Caleb turns 2!!

I'm super bummed because I wrote this lovely blog post already all about Caleb...and then stupid blogger didn't save it!! What the heck?? Hopefully I won't forget anything important as I try to write this again.


So, Caleb, you turned 2!!!! We can hardly believe you've been lighting up our lives for two whole years. You are such a perfect addition to our family. You are always happy and sweet and energetic, and whenever you say "Dank you Mommy!" my heart just melts into a hopeless puddle on the floor.

Favorite foods: Cheese, case-da-dias (quesadillas), candy, most fruit, pizza, pancakes, cinnamon toast, cereal (especially plain rice crispies and raisin bran...?????), donuts, and Gogurt

Least favorite foods: most vegetables

Favorite letter: W!!!!!! X and Z are also popular, but they don't hold a candle to the letter w. You point out every w you see, and always ask us to "draw a w!" when you are coloring.

Favorite activities: playing with your train set, to "run so fast!!", go outside, swim, to count, throw balls, being chased and tickled around the house, play and sing at the piano, read and tell stories, dance, pointing out letters, numbers, airplanes, and hello-copters, taking a bath, plugging in things when Mommy isn't looking (!!!), watching the garbage truck, coloring, doing "jumping jacks," watching the introduction songs on kids' shows, playing with bubbles, putting your socks on your hands and saying "sock hands!", and just being plain adorable.

Least favorite activity: sleeping

Favorite songs: I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, Baby Mine, Let it Snow, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, Oh Suzanna, Clementine, most nursery rhymes, and I am a Child of God

Favorite books: Dr. Seuss's ABC book; Trucks Go; The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear; The Foot Book

Funniest things you've said since you've learned to talk:

Me: "I love you Caleb!"

Caleb: "I love you too three four five"

Upon seeing his mother undress to go shower: "Mommy big naked!"

"I love you big!" (heart melt)

Alligator (elevator)

Uncle bar (granola bar)

Casset-ball (basketball)

Nummy-lade (lemonade)

Hop-hopper (grasshopper)

Goggies (doggies)

For your birthday we had a combined birthday with Daddy. It was Daddy's golden birthday, so to please both crowds we did a gold-looting' pirate themed party. Sadly, you got stinking croup on your birthday so we had to postpone the party, but you still got to play with your cousins after all, for which we were very happy!

Treasure chest cake (the lid was a rice crispy treat)

Pin the patch on the pirate

It's hard to take a good picture of so many littles!

We had a coloring station, played "pass the cannonball" (hot potato) and  "pin the patch on the pirate." Pizza, cake, and ice cream was the food fare and everyone seemed to have a great time!

Happy birthday Caleb Owen! We love you dearly!!!!

On the Syrian refugees: A plea for compassion

I debated writing this. I don't like to ruffle feathers. I prayed about it. And the thought came to me that so few people are advocating for this group, and my heart ached. Deeply. And maybe only people who agree with me will actually read this. But I feel really helpless right now to help these people, and this feels like the only way that I can.

"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Naked and clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I saw unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:35-40)

This is my plea to you my fellow Christians--will you follow Christ all the way? Even if it doesn't agree with your politics? Even if it makes you uncomfortable? Are you pro-life for the whole life? Or only as long as it isn't inconveniencing you? Because if you are shouting, "Keep them in their own country!!!" then I really have a hard time believing that you are truly pro-life.

I get it. We can't do thorough background checks on all the refugees. It doesn't seem responsible to bring in all these people we don't know. I mean, what if someone dangerous got in???? Like, someone from ISIS???

The problem I have with that reasoning, is that the above reasoning comes from a place of fear.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

"...I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." (Moroni 8:16)

Perhaps it isn't reasonable to allow refugees in while we are so busy trying to fix our own problems. Perhaps it isn't practical to send them from so far away when there are closer countries. And yes, I supposed there is a small risk of a bad person sneaking in. 

Some people use this cringeworthy analogy:

Let me tell you how much I hate this analogy. I HATE IT. People that would come into your home at night while you lay in bed asleep have very different intentions than a refugee literally crying and begging for help. Someone breaking in your house has no moral intention. A refugee is literally doing the every thing they can think of for self-preservation because their own country is literally killing them. They are victims of crisis in the worst possible ways. If you heard someone being raped and screaming for help outside your window, would you go help, or would you lock the door, turn up the TV and say, "Don't let her in! She'll rape you too!" At the very least, would you call upon people who were equipped to help, like the police?

