~Duffy Doings~

Friday, February 10, 2012

Girl's Day Out

Ainsley had a doctor's appointment for a weight gain check. Since she is a tiny one, they just wanted to monitor it this week. She gained 5 ounces in 4 days. Yup. She and mama are doing just fine. Things are so different than when I had my children. I like the changes and progress. I was very impressed with their pediatrician.

We were starving at this point, and stopped to grab some lunch at In-n-Out. We had to wait soooo long at the doctor's office. They were busy.

We headed to Alia's in San Clemente for Ainsley's newborn photo shoot. Alia took Meredith's maternity pictures too. They go way back and have been good friends for a long time. Alia is one of those photographers who has it in the genes. Like my cousin, Roberta. And Christine. And Adrianne. People: I need lessons! haha...

What a fun afternoon we had dressing her up and down for the pictures. I can't wait to see them!

Fun day!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Happy Anniversary

Mike and Adrianne.

Happy Four Years.

We love you guys!

(Did ministering visits with Lake Forest ward as a follow up to their ward conference a few weeks ago. I went with their RS president. I drove home with the radio off trying to process our experience. There is something quite unable to put into words when you are involved with the Spirit in ministering one on one. I cannot explain what happened tonight. There are no words. The veil was thin and the love of heaven was thick.)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

My Martha Dreams

FINALLY. Duff and I got the small garage straightened up. I had to wince that the sleeping bags and tent used at Girl's Camp last summer were still laying around.

Yes! (arm pump) We organized all the canning supplies together in one cupboard. It is so nice to have that done. I've been wanting to do that for y e a r s. We redistributed the weight of some of our food storage on the shelves. I would do so many things differently now. But I didn't know then what we've learned over the last 20 years. I would make lots of changes to our cupboards knowing what I know now. Water under the bridge I guess. This is when I lament that we don't have a basement.

Folding chairs were between the 2 garages and we got those consolidated to one. Lots of stuff like that. I wish once you cleaned and organized it would just stay that way. Haha! Continual progress on 'a place for everything and everything in it's place.'

I like Martha Stewart. Say and feel what you may about her, she knows her stuff and has more good ideas and things than a person could ever do in a lifetime. Often I will say something like, "Oh! I want to be like Martha that way." or "Oh! That is such a good idea. I want to do that like Martha." Especially when it comes to organizing. While I was waiting in the grocery store check out line I picked up her new magazine on organizing and thumbed through it. Can the rooms in my house be like her's please? Then I get to thinking: Well, she lives alone. She has a staff. For just about everything. Inside and outside. Then I realize my Martha dreams are not realistic. We are a big family coming and going all the time. We are pretty much our own 'staff'. Then I chuckle and get back to living my own life.

...but can my cupboards stay organized please......? haha!

(Had a presidency meeting. 3 hours. We had a lot to go over, plan, and discuss. Thanks to Brother Lenon, our high councilor. He always stays the whole time and gives us such good counsel.)

Bath Time

I got a call from Meredith this afternoon: Mom! Ainsley's cord came off. Do you want to come over for her first bath?

Absolutely.

Still sleeping.

Look at that diaper. Still too big.

Couldn't resist taking this one.

Three generations.

Patti, Meredith, Ainsley.

There is something so beautiful about watching your child become a parent.

All done.

Cleaned, q-tipped, lotioned, dressed and swaddled.

I never had a baby bathtub. Never was a fan. Didn't see the point of it. I just bathed my babies in the bathroom sink, graduated to the kitchen sink, and then to the regular bathtub. It was what I knew. But I have to say, I really like the tub Meredith has. I love the little hammock/sling that the baby lays in. They have plenty of warm water, but are supported and can't slip or roll and don't get frightened by feeling weightless in the water. There is space for the soap, lotion, and washcloth right at your fingertips. This is a good thing!

Gidget on the other hand, couldn't quite understand what all the fuss was about.

"Hey! Isn't it time for my bath?"

She finally resigned and found a good observation spot on the corner of the couch. From this vantage point she could see all the baby bath time goings-on.

I stayed and cuddled with Ainsley.

Meredith went up to get her own shower and Gidget got her bath.

She was one happy puppy!

(I used Christine's camera. Not that I know how to use it--I just put it on auto--but what a difference in the pictures. Hey, my birthday is coming up soon....! hint, hint)

Yikes--Here We Go Again!

Elder L. Whitney Clayton, of the Presidency of the First Quorum of Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responses to media questions about the Church's involvement in passes California's Proposition 8, in Salt Lake City, Utah Nov, 5, 2008.

Tom Smart, Deseret News

Shortly after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling that California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a response.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regrets today’s decision,” said LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy. “California voters have twice determined in a general election that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We have always had that view. Courts should not alter that definition, especially when the people of California have spoken so clearly on the subject.

