Our Sweet Aila

You wouldn't believe it by just looking at her, but Aila honestly doesn't like eating solid foods. I've tried feeding her rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, and bananas, but she dislikes them all. She is a fast learner and quickly discovered that by holding her lips together really tight, I can't get any food into her mouth. What a cute little stinker!

Last week, Aila was really sick. When I took her into the doctor she had a temperature ranging from 100-103, was coughing a lot, and was taking 50 breaths per minute. The doctor wasn't quite sure what was wrong with her so he gave her a breathing treatment and tested her for the flu and RSV-- both of which came back negative. Then, he sent us to get a chest X-ray to see if she has pneumonia-- also negative. His next thought was asthma so he wrote her a prescription.

She is feeling better and now just has a lingering cough. She was waking us up 8 times at night but I am SOOOO glad to report that she only woke up ONCE last night (knock on wood). It is a good thing she started sleeping because I was about ready to give Eric a vasectomy myself.

At six months Aila:
* weighs 16 pounds 11 ounces & is 25 inches tall

* rolls from belly to back
* reaches for objects

* sits on her own... until she reaches for something

* loves playing with cups
* smiles at anyone who gives her attention
* laughs whenever Kinsley does something silly
* LOVES her mommy and cries whenever I leave the room
* hates tummy time and doesn't stay there long
* hates solid food
* she is beautiful and we love her dearly!

Out of the Mouth of Kinsley

Eric asked Kinsley to give the dinner prayer.

Kinsley: Dear Heavenly Father...
(pause)

Eric prompted: Thank thee for...

Kinsley: Thank thee for the food.

Eric prompted: Please bless...

Kinsley: Please bless Kinsley.
(looks at Aila) Please bless Aila.
(looks at Eric) Please bless daddy.
(looks at me) Don't bless mommy!

Sigh* Can you tell it was just one of those days?

CELEBRATE

Eric finished his first rounds of National Boards (and is busy studying in case he has to re-take it in August)!!! To celebrate we headed to the zoo. Kinsley really wanted to ride on the carousel. When we got on I asked her what animal she wanted to ride which she responded "The zebra to match my pants."
She had a blast.... that is.... until it was time to get off. Then she had a 2 year old tantrum and yelled "NOOO!!!! I don't want to get off!" and I had to carry her off kicking and screaming.

Hmmm, family vacation at Disneyland should be.... fun.....

Thick As Thieves

Before we left Idaho, Kinsley got to spend the entire day with her cousin, Grace. Kinsley was on cloud nine. She loves playing with her "friends" and is always sad when they leave. It is funny how one 2 year old doesn't seem to cause too much mischief, but when there are TWO 2 year olds, the mischief they can get into is endless. I don't know what I would do if I ever had twins. They got along like two peas in a pod... until one touched a toy the other was playing with two hours earlier, or tried to read a book that the other one read days ago, or sat in Grandma's lap--"My Grandma!" "No, that is MY Grandma!!!" "NO MINE!" One time, the house was quiet and we couldn't find them. Eventually, I found them hiding in a closet downstairs... with my lip gloss, make-up bag, and powder ALL over.... They get along great when there is some sort of mischief involved.

Painting Pictures
My dad had to share in the action.
Eating lunch on "horsey saddles."
My mom was showering my sister and left her wheelchair in the hallway. Grace and Kinsley tried to take off in it... luckily I have a smart mom who disabled it before they had the chance to make their getaway.

Matthew 13

by Hamo Thornycroft
Kew Gardens, London

The Parable of the Sower

Over the past decade, I've heard this parable taught in General Confernece by Elders Wirthlin, Anderson, and Scott (to name a few). Today, in Sunday School, we studied it again. I recall several seminary, institute, priesthood, Sunday school, and even primary lessons where I learned about this parable. But today, my perspective changed.

In each of the aforementioned encounters with the parable of the sower, the teacher emphasized the ground.
Wayside = people who hear the word of God but do not understand it
Stony places = people who hear/receive the word of God but do not allow it to take root in them
Thorny places = people who hear the word of God but are distracted by the cares of the world
Good ground = people who hear the word of God, understand it, and do works of righteousness

My new perspective came when I was pondering a question from the study guide: "Why do you think the parable of the sower focuses more on the ground than on the sower or the seed?"

