Playing with the flowers...
Whenever we ask Jacob to smile, this is what we get:
Jacob was sad when it was time to go home for dinner. He wanted to stay out with all of the pretty flowers.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Bluebonnets and blue jeans
It finally stopped raining long enough today to get some pictures of the beautiful Texas bluebonnets in bloom. Jacob really enjoyed the pretty flowers, and of course we think he looks incredibly dashing!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Two sides of a coin
Yesterday was one of those moments as a mother when I question the purpose of going to church with a two year old.
We arrived 10 minutes before Sacrament meeting was to begin. Normally we take up a side pew in order to have enough room to amuse/contain Jacob appropriately, but Jacob saw his friend Elizabeth (7 years old and quite adorable- they bonded at the previous night's baptism) sitting down and really wanted to sit next to her in the center front pew. Contrary to my instincts, and most likely against the wishes of my husband (as evidenced by the look he was giving me), I agreed.
Mistake number one.
Now, Jacob also loves sitting in the aisle seat. Usually, this is fine by us. Today, not so much, given Elizabeth's location when we sat down. Here was our pew:
pew--aisle-Jacob-Elizabeth-E's Mom-Me-Nick
Notice that Nick nor I are in arm's reach of Jacob.
Mistake number two.
Jacob did really well in the beginning. He was playing quietly with Elizabeth, looking at books and generally being cute. I did have to lean over a few times and remind him to be reverent, but for the most part things were ok.
And then it was time for the Sacrament.
Jacob, wise to the fact that Mom was not in "reminder/enforcer distance," decided to exercise his new found freedom and stand up on the pew and loudly talk to the family behind us. After ignoring repeated reminders from me, he then noticed his best friend Race sitting at the other end of our pew.
Jacob was so excited, he proceeded to yell - loudly - for Race. Jacob started to get quite hysterically when he realized that it was necessary to wait until after sacrament to greet Race. He started crying, screaming and hitting.
Then it happened. The moment you dread: walking out of the chapel with a screaming child on your hands. Now, Jacob is fairly articulate for his age. So not only was he crying, but he was screaming "don't take me outside. Don't take me outside."
Ugh.
After 10 minutes or so in a darkened room, separated from his books and snacks, Jacob was ready to return to the chapel. I straightened my tear-soaked shirt and led him back to our pew. The same set-up.
Inevitably, Jacob had to be taken out of the chapel again. We have done this dance in the past, but it has been quite a few months since we have done the "sacrament two-step." I was pretty upset, and trying everything to keep the Spirit with me.
We arrived 10 minutes before Sacrament meeting was to begin. Normally we take up a side pew in order to have enough room to amuse/contain Jacob appropriately, but Jacob saw his friend Elizabeth (7 years old and quite adorable- they bonded at the previous night's baptism) sitting down and really wanted to sit next to her in the center front pew. Contrary to my instincts, and most likely against the wishes of my husband (as evidenced by the look he was giving me), I agreed.
Mistake number one.
Now, Jacob also loves sitting in the aisle seat. Usually, this is fine by us. Today, not so much, given Elizabeth's location when we sat down. Here was our pew:
pew--aisle-Jacob-Elizabeth-E's Mom-Me-Nick
Notice that Nick nor I are in arm's reach of Jacob.
Mistake number two.
Jacob did really well in the beginning. He was playing quietly with Elizabeth, looking at books and generally being cute. I did have to lean over a few times and remind him to be reverent, but for the most part things were ok.
And then it was time for the Sacrament.
Jacob, wise to the fact that Mom was not in "reminder/enforcer distance," decided to exercise his new found freedom and stand up on the pew and loudly talk to the family behind us. After ignoring repeated reminders from me, he then noticed his best friend Race sitting at the other end of our pew.
Jacob was so excited, he proceeded to yell - loudly - for Race. Jacob started to get quite hysterically when he realized that it was necessary to wait until after sacrament to greet Race. He started crying, screaming and hitting.
Then it happened. The moment you dread: walking out of the chapel with a screaming child on your hands. Now, Jacob is fairly articulate for his age. So not only was he crying, but he was screaming "don't take me outside. Don't take me outside."
Ugh.
After 10 minutes or so in a darkened room, separated from his books and snacks, Jacob was ready to return to the chapel. I straightened my tear-soaked shirt and led him back to our pew. The same set-up.
Inevitably, Jacob had to be taken out of the chapel again. We have done this dance in the past, but it has been quite a few months since we have done the "sacrament two-step." I was pretty upset, and trying everything to keep the Spirit with me.
These are the Sundays when I get home and, instead of reviewing what I've learned in my classes, I ponder the purpose of church with a two year old.
But as many Sundays as I have spent doing this, I also have many other days when the purpose is reaffirmed. Yesterday was also one of those days.
As Jacob was looking at a Greg Olsen book of illustrations of Christ with Elizabeth, E's mom was asking him questions.
E's mom: "Jacob, who is that?"
J: "Jesus Christ. He's my friend. Jesus helps me feel better."
All it takes is a moment like that, and I will happily do the dance every Sunday.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Peer Pressure
We're doing it. We are starting a blog. Yet again.
Now, I know some members of our family are probably rolling their eyes. They are most likely remembering the failed attempt of '04 (or was it '05?) - one, maybe two posts and a picture.
But this time I am committed. I want to do better. I want to record our life, in tidbits and snapshots. My great husband Nick, who had kept a journal faithfully until he married me, deserves more. A wife who can record. A telling of our family life.
I admit, I feel horrible that I might be the reason my husband has not kept his journal up so frequently. Talk about being a force for - well, not evil, but definitely not good. So, in my attempts to absolve myself of that guilt, I am now keeping a record of our family.
So here we are - the first post. One down, many more to go.
Now, I know some members of our family are probably rolling their eyes. They are most likely remembering the failed attempt of '04 (or was it '05?) - one, maybe two posts and a picture.
But this time I am committed. I want to do better. I want to record our life, in tidbits and snapshots. My great husband Nick, who had kept a journal faithfully until he married me, deserves more. A wife who can record. A telling of our family life.
I admit, I feel horrible that I might be the reason my husband has not kept his journal up so frequently. Talk about being a force for - well, not evil, but definitely not good. So, in my attempts to absolve myself of that guilt, I am now keeping a record of our family.
So here we are - the first post. One down, many more to go.
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