Christian

Monday was Christian's birthday. Unfortunately, I am having computer problems and can't upload any photos. Those will have to come later. However, I would like to share with you some of my favorite things about Christian.

*He is FUNNY. He says funny things and makes funny faces. Recently, he asked how babies get out. I asked if he really wanted to know. He said, "I mean, do they come out the mouth?" He then acted out what this would look like (which was funny enough!) and then said, "OOPS, I just bit my baby!" We laughed so hard that he forgot about the original question.

*He has old man eyebrows. Not cute on old men. Irresistible on a little boy. He knows how to work them, too.

*He is the most generous child - no, person - I have ever met. He is so willing to give and share and love.

*He is smart. His brain works like no one's I have ever met. It is always going, figuring things out. Plus, he is a math whiz.

*He loves me. Sometimes he doesn't show it (or maybe sometimes when I think he's not showing it, he's actually saying, "Mom, I'm upset right now and I know that if I act this way now, although there will be consequences, you will still love me. I am safe."). He often tells me that he loves me and that he thinks I am the best mom in the world. Precious boy.

*He is snuggly.

*He has the greatest laugh I have ever heard. It is contagious. I can't imagine that Scrooge himself could resist that laugh.

*He is our Zebra. Before he was born, we asked Ashton what she thought we should name the new baby. She said Zebra. And she was serious. When we told her that he would be named Christian, but that she could call him Zebra if she wanted to, she sobbed. He was Zebra. When she met him for the first time after he was born, she walked right up to him and pet his tiny head and said, "Hi, baby Zebra." He is still Zebra sometimes.

*He is a friend to everyone.

*He has a testimony. He loves the scriptures.

This is just a short list of things I love about him. He is a blessing to our family and I am so grateful for him. I have learned so much from being his mom. I love that boy.

Some Angels I Know

Pregnancy is hard. Not only am I sick, but I get pregnancy depression and some other junk. It is not a party, I tell you. This past week has been emotionally one of the hardest I can remember. Well, and physically, too. I won't go into details, but let's just say that among other things, Doug was out of town for part of it and I was too sick to get out of bed for two days. My house fell apart around me. It was the dirtiest it has EVER been. Plus, I was sick and depressed, as you will remember. I felt like everything might be more than I could bear. So, I prayed. I had been praying all along, but this time it was different. This time I asked to feel that the Lord was aware of me. I knew that He was, but was feeling terribly alone and wanted to FEEL His awareness.

A short time later, I got a call from my friend Tiffany. She said, "Jessica, I've been talking to Amy and Sara. We've decided to form a house-cleaning group where we go to each other's houses once a week and clean. It's always easier to clean when you are with friends. Then, your house is really clean once a month. Do you want to join us?"

"I would love to, but I'm so sick and I don't know how much I can do..."

She interrupted me. "I know. That's why were starting tomorrow with your house and all you have to do is make sure the kids stay alive..."

I started sobbing. That ugly sob. In her poor ear. She forgave me, though, I think. She just said, "I'll take that as a yes. There's only one rule. You're not allowed to be embarrassed. We'll be there at 10."

Those three angels showed up at my house and cleaned it. Really cleaned it. At first I was really embarrassed, in spite of the rule, because it was, as I said, the worst it has EVER been. But, they just worked with such love and compassion that it filled my whole house and my whole heart and left no room for embarrassment.

My Heavenly Father knew what I needed the most right then and He wanted me to know that He knew it. So, he whispered into the ears of some angels and sent them my way to answer my prayer in a way I hadn't imagined.

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I got a new widget for my blog. It should be showing up right there --------------->

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Potty Mouth

Why do adventures always take place on the potties, I ask you?

One day, Doug came into the kitchen laughing so hard he could barely stand up. There were tears streaming from his eyes. "Your baby is so funny," he said.

"Why? What happened?"

He proceeded to tell me a story. You see, Roxie has a toy phone. It's a very smart phone. About ten seconds after you put it down, it rings. That way the kids stay interested.

So the story begins. Roxie went into the bathroom (the master bathroom, Doug was in our room watching the whole thing) and put the phone on the counter. She got ready and just as she was climbing onto the potty, the phone rang. What is a girl to do? She climbed down and answered it. "Hello? Hi! How are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking. Bye." She put the phone down and ran back over to the potty. No sooner had she climbed up than the phone rang. A little exasperated, she climbed down and answered it. "Hello? Hi. How are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking. Bye." And she ran back to the potty. She climbed up and - you guessed it - the phone rang again. Who could it be this time? But, she dutifully hopped down and answered the phone, having the same conversation as always, this time while doing a potty dance. Doug said she did this about ten times before she realized that she could bring the phone with her. She did so and was finally able to find relief while chatting.

A few days later, while we were at the gym waiting for the big kids to finish their JiuJitsu classes, Roxie decided she needed to go potty. I let her go in the stall by herself. It was her first time. She went in, did her business, and flushed. Then, in a panicky voice she said, "MOM, THE WATAY!" (She doesn't say her R's. She replaces them with an AY. It just wouldn't be the same if I told you she yelled WATER.) No sooner did she say it than I heard the water spilling over the top of the toilet and on to the floor. Apparently the previous user of that stall had used too much TP.

"Open the door!" I screamed.

"THE WATAY!" she screamed.

"Unlock the door!" I screamed.

"THE WATAY!" she screamed.

"Unlock the door!" I screamed.

"THE WATAY! THE WATAY!" she screamed.

Finally, I screamed louder and she regained focus for just long enough to unlock the stall door. I scooped her up and had to run downstairs and tell the big muscle-men at the front desk that the potty had flooded.

Never a dull moment with the potties, I tell you.