Fecundity

I know I haven't posted a picture lately of myself and my rapidly expanding belly. So here it is...












...wait for it...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

London is ablaze with Christmas decorations. I had aspirations of capturing some examples in the neighborhood with our camera, but I must admit that in the busyness of the season, my photojournalistic ambitions have fallen by the wayside. Your imagination will have to fill in the blanks.

I have to say that the beautiful Christmas trees and lights and ornaments and creches go a really long way toward alleviating the stress that comes from the holiday season and the nasty, cold weather. The decorations are so ubiquitous that I haven't felt the need to decorate the flat (other than hanging our stockings) -- at least that's the story I'm sticking with this year. (It couldn't just be that I'm lazy, could it?)

Anyway, every time James says, "Look, a Christmas tree!" I think an angel gets its wings. At least it makes me smile.

The Courtauld Galleries

I believe it was Saturday, the 6th of December that I got to visit the Courtauld Gallery for the first time. (Thanks for watching James, Micah!) It's much smaller than the National Gallery, but still has some amazing works, including several beautiful Rubens, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear:
and this one, Edouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere:

I was blown away by the original. With its tricks of perspective, including the use of the (skewed) mirror image behind the barmaid, the painting is at once beautiful and completely disorienting. Seeing it solidified my respect and admiration for Manet.

The National Gallery times two

A couple of weeks ago, on December 2nd and 4th, we got to go to the National Gallery with some friends who wanted Micah's custom tour, complete with art commentary. (He's really good at it - very interesting and engaging!) James and I went along and had (mostly) a great time. Art museums aren't tailor-made for three-year-olds, but James did a really good job behaving and staying with us. I even got him interested some of the time in the actual artwork. My favorite comments he made include "Wow, what a big rectangle!" - in reference to a very large and (you guessed it) rectangular painting - and, in response to my question of who the baby was in a Madonna and child painting, "It's baby Alex!"

My favorite painting of the many wonderful pieces in the National Gallery remains this one, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, by Paul Delaroche:
I think it's probably still my favorite because it made a huge impression on me during my first trip to London when I was in college (almost 12 years ago).

For the Arrested Development Fans

This bracelet was my birthday present this year from my brother, Trevor.

Disneyland Paris

Those of you who know me well know that I have an obsession with Disney theme parks that I'm sure rises to the level of a clinically diagnosable disorder. So here is the lowdown on our fabulous trip to Disneyland Paris, in staggering detail:

Thursday, November 13
We woke up bright and early, took the 10-minute bus ride to St. Pancras International rail station (which, parenthetically, is the most beautiful train station in London). We then boarded the Eurostar train to Disneyland. When I say it was the train to Disneyland, I mean that it pulls up three hours later 100 meters from the entrance gates. (SO COOL!) Then we dropped our bags off at our hotel room, which had these great bunk beds in addition to a king-size:

Then it was off to the park! Here are pictures of the lovely entrance gates:
And to the castle, which is my favorite of the three I've seen in person (Disney World, Disneyland CA, and Disneyland Paris):
(Side note : All the architecture, design, and decor in this park was so beautiful. There was more elegance and sophistication to everything, which I guess you would expect from a park in France. Ironically, the food was horrible! The variety and quality of the food at the American parks is much better.) Underneath the castle, there was a little cave you could walk in and see a big, smoke-breathing dragon. This was one of James's favorite attractions - he would often tell the dragon to "go to sleep right now!"

We were amazed at how empty the park was our first day, which was a Thursday. We walked on to every ride, and did most of Fantasyland in just a couple of hours, including Dumbo:
And instead of an Alice in Wonderland ride, as there is in Disneyland CA, there was a hedge maze, which featured this huge, topiary Cheshire Cat that James loved:We also did DP's version of the Haunted Mansion, "Phantom Manor." It was a little too scary - too many skeletons and not enough happy haunts. I much prefer the original. We ended the evening at "Pirates of the Caribbean," which was great. It was distinct from the Florida and California versions, but not better or worse. Just different.

