Chafing

There is not a substance soft enough when you are required to blow your nose 50 times an hour.

This is me with a souvenir from the vacation.

Dinner With Cheetah

You want to know what's disgusting?
I'll tell you.
Licking your fingers, thinking it's mozzarella cheese and finding out it's banana.
(Even if I liked banana, which I don't, it's quite a shock.)

This is me and it totally ruined my pizza experience.

Departure

Well, we leave for home tomorrow - at unholy o'clock again (thanks Rocketgirl, I love that phrase) - and it has been an epic adventure.
We have played and eaten and met and partied and danced and photo-ed and it has been a really great Thanksgiving vacation.
Cheetah has been phenomenally good tempered, as long as no one takes the cell phone he managed to pilfer away, and charmed all the world, as per usual.

This is me and we're back to real life tomorrow. 

Thanksgiving 2015

As mentioned last year; it's a whole new ball game.
I know it's cheesy but it's true, being a parent changes you and makes you look at things differently. (At least it has me.)
It's been a good year, crazy in some parts of the world - crazier in others - and this country sure ain't perfect, but our little lives are good. We are blessed and we try to bless others. It's all anyone can ask really.
These might be a bit of a cheat but it's my blog, so there.
I give you my three kernels of thanks:

1. I am thankful for Tarzan and Cheetah. Yes, they're in one entry. They are my family. The one I helped create and am charged with nurturing. I am thankful they are mine and are, respectively, so supportive and accommodating.
2. I am thankful for health. Mine, Tarzan's and Cheetah's. It's one of those things we can easily take for granted but I hear a lot of horrible stories about and from mothers with sick babies and hospital visits, teething nightmares and complicated births. I am thankful we are all healthy and able to work as needed.
3. I am thankful for the Gospel. The world is insane and people make poor choices because they don't know, or don't believe, in a different way. I am thankful I have been protected from many horrible actions and subsequent consequences because of what I have been taught and know to be true.

I whine a lot on this blog so I am also thankful for this opportunity every year to publicly write down and publish some of my many blessings.

This is me wishing you and yours a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Developmental

It's amazing the difference a single hour can make.
I always think changing the clocks for Daylight Savings is no big deal.
One hour?
Pshsht.
I can pass an hour no sweat in the course of a day.
But that single hour kicks my butt when we travel.
And poor Cheetah doesn't know what time to be hungry or tired and with all the cousins here to play and visit he's seriously out of his normal routine.
He is loving the attention though. And he's learning from his cousins.
We hadn't been in the house 20 minutes when I found him at the foot of the stairs with one knee up. I can see his brain figuring the advantage walking would give him and he's letting go of our hands and standing on his own for longer and longer periods of time.
We've only been here 36 hours!
I hope he's not bored when we go back to just three again.

This is me with pictures when I get to a computer.
(This post brought to you from my iPad)

Arrival

Remind me in the future that I do not want a flight that takes off at 5:30am.
Even if it saved me $150 per ticket (which is true and was nice) and even if Cheetah is a trooper and has done really well despite being woken up in the middle of his REM sleep, flown to a cold place and not getting a nap until noon his time.
Even if it's more time with family (who are AWESOME!)
...
Maybe it's not as bad as I feel like it was and *I* don't want to get up at 3am again.

This is me being old

Reflections On The Ninth Year

Sooooo, apparently I'm batting 1,000 this weekend. Two days in a row and nothing on the blog.
I blame meetings.
Saturday was all clear until Tarzan's cousin, Stingy called and asked if we could change our dinner, which was scheduled for Sunday, to that night.
Sure, we could.
And we did, but it threw off my schedule and we didn't get home until late and I forgot.
Then yesterday, instead of dinner, I had a Presidency meeting after church - which went WAY too long - so we didn't get home until late and both Tarzan and Cheetah needed to eat and the latter needed to go to bed.
So anyway, here I am.
And let's see what I was talking about on Saturday...
Oh yes, my blog-aversary. Nine years writing here. Is it just me or does the popularity of blogging seem to have waned? Not that I ever had a large following but some others did and it appears to be shrinking.
I wonder if Twitter is stealing the readers or do people just not care about other's lives?
I need to up my readership, so if any of you have friends who blog, and are still blogging, let me know and I will add them to my list.
I "know" some really cool people through blogging.
So my last year of posting has been pitiful and, as I usually do, I am promising to write more. It might end up being a lot of Cheetah photos but dang it, my yearly post total will rise again!!

