Sundays

I have all new respect for parents who go to church. And by that I mean parents who get up, get their kids up, get everyone ready (including themselves), feed then all and then have reverent and contemplative thoughts as they enter the chapel for 9am sacrament meeting. How do they do that?

We've been to church three times now and each week I realize I haven't done something important 10 or 15 minutes before we're supposed to walk out the door--things like fed the baby or woken up Eric...

On Week #1 we did pretty well. We were all dressed and actually in our pew before the meeting began. Claire started off asleep in her car seat but she was escorted swiftly out halfway through the testimonies by Dad. In Eric's words "they took a walk and talked about it" before she decided it would be in her best interest to just fall asleep and let Daddy hold her.

Week #2 we were late and there was no parking left in our lot--oh and it was just about time for Claire to eat--so Eric dumped us out while he parked up at the temple and we found a seat in the foyer. I spent most of the first hour navigating the mother's lounge--definitely uncharted territory. I could really get used to always having a blanket to cover up with since I am often freezing and I could also get used to snacks in my purse...Is that irreverent? Maybe a little. But definitely necessary.

And then this week it was Fathers day. It was packed but we got a seat. It doesn't matter how early I try to leave. We're always cutting it close. Once Claire got changed and swaddled up she slept soundly for the majority of the block. We sat behind a family with three rather rambunctious girls which made me very thankful for our one sometimes fussy little baby. We may have had some bumps in the road but I don't feel like I'm on the losing side of an epic battle or like I deserve a medal. It was a great way to get some perspective. 

Our new "bad church habit" is to use the baby as an excuse to distract us when something awkward is being said or when we are struggling to stay focused/awake. I've heard you reach the point where you just wish you could sit and listen, enjoying the meetings but at the moment things are a little backwards.