“Guns don’t cause problems any more than pencils cause misspelled words.”
I don’t know the name of the guy who said this. I heard it while listening to the Glenn Beck program this morning. He had a guest from some radio station in Huston, Texas. All I can say is, I think this is my new favorite gun quote. ;-D
Ginger
With rosy cheek and droopy eye
She hears her mamma’s lullaby.
And snuggled safe to Mamma’s chest
She breaths;
She sighs;
At last she rests.
There is something very rewarding and satisfyingly maternal finding myself at the end of a long day of being thrown up on every half hour to an hour and nursing a very sick baby back to health. She has been a very good baby, and Caio has been a very good big brother and “big boy.” He really is my “Super Helper” in so many ways. Sure he got into tons of stuff, but isn’t that one of the many wonderful things about being three years old?
Anyway. Poor Jordan threw up all over Marcio late last night without really much warning at all (poor Marcio, too :-D). She got a bath and Marcio got changed and I hopped on the internet to inform my friends that I would not be hosting playgroup tomorrow (today) after all. Then I found out that she must have gotten it from one of the other children from that group, because quite a few of the kids have been going through this exact bug. I wasn’t upset at all, actually. Rather, I was relieved to know what to expect and to know where she got it from and what the incubation period is that I am looking at for Caio and the rest of the family. I guess we are probably staying at home as much as possible for the next few days.
As for the rest of last night, Marcio took the spotlight as the best dad and husband the world has ever seen! I think he took more turns at holding her and comforting her than I did and he definitely got thrown up on a lot more than I did. It sounds horrible, but because she isn’t feeling well all she wants to do is nurse, so its mostly like baby spit up in large quantities. And today when she has been awake she has been darling. Just before she fell asleep the last time she asked me (by doing the hand actions) to sing “Popcorn on the Apricot Tree” to her one more time with her hand participation. The funny thing is, I couldn’t be happier as a mom than I am right now. I love watching both of my kids grow. I know she will be better and that all of the laundry and bedding and carpets are all cleanable (and she has made good use of a lot of all of it :-D). I am just happy that God loves me enough to let me hold her and to be her (and Caio’s) mom.
What a pleasant sort of nothing day!
Ginger
You may be wondering what I am doing on here posting this instead of celebrating “Love Day” myself? Or you may not be? Either way, I figured I would get on here since I am inclined to think a lot on the topics of love and marriage and (yes, sadly enough) even divorce lately—well, and my love-kins is making me a surprise dinner and has asked me to occupy myself alone until the unveiling :-D. So, here comes my ramblings:
Five years ago tonight my gentleman friend took me around to visit parents (his and mine) to let them in on our little secret (namely that we had every intention of tying our own proverbial knot) that we had been keeping for a couple of weeks (because neither of us wanted to be blushing when we said the word “fiancé” in front of strangers or not-so-much strangers ;-D). Most people who know us seem to think he popped the question on Valentine’s Day which is just cute to me. One way or the other, five years and two kids later, here I am, happier than I could have ever imagined and more in love than I ever thought I would know how to be. I just wish I could help everyone be as happy as we are.
I have been listening to music for a video I am making for my BIL’s upcoming wedding. Today I started reading “Covenant Hearts” by Bruce C. Hafen for a book club I belong to. Tonight I dropped my kids off to “hang out” with my parents (in other words “free babysitting *thanks Mom & Dad*). And, frankly, all of this has me thinking more and more about my own marriage and my thoughts on all of this stuff in general. So, to tie it all together (or not):
I am so grateful to my parents. I am happy to see two flawed humans who bungle around and struggle through their imperfections, but who have never EVER given up! That may sound like a backhanded compliment or something, but in my eyes it is anything but that. I shy away from false praise and phony, sugar coated description and I celebrate seeing the whole messy picture and appreciating the good in context. I think it is far more inspirational to know that a person has made the right choice and done good when they are just as human as I am (in other words, when it is a decision and not just a lucky coincidence). My parents give me hope for my own future and the future of my own marriage just by making theirs work through good times and bad. They help me know and see that love isn’t always just a feeling and it isn’t about what you get from another person (or spouse), but it is a decision and an action that you bring to it and do for the other person even when the going gets tough. How often I have heard people describe their desires for a couple to divorce. It has become so acceptable in our society that it just breaks my heart! I cannot abide it. Especially when covenants have been made in the house of God. I think if we could really understand just how much more is in store for us after enduring the hard stuff we would have a better understanding about why Satan gloats over those broken hearts and trampled covenants. I think if we could have the tiniest glimpse into heaven to see our Celestial Father and His plan and desire for us, we would walk through fire before entering into a covenant lightly or before breaking our covenants (no matter how good a reason we feel we have). I know I am long-winded, so I will simply say that tonight I learned more about enduring love by seeing my mother prepare a simple surprise for my dad of one of his favorite deserts than I could have learned by sitting through a thousand sermons on the subject. I want my children to catch me making my marriage work. I want to give them that hope and encouragement that some things CAN and DO last forever.
