Just Pretend

Ezra spends a good deal of time in the Imagi-Nation lately.  His creativity and conversations with Bear and others are so fun to watch and hear.

Ezra likes to "go to work" with bag slung over a shoulder and his "cell phone" (Daddy's shaver cord attachment).  His "work" involves skyping at the computer and talking on the phone.  Bear is his silent and studious co-worker.

Ezra is "working."  The computer is off, but his imagination is not.

Mimicking animals is another favorite activity.

"Ezra tiger.  Roar!"
"Ezra whale.  Splash!"
"Ezra bunny.  Hop!"
"Ezra horse.  Neigh-neigh!"
"Ezra baboon."  He wasn't quite sure how to act for that last one, but seemed very pleased with himself for coming up with it.  Dallin and I thought so too!

 For the past three days, he has been making "mango soup".  We haven't eaten mangos in this house for several months, so the recipe was completely his own.  Give him a mixing bowl and a spoon, and he is in earnest.  His soup kitchen is open to all.  He is constantly perfecting the concoction; he cups his hands and measures out various imaginary additions that are added to the bowl and stirred in (pepper, milk, ham and cheese, among others).  I am one of Ezra's taste testers, and I give my compliments to the chef--he makes a very tasty mango soup.

Bear is Ezra's "yes" man.  Ezra speaks for himself and Bear.  The funny part is Ezra changes the tone in his voice slightly when he answers for Bear in the affirmative, as if Bear really were talking with him.  Conversations go like this:

"Bear eat mango soup?"
"Yes."
"Bear poop, need change?"
"Yes." 
"Bear listen story with us?"
"Yes."
"Bear like mac-cheese.  Have some?"
"Yes."
"Bear love Ezra?"
"Yes."

This morning at bath-time, I stepped out of the room to change Maren.  A minute later I heard Ezra choke and sputter on some water.  I peeked into the bathroom.

"Are you alright?" I asked.
"Yah...No issues mommy.  No issues," he said with a grin.
I bust out laughing.  Where did he pick that up? 

Ezra, Bear, and the "little friends" (two small bears, a monkey, a frog, a rabbit, and a rubber duck) hang out in Ezra's crib during nap time.  Often, Ezra wakes up and will play with all these friends in his crib, chattering on contentedly for more than 30 minutes post-nap.  The other day he was so into his play that I walked into his room and stood next to his crib before he noticed me.  He screamed in surprise and then giggled excitedly.

Ezra having a picnic with Bear and the little friends.

Courage

Last year I made a Gospel ABC book for Ezra.  On the "C is for Courage" page, I chose to use this painting of Abinadi before wicked King Noah.  Ezra likes to look at the "courage" page and talk about this special man.  As I have simplified the message of Abinadi to the level of a toddler, its message has touched me more deeply.

We don't know much about Abinadi as recorded in The Book of Mormon.  His life and mission comprise just a few short chapters.  He receives a special assignment to cry repentance to a sinful people.  He reminds them of the commandments of God, specifically the Ten Commandments that Moses received on Mount Sinai.  He bears witness of Jesus Christ in powerful, vibrant words of pure testimony.  His message is almost wholeheartedly rejected.    He is condemned to death by fire for his convictions.

I am impressed by Abinadi's willingness, even when his life is at stake, to fulfill his duty, and hold his ground.  King Noah offers to release Abinadi if he will recall all the words he taught.  Abinadi courageously responds:

 "I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.

Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day" (Mosiah 17:9-10).

Abinadi must have thought his mission was a failure.  He probably did not realize that the one man who believed his words, Alma, a priest in King Noah's court, would write down all of Abinadi's words.  This same Alma would later repent of his sins, and begin to teach Abinadi's words to anyone who would listen.  Miraculously, Abinadi's single convert helped to bring about 450 people to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And, he also changed the rest of the history of The Book of Mormon. 

Abinadi's example encourages me to remember these words from the Doctrine & Covenants, "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not backward.  Courage...and on, on to the victory!"  I hope that I can, and that I will. 

