Sissy Goo turns 1

The Party

The Birth

(Some of these pictures are a little trippy to me, because Ember looks so much like Reagan did then.)

Ember's first birthday totally snuck up on me this year. Despite a busy weekend and lack of much time to plan, we still managed to celebrate accordingly last Sunday on her actual birthday. If subsequent children's birthday parties keep following suit, by the 9th or 10th child, I'll probably just throw a cupcake to them in the back seat of the car and call it good. Just kidding, we are not having 10 kids. I still might throw a cupcake at them though, just because it sounds kind of fun. Ember (we'll call her Sissy, I never call her Ember) is just the sweetest little baby I could have ever asked for. She and Reagan could not be more different, but they each play such a dynamic role in the way that our family "is." Sissy is such a quiet and sensitive little girl, and she makes me feel so loved. If there is one word that embodies what this girl is all about, it is "love." Love and tenderness just permeate from her. She looks at me and I melt. She is an observer and a deep thinker. Now, her deep thinking may be about food, but when she looks at or watches something, you can almost see the wheels turning in her round little bulb-head. Yes, she inherited the big ol' Pratt forehead, and I just love it (although, it almost certainly means a lifetime of the age-old question and one that I have struggled with myself, "bangs or no bangs?") She looks so much like my dad to me, only a much prettier version - no offense, dad, you're still pretty. She's got the squinty Pratt eyes to go along with it. My most favorite thing about my Sissy Goo is that she is such a good cuddler. Reagan stopped wanting to cuddle with me much when she became mobile (although she wants to now, which I like), but Ember gives me hugs and kisses about every five minutes, complete with her own sound effects - "aaaaaaw." This also means that she MUST be in the same room as me at all times, which has its own problems, but we won't get into that. =) I love her so much - she is the kind of child that really makes me realize on a day-to-day basis why I have kids and why I want more. I look at her and there is no doubt that this beautiful little girl came to me for a reason. She has helped me to learn to slow down, and reminds me constantly how much Heavenly Father must love me. I am so grateful for this little soul in our home. We all love her so much - I love that she needs me and thinks that I am just about the greatest thing that ever existed. Jason loves that she will grab his face and give him kisses and cuddles. Reagan loves having a little friend that just adores her and laughs at everything she does. She came into this world peacefully and continues to create a safe, peaceful feeling in our home. Happy Birthday, Sis.

Maurice the Beast

If you know my Reagan, you know of her immense love for the Disney Princesses. It was never my intention to introduce these perfectly skinny, big busted, and big-haired cartoon characters to my daughter before she was, say, five or six, but she has gotten a few gifts here and there of princess books and dresses, and now she is hooked. Have you ever noticed that all of the princesses come from single parent homes? In most, there is not even mention what happened to the other parent. I am forced to believe that all of these mysterious and estranged Disney mothers and fathers all live somewhere in a big castle in the sky, probably bitter that they didn't get their fifteen minutes of fame when their daughters and spouses/baby's daddy's or mommy's did. Reagan has only seen Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty and now she is thoroughly convinced that she is Belle. So, when the opportunity came along to see a Beauty and the Beast play put on by a local high school, as well as a meet-and-greet tea party with Belle, we could not pass it up. Belle happened to be played by a darling girl that is a friend of my brother's from our Stake. We knew many of the other cast members, and I was so impressed with the talent. Reagan was in absolute awe. I was so impressed with the talent - at least I think I was - I was probably watching Reagan 90% of the time. It was so much fun seeing her reaction, especially when Belle would sing and dance. That's my girly girl. It has been weeks, and she has not stopped talking about it. The play was 2.5 hours long, and Reagan sat through the entire thing, absolutely mesmerized. That is no small feat. My favorite things about all of this is that, for some reason she thinks the Beast's name is Maurice, which is actually Belle's father's name, and that when he finally turns into a prince at the end, his name is "Handsome." True story. I love that girl. A funny side note - there is a huge billboard down the street from our house with Belle and "Maurice" dancing on it, with Lumiere in the corner holding a platter of fruits and veggies. I think it's supposed to encourage healthy eating and active lifestyles, but I think it's funny because Beauty and the Beast is so 1991 and it seems like there are more recent Disney characters that kids would recognize more? Anyways, Reagan loves that sign and every day when we drive by it she screams "Looks! It's Belle and Maurice!" Being the clever person that I am, I always tell her "Yeah! I put that up there just for you!" to which she replies, "Thank you, momma, you're the best!" Yes, Reagan, I am.

