Blessed

We are very blessed! Here are just a few things we have been blessed with this weekend:

Brandon's parents got to come visit and meet Amelia. We had a fun time with them. We got to do a lot of fun things with them while they were here. We went to the Texas State fair, went out to eat at some fun places, went to McKinney's Octoberfest, hung out and talked, and many more things. Patsy and I also started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred together! It was pretty fun to have someone to work out with! :) It was so fun to see them interact with Millie. She has such wonderful grandparents.

Loving people in our lives who make us beautiful things:

Brandon's mom made all of the bedding for Millie's room. She finished the quilt and brought it with her. It is beautiful! She did a wonderful job!

I decided about a week before Amelia was born that I wanted her blessing dress to be made out of a vintage pillowcase. While my mom was here, we found a great one to use. She took it home with her and made it into a beautiful dress. I love how it turned out! She also embroidered Amelia's name and blessing date on the inside lining, so it is extra special.

Brandon's sister Heather made a really fun name decoration for Amelia's wall. Unfortunately, you will have to wait just a little longer to see it, because it's only halfway hung so far. Just know that it's adorable. And be excited for when you DO get to see it. :)

We blessed Amelia on Sunday. Brandon did a great job, and we felt so much love for her. We missed being able to see all of our family at the blessing, but were grateful that Brandon's parents could be there. Even though we are in a Spanish branch, Brandon said the blessing in English for our benefit. I was glad for that. Amelia was uncharacteristically fussy before and after the blessing, but she was calm and quiet during it. Brandon's dad (who was trying to keep the binky in her mouth) said that she got a calm look on her face and looked straight up with her bright eyes. It is special to contemplate how pure and innocent and close to Heavenly Father our little babies are. I wonder if they still remember where they came from. It was a beautiful, simple day.

My aunt shared this great idea with us, and I am glad we did it: each of us took some time to write down what we remembered from the blessing, both the events surrounding it and the actual words that we remembered. It is really neat to have four different people's perspectives on what happened, and it will be a fun record to look back on in years to come. I hope I remember to do that for other events.

A beautiful, healthy, growing daughter.

• I measured Amelia's hair last night, and discovered that it is already two inches long! Pretty impressive for a seven week old, eh?
• She is starting to smile more and more, and yesterday I discovered that she loves the song "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad." She smiles and opens and closes her mouth exaggeratedly as if she is trying to sing along with me.
• Lately she has been sleeping a little better; sometimes 5 hours in a row!
• When people see her for the first time, they usually say, "Look at all that hair!" Then they say, "She is so alert!"
• She is a very content baby when she has everything she needs.
• She loves to sit. Even while I put her to sleep she wants to be sitting. I think she doesn't want to miss anything.
• She loves the sound of water and does very good in the bath.
• She is still super cuddly and loves to be held.
• She loves it when we pay her close attention and talk to her. She sometimes tries to talk back or sticks out her tongue in hopes that we will stick ours out back. She usually smiles when I touch by her mouth. I guess it must be funny or something.

Parents

The other day, Brandon and I were having a (slightly heated) conversation about the little "inconveniences" each of us has been experiencing as new parents. Sometimes it is easy for me to think that I am the only one experiencing a major change in my life, but both of us have had to adjust to lots of "inconveniences" lately. And many many other people do it too. After sitting back and thinking about it, I realized that I have really taken for granted just how much our parents do and have done for us. I have always known that they do a lot, but now I have a better idea of just how much.

The truth is, parenting is, in many ways, inconvenient. It's hard. It takes up all of your time. It takes a lot of physical and mental energy... especially when you are low on sleep. You have to give up things you really want. It costs a lot of money. It changes a lot of your goals and the way you see yourself and do things. It changes everything. In a way, I think that the word parenting should actually mean sacrificing--especially for the many parents like ours who try their best to be great parents. But the love that you have for your children and seeing their comfort and being able to provide for them makes the major changes and sacrifices seem like not such a big deal. Instead, they become mere "inconveniences." The things that we give up as parents are worth it!

For example, a week ago I woke up feeling just like I had just been beat up--by a tiny one-month-old! Amelia hadn't slept well at night for a couple of days, and by the time morning came, I thought like I wouldn't be able to make it through the day. But all of the soreness and tiredness sort of melted away when, for the first time, THIS happened! It was so special!

Yep, she was smiling at me! It made being awake with her all night totally worth it to me.

It is kind of neat that being parents teaches us to put others first and to sacrifice things. It's neat how the family unit really is there to help us, not only as children, but also as parents to become closer to and more like Heavenly Father. Sometimes I think that I need to have it all together as much as my parents do right now. But I am realizing that they have had time to learn and grow as parents, and I am just a beginner. Perhaps in another 30 years I will be closer. :)