Today I am grateful for those who never give up on marriage. I am grateful for intact families and un-broken covenants. I am grateful because (as I am learning through reading this book) it is so important for society as a whole and for every child individually. Most of all, I am grateful to my wonderful husband, Marcio. I will never quit or give up. I promise. Eu te amo com todo meu coracao. Soh voce pode entender a minha alma. Obrigada por cinco anos bonitos e maravilhosos. Vamos ter sempre e sempre praticar esse “amor coisa.”
Ginger
I just thought this was pretty funny. Very subtle humor to point out some pretty poignant truths. I guess I will let you see for yourselves and draw your own conclusions.
-Ginger
Jordan makes my heart melt. She is so cute and cuddly, and she is definitely a girl! She talks so much while she plays and giggles. She has been walking really well for a while and has started saying more and more real words.
When someone gives her something she wants she says “Dah-doo,” which sounds like when Caio says “Thank you,” so we think that is what she is trying to say. She also shakes her little head “no” to tons of things (even sometimes when she means yes).
My funny story of the day is that while we were driving to my mom’s house today, she began saying very clearly, “Hi, Daddy! HI, DADDY! Hiiii! Daddy” until Marcio finally responded, “Hi Jordan!” Then she giggled and giggled (one of her favorite games since Dec or Nov has been to sit still and whisper “Daddy! Daddy! Daaaaadddyy!” as quietly as she can until Marcio responds—she giggles endlessly for that one too). Before we left the house we had been talking about something else and Caio heard Marcio say “soup and water” and Caio busted up laughing and repeating it, so while we were driving Marcio brought that up again and said, “Who wants soup and water for Christmas dinner anyway?” to which Jordan piped up, “I DO!” We got a really good chuckle out of that one. The funny thing is, she just likes making that noise (“I do”) and she usually doesn’t really seem to think it means anything.
While we were at my mom’s and dad’s house, Caio got grumpy at one point and started covering his eyes. Jordan saw this and began to giggle, thinking that he was playing a game of peek-a-boo. She immediately covered her ear with her right hand and took it off while exclaiming “I DO!” (a.k.a. peek-a-boo). She got such a good response from the adults in the room that she continued to cover both ears and remove her hands, exclaiming “I DO!” after each round. Caio actually got into it too and stopped sulking to think his sister was so cute.
I get excited watching them both grow up so much!
Later I did her hair up with two pigtails and everyone decided that she looked just like “Boo” from Monsters Inc. LoL! I will have to get a pic of it later to put on here. She didn’t seem to like it, but I am desperate to get her long hair out of her eyes.
I know this is my brag spot for Jordan, but I can’t help plugging Caio at this point. The other day he was explaining to me that he is a big boy. I agreed whole-heartedly. Then he told me that Daddy is also a big boy. “Sure,” I responded. Then he asked, “Mom? You a little girl?” I thought a minute and responded, “No… I am a grown-up woman.” He got really upset by that and insisted that I agree with him that I am indeed a little girl. Finally I said, “Fine, I will let you call me a little girl.” This made him feel a lot better. Then he began going over everyone on his list again. Caio is a big boy? Yes. And Daddy is a big boy? Yes. And Mommy is a little girl? Sure. “And Mommy, Jordan is a… a big girl?” I looked over at her banging her baby doll with a blanket while singing, “Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah!” and I said, “No. Jordan is a baby.” LoL! I wasn’t about to be outranked by a 13-month-old!
Anyway. It feels like 2 or 3 AM (even though it isn’t) and I have 9 AM church. I think I will catch up with y’all later!
Ginger
Tonight during dinner, Caio dropped his fork on the floor. He gasped, “Oh, NO!! Mom! I lost my spoon!” Then he planted his hands on his cheeks and stared forlorn at his unfinnished food and moaned, “Now I’ll never eat my dinner!” Marcio and I could hardly contain our chuckles. Marcio told him to go get a clean one and he jumped up and put the dirty one in the dishes and retrieved a clean one from the drawer (all of which made him very happy).
