The not so quiet life of Mrs. Whispers

The other night, after eating a candy bar with a gold foil wrapper I started singing "I've Got a Golden Ticket." My husband proceeded to sing the Harry Connick Jr. jazzed up version of the song. THEN we had this conversation:

Me: Do you only know the words to that song because of Harry Connick Jr.? Have you ever seen the original "Willy Wonka"?

Ryan: Of course I have. Who hasn't?

Me: Well, when I first married you, you hadn't even seen "Star Wars."

Ryan: (Tilts his head forward & looks at me through the top of his glasses) Is "Star Wars" a musical?

I laughed for a good 5 minutes after that one. Wow. WHO did I marry? I blame my in-laws.

Beginnings in Primary

*instagram pic of Wendy's 1st day in primary

Today, Wendy had her 1st primary assignment: the opening prayer. So like the typical parents of the first born, Ryan and I went in and sat in the back of the room to witness the momentous occasion. I had asked her earlier in the day if she wanted either Ryan or I to help her. She told me she didn't, but I wasn't so sure she'd feel that way standing in front of everyone.

I was such a proud parent watching her beaming face as she sat at the front of the room with her arms folded, facing her peers. When it was show time, she jumped up, declined an offer for whispered help from a member of the primary presidency (Stephanie Neilson) and proceeded to fold her arms and squeeze her eyes shut tight. I kept my eyes open and took in her concentration as she prayed, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for please bless the Gospel. Thank you for Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." She had told me earlier in the day that she was going to say the words "Gosple," and "Jesus Christ" in her prayer (that's her bringing out the big guns because she always gets a good reaction when she uses those words in her prayers at home). It was so touching and adorable, after adding my own, "Amen," I let out a laugh/sob. I've never done that before. I love her so much. I love the personality and testimony she's developing. I want to remember her this way forever.

9 months already!?

Harvey at 9 months:

• weight: 24lbs 9oz
• one-tooth willy. one of his front teeth is coming in a little later than the other one and he has this adorable hillbilly smile.
• First: trip to Arizona, taste of chereo's
• favorite words: "Dad," "lowdle-lowdle-lowdle/ leedle-leedle-leedle," "FFFFFfffffff" sound made with his lips curled in like he's blowing the bangs out of his face, and excited high pitched screams
• HATES being laid on the changing table
• once he gets over the fact that he's on the changing table, he likes to hold my arm with both of his tight to his chest while i jokingly try to wiggle it away. i love this game.
• ADORES his sister, as always
• loves to play this game with his sister where she shakes her head no at him & he does it back
• all his 9 month old friends are starting to crawl, but Harvey is taking this one a little slower (just like his sister who crawled at 14mos and started walking at 15mos). he IS, however, liking tummy time a lot better and can push the top half of his body pretty high off the ground. it's those chubby thighs he hasn't even tried to lift up yet (and i'm in no rush for him to be moble, i know it will come... along with a whole new dimension of keeping up for me).
• is developing the sweetest personality. people always comment on how happy he is.
• super nosey. if there is anything going on while i'm breast feeding him, that hooter-hider will start to thrash around until his little head finds a place to poke out and his eyes scan the room.
• he really knows who i am. when i walk into a room he starts flapping his arms and smiling and heaving, and if i don't pick him up quick (or at least maintain eye contact) he starts to get bummed.
• when i get him out of his crib he HUGS me. he puts his head on my shoulder for a while, then pushes back to look at my face and pat my shoulders, then goes back to hugging me. these are some of the sweetest moments.

If you give a mom a water bottle...

*photo via pinterest
Note to self:

If you're out of town and you're breastfeeding, you might be in a situation where you need to pump. If you pump, you might have to find an alternate method of storage (because you probably left those little baggies at home). At that point, an empty water bottle might seem like a really good idea. BUT if you are holding the water bottle, with 6 oz. of warm breast milk in it, talking to someone who is drinking water out of a water bottle, you might forget what you're holding and absentmindedly chug half the milk you just spent 20 minutes painfully juicing from your own body... It doesn't taste too bad actually, very sweet, but that doesn't stop the dry heaves.

Resolutions

*image via pinterest.com

2011 was awesome for me. I had a beautiful baby boy. My husband turned 30 (and I threw him a pretty successful surprise party, if I do say so myself). My daughter is as happy, healthy, intelligent and spunky as ever. 2011 was a good year. I even stuck to my 2011 resolution of refraining from seeing rated R movies (and I LOVE movies).

This year, (other than wanting to lose weight, but who DOESN'T have that resolution?) I'm really going to focus on being more punctual. I have a little bit of a lagger problem. I'm always always always on time for work... but that's about it. For one thing, I really don't want to walk into church late anymore, it's mortifying. Especially because we live ACROSS THE STREET from the church building. So my motto for 2012 is, "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late." It's so true. I need to try to show up 15 minutes early instead of showing up right on time. With a toddler who wants to "do it myself!" and a baby that can't do anything for himself, I feel like I'm always running on a hamster wheel and getting nowhere. But, in 2012, I WILL be on time (for everything except maybe parties - I hate being the first one there). Phew. Wish me luck.

Some great talks on balancing time and setting priorities in life:
"Life's Obligations" by Gordon B. Hinckley
"Keeping Life's Demands in Balance" by Dallin H. Oaks

8 Months

Harvey at eight months:

• weighs 24 lbs
• carrying around all his dead weight finally threw my back out on Christmas day :(
• he is SUCH a good eater, but am I really suprised? He really likes most of the solid foods he tries, he prefers veggies to fruit (very unlike his sweet-toothed sister)
• cut his two front teeth (it was all he wanted for Christmas, yyyyuc yuc yuc!)
• is babbling more and more and I LOVE it
• Harvey's favorite words:
• "Adah" said with a head bob (I think it means "Daddy")
• Gurgle talk - Wendy said, "My baby is so smart cuz he can talk like that guy thing on Starwars" (she meant Chewbacca - sounds just like him).
• I wish he could stay in this stage forever... or a least just a year. He's all the good (cuddly, interactive, giggly, playful, recognizes (and prefers) me) without any of the bad (doesn't make messes, doesn't get into anything/immobile, no tantrums, no back talk, etc.)
• firsts this month: Christmas, trip to Vegas

*he's been making this face a lot. i think he likes the way his lower lip feels on his upper tooth. i love it. thank you aunt vanessa for getting a picture of it on your phone!

Santa

*can't believe they're both smiling... actually, can't believe Wendy even got near the guy

Wendy & I agree that the Santa at the Brea Mall is probably the really real one. He's amazing. Like the guy on the original "Miracle on 24th Street" amazing. On top of it being kinda weird that I just stick my kids on some complete strangers lap, Wendy is majorly shy with stragers. Especially men. ESPECIALLY if they have facial hair or visible tattoos ( and I'm gonna try to keep her that way, at least til the end of her teenage years). But the Santa at the Brea Mall is so good... not only does he completely look the part, but he really knows how to talk to the kids. Just look at her face. I love it.