which I don't even know for sure is the case. Now my Southern reading kick is complete with real life cooperation from the weather.

So. Soapbox.

This may or may not be entirely related to the PBS documentary, but I've been thinking things. As most of us do. But the thing(s) that keep coming up is (are) all about how I fit in the church as a woman, as an artist, as a dancer, as a mother, as a calling-holder, etc. It's all about me! But honestly, it's interesting to think about how we fit in to our ward families, our home families, and the roles set forth for our sexes.

As a woman: I feel like there is a combination of things happening in a ward. There is what I feel a good part of the time, which is acceptance and love. But then there's the feeling of the most obvious gender exclusion, which a woman on the documentary talked about: I don't have the priesthood and am therefore not as important in decision-making, nor do I have power that is equal. I don't get as caught up in this as Margaret Toscano (the documentary woman), but I think it may affect a lot of women in the church. Women who might be thinking that there's got to be a better answer to the question of equality.

One thing I will say: women in the church cannot be expected to accept the simple distinction of "men have priesthood, and women have motherhood" as a catch-all for any feelings of doubt or inferiority. For some this is enough. But for others it might not fully address all the questions. Is it wrong to go further? I mean, men do have the priesthood, and women do have motherhood. But not all women are mothers. And men have fatherhood. So we only have part of an answer.

I'm not sure what the whole answer is myself. But I would like to feel comfortable enough in a ward where we could talk about it free from the fear of sounding ungrateful, non-spiritual, and stupid for wondering. Personal feeling: I love being a mother. It's hard, boring, heart-wrenching, wonderful, scary, meaningful, and generally the most important thing I will ever do. I respect the priesthood, I think it's important, my husband is worthy of it, and our family can have a blessing if we ever need one. But even though I believe these things, I would still hesitate to openly discuss gender role issues in the church, for fear of ridicule. And that is the problem.

PBS Documentary

Has anyone been watching the PBS documentary called The Mormons? The first installment dealt with the Church's history (Joseph Smith, polygamy, Mountain Meadows Massacre, Book of Mormon). The second installment is tonight and deals with more contemporary topics. I'm assuming that they will address homosexuality in the Church and also blacks and the priesthood among other things. Both installments are on PBS from 9pm-11pm Eastern time. Even if you are in another time zone do not fear if you can't find the right to watch it, it will be available online on Wednesday. Highly recommended, especially if you like meaty subject matter to think/talk about.

I've been impressed so far with the balanced view they have presented, and also with their fearless attitude to difficult topics. There are interviews with those of many different backgrounds: historians in and out of the church, apostles, current members, former members, etc. Even those who disagree with the Church's teachings have interesting, well thought out arguments. R read several interview transcripts today, which give even more information than the four hour documentary itself. He said that Jeffery Holland's is particularly amazing, since he clearly states both his conviction in the faith as an apostle and his understanding of those who have opposing views.

So in order to celebrate this type of media attention, whether good or bad, we had a mormon party last night, ate mormon-themed foods, and generally had lots to talk about after the first installment was over. Tonight there won't be quite as much casserole and Jello, but still a lot to talk about. In my next post I will share some of my thoughts, and possibly get up on my soapbox a little. (Preview: I'm thinking mostly about women in the church and the disconnect between The Perfect Wife/Church Lady/Cook and who we all really are. And also how feminism comes in. You know, just one of those little topics.) Stay tuned.

Going back in time

I'm thinking of renouncing my dependence on our stupid, expensive car. Gas is pricey even when the rest of the car is working, which it soon will not be. Our steering wheel was wobbling, and I took it in this morning, and now it's $534 to get the wobble to stop. It's some reasonable explanation, like our tires are worn out and the tire rods are loose, but still! Alright, so it's really the type of thing that is basic maintenance and we shouldn't be so mad about. But come on car! Don't you know we're poor and could use a few more months before $500 is needed? Sheesh. It's becoming one of those "growing" times where we have to get creative. Here's my idea: to get back to basics and walk/bike everywhere. Like people did in the good ol' days.

