I am regretting not putting more of the things Malia does & says in print somewhere. She has made me laugh & melted my heart on countless occasions. I say I'll write it down and I never do. And now, there are so many that I've forgotten. So, I'm going to post "Malia Moments" every time she does/says something I want to remember. These are more for me than anything else. So you're welcome to skip them.
But if you want to be briefly entertained and need a smile, they will usually be worth it.
We've been dealing with an annoying strain of something germy for the last couple of weeks, and so my house is in shambles (at least, that's the current excuse for the mess... next week there will be a different justification).
After feeding both girls and getting Cecily down for a morning nap, I was starving! I usually eat earlier, but for some reason, this morning, I was behind schedule.
As I was walking upstairs with a bowl of cereal, I couldn't help but notice the afore-mentioned chaos on the floor. I set my cereal on the floor for a moment in order to pick up some socks and papers... when not 3 seconds later, Malia steps right into my breakfast, sending milk and Honey Nut Cheerios all over the place!
@#$%!!!
She'd been heading towards the bathroom at a typical toddler pace and WHOOPS! So, here I am, STARVING and frustrated and she starts bawling because of the look I give her. Her cries escalate quickly and she wakes her sister. This makes for a very... aggravated Mommy.
So, she stands there crying as I glare at her and mutter under my breath, trying hopelessly to keep milk from seeping into the carpet with hundreds of paper towels, fearing the impending stench because it's in a location where the sun beats in on the floor. All the while, Malia is standing there crying, a few Cheerios stuck to her milk-drenched foot.
I let her cry like that for 5-10 minutes as I do my best to salvage anything in the 2-foot radius. Finally, I pick her up and drop her (not really drop... but I wasn't very nice about it) on the toilet, which is where she'd been heading in the first place, but had forgotten about because of the evil stares of Mommy paralyzing her.
After all is said and done, I sit her on my bed and hand her blankie, leaving her pink & raggedy "best friend" to do the comforting while I finish the cleaning process.... and I am now feeling very guilty. So, I cuddle up to her, which causes her 10 minutes of sobbing to stop, cold-turkey. She nuzzles her face into my chest, and I am overcome with embarrassment for "crying over spilled milk."
When I was in high school, I had promised my future children I would always apologize to them if ever there was any fault of my own. It's promise that sometimes takes some major humility on my part... but I, to this day, do not regret making and fulfilling that decision.
"I'm sorry, Lili. Mommy was frustrated about the mess. But I know it was an accident, and I shouldn't have made you feel bad like that. Mommy's sorry."
Malia looks up at me, her face all splotchy from crying so hard, her eyes a bright teal-green (they always turn that color when she cries), snot running out of her nose into her mouth, and a big forgiving grin on her face. With wisdom beyond her 3 1/2 years, she replies,
"It's ok, Mommy. That's why I love you."
And she drops her head back onto my chest as we snuggle; her, me (& blankie) watching SpongeBob.
24 July 2009
20 July 2009
Alma 39:12
"And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good..."
Yesterday, my cousin Rob and his family came to visit us to go to Church as they are down here from Utah visiting Disneyland. I wish I had pictures from the visit.... :(
(I stole this picture from Nicole's facebook page)But, because it was the Sabbath, we did the Church and food thing, and then, when the weather cooled off enough & everyone had napped, we piled into the cars to go visit the Newport Beach Temple. It's our temple for the Stake and it really is beautiful. And we're fortunate enough that it only takes 20-30 minutes to get there on a decent freeway.
(BTW - this temple is actually a light shade of salmony-pink... not kidding. LOVE it)!
ANYWAY...
As we were getting into the car, Malia asked me, "Mommy. It's Sunday. Where are we going?"
"To the temple. We're going to go show it to the cousins."
To which she replied," Oh, yes! Am I getting married today?"
My heart couldn't help but smile, despite my having to tell her, "Probably not today, Lili."
(Taken almost a year ago at my sister Cindy's wedding in Utah).
11 July 2009
7/12/2009
My sweet Lili-bug,
I am calling you sweet in this letter in hopes that somehow, through some sort of technological osmosis, the "sweet" you will come back to me. I always feel bad complaining about the times you are... less than perfect, because I have heard horror stories of the potential insanity a 3-year-old can induce. I've also seen some of these occurrences with strangers at the grocery store. And you are not near what some kids can be like. But I have to say, something is up with you.
