Alright, so I didn't do an update last week, I just wrote a ransom note that no one read and/or took seriously. I really do look forward to hearing from people but so often there's no post. Not too much happened the week before, we had all been sick recently and we were limiting how much we left the house. Two Friday's ago, George and I drove with Jon to his job in Illinois. He doesn't normally have classes on Friday but he scheduled makeup lessons then since he had to be there to direct the children's choir at the town's Christmas festival. It was supposed to be cold so we bundled up George. George and I walked around the small community college and then dinner before the festival. The festival was set up around their town square and it was freezing. I had George in layers and then a carrier and then I wrapped my winter coat around him and a blanket to cover his head when needed. It still got cold and so George and I walked through the stores around town square. Then we went outside to brave the cold for the performance, got hot chocolate and left. To emphasize how small the town is where jon works, there are two grocery stores, Walmart and a local one, 2 pizza places and 3 restaurants (one closed down) and 4-5 fast food places. I know there are smaller towns but I don't know if there are smaller towns that are considered to be the big town in the area with the regional Walmart and community college.
So now onto last week. Last Monday was one of my busiest days. I say that because I got ready with George all by myself and then we went to the bank, did laundry, went to Sam's Club and a grocery store, picked up lunch, went shoe shopping (my feet have grown from being pregnant and I needed some shoes for different cold occasions, like tennis shoes, closed toe church shoes and nice casual shoes), fed George, finished shoe shopping and finally returned home. I found jon had made me mac and cheese and pudding and had left it in the fridge (he made both and took half to Illinois with him), and was able to play with George a little bit before making my packing list, doing a few things on my computer and finishing laundry. When Jon got home at 10, he helped me fold laundry and then took care of George while I packed. I was up til 1:30 and we got up at 4:30 for our flight. We spent time with Jon's family and I don't remember everything anymore but it was nice. Jon's family all loves George, and two of his aunts talked about holding him and debating if they want another, but they both think they're done. Friday was mainly with you guys except getting ready that morning. It takes me at least twice as long to get ready now because I have to stop at random times to feed George. Saturday morning jon and I went to the temple with his parents and did initiatories and sealings (the endowment session was full) and then to lunch with extended family and then the natural history museum. George really liked the nature and animal pictures but he did not like one picture of a barn owl. He also really liked half of the dinosaur bones and a wall of skull heads of horned dinosaurs, including the triceratops. Then George stayed with grandma Patsy and Jon and I went to buy garments (I only bought one pair because of availability). Side comment, I still don't love the bottoms, they need to make some that don't come up so high. I got petites and they come up above my belly button and the tall tops I think are longer, they feel like a mini dress, but the nursing top I got this time is MUCH better.
Then Sunday and George's baby blessing. I'm so grateful for George. I'm grateful for the plan of salvation and to see someone leave and enter this mortal life so close together. I'm so grateful for the Priesthood and that Jon blessed the baby. I'm grateful for the friends and family who came too. My friend brandon and Kristi came, Brandon was one of the boys from freshmen year and one of my mission companions who grew up in Jon's stake and knew him, she came with her new baby boy and her husband. I'm thankful for temples and the church and for jon and how he tries to be his best self. I'm thankful to be in a home and for health insurance that kicked in, just in time.
When traveling I know I will have to share George and I don't mind, but I come home feeling like I've neglected George. He hasn't been neglected, but I spent a lot of time holding and talking to him today. I forgot to mention that Saturday, in addition to going to the temple that morning, I went to a movie that night. I was gone from George for 6 hours. Granted I was with him for most of his time awake and he was played with and fed while I was gone, but I wanted to speed home from the movie and felt very needy. I got home and found George (who was peacefully sleeping)and just held him and kissed him. Then I had to put him down for a minute to take out my contacts and get ready for bed before snuggling with him again. I missed him SO much. That was really hard for me. Although it was nice to see a movie and the temple is a great thing, in the future I don't know if I want to do both in the same day.
Now we're home and I'm grateful to be home. Today was all about me and George. George and i went on a "field trip" by watching animals from the San Diego wild animal park set to classical music. I think the giraffes were his favorite. Tomorrow we get back to the balance of real life, which is still mostly about George but I get more stuff done.
