May News

Okay, well it's now almost the middle of June. I can't say that I can even remember most of May already. Pretty sad, I'd say. Perhaps the most significant event was the passing of Kevin's maternal grandmother, Grandma Lee. Her health had been deteriorating for some time, but it seemed to happen very suddenly toward the end. Death is often a bitter-sweet milestone, especially when it's someone elderly who has lived a long and full life. Yes, we will miss Grandma dearly. I'm sure her daughters and sons will miss her especially. But it was so sweet to have so many of the family gather together and celebrate the person Grandma was. Also, the Gospel of Jesus Christ makes death a bit easier to endure I suppose, as we have a knowledge of life beyond the grave. We really did enjoy being together as a family. There was a memorial service in Hockinson on Friday, May 22nd followed by a graveside service in Pasco, WA and funeral in Basin City, WA on Saturday the 23rd. This was my first time visiting Basin City. Not sure why it's called a city. It's even smaller than the town I grew up in. Very cute though.

Nora accomplished sitting independently in the beginning of May. She seemed so much more content once she was able to sit and grab things and watch all that was going on. However, by the end of the month, sitting would no longer do. Now she often stiffens if I try to sit her down because she would much rather stand. So I have to either have her stand on my lap or find something for her to hold on to and she'll just stand and stand. She is even beginning to pull herself up to stand. However, she refuses to spend time on her tummy. She often puts herself in a crawling position from sitting and then screams in anger, "Who did this to me?!" She loves to watch Zane, and he can make her giggle more than anyone except Mom. They are now sleeping in the same room. After a few very early mornings, I think they've finally compromised on a wake-up time between 6:30 and 7:00. (Still too early for me, but I guess I'll live with it).

Zane loves any sort of transportation. Most of the books he gets from the library are about trucks, tractors, or trains. We will read them over and over again. He likes to walk down the street to Stark Street Lawn and Garden just to look at the "maw-mowahhs." He loves to visit Grandpa and Grandma Pickup and asks almost every day for "papa." He is going through his first spell of separation anxiety. He always seems so afraid that I'm going to leave him. He now refuses to go to nursery or let me leave his at anyone's house. The only people he will stay with other than Mom and Dad are Grandpa & Grandma and Adrienne. If anyone has any suggestions, especially with nursery, please send them my way! He is beginning to talk in sentences and it is exciting to be able to understand so much of what he says.

Kevin keeps busy with work and Elder's quorum responsibilities. I try to keep busy with mommying--play group, park outings, Children's Museum, cooking, cleaning, diapering, bathing, wiping runny noses (constantly!). Anything new and exciting rarely happens with Kevin and I. You know, it's all about the kids.