2 weeks ago, you and Cecily both came down with a lo-grade fever that lasted about 3 days and then morphed into an outrageously inconvenient sinus infection-type-thingy. Needless to say, Mommy didn't sleep much for a while... maybe that's part of the problem. Maybe you seem difficult because I am so tightly wound from sleep-deprivation. Couldn't you & your little sister have gotten together & at least timed the wakings to be around the same time, so that I would've been awakened less frequently...? No? Ok, well, it never hurts to ask.
We have put you on "time-out" only two times in your life thus far. And the last time was a doozy! Your father asked you to stop throwing a fit because you wanted to go outside, and when you didn't stop, he told you to go on time-out. As I reached for you to bring you there, my little angel... you actually shoved me with all of your strength! It totally shocked me. And although the rule for time-out is sitting there for as many minutes as how many years old you are, this time I left you there for quite some time as you cried some of the most intense cries I think I've ever heard from you. You were there so long, that when I came to ask you if you knew why I had put you there, you couldn't remember. I felt bad for that. However , I do always try to let you know I love you in those moments. No matter how angry Mommy gets, I will always always ALWAYS love you unconditionally.
I saw a little bit of your innocence vanish that day. I know it will continue to wane as you age. But please, when you're 14-years-old and hating me because I don't want you calling that boy anymore and your homework isn't done & I refuse to let you go to some party until your room's clean and that you had better change out of those horrid pants or else.... please remember that I will always always ALWAYS love you... unconditionally.
And I'll do my best to make it clear.
Despite you becoming somewhat feisty, bossy, whiny, and overly-emotional these days, you are still (I have to admit) above average in obedience. We finally invested in a pool key from the association here, and we've gone every day for a week, now. As I watch how other kids interact with their parents, I kick myself for every time I get frustrated beyond my patience because, even in your rough moments, you are such a good kid.
There's a little boy in your dance class with autism. His mother is in awe with how much he seems to like you. You have no concept of personal space, and from day one, have been grinning at him and taking his hand and laughing at him. Apparently, these sort of things usually send him into a tailspin of reactions from screaming to crying to completely shutting down. However, he seems to like you a lot. And when you laugh, his eyes light up and he cracks a little smile. Last week, his mother told me that she is shocked at how receptive he is to you and that she believes you have some sort of special gift or spirit of some kind that he senses.
It's an incredible thing to think about. I am convinced 100% that there is something beyond the norm with your spirit. And not because I'm your biased Mommy. I actually look up to you in a way because I think, in the life before this, you were someone I may have admired.
And even though you often seem heaven-sent, you have moments where I realize that you are getting too darn smart for your own good. The other night, as I was shutting your door at bedtime, you asked me for another drink of water. The conversation went as thus:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, KID?! Where did you get such a gift for theatrical manipulation?
Oh, yeah... moving on.
You make me laugh on a daily basis, Lili. And even though your getting older often breaks my sentimental and nostalgic heart, I am also excited as the bond between us becomes stronger and we grow to understand each other, spirit to spirit, more & more. You keep being the phenomenal child & awesome big sister that you are, and I will do my best to be the mommy you deserve.
You're beautiful & I adore you...
... even when you're cranky.
Love, Momma
My adorable CCLemon,
I seriously can't believe that it was 7 months ago that I was fearing not loving you enough, & now I just can't believe how in love with you I am!
I love how your hair has that little curl on the right side of your forehead.
I love that when your sister climbs all over you in her hyperactive excitement, that you simply lay there and smile at her as if she's doing nothing wrong (while I freak out thinking she's suffocating you).
I love that when I come to wake you after a nap, you are so excited to see me that you do this cute little thing where you slam your face into your mattress, throw your legs back with all your strength, and giggle.
Speaking of your laugh, I love that it has this adorable quiver/vibrato to it that I also remember hearing in your very first cry in the operating room when you were born.
I love people telling me that you look just like me (something I hear, maybe, 1% of the time with Malia). It makes me proud.
I love that your feet are such a wonder to you. I could watch you yank them into your mouth all day long. You could probably be happy with that activity all day long...
I love that you get so fussy before you nap, but then as I snuggle you with your blankie and sing your lullaby, you are hit with a second wind and start trying to carry a full-blown happy conversation with me,
Along with that, I love how your pre-nap hyperactivity also turns into you trying to give me zerbits on my collarbone. I have to work at not laughing so as to keep that time as boring & unstimulating as possible.
