Madsen Kiddos: Search results for sunday thoughts

Sunday Thoughts

Well Tuesday is the perfect day to have Sunday thoughts. After all, I went to a playgroup at the church. I think I didn't help pick up the toys enough. I hope they don't kick me out. Today was like the sabbath for me, if you mean not doing any work. I avoided vacuuming and cleaning up. I didn't do the dishes. Baby Mark was a complete fuss face. I love him dearly but that kid fusses when you don't hold him. I want one of those moby wrap things. Or a Mai Tei style carrier. The sling is OK and all- but it hurts my back.
Here are some thoughts I had on Sunday
1. I wonder what the other testimonies were like since Mark started screaming and can't eat with any noise.
2. Hooray- Danielle went on the potty at church!
3. Oh no- Danielle went on her skirt at church. Why don't I have an extra outfit for her?
4. Should I really go back to church with two children sans husband?
5. I wonder if they are going to give John a new calling since he doesn't play piano even though I told them he did.
6. Is my friend even pregnant? Her due date keeps moving around.
7. Can you stop harassing me about getting the visiting teaching numbers done? I know it's the easiest calling in the church but that doesn't mean I have it done yet. (I can only write this because now it is done.)

Mark finally reached for something. He was sitting in his bouncer and started reaching for something and crying. He doesn't ever really reach for things so I went over to see what he wanted. So my baby has finally selected a favorite toy. It is a stuffed animal peep. Oh a baby after my own heart. He likes to have it with him always and cuddle it. He bites his peep. He rolls over to go get it. Maybe this will spurn him to moments of baby greatness, like trying to sit up on his own or learning to hold things with his hands instead of throwing his face at them.
Next week I get to speak in church. On visiting teaching.
You know I taught at the MTC for over a year, why can't I have missionary work or something? I wonder if I should invite my friends.
Hopefully they will tell me it is amazing, even if it is a lie. I hope my friends can lie well enough to make me believe it. I wonder if Mark will start screaming halfway through.
Only if it's bad, I hope.

Sunday Thoughts: Sunday Activities.

I really hate it in church when people have extensive debates about what is appropriate on the Sabbath. I don't want my daughter to watch any TV on Sunday but in the end that just makes the day less restful for me. And the people who are the most militant about not cleaning on Sunday have dirty homes all week. I think if someone came over and cleaned my house and then made me dinner they are doing service and then I wouldn't be breaking the sabbath and neither would they.
So hopefully someone else will come over and paint my kitchen next Sunday.

Sunday is also a wonderful time for reflection.
Let's reflect on this week.

This week was a little bit melodramatic I think. But I really did think I was dying/friendless/never going to get our house fixed. Maybe on Sunday we can do a little activity: get a sheet of paper and make three columns: normal, melodramatic, and ignored. You can write down when you overreacted and when you let yourself get walked all over. Like when that "friend" told you she knew you were a large when you are actually a small.
Of course I am not a small so that would never make my list. But that is a Sunday activity- thinking about what I maybe overreacted to. Like setting a list of goals- Goal: don't yell at my mom for asking if I need something to eat but do yell at the girl who criticizes my cooking even though she's never cooked for me.
I find myself either ignoring things or being completely unreasonable. I also find myself wanting to landscape and clean my house on Sunday. If I find it calming to have it done than doing it is resting, right?
The other solution is to do lots of baking on Sunday, and writing letters. I used to write letters in church, which would also help me not get bothered by crazy things that some people say. Since now I primarily entertain myself with caring for children in church I don't leave quite as rested. Last week I thought for a long time about how we could build a kid pen in the chapel- just a section of chairs where people could sit and they could still hear but the children couldn't run up to the stand. I think the biting and hitting children shouldn't be allowed in the box, with a one strike and week and you are out. Or I could use some of those good kids that just sit and color rather than trying to climb on top of my head and color on their friends.

Good thing I'm still getting in that spiritual help to get me through the week, right? I didn't actually go to church today because I pulled my skirt out of my bag and it turned out to be pants and then Mark fell asleep so I stayed home. Then he screamed at me a lot while John was gone. On the plus side I also didn't clean anything because we are staying with Mark and Sara and their house is quite clean.

My week Goals:
Finish the Downstairs Bathroom Tile
Put up two shelves in the basement and organize a bit down there
Put all my laundry away. Not that I have a big pile I haven't put away yet because that would never happen...
Work out three times.
Take Danielle to her Dance class.
Sign Danielle up for gymnastics.
Do my visiting teaching.

Sunday Thoughts

Today John had the barfies so I went to church with Carlie under the pretense of playing the piano for nursery in John's place.
not so much.
I went visiting teaching today.
Seriously why do I visit teach only people who have cats? Why do you not vacuum when you have cats?
Speaking of People with Cats, Carlie is visiting me. When I say visiting I mean she is cleaning and cooking and I have been taking naps and exercising all week. Pretty much she is saving my royal bottom. (call it royal in regards to it's girth.)

I've decided to start building the perfect mom in my mind. This fantasizing can be part of my Sunday thoughts. I am going to ask people to write about things like guest bloggers. So I stole some thoughts from an email from Carlie and am publishing them without authorization.