Friday, November 14
The parks were slightly more crowded today, but not by too much. Here we are, waiting in line for the Casey Jr. Circus Train:
Look at the gorgeous fall foliage! None of our pictures do justice to how beautiful the landscaping in the parks was. And I must add that I am very proud of the fact that I crocheted the hat I am wearing in this photo. I am not a very craftsy, hands-on person, but I do like to crochet, and I'm so happy about how this hat turned out.

Friday was the day we met Mickey:
And Sully and Mike (from Monsters, Inc.) over at the Walt Disney Studios Park:
Saturday, November 15
Saturday, we finally understood how DP stays in business - it is PACKED on the weekends. We avoided the long lines for rides by mostly sticking to stage shows, which James loved. We saw the Winnie the Pooh show, a Mickey and Friends Christmas show, and a blacklight show called "Animagique." Micah wants me to mention that if anyone wants to know exactly which rides we went on and attractions we saw, I have that information available. Because I keep a list.

We had such a great trip! I don't know if we'll ever get back, but I'm so glad we went. It would have been very sad indeed for yours truly to live so close to Disneyland Paris for two years and not go. As we left to get on the train headed back for London, Micah asked me if I was sad we were leaving. I told him the sting was considerably lessened by the fact that, in five weeks' time, we'd be heading to the CA Disneyland with his family for Christmas.

Until next time...

It's a Boy!

Little Alexander

Last Call for Predictions

Tomorrow we have an ultrasound, at which we are supposed to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. So this is your last chance to make a guess! Are we going to have an Alexander or an Eve?

Why I Voted for Obama

At the risk of alienating some of my readers, I'm just going to take a minute and let you look inside my thought process regarding my choice for President. Please be assured that we can still be friends if you don't agree with me. I just thought that some of you would be gratified to know that my views are similar to yours; the others might at least be able to see that I do have rational reasons for my political views even as they pray for my soul.

I'll just start out by saying that I'm ripping off the format of this post from a fellow blogger (you know who you are!).

Q: I am against abortion. Why should I vote for Obama when he's pro-choice?

A: Even though it is true that Obama is firmly pro-choice, and even though the next president may have some effect on abortion law in the U.S., abortion restrictions are generally made at the state level through the legislative process, not by the Executive Branch. Even if the next president does have the chance to appoint Supreme Court justices, that's still several steps away from making abortion illegal or changing the current constitutional law on the subject. Imagine the scenario: the next president would have to appoint at least one or two "conservative" justices, the Court would have to agree to review Roe v. Wade, decide to overturn it, and even then, for abortion to become illegal, your state would have to vote to ban it. I believe that overall public opinion in most states (but of course, not all) would keep abortion legal, which is unfortunate, but the reality we have in 2008. Also remember that Supreme Court appointees' political views do not always correspond in the long run to the president who appointed them: Justices Stevens and Souter were both appointed by conservative presidents, but often vote with the liberal bloc of the Court, and Justice Kennedy, often the deciding swing vote, was also appointed by a Republican. So the point I'm trying to make is that while abortion is an issue in a presidential race, it is not the most important or relevant one.

Q: Isn't Obama weak on foreign policy and national security issues?

A: It depends on what you mean by "weak." Obama has very little personal experience in these areas, but has chosen a running mate, Joe Biden, who has quite a bit of experience in this area from his participation as Chairman on the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Obama is committed to diplomacy, yes, but talking isn't the only tactic he's proposed in the war on terror. He has repeatedly stated that he considers the use of force an option when all other avenues have been exhausted. Personally, as someone who values life, I would really like to try diplomacy and defensive tactics rather than offensive ones as long as possible. I believe the war in Iraq was unnecessary, and while you can debate that 'til the cows come home, no one can debate the fact that tens of thousands of civilian lives have been lost in that conflict, not to mention the lives of thousands of American and coalition soldiers (and contractors, etc.). So I'd like the next president to not be so eager to rush to war.

Q: Obama seems to be very popular around the world, but isn't that irrelevant to us? We shouldn't be making a decision based on what foreigners think of us - what about our sovereignty?

