FOURTEEN

V got her first haircut! She was so still and patient. $15 later I realized I'll be cutting her hair from now on...

 2015 week fourteen

Happy lovely, (tantrum acquainted) springy, Easter, and General Conference week!

Wednesday Arboretum trip with friends. This is essentially what they did the entire time. V took an almost 3 hour nap that afternoon, bless her. 

At the arboretum, taken a little less than one year after the photo at the top of the page. She looks like a different baby.

And on this day I learned that I will have no need to take her to the zoo anytime soon. Petco was just as magical. As we were leaving I told her to say goodbye to the lizards and she squeaked out, "Goodbye lizards, I love you!" 

Feeding  Chasing ducks with Papa. She was way too friendly with the edge of that water. And the geese were absolutely terrifying. Anyone else afraid of geese?

Our lazy cat prefers lying down while eating. 

Sunday was going to rain so we did a little hunt in our backyard on Saturday in the sunshine. She has been training for this her whole life. One of her favorite activities is collecting treasures in a bucket or bag and toting them around. She has been reenacting the egg hunt in my house the last two days. 

The calm, soporific voices of General Conference even work on cats. I'm not sure how anyone could sleep through the impassioned voice of Elder Holland though... Yzma is just not as righteous. :) 

What a lovely week, even though (hey, have you heard?) there is a very angry baby in my womb and I am so sick. Even my wonderful, ever-patient husband has grown tired of hearing me complain about feeling sick. And Vera, sweet little not-even-two-year-old immediately says, "Mama feel so sick," whenever I tell her I can't pick her up or get off the couch. And maybe the internet can help me. It's not really even nausea. So what is this pain? Yes, I throw up periodically, but it is more like my stomach just aches. I am popping tums like I've never tasted candy, but after every meal (except breakfast, oddly) my stomach just hurts. It's cruel. Even drinking water hurts my stomach -which my husband does not believe. What is happening?

But, what a lovely week anyway. This is my happy story from the week. We have had a fair amount of rain and our rain barrel has stayed pretty full. Every evening I walk around my garden watering all my tender little plants from a watering can that I fill up from the rain barrel. And Saturday night my husband was making cookies and General Conference was drifting out our open window and I could listen to words about Christ as I was soaking each little plant. I saw two small asparagus shoots, so naturally I had to call Matthew out to join in my joy. And standing on our little back patio, holding hands, watching the dusk (and let's be real honest, the pollen) settle on our freshly mown lawn, I felt so happy. I didn't feel sick and the beauty of our tiny house and yard just struck me. My blueberry bush was covered in blossoms, the blackberry bushes had stalks of neon green new grown, my plum tree (laden with tiny green plums) was swaying in the wind of the approaching thunderstorm. Every stalk of garlic and onion was strong and the purest green. My hopeful potatoes were shaking their heads in the breeze that was dancing away the last of the peach blossoms. My lavender bloomed for the first time this year (finally!) and all the little plants we planted on my birthday have done nothing but give me a thrill every time I walk out on my (temporarily, darn you Texas!) jasmine-scented front step. My happiness in that dusk, standing with my husband watching the green of our home turn to grey in the night was so full, I never wanted to leave my yard or my home. Texas has converted me into an ardent lover of spring time. And this year, this spring, she is so glorious.



Funny words from Vera

V trying to shake my plants to death.
Me: V, you have to be so gentle to the plants and tell them to grow so strong.
V kisses the plants: Grow big and strong, I love you

She calls anything bunny shaped (crackers, cookies) "bunny foo foo" and requests I sing the song.

In the car I hear
V: Good morning toes! (its like 4 pm) I love you toes! (then kissing noises)

washee hands. wipee hands. wipee bun. washee hair. It's almost like she's saying "wash ye hands!"