Click here to read several true accounts of actual refugees who actually were fortunate enough to make it to a new country. These do not seem to be bad people to me. On the contrary, they are people who are fleeing the very thing we fear. I will tell you, if I was in these people's shoes, I would be doing exactly what they are doing. Running to save my family. Because I would rather drown than risk my son watch all his friends get blown up in the school bus in front of his. I'd rather risk going to an unfamiliar country begging on my hands and knees than risk ever seeing my brother's severed head delivered to my door. Did you see the picture of the drowned toddler washed up on the Turkish shore, who died in an attempt to flee his war-ravaged country? Does that child look like ISIS to you?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued this letter in response to the crisis. If you are LDS, will you follow the church, even if it disagrees with your politics? Or will you say, "Oh the Church doesn't know. They don't know what they are talking about. If they really knew the risks they wouldn't say that." I will boldly tell you that if you are saying that, then you are no better than the people who disagree with the church's stance on same-sex attraction. Why? Because it all comes down to revelation. Do you believe this church is guided by revelation or not? All the way, or only when it agrees with your politics? Granted, the letter wasn't asking you to take in refugees into your home. It said to be practical. But for heavens sake don't let your "practicality" rob you of your charity. 

Maybe you think that the terrorist attacks were caused by individuals posing as refugees. Did you know one of them was actually a Frenchman, not a foreigner? Did you know that many of the other terrorists had passports? Do you know how much planning it takes to get a passport, even an illegal one? That doesn't sound like people posing as refugees desperate for their life. 

Maybe you aren't convinced. Maybe we can't financially support them. ("We should be supporting our vets instead!!!!!"*) If it really is wrong for our country to actually help these people in dire need, then instead of shouting to sign some petition begging to keep the refugees out, can we at least have a civilized and compassionate conversation on what another solution could be? You know, actually be helpful??? You know, actually follow the Savior's example??

Some of you will recognize this man. 

Did you know he was once a refugee? Not just a refugee, but a refugee from a country that was a longtime enemy of the US. Can you think of his talks about love and the grace of God and still look at him and say, "Keep the refugees out!" 

Could you look at the Savior and still say it? 

Could you? 

I am pleading with each of you to have compassion. I am pleading with you to help those who are unable to help themselves if you are in a position to do so. I am pleading with you to let go of your fear of a people you do not understand, and look at them as God's children. Remember that you will one day be held accountable for how you treated God's other children during your earth life. 

If you would like to help, here are some ways you can help:

• Donate to the humanitarian fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is done on a tithing slip, which can be procured from any LDS/Mormon Bishop. Just ask any member you know who their bishop is, or find the nearest chapel here. The Church recently made a $5 million donation to the middle-eastern refugees.
• Don't want to donate through the LDS church? Here is another campaign donating much needed items to refugees. $15 gives a refugee a complete package.
• If you have a baby carrier you are no longer using, you can donate it to a grateful refugee traveling with a small child. Here is how.
• • If you are a Utah resident: From Mikle South--Utah Governor Gary Herbert is now the only Republican governor in the nation who says he will still accept refugees from Syria. Regardless of what you think of his other positions, he could use some serious support right now. National and in-state members of his own party are criticizing him for his position, and his office's phone lines have been flooded with angry callers. Insiders say he very much pays attention to those calls and emails, and sheer numbers (either way) on an issue can change his mind. To voice your support, it takes one phone call or one email -- or both. Call 801-538-1000 from anywhere, or 800-705-2464 from inside Utah. Or fill out this form online: https://gocentral.utah.gov/Request/Contact Keep your comments short, and don't bring up other subjects. Just say you are a Utah resident who supports his position on Syrian refugees. You will be added to a daily tally kept by his staff. Because we're coming up on an election year, he will care most what his fellow party members from within Utah think. If you're a registered Republican in Utah or have or plan to vote in a Republican primary, note that in your comment or on the phone. It matters. You can call AND fill out the online form.
  • Know of any other ways? PLEASE comment below!
  
  
  If you made it to the end...thanks. I will end with this:
  
  
  "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12: 30-31)
  
  
  *I absolutely believe in also helping our veterans. But I do not believe one person in need must be helped at the expense of another. Let's help all within our power.
  
  
  If you comment, keep it civil. If your comments are unkind to me or anyone else on the thread, I will delete your comment, whether or not we share the same point of view.

Things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving

I didn't feel like posting a daily gratitude post on Facebook, so I thought I would just compile a list of 30 things here. My heart has been very full lately.

In no particular order, I am grateful...

