Here's to you, Uncle Sam

a.k.a. Performing my Civic Duty

a.k.a. Stimulating the Economy

Allan's Aunt Emily does our taxes for us using a software program (H&R Block, maybe?). It's really lovely. She comes over for a couple hours and plugs in numbers and reveals the numbers at the end. Usually, we are happy.

This year we were happy. As I saw the refund numbers light up, visions of sugarplums danced in my head. Okay, maybe not sugarplums, but other things. Like furniture. And vacations. And clothes. And baby things.

But, as always, the ying to my yang, Allan goes the prudent route. Let's save it.

Bah-humbug. Visions gone.

However, I worked my womanly wiles on my husband and suggested that we save most of it but spend some of it. Besides, as we were getting to the end of the calculations, a screen popped up that said, "President Obama thanks you for being a hard-working, employed American." (Read between the lines: here's a tax break so please spend it.) (Also read between the lines: it's an election year in 2012, aren't I the greatest President EVER?!) You are more than welcome, President Obama. You want me to spend money, President Obama?

I will do it for my country.

And so the visions reappeared. As I was listing my desires at full speed while poor Allan listened, one came up that we agreed on. A poster bed. I've always wanted one. In fact, when we were dating, we went up to Gardner Village and looked through the stores. I saw a poster bed and remarked that I liked them. Allan remembered this small detail from years ago (cute, huh?) and suggested that getting a bed was an excellent idea.

So, I went looking online and fell in love with a bed from Bassett Furniture. I wanted to see it in person. Off we went to the Bassett Furniture store. A lovely old man with fantastically white hair named David greeted us, and when I said that I had seen a bed online and wanted to look at it, he said, "Oh, sure, and we can give you a much better deal than they can give you online." I wasn't actually looking for a deal, David, but if you're going to give me one, I will not complain. The bed wasn't in the store, but the matching nightstands were. As we contemplated the purchase, David came back with a fantastic price on the bed and nightstands. DEAL. Done and done.

And so the gorgeous things came yesterday.



I'm in furniture love.

***

Baby Charles turned six months! He goes to the doctor on Friday, so I'll update on our little man then.

Ponderings

While I'm nursing or rocking baby Charlie, sometimes I just enjoy the snuggles and sometimes I pull out the ol' iPad (I can say ol' because the have the iPad 2 now, you know) and surf the Internet or read books using iBook. (Is it funny that I read more now even with a baby than when there was no baby?) Anyhow, when I surf the net, I like to visit craft sites and see how many amazing things people make for their children and their homes. And as I visit these sites, I think, "Gosh, I could do this!" or "Wouldn't that be the cutest thing to make for Charlie?" or "I've got to get going on these quiet books!" (for which I did buy the pattern and fabric). And then I think, "When would I do all these crafty things?" Nap time is precious time to get the house organized or start dinner or whatever. And Charlie really likes my attention during playtime. I like playtime, too. I don't want to sacrifice that. And when Charlie goes to bed, there needs to be mommy and daddy time, even if it's just a snuggle on the couch before I need to go to dreamland myself.

Then all sorts of thoughts coming pouring out. I'd like to be able to exercise more regularly. I would like to become a culinary master. I really should practice the piano more. Oh, and my calling. Oh, and my visiting teaching. How do other women find time to do it? Do they ever sleep? I must be doing something wrong. How do I need to change? DO I need to change? There isn't enough time in the day . . . Etc, etc.

Thankfully, the Spirit speaks to my heart and reminds me of some Relief Society training Sister Beck gave (it's really good. Click on it and watch. And be uplifted.) Essential, necessary, nice-to-do. As long as I'm taking care of my essential duties and keeping caught up on the necessary ones, I'm okay. The nice-to-do will fit in sometime. Maybe an hour here, 30 minutes there. And that' s okay.

Too often I think we compare ourselves to others and feel we fall flat. From the Ensign in 1976, "We all seem to measure ourselves by what we see in others, and that’s others at their best, scrubbed and polished physically and emotionally. Yet we judge ourselves by how we feel when we’re at our worst. Consequently, we’re sure to come out on the short end of the stick, always inadequate." And too often I think we try to portray ourselves as having perfect lives with perfect relationships and perfect homes. We're not perfect, and that's okay. Wouldn't there be a whole lot more love in our lives if we realized we're all fighting battles and trying our best? I am reminded of Pres. Monson's talk in the RS session last conference. That talk was given for me. What it comes down to is having charity in our hearts--charity for others and charity for ourselves.

God knows our hearts. He knows mine. And I'm doing just fine.

***

Charlie is five months old! He keeps growing and growing. It's so fun and wonderful to watch him learn and do new things. He has rolled over from tummy-to-back but only three times. He's a stubborn one. He's really close to going back-to-tummy, but sometimes his arms are the problem and sometimes his legs are the problem. He loves to sit up (with our help still). He is liking playing on the floor a lot more; before it was all about the bouncer, but now the floor provides much more wiggling room. He is laughing more and is becoming a "social" laugh-er--meaning he'll laugh when others are laughing. He uses his voice to communicate how he's feeling. That doesn't mean he doesn't cry anymore, but he can use his "ohs" and "ahs" to communicate how he is feeling.

One night as Allan and I were talking and laughing with Charlie, and I realized I need to treasure these moments so much more. We are his little world. We are his everything. One day it won't be like this. One day I won't be able just to look at him and have him smile. One day I won't be able to stop the tears by cuddling and rocking. And that's okay. It's life. It's what he came here to do--learn and progress. They aren't little for very long. I wish I could go back to the very newborn days and hold that little eight pound-er one more time. But now I have my 17 pound-er to hug and cuddle. So I'll enjoy each stage.

Valentine's Day

Playing with the top sometimes means trying to eat it.

I found my toes!