THE PERFECT MOM USES CLOTH DIAPERS:

You asked about my cloth diapering system. I love my diapers. They are a specific type of cloth diapers called pocket diapers. This is the brand: http://www.bumgenius.com/one-size.php. ....They'll fit him until he is 35 lbs because they have snaps that change the size of the diaper. Pocket diapers comprise of an outer diaper shell that serves as the way to fasten the diaper to the baby with velcro (no pins!) and as plastic pants. The pocket diapers have a nice flannel layer that touches the bum that keeps the baby dry. Then, there is a pocket where you insert super absorbent micro fleece panels that soak up the pee. I also use flannel baby wipes and a homemade mixture of water, baby oil, and baby soap to wipe up messes with. These are awesome because one wipe will usually do the trick for one big poo, and you get it all in one swoop.

When I take off a diaper, I always disassemble the diaper right then. So, I take out the soil insert and fold that with any baby wipes into the outer shell and store them in my diaper pail. I just picked out a dry pail from babies r us. Every other day or sometimes every day, I do a load of diapers. First, I do a cold wash with 1/4 the manufacturer recommended detergent, and then I do a hot wash with 1/4 the recommended detergent. I always do an extra rinse. Right now with the breast milk poo, I just put everything straight into washing machine. So, I don't rinse the diaper in toilet water. When Elijah starts on solids, I'll invest in a diaper sprayer and experiment with disposable diaper liners. And, I might have to consider stink control more with the diaper pail, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I had a bit of a learning curve with the diapers. At first, he had a bit of a diaper rash which really frustrated me because I was so proud of my non-chemical diapers. You have to be careful using diaper creams with the diapers because it affects how absorbency of the diaper, but I used some reusable diaper liners and fought off the rash just fine. I realized the problem was my detergent. You have to use detergent that is free of everything like enzymes, dyes, etc. I finally found some at the local organic store. Ever since I switched detergents, I haven't had a problem with the rash. Also, occasionally, the diapers get saturated with leftover ammonia or detergent, so you occasionally have to strip the diapers. I do it by soaking the diapers in bleach or oxyclean for half an hour, and then washing as usual.

The other problem I kept encountering was leaky pee...which sometimes can be caused by oversaturated diapers that need stripping, but it was also how I was putting the diaper one. I have to make sure everything is folded down and lined up, and then they are amazingly spill free. I feel we've had relatively few leaky poo diapers, so they do happen but even the biggest poos are well contained.

I found this Q/A section helpful when i had confusions about my diapers:
http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers.php#environmentalimpactofdiapers
I think the hardest part is getting the laundry done, but I decided that I never have to fold the diapers and my drying rack is always up in my nursery, so I dump the inserts straight into the drawer from the dryer, and I often take the outsides straight from the drying rack. This probably seems lazy and occasionally I will fold the diapers for special occasions. So, even on my worst days, I've managed to stay on top of the diapers. I do have a box of disposable around for outings and when I am stripping all the diapers, but we need them only rarely.

Sunday Thoughts

Sunday Thoughts: This Sunday we went to church with my mom. It was strange to heart the different speaking style. Some woman was talking about relief society. She was a little to banal about her description of her mother getting hit by a car. When you’re tone of voice is so monotone I don’t really believe you when you say “unfortunately, she was hit by a car.” Was that a little smile on her mouth about her own mother getting hit by a car? I guess she decided every talk needs a personal story. Why choose to talk about her mother being hit by a car? Her mother was in the hospital in critical condition and so many sisters visited her that the nurses asked if the mother was some celebrity that they didn’t know. What a relief society success- you can be mistaken for a lesser known celebrity! Totally worth getting hit by a car.

But I did notice something about the ladies in my mom’s ward. They are cute. One girl with her perfect shiny brown hair was wearing an adorable yellow sweater with ruffles that I am jealous of even though it would make me look like a lemon mess. So much tousled hair can be overwhelming in one place and I hope they are using non-aerosol hairspray for the sake of the ozone but many of them share something with the perfect mom. Which brings me to this week’s perfect mom installment:

The perfect mom wears high heels.

Everyone knows that high heels are awesome for several reasons. Reason one- you are taller. Reason two- they look good. Reason three- people notice them. One of my secret criteria in marriage was to have a husband tall enough that I can wear four inch heels. I guess that means no one under 5’8” so it isn’t that impressive. John totally meets the requirements which brings me joy. After I had my first baby I felt like I was invisible to people at church. The only questions I was ever asked were about my children. True my daughter was cute but I felt like I was dowdy and generally un-cute. I guess my post baby body disappointed me. I felt like I couldn’t wear some of my old cute clothes- but cute shoes worked. I never worried that people would think I was too fat for my shoes. Wearing four inch heels made me feel pretty all the time.

Another reason having high heels is good? It is difficult. Chasing a toddler is harder in stilettos. Carrying a baby makes my balance worse than being pregnant. People wonder about a woman who is seven months pregnant in heels. I am always shocked when I see women who wear heals all the time. How can you wear those things to work all the time? So awesome. Your life has to be pretty put together to be able to wear high heels. You aren’t overwhelmed by your children. You are still sexy. You are a woman, then a mom. Now don't get my wrong, I am not promoting one inch heels. Go big or go home. Wearing dowdy 1.5 inch heels penny loafers makes you look more than an out of control mom. If you can't handle it you shouldn't't do it. And you can handle it. And you can handle it.

