As Close To Heaven As It Gets

Today was just a beautiful day. I'll try to be brief since the post I just posted earlier this evening was longer (talking about Easter and General Conference). But then again, you know me!

I am still a little sick, so I didn't have the energy to exercise this morning, but I lost a pound anyway! Yeah! But despite the fact that I got up so late, I still had time to shower, get dressed, and do my hair (that combination hasn't happened while I've been sick for the past two weeks! I've spent a lot of time in my pajamas and when I've washed my hair, I've promptly thrown it up into a barrette).

Peter woke up in a lovely mood at 8:30 a.m. (he usually wakes up at 7:30 a.m., but he is transitioning to one nap a day, so anything goes!). I cuddled him while he drank some milk and then after he had his breakfast, I got him dressed and we went out to run some "errands." The errands were mostly to buy some fun things for Pete. When I went grocery shopping last night, Smith's had some bouncy balls for sale (small ones for $1.80 and big ones for $4). I couldn't fit them in the cart last night, but I really wanted to get Pete some because he LOVES balls.

So, we went out and bought some balls and some more little cars for him. When we got home, Peter had a lovely time playing with his new toys (inside and outside). He threw one of the balls up on the trampoline and tried to get up there himself. I turned around from chasing another ball to find him hanging from the trampoline by both of his little arms with his little legs kicking in the air! I was super surprised by his strength! You've got to remember that he's only 14 months old! I can't even lift myself up in the air like that!

He had such a good time playing with his cars and balls inside too. He was soooo cute and soooo excited. When he's really excited, he makes kind of a huffing and puffing breathing sound while he moves his upper body up and down in an excited way and he sometimes stamps his foot too. It's so cute. :)

Then, he went down for his nap around noon. He woke up in a very lovely mood around 2:30 p.m. and after cuddling him, giving him some milk and some snacks, he wanted to play outside some more. As I said, I'm still sick, but I'm feeling more energized (for which I am grateful, because it is a necessity to keep up with my little guy).

We played outside for at least an hour and then I had to make dinner. My mother-in-law watched Pete while I made dinner (he blissfully played outside some more in the meantime).





Above: Peter enjoying the great outdoors.

The only drawback to the day was that it was a school night for Jeremiah, so we couldn't spend much time with him. He had dinner with us and then headed off to school.

After dinner, we went outside again (Peter's favorite place!). We played and played.

I didn't let Peter play out in the snow this winter (we just never got around to getting him snow boots and snow clothes). Plus, I hate the cold. But now, I regret that I didn't play with him out in the snow. I think, for the very first time today, Peter walked in the snow (there was a crazy snowstorm the other day--it is mostly melted now, but there was still just enough of it left in the shadowy areas of the yard). Peter squatted down and felt the snow with his hands and promptly picked some of it up and put it in his mouth. He smiled so big and started squeeling and grunting because he thought it was quite tasty. It was so cute.

At one point, I showed him how you can make footprints in the snow. He walked around my footprints forming a perfect rainbow of baby footprints around mine. My mother-in-law was kind enough to watch him while I ran in and got my camera because it was just too cute. I'm not sure that the picture does it justice, but it sure was sweet.



After he had played good and hard, we went inside. By this time, Peter was tuckered out. So, we put on Sesame Street and I cuddled him while he sat contentedly in my arms. At one point, he slid off my lap (I thought he was ready to play again), but he just got his special blanket and then crawled back into my arms. At another point, I had to leave to get some cough medicine for me and some milk for him. He got so sad because he wasn't done cuddling and he just reached his arms towards me with the saddest and sweetest look on his face. I chugged my cough medicine and rushed back after getting his milk and promptly put him back on my lap where the cuddling resumed.

When it was time to put him to bed, we read some of his favorite books, followed by the scriptures and then I put him in his crib and sang "Army of Helaman" to him. He didn't want me to go, but he promptly went to sleep after I left.

I ask you, does life get any better than that? To be so loved by your child and to love him so much in return is about as close to heaven as it gets in this earthly existence in my opinion.