Munchkin's First Testimony

I'm so blessed to have this little girl as my daughter!!!  I must count this morning as one of the most precious experiences of my life-- hearing my daughter's first testimony.

She asked me this morning to read her stories about Jesus; and of course, I jumped at the chance!  We read our "picture scriptures" (it's a summarized version of the Book of Mormon with pictures, great for little kids and available through store.lds.org). We read about Jesus coming to teach the Nephites and when Jesus blessed the children.  She pointed at pictures and would identify Jesus.  Then she pointed at a picture of Jesus and said, "Son.  Jesus son."  I told her, "Yes, Jesus is Heavenly Father's Son."  I beamed with a little bit of pride that she was so smart!

Then she asked if we could watch Jesus on the t.v.  I agreed since we've got some church videos (but to be perfectly honest, we hardly ever watch them...I was surprised she knew to ask!); I put in "The Testaments."  She sat quietly and cuddled with me through most of the movie (she's been feeling sick since last night, so I was loving the cuddle time!).  Closer to the end, there are depictions of Christ being beaten, suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, and being crucified.  My sweet munchkin started crying and saying, "Hurt Jesus!"  She was obviously very upset by this and I was about to tell her, "It's ok. Jesus is fine."  But...

Something stopped me.  I felt a distinct impression that I shouldn't relieve this sorrow she felt at seeing Jesus hurt.  So, I just hugged her and said, "Yes, Jesus is hurt. Jesus died."  And she continued to cry as we watched the scene of destruction among the Nephites... and I teared up, too.

The next scene opened, and showed Jesus appearing to Mary outside the empty tomb.  Munchkin stopped and watched quietly, then pointed and asked, "Jesus... Jesus alive?"  I said, "Yes, Jesus is alive again.  He was resurrected."  And she looked up at me, with the biggest smile and said, "Jesus alive!"  She kept saying it for the rest of the film as we watched Christ minister unto and heal the Nephites.  After it was over, she got up and started shouting, "Jesus alive! Jesus alive!" throughout the house.

I am so touched by her enormous faith and joy in our Savior's resurrection.  She hasn't stopped telling me, "Jesus alive!" all day.  When we webcam'd Brad at work during his lunch break, she continued to share with him her testimony, "Jesus alive!"  It brought tears to our eyes to hear our little girl's conviction of faith.  And I wanted to share her testimony with you today...

And I'd like to add my testimony, though I'm sure it isn't as precious as munchkin's.  I know Christ lives!  He  suffered and died for me, for my sweet daughter, for each of my beloved family and friends, and all others.  And He was resurrected, and He lives today!

To learn more about Christ and our faith, feel free to visit http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/.

Happy Birthday, Munchkin!!!

Our Munchkin is 2 years old now!  Wow! Has time flown by, or what?!

Two years ago, I was holding my munchkin for the first time.  It was one of the best days of my life!

Here's some pictures from her birthday celebrations!

helping mommy make homemade mozzarella sticks!

Wrapping the cheese sticks in won-ton wrappers.

Playing hockey with Daddy!

Daddy showing munchkin how to hold the hockey stick.

Munchkin won the face off!

On a break-away!

Blowing out the candles on her awesome Elmo cake!

She got a headband and apron from Corrine (our neighbor).  What a cutie!

Drawing at her new art desk from Grammsie and Papa Bear.

Our little artist concentrating.

Sunday, Nana and Grandpa Neeley came to visit for dinner and brought LOTS of presents!

Piggy flashlight-- and it OINKS!!!

clothes from Nana and Great Aunt Vicky, Play-Doh from Great-Grandma Neeley

Beep! Beep!

who knew driving would be... delicious?

kisses for Baby Ruthe!

Mommy, Birthday Munchkin, and Aunt Sam

Happy Easter!

We spent most of Easter weekend with Brad's family.  Saturday morning, we went to a town Egg Hunt.  Naomi found 3 eggs!  Parents were told before that they are not allowed on the field, unless their kid can't walk.  Well, that went out the window almost immediately... one parent even picked up their child (who looked about 18 months, give or take a month or two) and ran to the middle of the field to start picking up eggs.  We just walked behind Naomi and pointed to an egg and told her to pick it up.  She was happy with her haul of 2 rolls of smarties, a mini 3 Musketeers, and a mini Kit-Kat.

