Be careful what you wish for

Last night I put Sabrina down at 7:30, and went to bed at just after 10 myself. At 5:45 I woke up DESPERATE to feed Sabrina. She was still asleep! Of course, I went in to check on her, and woke her up (accidentally) in the process, but I'm counting this as her first sleeping through the night, even though we both went back to bed. 6:00 is morning. I spend 2 years waking up at 5:30 for Seminary and 4 years waking up between 5:30 and 6:00 to teach school. Yay! She slept through the night! And the only casualty was well, my feeders. I guess I'll take it.

Grandpa Spencer

Zane's grandpa, Leonard Spencer, died a couple of days ago. It was really sudden; just a couple of weeks ago he got a blood clot and went to the hospital and found out he had gall bladder cancer that had spread to the liver. In the three or so weeks between his diagnosis and death, he went from a capable, strong man to staying in bed all day. Grandpa's funeral is tomorrow, so here are a few memories of him.

Coming home from work 18 months ago to find Grandpa in a huge hole, digging up the root ball of a 70-foot pine tree, recently deceased (the tree, that is).

Looking at all the mandolins he made with his own two hands.

Listening to people play the mandolins he made with his own two hands, while he stood by trying to look modest. Actually, he did look modest.


Watching him help Grandma out of the car, up steps, or out of a chair and into her wheelchair.

Hugging him and thinking, Man, he's tall!

Hearing World War II stories--his and other people's.

Most of all, knowing that Grandpa was never afraid to say that he loved you.

I love you Grandpa. Say hi to Grandpas Buys and Sargent, Grandma Maughan, Sierra, and my future kids. L'chaim!

Baby's first Christmas

Christmas was really nice this year. Because we didn't have Spencer until the afternoon, we opened presents at our house. Here is Sabrina in her new walker. I guess it's a rider right now, because she can't touch the floor with her feet.




Then went down to Mom and Dad's for presents. Well, at least, that was the plan. However, it was just dumping snow at our house, and our tires were bald, and apparently the snowplow drivers here don't deign to spend their Christmas mornings snowplowing even if we do get SIX FEET of snow (breathe, breathe), so I was nervous about going. Well, about 10:30 I checked the traffic cameras, and do you remember The Truman Show? Where Jim Carrey, aka Truman, is sitting on the beach and it starts raining, but just on him? Just a little circle of rain, that follows him as he tries to avoid it? Yeah, that was Ogden and snow. So off we went to Salt Lake.

After the Molly side of the family, we went to the Zane side. We got Spencer and gave him his "Santa" present that Santa dropped off at our house, a remote controlled car (jealous!). Then we went to Huntsville for THOSE presents, a little dinner, and family fun for everyone.

Another exciting event of the day was Sabrina's first solid food. Rice cereal, of course. She wasn't exactly sure what to do with it, but yesterday she ate a half jar of pears. And, of course, ice cream (see previous post). Here is before, during, and after Sabrina's first solid meal.

Sweet baby, sweet tooth

I know CHRONOLOGICALLY that Christmas comes next, but last night was too funny, and I must tell you immediately! We went up to the Froerer Family Compound in Huntsville last night, and Grandpa Froerer was holding Sabrina and eating an ice cream cone. Naughty, naughty Grandpa decided to try to become Favorite Adult and let Sabrina try his mint chocolate chip ice cream (a favorite of her mommy's). At first she pulled away, startled, probably, by the coldness. Then, she registered the taste, and lunged, two-handed, for the cone. I think she liked it!

Zane Does Nativity

It's been awhile since I blogged (blogged? Does this word ever strike you as odd?), so I have catching up to do!

On Christmas Eve, Zane, Sabrina and I went to Mom and Dad's house. Our first activity? Bowling! To make it better, there were 6 of us on two lanes, and the girls got bumpers! It sort of feels like cheating, but it does mean no nasty gutter balls. On the other hand, 2 1/2-year-old Elli beat my score the first game. Embarrassing.

After dinner--a German festive meal, delicious except the pickle in the meat, because pickles are gross--we played a German game, which is to find the pickle that is hidden in the tree. Fortunately (because pickles are gross), the pickle was an ornament, which I found, because I'm awesome, and also willing to knock over the Christmas tree to win.

Unfortunately, Benn and Cheri and their brood had to leave before we could read the Christmas story, so Zane had to take over the job of using the Nativity scene to act out the story of The Christ Child. He did a great job, although he needed a little reminder when the story calls for the Wise Men to fall down and worship Jesus. Possibly the most critically acclaimed part of his performance was when he put Mary on the rocking horse and Joseph way, way, way down below, leading the Giant Horse (donkey) from the floor. Very amusing.

Next: Christmas

Babies babies babies!

Last night, at the annual Froerer Family Bingo night, Karen announced she is 10 weeks pregnant! Yay! She is due July 19, or 10 days before Sabrina's first birthday. Last year, I was planning on announcing MY pregnancy at family bingo, but couldn't wait that long. I'm so happy for Karen! Here is a picture with her holding Sabrina, and Mom holding Julianne's baby Jane.


So, tomorrow is Sabrina's first Christmas. I didn't get her much this year, on the premise that she won't remember it anyway and any presents I get her are really what I want for her. The important things, though, are that she knows she is loved and cherished, and that she knows the true Christmas story. I can't wait for Benn to act out the Christmas story with the Nativity set in the partial fulfillment of goal #2!

Who died and made YOU sleep guru?

Last night I was up until after midnight finishing a transcription project, then up at 2 to feed Tiny. Then Zane got up at 6:30 to go to a trial. Bottom line: I was not in the mood to get up at 7 when Sabrina started fussing. So I though, "Why do I have to listen to the sleep gurus who forbid you from bringing the baby to bed because of interrupted sleep/baby never going back to her own bed/suffocation? Psshht!" So I fed her in bed and then dozed for a couple more hours. Did you know that babies wake up happy and smiling? Well, they do. I can hardly stand how wonderful and sweet my baby girl is.



See? See?