NINE months, Fools and time flying

9 month check up. 21 lbs!

Since we are a few days away from Enzo turning 10 months, I might as well get up on the nine month post. 8 teeth. Standing. Crawling. Learned to do the stairs in one day. Eats everything. Says "bye bye bye bye". Gives kisses. Loves to ride in the stroller and see the world. Big car seat. 8 Oz bottles. People food. Mop of hair. Needs a whole new wardrobe because K was weating size 12 months AT 12 months- you are already there. Shakes head "no no". Curious. Chunky. Cherubic. 

Enzo and Ezra at 9 months. 

Mckinley got punked this April Fools by Alex. A cleverly disguised packet of oatmeal dressed to look like a chocolate bar, made Mc say that she,"hates this day". That night, we decided to play a little trick ourselves. "Pretend" to cut her hair. We tucked her luscious locks into her shirt and posted this pic to family and Facebook. LOTS of comments about how the "apocalypse must be happening" since we cut her hair. She was SO happy to trick Alex. It was also funny to see people respond when she showed up at school/church with still 2 feet of hair running down her back. I don't think I will ever want to cut her hair. It's my Mckinley Reese's calling card. 

And where did Kindergarten go? Didn't actually buy this picture- but, this little girl grew up so FAST! The difference even from the first of the year- her face, her teeth, her hair. Just turning into an older kid and it makes me a little sad that pretty soon she won't want me to walk her to school or hold her hand in front of her friends. 

You never know what you are going to get.

"Life sucks and then you die."
"Life is like a box of chocolates."
"Life is meant to be enjoyed not just endured."
"Life is for living."

Over the past few months, life has definitely taken a weird and random turn. I am pretty sure I jinxed myself because around the first of the year I made the mistake of saying  "life is good" and didn't anticipate the bottom falling out.

I recently read a talk that mentioned how life would be so much easier- we could bear each other's burdens so much better- if we all wore signs and we could (in the most non-judgmental way) all see what was happening behind closed doors. Signs like, "My wife has cancer", "My depression is off the charts today", "Being a mom makes me feel inadequate", or "I have an addiction".

The signs would only make it easier to deal with those we encounter every day. We could be more patient. We could be more understanding. We could be more forgiving and compassionate. We could be more gentle in our interactions and more forgiving of the human condition.

As I listened to women's conference, it felt good to remember that there is someone who understands perfectly. Someone who never judges or is shocked by the mistakes we make every. single. day. Someone who not only suffered the pain of the sin but also compensates for the emotions that are natural to existence.

I have never before thought of the emotion that accompanies a bad choice (made by myself or someone else) and the need to have those feelings lifted. He not only understands sorrow but jealousy, impatience, greed, anguish, fear, guilt, desperation, anxiety and depression. It is almost hard to fathom that one person, one perfect person could not only feel the sting of sin but also play witness to the slew of emotions that sometimes are worse than the sin itself.

"He knows all that. He’s been there. He’s been lower than all that. He’s not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don’t need a Savior. He came to save his people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He’s not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief."- Sis. Okazaki

How grateful I am to know that he understands. He isn't surprised that I get mad that I lose my patience or I feel inadequate despite his constant love and support. All he wants is for me to feel more confident in his all encompassing Atonement and to have hope that tomorrow, things can be better.

After an awesome evening with Bree, Alina and Charity I got the privilege of being on TV with Carol Mikita. I shared this quote from Pres. Eyring.