Pictures from Aine's Birthday

I know it's taken a while to get these up, but here are some pictures from Aine's birthday. Our life is choatic right now, so we decided to just do something with Spencer, Aine, Tanner and I. Aine was really cute about it all. I have to apoligize about the pictures. Aine blinks whenever she looks directly at the camera, so most of the good shots are one when she wasn't looking at the camera. Enjoy.

Updated Tanner Pictures

2 Days Away From Being 2 Years

I know, can you believe it?
I can't!
Two years ago from this day was a Sunday.
I sat in church in the Joseph Smith
Memorial Building.
I was quite uncomfortable
as the beginnings of
contractions were coming on.
My visiting teaching companion saw my face and pointed out what I must be feeling. And I wondered,
"Could this be it?"

Now look at her!

She is my amazing, darling, little girl... not baby. She will gibber away words with only every other one making sense to me. (And that's only because I'm mom and I got to hear her say the word the first time it crossed her lips. Good luck to anyone else.) But she loves to talk and it doesn't matter who you are, she will talk to you about it all. I love it when I get a call at work and it's her. She will talk to me forever about her socks, Tanner, hanging out with Grandma Clark and going bye-bye.

She is a wonderful big sister. I never thought that the transition from "One and Only" to "Big Sister" would be so easy. When I was pregnant with Tanner I didn't think that she understood what was going on or what would be happening to our little family. But, she understood a lot more than we gave her credit for. She took it his arrival in stride and didn't miss a beat. When we brought Tanner home, she was the instant second mom. She takes care of him, plays with him and even helps him when he can't quite figure out how to roll over on his own. (This is whether he really wants to roll over or not.) She will even talk to him in that high, quite voice that she must of picked up from me. You know the one, it's the same one she uses with her baby dolls.

She is the trooper of all troopers. She deals with working mom, school going dad, new little brother and all that those things involve. Including being lugged around in the car to be "swapped" and being put aside while little brother is tended to. Don't get me wrong she has her moments when she just can't take it anymore and she needs her mommy or daddy time. But she puts up with a lot and I can't blame her. Overall she's just happy to be along for the ride.

Oh, how I miss her when I'm at work. She has grown so fast and it makes me sad to know that I've missed a lot of what I was hoping to be a part of. I continue to hope that for the next two years of her life Mommy gets to be home with her. But in the meantime, I remember how grateful I am to have her and to have seen her grow these past two years. She doesn't seem to be hurting at all from having Daddy at home with her. They are the best of pals.

Now, I just reflect that I am soon to be a mom of a two year old. Here it comes, just as before, whether I'm ready or not. :)

Happy Birthday Aine Bo! I love you!

Tanner's Baby Blessing

Tanner received his baby blessing today. This morning, when I was putting him in his nice white suit, I had to do a double take. I couldn't believe I was getting him ready for his baby blessing already. Spencer gave him the blessing with his dad, my dad, Tanner's uncles Dan, Chad, Dave, Morley, and Abraham in the circle. I believe this was Abraham's first baby blessing. It won't be long before he will be turning in his mission papers, I'm so proud of him.

In Tanner's baby blessing Spencer mentioned that Tanner has been born to loving parents. He also acknowledged that Tanner has come into a world that can be full of darkness and evil. He blessed him with strength to overcome temptations and to be a good example to those around him. He blessed him with health and strength. He also blessed him to be able to serve a mission and that Heavenly Father will open doors for him while he is out serving. He blessed him to be worthy to marry a daughter of God in the temple and to follow the promptings of the Spirit.

I am so grateful for Spencer and that he is worthy to faithfully hold the priesthood and give our children baby blessings. With both Tanner and Aine he has started to consider what he was going to say in their baby blessings as soon as we found out I was pregnant. He has put a lot of thought and consideration into both their blessings. He is such a sweet father. I am thankful for the power of the priesthood and the comfort that as our kids are beginning their lives in this world that they can receive these special blessings.

More Pictures From Tanner's Birthday

We finally got the pictures developed from the little point and shoot camera Spencer bought at the hospital gift store when Tanner was born. Enjoy and sorry for the poor picture quality.

That little weight says 6 lbs 12.5 oz. They decided to round it up to 6 lbs 13 oz. He was 20 inches long. Only an inch longer than Aine.

Getting cleaned up and getting his first shot. His lips look so puffy to me... pucker up!

Proud parent shots:

Oh, get him warmed up, he looks cold!

That's better :)

First Bath: They didn't let Spencer do it like they did with Aine, but they did bring him back with a cute mohawk.

Well, there you have it. There were a few more, but they were well worth keeping off the blog! :) Sorry it took 2 months to get these up.

Smiles from Tanner

On his left he smiles at the Christmas tree; on his right he grins at Aine.

Social Butterfly

Isn't she cute... she actually tried to call the bank. This is way to fast! :)