To be Catholic

I just loved this post on The Other Lion and I had to take a chance to reply.
My husband, having not been brought up in the church (any religion), really made me upset the first time we went to church together on a regular Sunday. I think that the first time we went to church together was for my Mom's funeral, but since then I have been going every Sunday. Anyhow, so what happened is this: I am Catholic. Fundi hadn't been to church for anything other than weddings or funerals, and was pretty clueless about the Catholic "Rules" of church-going. More specifically, he was clueless about how close you could sit to the alter without standing out like a sore thumb. Now, my family had always gone to church. I had three sisters and the six of us would sit about four or five pews from the back of the church, always on the right side as you walk in. When my (soon to be) husband marched me up to the front of church and sat in the third pew from the front, I was REALLY irritated. I gave him the silent treatment through church and then afterward he asked what the problem was. I said that I felt like I was a freak-on-parade being march up to the front of church for an average Sunday service. I explained that only people who were holier than holy sit that close and that I didn't want to stand out. He explained his reasoning: if other people were in front of him, he couldn't see and therefore couldn't concentrate on what was going on and what was being said. I, personally do not have this problem and couldn't agree with his reasoning. Get some Ritalin, already! I do know that there are some people who do have this problem, but I would not think that my husband would be one of those people. He is the one who has too much concentrating power, if you ask me. He can stare at a book, the TV, a video game, whatever, and a bomb could go off but he would not typically recognize that anything other than what he is involved in is happening around him. The next week he did the same thing. And so it went.
Fast forward about two years. Captain was colicky and needed to know what was going on (and still does). For once, I was happy to be going to the front. Captain could see what was going on and I could at least get a little bit out of the service.
Fast forward another two years. Captain and Burbles have a great relationship with our priest. Every (Saturday or) Sunday we sit four pews from the front of the church on the right side as you are going in. Captain even knows exactly where to go. The same entourage of people sit near us every Sunday. This includes my father, his Girlfriend, and Fundi's Mom. They are our helpers. Then there is the police officer, the beautiful family, and a few others who round out the happy crowd who are happy to help out in a time of crisis. This sitting up front business is kinda fun now. The kids enjoy being near the same people week after week. Mostly, though, are the people who watch the kids from afar. They talk to me after mass (or in the gas station) about how well behaved (HAHAHAHAHA) our children are and how nice it is to watch them every week. They are NOT good for Fundi and I, but they are good for those other people to whom they make their rounds on Sunday. Sometimes they even go to communion with other people. These other people enjoy having the kids around. Even the Father R talks to the kids specifically when he is giving his sermon. I feel for the most part that it is welcome for us to sit up front. Oh, I know, there are those people who feel that we should be back in the "Cry Room", but for the most part I think most of the other church-goers have been there and done that, and they are happy to see a young family so active in the church. There are only about three other couples who attend our church regularly who are under thirty. I thank them for that. I thank them for being understanding and I thank them for helping us out during church, because, as most parents know: children behave better for other people than they do for their parents.
We'll see you Sunday, same time, same place.

Dear Captain--month 24

Hi Sweetie,

You are TWO! I can't believe it. It has gone by so quickly. I remember thinking, when we brought you home, that if we could take you back to the hospital and drop you off until you stopped crying, that would be just great. I'm glad we didn't, but don't think that sometimes I don't want to take you somewhere and just drop you off for a while. I don't think that it would last long. I get at least one good laugh out of you daily. Yesterday, your Birthday, you were talking to me. I was washing off your face after having lunch (Sweet and Sour Chicken and Crab Rangoons) you told me "Just Relax". Now, I don't know that I use that phrase often, I'm sure every once in a while when someone here is being a little high-strung, it gets used, but to hear it coming out of your mouth just about had me rolling on the floor.

These days you have been growing up so much. You love looking at catalogs that we get in the mail. You sit and look at all the pictures and talk about what is going on in them. You are learning your colors. Orange is one that you have down. The others, well, they are kinda fuzzy. When we look at books and I ask you to point to something that is, say, red, you can do that, but when I ask you "What color is the ball?" Unless it is orange (and sometimes if it is purple), you really just spout off a color. You always get the idea, though, even if the answers are wrong. I'm amazed at how you figured it out so quickly. When asked "How many?" You always give us a number, too.

Your language skills are amazing. Even the doctor was impressed at how well you dictate what you say. The doctor was also impressed at how well you did during your appointment. When you got your finger pricked for blood draw, you said "Ow." and then sat patiently while they took your blood. Nothing more. You are pretty laid back that way. You don't let much phase you, unless it has something to do with your sister playing with something that you were possibly going to play with in the next, oh, three years. Then you get a little emotional.

