The Ricks: June 2011

Up until now I haven't written anything in the blog. This is really Chelsea's thing but I would feel remiss if I didn't write about the things that happened this week. My perceptions and role as a parent has changed. What I thought and especially, what I felt have increased so dramatically.

A few weeks agi Chelsea started showing our daughter Lucy how to pray. Being the sharp little thing that she is she has caught on very fast. She puts her little hands together and bows her head a bit. Well earlier this week Chelsea was nursing Lucy through a painful bout of teething, not even orajel and little fevers could help this time around. In what seemed to be an especially frustrating and very painful time for our daughter and with tears running down her cheeks she put her hands together and leaned her head on momma and eeked out a tiny little prayer. Were her words long or even recognizable? No. But thats not really the point is it? Chelsea said she really didnt say anything. But at such a young age to fall toward what her mother had taught her. There is no doubt in my mind our little 14 month old knows what prayer is.

I am home for the next five days and this gives me serious quality time with Liam and Lucy. When mommma got home today we got ready to head out to the ward party. As I walked into my room to change I saw Lucy standing next to the window with one of my t-shirts in hand. She had it draped around her neck and was trying to put it on. With her back facing me I stood in the doorway and watched as she hugged and squeezed my shirt. I could hear ooooo's and ooooh's coming from her as she did her best to bring the collar over her head. Momma walked in and helped her and lucy turned and walked out of the bedroom.

Wondering what had just happen Chelsea told me that Lucy comes in our room after I have left for work and grabs one of my t-shirts that I leave out. She told me Lucy wears it around the house for hours and will even go in my closet to try and put on a pair of my shoes taking the time to feel my ties. Given the fact that Lucy gets into every single thing she can, pulling clothes out of drawers, pans off the shelves, she finds it funny Lucy will walk into my closet and not pull a single thing off the hangers. She just feels my clothes and ties.

Chelsea then reminded me of what it was like when she was pregnant with Lucy and how she would toss and twist in the womb when I called, and when I would come home. How when she was first born and for about three months after Lucy would wake right up when I came home from work, no matter what time it was.

Watching my sweet little girl we feel God has given us a unique special little girl with such and immense capicity for love, more than we realized. Im sure as Liam grows and his personality begins to show he to will surprize us.

Just my thoughts. A grateful and very loved father.