Percentages

I love about 75% of having a 5-year old.

Damon understands so much more than he used to and can carry his end of conversations quite nicely. I love watching Trading Spaces with him and watching him get so excited about the room transformations. He is also so willing to believe everything we are teaching him. One night he was cutting out coupons and couldn't find one he was looking for. I kept encouraging him to keep looking for it, when he appeared by my side, a look of total consternation on his face. He tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, so that his grandpa and uncle in the room wouldn't hear, "I prayed, and I still can't find it." My heart was pricked; his faith in the power of prayer is so absolute, he didn't understand how he could possibly not have been answered.

I won't go into the 25% of things I don't love about having a 5-year old, but if you have been reading with me, you probably can figure most of that out on your own.

I love about 50% of having a 2-year old.

Allie is so different from Damon, and I love to see her growing in such a different way. She is extremely independent and wants to do everything for herself. One day I needed to run into the store to get some milk and asked her to please stay right with me and not run away, because I can't carry Kyla, two gallons of milk, and her, too. Without any hint of regret, she said, "I run away." I was a little shocked at her honesty, but wasn't laughing five minutes later as I chased her down the aisles of CVS, milk and baby in hand.

But I love to watch her imagination at work. She actually tried to pass off giving Damon a pretend jelly bean, while keeping the real ones in her other hand. I found her on the floor one day, with her doll, Bexley, the boppy, and a book, and had to wonder how many times she has seen me in a similar position with Kyla. I love her curiosity, her ability to process things I wouldn't think she is able to, and her constant vocal serenading. I also love that she asks to watch "Nephi and the Grass Plates."

I won't go into the 50% of things I don't love about having a 2-year old, but anyone who has had a child in that stage can probably guess the things I don't love.

I love 90% of having a baby.

This is in response to Emily's question, "how is your baby?" I LOVE having a baby. I had forgotten how much I enjoy almost everything about having a baby. I am actually a bit surprised to find myself saying this, but it's absolutely true. Kyla is the easiest of the three kids, even with all she demands from me, because I hardly ever feel frustrated with her. I am fifty times more patient with her than I am with my other kids (maybe that's sad, but it's true). I just can't get enough of her chubby little body, and find myself pinching her rolls when I change her diaper.

I love the way she still flails her body when she's scared. I love how she smiles at the ceiling fan, prompting me to conjecture that she must be conversing with angels. I love how she grabs on to her clothes and flips up her dresses. In the mornings, I love to unwrap her from her blanket coccoon and watch her purse her lips and stretch. I love to catch her watching me when I'm not aware of it, instantly flashing me one of her huge open-mouth smiles. I love holding her when she's falling asleep, as she lays her head on my shoulder and sighs. I love to hear her cooing to the other kids, as though she's desperately trying to tell them something important. I love giving her a bath and watching her splash with delight...

I could go on and on and on, I love my baby so. The 10% of things I don't love about having a baby don't even begin to compare to the 90% of things I love so much, and look forward to more than anything else in my life right now. To answer your question, Emily, my baby is amazing, sweet and perfect; just like my other two were. And hopefully, if you are reading this and have the pleasure of having a baby in the other room (or in your arms right now), just like yours is, too.