Can Bracken go to Nursery Early?

This is a little bit of a rambling post. Church today had some funny moments, and embarrassing ones. Kind of like every Sunday.

When Bracken was born, I didn't think about how much, um...fun church would become. From the first time we took him to church, I don't think I've sat through an entire sacrament meeting.

And then there's nap time. It's always during the middle of church. Sometimes we wake him up early and then he's grouchy the rest of the day. We've kept him up and then we're all miserable. I've gone to a different wards sacrament meeting in the morning and then stayed home while Bracken finishes his nap and then rejoin Brian for Sunday school and Relief Society.

For the first six months of his life Bracken lasted until the opening song and then screamed bloody murder for three hours. I often wondered why we even went to church since one of us had to be in the halls or outside with him the whole time. Now he's just loud. When he sees his friend Lucy on the other side of the chapel he yells "Susu!" and becomes an escape artist trying to get to her. Yesterday when we were reading quiet books in the back of Sunday school he saw a picture of a cow and yelled, "MOO!! MOO!!" interrupting the teacher. A few minutes later he started "lecturing" one of our friends, shaking his finger at him and jabbering away. The whole back three rows were distracted. Honestly, it was hilarious, and I was cracking up, but I felt guilty because we were all so irreverent. Where is the line between keeping them in the classroom so we can try to listen, and taking him out so anyone else can hear?

On Sunday's I'm grateful for Bracken's "Jesus book," that he likes to look at the pictures in our Gospel Principles book, for crackers, water bottles, and the closing song in Relief Society.

For all of that, I'm grateful for church. We're always blessed for being there. We're able to take the sacrament, feel the spirit, and know that we're where we should be. Bracken is learning to fold his arms and be reverent, even if it's for short periods of time. He gets so excited anytime he sees pictures of Christ and says, "Jesus! Jesus!". If I forget to help him say a prayer before he eats lunch, sometimes he'll just fold his arms and wait for me. He wants to read a verse or two from his blue Book of Mormon and look at all the pictures each night before he goes to bed. He learns as we're consistent. I want him to always go to church and love being there. I want him to gain a testimony for himself. So even though it's more difficult and often embarrassing to be at church now, it's worth it, and so important for us, and our little guy.

But I am excited for nursery in three months!