1. That spiders don't fly.
2. For little bare bottoms attached to joyfully squealing toddlers.
3. That the doctor who thought 1-year old Caleb was so behind in his communication skills that he needed autism intervention was absolutely and comically wrong. Caleb is not even 2 and can speak in full sentences, can identify every single capital letter of the alphabet, has nearly perfect enunciation, and can finish phrases to almost every song I sing to him.
4. For helmets.
5. For clean running water that can be any temperature I want it to be
6. For a washer and dryer. Especially grateful that the dryer doesn't judge me for sometimes leaving loads of forgotten laundry within it for days at time.
7. That my child did not inherit my height.
8. For hilarious videos of cats that literally flip out at the sight of cucumbers.
9. That I am not a refugee.
10. For my marriage. I state the truth when I say that I married the very best man I know.
11. For a little boy that tells me almost daily, "I love you big!"
12. For understanding moms who don't judge my messy house.
13. For the gift of personal revelation.
14. That God knows me better than I know myself. Even more grateful that He is in charge and not me.
15. For Ghiradelli brownies.
16. That I have the best visiting teaching companion.
17. For my ward family who takes care of me, since I don't live near much of my own blood family.
18. For the temple, and that I live so close to one.
19. For my education. I may be a stay-at-home mom, but I apply my college education probably daily.
20. For nurses, doctors, firemen, policemen, soldiers, and every other career that has life-saving and protecting skills.
21. For nap time. And the fact that nap time even still exists in my house.
22. For llamas. Those things are so goofy looking.
23. For people who give me the benefit of the doubt.
24. That I was not a pioneer. Because I would have had to be left to the wolves. Most likely within city limits.
25. That I live when I do. Because CHILDBIRTH.
26. For modern medicine.
27. That I get to watch a child discover the world around him, sometimes in comical ways, sometimes distressing ways (DON'T TOUCH THAT!!!), and sometimes in reflective, thought-provoking ways.
28. For accidentally calling the wrong number and ending up with a new friend.
29. For every bathroom that has a flushing toilet, toilet paper, and soap. Do not take this for granted. I lived a year and half where that was not the norm. And you couldn't flush the TP but had to stick it in a grocery bag next to the toilet with everyone else's.

30. Most of all-- For the Savior, Who makes it possible for me to live with my family forever, allows me to change and become better, understands my weaknesses and sorrows, and makes it so I can return to live with my Heavenly Parents again.

Blessings

Maybe it's from seeing everyone else' gratitude posts on Facebook. Maybe it's because I'm super hormonal right now. Or maybe it's something else. But today my heart just feels so full and I want to write it down or else it might explode.

In case you missed it, here is our Halloween/Pregnancy announcement video. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

So, yeah, we are expecting! Baby #2 is due May 16th, and we will find out the gender in about a month. My OB is guessing a girl by how fast the heartbeat sounds, and since I've felt a little better this pregnancy than Caleb's, that sort of how I'm leaning too. But seriously, we will be surprised and thrilled no matter what. We just want a healthy baby. I'm 13 weeks pregnant, and I'm still barfing about once a day, but that just means the baby is still in there, and that's a very good thing. We   shamelessly watch lots of TV to survive the nausea. I'm thinking of making a little comic book series of what life is like being pregnant while taking care of a toddler--it's hilariously sad. Like when I'm barfing my guts out, Caleb thinks it's a great opportunity for a piggyback ride. And he's become very talented at imitating barfing noises and saying, "Mommy big sick!" Loads of fun, let me tell you. But that's all okay. If nausea is my big trial right now, then I am a blessed woman indeed.

Caleb turns 2 in just a couple weeks. I'm so excited. He is such a delightful, bright, funny, energetic little boy. He is just so perfect for our family. He is totally transitioned into his big boy bed and does a very good job of staying put. He still usually naps in his crib, as the daylight really confuses him and makes him think it's still playtime. He constantly talks and the things that come out of his mouth are just hilarious. He uses the word "big" to express "very" or "a lot." If he sees Brent or me undressing to go hop in the shower he gets excited and goes, "Mommy/Daddy big naked!!!!" He also always says, "I love you big Mommy!!" We thought he was conveying our size for awhile, but now we have learned that he is expressing how much he loves us. Total heart melt right there. He loves music. He would rather watch the intro song to every kid show on repeat all day than watch the actual show. He picks up the lyrics to songs really fast. Now whenever I ask him if he wants a banana he goes, "Banonneeenighty-night and kiss me..." from "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Even though that song has nothing to do with bananas. Or maybe it does and we just haven't known it all this time. Sneaky Ella Fitzgerald....