R is just fine riding his bike in 70 degree weather to school. He does it anyways. Plus, the only place I really ever drive is the grocery store and the library, which are right next to each other. And around the corner. So M and I could forsake the evil car and walk every day over there. Good exercise, fun for M, and necessary! Possible cons: what if we buy popsicles and then walk home in 80 degrees? What if I want to go to the gym, usually a 10 minute drive? But is that so bad? So I buy icy things in bulk so they won't melt. So I use the apartment elliptical machine from now until May 23rd instead of going to the gym which I kind of hate anyways. I think this could work. Plus out car is getting towed to AZ when we move, and we can figure out what to do after it gets there. More walking to grocery stores, and use of public transportation. Although we may need a car for Ryan to get home from work some days. But that isn't until August when he'll start getting paid. Which means...we can pay for this stupid set of new tires! I think it's a good plan :)

P.S.

The ball run track toy thingy they had in the nursery was perhaps the best toy that M has ever seen. I know this because he sobbed all the way to the car, and halfway home until he finally stopped whimpering the word "balls? balls!" And because I can't think of a real name for it, I cannot find it ANYWHERE online. It's like a little roller coaster for a plastic ball, where you drop it in the top, and then it goes down all the little plastic chutes (like a water slide?!) until it drops to the bottom and you start all over again. Can anyone think of a good name for this? I have tried.

Basically I would like to buy my child's love and I can't do that very well unless you all help me find this bleeping toy. If you actually find it you will be giving M a really great birthday or Christmas present, depending on the price.

Getting to know UU

UU stands for Unitarian Universalist. The full name is Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and was our outing of choice this Sunday morning. Our friends Corey and Taryn belong this congregation, and R was invited to play The Jazz with Corey, who plays bass. So they jazzed it up, and we all experienced a new church.

You can't really call it church, since they changed the name this past year. Corey was telling us that they aren't sure what to say anymore when they "go to church". They've toyed with the idea of "going to congregation", or "attending the worshiptorium", which is my favorite.

Also, I guess there were about four families that stopped going to our ward about seven years ago and now attend the Unitarian congregation. Corey said that he knew one of them, and I was looking forward to seeing some of these folks, just because. But then M needed to make use of the crying room. And then the nursery. So. No nosiness for me.

compulsions

so i'm not sure if anyone else suffers from this affliction, but I cannot shut up when it comes to leaving a voice mail. if my friend Kristen is reading this, she knows from the last 2-3 days that I've had a recurrence of my ailment. twice have i called and just blabbed until my original point was beyond recognition. i'm a moron.

i have been mercilessly teased by a certain spouse of mine because of this. most times if i leave a message on an answering machine (remember those?) i run out of time and have to call back and finish my message. and a few times i've even had to call back twice. r does an impression that can only be done justice if you enjoy it live. you can request it sometime when you see him.

i apologize if you are expecting a phone call from me in the future and have the misfortune of not answering your phone in time. beware.

random things, listed

• I love The Cars. Especially while lifting the weights. Especially "Tonight She Comes". And most especially, the lovely synthesized beats.

• If you're prone to liking brownies, you should try making some and putting Cadbury's Mini Eggs on top about halfway through baking. So tastlich!
  

• M finally said "Hi" yesterday to his little mini-me (a neighbor's child who was visiting and looks quite similar to M at that age), Kurt. He also said "wow" and "choo-choo" and "car" and "ham" for the first time in the last few days. He also continues to say "ball" and "balls" about 200 times a day.
  

• I really like Thomas Hardy. One of my favorite books is Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and now I've picked up Return of the Native. He writes in such a way that I want to savor the words and read a little more slowly.
  

• I watched my friend's baby yesterday morning and it was good birth control. Not because he was bad, or that M was bad, but mostly because I can't imagine juggling two little people simultaneously. I think I'll be ready for this a little later...

• Yesterday morning there was snow and ice on my car. It simply isn't fair to have a week of 70 degrees and then have to go backwards in time to winter. Why? I bought T-shirts at Target for M, and their cuteness keeps getting covered up by sweatshirts.

