Nasturtiums and Courting

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  lots of kid drama at Target.  I'll spare you the details.

. . . noticing that yesterday's post published with tiny writing in part of it.  For pity's sake, Blogger, why does it only look like that AFTER I hit Publish?!?

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . reading through my journal entries from the time when Phillip and I were courting.  It was lovely to read all the things I came to admire about him, and the sweet experiences we shared together.

. . . finally doing some much needed container garden maintenance.

. . . the big kids helping me plant nasturtium seeds.

. . . sharing homemade pizza for dinner, and ice cream for dessert.  Oh yeah--and grapes on the side.  At least the grapes were healthy, right?

And another thing . . .

. . . I don't love that Anna has learned the word "no," but she sounds so cute when she says it.

. . . Baby Boy is starting to kick more vigorously.  He's gotten a lot stronger since I felt those first little flutters a month ago, and I can't help wondering what his kicks will feel like as he gets stronger in the coming months.

Butterflies, Baby, and the Fancy New Phone

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . Anna learning to be helpful.  Lately she has started bringing Joy and Daniel clothes and shoes to help them get dressed.  Daniel prefers to do things on his own, but Joy usually appreciates Anna's effort, possibly because she likes to help out, too.

. . . watching butterflies sip nectar from the flowers at a gardening store.  It was also fun to buy some pink nasturtium seeds--they're unique and colorful, and they remind me of my mom.  Hopefully the plants will prosper in my container garden.  They're supposed to be pretty hardy, so I think they have a good chance.

. . . using the word "compunctions" in context.  Isn't it such fun to say?

And another thing . . .

. . . well, I finally caved in and got an iPhone today.  For a variety of reasons it made more sense than the bare-bones phones I usually gravitate toward, but I have mixed feelings about it.  On the one hand, it's nice to see texts as a scrollable conversation instead of isolated snippets, and to type with a digital keyboard instead of predictive text (I meant "if Joy" not "he Low"!).  On the other hand, I suspect that within a few weeks I'll start viewing this 21st century luxury as a "necessity" I can't survive without.  I think that kind of misconception is a big problem in our society (myself included), and I don't like adding another dose of it to my life.

Anna feels no such compunctions.  She asked me at least two dozen times to open the photo gallery so she could look at pictures of herself and her siblings.  She calls herself "Baby," and I hope we can persuade her to adopt a different title before our next baby arrives.

Remembering and Flour Tower

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  awaking to find my aged cell phone dead and unwilling to charge.  This means I'm staring down the barrel of one of my absolute least favorite activities in life: shopping for a new cell phone.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . reading STM's recent post on remembering.  It reminded me to pause and remember the tender mercies and sublime moments I've been blessed with through the years.  It's so easy to forget them in the busyness of life.

. . . visiting with my Big Family, and playing Flour Tower with them.  Of course, I would have enjoyed the game somewhat less if I'd made the tower crumble and had to fish the coin out with my teeth.  Joy had a somewhat different take on the situation: she intentionally knocked the tower right over on her turn so she could retrieve the coin.

. . . reflecting on a recent Ensign article on personal prayer.  When I remember to slow down and really commune with my Father, it is such a peaceful, inspiring experience.  You'd think it would be easier to keep up a habit I love so much.

And another thing . . .

. . . I just finished writing family blog posts for March, and I've set a goal to get that blog up to date before Baby arrives around Halloween.  Of course, as soon as Baby Dear is born I'll fall right behind again, but at least I won't feel quite so overwhelmed about catching up.

Pussy Willows and Irrational Ice Cream

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . passing along some unused items to friends who would have a use for them.  I even found someone who wanted those dried pussy willow branches I bought on a whim at Easter and never found a use for.  One man's (or woman's) trash is truly another's treasure.

. . . watching my husband help push a stranded motorist to a gas station.  My hero. :)

. . . spotting a planet up in the sky at dusk.  I don't know which one it was, but it was still cool to see it.