High heels, I salute you.

Fail. Sunday Thoughts.

This week was full of failure. As every holiday weekend should be.
1. We failed to make it all the way through church. This week Mark had a poo accident. All over John's white shirt and my favorite tie. You know you are headed for trouble when baby saves up his poo. Last time we had to leave for him peeing on me. I still can't seem to make it through all three hours, which are right in the middle of the only time when Mark sleeps for longer than three hours- his longest sleep each day is 5-6 hours. When we are super lucky. as we were changing him Danielle decided to change her own diaper. By the time we were done with the cleanup there were ten minutes left at church.
2. I made pie. It took a long time and when I was almost done with the crust I got impatient and just smashed it all together and rolled it out. I just couldn't make it the last five minutes. Then the bananas tasted funny. Overall the pie was a fail. but I still ate it for breakfast the day after thanksgiving. the other pie I made we brought with us to visit someone and never ate it. I am a little bitter that we didn't bring it home.
3. I failed to tell our friends we weren't coming to visit. I couldn't take the drive but I kept telling myself it might happen.
4. I failed to get a family photo like my mom asked.
5. We failed to put our fence up. Although John is really sore and most of the holes are ready for posts. I understand why people charge so much now. Just watching him do the work made me tired.
6. Danielle did not get potty trained. She decided the potty is too big for her. Although once or twice a day she still tries.
7. I forgot to bring coats with us. On Thanksgiving I decided to let Danielle stay up thinking she would sleep in the next day. As it is Mark is awake until about two in the morning so I thought I would let things happen naturally. She wanted to go get toys so at midnight we drove to toys r us. the line was INCREDIBLE! I guess we showed up about four hours too late and I forgot a coat. Danielle wanted to stay but it was too cold. What kind of mom forgets to bring a coat after letting their daughter stay up past midnight. Plus the wait was over an hour so we weren't going to get the fantastic deal on a playhouse. She fell asleep on the way home and slept until seven.
8. I failed to notice when Danielle climbed in my bed. I kept telling John that the baby was sitting up in the bed and to be careful not to roll over on him. Turns out that Danielle was in the bed, not Mark. I guess I didn't consider how the baby would sit up, or how he got in the bed.
9. I failed to play a board game. sigh...
10. I failed to be appropriately thankful on THANKSGIVING. Actually I guess most of my fails were funny and not sad. Just another week full of Sunday thoughts.

Sunday Thoughts

Main Sunday Thought: I finally worked up the nerve to ask if I could stop being assigned to visit that one cat lady.
If you can't clean up after your pet AT ALL, please find a new home for your pet, especially if that pet is a cat because they get smelly.
What I wonder if I should say: If your child looks that much like a skeleton because you weaned them, probably it is too early and you should let them nurse. Better to have child that nurses a long time than have a child with failure to thrive.

I made a friend today. It was nice. Also nice to finally feel like I know what I should be doing right now.

Today I went to church. I was really proud of myself for staying. And it was pretty calming which I liked. Also Danielle peed on her sleeve when she went potty and I almost died- I scrubbed it out in the sink and used hand soap to wash it a little because I didn't have a backup outfit and Danielle wanted to stay for nursery.
Oh so many thoughts this Sunday: Mixed, Happy, grateful- and a little bit sad that the battery to my portable device died so I couldn't distract myself with it at church.

Cloth Diapers: OK so I've got to think of something new here. I thought my house smelled funny. It was the diaper bucket. The disposable liners seem to move around a bit in the flip diapers, which I like for the cloth but not disposable.
I have never felt like I was doing so much laundry only to discover I have a room full of dirty clothes.

One of my new years resolutions is officially over- We parked a car in the garage. John helped me move the cement pallet to the side. Turns out moving 30 cement bags is hard work.

Scranton is a funny city to show people around. I can't believe I got to see my friends from Germany! It took Danielle all of two seconds to locate the candy they brought me for my birthday.

This little guy is finally sleeping through the night. I don't know how people survive with children that don't sleep. Good thing he was so sweet. Still don't know if I will survive having any more children but that's OK.

Sunday Thoughts

Why is Sunday the hardest day to have good thoughts?
Every Sunday I do my best to go to church and sit through the three hours of meetings. It's interesting not teaching during any of the hours. Relaxing. and slower. Today at church Danielle decided to be slightly less terrible than normal so she got away with it. It started when we sat out in the hall during sacrament meeting, and Danielle ran around and tried to talk to everyone. I let her. Not very good for my consistent parenting score but some days you are just glad she isn't screaming about not being able to have your purse.
Really I guess the war started this morning when she asked for mom at her door and I came. She handed me her wet diaper and ran back to her trains she was playing with. Danielle knows that when the diapers are wet you take them off- but starting two decided mommy and daddy shouldn't be the ones taking the diapers off. She can do it, after all. Then I almost forgot the posters I was supposed to make for Enrichment.
We went to all of church though, so maybe I will count this week as a win. Maybe John teaching second hour had something to do with it. I started to get a headache second hour, and by Relief Society I was rooting through Danielle's diaper bag looking for a treat. There were rolls in the kitchen and soup for the choir practice after church. It was sitting there in a crock pot with a name on it. Not my name.
I was wondering if it was bad to steal food from the kitchen during Relief Society. If only I hadn't quit ward choir, there would be no question.
I would have eaten one of those yummy rolls.

