~TKKBTN~

Tonight I was putting Troy to bed (again), and he wanted to "rock." He is a master of coming up with new ideas for procrastinating bedtime, or at least to call me back into his room. And I'm kind of a sucker like that. At least at the end of the day when I am so tired I have to choose my battles. And really, who would say no when that cute little cherub asks you to rock him?

So we settled into the rocking chair and he snuggled his head on my shoulder and we rocked. And that's when I looked down and saw that jumble of long limbs and solid two-year-old body squished into that tiny space between my lap and my shoulder (I am super short, even to a two-year-old) and it hit me. "This is not a baby," I realized suddenly, "This is a TODDLER!" A gigantic, stubborn, smart, individual toddler who has somehow usurped the little baby I used to rock. In a flash I saw Kate at that age, and about that size, rocking in my lap, and I had the same realization. Then the same with Brooklyn. I always hate that moment, but there it is.

I loved General Conference this weekend, and there were definitely a number of talks or even tidbits that really spoke to me, but of course the two talks I am thinking of now are Pres. Uchtdorf's talk about spending time with family (specifically, what we will look back on at the end of our lives, which is strangely something I think about ALL THE TIME) and Elder Oakes's talk about children. I am always agonizing over how fleeting this time is, especially every time I wake up in the morning and find my children have doubled in size. (NOT KIDDING.)

So last year I began interviewing my children on video. I was trying for every week, or at least every month, but the videos I have are pretty scattered! Also, if I eventually give this more thought, I plan to work out some better questions. I guess they are pretty young for me to get much deeper than counting and animal noises for now anyway, but there's room to grow. At least I feel like I'm capturing SOMEthing of this time as it whizzes by!

Here's one of Brooklyn from a couple months ago:

A list of highlights from conference:

1. From the first opening prayer: "We are grateful for our weaknesses." I could go off for hours about this, so maybe I'll save it for another time. This is a personal favorite of mine.
2. The part where Travis & I did not know that Ann M. Dibb is President Monson's daughter, until we suddenly realized as she was speaking that she looks exactly like Pres. Monson with bangs, and so we did some googling. And then she said something else and we both burst out laughing because she looked and spoke EXACTLY like her father. He must be so proud.
3. (Speaking of the Monson family) President Monson's mother: "I am so proud of all you've accomplished... My only regret is that you didn't stick with the piano." (I am paraphrasing, but you heard it! From a prophet!)
4. That rather obscure hymn that was rearranged and performed with a tenor soloist. I can't even remember which hymn; that's how "unmemorable" I always thought it was - but it was beautifully done with the harmonies of the gorgeous solo voice against the choir backdrop. Sometimes the music is my favorite part.
5. President Uchtdorf: "Life is not meant to be enjoyed in retrospect."
6. Elder Oakes cited a story told by one of our bishopric members (a police officer, his own personal experience) as he told it to Elder Holland, when he was here for the temple dedication. The full story is staggering and makes me cry every time. (Read it here)
7. And of course, President Monson's big announcement changing the minimum age for full-time missionary service! I was floored and REALLY wished this had been a decade earlier! I would have definitely served a mission at age 19! In fact, it was all I could think about at the time. By the time I was 21 I was too deeply wound up in my life to leave. (Read: engaged) I am sure thousands more missionaries will be serving now!