Too Fast

Where have the last 9 1/2 months gone? Anybody have any idea? I keep having this vision of Tenley being 18 years old, and wondering why her Mother only blogged about her 5 times in her first year of life. Not sure how I am going to answer to that one....Brandon's mom just gave him a photo album of him when he was a baby, and I loved reading through it. And since this is my only sort of "baby journal" I have been keeping, I feel more of an urgency to capture this sweet little baby girl of ours. I remember reading through my Mom's journals when I was younger, and she would write certain things that we had done as a family. I remember thinking I wish I knew more about what she thought as a Mom of 5 young girls, and the challenges she had.

I want Tenley to look back at these and know what I thought about, what I worried about, what she loved, what we loved to do together. Every night as I'm rocking her before she goes to bed, I say a silent prayer for her. I know what it was like to have to be a girl growing up in the world we live in now. When Tenley was given her baby blessing, she was blessed that she would always know that she was a Daughter of God and that would be the only validation she would ever need. If she knows she is loved by her Heavenly Father then no other person in this world would need to give her validation. I pray for her every night that Brandon and I can raise her in this world and help her remember where she came from.

The most defining trait of Tenley Marie is how completely calm and content she is. Even complete strangers have come up to us at the store before and said, "she is just so easy-going isn't she?!" And yes, yes she is. I never dread taking her anywhere, even if she has to sit in a high-chair for an hour while I catch up with family or friends. She just sits and plays, claps her cute little hands together, and squeaks away. I have a friend who is trying to convince her boyfriend that babies aren't ALL that bad. She asked me if she could borrow Tenley for a week, because she just knew if he got his hands on Tenley he would feel differently about babies. I always have to remind myself, as well as my friends who haven't had children yet, that Tenley is raising the bar for ALL babies....and that babies aren't really this easy-going most of the time :) I always tell Tenley that she is certainly raising the expectations for all of her siblings.

Another thing Brandon and I have loved seeing is how completely endearing her personality is. We live in a very close-knit apartment complex, and Brandon and I can hardly ever step foot outside without having someone ask, 'Let me see Tenley!' We have deemed Tenley as the Honorary Court Baby because all of the little kids LOVE holding her/playing with her/making her laugh. It has been so fun to see how much Tenley's face lights up anytime she sees a little kid around because I think she has just come to expect that all little kids want to come up to her and play peek-a-boo.

She is so content and relaxed, that she could really give a hoot on whether or not she crawls. Everytime I put her on her knees and hands, she gives me a pathetic little cry and then proceeds to roll onto her back. However, she will accept all hands/fingers to assist her in walking wherever she goes.

I wasn't quite sure it was possible to love someone the way that Brandon and I love Tenley, but wow. I can only capture that love by saying that my heart is in a constant state of near-explosion. I know this time with my first little baby is so fast, and I already feel like it's over! I am loving this time I have to cuddle, play, teach, love, and laugh with my sweet little firstborn baby girl.

all dressed up for a Costume party

Her makeshift "Jenny Jumper" that Brandon bolted onto our cinderblock, since there aren't any doorjams in our little 2-bedroom apartment :) Pioneer Day Festivities with my Dad and stepmom
Days of '47 Parade
Nana rocking T to sleep
Tenley's little buddy Rylee
Tenley's older cousins who are the BEST babysitters
Cousin Kordin came to visit us...Tenley can't wait to meet the rest of his family!
Relay for Life at the Gallivan Center--Brandon and I were the Entertainment Chairs this year

Baby in a Basket
This little girl has him wrapped around his little finger!
Cousins and BFFs
Cousins and BFFs, Take 2
Mommas and their Babies


My High School besties and I went and walked around Temple Square with the kiddos

Beautiful Temple Square!

Brandon's 29th Birthday Brouhaha!