A: Sovereignty is important, and I agree that we shouldn't relinquish it where it counts. I would be against tying our hands in national security issues just to placate some international organization, even though it makes sense to cooperate with other nations where possible. But I firmly believe that what the rest of the world thinks of America - and our President - IS important to our national security. Terrorists who try to attack America and our allies do so in part because they believe we're insular, selfish, and hypocritical. The improvement of our image around the world could only help the war on terror. Not convinced yet? Forget terrorists - we still live in a global society, whether we like it or not. We depend on good relationships with other countries to get things done - like fighting the war in Afghanistan. So it does matter what others think of our pick for the top job.

Q: The liberal media has been horrible to Sarah Palin. Doesn't she have more executive experience than Obama, though, and comparable experience overall? Besides, she's just the V.P. candidate. McCain is the one running for President.

A: I really don't care about experience nearly as much as most people seem to. What I care about is values and judgment. I think that McCain showed a serious lapse in judgment in picking Palin as a running mate, not because of her experience (or lack thereof), but because of what seems a fundamental lack of curiosity in her nature and her seeming disregard for the rule of law and propriety. Her tenures as Mayor of Wasilla and Governor of Alaska have been riddled with abuses of power and her alienating anyone who disagreed with her. Even if McCain lived through his full term as president (which, considering his age and health, you have to admit, is iffy), he has said that Palin will play a large role in his administration, including energy policy and some sort of task force on special needs children. Personally, I don't think I'd like her energy policy - I think she's too anti-environment, pro-big oil, and not concerned enough about climate change.

Q: But isn't Obama going to raise taxes and redistribute wealth? Isn't he a (gasp) SOCIALIST?

A: Obama is proposing to raise taxes - on the top 5% of earners. This puts you, me, and most people we know on the "tax cut" (or tax credit) side of his proposal. I have to admit, though, that even I am not sure about how this will work out. I'm not certain that a recession is the time to raise taxes on anyone, even though Obama's proposed tax "increase" is just a return to pre-Bush tax cut figures. And McCain isn't proposing that we completely overhaul the tax system - his proposals are progressive, too, just not to the extent that Obama's are. We have a government set up to redistribute wealth - and it's been that way for decades. Obama's proposals are not as radical as some would try make you think. And although McCain criticizes "tax-and-spend" mentalities, I'd prefer "tax and spend" to "not tax and spend," which has been the policy for the past eight years and landed us in record budget deficits and national debt.

As for the S-word, I would rather that people talk about proposals, issues, and policies, and not throw around words that have more fear than substance attached to them. I just don't think it's helpful to use these talismanic words, because they tend to mean something different (and usually emotional instead of rational) to different people.

Okay, that was a lot longer than I intended it to be. In closing, I'd just like to say that I hope that whomever is elected President, we can all get behind him in the sense of being good citizens and trying to build unity in our homes and communities. Really, we're all in this together.

Happy Halloween

I know, it's been 20,000 leagues* since Halloween already, but I've just gotten around to posting these pictures from the AMAZING Halloween party we attended at Stephanie and Eva's home. James was Draco Malfoy, but refused to wear the ridiculously expensive costume for more than a few minutes. Sigh. We all had a great time, though.

*Reference to a 90's SNL skit.

James Is Easily Distracted

Click here to see a video of James singing "I Am a Child of God." (I didn't embed it directly in the blog because the file was too large.)

The Pariah

Ever since we returned from our trip to Utah (in August), one thing or another has prevented us from carrying on a semblance of our former life. First my pregnancy illness completely barred any sallying forth from the flat. Then we were toilet training James - which I am happy to report, is going swimmingly; he's not even wearing diapers at night anymore. Then we all got colds. Then James got an ear infection. Then I got a sinus infection. Then we all got colds - again. I'm actually feeling well enough now to go out and see people, and I'd really like to socialize and take James out. But he's still coughing, and I'm nervous about getting my friends (and my friends' kids) sick. So, until further notice, I'm still a social leper. On the plus side, time is passing unbearably slowly!

Grrrr.

Fourth Folder, Fourth Picture

So my cousins had this on their blog, and I thought it would be fun for us to do, too. You look in the fourth picture folder (or photo album) on your computer, and post the fourth photo from it on your blog. Here it is:I had to cheat a little because my fourth folder was inexplicably empty. But here is the fourth picture from the fifth folder. It is little James, back in the bedroom in our Alpine home. This was taken two years ago, in October 2006. He looks like he's about to pounce. Looking at pictures of our house in Utah makes me a little homesick, I must confess.

