It is never very productive to pine over bygone days, but I must admit I feel a bit cheated by the timing of my dating relationship with Dallin. I didn't meet him until after his music glory days in college, after his concerto competitions, after his time as concert master, after his recitals, and gigs for campus elites. Sometimes I wish I could have been a fly on the wall or a mouse in the corner during those days to see Dallin in first chair in the orchestra, Dallin wowing the crowds, Dallin in the spotlight.
This past week I got a small glimpse of that Dallin, and Dallin had a walk down memory lane as he was invited to sub in the city symphony orchestra where he attended college. I got quite the thrill attending an orchestra concert, which I am always game for. Even better, though, my sweetheart was in the orchestra all dressed up, and playing with professionals. I couldn't have been prouder. I love being married to a musician. I am sure there will be other orchestra invitations in the years to come. And, in the meantime, I can enjoy his fiddling from the comfort of our living room couch in pajamas. How did I get so lucky?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Collecting
Ezra and I took a lovely fall walk and while he slept, oblivious to all the beauty, mommy collected a whole slew of colorful flora. I was in a creative mood and came home and made a quick horticulture collage of my plant samples:
Categorizing is always fun, so I made a group for everything red:
And everything yellow:
For all the fruits, pods, and seed heads:
And because I am a plant nerd, how about alphabetically by Latin name? (arranged from bottom to top: Acer, Baptisia, Calamagrostis, Caryopteris, Catalpa, Chrysanthemum, Cornus, Fraxinus, Gaillardia, Geranium, Gleditisia, Juniperus, Lavandula, Malus...)
I won't bore you with all the other ways I thought to subdivide my collection, but suffice it to say, I am easily entertained.
And everything yellow:
For all the fruits, pods, and seed heads:
And because I am a plant nerd, how about alphabetically by Latin name? (arranged from bottom to top: Acer, Baptisia, Calamagrostis, Caryopteris, Catalpa, Chrysanthemum, Cornus, Fraxinus, Gaillardia, Geranium, Gleditisia, Juniperus, Lavandula, Malus...)
I won't bore you with all the other ways I thought to subdivide my collection, but suffice it to say, I am easily entertained.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Babies Don't Keep
For many years in my parent's bedroom hung a 1970s vintage needlepoint with a mother rocking a baby and the following poem:
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,
for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
When I was younger I thought it was quaint, a nice cadence, a pleasant little rhyme. Now I realize how surprisingly true it is.
My little Ezra certainly isn't a newborn anymore. He already has differentiated his cries, and explores his vocal chords daily with new sounds. His response to visual stimuli is impressive. For example, when he sits in his bouncy chair, his eyes follow me all around the room, often craning his neck to see where I am and what I am doing.
In like manner, his response to audio stimuli has improved. Dallin recently performed on violin at a cultural event at our church. Ezra was very alert during the evening and was obviously hearing the different musical performances. When Dallin got up to play there was a heightened attentiveness. Ezra seemed to recognize the music and was especially aware of the sounds. A couple from our ward sitting nearby noticed and commented on the special response to Dallin's playing, as well.
Ezra's first few bath experiences caused panic and terror. He would scream beet-faced before, during, and afterward. A few days ago he had his first positive experience to the bath and realized that it could actually be fairly pleasant. Today I gave him a bath again. As I turned on the water and undressed him, he got a big grin on his face, recognizing (it would seem) that what was coming was a happy thing.
Before Ezra came, I spent a good deal of time "cleaning and scrubbing." I have to admit, I rather like housecleaning. I find a certain degree of satisfaction in Lysol-ed, squeaky clean, and sparkly. Lately, though I choose to spend the great bulk of my day on walks with Ezra, talking to Ezra, bathing Ezra, reading books to Ezra, listening to music with Ezra, feeding Ezra, changing Ezra, and loving Ezra. Let the house go to pot when there is such an adorable boy to keep me company during the day.
My little Ezra certainly isn't a newborn anymore. He already has differentiated his cries, and explores his vocal chords daily with new sounds. His response to visual stimuli is impressive. For example, when he sits in his bouncy chair, his eyes follow me all around the room, often craning his neck to see where I am and what I am doing.
In like manner, his response to audio stimuli has improved. Dallin recently performed on violin at a cultural event at our church. Ezra was very alert during the evening and was obviously hearing the different musical performances. When Dallin got up to play there was a heightened attentiveness. Ezra seemed to recognize the music and was especially aware of the sounds. A couple from our ward sitting nearby noticed and commented on the special response to Dallin's playing, as well.
Ezra's first few bath experiences caused panic and terror. He would scream beet-faced before, during, and afterward. A few days ago he had his first positive experience to the bath and realized that it could actually be fairly pleasant. Today I gave him a bath again. As I turned on the water and undressed him, he got a big grin on his face, recognizing (it would seem) that what was coming was a happy thing.
Before Ezra came, I spent a good deal of time "cleaning and scrubbing." I have to admit, I rather like housecleaning. I find a certain degree of satisfaction in Lysol-ed, squeaky clean, and sparkly. Lately, though I choose to spend the great bulk of my day on walks with Ezra, talking to Ezra, bathing Ezra, reading books to Ezra, listening to music with Ezra, feeding Ezra, changing Ezra, and loving Ezra. Let the house go to pot when there is such an adorable boy to keep me company during the day.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Seasonal Delights
In the weekly grocery mailer I discovered apples on sales for .69 cents/lb.--and not just one kind of apple either: Gala, Fuji, Red and Golden Delicious, Rome, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Johathan, and Jonagold apples! I made a homemade apple pie two weeks ago, but I might have to make another with apple prices like this! I don't think my sweetheart will mind.