This is me, trying to get back on track.
This time last year: Headache
And the year before: Reflections On The Seventh Year

I Smell Christmas Cards

Right.
So the post I was going to write last week got sidetracked because I forgot I was going to write it.
With the holidays coming up, Tarzan and I decided that it was time to get a family portrait taken, since we have Cheetah now, and our family looks different than it has for the last 15 years.
Our last official family picture was in January, when Cheetah was blessed:

 

It's been almost a year and so much has changed, not the least of which is he was aware of this experience:

He was so fascinated with the equipment and the computer screen he wasn't much for smiling:

Until Daddy got serious with the tickles:

He was really interested in the backdrops, the floors, the props, anything that was not the actual picture taking. We were lucky he hasn't figured out how to sit down yet, or these would not exist:

This is me and I have become that woman.

Summer Adventure #4

Here's something I started composing back in July and then never finished.
The summer has been beautiful.
For the first time in fourteen years Tarzan was excited for vacation and didn't spend the whole time bemoaning being away from school.
Obviously it's due to this face:

And even though Cheetah's very young and won't remember any of it, we have had a few adventures. This particular one though, I hope will last a lifetime.
We enrolled Cheetah in a "swimming" class this summer:

Keep in mind he can't stand, can barely sit and doesn't always have control of his arms, so to call it swimming is a little ambitious. One of us held him the whole time and just moved him through the water:

But it was fun and at home when we sing the song;
"I'm going fishing, fishing, fishing
And I'm wishing, wishing, wishing
For a splashing (or kicking, spinning, jumping or bubble) fish!"
Then he smiles and gets all excited.
The splashing is his favorite part and he really likes it when *we* blow the bubbles.

P.S. We've continued swimming weekly after his class ended and he still likes it. Obviously he's more comfortable now and as he learns to maneuver his body it's even more exciting.

This is me wishing for some more summer.

Gotta Have It

What is it about the remote control - the remote control with the batteries removed for a piece of equipment no longer in use - that is so intensely fascinating the need to have it rises above all other objects in the house, including Mommy's keys and the toxic chemicals under the sink?

This is me wondering why we bother with toys?

i Know It Ends In Y

I swear my brains fell out when Cheetah was born.
I can't remember anything to save my life anymore. I never know what day of the week it is. (I forgot it was my birthday last month. That has *never* happened before.)
I nearly forgot our anniversary.
I forgot NaBloPoMo.
It's bugging me to because I used to be the one who knew all that little stuff - Tarzan doesn't remember the little things - and now we're in trouble because neither of us knows what's what.

This is me hoping its not forever.

Cheetah The First Year

Dear Cheetah,
Congratulations on making it through an entire year of the crazy life we live here in the Jungle.
It's amazing to think how much you've grown in such a short amount of time. (I'm your mother, expect me to say that a lot.)
Because you won't remember when you were only 8lbs 5ozs, and 21" long:

But I do.
And to see you now, 27lbs and 32" long, starting to walk and talk, expressing your opinion:

Is a major accomplishment. You're working so hard to grow up and I'm proud and sad at the same time. I've loved this last year. I'll miss the time we spent and the places we went. I look forward to new times and places.
And then there is your head.
That has always been big. Off the charts big.
Nana says it's all your brains. I hope so because goodness knows we've asked a lot of you already; Daddy being bishop and all, shifting schedules, sudden appointments, insane neighbors, tiny house, no heat or air conditioning. But you deal with it all cheerfully and willing to submit to whatever we dish out:

And there will be more to do and adjust to as you grow up and go out into the world. Be strong and continue to be happy:

We are here to help you, teach you, serve you, challenge you, encourage you, comfort you, love you.
It is a joy and a privilege to be here on your journey little baby. (Yes, you'll keep growing, you'll get bigger than me, and it'll exasperate you to no end, but you'll always be my little baby.)
Happy 1st Birthday Cheetah!

I love you.

This is me, your mom.

One Of Those Days

After a day of church where the Primary President doesn't show up, meaning I have to do her job as well as mine and Singing Time, then speak in sacrament, manage the almost-1 year old (!!!), get home, pack the car and get on the road for the two hour drive to my parent's house for Cheetah's day-before-his-birthday party (!!!) guess whose car blows a tire 15 minutes before we exit the freeway to Nana's?
That would be ours.
After my sister came, from my parent's house, to fetch Cheetah and I from the car while Tarzan waited for the AAA guy to come we sat down two hours late to dinner and waited for Tarzan to return from the (finally) profitable hunt for a tire store somewhere in the middle of nowhere to have cake and open presents we left for home with barely enough time to make the two hour return trip, unpack the car and a totally zonked Cheetah, brush our teeth, type this post and fall into bed, barely making the deadline for it to still count for Sunday.