Before contemplating the importance of the "ground," I asked myself the significance of the sower and his seed. A deluge of questions came to mind:
"How much did he pay for the seed? If his goal is to bring forth fruit, why did he waste so many seeds in the bad ground? Did he not know any better (first time sower)? Does he have an infinite supply of seed? If he doesn't mind wasting the seed, does it even have any value?"
(and so on)

When I likened the seed to the word of God and the sower to anyone spreading His word (teachers, missionaries, prophets), I decided the seed does indeed have great value and the fact that it would be freely tossed in ALL places indicates that wherever and whoever we may be, we too are of great value.

For a few more minutes I was lost in thought about how many people I have withheld my seed from because I prejudged the "ground" as too "stoney," too "thorny," or a "wayside." If I truly understand the value of both the "seed" (word of God) and the ground (a child of God), I would be planting my seeds freely with EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. My conclusion was that this sower is not ignorant--he has an understanding of the value of the word of God and of His children.

Fortunately, my daydreaming stopped and I found my place in the lesson right before I was called upon to read the next section!

MORAL OF THE STORY
1-sow your seeds everywhere
2-if you're going to daydream in class, sit next to someone who pays attention so they can help you find your place when the teacher calls on you!

~Eric

In Idaho...

The weather is constantly changing. Kinsley and my dad only had to wait a few days before it snowed again. This snowman was much bigger but he didn't stay "tall, tall, tall" very long. After lunch it started to rain so when she and I looked out the window and he had fallen over. I think they are giving up on snowman building.

In case you were wondering, (because I haven't posted any pictures of her) Aila is here too being as cute as ever.

For FHE (family home evening) my brother's came over with their families and we had dinner and a lesson. The girls are really cute together. They all wanted to sit by each other for dinner so they ALL sat on the same side of the table.

Building a Snowman w/ "Dampa"

When you find round trip airfare for $150 you take them and leave Eric at home... hopefully, he is concentrating on studying for national boards and not feeling bad that he is neglecting his family.

Flying with two kids all by myself wasn't as traumatic as I thought it would be. The four-hour layover in Dallas was challenging and taking Kinsley potty in the airplane (while holding Aila) was a tad difficult. But, all in all, I am pretty proud of myself... and my girls. We were lucky to discover a "train" in Dallas (tram that took you to different terminals) and Kinsley enjoyed riding on it. I am sure that during or next layover in Dallas we will be spending some time riding it back and forth (which I hope isn't against the rules).

Kinsley was really looking forward to playing in the snow and sledding with her cousins. When we landed, she looked out the window and screamed "SNOW"! The airline attendant looked out the window, laughed, and said, "There isn't any snow. She is looking at the concrete."

When we got to Idaho she noticed a snow drift that hadn't melted yet and soon talked her "Dampa" into taking her outside and (somehow) building a snowman. The snow was hard and didn't pack so they had to be creative.

Kinsley named him "Frosty." She keeps looking out the window to see if he has melted "small, small, small."

Hi, I'm Eric...

Click HERE to read more.

Spring Break 2011

Spring Break.... our last spring break for the rest of our lives... kind of depressing when you think about it.

For the past two years we have spent our Spring Break in Branson, Missouri with my parents. However, they came out when Aila was born and were planning on going to Brazil later this month (I was flying home to help take care of my sister) so our break was pretty low key. Eric has been studying this week for his first round of National Boards (I seem to be more stressed out about it than he is) but we decided to make him take a few short breaks.

Our first stop was the Zoo. Kinsley loves the zoo and I love having a zoo pass--mostly because I would feel bad paying $13 for a day pass, only to leave an hour after we arrive. Kinsley would love to go to the zoo while Eric is at school but we don't have a double stroller and I don't think Kinsley would like to walk the entire time. (we've been looking into double strollers and both like the side-by-side ones, but we're both indecisive-- don't know if we want to spend the extra money and invest in a double jogger... any advice out there?)

Kinsley and Eric got up close and personal with the donkey.

We spent another afternoon at the National Civil Rights Museum (we... I mean I, decided we should check it out before we leave Memphis). The museum is located at the Lorraine Motel- the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assasinated. It takes you through key incidents that happened during the civil rights movement. I thought the museum was interesting... Eric and Kinsley have a different opinion. I think they both would have rather gone back to the zoo.

Who needs a double stroller when both kids can fit into this one. Unless Kinsley decides to push Aila out or stop holding her.....