I love how, when your cry, your upper lip disappears into your bottom lip, which pouts out to twice it's normal size, and your eyes get big, as if to say, "Mommy! I'm SAAAAAD!" And I love how easy it is to pull you out of those moments.
I love how every time you try a new food, you get this look of contemplation on your face, evaluate it in the roof of your mouth, and then allow a huge grin of approval as the food glops off the roof of your mouth & onto your tongue, occasionally falling to the back of your mouth causing you to choke briefly as you remember you're actually supposed to eat it, not just play with it.
And even though I had hoped you'd be a Daddy's girl because Malia has always been such a Mommy's girl, I kind of (shamefully) am glad you're not and that sometimes the only thing that can console you is me. It's flattering, what can I say?
I love that I have moments where I love you so much, I literally have to squeeze as hard as I can, and that you are such a ball of squishyness that it doesn't hurt you at all and you let out that hilarious little giggle. I love how that you sense that all of my physical displays of affection are just that.... affection. And that you respond with a smile or laugh almost every time.
I love how you love bath time so much that you thrash your limbs every-which-way in excitement, getting everyone within 5 ft. completely soaked (P.S. props to Malia for always being a good sport about that...).
I love how, now that you have two bottom teeth, you give me an adorable crooked grin that melts my heart even on the worst of days.
I love that I love you so much. It amazes me every day that instead of not having enough room in my heart for the both of you, it's as if, with every child, more heart has been placed inside of me in order to hold all the love.
Love, Mommy
I am calling you sweet in this letter in hopes that somehow, through some sort of technological osmosis, the "sweet" you will come back to me. I always feel bad complaining about the times you are... less than perfect, because I have heard horror stories of the potential insanity a 3-year-old can induce. I've also seen some of these occurrences with strangers at the grocery store. And you are not near what some kids can be like. But I have to say, something is up with you.
2 weeks ago, you and Cecily both came down with a lo-grade fever that lasted about 3 days and then morphed into an outrageously inconvenient sinus infection-type-thingy. Needless to say, Mommy didn't sleep much for a while... maybe that's part of the problem. Maybe you seem difficult because I am so tightly wound from sleep-deprivation. Couldn't you & your little sister have gotten together & at least timed the wakings to be around the same time, so that I would've been awakened less frequently...? No? Ok, well, it never hurts to ask.
We have put you on "time-out" only two times in your life thus far. And the last time was a doozy! Your father asked you to stop throwing a fit because you wanted to go outside, and when you didn't stop, he told you to go on time-out. As I reached for you to bring you there, my little angel... you actually shoved me with all of your strength! It totally shocked me. And although the rule for time-out is sitting there for as many minutes as how many years old you are, this time I left you there for quite some time as you cried some of the most intense cries I think I've ever heard from you. You were there so long, that when I came to ask you if you knew why I had put you there, you couldn't remember. I felt bad for that. However , I do always try to let you know I love you in those moments. No matter how angry Mommy gets, I will always always ALWAYS love you unconditionally.
I saw a little bit of your innocence vanish that day. I know it will continue to wane as you age. But please, when you're 14-years-old and hating me because I don't want you calling that boy anymore and your homework isn't done & I refuse to let you go to some party until your room's clean and that you had better change out of those horrid pants or else.... please remember that I will always always ALWAYS love you... unconditionally.
And I'll do my best to make it clear.
Despite you becoming somewhat feisty, bossy, whiny, and overly-emotional these days, you are still (I have to admit) above average in obedience. We finally invested in a pool key from the association here, and we've gone every day for a week, now. As I watch how other kids interact with their parents, I kick myself for every time I get frustrated beyond my patience because, even in your rough moments, you are such a good kid.
There's a little boy in your dance class with autism. His mother is in awe with how much he seems to like you. You have no concept of personal space, and from day one, have been grinning at him and taking his hand and laughing at him. Apparently, these sort of things usually send him into a tailspin of reactions from screaming to crying to completely shutting down. However, he seems to like you a lot. And when you laugh, his eyes light up and he cracks a little smile. Last week, his mother told me that she is shocked at how receptive he is to you and that she believes you have some sort of special gift or spirit of some kind that he senses.
It's an incredible thing to think about. I am convinced 100% that there is something beyond the norm with your spirit. And not because I'm your biased Mommy. I actually look up to you in a way because I think, in the life before this, you were someone I may have admired.