Saturday afternoon, we drove over to Brad's parent's and stayed there for the weekend.  Munchkin enjoyed blowing bubbles with Mommy while Daddy, Grandpa, and Nana, helped Aunt Sam to paint a giant canvas that's going to be the backdrop for a nearby high school in the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Sunday we enjoyed going to church in the morning.  It was nice to have time set aside to focus on the gift of the Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful to my Savior for this gift!  The music was beautiful, and I cried when the ward choir sang "Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" (the link is to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing) and "There is a Hill." (to listen to a part of it, go to the link, there is a "listen" option, even though it's a site that sells sheet music.)

We enjoyed dinner with Brad's grandma, Aunt Linda, mom, dad, Sam, and cousins Art and Kristen.  And afterwards we held a "egg hunt" for munchkin.  She has so much fun collecting eggs, and even more fun discovering all the sugary goodies inside the eggs!

We're still attempting a sugar detox...

OBs and Birth Plans

So, I need to vent.  And when I'm done.. I'd appreciate knowing if anyone else has had a similar experience with an OB, or other professional that helps with pre-natal care and birth.

 I'm just over 32 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and saw the OB yesterday. As he was leaving, I asked him at what appointment I should discuss a birth plan with him (or his 2 other collegues in the practice, since I can't choose who I see...).  He asked if I had one now, and I said not yet (as I wanted to build my birth plan with the drs and be able to ask them questions about their standard practice procedures).  And this was his response, "Birth plans are things that first-time moms do who don't know what they are doing, and they print a birth plan off the internet, and they never happen the way they said.  We get some women who want soft music and pink lights, some want to birth on their hands and knees.  Some don't want any pain medication even though they are screaming at us in pain, but those are usually the ones wearing hemp skirts and have hair down to their butts.  Just let us know of any requests when you get to labor and delivery and we'll try to make it happen."

I was so taken-aback at this unprofessional and condescending opinion from my doctor that I'm seriously considering switching doctors... if I even could at this point.   I mean, those comments seriously turned me off from wanting to ever see him again, didn't answer my question (when would be a good time to discuss this with you?) and did the exact opposite of inviting me to discuss my concerns and wishes with him at any time in the future.  (I think the comment about the "hemp skirt wearing, hair-down-to-their-butts" women is what really pushed me over the edge...)This is the ONLY OB/GYN office in town, the next closest is 20 minutes away, or 35 minutes away, but I ruled those out before because I preferred the hospital here in town.  I'm just really not liking this OB...  (ok, so this is more a personal rant--earlier, I had mentioned to him that I used to be a social studies teacher, and he casually said, "I hated history in high school.  But now I read history books all the time and I realized that high school history teachers only teach the "fake history." They don't tell you all the real stuff that happened." -- seriously?! Don't you think about what you say or who you are saying it to before it comes out of your mouth???) 
Now, I realize there are 3 doctors in this practice.  I met one of them once, who was nice, but English isn't his first language and he's got a heavy accent and not that I have a problem with that, but I'd rather have a doctor that I can communicate with without a language barrier in case there are complications during delivery that need quick attention and I can't ask him to repeat what he said (is that aweful?).  And the 3rd doctor I met is actually really awesome-- I've met him 3 times and he's always listened to me, asked questions, and  has been sure to include Brad in the discussion and was friendly to munchkin.

I just want to know that my OB(s) and I are on the same page and that they can respect my wishes.  And I don't think the time to get on the same page is when I'm having contractions and getting admitted to labor and delivery.  I'm an educated woman that tries to be in-tune with her body and knows it better than a doctor that has only seen me once or twice to look at my chart and tell me how far along I am.   I know that the best plan is to practice and prepare for giving birth before the time comes, and the dr should be a part of that process.

So what would you do?  Find a new dr in a further away town?  Suck it up because i'm being too sensitive about petty things? ask the nurses what day dr#3 is on call and try to go into labor that day, or schedule an induction on that day (even though I don't want to be induced)?  Any other creative ideas?

And further... do I report this dr for his unprofessional comments? Was it unprofessional enough to warrant that kind of action? Or am I over-reacting?