On My Honor

I often think about the meaning and power of honor, because of the work I do and the classes I teach. So, you'd think I'd be perfectly honorable, but the more I learn the more I realize I need to be perfected. The hard part is not the desire to be honorable--I have that desire fully. I absolutely want people to believe that my word is absolute and that I never lie, and more importantly, I want their belief to be completely accurate. The hard part, for me, is remembering that which I have committed to do and be. Sterling May, in his talk, just mentioned that the signing of a temple recommend is a contract. Do I reflect often enough on what I've committed to with that signature? What about when I've committed to do two things that become in conflict, like following through on something I've told Jonathan I'll do and something I've committed to do for my students?

I am so grateful that I have the opportunity each day to continue to develop my own honor, and that "according to the desire of my heart" the Lord will help me to truly live "ON MY HONOR."

Baby Gray's Development

According to BabyCenter.com:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. BG's fingers will soon begin to open and close, her toes will curl, her eye muscles will clench, and her mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if I were to prod my abdomen, BG will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it. Her intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now, and her kidneys will begin excreting urine into her bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in Baby Gray's brain, synapses are forming furiously. Her face looks unquestionably human: Her eyes have moved from the sides to the front of her head, and her ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, BG is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Ultrasound #2

Well, we've gone in for our second ultrasound to make sure there is only one baby in there! (They suspect we had a twin, but the 2nd embryo wasn't viable). With that confirmed, we got to listen to the quick heartbeat and see our little one kicking and working those brand new muscles. She was all over the place! (No, I don't know the gender yet.) Everything is looking great, and all of the doctor's concerns were put to ease for the moment. Mom and baby are healthy and doing well.

This pregnancy is so different from the first. I am not stressed about it, except an occasional nightmare. I think it is a combination of knowledge from experience (I know what to expect and what is "normal"), and much more intense demands on my attention at work and home. I'm nonetheless secretly checking all 4 of my pregnancy apps on my phone every day to know what is happening for my little one's development, and I am counting down the moments (57 days) to know if it is a boy or a girl so I can really start planning for the baby's arrival. I'm clearing out the nursery for her, which is currently Grant's play room, and shopping around for double strollers. Otherwise, life is carrying on as normal so much that it is hard to believe such a major change to our lives is coming so soon (6 months!) I am grateful for another child coming to our home, and I can't wait for Grant to have the experience of being a big brother.

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

I've decided I love my mirror. In the bathroom downstairs, my mirror is always nice to me. It greets me with a warm metallic glow and tells me that all the other mirrors in the world just don't see me right. It makes my eyes look bright, my skin even-toned and rosy, my hair always looks good, and even without any make-up on I feel good about myself with that wonderful mirror. So, although it might seem crazy to everyone else, I always look in that mirror before I leave the house and try not to look at another mirror all day long because none of them are ever friendly. Thanks, mirror, for being a friend!