And even though you often seem heaven-sent, you have moments where I realize that you are getting too darn smart for your own good. The other night, as I was shutting your door at bedtime, you asked me for another drink of water. The conversation went as thus:
You: Mommy. I think I need another drink of water.
Me: No, Lili. I don't want you to wet the bed or waking me up in the middle of the night asking me to help you to go potty.
You: But I'm firsty. I need a drink.
Me: No you don't. You'll be ok. I'll get you one first thing in the morning.
You: But, Momma... *insert 2 incredibly fake & exaggerated coughs here* ... I'm very sick.
I need a drink for my coughing.
You: But I'm firsty. I need a drink.
Me: No you don't. You'll be ok. I'll get you one first thing in the morning.
You: But, Momma... *insert 2 incredibly fake & exaggerated coughs here* ... I'm very sick.
I need a drink for my coughing.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, KID?! Where did you get such a gift for theatrical manipulation?
Oh, yeah... moving on.
You make me laugh on a daily basis, Lili. And even though your getting older often breaks my sentimental and nostalgic heart, I am also excited as the bond between us becomes stronger and we grow to understand each other, spirit to spirit, more & more. You keep being the phenomenal child & awesome big sister that you are, and I will do my best to be the mommy you deserve.
You're beautiful & I adore you...
... even when you're cranky.
Love, Momma
My adorable CCLemon,
I seriously can't believe that it was 7 months ago that I was fearing not loving you enough, & now I just can't believe how in love with you I am!
I love how your hair has that little curl on the right side of your forehead.
I love that when your sister climbs all over you in her hyperactive excitement, that you simply lay there and smile at her as if she's doing nothing wrong (while I freak out thinking she's suffocating you).
I love that when I come to wake you after a nap, you are so excited to see me that you do this cute little thing where you slam your face into your mattress, throw your legs back with all your strength, and giggle.
Speaking of your laugh, I love that it has this adorable quiver/vibrato to it that I also remember hearing in your very first cry in the operating room when you were born.
I love people telling me that you look just like me (something I hear, maybe, 1% of the time with Malia). It makes me proud.
I love that your feet are such a wonder to you. I could watch you yank them into your mouth all day long. You could probably be happy with that activity all day long...
I love that you get so fussy before you nap, but then as I snuggle you with your blankie and sing your lullaby, you are hit with a second wind and start trying to carry a full-blown happy conversation with me,
Along with that, I love how your pre-nap hyperactivity also turns into you trying to give me zerbits on my collarbone. I have to work at not laughing so as to keep that time as boring & unstimulating as possible.
I love how, when your cry, your upper lip disappears into your bottom lip, which pouts out to twice it's normal size, and your eyes get big, as if to say, "Mommy! I'm SAAAAAD!" And I love how easy it is to pull you out of those moments.
I love how every time you try a new food, you get this look of contemplation on your face, evaluate it in the roof of your mouth, and then allow a huge grin of approval as the food glops off the roof of your mouth & onto your tongue, occasionally falling to the back of your mouth causing you to choke briefly as you remember you're actually supposed to eat it, not just play with it.
And even though I had hoped you'd be a Daddy's girl because Malia has always been such a Mommy's girl, I kind of (shamefully) am glad you're not and that sometimes the only thing that can console you is me. It's flattering, what can I say?
I love that I have moments where I love you so much, I literally have to squeeze as hard as I can, and that you are such a ball of squishyness that it doesn't hurt you at all and you let out that hilarious little giggle. I love how that you sense that all of my physical displays of affection are just that.... affection. And that you respond with a smile or laugh almost every time.
I love how you love bath time so much that you thrash your limbs every-which-way in excitement, getting everyone within 5 ft. completely soaked (P.S. props to Malia for always being a good sport about that...).
I love how, now that you have two bottom teeth, you give me an adorable crooked grin that melts my heart even on the worst of days.
I love that I love you so much. It amazes me every day that instead of not having enough room in my heart for the both of you, it's as if, with every child, more heart has been placed inside of me in order to hold all the love.
Love, Mommy
A Mother's Curse
Irony - that's what I call it. Not "funny ha ha" irony. Just the lame kind.
So sometimes, all a mother ever wants in this world is to get a good night's sleep. Life would be so much better in any dwelling if the lady of the house could just get her proper shut-eye.