Sunday Thoughts

Easter Sunday

Each Sunday I like to spend more than a little while dinking around and considering which high heeled shoes I should wear. Luckily today I had my outfit planned already. (the picture features the shoes I wore that I am happy to say I got for under 30 dollars- check out the link for the original price.) I think the prenatal samples from this week had some kind of vomit-inducer. Maybe they are designed to help you loose weight. When John came to wake me from my lucky nap I guess the bed looked really comfy so he climbed in with me. I was reminded of growing up as I threw on clothes and brushed my teeth. Danielle got to wear her super cute dress and new White hat. We forgot the hat and I was really upset. Can you really drive back to the house for a white hat when you live 30 minutes away from the church building? We didn't have an egg hunt in the morning- we decided to have the Easter egg hunt Saturday and try to focus on the religious part of Easter on Sunday (plus Saturday was the say Mark and Sara could come for the hunt). Of course I had a terrible time listening to our beautiful lesson and Danielle cried for the part of sacrament meeting where she wasn't trying to get her friend Miranda to stomp on the floor and scream. I was honestly happier with the stomping than the crying, but I don't think Miranda's parents feel the same way.
Also musical programs in sacrament meeting, yes or no?- discuss amongst yourselves. I vote no. Maybe it is that the songs aren't that pretty. I went to a musical program once at St. Paul's cathedral and it was fantastic. Why can't we have that music? Also growing up Brother Pond had a pretty amazing voice for the dramatic reading and it just isn't the same now. as in it wasn't good. If you just showed up and had an almost two hour meeting with lots of mediocre choir singing it wouldn't be so bad- but when you know what you are getting yourself in to it is discouraging. I thought about coming an hour late but they would have had me anyway- the singing was the second part of the really long meeting. At least Danielle looked cute in her dress.
I managed to stay through relief society. It is difficult to be in Sunday School with John in Primary because I have so many stupid comments and I don't get to say any of them without John or one of my sisters. I was trying to figure out how much the hand outs cost in Relief Society and Jayna helped me realize a cheaper way of making them. Can you ask the teacher how she made the hand outs? Can you then ask for specifics about which store she went to in order to determine the cost? I can imagine me going up and saying- hey nice lesson on Joseph Smith being a peacemaker- I was wondering if you made these handouts the expensive way I thought of or the cheap way Jayna thought of. Since it said on the handout "we mind our own business" I controlled my urge.

Sunday Thoughts

Ten Thoughts for this Sunday.

1. I love laminating. I think we should laminate more. When I was doing my student teaching I discovered I could get the library to laminate things for me. Then my teacher told me we had to pay for that out of the curriculum budget, unlike all the other copies. Good thing she had a huge savings- sorry lead teacher! But I still love me some melted plastic.

2. Also love- gift bags. Turns out I own quite a few of them. I wanted to buy some on Friday because they were on sale at Target and I stopped myself. Because I don't need any more bags. I don't think I actually need any. but they are so pretty.

3. I went and saw the vow. It was fun. Not a great movie but I did almost cry several times. The more children I have the more feelings I seem to develop. I decided I need to go back to book club or something so I have something to talk about, other than etsy and my new baby. or maybe I just need to find a scranton etsy mom- I bet I could. Etsy rules.

4. I don't like it here. Maybe it is the weather which is totally gray or the fact that John is in school and I having a hard time seeing the long term picture. Maybe it is the fact that I wish I had more energy to do yard work, even though it is the middle of winter. Maybe it is something else or I just have a bad attitude right now. I haven't been able to watch the office since I moved here because it just isn't funny that this place is strange. Whatever. Peace out Scranton.

5. My kids are cute when they play nice. They put their stuffed animals to bed. Also Elmo spends a lot of time in the corner in time out. I don't think I put them in time out to warrant the amount of negative attention poor little Elmo is getting.

6. I think writing a blog is boring. not boring- pinterest. Hello awesome! I didn't even realize how cool pinterest could be. It's like filling up a shopping cart and pretending you are going to buy it, but from lots of different stores. http://pinterest.com/claireandjanae/ oh my I like some people's taste a lot.

7. I really need a new zig zag foot for my pfaff. It is making me crazy. I don't want to drive the hour it takes to get to a pfaff store. Especially not with the three kiddos. Even though they are good, they aren't that good. I wish the pfaff website had a store, or your could buy the feet at joann's. Love my sewing machine- once again don't love Scranton, since one of the many things they don't have is a pfaff store.

