Photographic Memory

I've decided that this blog will have to serve as my photographic memory.  I used to pride myself on my memory.  Just ask my sister, Jami.  I used to be able to recite conversations verbatim, regurgitate text book facts with all the many-syllable words, and remember the dates that important things happened.  And then I had kids!

What's hard about that, aside from not being able to hold my own in a conversation anymore, is that more now that ever is when I need my memory!  I think it is patently unfair that having children has such an adverse affect on your brain.  I want to remember every smile, every pose, and every funny thing my kids do.  

That being said, I just had to take some pictures of Johnny over the last week or so.  He's growing up so fast.  He's not my newborn anymore!  And like I said, this blog is going to have to be my photographic memory...

One of my favorite things about Johnny is our mornings together.  After sleeping an average of 10 hours during the night, he wakes up around 6:00 am, and he's hungry!  I scoop him up and bring him into bed with me, and I nurse him while we both doze.  When he's all done eating, he cuddles up next to me and falls asleep for a couple more hours.  I don't sleep much longer, since the girls are usually up by then.  But this picture is how he looks when I leave him in bed to sleep.  He's so big already!  And he looks so precious to me when he's asleep...

Johnny's a strong little boy!  He's been able to stand and support his weight pretty much since we brought him home.  But lately he seems to be anxious to work those legs out.  So we brought out the bouncer!  It seems to me both of the girls were closer to 6 months old before they were ready for this fun toy, but Johnny seemed to dig it.  He especially loved the toys within easy reach, but was a bit frustrated when he couldn't get any of them in his mouth!

And Danny and I have decided it's official.  Johnny is a thumb-sucker!  He's our first one, too.  But it's so stinkin' cute!  He usually goes right to the thumb after he's done eating.  Have I mentioned how much I love breastfeeding this little guy?  It really has been a completely different experience this time around, and I really feel like Johnny and I bond during his feedings.  

My day to day life is full of monotony and frustrations.  Having children, especially such large ones, has taken a toll on my body.  But I wouldn't trade any of it.  I absolutely love being a Mom!  I just wish time would slow down a bit... 

Can a girl get luckier?

It's been hard enough, over the last four years, to figure out how I managed to snag such a handsome man for a husband.  Then we were blessed with two gorgeous daughters.  I never would have thought I would have such beautiful girls.  And then we met our son.  I can't believe I get to share my life with these two handsome men!

Yes, those are matching ties.  Seriously, I think I might like dressing up my little boy to look like a little man more than I liked all the accessories I was able to don on the girls when they were babies!

  Anyway, Danny and Johnny have been becoming more the pair lately.  Don't get me wrong, Johnny's still my Mama's Boy.  But you can tell how much he loves his Daddy...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  I couldn't have picked a better man to be the father of my children.  Not all men rejoice in their children like Danny does.  I know that not all husbands are more excited to greet their kids at the end of the day than they are to have a hot meal or a clean house.  My Johnny has the best example of how to be a righteous son of our Heavenly Father.  Ever.

It's a bird, it's a plane...

No...it's Super Sophie!

Evil-doers don't stand a chance against that face!

Raptoberfest

Back in November, Danny's CTF (Combined Test Force) threw a party for the families.  This is kind of a big deal, since in the year that Danny has been at Edwards, we've never been able to meet anyone he works with.  Or really even go to where he actually works!  It was so cool to get to take the kids and show them what Daddy does all day.

There was plenty of food, good company, and even a bouncy castle for the kids.  But, admittedly, the coolest part had to be the F-22 Raptor!  Yes, that's my totally cute family in front of the coolest fighter jet in the sky.  That's right, F-35.  I said it.  :)

O Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving day came and went.  All too fast...not that my waistline is complaining.  And with the passing of Thanksgiving came the ushering in of Christmas!  As is the tradition with most families, the Christmas decorations came out on Friday.  Last year Danny had to work, but this year he was able to stay home.  I was grateful for his presence, if only for the added height! ;)

It wasn't only Danny's help I appreciated this year.  Claire and Sophie were such good helpers!  Claire helped me organize all the branches to our artificial tree in color-coded piles, and then she and Sophie brought them to Danny and I.  It was so cool to be able to decorate for Christmas as a family.  I even had the Jazz Holiday station on Pandora playing in the background.  And I'm not much for Christmas music.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it!  I just don't listen to it in June, and I'm wonderfully grateful when the radio stations finally quit playing it. :)

And here's a glance at what the Call house looks like all dressed up for Christmas 2010:

Note: There are no ornaments on the tree this year.  We decided it was more important to not spend the entire month yelling at Sophie. :)

I'm so excited to have a mantel and stocking holders for our stockings this year!  Only problem is we're short one stocking.  Hmmm...guess Mom and Dad are sharing one this year. :)

It was a lot of fun decorating the house this year.  I'm definitely getting more into the holiday spirit as the years go by!  It'll be fun to see what our home will look like a few Christmases from now...

One Year Closer

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Rachel's death.  I'm behind in some other posts I've wanted to get done, but I want to take the opportunity to post about my sister, and the wonderful day we had yesterday.

My family has been bracing for this one year anniversary.  We all anticipated that it would be a hard day.  A day full of remembering how awful December 1st was last year.  We talked about trying to coordinate a memorial of sorts, but in the end decided to let everyone find comfort in whatever way they saw fit.  Turned out, that was really the best thing.

I woke up in the morning, not knowing what to expect.  Or what to do to honor my sister.  But my day began not with tears, but with a sense of peace.  Even joy at the life my sister lived.  I got on Facebook, and read all the wonderful things her friends had posted.  While reading those sweet messages brought tears to my eyes and pain to my chest, I realized something profound.  If the way people remember you after you leave this life is any indication of how you lived it, than my sister did as good a job as anyone could.  So many people remembered the day, not because they were concerned for our loss, but because they experienced a loss as well.  Rachel touched so many lives, and had such an influence on everyone she interacted with.  I decided I have a lot to learn from my youngest sister.  And that's how I'm going to honor her.  I chose a couple of areas in my life that I can follow Rachel's example in, and for the next year I'm going to work to make those areas stronger.  Thank you, Rachel!  You're an amazing example to me.

Of course, we all worried about my Mom.  But, not necessarily surprisingly, she had a wonderful day!  A day full of that same peace that I felt.  A peace that can only come from the Spirit.  I know there were countless prayers uttered in my mother's and our family's behalf, and I know the prayers in the temple were for us as well.  And I KNOW we felt their effect.  

Death is something that has always frightened me.  Well, not death itself, but the separation that comes with it.  I have to say, even with all I've learned from Rachel's death, I'm still anxious for when I'll lose someone else.  Because it will happen.  It's a necessary part of this mortal experience.  But while I may still fear the separation, I have learned that peace will follow, if you allow for it.  I know that life can still be joyful.  I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.  They will not leave us comfortless.

I love my sister, and I miss her very much.  But I'm so excited to find out what great work she is doing in the spirit world.  Because if I know my sister, it's a great and groovy work.  Love you, Rachel!  You're the tannest and prettiest sister! :)