As a bonus, I thought I'd also post this photo, the fourth photo in the fourth album when I use my Kodak EasyShare program. It was taken back in December 2003, of me and my paternal grandmother. This was my only trip thus far to my grandfather's gravesite, which is located in rural Kansas. He passed away while I was on my mission, in 2001.

Making Sense of the Financial Crisis

I just listened to an excellent episode of This American Life about the economy meltdown (called "Another Frightening Show about the Economy," if you're interested in listening to it). It was very interesting and informative, especially about topics that aren't being covered extensively in other media, including the commercial paper market, credit default swaps, and the "bailout" bill that was just passed. A lot of people are trying to assign blame and point fingers, and the truth is, pretty much everyone is to blame: Republicans, Democrats, bankers, borrowers, everyone. One interesting comment a financial professional made during the show was that the root of this whole problem is not really any one specific institution or commodity or law; it is our society's relationship with debt. We apparently are way too comfortable with it. Anyway, I thought maybe someone out there might be interested in this, because I was hearing a lot of conflicting opinions and explanations and this podcast really cleared things up for me.

For All the Mothers, and Fathers, and Pretty Much Everyone Else

I just listened to a really inspirational talk that was given at the LDS General Relief Society Meeting on September 27. I know that many of my readers may already have heard this one, but if you haven't, I highly recommend it. It may just be the pregnancy hormones, but I felt really uplifted and touched by it. And yes, it's applicable if you're not a Mormon (or even a woman). It is entitled "Happiness, Your Heritage," by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The written version can be found here, or you can listen to the audio here, or watch a Quick Time video version here. The broadcast lasts about 21 minutes.

James' Prayer

Evening prayer tonight, offered by James: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for have some food, and Coco Pops, and bike cereal, and noodles and cheese, no sauce, just cheese, and thank you for markers, and not color on walls, just color on paper, thank you for cars, Jesus Christ, amen.  

I Need Your Validation

Last night, James was acting a little strange around bedtime, so Micah and I weren't shocked when he threw up (all over the bathroom) after dinner.  After that, he went to bed, but wanted me to sleep in his bed with him, which I did.  Then he woke up about every 5.2 seconds to whine, cry, and generally be unconsolable about how uncomfortable he felt.  Needless to say, I got very little sleep last night.  We got out of bed around 8:30,* and now it's 9:48.  In the last hour, I have eaten two bowls of cereal, played Spider Solitaire, and listened to my Disneyland soundtrack.  What I need from you, dear reader, is your blessing.  Tell me it's okay after a night like that to not get anything done today.  Please.

*James awoke having no indication, in demeanor or otherwise, that any of this had ever transpired.

Potpourri

I thought I'd string together a few random thoughts and experiences today. First, this lovely picture of James playing with his friend, Eva. Yes, she appears to be writing on his head with a water pen. Eva's mommy, Stephanie, was one of a handful of extremely helpful and wonderful friends who watched James for us while I was in the hospital or otherwise incapacitated with morning sickness. Thankfully, I am glad to report that I am feeling a lot better now. I'm still nauseated and tired most of the time, but not so much anymore that it keeps me from functioning.

News: James started nursery school on September 8th. You can click here to see some pictures of him on his first day. He goes in the mornings for two-and-a-half hours, which is just enough time for me to really miss him. Or he DID go in the mornings, until he got suspended from school for not being potty trained yet. Oops. That did not get done because of my whole being-spectacularly-sick thing.

But it brings me to our next bit of news: we are potty training now! James is actually doing a wonderful job and is tons more motivated this time than the previous couple of times we made the attempt. Which shows me he is ready. So we should be ready to go back to school soon.

Finally, I wanted to mention a crazy pregnancy craving I've been experiencing - Granny Smith apples. I eat them by the bushel. Seriously, I eat four to six apples a day. They are one of the few things that actually tastes good. Go figure.

I Need to Remember

In the days following September 11, 2001, I was devastated by the tragedy that had befallen us, and also proud and grateful to be an American. I believe that America has the wonderful advantages it does largely because of our inspired Constitution and adherence to it. The freedoms, rights, and checks and balances of power delineated by the Constitution are essential in maintaining a humane society. Ultimately, our collective adherence to the principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution determines whether we as a country stand for what is right, or become more like those who attacked us seven years ago.