• At the influence of my well-(dance)-educated pal Robin, I have felt the pull to read Making Connections by Peggy Hackney. I'm rediscovering my inner dance nerd. (In case you're wondering what it's all about, here you go: Bartenieff Fundamentals and Laban Movement Analysis are discussed in detail in ways to make you rethink the way you use/think of your body. In my case, I've been less slouchy while ellipticalling and now my left knee feels better. Also, I've been stretching and breathing with more focus on enjoying my time. It's rejuvenating, making your body more energized, and I recommend it.)

• Speaking of the previous bullet point, I'm thinking it might be a good choice for me to pursue becoming a movement analyst and bridging it to further study in psychology. Of course, it's one thing to say this, and quite another to have the time/money to do it. Am I crazy to think I can do this? Is it stupid?

• R has a pen. It's a Parker pen. Weirdly, R's grandpa used Parker pens, and Ryan didn't know until after he also got hooked using them back at BYU. So, possible pen gene.
  

• Correction: there didn't used to be snow and ice on my car, now there is snow and ice on my car. Again.

• I love blossomy trees.
  

it's only 9:32 and I can say with certainty that this is the funniest thing i will see/hear all day

M was watching Shrek (i know it's rated PG, but I screen it at some parts) and the scene where Cameron Diaz is singing with the bird was on. as she sang the fateful last note that blows up the cute little bird, i heard M sing along with her. he was shaking his head back and forth and yelling "ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

5 Telling Questions

My favorite M has a very witty, well-written blog. You should go there and partake of the funny. Also, you should read these questions she asked me (below), and see if the answers amuse you.

Name your top five movies of all time.
I'm going to have to count 3 movies as one, because they are the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I do mean the extended cuts. I'm not kidding. I don't know if it's just because I saw it recently, but I love Little Miss Sunshine. I have a special place in my heart for Hook, as well as The 'Burbs. To finish it off, I'll go with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Gene Wilder). The concept of "top five" is pretty fluid with me, by the way.

How did you come to major in dance at BYU?
I declared my major as civil engineering when filling out paperwork before leaving for BYU. Not sure why. I was told growing up that I was good at science (mostly by my family). I did well on the science reasoning section of the ACT, but other than that I'm not sure where this information came from considering that my grades were average. I think it was a misguided attempt at various family members to give me some self-esteem. Unfortunately that only works until you realize how good you actually are at something. But that's another story entirely. So after changing to microbiology upon BYU arrival I soon realized I couldn't get very good grades while also staying up until 4am most nights. Not to mention that microbiologists just sit in labs with fluorescent lighting. Which made me feel better about switching to psychology.

Now here was something I could enjoy! A nice soft science with plenty of room for self-discovery and lots of feelings. And the talking! Oh, the talking! Those of you who know me now, and especially those who knew me then, can appreciate how much of a good fit this was. (In fact, all joking aside, I'm planning on returning to school one of these days. I'm thinking of becoming some kind of counselor/therapist.)

I was missing something. Something ridiculously artistic and time-consuming. Something to be taken seriously, to pour my soul into, and to also take a chance with. I had barely any dance training, and even the training I had wasn't good, or recent. Plus I'd never done Modern dance before. But when I took my first class, I knew that I would be a part of it in any way I could. I found out that I'm an average dancer, but a good choreographer. I finally made the student choreography company after 4 consecutive semesters of being told I wasn't good enough. I've come away from the completion of my major with mixed feelings. It boils down to the love of the dancing/choreographing vs. the vast amount of selfish/difficult people you meet. It was hard. I'm still deciding how I feel about it.

What was your most unique experience working at the MOA?
Definitely when I caught the couple making out in a closed gallery. As if we wouldn't notice with all the cameras blinking around them, or care that they had clearly undone the partition to get back there. Not to mention that everyone was called into Control to watch the whole thing on camera while I took care of it, since it was my position at that hour. Cripes!

What will you miss about living in Michigan?
The diversity: lots of different foods, religions, skin colors, bumper stickers. And our good friends that live 2 doors down, who have a blog here, and quote Arrested Development as much as we do. And going on walks with (said friend) Kristen. And the falls and springs. And even the winters! And all the trees, which are everywhere. And the AADL.

