Conversation: Baby grabbing sensitive parts

Mike stands over baby as he changes his diaper. Baby starts to grab and tug at his own man parts.

Mike: Hey, what are you doing? Stop that! You don't want want to hurt those. Trust Dad. Trust Dad! (pointing to himself).

Conversation (Warning: Poop Story)

Me: So he had a huge poop explosion, huh?
Mike: Yes, the worst I've ever seen. It wasn't that there was all that much more poop than usual. It was just the distance it traveled from his bum. Up to his shoulders and down to both feet.
Me: (chortling)

Saint and Sinner

I stole this from Jana. Thanks, Jana!

Saint:
In my comments, I try to be kind and patient with commenters at expblog that make me want to bash my head in, with the hope that ultimately I can build bridges. I dance and sing to baby Evan and play patty cake with him even though I don't want to. I do some laundry, add ingredients to my lentil soup, and buy ice cube trays so I can start making my own baby food, with the hope that I'll throw less food away if I can puree it and give it to baby. I pet and rub and worry about Sophia who I think is getting more and more depressed now that Sibyl is dead. I tell Mike what a good guy he is.

Sinner:
I mentally call several commenters over at expblog asses and fantasize about snide putdowns. I ignore baby for minutes on end, even though he is crying and wants me to pick him up. I take little joy in my day off since it's filled with mundanity. I try to avoid helping out with baby in the evening since I had him all day. I stress over all the schoolwork and housework I have to do. I glory in the horrendous violence in my favorite TV show 24. I don't pick up and clean as much as I should. I forget to get Mike's favorite pillow out of the car, which means he'll have to spend another night sleeping on a pillow he hates.

Valentine's Day Conversation

Mike: I was watching Ocean's 11, and Julia Roberts really is strange looking. I think you're prettier.
Me. I am not prettier than Julia Roberts! I'm a slightly dumpy mom blob now. But that comment deserves a back rub anyway.
a couple minutes later...
Me: I'm SO glad I didn't marry someone really good looking.
Mike: Why?
Me: I don't have to worry about looking good all the time. And I don't have to worry about women constantly throwing themselves at you.
Mike: That totally makes sense.

Big Plans

I've been struck, maybe I'll even use the word inspired, by an idea recently.

I've become enamored of Speaking of Faith, NPR's fabulous show on religion and ethics, in which an interviewer asks prominent religious people about their faith journeys. I've also listened to a few Mormon Stories podcasts which follows the same basic format.

And I was struck a few days ago that I should do this - interview all the fascinating and thoughtful Mormons around me, particularly women, about their faith journeys. What a priceless thing that would be. I know that soon some of the women I love most will be moving away, and I want to have this record of them and all their divergent ideas. I'd love to continue doing this for a long time so that in the end, I would have hundreds of these interviews.

I need to talk to some techies about how to go about this....

Mike's the best man ever

This last weekend we drove up north to chaperone my high school students for the yearly Latin convention.

I'm obligated to go as their teacher, and Mike was nice enough to agree to drive up with me to help chaperone. This was great because otherwise I would have had to share a hotel room with a parent which is always a bit awkward.

The whole weekend Mike did the majority of looking after baby as I carried out whatever assignments I was told to do. And he was so concerned about one of my students who was having a miserable time because no one was hanging out with him or including him. We would see this kid crumpled up in a corner alone, sometimes crying, and Mike was so disturbed by this. He kept bringing it up and tried to figure out ways we could help this kid. I was really impressed by what a nice guy Mike is to care about and worry about this kid so much.

Things Fall Apart

Well, they've been falling apart for a few years now. I'm a Mormon and I intend to stay one for the rest of my life, but my belief in certain religious and or Mormon ideas has crumbled. I'm beginning to give myself permission to choose what to believe and what to act on. And also to accept that the way I find God may very well be different than the way that most other LDS do. And I'm starting to realize that this could be an exciting process.

For example, it's been a while since I've prayed regularly. Those of you that know me well may know why I struggle with it. But I'm getting to the point where I feel brave enough to go back to that practice and do it my own way. This is exciting because I see the possibility of prayer becoming a spiritual practice that is authentically meaningful to me. It can be mine in a way it never has been before.

Likewise, I've gotten into the habit of doing what I want to do on Sunday. Since Mike is at these interminable meetings, I have most of my Sunday free. And spending them cooped up with baby in the house is a nightmare. So instead I go to university center and grab myself a couple of slices of my favorite pizza. I do this because it helps me get through my Sunday right now, but I leave open the possibility that in the future I may keep the sabbath in the more traditional way. And if I do decide to do that, it will be because I've decided it's a good thing, because I've found something meaningful in the practice - not just because that's what I'm told to do.

I feel like this about a lot of things religious right now. Many have broken down and fallen apart, but I'm optimistic that when and if I do decide to embrace them, it will be on my own terms and because I have come to the realization on my own that I want this, that I believe this, and that this works for me.

Mike is Funny: Part II

Today we were lying on the bed playing with Evan. Mike was holding him upright so he was sitting on Mike's stomach. Suddently Evan threw himself headfirst backwards and came dangerously close smashing his head into Mike's crotch. Mike, all in fun, then shouted "Crotch!" in Evan's face. I guess it was too scary and loud, since the formerly giggling baby started sobbing. Mike felt bad, but it was funny.

Update on Homeless Counting

Well, a couple of weeks ago I counted homeless people in a few square blocks of Costa Mesa, in order to help get some federal funding for homeless services. It was a bit anti-climactic, since we walked and drove around for a couple of hours. We counted two people as homeless, and, well, one or two of them might not have actually been homeless. I think the second guy was probably just riding home from the grocery store on his bike. But we decided to be generous and count him.