Vacation

Just got back from a lovely little trip to Las Vegas, where I visited my old college roommates, cousins, and friends in my friend KT's beautiful home.
I decided last minute to bring both girls with me. Previously, I had just planned on bringing Ember.
I should probably always trust my first instincts.
Flight there - Not so bad, even though people weren't very helpful. (Interesting note - people are much more willing to help you + kids when your significant other is with you, as opposed to just being by yourself. Weird.)
I got really hot and sweaty and nervous going through security.
Security was the worst part, besides Reagan socking Ember in the face right as the plane was landing. Lovely! Gotta love kids.
First night - okay. The girls didn't sleep great, but that was to be expected in a new place.
Next day - girls have fevers and start coughing...BAD.
The next two days were a blur of runny noses, hacking coughs, LOTS of whining and tears, BUT...
Lots of laughter, smiles, love, and feeling really grateful to have the best friends I could ever ask for.
In fact, even after we found out the girls most likely have RSV and have passed it onto my friends' babies, they still tell me they love me and they are sorry my kids are so sick.
SERIOUSLY?? There is nothing worse than getting other people's kids sick.
I am usually so cautious about keeping my kids germ-free and away from people when they are sick. I always complain about people taking their deathly ill kids out in public.
This time, the tables were turned. It was rather unavoidable. A rather embarrassing and humbling experience for me.
I am embarrassed to admit this, but after day two of being there and being totally stressed out because my kids sounded like they were dying and I wasn't able to enjoy the time with my friends, I made the call.
Yes. I called Jason. I pleaded for him to come rescue me. And you know what? He did.
He was on the next possible flight to Las Vegas, after planning a restful and productive weekend for himself at home. Cheap? NO. Worth it for my sanity? YES.
Could I have done it? Probably. Maybe? No.
I don't really have shame in saying this. At first I did, but you know what? I'm learning. No amount of tips or tricks were going to save me from the wrath of my children who weren't really even acting remotely like my children this weekend.
I have to say, in our almost five years of being married, this was probably the sweetest, most romantic thing Jason has ever done for me. Rather symbolic, I think - him dropping everything to come save me and bring me home safely. Not the first and most definitely not the last time he will do that for me. I love him.
My friends are beautiful, talented, funny, sincere - I am lucky to call those women (and their husbands) my best friends. They make me laugh and no matter how long it has been since we have seen each other last, it always feels just like yesterday. Their kids are pretty darn cute too.
So, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? If we're talking about germs - yes. Sorry, guys. It was still so fun to see them though and I think we have all made a pact that the next time we see each other, we should plan an adults-only, no nursing, no trashing someone else's house VACATION. That way we all won't need a vacation from our vacation.

- Pictures to come later, after I steal them off of one of my friends' blogs. I did, however, get a new camera for my birthday that just came in the mail. I am excited - I have never had a nice camera before. Expect more pictures. Well, maybe just don't expect them and then you won't be disappointed. =)

For the beauty

I have had an extremely fussy and feverish baby attached to my hip for the past 48 hours due to a nasty ear infection. This is the first one I have experienced with either of my children, as Reagan has never had one. They are awful. I now feel as though my parenting initiation is complete. Initially, I was more than a little disappointed in my Thanksgiving experience this year. Repugnant looks shot like daggers in my direction most of Thanksgiving morning, due to my overly-excited and slightly louder than normal 2 year old (who insisted on being dressed as Super Girl for the festivities, mind you.) She rarely gets too rambunctious, so I thought 'no harm, no foul.' I was wrong.
I picked at my food periodically, but didn't feel like I got to really enjoy it, due to previously mentioned attached crying baby.
I felt alone. My husband and family were too busy serving others Thanksgiving dinner at my uncle's restaurant to help me. How dare they, really?! Don't worry. I repented of that as soon as I realized how selfish I was being. Yikes.
Later, we all got together to play games, enjoy leftovers, and eat dessert. I was stuck listening to the festivities and laughter in the next room, in the dark, trying to soothe, again, my attached crying baby. Needless to say, we went home early.
It's fair to say that this Thanksgiving didn't go as perfectly as I had planned for it to in my head. Tonight, I have had a bit of time to think and reflect. Reagan is having a slumber-party at her Nana and Bumpa's house, and my feverish baby is finally sleeping, hopefully peacefully, in her bed. My husband is at work. Strangely enough, I do not feel lonely. I put on my latest favorite album to listen to as I did the dishes. (The Lower Lights Hymn Revival. Buy it. Extremely worth it.) This song came on.