Knowing this, I used to go to bed at 8 PM when Malia was a baby because she woke up 8-10 times a night. It was the only way I could function. My sleep was so incredibly broken and unconsolidated that I literally would lay her down and then throw myself into bed; only to be woken up an hour later with the colic cries from... you-know-where. And this would happen all. night. long.
Once that was over with and she began sleeping through the night, I never did again. I had no idea how to keep myself asleep. However, there was one night when Malia was almost 2 1/2 where I actually went to bed and didn't wake up until the next morning at a decent, human hour! But then I took a pregnancy test, it was positive, and I was up going potty (yes, I talk like the mother of a toddler) 2 or 3 times a night for the next 9 months.
Cecily has been a fairly decent sleeper, for the most part. For the last, oh, 3-4 months, she's been only waking once, sometimes twice, in a 12-hour period at night, to eat. That's not too bad, considering what I went through with her big sister. And to some people, getting 6-8 consolidated hours IS sleeping through the night.
I've debated having her cry-it-out because she obviously doesn't need to eat at night anymore (as evidenced by her thighs). And she never eats much at those night feedings. But, I've said before, I actually enjoy those quiet moments between her & I in the dark. I told myself that I'd wait until she was 9 months old, and then, if she was still waking up, we'd nip it in the bud.
Get this! Last night, she went to bed, and I didn't hear a PEEP until I went in to wake her up this morning! Joyous joys! Miracle of miracles! Oh, Happy Day!
Here's what sucks, though. I woke up at 3:51 AM, for no reason. I was like, "What the?! Lame! Back to sleep, you!" And I did go back to sleep. So that's not so bad.
At 5:34, I woke again. This is the usual time(ish) that Cecily wakes up for a brief meal. Last night? Silence. I was elated! Until...
I layed in bed for 45 minutes, completely unable to fall asleep because (WARNING: THIS NEXT PART MAY BE T.M.I. FOR ANYONE WITH CHILDISH SENSIBILITIES) I was so engorged that I was in pain! Cecily is 7 months old now, so engorgement isn't really something I experience anymore... but HOLY COW! I was lucky I wasn't trying to walk anywhere, or I would've nearly toppled over.
So, here's where the curse comes into play: Yeah, Cecily slept completely through the night. Awesome. Count my blessings. But it didn't matter because I had to go downstairs & pump in order to be comfortable enough to go back to sleep! At least when I'm nursing, I'm sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, holding & kissing my sweet baby. Instead, I was downstairs in the hard, lonely kitchen, feeling like Bessie at the dairy farm!
Oh, sweet irony. You & I will never be friends.
At least, not when it comes to my sleep.
So sometimes, all a mother ever wants in this world is to get a good night's sleep. Life would be so much better in any dwelling if the lady of the house could just get her proper shut-eye.
Knowing this, I used to go to bed at 8 PM when Malia was a baby because she woke up 8-10 times a night. It was the only way I could function. My sleep was so incredibly broken and unconsolidated that I literally would lay her down and then throw myself into bed; only to be woken up an hour later with the colic cries from... you-know-where. And this would happen all. night. long.
Once that was over with and she began sleeping through the night, I never did again. I had no idea how to keep myself asleep. However, there was one night when Malia was almost 2 1/2 where I actually went to bed and didn't wake up until the next morning at a decent, human hour! But then I took a pregnancy test, it was positive, and I was up going potty (yes, I talk like the mother of a toddler) 2 or 3 times a night for the next 9 months.
Cecily has been a fairly decent sleeper, for the most part. For the last, oh, 3-4 months, she's been only waking once, sometimes twice, in a 12-hour period at night, to eat. That's not too bad, considering what I went through with her big sister. And to some people, getting 6-8 consolidated hours IS sleeping through the night.
I've debated having her cry-it-out because she obviously doesn't need to eat at night anymore (as evidenced by her thighs). And she never eats much at those night feedings. But, I've said before, I actually enjoy those quiet moments between her & I in the dark. I told myself that I'd wait until she was 9 months old, and then, if she was still waking up, we'd nip it in the bud.
Get this! Last night, she went to bed, and I didn't hear a PEEP until I went in to wake her up this morning! Joyous joys! Miracle of miracles! Oh, Happy Day!
Here's what sucks, though. I woke up at 3:51 AM, for no reason. I was like, "What the?! Lame! Back to sleep, you!" And I did go back to sleep. So that's not so bad.