In the last several years, I have been dismayed at the disdain the current administration seems to have for the Constitution. The rights and freedoms of American citizens have been curtailed, and the power of the Executive has been enlarged (at the expense of the other branches) with such measures as "signing statements"- indicating that the President has no intention to enforce certain laws passed by our elected officials in Congress - and other actions. In addition, international treaties to which the U.S. was a ratifier, such as the Geneva Convention, have been ignored when the administration found it inconvenient to follow them. What happened to the principle of inalienable human rights?

It is very important in the upcoming Presidential election to consider which candidate is best willing and able to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Who is most likely to restore the balance of power in the federal government? Who is most likely to preserve individual rights and freedoms? Who will ensure that in the continuing "War on Terror," we do not abandon the very principles that have given our country its character and prosperity?

As I remember 9/11, I hope that whomever we choose this November to lead us, that person will do his best to respect the Constitution and stand up for what is right. What good is winning the War if we lose our soul in the process?

Expecting a Mini-Christensen

For those of you who haven't yet heard, Team Christensen is adding a new member to the roster. We're awaiting the arrival of this new little person sometime around March 18, 2009, which puts me at 12 weeks pregnant.

The unfortunate part is that I have been very, very ill for the past several weeks. I don't bring this up to elicit pity -- okay, I don't bring this up solely to elicit pity -- but to publicly thank the many family members and friends who have prayed for us, watched James for us, and listened to me whine and complain. Many of you will remember how hard my first pregnancy was, and if you can believe it, this one has been even worse. But I truly have felt the influence of the prayers that have been said on my behalf, and for that I am very grateful.

So here's to the ups and downs of life! We're very excited to get on with things and meet the newest member of our family. In a few excruciating months.

Be Here Now

When I was in the MTC, I made a little sign for myself that said "Be Here Now." I'm notoriously bad at living in the moment; I'm usually thinking about the next meal, the next responsibility, the next place I'll live or kid I'll have or whatever. In the MTC, I was thinking about getting out in the field when I wasn't thinking about coming home from my mission. I had a hard time focusing on the present.

Yesterday, a friend of ours and her daughter took us to the zoo. When James and Eva were looking intently at the pygmy hippopotamus, Stephanie said to me, "This is the life. Our kids are well and happy, we're at the zoo, enjoying beautiful weather, we have good friends . . . this is it." And it made me realize that I really should just relax and enjoy my life. It was a wonderful and needed reminder.

James' Birthday Party

Micah posted pictures of James' super duper third birthday party here. Enjoy!

Laughter and Forgetting

James is such a delightful, funny little boy, it's impossible to chronicle all the delightful, funny little things he does. What that means is that I remember generally how James was as an infant and smaller toddler, but some of the specifics are disturbingly quickly forgotten. I was just looking back at some videos we'd taken of James over the past year or so, and remembering things he used to do. For instance, he used to say something that sounded like "pressa" before addressing me or Micah: "Pressa Mommy, where are you?" or "Hi, pressa Daddy." To this day, I have no idea what he meant by it, but the thing is, he doesn't do it anymore. Another thing he used to do was hit himself, usually on the head, for no reason at all. I'm glad that little oddity is a thing of the past. Lately he's been saying "my" instead of "I'm." As in, "My sorry, Mommy" or Q: "James, are you okay?" A: "My fine, my fine." Anyway, this is a video from a few months ago that I promised my sisters I'd post. Here's to remembering how silly I was to leave my lipstick where James could get it...

James's Birthday

Well, he's three. I can't believe that three years have gone by. I just wanted to thank all of you who have called, sent gifts and cards, and been there for James. Here's to a wonderful little boy!

