The Love Side

The love side of the whole "poggett" situation explains why I am not crazy. Because, really, who would go through all that other stuff if it wasn't for a totally worth it reason?

Like this:

And this:
And these:


"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this."
~Elder Neal A. Maxwell~

And another reason why doing something so hard might be worth the effort (Thanks, Alisa, for saving me the typing:):

"Throughout the ages, many have obtained guidance helpful to resolve challenges in their lives by following the example of respected individuals who resolved similar problems. Today, world conditions change so rapidly that such a course of action is often not available to us.

Personally, I rejoice in that reality because it creates a condition where we, of necessity, are more dependent upon the Spirit to guide us through the vicissitudes of life. Therefore, we are led to seek personal inspiration in life’s important decisions.

I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.

Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.

-Richard G. Scott, General Conference Oct. 2009

Mommy's Poggett

...is just one translation for the announcement that Noah recently made to Chris on my behalf. Noah had to say it a few times and Chris remained in the dark, until finally in the middle of yet another attempt to make the announcement Chris shouts "Really!?!"

Yep, I really am pregnant. If my already expanding belly (they really weren't kidding about that happening quicker with successive pregnancies!) didn't give it away, the acne, greasy hair, swelling face, soon to be HUGE NOSE (and Chris offered to bring home calipers to maintain a growth log!), rashes, 24/7 morning sickness, exhaustion and recent excruciating headaches are surefire ways to keep it foremost in my brain even when I am forgetting my own name, half my grocery list, and the name of any given object that I might need at any given time.

Did I mention that pregnancy and I don't get along. I am sure you can figure out why I say that. Definitely a love/hate relationship, and the only thing to love is the baby at the end. As if the above weren't enough I am still...um...anticipating?...the carpal tunnel, itchy belly, sore back and other aches and pains associated with pregnancy that are yet to come.

When I contemplated getting pregnant I knew it would be a miserable time and I really tried to psych myself up for being sick all the time. I think I was mostly prepared for that. But as other side effects became apparent I realized there was a whole slew of things I was not psyched up for, but mostly, I wasn't psyched up for being ugly. Pregnancy is supposed to be a wonderful, empowering, glowing time in a woman's life. Not so for me. I think I missed that line in the pre-earth life.

Chris hates it when I am pregnant, mostly for all the same reasons I do, but plus some. My pregnancy with Ian was really rough for both of us emotionally, not just physically. It seems like it was a real leap of faith for both of us when we decided to try and get pregnant again. I promised to buck up and he promised to be nice. And so far, I think we are doing a pretty good job.

Noah asks me periodically, "Mommy, do you have a baby in your tummy?" And I assure him that yes, I do. He has been very patient with my recent deficiencies in the mommy department and is very sweet when he knows I don't feel well. Just today he came and covered me up as I lay on the couch with his lovey blanket. "I will borrow this to you" he told me as he smoothed the blanket and patted my shoulder. Then as he walked away he told me he was going to get me more blankets and brought his from his bed.

N: "Are you sick, mommy?"
M: "Yes, my head hurts really bad."
N: "I will give it a kiss."

In that past, pregnancy has a way of not bringing out the best in us. This time we are trying to do it differently. Wish us luck!!

From Whaaaa to Wheeee: Happy Halloween

This was the beginning of our Halloween soap opera. Noah informed us early on that he wanted to be a ghost for Halloween. I thought "Great! My piddling Martha Stewart skills might actually be able to handle that!!"

So I borrowed a sewing machine (piddling skills just can't justify ownership) (Thanks, Michelle!) and with some prodding and help from Chris I managed to create a ghost costume.

The drama started the next day when Noah saw the costume and was supremely disappointed. So disappointed, in fact, he didn't even want to try it on, refusing on many occasions to even see if it fit. He was greatly looking forward to his party at preschool and their chance to practice Trick-or-Treating. I finally coaxed him into it once prior to that day with the assurance that after we made sure it fit he could take it off.

I took him to preschool that day with his costume and told his teachers that he might not want to wear it. I felt bad that he would probably be the only kid who wasn't wearing a costume that day. But I felt worse that a lot of his excitement for Halloween seemed to have disappeared.

He did wear his costume at preschool and had a great party and Trick-or-Treating experience. Some of his enthusiasm returned.

So on Halloween he was actually excited to put on his costume and go get treats! He didn't wear the hood-it has the misfortune to resemble a KKK hood.
So, we survived that little drama just in time to find a little more when we went to put Ian in his costume. It was quite the wrestling match and turned into a crying fit the likes of which only Ian can produce!! He is smiling in the picture because of the camera. His poor cheeks and sweaty head were from the crying fit. We didn't dare try to make him wear the lion's head lest we enrage the poor kid anymore.
He cried all the way to the first house and candy was put in his bucket. Suddenly the world didn't seem so bad. In fact, a momentum gathering run down the slanted driveway necessitated a "Wheeeeeeeee" all the way down. As did every other driveway for the first half hour. Noah did all the talking and Ian kept being left behind because he would stop to see what he could eat right then.

Towards the end, Ian started to say "tweet" and that won some hearts. Noah had a great time and was very pleased despite the 'blueberry lights' (black lights) that scared him.

We came home to enjoy our treats. We ignored bedtime because we figured what better way to get them to sleep a little later with the time change!
Now, there are a lot of philosophies about candy eating and indulgence. I, for one, think it is a happy holiday and I don't really like to fight the constant fight and whine for more candy if I were to limit their consumption. I feel supported in my decision to let my kids eat as much of their candy as they like, whenever they want it after reading a dentist's opinion that it is better to let your kids eat all the sugar in one sitting and then brush their teeth, than to have multiple and drawn out opportunities for kids to have sugar eating at their teeth.

Whatever way you choose to eat your candy, we hope you thoroughly enjoyed it! We sure did!!