Walking & Standing

On Friday, June 25, 2010, Zachary took seven (7) unaided steps in a row. He walked from me to McKayla. It was about a yard. It was brilliant!

Later that night, he stood for about a minute, all by himself. It was outside on the lawn at the Sandy Amphitheater--no furniture near his grasp. It was brilliant!

Zachary - 9 Months

Dear Zachary,

I love your silly little guts! Man I love you.

We went to the doctor yesterday, the day you turned 9 months. Here's what we've got:

Height: 30 inches (95th percentile)
Weight: 19 pounds 8 ounces (35th percentile)
Head Circumference: 45.7 centimeters (75th percentile)

So, you're still tall, and you have a steady head circumference. But—you are LIGHT! What?

I was actually shocked when the nurse told me that you were in the 35th percentile. Between the time she told me that and the time the doctor came in, I sat there thinking. I came up with a hypothesis: you must be moving around SOOOOO much that you are just burning up your calories.

When the doctor came in, he gave the same theory. He said not to worry about you. He said that you look and act wonderfully healthy. He said that if your hair has sheen to it, your skin looks healthy, your eyes are bright, and you simply act well, you must be getting what you need. In regards to the hair and skin comment, I said, "Like a dog's coat?" He chuckled and said, "Yes."

He told me that I could try feeding you solids before you have your milk. So, that's what we're going to do.

Now on to what you've been up to....

Yesterday you took your first purposeful steps. Well, you've taken a few here and there. But, as I was going out the door for guitar, your dad said that you stood for him for about 10 seconds and then you took a couple steps toward him. Your dad texted a few minutes later and said that you did it again!

Tonight you did it some more. In fact, you took six steps in a row tonight.

Also, since we came back from Moab this last Sunday, you have been so excited to walk with your Push 'n' Ride. You've walked across the room multiple times with it, often just holding on with one hand.

You have started smiling with a squinty face. It cracks me up. You just crack me up.

This last week you have busted up laughing every time I bark like a dog. Of course I keep doing it to hear you laugh.

You have a special talent these days. I say, "Say 'dadda.'" You say, "Dad." I say, "Say 'mamma.'" You say, "Dad." It makes me laugh. You used to say "mamma" on command. But, not any more. Silly boy.

You are a wonderful sleeper—unless we go on a trip. We put you to bed at 9:00 almost every night and you almost always wake up sometime between 5:45 and 6:30. And, to make it even better, you wake up happy!

The trip thing—well, you really hate your pack 'n' play. I don't know if you hate that more than the unfamiliar room. Either way, you don't sleep very well. My actual assumption is that you don't like the pitch black room because you've slept well enough in Ferron when we have a night light in the room. You did NOT sleep well last week in Moab. That meant I didn't either.

You are one of the friendliest 9-months-old your doctor has ever met. He was quite, quite surprised when you crawled right up to him and got him to pick you up. You're like that with everyone. You have convinced a funeral director to pick you up. You have convinced one of our stake presidency to hold you. You have convinced my second cousin that you are best friends. And you are a jumping bean—you will go to anyone who is talking to you.

You are great at giving hugs. But, you are not great at giving kisses, clapping, or waving. You have occasionally given me kisses. And you are entirely uninterested in clapping or waving.

Yesterday we had a visitor for a few hours, our little friend. You were so excited he was here. But, I'm going to have to teach you about sharing. You were very interested in everything he picked up.

I love you. I can't believe you're already nine months!

Your Mom

New thoughts on politics

Ted and Carol Lewis, friends from one of Andrea's former wards, came over to our home for games on Friday night. Ted, a former Utah State Congressman, brought to my attention the following quote by Pres. Wilford Woodruff, at the Salt Lake Temple dedication:

O God, the Eternal Father, Thou knowest all things. Thou seest the course Thy people have been led to take in political matters. They have, in many instances, joined the two great national parties. Campaigns have been entered upon, elections have been held, and much party feeling has been engendered. Many things have been said and done which have wounded the feelings of the humble and the meek, and which have been a cause of offense. We beseech Thee, in Thine infinite mercy and goodness, to forgive Thy people wherein they have sinned in this direction. Show them, O Father, their faults and their errors, that they may see the same in the light of Thy Holy Spirit, and repent truly and sincerely, and cultivate that spirit of affection and love which Thou art desirous that all the children of men should entertain one for another, and which Thy Saints, above all others, should cherish. Enable Thy people hereafter to avoid bitterness and strife, and to refrain from words and acts in political discussions that shall create feeling and grieve Thy Holy Spirit.

I think that is a good way to approach politics.

I sat next to the Prophet

On Wednesday, a member of our ward, John Georgell, had a funeral. What was unique about the situation was that he was a childhood friend of Pres. Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since he was there, he obviously was the highest ranking priesthood leader, and thus presided at the funeral. As he walked up to the stand, he shook my hand and said, "Now we are friends." Being in the bishopric, I got to sit next to the Pres. Monson during the entire funeral.

While sitting there I had a few thoughts come to me. First, I am sitting next to THE PROPHET, and this will never happen again. Second, this would never happen with the Catholic church and the Pope. Third, as I saw Andrea and Zachary sitting in the congregation, I realized that even though I was sitting next to the Prophet of God, Andrea and Zachary were more important to me in life and in the plan of salvation.

After the funeral, Zachary and Andrea also got to meet the Pres. Monson and shake his hand.