And another thing . . .

. . . making homemade ice cream is hard.

Let me rephrase that--making mediocre homemade ice cream that's icy, has weak flavor, or freezes rock-solid is easy.  Making delicious, creamy ice cream is hard.  My mom has passed along a few good recipes, but most of the ones I find online are disappointing.  And expensive (cream, strawberries, and Nutella aren't cheap).  And the ingredient lists can be scary (a RAW egg? HOW much sugar and heavy whipping cream?).

But for some reason, I just can't resist trying again and again.  Humans are not entirely rational beings.

A Hustle and a Hint

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . cooking a flavorful, filling dinner.

. . . looking out the window and seeing Phillip and Joy hurrying back from an outing to arrive home when they said they would.  From the smiles on their faces, you could tell that the hustle was part of the fun.

. . . starting A Cricket in Times Square with Joy.

And another thing . . .

. . . Daniel asked me to play a game of electronic chess with him this afternoon.  I was doing pretty well (winning, but taking it easy on him) until he discovered the Hint button.  The electronic Hint giver's skills are about as far ahead of mine as my skills are ahead of my four-year-old's and the computer didn't take it easy on me.  The only thing that saved my king was that Daniel accidentally brushed the New Game button, whereupon I announced that it was time for me to go start on dinner. It really was, I swear.

Snicker Doodles and Good Sons

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . making Alton Brown's granola recipe (though I used pecans instead of cashews, and only cooked it 45 minutes).  It was delicious, and the smell of anything brown sugary baking in the oven is heaven.

. . . using my citrus zester.

. . . cuddling Anna while I read one of our favorite books to her.

. . . baking snicker doodles with my sweetheart.  And eating them.

And another thing . . .

. . . I recently started reading a book called The Good Son: Shaping the Moral Development of Our Boys and Young Men, which was recommended by a friend (and lots of strangers on Goodreads).  I'm reading it because I want to understand and appreciate Daniel and his new little brother better.  I relate to my daughters pretty well (duh--I'm a girl, too), but I often feel at a loss as I try to understand and effectively raise my son.  I hope this book will provide some clarity and guidance.

This afternoon I read a chapter about the neurological and hormonal contrasts between males and females, and the differences are striking.  Males brains have a larger amygdala (aggression center), testosterone makes males more competitive, they have less serotonin than females and therefore less impulse control, and when they're at rest the brain region that re-engages most readily is the "fight-or-flight" section (as opposed to the region related to emotion and expression, in the case of the female brain).

That certainly meshes with my parenting experience, since Daniel regularly crashes his tricycle into objects and people, cheerfully bumps into family members and even total strangers, and wigs out if he doesn't get the last sandwich or apple slice (i.e. even meals have a competitive component).  I hope this book will provide guidance about directing boyish tendencies in a positive direction.

Fresh Ginger and Diaper Cream

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  spending a bunch of time at the computer on a hot afternoon.  I was doing (mostly) constructive things, but I felt blah by the end of them.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . joking around with Daniel.

. . . taking Anna on a one-on-one trip to Trader Joe's while Phillip was home with the big kids.  She gave me a big, long hug before I put her in her seat to come home.  Awwwww.

. . . Phillip arriving home with an enormous bouquet of flowers, just because.  It was his way of saying "I love you THIS much!!"  Gracias, mi amor. :)

And another thing . . .

. . in the last month or so, Anna has gone from being my least picky eater to my most picky one.  She favors carbs and cheese, but won't eat most fruits or any veggies.  Fortunately, she'll still happily drink just about any smoothie I offer her, so I've taken to making a lot of green smoothies (spinach + fruit, often with some yogurt or milk thrown in) to share with her.   It's fun to experiment, and the resulting smoothies do both of us good.

. . . this evening I noticed that my hand smelled of fresh ginger and diaper cream.  That pretty well sums up my life these days: kids and cooking.  If Mormonism had a distinctive aroma, I would probably smell like that, too.