You have added a few things to your bedtime routine. Other than the standard brush teeth, flouride, get dressed, say prayers, Glowy, Tiger, Blanket, you have added "Sweet dreams. I love you." Melt my heart, honestly.

You really enjoy having your Guppy around. In the mornings (most mornings, anyway) Guppy comes to your room and gets you out of your crib. You are living downstairs together. Then, you sit with Guppy on the bottom of the stairs and look out the picture window and watch the birds and the trains. It is darling and I'm glad that you have had this opportunity to spend some time with him. You are always right there, ready to greet him when he comes up the stairs, and you are always looking for him when you wake up from your nap. He will be leaving on Tuesday, and like a protective parent, I do not want you to have to say goodbye to someone you have grown to love.

You really enjoyed your birthday party. The cake was a big hit, as were the presents. It was so neat to watch all of your excitement. It was really sweet when you went to people and thanked them for the gifts they had given you as well. You are good with your manners like that. You say please, no thanks, thank you, you're welcome.

Your obsession with the outdoors has become, well, just that, an obsession. On your Birthday Party Day, we had a Pelican migration come through on the Mississippi River. You were in awe of these huge birds flying around and landing on the water. You watch them and watch them. You also watch the trains, semis, school buses, amulances, and pick-up trucks. You also can tell some birds apart. You know the difference between a pelican, a robin, a duck, and a goose. You really know your animals as well. It is amazing to listen to you go through some of your books and name everything that is in the whole book. I was amazed yesterday when you put together two puzzles from the library, without help, even though those were the first real puzzles that you had ever been exposed to. I can only hope that your fascination with learning continues the rest of your life. I also hope your excitement for life helps you through those inevitable tough times.

On your second birthday, you sang Happy Birthday to your sister. You are self-less that way and I don't know that you recognize yourself apart from her. This brings me to tears. You are such a good boy and I hope that we can look at you in fifteen years and know that you are still the same kid you always were... maybe with just a little more attitude.

We love you more today than yesterday,

Mommy

Dear Burbles -- Month 12

HI Honey,
I can't believe that today is your one year birthday! The time has gone by so quickly, but the days sometime seem to stand still. It is amazing to see how much you have grown and changed over the course of a year.
You still aren't saying much. The doctor said (at your 1 year appointment on the 14th) that you need to say five words at fifteen months, or he wants to know about it. Hopefully we will not have to worry about it, but your brother was the same way. He wasn't saying much at a year, but by 15 months, look out. You will get there. You are so cute in the couple of things you do say. You say "all done" and "Hi, Da" and "Yeah". You are understanding more and more each day. I think a lot of it is our fault, though. We have to split our time between you two and Nibble and Fiona, so we don't get to drill you as much as we would like.
As far as your physical developments go... you took your first two steps today, on your birthday! It was so sweet. There you were, standing in the middle of the floor, and you picked up your foot like it was a peg and then your other foot and you took two steps toward me. I was tickled.
We have had Guppy around since Gummie passed away, and you and Guppy have become pals. You are terribly cute with him. He calls you his little flirt and says that the boys better watch out. You crawl near Guppy and smile real big like you want him to pick you up and then when he comes closer to you, you turn and crawl away really quickly. When you get a safe distance away from Guppy, you flop on the floor and turn toward Guppy and bat your eyelashes and smile coyly at him. It is really precious to watch you interact with your Great-Grandfather this way. I enjoy how involved he is in spending time with you while he is here.
We are going to start working with you more to get you napping on your own. I can't continue to take daily naps with you, as much as I would like to. You have continued to sleep well at night, but you wake up in the morning at five and you want to be held until the rest of the house wakes up. You nibble on your bottle and nap on and off. I enjoy this time with you.
We had your birthday party on your birthday. You shared your birthday with Gummie. You also share your birthday with DeDe. The party was for You, DeDe, Captain, and Buca. You really didn't know what to do with the cupcake we set in front of you. You licked some of the frosting off. About a half an hour later, you started to crush the cupcake. You didn't really eat much of it. That is OK. You have been enjoying the strawberries lately. You can eat five or more at one sitting. I would say that your favorite foods are cheese, strawberries, and cheerios or bread.
Update: On the 14th, the day after your birthday, we had your one year check-up. You did really well. The pediatrician was so surprised that you were willing to sit on the table and be examined by him. He said that in all his years of work, he has never seen or dealt with two kids other that you and Captain who sat through their one year physical exam on the table and not on their parent's laps. I was so proud of you. The doctor also said that you look really healthy. You are 20lbs 6oz and 28 3/4 inches tall! You hold the 50th percentile in all things. You are my little peanut.
I love you so much.
We love you more today than yesterday,
Mommy