The Seven of Us

It's late, and I should be sleeping, but sleep is elusive tonight. (Why does this usually happen on a Saturday night?) Here are some thoughts about What I Should Be Doing: * I should be reading to my boys; instead, I act as referee and demonstrate that my lap does have 2 sides. Hey, is anybody listening anymore? *I should be sorting through the old, outgrown clothes; instead, I remember that I just did that and I wish away the new pile. *I should be balancing the checkbook; instead, I have to clean my purse in order to find my checkbook. *I should be more empathetic and understanding of my kids; instead, I sometimes feel worn down by the repetetive nature of their requests. * I should be a better wife. Instead, I realize I am often a mediocre, boring person and I wonder why my husband married me. Did someone pay him? *I should be more prompt about doing things, for example, sending cards. Instead, I am not. * I should use my planner for everything, all of the time...

Dietician! Just not today. Today I have enough to do. But I think about nutrition constantly. I read food labels. I calculate the nutrients in my homemade desserts and experiment with strange stuff (flax in cookies, cornmeal in pancakes, etc). And one day I will go back to school and try to master organic chemistry so that I can be a dietician. But since today is today and not tomorrow, I'll simply share this: Exercise is king, Nutrition is queen, Together they make a kingdom. -unknown

Anyone who was sitting near Corbin yesterday during sacrament meeting probably heard him cry out for his "da-ddeeee". This really wasn't rare; he does it in the morning when Jared leaves for work, at dinnertime, when he wants to sit on his lap; and at bedtime when he chooses which parent he wants. What is interesting is how Corbin came to love his dad. Last October Corbin was 23 months old and still nursing. He nursed mostly at night; he'd never been a great sleeper, and I'd brought him to bed from a young age. When he was little I slept more this way, but as he got older he became "clingier" and was clearly not hungry, but wanted comfort. Enter Jared. He willingly took Corbin upstairs and held him, sang to him, and endured his screaming and wailing every single night for at least a month--sometimes more than once during the same night. His reward(s)? A wife who's much more rested and happy, and a little boy who adores him. Top: Corbin a...