Not to Sound Redundant...

... but I love Elder Holland.

2nd Child Syndrome

So - of course, Cecily doesn't get near the blog-time her sister got at this age because, well... there's TWO of them now, ok?! I am no superwoman!

Ok... defensive spell has passed. Moving on...

Just before the passing of my grandpa, I had this whole 18-month-old milestones post prepared in my head for our sweet CC, and then stuff happened. And now Cecily has been 18 months old for 2 1/2 weeks. But, hey. Better late than never, eh?


We love our CCLemon heaps and heaps. One of the most wonderful and frustrating things about her is that she is NOTHING like her sister. She can be really laid back at times. There are moments where she just, simply, sits back and observes. She often does this when being introduced to new situations. Whereas her sister initially warmed up to any and all strangers in a matter of seconds at this age, CC holds on a little tighter to me and sort of stares at a person until she has gauged for herself whether or not the situation is worth investing in. However - despite her somewhat laid-back approach to social situations, and despite being able to occasionally handle overtired moments with a fairly calm demeanor... she. has. a. temper.

Wow. Such a temper.

The child has been alive for just over a year and we have already experienced at least 1/2 a dozen tantrums that involve a desperate army crawl of sobs and wails that have lasted over 10 minutes. We are learning about the ingenious principle of simply leaving a child to sort out their issues on their own sometimes. Interference can often = World War III.

Despite those moments, our CCLemon is such a sweet snuggle bunny. She is a hugger and I just love, love, LOVE that. And, despite her initial hesitations with new people as well as her... "willful" disposition... she is still fairly obedient and very love-y. We saw a lot of family the last week with the funeral and such, and when we would say, "Ok, CC. Give hugs and say 'bye'," she would do just that. To everyone. And when she hugs, she lays her head on you and says, "Awwwwwww." And it is so dang cute.

Words she says:
Mommy
Daddy
Sis-tha (Sister)
Hi
Bye
Sky
Burrrrrrr (bird)
See? (Can I see that?)
Psssssss (please)
Jesus
Puppy
Baby
Baw (ball)
Nana (banana)
Bah-po (apple)
Moon
Shooooot (shoes)
Car
Ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee (eat)
Nahn (want)
Down? (up & down)
No (no)
Nooo? (yes)
"B" (all letters)
Nguh (said like "guh" with your mouth closed = drink)
Dat (that)
Dat tieeeeeeme (bath time)
Ca-caw (cracker)

Gestures:
Waves hi & bye
Gives hugs
Locates nose, mouth, bellybutton, toes, fingers, and bum
Blinks when asked where eyes are
Pats head for "hat"
Likes to cross her fingers and then point at things
Does "where is ----" with shrugged shoulders/palms up

Understands:
"What do you say?" & responds with please
"Come here"
"Be soft"
"Pick out a book"
"Let's go"
"Get (so & so)"
"Time to eat"

There are more, I'm sure, and considering my current exhausted state of mind, I'm probably missing the best ones.

She has definitely inherited, as I mentioned before, a strong will from her mother, which will either make or break her... like her mother. She has also inherited a lack of grace... again, from me. But she loves to dance, and it usually is done with her feet spread shoulder-width apart, and her legs locked straight, as she rocks side-to-side. She also loves to attempt to sing, but only if she recognizes the song. She loves to watch "Little Einsteins" on the Disney Channel, and tries to count down with them, with "1-2-3" sounding like "Duh-Doooo-Eeeeeeeee!" She pat-pats for blast off and even throws her arms up and shakes them to help Rocket get in the sky. She'll be an astronaut, for sure.


She started nursery at Church two weeks ago, and I thought I was really ready for it. But I have already come to miss her terribly... mostly because I listen better when my hands are busy. ;)

We love having our CC in our lives. And the girls are so good with each other. Every night, after I get Malia out of the tub and just before I lay Cecily down, they give each other a hug and kiss without hesitation. It's so darn sweet and I am inspired by their kindness to each other and their (usual) willingness to share... with each other, anyway.


We couldn't imagine our lives without the laughter and love she has added, ten-fold.

Keeper of the Flame

You may want to view it in YouTube so the frame isn't cut off. :)

The Best Kinds of Tradition

2006

2007

2008

2009


2010

Happy Father's Day...
to the greatest father
I could've imagined for my amazing children.
We love you.

David W. Swenson, Jr. 1/19/1919 - 6/12/2010

A week and a 1/2 ago, I was driving home in the heinousness that is the 405 freeway, and I decided to call my mom to pass the time. As we spoke, she informed me that the weekend before, my Grandpa had fallen and broken some ribs and that, even more recently, he'd had what they thought to be a heart attack (my grandpa had quadruple bypass a couple of decades ago).

Long story short - my otherwise healthy grandfather passed away Thursday morning but was revived. Turns out the heart attack was actually kidney failure, and they were now giving him a day to live.

SIDE NOTE: My paternal grandmother, I've never met... she passed when I was an infant. My paternal grandfather passed when I was in junior high. My maternal grandmother passed when Malia was only 2-3 weeks old.

This was my last living biological grandparent.

I called him at the hospital on Thursday. He was heavily sedated. The majority of our phone conversation was very mumbled and incoherent. However, there was a brief minute where I could actually understand him and we were able to converse comprehensibly. I was initially hesitant about sharing this... but have decided I should because it's such a beautiful reminder of how thin the veil really is. I had written it down the moment I'd hung up the phone:

Grandpa: I took a trip to the other side... of the veil. But I'm not sure which side... wants me. Where do I go?

Me: Well, you just go to the side where you feel most at peace. Either way, you have people who love you in both places.

Grandpa: Oh, I sure hope so.

Me: Now, Grandpa. Of course you do. And you know that. You could never deny that you know that.

Grandpa: I'm having a hard time ... something incoherent... holding my hand. back-&-forth... so many people I don't know who... more incoherence... they all are.

Me: Ok, Grandpa. Just let them hold you.

Grandpa: Ok, Tiffany.

Me: I love you, Grandpa.

Grandpa: Love you, too

It was admittedly difficult to hear my Grandpa's voice without the usual smile in his tone and not having him address me as "my little rebel." He passed away at 3:30 A.M. on Saturday morning, June 12th.

I had prepared myself to fly with both girls for the funeral in Sandy, Utah. However, due to the fact that the funeral was to be on the 16th, the day after mine & David's 8th Wedding Anniversary, we all drove up as a family. The funeral was lovely and it was great to see so much family. And despite one breakdown I had when I had to finally approach his lifeless body before they closed the casket, I did fairly well. I credit that entirely to my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the principle of Eternal Families, and the fact that I am 100% convinced that Grandma had given Grandpa an earful for about 20 minutes and then embraced him and welcomed him home.

Grandpa was a worthy Priesthood holder. He served faithfully in the Church, the mission field, and the temple. He was a Naval Veteran. He was a fisherman. He was a man of music and a teacher. He was a hard-worker and a good father. He was the best of grandfathers.

I'll miss his silly songs.

I'll miss his gentle demeanor.

I'll miss his crinkly-eyed, closed-mouth smile.

I'll miss his teasing.

But none of my "missings" are comparable to the joy I have knowing he's home, with Grandma.

Love you, "Bah-pa!"

David W. Swenson, Jr.

1/19/1919 - 6/12/2010