“Millions of voters in California sent a message that traditional marriage is crucial to society,” the LDS statement continued. “They expressed their desire, through the democratic process, to keep traditional marriage as the bedrock of society, as it has been for generations.”

Later Tuesday afternoon, Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson, president of the California Catholic Conference and head of the San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, issued the following statement:

“We are disappointed by the ruling today by a panel of the Ninth Circuit that would invalidate the action taken by the people of California affirming that marriage unites a woman and a man and any children from their union. However, given the issues involved and the nature of the legal process, it’s always been clear that this case would very likely be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Marriage between one man and one woman has been — and always will be — the most basic building block of the family and of our society.

In the end, through sound legal reasoning, we believe the court will see this as well and uphold the will of the voters as expressed in Proposition 8. We continue to pray for that positive outcome.”
The LDS and Catholic churches are not alone among people of faith expressing their concern about the federal court ruling. Rev. Albert Mohler of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville said the court “has ruled straightforwardly that the motivation for defending traditional marriage is animus against homosexual persons. I think that’s ridiculous on its face. The defense of marriage is valued by all kinds of people. To say (otherwise) is insulting to people of faith and anyone who would support a traditional concept of marriage, humanity’s most central institution.

But other religious leaders expressed the opposite feeling.

"Opponents of same-sex marriage have been unable to muster any arguments other than it offends their theology," said the Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for a Separation of Church and State. "We have a secular government, and dogma should not and cannot be transformed into law."

Brian Raum, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal aid group that helped to defend Proposition 8, expressed his concern that the ruling would "undercut the democratic process by taking the power to preserve marriage out of the hands of the people.

"We are not surprised that this Hollywood-orchestrated attack on marriage — tried in San Francisco — turned out this way," Raum said. "But we are confident that the expressed will of the American people in favor of marriage will be upheld at the Supreme Court."

The notion of exactly what is the "expressed will of the American people," however, is a matter of some debate. According to www.pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/Religion-and-Attitudes-Toward-Same-Sex-Marriage.aspx a recent study on religion and attitudes toward same-sex marriage by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Americans are split almost down the middle on the issue, with 46 percent in favor of allowing homosexuals to marry, 44 percent in opposition and 10 percent undecided. The numbers represent a shift from August/September 2010, when only 42 percent favored allowing gay marriage, with 48 percent opposed and 10 percent undecided.

Among survey respondents who expressed a Christian religious preference, there was a significant division of opinion, with Protestants generally opposed to gay marriage (58 percent, including 74 percent opposition among white evangelical Christians and 62 percent among black Protestants) and Catholics generally in favor of allowing it (52 percent).

Those who declared themselves as religiously unaffiliated were overwhelmingly (72 percent) in favor of allowing gay marriage.

As far as Latter-day Saints are concerned, there are no survey numbers available specifically on the subject of gay marriage. But in a recent Pew Research Center survey, self-identified Latter-day Saints were asked if homosexuality should be accepted or discouraged by society. Sixty-five percent of survey respondents said homosexuality should be discouraged by society, with 26 percent saying that it should be accepted.
If such numbers make anything clear, it is that there are strong feelings on both sides of this controversial issue.

"We recognize that (today's) decision represents a continuation of what has been a vigorous public debate over the rights of the people to define and protect the fundamental institution of marriage," the LDS Church's official statement concluded. "There is no doubt that today's ruling will intensify the debate in this country. We urge people on all sides of this issue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different opinion."

(Here we go again. It will be even harder this time around. But worth it.)

Monday, February 6, 2012

What Is It About Baby Blankets and Grandmas?

I know.

More baby things.

That is what is going on around these parts, and we are not complaining!

Just to document and get it in the blog book, here are pictures of the blankets I worked up for Ainsley.

Crocheted edges.

The white one is for her blessing day. The scallops were so fun to do. With just one row of single crochet baby pink. And it's always nice to change things up a bit and throw in one that doesn't have any pink. The aqua/turquoise is one of Meredith's favorite colors. It makes her tick. It was part of her wedding colors too.

The white edge is one row of a single crochet stitch out of a chenille thread. It was fun to work with and works up very fast.

Self-binding blankets. It was my first time to make them and I followed a tutorial online and was happily surprised to find how fast and easy they were. Here is another link that was helpful.

Burps from pre-folded diapers.

All stacked up and ready to wrap.

Happy Baby Shower.

Thank you to my Mamo Minnie and to Duff's Grandma Thain for being my inspiration.

Mamo Minnie taught me to do fine crochet and Grandma Thain did the edges on all my baby blankets when I had my children. I am grateful to pass the tradition along.

They were the best Grandmas! Hope to be like them.