This is me and we have some crazy adventures.

Ready Set Diatribe!

On top of all the tragedy and turmoil in France today, there was also this is our paper.
I appreciate it is a touchy subject. I know some people feel shunned - which isn't good - and others feel judged - which also isn't good - but there is a question I want to see addressed somewhere.
Why do gay people even want to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints if we're so "intolerant," and all the rest of it?
It's as though they like the full service when they fill up their car and are trying to change all gas stations to full service rather than just moving to Oregon where all gas stations are already that way.
The eleventh tenant of the LDS religion is this:
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where and what they may."
Find a religion that accepts their behavior (there are quite a few) and we can all be comfortable.
Unless...
Somewhere inside they know the Gospel is true, and don't want to be cut off, but aren't willing to change so they want to make the rules change to accommodate their behavior. It'd be like a group of smokers who enjoy coming to church and activities and start protesting outside the temple wanting the Church to change the Word of Wisdom so smoking wasn't prohibited.
It's not just a list of random guidelines people; members believe it is the word of God.
If you agree with it, then get with the program and accept it.
If you don't agree, then we will still (we should still) talk to you and invite you to come to activities but live your life as you see fit and let us do the same.

This is me and it's a mess.

Sleep Little Baby

We were out shopping today, and while choosing an item, I glanced over to see Cheetah like this:

At first, I thought he had dropped one of our purchases.
Then I figured something was on the floor.
Took me a bit to figure out he was tired and resting his eyes.
Leaving to come home, we hadn't even left the parking lot before he was asleep.

This is me and it was adorable.

To Laugh Or Not To Laugh

It's a tough call whether to laugh or cuddle when my sneeze from the couch startles the baby so much it makes him cry.

This is me and he's tired. Clearly.

New Pants Same Space

It's been a little over two years since Tarzan was called to be bishop for the congregation in our little corner of the world.
I was thinking to show how he has settled into the role with a picture of him handling things from this position:

But as I look back through the archives, it seems that other than the first week, he's been a bishop-in-his-jammies kind of guy.
I don't know if it's good or bad that he spends a lot of time here.

This is me and he works hard at this job too.

Veteran's Day 2015

Today is Veteran's Day.
In the past I have written a few heartfelt posts about my memories and family involved with military service and world conflicts.
We've visited cemeteries, paused for a moment of silence, and watched war documentaries as tribute.
This year, though I didn't forget what day it was, this year Tarzan, Cheetah and I celebrated a little differently.
And that's part of the privilege of living here in this country, part of being protected by the many lives spent to keep us from dominion and oppression.
We can celebrate how we wish.

This is me, thankful.

Open Wide

As has been mentioned in the past, Cheetah likes his food.
Graham crackers are a particular favorite - in part because they scratch his itchy gums I think. His teeth are soooooo slow coming in. Which is good on the one hand - no screaming nights and fevers - but it's a long, loooong, itchy process.
Apparently last Tuesday was a really bad day. He needed a few extra crackers to make it through:

This is me and I wonder how many he could get in there at once?

I Almost Forgot

It's been a while since I posted this picture of Tarzan and Cheetah and asked for your captions:

There were four submissions:

1. "Dad, hurry up and get to the good part!"
2. "Ugh, Mom does the voices better."
3. "He's reading 'Love You Forever' again? I will not cry this time. I will NOT cry."
4. "Are we there yet?"

They all made us laugh and though #2 is close runner up, Tarzan chose #3 as the funniest of them all.
Congratulations Cathie!!!
(Send me an email with your preferred flavor of cookies and mailing address and I will get them in the mix and on their way.)

This is me, with a winner.

