A Bit of Honesty

In a nutshell, I am just plain tired.  The girls are unbelievably good, but I am still overwhelmed. Before I didn't understand how educated adults became addicted to methanphetamines, especially moms.   But now I see the temptation: being skinny, feeling "good", having surplus energy to get everything done, not having to sleep, etc.  The reasons I don't turn to drugs are a) we're dirt poor and can't afford it because our insurance costs so freaking much, and b) I visit teach a lady who has struggled with substance abuse for a long, long time in her life, and I do not want to go through those types of lifetime hardships. 

Balancing fatherhood.  

Yeah, Ammon has got the hang of it and makes it look like cake.  

Great Grandma Parker, India, & Maya.  

Grandma babysat the girls for me while I got my teeth cleaned.  She also did a bunch of my chores because she's not used to "just sitting around."  (My mom is the exact same way).  When I got home, Grandma told me how good the girls were and how easy it was to watch them.  I feel like a loser because she got more done in three hours than I do in a whole day and called it easy.  

Not my kids, so I can laugh.  Look how triumphant big sister looks.  Their mom was probably blogging instead of supervising coloring time.  I better go check on India . . .

1 month

Maya the binky baby.  However, she prefers her thumb when she can find it.

Crazy hair and a cute pot belly.

India & Maya

Bath Time & Child Labor

Enough said.

Not a future star of the WNBA

Among all of the frustrating moments, it is nice to have a few proud ones.  

First, a frustration.  Yesterday, we were watching one of our neighbor kids (Tristen).  He and India were playing in the other room and having way too much fun -- at least it was audibly apparent that India was having fun.  Usually, that is not an encouraging sign.  So, I went to investigate.  When I enterred the room, India had juice all over the front of her dress.  I promptly put her in time out.  When the requisite 3 minutes were expired, I had her come talk to me.  I asked her "India why were you in time out?" She replied "I don't spit at Tristen."  I had no idea the reason she was all wet was because she was spitting at her friend.  She had to go back to time out for the second time.

Last night for family home evening we had a lesson about how to treat friends.  We came to an understanding that if we want friends to contiue to be our friends that we shouldn't spit, hit, or excessively kiss them -- we've been having that problem too.

Now, a proud moment.  On Saturday afternoon I was watching basketball on tv.  India snuggled with me on the couch.  I asked her "India, what are we watching?"  She said "boys playing basketball." That was good enough for me.  A few minutes later India said "girls don't play basketball.  They're dumb. Girls play soccer.  They're good."  I almost cried I was so happy.

Boccioni, Umberto Dynamism of a Soccer Player 1913 Oil on canvas 193.2 x 201 cm Museum of Modern Art, New York

A Benediction

I listened to the presidential inauguration earlier this week.  The most impressive part of the whole swearing in ceremony was the benediction offered by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.  Once again I am disappointed to hear the commentary surrounding his remarks.  The only thing that I have heard is negativity about the final few lines of his prayer.  I'm sad because people are so used to finding the spin -- looking to condemn.  Instead, I think we should take what he said in the spirit in which it was given. I feel he was sincere in the petitions he made.  Among the notable pleas he made, he said

"And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other."

I think that is something altogether missing from Washington -- asking for forgiveness and recognizing wrongdoing.  I have no problem with that.  We would all do well to recognize where we have been greedy and work to honestly correct those such instances. So many of our economic problems are solely rooted in greed.  

The section of the prayer where most people object is where he used rhyme and color to request a change. Remember, change has been a major part of Obama's platform.  He says 

"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."

Once again, I have no objection.  I hope that I, a white man, would "embrace what is right."  I have read and heard many people cry foul saying "he is accusing white people of not doing what is right already." To that, I say he is right.  I'm willing to admit that I don't always embrace what is right.  I don't always treat people of other races as equal.  I appreciate someone praying for me.  I hope I can do better.  I've had to pray myself that I will act in the spirit of what is right and set aside my initial impulses.  I think we all should do that.  

I'm sad that people would rather argue over semantics than make much needed change.  In the end I hope we may do just what the Reverand asked and "turn to each other and not on each other." It is good to prayer for our leaders.  It is good to pray for each other. I have no problem with any of this. I think if people read the entire prayer again in the spirit in which it was given, they might not be so offended.  If they are offended perhaps they are the ones who need change and prayer the most. 

Maya Lee

I would have posted sooner, but Maya was pretty bloated and goofy looking the first week of her life. I am still bloated and goofy looking, so enjoy the pictures of my beautiful girls instead.

Maya Lee - December 26th, 2008 - 8 lbs 2oz - 20 1/2 inches long

Maya takes incredibly long naps during the day, so she can be perky and alert right before Mommy is ready to go to bed. Once she goes to sleep (around midnight or 1am), she wakes up 2 or 3 more times to eat.

You wouldn't guess from these pictures, but India was a devil woman for three days after we brought Maya home. She didn't want anything to do with her. However, she seems to have adjusted a bit and tries to be very helpful with her sister.

India finds it amusing that Ammon wears blue panties (his blue soccer shorts) and mommy now wears diapers.



It feels so good to not be pregnant anymore. We figured out another way to get admitted to the hospital early if your water doesn't break: car accidents. Although only our Toyota and wallet suffered any damage, I would rather wait it out next time.