Movie Time!

I was laughing with a friend the other day about how this should be called "Gabe's blog", not" John, Rachel and Gabe's blog".  But, he's pretty much my life right now so he's really all I really have to blog about.  Besides, he so cute, I can't help but show him off!  And Nancy, I even included a clip of Gabe AND ME at the end just for you!  Enjoy.

The Church Grandparents

One week while sitting in sacrament meeting a women behind us leaned forward and informed us that she was in love with our baby.  Fast forward a few months and we now call her Grandma Jan.  Jan and her husband, Jim, just adore Gabe and he adores them back!  In fact it's a struggle to get Gabe to sit with us at church because he would rather be sitting with Jim and Jan!  Last night Jan made a comment about how interesting it is that the Lord makes peoples paths cross at certain times in life.  When she said that I started thinking about how blessed we are to have crossed paths with them at this time in our life.  More than once Jan has dropped everything she had planned for her day and come to watch Gabe when I really needed some help.  And Sunday after Sunday, Jim patiently sits with Gabe in his lap, showing him the scriptures and helping him turn the pages.  He even shared his frosted brownie with Gabe at dinner on Sunday. Now that's love!
Jim and Jan, you have been such a blessing to us! Thanks for falling in love with our baby!

Gabe - The Attack Baby

Gabe's uncle Matt calls Gabe "the attack baby" and today Gabe lived up to the name. While we were walking to the park Gabe actually attacked his own shadow. His shadow was right in front of him and he just went nuts! He got down on his hands and knees and started smacking it and then chasing it on all fours! Once he calmed down a bit I tried to teach him about shadows, but I think he is still quite determined to catch his.

The Classics

I love to read, and I read a lot of books.  I love a page turner, something that grips you from page one.  However, I have this huge list of classic novels that I want to read before I die.  I force myself to pick one up at the library and read it along with those page turners.  Sometimes I really enjoy them and sometimes I feel like I am torturing myself with this goal.  Just recently I have finished Emily Bronte's, "Wuthering Heights" and Jane Austen's, "Mansfield Park."  During both of these I asked myself, "Why do I do this to myself?"  Then just the other day while watching a movie a reference was made to a character being just like Heathcliff.  It was then I had the Ah Ha! moment I needed to know why I torture myself so.  Knowing who Heathcliff was in that moment was totally awesome!  I also love it when I find myself using phrases like, "Pray, Mr. Heaton, do tell me how was your day?" So I continue diligently with my goal of reading the classics (intermingled with mysteries, love stories, vampires and werewolves . . . is anyone else dying to know what happens to Bella, Edward and Jacob?).

Enjoying some spring!

This past week 5 of the 12 families in our cul de sac moved.  There was one day when there were 3 moving trucks parked in our circle at once (and these aren't little Uhauls, they are semi trucks).  We weren't close to any of the families that moved from our circle, but we lost 20 families from our ward all at once.  Including one of my good friends, Tammy, who is moving to Germany.  I am sad to see them go, but that's the Air Force life we chose.  They will just be the first of many good friends we will have to leave.  I ended up watching her little boy twice last week while the movers were packing her house.  Her husband is already in Germany leaving her with the job of moving and caring for their 1o month old baby.  And she's 7 months pregnant. So getting her little boy out of her hair for a couple of days was the least I could do to help her out.  But, HOLY COW two kids was a handful.  By the end of the first day I told John "I don't know if I can do this again tomorrow."  I survived and thankfully both boys did too!
We listened to General Conference this weekend and it was wonderful as always.  I especially loved Elder Ballard's talk to the young mothers of the church.  I love being a mom, but it does get hard some times!  His talk was a good reminder for me that the joy of being a mom comes in moments and those moments are what make all the messes, tantrums, cooking, cleaning, etc. worth while.  I love being a mom and I love those moments of absolute joy that I feel!  I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful kid.  He has such a bright happy spirit and is constantly bringing a smile to my face.  It is great to be a mom!    
Listen to conference: www.lds.org