For the beauty of the Earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This, our joyful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on Earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This, our joyful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers on earth and buds in heaven,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This, our joyful hymn of praise.

This song has been my favorite choice of lullaby to sing to the girls before they go to sleep as of late. Tonight, as I slowly and methodically scrubbed the dishes, these words sunk into my heart. They are so beautiful. The phrases ring so true to me. 'For the love which from our birth, over and around us lies.' 'For the beauty of each hour.' 'For the joy of human love.' It's like these words were written just for me, at that very moment, to listen to as my hands warmed in the soapy water. I can think of nothing more poignant to even begin to describe how incredibly grateful I am for everything that I have been given. It is rare that I make it through this hymn without getting misty-eyed. It is beautiful, because it is true.

So, my Thanksgiving didn't happen flawlessly. I just can't be bitter about it, when most of my days are filled with the laughter of my healthy, beautiful daughters, hugs and kisses abound, my husband reminds me daily that I am loved and appreciated, I am warm and well-fed, I enjoy freedom that so many in this world do not, I know where I came from and where I am going, I know that I am a daughter of God...the list is endless. Thanksgiving this year was a lesson in humility for me. I am so far from perfect, it is almost embarrassing. But, I am also grateful for it. I have a lot to work on, and I have been given this very blessed and privileged life to work on it in. I am so grateful that those that love me are patient with me when I am being a brat. =) Especially my Heavenly Father. The words of that hymn were a good reminder to me tonight, to say the least.

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Come Visit

These past couple of weeks have been hard. Maybe my most difficult weeks of parenting yet. But, in those hard times, there have also been extremely beautiful and sweet times. Isn't that the way it always is? We learn that there must be opposition in all things. Easy to hear in a Sunday School lesson. Harder to experience. However, we also learn that we must have heartache to experience true joy. Trials to appreciate when life is running smoothly. This was one of those moments.
Our morning hadn't started out so well. My eyes stung with sleep deprivation. I was scrubbing "potty" from the floor. (It was day 1 of potty training.) My shirt was soaked with baby spit-up. Ember's cough sounded like a barking seal. I had a long list of appointments to make and responsibilities to fulfill. My fridge and cupboards were sparse. I was missing my sister more than usual. Jason was out of town. In other words, it was "normal mom day" for many people that I know, but for some reason it was getting to me more than usual, I think mainly due to lack of sleep. I had resigned to letting Reagan watch more "Cat in the Hat" than I usually do, so that I could finish cleaning up and re-grouping. All of the sudden, cutting through the noise of the TV, my barking baby, and the dishwasher - a voice. Sweet and innocent the words came, like wind chimes, and settled deep into my soul, warming the cold and bitterness that feeling sorry for myself had created just moments before.

"Heavenly Father, please come visit us. Please come visit us? Please? Please? Amen."

Reagan has fairly recently started saying her own, very simple, prayers. But this one...this one cut me to the core. Simple and juvenile the words may have been, but deep and poignant was their meaning. Her sincerity hit me like a ton of bricks. We needed a turnaround and her simple prayer brought one. We needed the spirit in our home, and our spiritual appetites were craving a "visit." It took my 2 year old's simple plea to a Heavenly Father that she knows, with stalwart faithfulness, loves her and listens to her to make me realize that I had been doing it all wrong. I stopped feeling sorry for myself right then and there. I am grateful for my children whose sweet spirits, smiles, and simple words bear testimony of a loving Heavenly Father who wants to help if only I remember to ask. Thank you, Reagan.

Patty Murray

This woman,

now in her fourth term as Washington State Senator,
was called by my daughter,
a "blobie girl."
And I quote: "Patty Murray's a blobie girl."
This is still one term that Reagan uses that we still haven't quite figured out the meaning.
But, judging solely based on our feelings after Thursday's senate results,
it's less than complementary.
Sorry, Patty.
By the way, who else is glad that the endless attack ads are over?? (At least for a short while.)
Can I get an AMEN.

Side note:
Poor Dino Rossi can't catch a break. Reagan's concerns and political analyses weren't limited to Patty. Anytime she heard anyone (TV, Radio, casual conversation) mention Dino (GOP running for senate against Patty), she would always think they were saying "Do you know...) As in, "Do you know Rossi?" Her reply, "Yes, I know Rossi!" =) Yeah, she makes us laugh.