The last couple weeks Mariah has learned how to say "I love you". In Peter Pan whenever a child would say "I don't believe in fairies", a fairy would die. Every time Mariah says I love you I magically forget one of the many sleep deprived nights with her. It's a beautiful thing. The other night I was making dinner and Chet, who was hanging out on the couch, began to fuss. I told Mariah to talk to her brother because he was sad. She grabbed his hand and then said "I love you". I'm pretty sure my heart melted completely away. She then followed up that tender moment by shoving her cheese stick in his mouth, but just like her mother, she shows love with food so it was very understandable.
This was a big moment. Before then Mariah had only said "I love you" after we had said it or when one of us would prompt her. Chet is the first person that she has expressed that to out of the blue, all on her own. I just know they are going to be the best of friends but there will be times when Chet drives Mariah crazy, and my mom told me today that I had to remember that beautiful moment so I could bring it up when Mariah is not feeling so friendly towards her brother.
Next random story...
Last night I went over to my friend Lisa's house to help her with a project. I brought my Pack 'N Play for Mariah to sleep in because I knew I would be staying there way past her bedtime. By the time we got home Tanner was already in bed. As I carried Mariah half-asleep into the house I struggled a little with the door. Groggy little Mariah reached out her dimpled little hand and tried to ring the door bell. I had to grab it right at the last second. The last thing I wanted to do was wake up the exhausted, in the middle of finals week med student. But the situation made me chuckle. Seemed like something right out of a movie.
And a little bit about the week that I don't ever want to repeat...
The week started out on a Saturday when Tanner hurt his back playing two flag football games back to back on the rock hard frozen ground. The combination of sitting and studying day after day and the impact of running on the frozen ground was too much for his already bad back. He knew the best way to heal as quickly as possible was to do as little as possible. So that meant spending pretty much all of the time in bed. I felt a little like I had three children, one was just very well behaved and potty trained...thank heavens. On Sunday I survived Sacrament meeting and Nursery with Mariah and Chet without too much stress. (which really only happened because I was praying the whole time).
On Tuesday I decided I would make homemade macaroni and cheese. I was grating some cheese quite vigorously because I wanted to get it done before Mariah or Chet needed me and ended up grating my thumb. I've done this before, but usually it's just a little knick. This time was different. I took a whole chunk out of my nail and thumb. It bled like the dickens. I had to have Tanner hobble out of bed to get me a band aid so I could finish dinner, which turned out awful (Kraft Mac and Cheese all the way).
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| Proof that I'm not exaggerating for once |
But things did start to get better. By Wednesday Tanner was able to get up for a little while and help me peel and core apples for pie while we watched White Christmas. On Thursday I cooked a turkey without completely destroying it and we had Thanksgiving dinner with some wonderful friends (at someone else's house...a tender mercy).
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| It tasted a lot better than it looked |
We then skyped with my family who were all at my sister's house in Seattle. It was so great to see everyone and watch Mariah giggle the whole time.
Now that I'm remembering how great the week ended maybe it wasn't so bad after all...
Heavenly Father knows just how to bless me and lift me up right when I need it.
And now I'm going to brag a little about Tanner...
Medical school is stressful and exhausting and all-consuming. I'm sure there are many nights where he would like to come home and shut himself away and just relax. But he doesn't. He is always so happy to see me, Mariah and Chet. Even with the thought of the "next big test" constantly in his mind he manages to have a cheerful attitude while at home. He plays with Mariah and often helps me by doing the dishes or cleaning up the living room. He asks me about my day and lets me talk his ear off. He is a champion husband and father and I am so blessed to be his wife.