Horniman Museum and Getting There

Friday, we went to the Horniman Museum. We had heard it had a great aquarium (which it does, albeit a small one). To get there, we took the 521 bus to London Bridge station, from which we took the National Rail service to Forest Hill. I want to take this opportunity to say how much I love rail stations.* When you're in a train station, it seems as though a world of possibility is open to you. Dotted throughout Britain, connected by a crisscrossing of rails like the veins on a leaf, rail stations are much more accessible than airports and much less depressing than their American cousins. They are breezy, inviting, bustling... and they fill my heart with lovely anticipation. The London Bridge - Forest Hill trip was short (15 or 20 minutes) and cheap (3.80 GBP return), but I could easily have bought a ticket to Edinburgh. Or Swansea. Or Dover. I could have just as easily gone almost anywhere in the country. I know, you can go anywhere in the States with a plane ticket, but it's not the same.

So, reader, I invite you to come ride the rails with me. You'll never be the same.

*I must say, I understand in some measure why King's Cross station plays such a significant part in the Harry Potter novels.

Where Am I?

I traveled today from our flat in central London to a couple of friends' homes in East London, trying out some alternative transportation routes in order to avoid the dreaded transfer at Bank station. For reasons related to my own incompetence and stubbornness, I ended up walking much more than I had intended, through some interesting neighborhoods. Not really dangerous neighborhoods - just more industrial than residential. It got me thinking -- Greater London is a relatively small area, consisting of 609 square miles of land out of the approximately 57 million on Earth. But on almost any given 90p ($1.80) bus ride in the capital, you can pass wide green expanses next to row after row of (aptly named) row houses. There are crumbling warehouses around the corner from extravagant hotels. There are stones from the old Roman city walls tucked in between shiny new skyscrapers. So my tube, light rail, light rail, walking, bus, walking, bus, and tube journeys today took me through dozens of little mini-cities. There was a totally different feeling in each neighborhood, and frankly it was disorienting. Trying to make sense of these disparate pieces as part of a larger whole was mentally like trying to put together a puzzle with the pieces from several different boxes. Living in New York was like living in a mosaic; the neighborhoods were different, but felt like part of one grand composition. London is more like the collage of a madman. I've yet to process all the feelings that surfaced for me today, but one thing I have realized is that there is value in being caught off guard. I said to Micah the other day that I feel more at home in New York than here in London. That is true. But I also like London more. Maybe part of what I like about it is its ability to disquiet me.

Sometimes I Am Shallow

The season finale of Bones is airing tonight (8/7 c on Fox), which means that I will be able to see it as soon as it is available for download from iTunes. . . the second it is available for download from iTunes. I do not exaggerate when I say that this is the number one thing I have been looking forward to all week. Does anyone out there among my blog readership (i.e. the nine-or-so of you) feel the same way? Or do you all have lives imbued with actual meaning?

"the fugitive moment refuses to stay"

I just held James and sang him to sleep. This does not happen very often; many times Micah or I will be dismissed with a "go" when James is ready to rest for the night. Tonight he was so exhausted that changing his diaper and putting on pajamas was a traumatic event for everyone involved. But eventually, he calmed down enough for Micah to sing a few bedtime songs to him ("The Itsy Bitsy Spider," "The Wheels on the Bus," and "Popcorn Popping"), and finally, he crawled on my lap and snuggled up to me to listen to "one (last) song." As I sang "I Lived in Heaven," then "I Know My Father Lives," then "I Feel My Savior's Love," his little eyes fluttered, then closed, then stayed closed.

How many more nights will he let me sing him to sleep, cradled in my arms? Whatever the number, it will be too few.

Happy Mother's Day

I had surgery last Tuesday. It was minor, outpatient surgery, but as a result, I have spent most of the last several days in bed, and I won't be able to pick up anything heavy (i.e. James) for several weeks to come. And I've realized how wonderful my support system is. So this Mother's Day, I wanted to pull back the curtain and reveal the real wizards of my motherhood. If James does or is anything good, the following people deserve the credit. If, on the other hand, my mothering fails to measure up, the blame is mine alone.

Micah, my husband and friend and superhero

Micah has done everything, everything to help while I have been recovering. He has taken care of James, washed the clothes, washed the dishes, prepared the food, cleaned the flat, and moved things with solely the power of his mind. I married the most amazing human being on the planet, who bears my many indiscretions, weaknesses, and character flaws with grace and cheerfulness. He has endlessly encouraged and supported me in my role as mother, and I will always be grateful to him for that.