8. Andrew is probably our easiest kid. He has to go to the doctor a lot and he doesn't like that but he pretty reliably sleeps at least six hours. Holy lucky me. I could see how people would have lots of kid if they were all like this. That being said, I still feel a bit like a zombie. A lot. He's still a baby after all, and babies are high maintenance. Good thing they are also so adorable. I need to clean my house, it is oppressing me. Maybe I should just throw away all those messy kid toys...

9. I don't know how some people manage to be so sympathetic. Your heart just goes out to them. I don't think I'm one of these people. Sometimes I wish I was, because I have this theory that if I was people would show up at my house with pie and hang out with me sympathetically and hold my baby while I worked on stuff. But then i get annoyed with people whining about their lives and I wouldn't want people to think that of me. I am also not someone people usually push around either so that's good. Too bad it seems hard to be both.

10. I was watching the view in the waiting room at the doctors office for Andrew and they were talking about how Obama made a comment about taxes and referred to the scriptures where much is given, much is required. One of the girls didn't like it. At first I really related to that comment, because I feel like you should want to help other people. Then I sort of understood where she was coming from, because I don't know if I feel like government should control your religious practice. In Germany the church can automatically take taxes from your paycheck like the government. It seems so tidy and easy, but very foreign for me since America really pounds the separation of church and state. It's odd when you go somewhere else and realize how much this huge issue is a non-point other places. Still not sure how I feel about the whole thing, except that I might still be a little too sleep deprived to consider moral implications in politics. I think I need more friends who like to talk about this kind of stuff.
and like board games. Seriously miss the board game club where I lived before. I didn't necessarily like those people or have much in common except the love of board games. on the down side I came pretty close to learning to play magic, and paint some of my board game figurines. Confirming that it is time to embrace my inner geek a little more.

How was your Sunday?

Sunday Thoughts: New Years Resolutions

Lots of people make new years resolutions. Every year they look back and think about what they need to be doing better. This Sunday I've thought about writing a life changing blog post about what type of resolutions I will have.
Instead I've thought of an easy plan to make your new years resolutions- you can get a complete list in ten easy steps. Now I know it's hard for some of you to think of ways you can improve- but here is short program that I guarantee will help.

1. First ask yourself- am I fat? If so, all of your resolutions can be about this. There are lots of recent fads about dieting- sign yourself up for a program. Maybe join a gym. Preferably do something expensive because the economy could use some more consumer spending.
2. Next ask yourself- am I in debt? another freebie. Obviously weight loss purchases don't count here.
3. Third- are you lazy? well that should stop.
4. Fourth- are you dirty? Clean it up.
5. Fifth- think of some things that would be impossible to keep up on a daily basis unless you were superman- make it a goal to do all those things EVERY SINGLE DAY. Like work out and never eat candy and be kind to others or don't think bad thoughts. Also clean your house and spend at least an hour of quality time with your kids and never watch TV and have an organic garden and cook all your bread. Just one easy resolution.
6. Think of all the things your mom has criticized about you lately. make it a resolution to fix them. This brings me the resolution to vacuum my stairs every day. Oh my, and the list goes on. Don't go back too far, she doesn't bring up all the stupid stuff you said as a teenager.
7. Next- ask a friend. you could just send a quick message to all your facebook friends asking you what you could do to improve. Too bad facebook hasn't started the "enemies" section that would be so fun. I bet your enemies would be more honest with you about what you need to improve.
8. Maybe you don't have a friend? Well your resolution could be to get a friend. If any hygiene related resolutions pop up with that one, just go with it (refer to number 5).
9. Make a few intangible goals. "live life to the fullest" is a good generic intangible goal- as is "live like you are dying" which works for some people but only the pure of heart, because if I was dying I might want to rob a bank. Or just go take a nap more often than I do.
10. Write all those goals down. This could take a few days- especially as you wait for the answers from step seven to roll in.

I promise- if you follow these steps for one year- you will be a better person.

and I will leave you with the image of some cards I was going to put in my etsy shop- I took a picture of the Christ statue in Potsdam and made a card- then I thought hey- why not a card pack? I took the picture and the creepy row of Christs got to me so I just left it out.

I guess if you are sending someone a card inspiring hope you don't buy it in a multi-pack. and now I know why.
But Just in case you know a LOT of people that need prayers- here is an awesome paypal button for the cards. It could fill your resolution to be more generous and pray more.
xoxo Janae

Danielle's Family

Sunday thoughts never happened on Sunday. Probably because on Saturday Danielle decided she would wear panties from then on. She loves panties and went on the potty all weekend. She went twice at church. I am thrilled about this but also sad because she doesn't like it when daddy takes her to the potty. Once she couldn't get her panties down in time and had an accident and it was so sad. The whole weekend really I was just obsessed with potty. This Sunday Mark peed on me at church. In my lap. Through his outfit and blanket and my skirt. and a trickle down my leg in to my new shoes. I had just fed him and checked his dry diaper. A generic diaper that we were trying to use up (I used them for a diaper cake before he was born and figured they shouldn't go to waste. It was my attempt to give up my brand snob ways. yet again those ways were reinforced.) and yet another week where I didn't make it through the three hours of church. Danielle also boycotted nursery. She has never done that. She wanted me to stay with her. Really it seems like her personality is drastically different. No more sleeping through the night and taking super long naps. At least she can't defeat our front screen so I don't have to worry constantly that she will run away while I'm going to the bathroom. Privacy is wonderful.