At 5:34, I woke again. This is the usual time(ish) that Cecily wakes up for a brief meal. Last night? Silence. I was elated! Until...
I layed in bed for 45 minutes, completely unable to fall asleep because (WARNING: THIS NEXT PART MAY BE T.M.I. FOR ANYONE WITH CHILDISH SENSIBILITIES) I was so engorged that I was in pain! Cecily is 7 months old now, so engorgement isn't really something I experience anymore... but HOLY COW! I was lucky I wasn't trying to walk anywhere, or I would've nearly toppled over.
So, here's where the curse comes into play: Yeah, Cecily slept completely through the night. Awesome. Count my blessings. But it didn't matter because I had to go downstairs & pump in order to be comfortable enough to go back to sleep! At least when I'm nursing, I'm sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, holding & kissing my sweet baby. Instead, I was downstairs in the hard, lonely kitchen, feeling like Bessie at the dairy farm!
Oh, sweet irony. You & I will never be friends.
At least, not when it comes to my sleep.
07 July 2009
The Michael Jackson Obsession
I know a lot of people are annoyed by all the coverage on this man and his recent passing. And I also know a lot of people have their opinions on what he did in his life as a person aside, in spite of, or even because of his fame. I don't know that he did it. I always felt he was just a misunderstood genius who made some stupid decisions that looked... wrong.
If he did what he was accused of, then God will right what was wrong, and I pray for the peace of any victims. In my mind, I don't think he did it. And until I have proof of otherwise, I can't deny that the man was a total icon & genius.
The man... was talented.
If he did what he was accused of, then God will right what was wrong, and I pray for the peace of any victims. In my mind, I don't think he did it. And until I have proof of otherwise, I can't deny that the man was a total icon & genius.
The man... was talented.
R.I.P. MJ
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04 July 2009
A Joyous [Text] Message!
At 2:23 pm PST on July 4th, 2009, I received this text message from my baby sister:
I am shockingly overwhelmed with gratitude beyond what I had imagined. It happened. It happened, it happened, it happened! He is healthy & beautiful and all theirs! I'm moved to tears. This baby boy really, truly feels heaven-sent and intended to have a good life. God really wanted to make sure that he had good things coming his way... and he will. This is a very lucky child who will be brought up in the ways of the Gospel & will be loved as much as he deserves and more. My little girls will LOVE their new cousin!
"Papers are signed, he is in my arms and he is ours!"
I am shockingly overwhelmed with gratitude beyond what I had imagined. It happened. It happened, it happened, it happened! He is healthy & beautiful and all theirs! I'm moved to tears. This baby boy really, truly feels heaven-sent and intended to have a good life. God really wanted to make sure that he had good things coming his way... and he will. This is a very lucky child who will be brought up in the ways of the Gospel & will be loved as much as he deserves and more. My little girls will LOVE their new cousin!
For after much tribulation... cometh the blessing. (D&C 103:12)
Schaffer Daniel Mortensen
July 3rd, 2009
@ 2:25 pm MST
7 lbs. 7 ozs.
19" long
I hope Tina is ready for some looooooooong nights! LOL
Proud Papa... as he should be.
July 3rd, 2009
@ 2:25 pm MST
7 lbs. 7 ozs.
19" long
I hope Tina is ready for some looooooooong nights! LOL
Proud Papa... as he should be.
Already a stud: "Was'sup, ladies?!"
Thank you to everyone who threw a little bit of pleading up to heaven on my sister's behalf. I know that God really does take that into account. If I could thank you all personally, I would. Just consider this a virtual hug & kiss from me to you - "XOXO!"
YAY!!!!!
02 July 2009
If you ever talk to God...
... could you drop in a line for my baby sister?
They were married the year after David and I, so that means (carry the one, subtract 3, move the decimal over a number, divide the square root...) that they've been married for just over 6 years.
Ever since Tina was a baby, she's wanted a baby. In fact, we knew from a very young age that she had no desire to be anything but a mother when she grew up. She even frequently requested an actual baby from Santa Claus for years. She has always loved children. When we were kids, no matter what we were playing (Barbies, Fisher Price, Dress-up, etc.), somehow she always involved being a Mommy in the mix.
She has always connected with babies. She adores them and they love her. Her biological clock has been ticking probably since her biological clock has even existed. We were convinced that once she was married, a baby would not be far behind.