We have started introducing the idea of potty training. He has no clue that I actually want him to pee in his toilet, but he sure gets excited that he receives M&M's for sitting on it! He also thinks his pull-ups are swim diapers and keeps asking to go swimming even though it's snowing outside. We had Brent show him how boys do it, and well, let's just say that was a bit of a comical disaster. Caleb wanted to, er, "play in the fountain" so to speak hahaha. I'm still laughing thinking about it.

I could rattle forever about Caleb, but I will exercise restraint until I write his birthday post.

I am just loving my calling as the ward choir director. We are getting ready for our Christmas program on top of our Thanksgiving song, and it's all going really well. We have had such an incredible turnout. Every week we have new people show up and it makes me so happy that I could cry. Last Sunday we almost ran out of seating, and had all our regulars been there we totally would have.

I am also convinced that I married the very best man I personally know. I know people don't like to read about mushy/braggy couple stuff, but this is my blog so neener neener. Brent is without guile. He is so service-minded that his actions always inspires me to do more. He is so dang smart, and really hard worker. PhD school has been challenging, but he keeps plowing forward in spite of it. He is always showing how important his family means to him. When he is home, he does the dishes, changes diapers, and takes out the trash so I don't have to, since the sights and smells of those chores are extremely nauseating for me. He is so kind and just good. He makes me laugh, and continues to court me three years into our marriage. I really did marry the catch of a lifetime.

I'm just feeling really grateful right now. I feel like my life is practically perfect. I love our house, I love our ward, and mostly I love the peace and joy that is around us. Happy early Thanksgiving everyone, and thank you for being my friend.

A general update on our life right now

I realized recently that many people do not know why we are still living in Provo, so I thought I would write a general update of what is going on in our lives.

Right now, my husband Brent is pursuing a PhD in Acoustical Physics at Brigham Young University. He went straight from a Bachelor's degree to this program, which means it's a 5-year program. At other schools the program is even longer, so we count ourselves lucky. Acoustical physics essentially means that Brent studies sound waves. All day. Every day. He loves it. It confuses me. But I love that he loves it. At the end of this semester we will officially be halfway done.

The question we ALWAYS get at this point is, "So does he want to teach then?" A big resounding NO. If everyone could please stop assuming that a PhD means he can only become a professor I would really appreciate it. While it certainly is an option, and a noble one, it is not an option he wants to pursue. He would much rather work in a field that utilizes practical application to his research. Most of his research encompasses jet noise (my husband is a rocket scientist!! Well, sort of), and so it is very likely that he could continue in that field post-graduation working for a company like the Air Force (who currently funds him), Boeing, NASA, or a government lab. Brent did an internship at Los Alamos National Laboratories in Los Alamos, NM and we definitely wouldn't mind ending up there. There are national labs all over the country, and they tend to be good places to work, so I hear. It's also possible that he could end up in a completely different acoustical field (yes, there are surprisingly many), but we really won't know until right before graduation in a couple of years. I always hate not knowing what's coming next, but I'm grateful for the stability we are enjoying for now at least.

As far as plans after graduation, we could end up anywhere, but we would love to end up near family. Growing up near cousins and grandparents and stable aunts and uncles was such a crucial part of my upbringing that I really desire that for my own children. We will not end up in Utah. There is not a huge demand for acoustical physicists in Utah, and the siblings that are here do not intend to stay. While I love Utah in so many ways, and love so many of its people, it has never felt completely like "home," but more of a chapter in a book. A very important chapter, but one that will end.

As for me, I am a homemaker, or SAHM (stay at home mom) in today's vernacular, but I also am an artist and am trying very hard to make some money with my art. We don't need the money. It's more of a personal goal and a way to validate my work. I've actually applied to some shows this year, and I'm really crossing my fingers that I'll be accepted. If you haven't looked at it, check out my new website http://www.angelareichman.com. I used to have a website with my sister Kathryn, but she needs a break, so we decided together that it would be good for me to continue on my own now. Art has always been a passion of mine, and I have always felt a personal calling to constantly work at it and try to get my art "out there." I have been recently blessed with a lot of commissions lately, which has been exciting, but has also helped me see how I want to narrow my field and style. I'm not entirely sure what I want my ultimate artistic goals to be, but mostly I want people to be inspired and uplifted by work.

Here's a piece I worked on this year but never totally finished. Any takers?