Danielle drew a picture the other day and I asked her what it was. She told me it was her family- mommy and daddy and baby Mark and Austin and Aida and Lucy and Tess. Lucy and Aida also have beds in her room and toys at our house that they share with Danielle. After I asked her she also pointed to where Ed, Maya, Sara and Mark were. They were also part of the mommy drawing. Good thing too, because I was thinking my stamp looked a little larger than the other stamps on the paper.

Sunday Thoughts

I like the tradition of thinking about religion every Sunday. Unfortunately Sunday seems to be my least religious day. So I like to blog about it for good measure.
I wanted to go to church today. But only so I could get someone to watch Danielle some time this week. Is that wrong? Since Mark is only three weeks old and church is festering with diseased children I decided not to go. That and the fact that I woke up with crazy itching all over and had to take Benadryl. Actually we didn't have any so John went to the store and bought some. On the sabbath. And John has a cold. And Danielle sneezed a great snot filled sneeze as I was helping her pick out a dress. I don't want to add to the number of church going people who bring their sick children.
Why do people always have sick children at church? Does it matter if I keep our new baby home from church if I have a germ ridden toddler?
To top it off we went to John's opening Ball for medical school and brought Mark. We had energy for that free dinner but not for worship I guess. Mark slept the whole time so people liked him and I was very under dressed. Some people were wearing tuxedos and I wore my Japanese weekend jersey wraparound shirt and a Jjill skirt. I had a baby three weeks ago and I don't have fancy clothes- or fancy clothes that fit right now and work for nursing. My outfit was all black and I did my hair and makeup so you know the event was important. Luckily Mark had a cute blanket. I also realized that while many women had fancy clothes many also had very slutty fancy clothes. My Jersey skirt and shirt looked great, thanks largely to spanx. Having a baby is like having a cloak of invisibility though, so I volunteered to carry Mark around.
He got announced and people stood up to clap for the first Medical School baby. I was insanely happy.

I'm glad I went. Even though we all have colds now (except baby Mark).
Also glad I didn't go to church.

Dear Friend, Sunday Thoughts Edition

who hasn't been guilty of a jumper and flats?

Dear Friend,
I was just writing to talk about how glad I was to go to church today. John had a fever of 102 last night and I thought I was going to die but we came. I know it's only a virus because I'm already on a prescription decongestant and antibiotics and allergy medicine. maybe it wasn't super bright to bring our seemingly healthy kids since they slept pretty much all day after church. You will be happy to know that Mark seems better from his ear infection and even slept through the night last night, which John did not. Either way I was way more laid back than usual at church. I guess all that cold medicine helps me be more mellow. My only problem is that I think it inspired unnecessarily random thoughts. No wait- I always have those. The cold medicine just makes me more confused about things that people are trying to explain to me.

Anyway today I was reminded of my mission. You see today I thought of my plans for a second mission, where I shared the important message of a bra that fit properly. I think the properly fitting bra could almost as dear to my heart as my religion. Hello- line those bras ladies! Because seriously a bra that flattens, cuts in half and sags you all at the same time can ruin you life. Actually just one of those things is enough to ruin your day, so all three= you need an intervention.

Seriously I feel like this bra fitting mission could change someone's life for the better. That someone being you. Also: the message that no Jumper is the right kind of jumper. Now I have to admit, I was guilty of the Jumper wearing. I borrowed one from my companion and it was the most comfortable thing I put on. On a hot day the air just blows right up that jumper and cools you off. Of course the resulting billowing is not particularly flattering. When I was in Germany during the hottest summer in 140 years I was seen in two glorious jumpers and gifted one by Sister Reynolds, bless her soul. But you know a lot of things are comfortable, like the Ugg boots I wear around the house. Most of you have probably never seen my capri sweat pants with pockets and they are comfortable. We are talking about full thickness pockets here.

Anyway I was a little confused today because I saw your jumper and I'm betting you learned about their magic on a mission or in a hot place but your jumper was tight. If you take a jumper and add tightness you have destroyed the inherent beauty of the jumper, which is minimal to begin with.

I was thinking I could get together with you some time and go to the mall to a little store I like to call victorias secret. I know you think they are porn but maybe in this case you can look past that to get a decent bra. We could go to macy's, I won't judge. I'm thinking under wire could really rock your world.
almost enough to make that jumper passable.
almost.
Love,
Janae

I loved this jumper so much Sister Reynolds gave it to me. She. Was. Awesome.