One day he realized that Jordan was getting into something and he called out, “Oh, no, Mom! Jordan is getting into something!” “I’ll come and get her,” I sighed. “Don’t worry!” he commanded with full confidence, “Caio will save the day!!” I had never heard him say that before, but off he ran and pulled her out and shut the door to the room. He came back to inform me that he had saved the day and that he is my “super helper.” This has been a wonderful discovery, because there are many times that I have been able to remind him that I need a super helper (like when he is making huge messes and I need him to help pick up :-D).
A little over a week ago, he came up to me while I was getting Jordan ready for bed and announced, “Mom, Caio got hurt; needs see the doctor!” I smiled inside but put on a serious face for my baby boy while I looked at his stubbed toe. I didn’t think he liked his last doctor’s visit very much, but I think that after he saw me rush Marcio to get stitches in his hand recently that he just figures that is where you go when you get hurt. He requests a doctor visit frequently. The other thing he asks for are popsicles. He hit his mouth pretty hard within a day or two of this conversation and was crying pretty loudly. I rushed to grab a popsicle and had him eat it in the kitchen. Now he believes popsicles cure everything from a bonk on the head to a rug burn on his knee. LOL! He keeps me smiling.
On another happy note, he has successfully made magic on his royal throne twice. The first time was a bit of a pleasant shock at home (when I wasn’t even near the bathroom or expecting it—Marcio and I went pretty crazy--he informed me as soon as he was done washing his hands that he was now a big boy and wanted to wear underpants). The other time was in the middle of story time at the library a few days later. He came and told me he needed to go to the potty and then he actually used it. He is still working on it, but it is encouraging to see that he wants it and is leading the charge to get it in check.
Jordan is doing majorly cute things all the time, too. And I will get on soon to expound upon some of that. Suffice it to say that I love being a mom!
Ginger
My sister came to stay for a week with her family. While she was here she wanted to show me this music video on you tube. The name of this song is “The Show” by Lenka. (It didn’t embed into my blog, so you probably will need to click on the darkened screen to view this video… or click here) I really, really LOVE it and it has helped me be happier, so I hope you will enjoy it too.
“I want my money back!”
“Just enjoy the show!”
LOL!
Ginger
I know I have been worried about some of the problems with toys and other goods coming from China lately, and I definitely would like something done about it, but I think the US legislature is about to make a serious mistake to try and over-correct this problem. As of February 10th they are planning on making it illegal to sell something second-hand or homemade without spending a prohibitive amount of money. There are some grassroots movements to try to stop this outrageous problem. This blog has many links and ideas. Please, please, please check it out! We can make a difference!
Thanks,
Ginger
So… since last I wrote:
Halloween was great. We did the ward trunk or treat with Caio dressed up as a dragon and Jordan dressed up as a pumpkin. I will post pics later. Thanksgiving was at my house and I did all the cooking. Everything tasted wonderful and this also turned out great. Then came the day after Thanksgiving and the trip to the ER—Black Friday indeed.
My mom became ill Thanksgiving night and got worse and worse over the next 24 hours. Friday night we took her to the ER and they said that she would need to be operated on. Without going into too many details, she has had problems with hernias since she was in the hospital following my birth and she was told that because she was a poor candidate for surgery she would have to wait until it was an emergency situation to take care of any of it. Well… this was her emergency situation.
The following Monday she went under the knife for a four hour procedure. When it was over she was in the ICU for over a week. She stayed in the hospital until about a week before Christmas and then she was moved to a Care Center for rehabilitation across the street from the hospital. We hoped she would be able to come home for Christmas, but she wasn’t strong enough. I prayed she would be home for New Year’s Eve, and she stayed in for that too.
My mom is doing much better now, but she is still in the care center/nursing home until further notice. She is getting stronger and looking healthier each day. I can’t wait for her to come home. I visit her as often as I can, but it isn’t really quite the same.
In the meantime we did manage to celebrate Caio’s, Marcio’s and Jordan’s birthdays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve and we threw a birthday party at the church house in there to boot. The last couple of months have been pretty intense and interesting to put it mildly, but I hope to get in and give a few more details (with pics) about as much of it as possible over the next few days.
Ginger
The other thing I took pictures of earlier in the same day is Jordan's favorite place to hang out. She loves to climb onto the table in our living room and just sit there all the time. Caio will normally bring her toys and entertain her and when she wants to get down he will usually help her off (she can do it on her own, but she still gets nervous about it). She has also been experimenting with walking, but she isn't there quite yet. She has gotten so big, so fast--I just don't know where all of the last nine and a half months have gone.
s of h
er right here.... Just because :-D!!! -GKS