"Hannah"

And another one I made around Easter:

It is a struggle to be both an artist and a homemaker. Both roles constantly pull at me, and I always feel like I'm neglecting one of them (usually the artist side). I have a paralyzing fear that if I focus too much on my art I will have nothing left to give my children, or worse, that they will feel like I value my art more than them. I try to work only during nap time or when Brent is home, but making it a priority is difficult, and not having a real studio space adds an extra challenge. A corner of my kitchen is my current studio, and I'm hoping that as Caleb gets older we will be able to work on art projects together, but as it currently stands Caleb thinks that anything in my hands also belongs to him. What a typical toddler. ;)

Callings--Brent and I recently received new callings. We used to co-teach a youth Sunday School class, which we loved. Those youth are amazing. Brent has now been called to be a 2nd Counselor in one of our two Elder's Quorum presidencies, and I have been called to be the ward choir director. I never in my whole life ever thought I would be called to be a choir director. To be perfectly honest, I didn't want to say yes. I didn't feel adequate, our choir numbers were pretty pathetic, and I couldn't see why this calling mattered in a ward that seems to have so many struggles. After talking with some family members, I have since repented and am trying to grab the bull by the horns. And believe it or not, I really love this calling! We don't sing anything complicated, everyone is welcome no matter age or ability, and we always have treats and babysitters. Attendance has greatly improved, and most of the people who come are actually other parents of small children. I have been very humbled as I have seen how important music is to some people, and how choir is a blessing to a ward by more than bringing more music. I am far from the most qualified person for this calling, but I have been blessed with a very supportive husband who rearranges the furniture every Sunday so we can fit everyone plus a keyboard in our living room, often makes the treats, and is always willing to step in as the pianist or babysitter if either of them can't make it. (How did I get so dang lucky??) I have felt very buoyed up in this calling in many ways, and am grateful that Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself.

As for Caleb, he is doing so great. He turns 2 next month, but he is the size of a 3-year old. He chats up a storm, and even put together his first sentence about a month ago: "I eat yogurt." He can identify every capital letter of the alphabet as well as a few numbers, but numbers that look like letters are tricky (1 looks like I, 2 looks like Z.) He loves to repeat anything he hears people say. One of the most common things he repeats is "I'll be right back" and it's adorable. It comes out sounding "I ee rye back." We are currently in the process of switching him from his crib to a big bed, in an effort to improve bedtime, which has been very stressful the last few weeks. We have also bought a little potty to introduce the idea of potty-training, but will wait until the bed switch is well-established before we encourage other drastic changes in his world.

A donut AND a sucker while shopping? Toddler heaven right there. And with that big smile, it's mommy heaven too.

I think that's about it. Brent is about to go to Tempe, AZ for a conference for a few days, which happens 2-3 times a year. Halloween is coming up, which is one of my favorite holidays. Next month Brent and Caleb both have birthdays, so I gotta get my rear in gear to prep for those. Life is good, and we are very happy.

Summer: Part 3 (final part)

Reichman Summer 2015--We ended our summer with a trip to Lake Powell, and it was wonderful! My family goes every year, and it is seriously one of my favorite places in the whole world. We stay on a houseboat and usually find a beach in Padre Bay for the duration of our stay.

Caleb rule #1843: if it looks like it can be built into a tower, then a tower you must build...even if you get in trouble from Papa

"Wheel!!"

These two. I can't even stand it. If my family grows any more my heart will explode.

Babies+lifejackets=great pictures

Aunt Tori reading to the kiddos

Getting ready for a rare Lake Powell occurrence--a baby blessing!

Uncle Dan and baby Kira looking like a princess. Note the decorations in the background--no one knows how to party quite like Aunt Barbara and it is the best!

"Ride little pony..."

Kira was blessed on the beach--not many babies can say that!

Sorry about the sun Grace...

We began a new game of throwing the frisbee to a person waiting on top of the houseboat, who then had to jump and catch it before landing in the water (and hopefully not landing in a belly flop)

Even Papa had a go at it!

Caleb got grounded for being too helpful of a driver

Smooth operator

"Mer-MAN!!"

My dad brought a raft this year and it got lots of use! Look at that cute pair!

No Lake Powell trip is complete without Otter Pops!

The toddlers' rock-throwing ledge. By the end of the week there were no more rocks up there.

I have pictures of a very little me with my mom in the lake, so this picture makes me so happy

Our home 

Cute Henderson family!

Play hard, sleep hard.

Great-grandparents with very wiggly great-grandbabies!

Back home, but with the best souvenir. And can we all just take a minute to appreciate
how well it lines up with the bathtub.