Sunday Thoughts

I slept during church this Sunday. First I got up early and got ready for church. I had the children ready- (we were at the Bergs). Then Mark fell asleep. I did too. It was HEAVENLY- he slept almost the whole time everyone was at church. Danielle loved Nursery.
Mark has once again decided that eating at night is just much more efficient than eating during the day. He likes to nurse four times in the middle of the night. Luckily now he will go back to bed or I would be literally having a nervous breakdown. Sundays are always the hardest because I usually put on a show for Danielle and take a nap in the morning while Mark takes a nap. She seems to like it because that's the only time I let her watch shows- and I stay alive. It's funny how I've contemplated if you could literally die from not sleeping. I think you can- John read about some disease. I definitely don't have it so I am just grouchy and wondering about why Mormon's aren't supposed to drink coffee. How do all these moms do it?
The Perfect Mom has energy.
The perfect mom actually takes their children to do physically active activities. It isn't enough to just go to the gym- you need to actually be outside with your children. I am pretty sure that the perfect mom likes to camp with their family. and take their children on bike rides. I knew this girl that went jogging every morning and took her daughter in the stroller. that is close to right- I think kids need to see you exercising and it has to be part of your life. Seeing is good but doing it together is also an essential part of the perfect mom. Like a walk in the park or Bike rides as the whole family. Maybe it starts as mommy and me dance classes or you go skiing as a family. Maybe you play ball with your kids or hike the grand Tetons with your 10 year old.
The perfect mom would get their child involved, take them on a ride and then show them how to ride.

Sunday Thoughts: What is Your Cause?

Sometimes I think of brand responsibility and feel guilty. because I don't like to shop at Walmart because I don't think they are a good company. but then I like shopping at Target and they aren't always good. I wonder if I am just kidding myself thinking there are any companies that don't exploit people when they can. SHould I stop buying clothes at Target? Because lately I am loving their sweaters and they aren't a million billion dollars.
THis all started when I got an email the other day about a petition. I get emails from Change.org. I guess that 28 factory workers were burned alive on December 14 in Bangladesh. It took Abercrombie and Target a LONG time to respond and help. Change.org reported that their petition to get people to help was a success. You can read about it HERE. They say everyone COMMITED to help and change, but they don't always follow through.
Why did it take Target so long to commit? Almost a month? Is it common for companies to promise to fix things when the public is upset and then walk away? I don't know a lot about multi level sweatshops and I remember the Buy American movement a while ago. But I thought that had more to do with supporting our economy than making sure our retail habits weren't promoting slave like conditions.

So this Sunday I am thinking about Causes. What do people feel strong about? I feel strongly that companies should use responsible labor sources but I don't always know what I can do about it. Or if I can afford what I would like to do. I think its important to try to help with the things you care about. If you think schools should be improved you should volunteer to help. Don't just complain about something you don't try to help solve.
Am I just another one of the whiners when it comes to clothing? I don"t know. I will have to learn more.

What do you feel strongly about?
What do you do about it?

Sunday Thoughts

Went to church today.
In our church people give a lesson and ask people questions about what they think about the scriptures and if they have had personal insight. It is a great way to learn from other people and Also a great way to hear some CRAZY opinions from your neighbors at church. What might otherwise be a perfectly normal individual may suddenly reveal themselves as a crazy church commenter.
it makes people like me fear. fear for what they will say next, and of course, fear to say anything. because there are people listening and thinking you are strange. people like me.
OH CHURCH COMMENTS- WHEN WILL YOU NOT BE WEIRD?

Perfect mom series can't be on Sunday this week.
Why? because-
We had a lesson on Adam and Eve.
They read the scripture where it said that Eve was happy about eating the fruit because then they could have children. Some lady in church was commenting on how great that was and how it is women who know what is going on.
I thought about this one time that my grandma and aunt were over an hour late to meet us for lunch. They sat down and told us where they were without apologizing. Then they told each other how good it was that they went to costco and sees candy first because they couldn't have done it any later.
So today I learned something in church. Justifying your behavior has such a strong historical precedent. Good thing because the next time I try to think of why not doing the dishes felt so right I will know that I am fulfilling my destiny. I was born to say what I did was the correct thing to do!

Then some church lady talked about how now that they were out of the garden they have the right to work. Right to work?
I think Eve was a republican as well. I didn't get to ask that lady what she thought. Would Eve be a working mom now? They really must not have been making an informed decision.
Eve looked beyond the awesomeness and saw that she could have children.

Just like that I was distracted- thinking about how lots of people want to have children- like that pregnant couple where the "man" was pregnant. But the man was actually a woman who had a sex change but no hysterectomy and lived with a woman.
Which made me think of how gay couples could fulfill existence according to this woman's comment.
Which made me realize they probably used a sperm donor.
Next- artificial insemination.
Which made me think about if it was possible to extract the DNA of two people and combine them to make a child.
Next- cloning-
Which made me think about that one preview I saw about the people cloning humans and using Bat? DNA to make a human thing that kills people in what looks like a strange horror movie.
I guess if they tried to put your DNA together with another person's you would somehow need to have a bat involved.
Maybe I'm not very good at staying on topic. Somewhere when I was thinking about bat boy they moved on to a new topic. I don't know what it was- Mark needed to be fed so I went to the mother's lounge. then the lesson was over.
I never got to ask what people thought about how this related to gay marriage, human cloning and most importantly, bats.
maybe that is a good thing.

noteworthy comment: "so when Adam named Eve the mother of all living what was she thinking- that she was the mother of the animals! (insert a small laugh after this word, said mockingly) she had to have kids- it was her name"
awesome.
Thanks that one lady who made all the funny comments. You are outspoken, and the teacher doesn't really know how to respond to what you say.
and that is what church is all about.