Yesterday I made something rather sinful, or at very least not very healthy, and certainly not gluten-free. I found a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, which called for 1 1/2 cups sugar AND 2 cups chocolate chips! But my sweetheart loves anything pumpkin, so I indulged because making them was just one more way for me to say "I love you." I am not much of a chocolate fan...but I think I ate five.
Last week I created some butternut squash soup and with the leftover squash half, plan to experiment with a butternut squash pasta recipe. I love the foods of fall! Huzzah!
Yesterday I made something rather sinful, or at very least not very healthy, and certainly not gluten-free. I found a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, which called for 1 1/2 cups sugar AND 2 cups chocolate chips! But my sweetheart loves anything pumpkin, so I indulged because making them was just one more way for me to say "I love you." I am not much of a chocolate fan...but I think I ate five.
Last week I created some butternut squash soup and with the leftover squash half, plan to experiment with a butternut squash pasta recipe. I love the foods of fall! Huzzah!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Reason no. 28
Dear Dallin,
How grateful I am for you in this new adventure of parenthood! What a blessing to have you to share the load, to have you as my teammate, and to have your support when I need a break. Thank you for being my partner in the diaper changing, burping, holding, cuddling, dressing...etc. What an amazing season of life we are in--so glad we can do it together! You are a wonderful daddy, and you help this mommy in all the best ways.
All my love, Liezel
How grateful I am for you in this new adventure of parenthood! What a blessing to have you to share the load, to have you as my teammate, and to have your support when I need a break. Thank you for being my partner in the diaper changing, burping, holding, cuddling, dressing...etc. What an amazing season of life we are in--so glad we can do it together! You are a wonderful daddy, and you help this mommy in all the best ways.
All my love, Liezel
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Come and See
Media attention has been especially focused on religion and politics of late and the old argument that Mormonism is a cult has resurfaced with increasing intensity. I find it so disheartening that such an intellectually immature claim continues to be touted by men in high standing in the public arena.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often nicknamed the Mormon Church) is a Christian faith, and by that I mean members worship in and believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior. I consider myself a disciple of Christ, meaning that I am trying to follow the example of the Savior and live a life consistent with His teachings, as found in the Bible. I consider the Bible to be the word of God and appreciate the doctrines and teachings of Christ that are recorded there. I belong to a Christ-centered church, not a cult; I worship Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, not Joseph Smith.
In the book of John, in the latter half of chapter 1, Jesus invites the curious Simon and Andrew to "come and see" to learn more of Him and His doctrine. Later Philip invites a skeptical Nathanael to also "come and see" Jesus.
"Come and see" is the open invitation from the book of John that needs to be applied to intelligent acquisition of truth. It is the invitation that needs to be applied in understanding the religious doctrines of any faith. Mormonism, along with all other religions, deserves a thorough, unbiased investigation.
Come and see what the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by attending Sunday services. Every chapel for worship the world over invites "visitors welcome". Use the church's interactive tool at http://lds.org/maps/ to locate the chapel closest to you.
Come and see what the church leadership teaches in its semi-annual two-day general conference. The conference is broadcast from church headquarters in Salt Lake City and is available on http://lds.org/ in text, audio, and video formats for immediate access.
Come and see how Mormons live their faith all over the world by visiting http://mormon.org/. Watch video profiles of just a sample of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or find a written profile of a Mormon in your hometown.
Come and see how the church strengthens its youth with clear standards of morality and decency at https://lds.org/youth.
Come and see how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blesses its members through principles of provident living, such as self-reliance, home storage, employment services, and education at http://www.providentliving.org/.
Come and see, use your intellectual reasoning, make a thorough investigation, and then make a judgment based on personal experience, not secondhand hearsay.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often nicknamed the Mormon Church) is a Christian faith, and by that I mean members worship in and believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior. I consider myself a disciple of Christ, meaning that I am trying to follow the example of the Savior and live a life consistent with His teachings, as found in the Bible. I consider the Bible to be the word of God and appreciate the doctrines and teachings of Christ that are recorded there. I belong to a Christ-centered church, not a cult; I worship Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, not Joseph Smith.
In the book of John, in the latter half of chapter 1, Jesus invites the curious Simon and Andrew to "come and see" to learn more of Him and His doctrine. Later Philip invites a skeptical Nathanael to also "come and see" Jesus.
"Come and see" is the open invitation from the book of John that needs to be applied to intelligent acquisition of truth. It is the invitation that needs to be applied in understanding the religious doctrines of any faith. Mormonism, along with all other religions, deserves a thorough, unbiased investigation.
Come and see what the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by attending Sunday services. Every chapel for worship the world over invites "visitors welcome". Use the church's interactive tool at http://lds.org/maps/ to locate the chapel closest to you.
Come and see what the church leadership teaches in its semi-annual two-day general conference. The conference is broadcast from church headquarters in Salt Lake City and is available on http://lds.org/ in text, audio, and video formats for immediate access.
Come and see how Mormons live their faith all over the world by visiting http://mormon.org/. Watch video profiles of just a sample of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or find a written profile of a Mormon in your hometown.
Come and see how the church strengthens its youth with clear standards of morality and decency at https://lds.org/youth.
Come and see how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blesses its members through principles of provident living, such as self-reliance, home storage, employment services, and education at http://www.providentliving.org/.
Come and see, use your intellectual reasoning, make a thorough investigation, and then make a judgment based on personal experience, not secondhand hearsay.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
By Accident
I think I have been a little camera-happy in my desire to capture all of Ezra's cuteness. Newborns being what they are--not terribly photogenic and quite wiggly--I take 50 pictures to get one worth keeping. In the process, I end up with a series of pictures that could be turned into an amateur animation of flailing baby arms and random facial expressions. It is mostly by accident (and much persistence) that I finally get a decent shot. In no particular order, I present a photo montage of Ezra and his emerging personality.
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