My own saintly Mummy

My mother is a great inspiration to me. She has been such a good example of mothering. When I was a child, she helped me develop my imagination and self worth while simultaneously giving me an anchor of safety and stability in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is truly amazing when it comes to teaching her children be independent, thinking people who choose to act for themselves and take control of their own destinies. Oh, and she tolerates with longsuffering and great compassion my many whiny phone calls about what a failure I am as a mother.








My tireless Mother-in-law
My mother-in-law is one of the most vocal advocates for yours truly. She never hesitates to tell me what a great job I'm doing as a mother, even though privately she must chuckle at my foibles and my comparative inexperience. She is one of those people that just gives and gives and gives, and you start to wonder if she has any desires for herself other than to serve others. She was the one who took care of me when I was pregnant and miserable, fixing me grits (she is Southern Hospitality personified) and bacon, empathizing with me to no end. She also happily takes care of James when his parents need a break.

Add to this list my father, father-in-law, stepfather, grandfather, grandmother, sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, other family members, and dear friends, all of whom have functioned as surrogate therapists over the phone or in person or by email as I have tried to muddle through these first few years of motherhood. They have rejoiced in my successes and sympathized with me during my mistakes and shortcomings. Forgive me for not naming you all individually, but know that you are very loved and very appreciated. It does take a village to raise a child, and James and I are very lucky to be part of such a loving and wonderful village.

Our Bedtime Routine

James aficionados may remember that the first song he ever sang along to was "A Pirate's Life for Me (Yo Ho)." Now it is the last thing he hears every night, because he requests I sing it after we say prayers.

Brought to You By the Letter H

Imagine my excitement tonight when James learned his first letter! He was taking his bath, and he has these foam letters and numbers that stick to the tub when they're wet. He picked up the red letter "H" and said, "Look, H!" It just goes to show that Big Bird really knows what he's talking about.

Also, the big news this week is that James is learning to wear "big boy undies." I decided it was time to potty learn when he brought me a dirty diaper he had taken off himself. Just as Big Bird is helping us with our ABC's, Elmo is helping us remember to go to the bathroom. So far, we've had several accidents, but also several successful trips to the loo. Wish us luck!

We Love Visitors!

Some pictures of family and friends who have come to visit in the past couple of months:

Tat, Blair, and a Beefeater at the Tower of London

My mother and I

Mom in front of the Houses of Parliament

Tat, James, Lorianne

Tat, PaPa Larry (my grandpa), Micah

PaPa Larry wearing James' "hat"

Pure Imagination

James sees the world a little differently than the rest of us. As soon as he realized that he was part of a world, and that there were other things besides himself in that world, he imagined that those things were other things.

This may look like a small plastic toy to you or to me. To James, it is a cell phone.

An ordinary brown leather sofa? Not when James straddles the top. From that position, he told me, "Look, Mommy! I'm riding a horse!"

This is the cardboard strip torn off our laundry detergent box.

But in James' hands, it's a balloon, and he is Curious George, being carried away by it.

These are not the pillows on our bed . . .

. . . they form the dashboard of James' car.

On the left is a carrot. On the right is the vegetable peeler. When James "peels carrots," he does so over the trash can.

And the following picture needs no explanation:

Some Thoughts on Easter

I apologize in advance for those who would see this post as light-minded or inappropriate in any way. I don't mean to trivialize the atonement and resurrection at all by what I'm about to say.

As I sat in church on Easter Sunday, and even in the days leading up to it, I felt what I'm going to call "the spirit of Easter" more this year than I think I've ever felt it before. What it boiled down to was an overwhelming sense of gratitude - not just for the resulting blessings of Christ's actions, but for the actions themselves.

I am grateful for the promise of a universal resurrection, and somewhat more so for the opportunity my Savior has afforded me to repent of my sins. This year, what was foremost in my mind, though, was the way in which Jesus accomplished His great labor of love. And I must say that a big part of getting a handle on my Easter thoughts and feelings this year was by thinking about some of our great modern, secular parables.

As I sat in Sacrament Meeting, I thought of little Frodo, accepting the burden of the one ring at the council in Rivendell, even though he had little knowledge of the difficulties ahead of him. I thought of the great lion, Aslan, who forgave even Edmund's treachery. And I thought of Harry Potter, who (spoiler alert!) walked into the Forbidden Forest at midnight, planning to lay down his life for his friends.