Sunday Thoughts

Sometimes I go to church on Sunday. OK a lot of the time. I have made an important observation about our bishop.

plus = our bishop

How does no one else see this?

Sunday Thoughts.

Today was the first Sunday of the Month. So people weren't eating or aware of their own bad breath. I think that the knowledge that they have bad breath is completely buried by hunger. Today I noticed someone and they were a little older. I told John about almost giving them a mint but then deciding it would be rude to offer (normally I probably would but blah blah I didn't). So I sat in the hall and ate the last Milky Way Halloween candy bar (fun sized) and thought about if I needed to go get myself a mint. I was cleaning out the primary closet and avoiding the 100 degree primary room, but that didn't mean I wasn't eating candy and taking advantage of my awesome pregnant status.
Anyway John pointed out that the person in question was pretty old when I said they had bad breath.
"maybe she is just fasting ~~and has impaired personal breath radar.~~" I replied.

"You know what I've learned about old people in medical school?..."
pause...
"what?"
"Many of them are full of cabbage. This can lead to their breath smelling bad."

John totally got me. I thought we were learning something new about age related halitosis. Instead we had to ponder if all old people are full of cabbage or just German old people.

I think part of a successful marriage is based on telling them something with a straight face that is complete bollix. John and I have personally invested a great deal of energy in this endeavor. Together we make up some of the best stuff ever.
OK sometimes you fail and your spouse says "that's not funny." but at least you tried. or maybe if you are me you hurt their feelings and then realize that you shouldn't have tried to make a joke because in addition to being slightly overemotional when you are pregnant you are also NOT FUNNY ANYMORE.
assuming I was ever funny to people other than myself. which I am. or was. or whatever.
I'm finally excited to have a little ball of cuddle, but I've entered the stage of pregnancy where I am despairing about the length of time I have left. I'm also really worried that I won't be able to work enough to earn money to pay our bills. You know- that whole mortgage thing we get to pay.
Why did we ever get a mortgage? it comes mostly with lots of pressure and also yard work. In seven more months we will have lived here for three years and will be able to sell it without losing our tax rebate.
I'm not sure if that makes me want to move, or just want to hide under a blanket on the couch. Or in my loving, supportive bed.
either way if you are ever bored and want to help me de-clutter, I am completely unmotivated without someone else there to push things along.
I think I can blame the pregnancy for that too, right? Or maybe just the overexposure to cabbage today.

Sunday Thoughts

My birthday is soon. This Sunday I thought about things I wanted for my birthday. Or just stuff I like. I love birthdays- and lists- what's on yours?

I want flowers planted in our flower box and our front yard to be weeded. Not by me.
I want pictures of people.
I want a picture of Danielle with her dad.
I want to wake up and the house is magically clean- meaning I have no idea how it happened.
Japanese fabric-http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23536102 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24732012
Or Kaffe Fasset fabric.
Or minky Fabric.
Or the cute pencil holder my sister in law made. Or one of her colorful mugs.
Shoes. I love shoes.
Chanel Acapulco lipstick- it seems mine had an unfortunate accident with a baby and an eyeliner and isn't really usable anymore.
A new queen sized duvet cover.
A cute maternity shirt
Expansions 3 and 4 to Alhambra
Frames- any color
Industrial Waste Board game
Agricola Board Game
Le Havre Board Game
Stationery

lots of other things- I was going to make 28 since I am turning 28 but I ran out of steam.

Happy mother's day everyone!

Sunday Thoughts

I think it would be funny if there were new rules about how people had to sit at church. I thought of this today as I was sitting on the stand. Rather than letting people pick were they say people would have to file in and be seated starting at the front of the building. Larger parties would get the longer rows. You had to start at the left and go to the right. Children would get their allotted space but no more. There couldn't be lots of space between parties.
I like it for several reasons. One- if a family of seven needs a spot and three people are sprawled across a whole row the family never makes them scoot over which I think is sad. Two- the more righteous you are, the further to the front you would be. It could be a sort of status thing. Now not only do the super important people go on the stand, the other important people are in the front. Those families that sit right on the end of the back row would be smack dab in the middle of the third row.
My family always sat in the front row at church. and we always got there late. So after the sacrament we would traipse in and take our spots. I personally believe we didn't earn those spots, but the super righteous Ogden family took a row further back. Maybe we could have earned the back row that the relief society president took.

Then maybe we could start the color coordination.
and have treats in relief society. I miss that awesome relief society teacher who would somehow always tie in fantastic treats with her lesson. Every pregnant and nursing woman's dream.
Mark likes sucking his food out of the holder. So disgusting. So awesome.
Danielle likes to do karate moves and help me sew. Tonight we made cookies and visited some people to give them away. and like every time I cook, I called my mom for directions. Hence the freak out and call mom picture in my kitchen.
next week I have to think of more perfect mom ideas- aka Brooke's worst nightmare. But Brooke sent me some of the most beautiful earrings in the world this week. They are red. I wore them to church this week. Love.

Someday spring will come. Until then- thank goodness for Vitamin D prescriptions.
Think about it- would you want to show up early? Maybe the lurking greeters would make better ushers.
Happy Sunday!