Friday, June 29, 2012

No doubt

It seems that Henry is a No Doubt fan.


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Missionary Moments

I had an interesting experience today when I went to meet Ben for lunch. Many afternoons I walk downtown and we have lunch along the river by the Renaissance Center, near his office.

Today as we were eating outside on a bench, a woman came up to us and said she had recently moved here with her husband from San Francisco and that they had started a church. She asked if we went to church, and we said yes, every week. She then said okay, and left. I think we both wondered why she hadn't continued with the slight opening we had given her, but I forgot about it as lunch went on.

A little while later, Ben asked me what I would have said if she had invited us to her church. I wasn't sure, but I told him it didn't seem nice to give someone false hope when there is no chance that we are leaving our own church. His response was that it would be a good missionary opportunity for us as well.

That got me thinking as I headed home. I saw this woman talking to a few other people as I walked, and I couldn't get her out of my head. I thought about my brother Geoff, who's on a mission right now and does exactly what this woman is doing every day (not to mention Josh, who goes on his mission in November). But I kept pushing the thoughts aside and I had left her behind and was about to head home when I decided I should turn around. 

So I walked back a ways and searched for this woman, determined to walk up to her. However, she approached me first. She told me about how she had always been Christian, but she became truly converted a few years ago. She told me how happy she is now, and how it has transformed her life. It was a short, beautiful testimony.

She then said goodbye and started to walk off, but I knew I couldn't let her get away. So I asked her when her church meets. She gave me a card with information about the time and location of her church and we exchanged contact information.

I never even mentioned the name of my own church, but I feel  like a door has been opened. I honestly don't known what will come of this interaction. Possibly nothing. Maybe the only reason I was prompted to talk to her was so that she would experience something other than the constant rejection I witnessed her receiving from other people. Or maybe it was more of a lesson for me than for her. I find I struggle with missionary experiences--out of shyness, I tend to keep my mouth closed. But whatever the reason, I'm glad I can look back on this experience with a warm heart and not regret.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Normalcy

Ben's work in Minneapolis is officially over (cue hallelujah chorus). Finally, after what seems like forever, we can get back to our normal lives. This morning was his first day back at his office, and it felt great to watch out the window as he caught the bus. It's funny the things you miss when everything changes. Plus my motivation to work/clean/cook is much higher when he is around. It's much easier to just wallow in my own filth when I know I won't be seeing anyone that day.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

0.5

Being a stay at home mom is wonderful. I know it's not possible for everyone, but I also know it is exactly what I should be doing right now. Henry is now 6 months old and I have thoroughly enjoyed this half of a year with him. 

I'm not saying it's always easy. Most of the indications that you're doing a good job as a mother (i.e. raising a secure, well-mannered child) only manifest themselves over a long period of time. The daily tasks like laundry, dishes, etc. never seem to end (possibly because they are sometimes left to stack up a bit longer than they should). And maybe it's only me, but having a job that requires you to stay at home with a baby all day long can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. After all, it's not a very enthralling conversation when the response I get to everything I say is, "dadadad." No matter how cute the giggle that follows may be. 

It's been especially hard having Ben out of town for so long. He's been working in Minneapolis for the past six weeks and he flies home on the weekends (though this is the last week!) This means that unless I make a considerable effort to be social, I can go days without any adult interaction. Not good for the emotional well-being of a new mother. Or anyone, for that matter.

But my real purpose here is to express how, despite everything, the benefits of being a mother far outweigh the costs. I know that everyone has struggles. That's just part of life. But the great thing about being a parent is that children seem to somehow make it all worth it. I have never so instantly and absolutely loved a person the way I love Henry. And aside from Ben, I have never loved anyone so completely. Henry is easy going, happy, intelligent, observant, beautiful, and one of my best friends. So here are a few of the things that I love most about Henry:


When he smiles really big, his neck disappears.
He gives me kisses which consist of him putting his open mouth on my cheek or chin.
He talks to himself all the time in a very squeaky voice.


Sometimes when he is nursing, he stops just to look up and smile at me. Which, in addition to being really cute, gets me really wet.
He often has an intense look on his face like he's trying to figure something out.


He does not like to go to bed because he prefers to spend time with his parents.
He often sucks on a blanket/toy/his toes so loudly that I can hear it from across the room
He is not a snuggly baby, but when he is tired or not feeling well, he will rest his head on my shoulder.


He absolutely adores his dad.
He shrieks when he is excited. It actually sounds like he's choking, and it scared me the first few times, but now I don't notice it until someone else asks me if he's okay.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is, I don't know what I would do without him. 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Teeth

This video says many things about Henry. First of all, yes he is teething. Secondly, he prefers rubbing items over his teeth instead of biting them. I don't know if this means he is creative or just lazy. Third of all, he has learned to shake his head back and forth, which he now does all the time. It looks like he is constantly saying no. Fourth, one of his favorite things to play with is a remote. Whether it is for the TV, Wii, or whatever, if he sees one he will grab for it and inevitably push buttons making something happen that I will not know how to reverse. The only thing he likes doing more is ripping paper. Last, he now smiles/squawks every time he sees me. It's wonderful.