*Warning, rant ahead: But NOT Bally Total Fitness, who I hate. You guys sucked before, and now you suck even more. Your new schedule is terrible. And I'm glad my contract is lapsing and I'm moving to a new place where I can join a better gym. The kind with nice people and good classes and, you know, space to work out in.

If you could be a superhero, what would your power be?
Flying, and seeing the future. I look forward sooo much to having flying dreams. It's the best feeling ever! Plus, then I could not worry so much about saving various family members from certain death, because I could foresee it and then fly to their rescue. (It seems cooler in my head, and more satisfying. But this paragraph just sounds like pretty much what Superman already does. Still.)
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1. Leave me a comment saying, "I too am an egomaniac."
2. I'll respond by asking you up to five questions. You will answer them, because you like talking about yourself.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Tiny Terror (in a good way)

I have prided myself on my ability to admit when I don't know something about raising a child. I'm clueless, and I'm a worrier and I over-think things. So I admit that I read books with a feverish fear of screwing M up, and then I feel better. I have faithfully worried about M ability to sleep well from the time he was only 8 weeks old. He responded really well to the ploys from Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I followed the rules, age appropriately, and found myself enjoying a sleep schedule. Joyous occasion!

I've enjoyed this schedule, though it has changed as M has grown, nearly every day of M's sleepy little life. Of course there was the flu in winter of aught 6, and the 2-3 times he decided to shock us by falling asleep at 8pm (gasp! not the usual 7pm!) after the time change. But the vast majority of nights have been uneventful, confident sleep routines that end with a sleeping ball on the TV screen of our baby monitor. And jokes about how cute he is, and shouldn't we wake him up and play with him? ha ha. But even when we joked about it, laughing heartily, it always managed to trail off into a nervous remembering chuckle of when he was younger. Colicky. Not so sleepy. We the parent zombies. Yikes.

Well, let's just say that all those jokes caught up with us. Maybe it was karma that was coming to collect it's rightful dues. Maybe it was M's understanding of our conversations, more than we realized. No matter the reason, last night was a roller coaster of worrying-mother emotion. The Boy pushed himself so far by the time we went in to get him, that he (luckily) ended up with "utter astonishment" and "head-shaking exasperation" and even "giggling tiredness" as his mother's prime emotions. Had he given up earlier in the night, he may have chanced upon some "frazzled patience" or even some "loving frustration".

Those of you who might hear this and think, "Ha! It can't be true. We've met M and he's a lovely, mellow child not capable of such shenanigans!" must please view the picture I have attached as proof of said shenanigans. I rest my case. And just in case you can't read the sticker I placed on his pajamas, it reads: "It's 11:39pm and I'm awake. And did I mention I'm a stinker?" You'll notice the content look on The Boy's face as he happily counts to three with me while we take the picture.

In an unrelated incident, I thought I would point out that M is generally getting in touch with genes I may or may not have given to him in terms of pestery hi-jinks. It's just good natured curiosity. And if it isn't the funniest thing I've seen since M has been born.

I have to admit that I'm a little bit proud of this imaginative whirlwind. My mom always joked that I would get a crazy kid after all the silliness and energetic activities she had to put up with. Even R seems somewhat pleased that I'm getting what I deserve.

But the joke's on them! I think it's funny, and even a little impressive. Not to mention a source of pride, that one so young would want to follow in his mother's fun-loving footsteps.

not-so-happy naptime

well, today M is still rebelling the time change (from a couple of weeks ago), and refused to take his nap until 2 hours later than usual. i'm not sure what to do with the little guy! i think he broke my spirits a little though, because usually i can be strong and just leave him in there until he falls asleep. but after an hour of trying to leave him in there (knowing full well that he knew it was sleepy time) i caved and got him up. and he was just so cute playing with his noah's ark that i couldn't stay mad for too long :) so he played for about 20 minutes and then started holding his blanket and sucking his little fingers. and now he's sleeping, so i can't really claim that it's been that bad.

(this whole terrible 2's thing isn't very fun at all. he is just getting too smart for his own good. and yes, i know that it could be worse. in fact, i know other 2-year-olds that are more difficult. but it's still kind of...challenging.)

(also, i know that M isn't 2 yet. so the terrible 2's won't be official until July 7.)