I am not implying, of course, that these stories rival holy Scripture, or that the experiences of these fictional characters compare to the ultimate sacrifice of the very non-fictional Jesus of Nazareth. What I am saying is that the themes in these books (and others)-- themes of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, and of fighting for a cause bigger than oneself -- deeply resonate with me, and with so many people.

I guess that the ideas encompassed by the word "atonement" are so big, and the sacrifices Jesus made so awesome, in the true sense of the word, that it is helpful for me to approach the subject via allegory. I find I can better relate to the thoughts and feelings of a small hobbit or young wizard than a person who was literally the Son of God, and who had no faults, and who suffered for the sins of countless billions. So I am grateful for these contemporary parables, that in a very small way help me better understand and appreciate the Greatest Story Ever Told -- that of the empty tomb.

The (Almost) Completely Fictional Post

Today was a great day. I arose, as I so often do, at five a.m. with a song in my heart. I said a long, uninterrupted morning prayer, studied Scripture, and did my Pilates workout by six. I then showered, dressed, and applied makeup, makeup which in no way was irreparably damaged by my son at any time today.

At seven o'clock, James knocked gently on his bedroom door, and said, "Mommy, I'm up! Can I come out of my room now?" We breakfasted on whole-grain, sugar-free, nutrient-rich food which had been harvested and packaged using sustainable, eco-friendly processes. James ate, as usual, a well balanced meal.

After starting the laundry and washing the breakfast dishes, we exited the spotlessly clean flat in an orderly manner and visited a museum a few blocks away. James obeyed my every suggestion, holding my hand the entire time without a fuss, and refrained at all times from touching the priceless antiques and furniture.

We returned home for lunch, which was as hearty and wholesome as breakfast. After lunch, James went of his own accord up to his room for a nice, long nap. Because he slept so soundly and so long, I was able to get some necessary tasks accomplished. I worked on our taxes, scheduled my Visiting Teaching appointments, and did some crocheting while listening to my French lessons.

James awoke in time for a visit from our friends, Hanna and Henry. James was in a great mood, owing to all the rest he had gotten, and at no time did he make Henry cry. Not at all.

After our friends left, James and I had a peaceful and restful evening, playing gently with one another until James' bedtime. We rounded out the evening with a nice, homemade dinner. After family prayer, James gave me a goodnight kiss and drifted off to sleep. I sighed as I gazed upon him, wondering what I did to deserve such a lovely child.

And now I'm off to bed myself, content with knowing that I've done some good in the world today.

Pupaphobia

In case you're wondering, it's the fear of puppets. And James has it. He becomes violently frightened when anyone with any kind of puppet demonstrates its use. I would add pictures of James being traumatized by puppets, but I think it would be cruel to laugh at his very real affliction. I should say it would be cruel for more people to laugh at his pain, because Micah and I have already enjoyed this little joke at his expense.

So far, he has been scared out of his mind by a dinosaur puppet, a wolf puppet, and even one of his own mittens being used as a sort of puppet. You know, like, "hey, James, I'm your mitten. If you put me on your hand, I'll keep you warm," with the fingers and thumb parts of the mitten being moved up and down to simulate a talking mouth. Yeah, he completely freaked.

It's good to know, though, that if these issues persist, there is help out there for people like James.

Cambridge

We went by train (fifty minutes from King's Cross station) last Saturday. The photo shows the Bridge of Sighs.

The Artiste

I just wanted you all to know that among my other domestic skills and talents, which are many, I have lately added "Mommy Artist Extraordinaire." James often requests my drawings, and I am all too happy to oblige. My chosen medium is usually the Magna Doodle, as will be exhibited in the following pieces.

One of James' most oft-desired subjects is "a train," my version of which you see here -

I have expanded my repertoire to include Thomas the Tank Engine -


and his friend, Percy, shown below. Notice the subtle delineations between the two -

James has also commissioned several times "a Mr. Potato Head."


And finally, once in a while, James will ask me to draw "a girl baby."

I must admit that there has been some encouragement on my part for the election of this subject.