Happy Birthday Jenna!!

It was one year ago today that we brought little Jennalee home from the hospital!!  I remember it well.  It was raining on and off and we had to sit in traffic because the roads were still partially closed due to the Marathon.  We finally made it home in between conference sessions and got to show her off to my mom and dad who were staying with us for a few days. Now it is a year later and Jenna has gotten so big!  She has brought so much joy to our family!

Today was a gorgeous sunny day for the marathoners and for conference weekend. This morning I slept in and then went running.  We enjoyed the morning session of conference.  Jen (my sister) and Grayson and their five boys were in town on their way to Disneyland and so they came over for a few hours this afternoon.  Since we live several hours from family, we are always grateful when family is around to come visit.   Rick had started emptying out the pool today and so the kids threw on their swimming suits and splashed around as it drained.

We visited and ate lunch and waited for Jenna to finish her nap so that we could celebrate her birthday with cake and ice-cream (and presents).  I had purchased some cute little outfits for her and the other kids went around gathering toys this morning to give to her. It was pretty funny.  They went and found little gift bags and Josh filled his up with all sorts of interesting things to give to his baby sister -- half of a plastic Easter Egg, some keys (not sure what they go to), a pair of baby sandles he happened to find in his room, a Hawaiian lei, and some other random toys -- all treasures indeed.  Jaiden and Janelle had actually found some little baby toys in their toy box that they lovingly put in their gift bags and gave to Jenna.  Rick said, "we should do this for every birthday!"

We are so grateful for Jennalee.  She is our last baby and growing so fast.  I find myself just soaking it all in -- holding her, nursing her, snuggling with her, and playing with her.  All of the kids absolutely adore her.  They all want to be the one to sit by Jenna at the snack bar or in the car.  Jenna crawls all over the place.  She can go up and down the stairs with ease.  I was glad that she learned how to crawl down the stairs backwards rather quickly so that I didn't have to worry about her toppling down head first.  She cruises around furniture standing up and has learned how to climb up on things.  A couple of months ago she climbed up on a little plastic chair which was right by a kitchen chair which was right by the table.  We were so surprised to turn around and find her on the table!

Jenna likes to wave bye bye and hello.  She sometimes does the sign for "more."  She babbles a lot.  Her first tooth is finally erupting through her bottom gums.  She loves to play "peek-a-boo" and "chase."  She is a happy, mellow baby.  She loves to be around all of the other kids.  If all of the kids are playing in the basement then she wants to be there too.  Jennalee is such a fun baby.  We love her very much!

Happy Birthday, Jenna!