Every Day Brave

One of the Sunday morning traditions Tarzan and I loved from when we were young is listening to Music and the Spoken Word. (I swear Lloyd Newell has been the voice of the show forever, though according to the link it's only been 25 years. Who did we hear before that?)
This morning was a special broadcast for Veteran's Day, dedicated to the service men and women who have fought for the liberties we enjoy.
One of the songs sung was called 'Because of the Brave.'
And the chorus is "...we are the land of the free, because of the brave."
The choir - of course - has a lovely, full sound and the sentiment is very moving. It got me to thinking beyond the physical borders. This land is blessed by Heavenly Father because of covenants made with righteous people who lived here long ago. Possession of and ability to live in America is granted to those who keep those covenants.
We who live now are responsible for maintaining those promises if we want the protection and blessings to continue.
It won't be because of the military personnel that freedom fails.
It's the simple, everyday bravery of all the people that will keep America free.
The bravery to choose the right and keep the commandments of God.
To keep the Sabbath Day holy, to vote, to be kind, to read the scriptures, to share, to honor the sanctity of marriage, to be honest, to not be greedy and covetous, to love one another.
It is our every day behavior - and bravery - that is the hinge of freedom in this land.

This is me and I need to be braver.

Career Option

I wonder where they find the people who make up - and then research - or is it the reverse? - the random statistics for college football?
Real statistic on the screen: 5-0 when leading at the end of the first quarter.
I could do that.
How many times have they won while in [insert stadium name] in November?
Or how many touchdowns thrown with left hands?
Or how many injuries in the fourth quarter?
Or how many times have they won when coming from behind in the third quarter?
Oooh! Oooh! How many times have they won when the kicker was wearing blue boxers?

This is me making stuff up.

Ode To Fifteen Years

Holy do-you-know-how-old-I-was-when-my-parents-celebrated-15-years Batman?!?!
That's right.
Old enough to remember it. (Old enough to babysit so my parents could go on a date for the first time in 13 years.)
But here we are (well, were; our official anniversary was Wednesday) with our own 15 year milestone.
We celebrated in true understated fashion; dinner at home, cards for each other and leafing through the wedding album.
The menu consisted of bacon wrapped filet mignon topped with goat cheese and a balsamic reduction, roasted potatoes, butternut squash and kale salad with brownies and ice cream for dessert.
I had a beautiful plan in my head, I started with enough time and everything was on schedule. Until Tarzan got hung up at work and Cheetah decided he needed to eat immediately. It was a downhill slope from there.
When we finally sat down to eat, the filet was dry, the potatoes were cold, the squash was just okay but the salad - which was a dumped from a bag into a bowl - was lovely. Bless him, Tarzan ate it all - ate so much there wasn't room for dessert so we ate the brownies yesterday.
We did look over the wedding photos and redid the celebration in our heads the way we should have done it - not the least of which was getting a photographer who used digital!! - laughing over how young everyone looked and how big the glasses were:

The whole night was a metaphor of our marriage; we had a plan, a good plan, a considerate, modest plan, and it all went different than we thought. Scheduling out of our control, demands we hadn't expected, results less than perfect and hindsight being 20/20 we'd have done it differently and maybe saved ourselves some stress.
But in the end we have each other (and now Cheetah too!) so it is worth all the insanity.

This is me and it's a ride.

Mobile

As you may have guessed from the last post, Cheetah is crawling.
Sort of.
He does a sort of booty-scoot thing.
If I hadn't seen him standing and walking (holding on) I'd think there was something wrong with his left leg, the way he doesn't use it to crawl.
But with mobility comes so many new things to investigate.
Books that aren't his:

Daddy's paperwork:

Movies:

Toys in other rooms:

The kitchen sink:

The trash is a lot of fun:

Whatever that is:

And general stuff Mommy should have cleaned up years ago:

It's both exciting and terrifying to see him growing up like this. (Insert every mother's comment, "they grow up so fast!")
All I can think is that Thanksgiving is going to be interesting.
See, there are no stairs in our house.
But Gamma has two sets.

This is me and he's on the loose.

Rescue Recycling

Does anyone else put their old magazines and catalogues in a specific trash can, knowing that the baby will cruise by at some point and pull them out and shred them all over the floor, in the vain hopes that he won't pull other things - like the books and church magazines - off the shelf/end table and shred them all over the floor?

This is just me perhaps?

Epic Fail

Epic, epic fail Jane.
I completely forgot about NaBloPoMo.
I really did.
First time in eight years I wasn't prepped and ready to start posting come November 01.
Last year I was moments from giving birth and I still remembered!!
Heck, I even pre-dated some posts so I wouldn't miss a day, and this year I'm just doodle-doodle-doo-ing along until our anniversary shows up and I realize that in years past I've put up an ode to us and then that reminded me of posting a lot in November and then oh whoops!
NaBloPoMo is this month.
Well, call it a cheat or not one of the things that keeps this blog from totally falling apart is the 30 posts of November, so late we may be starting, but 30 we will be posting.

This is me, so there.