reasons to celebrate

Remember back when I had that one baby? This one?

Well, guess who just turned two?

Gulliver is the most enchanting baby, now toddler, that I can imagine. I can't believe how much "little boy" he is--his days are filled with climbing, throwing, chasing, riding, running, sliding, and pretty much non-stop action.

Gulliver loves books, puzzles, cars, and shape matching games. He is delighted with bubbles, balloons, and things that light up. His favorite shows are Kipper the Dog (oh, how he loves Kipper) and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. I am planning on another summer outside at the park and the swimming pool because this kid hates staying inside.

I've learned to identify all the construction vehicles we see along the road so that I can point them out to him. Did you wonder whether that digger had a track hoe or a back hoe? Because I can tell you. He identifies all the animals you can think of and makes their sounds. He is very persistently verbal--he will repeat something over and over and over and over and over until I acknowledge what he is saying and either agree with him or correct him.

There are very few words he doesn't know or at least attempt to pronounce. I realize I am biased, but I think that he speaks very clearly. Some words that I love his mispronunciation of are Grandpa (PopPa), pacifier (vaver), strawberry (bob berry), elephant (eh-fan), toys (foys), vacuum (roger), and Easter (e-chair). Last night Somebody was holding Hiccup, and Hiccup was making typical baby noises (grunt grunt gurgle coo), and Somebody said to Gulliver, "What is Hiccup saying?" Gulliver responded by very accurately mimicking the exact baby noises, "Grunt grunt gurgle coo." He cracks us up.

I can't believe that two years have passed. I am just thrilled (and more than a little proud) of the funny, kind, and smart person that Gulliver is. Happy Birthday, Baby.

And then I went and had that other baby? This one?

We call him Hiccup. He is now five months old (five months!) and had his first solid food tonight.He seemed a little reluctant at first, but quickly decided that food was something he liked. No surprise there.

all that ends well

1. I am grateful for sleeping babies.

2. I am grateful for a firm knowledge of who I am, who I can become, and the steps I need to take to bridge that gap.

3. I am grateful for examples all around me of the best kind of people this world has to offer. Everyday I see people who do their best, make do with less so that they can give to others, reach out with friendship and goodwill, use their time wisely, showcase creativity and the power of creation, stand courageously in the face of a raging tempest, love without reciprocation, serve without acknowledgement, and diligently try to be a little better every day. I am inspired and awed. I am beyond blessed to be on the receiving end of so much goodness and I only hope that when the roles are reversed I can be and do and exemplify even a small part of what I have been given.

modern conveniences

1. I am grateful that Somebody stayed home from work today so that he could help me out while I'm still having trouble sitting, and because I could never have managed that pediatrician visit without him. Also, I'm not allowed to drive just yet so he was kind of vital in getting us out of the house.

2. I am grateful that my dad has a huge, deep, jetted tub at his house. Using it might have been the highlight of my afternoon. I envision many visits to his house in the next two weeks. Oh, wait, I already visit his house almost daily. I'm grateful he hasn't gotten sick of seeing me yet.

3. I am grateful for a washing machine and dryer to clean up the already growing pile of burp cloths and dirty baby clothes.

still thinking about that tomato bisque

1. I am grateful that the food at the hospital has been, on the whole, quite yummy.

2. I am grateful that the same nurse was working all three days I was in the hospital. Molly was the greatest. It was really nice to have someone who was there with me from the first time I got off the "have a baby here" bed all the way up until I checked out today.

3. I am grateful that I listened to a session of general conference today (because I had to do something churchy since I was missing church) and got to hear this great message about gratitude over again: The Divine Gift of Gratitude, by President Thomas S Monson. I especially love this part:

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings. This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways. We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude."

ask, and ye shall receive

1. I am grateful for my doctor. She wasn't on call this weekend but she knew that it mattered to me to have her there to deliver the baby. And so she came in. She has been nothing but supportive and encouraging and I hope we stay here long enough that she can deliver all the babies we choose to have.

2. I am grateful that Gulliver's first meeting with Baby this morning went really well. He was thrilled to see me again (of course!) but then was actually very excited to see Baby. One of the first things he did was offer to share his blanket, which, if you know how much Gulliver LOVES his blanket, is kind of a big deal and a very sweet gesture. Then he wanted to touch Baby's face and give kisses. I kind of expected him to start poking Baby's eyes out, but he was soft and gentle and seemed just fine with having a baby around.

3. I am grateful that so many family and friends took time to come and visit us in the hospital (or call, email, text, etc.) I felt very loved and taken care of.

my three boys

1. First, I am grateful for Somebody. I'm grateful he was willing to hold my hand and cheer me on and be immensely supportive. I could not have made it through this morning without without him. He was totally worth waiting for and every single day I am grateful that he is my husband. I love him.

2. Second, I am grateful for Gulliver. I can't imagine that someone could have a more delightful first child than I have. He is funny and smart and helpful and playful and makes me laugh a million times each day. I find him so cute that I sometimes can't stop staring at him. His hugs and kisses are always good parts of my day. I love him.

3. Third, I am grateful for Baby. He forced me to wait and wait to meet him, but then surprised me by rushing right into arriving as soon as he had made up his mind to come. I know everyone says that pregnancy is worth it because of the baby you get at the end, and I'm grateful that the statement is true--that all the unpleasantness of the past nine months just disappears the instant that screaming, goopy, slightly swollen baby gets laid on your chest. I hardly know him, and I love him already.

i think that was a real snort

Happy Thanksgiving!

1. I am grateful for a refrigerator full of Thanksgiving leftovers.

2. I am grateful that dinner tonight was walnut-crusted fish and sweet potato fries (and, fingers crossed, strawberry shakes) instead of Thanksgiving leftovers.

3. I am grateful that Charity taught us how to play "Tap Tap Oink" today and that we all could laugh and laugh and laugh while we played the game. It almost made up for the fact that I am still pregnant.

And a bonus gratitude quote for Thanksgiving:

There was a time when I was in a state of utter despair, immersed in guilt over promises made on which I had not delivered. I went to my vocal coach, Fred Wilkerson, weeping copiously. He asked what was the matter. I responded, "I'm going crazy, I am almost at the brink of suicide." He offered me a legal-size, lined yellow pad and a pen. He said, "Write down your blessings!" Furious that he didn't understand my condition, I shouted, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm telling you I am going crazy." He said, "Write down that you could hear me say 'write down' and think of the millions who can not hear the cries of their babies, or the sweet words of their beloveds, or the alarm that could help them seek safety. Write down that you can see this yellow pad and think of the millions on this planet who cannon see the smiles of their growing children or the delight in the faces of their beloveds, or the colors of the sunrise and the softness of the twilight. Write down that you know how to write. Write down that you know to read." Wilkie, as he was known, gave me that lesson in 1955. Fifty-five years later, I have written 31 books, essays, plays, and lyrics for songs--all on yellow pads. I remain in an attitude of gratitude.

-Maya Angelou