One Month Old: Observations

• Maren is a great eater.  She is probably approaching ten pounds already.  Hence, the chubby cheek smirk pictured here.  She likes to do feeding frenzies, though, feeding off and on in snack-size portions for three to four hour stints that sort of drives me crazy.  
• Her hair is naturally poofy and wavy.  A lady at church asked me if I put product in it--hah!  This low-maintenance momma doesn't even own a bottle of hairspray.  Maren's hair started out black, with some lighter highlights, and has already lightened significantly.  I think she will be a blonde like big brother.  
•   The pediatrician noted that she is likely to be a chatty Cathy based on her variety and quantity of noises: cooing, grunting, whistling, sighing, squeaking, singing, etc.  Big brother is highly verbal, so she is exposed to a lot.  
• She loves faces, as I am sure most babies do.  She will quiet almost instantly if she sees a face.  Maren has also started to track my movement with her eyes, following me as I move or turn.  I imagine that means her vision is improving.  
• She has already started to smile!  Her smiles are brief and usually so quick I don't have time to grab a camera.  Ezra was smiling consistently by 1.5 months, so I am sure I will get a picture soon.  She is also right on the verge of having baby talk conversations.  She gets this look on her face like she has something to say, and wants to say it, if she could only get her mouth to cooperate.
• We transitioned from sink-side washcloth baths to baby tub baths to her great relief.  The washcloth baths were some strange sort of baby torture that made her scream from beginning to end.  She loves the tub and seems very relaxed during her little spa treatment.
• Lately she wants to feed every 2 hours all through the night.  She usually wakes up from her morning nap around 2 pm, right when Ezra is going down for a nap.  (So I usually don't get a nap).  My sleep patterns are all wacky, but somehow my body is adjusting.
• She's a beauty.  We are so grateful for Maren in our family. 

Late Night Blessings

Ezra is sick (again).  The nasty viral infection that started before Maren was born finally dwindled down to almost nothing for about four days, and has resurfaced with a vengeance.  He coughed most of the night last night.  Sometime around midnight I went in with some water.  Ezra was sitting cross-legged in the crib rubbing Bear's back methodically. 

In between coughing spells he requested "songs."  I started with "I Am a Child of God", which he asked me to sing six times over.  Sometime in the middle of "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" Ezra quietly said, "Jesus loves Ezra."  Of course he does!  How easy it is to forget such a beautiful, simple truth.  Oh the faith of little children! 

Daddy came in and gave Ezra a blessing.  I told Ezra to hold still so Daddy could put hands on head, like Jesus.  "Hands on head," he said smiling, touching his head.  He folded his arms and sat perfectly still through the entire thing.  We talked and snuggled some more, and finally all went back to bed an hour later.

Angels attended to Maren while we were occupied with Ezra.  Normally, she should have been awake and needing a feeding at the same time.  Last night, however, she slept three hours longer than usual, and when she did wake up, she fed efficiently and fell back to sleep almost immediately.  Tender mercies.  I am counting my blessings; any bit of extra sleep is indeed a tender mercy.           

My Ezra Boy

When I was in the hospital after delivering Maren, I was surprised at how much I longed to see Ezra.  We had only been apart for one day, but I could hardly wait until he came for a visit with Grandma.  Grumpy toddler moments, notwithstanding, he is my darling boy, and I love being his mommy.  Two years with him has created an incredible bond, something that I have yet to feel with Maren.  He and I have had such wonderful times together!   

I struggle to find that Ezra-Maren attention balance, but books are still a mommy-Ezra favorite, so for right now, at every possible opportunity, we read together.  Reading books is even possible while nursing Maren, which is usually when he feels most in need of snuggling.

Ezra has been much more emotional lately.  He requests, "Hold you"  or "Carry you" constantly.  He also has had more social fears and separation anxiety.  Nursery, which used to be something he anticipated all week, is now a sobbing, death-grip-on-mommy, traumatic weekly event.

Daddy has been an angel during this time.  Ezra has bonded in significant ways with him, which is wonderful to see.  He and daddy have "piano lessons", bike rides, and couch snuggle time watching the news.  On weekends Dallin is a gem to let me sleep a bit more while he and Ezra get breakfast together.

Ezra continues to grow and develop.  He has an occasional interest in trying to go "tinkle".  He makes efforts to "do it by self" (brushing his own teeth, climbing in and out of his high chair, taking shoes off, washing hands, etc.)  He likes to pick out his own clothes, which usually means he wants to wear his burgundy race car shirt everyday, and no pants. 

Although it is very slow in coming, he is starting to make some small connections between his emotions and his behavior.  After I get hit for some provocation of one kind or another (ie, time to get out of the van), he will often say, almost immediately, "Bad choice.  No hit."  On other occasions, Ezra will hit me, and then say, "Mommy sad.  Sorry Mommy."  What a beautiful thing to see progress!

A few days ago my cheap fulfilled-their-useable-life sunglasses got broken by my exuberant toddler.  Ezra and Bear brought the broken sunglasses to me sheepishly.  "Glasses fragile," Ezra said.  "Bear kiss it," which Bear proceeded to do.  (No change in status of sunglasses).  "Bear hug it,"  which Bear also proceeded to do.  "All better," Ezra assured me, handing me the broken pieces.