Chad is a good man. We love him. He was not difficult to welcome into the family. He upholds his Priesthood, he's got a good heart, he's wicked talented... and most importantly, he sincerely laughs at every single one of my jokes (it's awesome). He also loves children. He has a very generous heart and the kind of humble, selfless demeanor that would make a perfect father to a very lucky child.
Problem is, without going into too much private detail, they can't have kids. Ironic, eh? Millions of 16-year-old delinquents and drug-hazed imbeciles and unwed celebrity parents are popping 'em out like Pez dispensers, and yet, these 2 decent, committed, God-fearing people can't even have one. And it's been very hard for them. After years of trying to figure out how to go about having a biological child of their own, they started the adoption process. They were told it could take time, but it seems as if, in their case, it's taken longer than average. And they've had more than their share of heartache.
Too many close calls.
Too much of getting their hopes up.
Too much of getting let-down.
(I'd say the "close calls" are probably the hardest part for them).
Tomorrow, a woman, who has promised them her little boy, is being induced. This is incredible news! Especially after everything they've been through. But, typical of many cases and experiences, they are afraid to get their hopes up 100% because they've gotten so close too many times before, only to be devastatingly disappointed. It's amazing how quickly a person changes their mind... and it's happened to them a few times too many. (Once is one time too many, in my opinion).
I usually wouldn't go talking about this so publicly because I wouldn't want to jinx it by throwing it out in the universe. But, as her sister, as someone who's been watching this roller coaster ride from the outside (and occasionally strapping myself in for a loop-de-loop when getting a broken-hearted phone call from her) I feel like this one is finally IT.
So, tomorrow, as you are eating your Cheerios, or tying your shoe, or changing a diaper, or commuting to work, or popping a zit, or watching Jerry Springer, or whatever it is you do every morning, but especially if you are saying a prayer, could you include my sister and her husband?
This is my little sister, Tina & her husband Chad.
They were married the year after David and I, so that means (carry the one, subtract 3, move the decimal over a number, divide the square root...) that they've been married for just over 6 years.
Ever since Tina was a baby, she's wanted a baby. In fact, we knew from a very young age that she had no desire to be anything but a mother when she grew up. She even frequently requested an actual baby from Santa Claus for years. She has always loved children. When we were kids, no matter what we were playing (Barbies, Fisher Price, Dress-up, etc.), somehow she always involved being a Mommy in the mix.
She has always connected with babies. She adores them and they love her. Her biological clock has been ticking probably since her biological clock has even existed. We were convinced that once she was married, a baby would not be far behind.
Chad is a good man. We love him. He was not difficult to welcome into the family. He upholds his Priesthood, he's got a good heart, he's wicked talented... and most importantly, he sincerely laughs at every single one of my jokes (it's awesome). He also loves children. He has a very generous heart and the kind of humble, selfless demeanor that would make a perfect father to a very lucky child.
(With my girls, earlier this year)
Problem is, without going into too much private detail, they can't have kids. Ironic, eh? Millions of 16-year-old delinquents and drug-hazed imbeciles and unwed celebrity parents are popping 'em out like Pez dispensers, and yet, these 2 decent, committed, God-fearing people can't even have one. And it's been very hard for them. After years of trying to figure out how to go about having a biological child of their own, they started the adoption process. They were told it could take time, but it seems as if, in their case, it's taken longer than average. And they've had more than their share of heartache.
Too many close calls.
Too much of getting their hopes up.
Too much of getting let-down.
(I'd say the "close calls" are probably the hardest part for them).
Tomorrow, a woman, who has promised them her little boy, is being induced. This is incredible news! Especially after everything they've been through. But, typical of many cases and experiences, they are afraid to get their hopes up 100% because they've gotten so close too many times before, only to be devastatingly disappointed. It's amazing how quickly a person changes their mind... and it's happened to them a few times too many. (Once is one time too many, in my opinion).
I usually wouldn't go talking about this so publicly because I wouldn't want to jinx it by throwing it out in the universe. But, as her sister, as someone who's been watching this roller coaster ride from the outside (and occasionally strapping myself in for a loop-de-loop when getting a broken-hearted phone call from her) I feel like this one is finally IT.
So, tomorrow, as you are eating your Cheerios, or tying your shoe, or changing a diaper, or commuting to work, or popping a zit, or watching Jerry Springer, or whatever it is you do every morning, but especially if you are saying a prayer, could you include my sister and her husband?
'Cause it's their turn....
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