15 Minutes

Well, according to the reading on my new little alarm clock I like to call, "Reillee," I have exactly 15 minutes to create this post. I love having a baby in the house. I have been reminiscing and thinking about how my perception has changed with each child we've added to this family. I remember thinking Emmeline was the MOST beautiful, MOST brilliant, MOST (insert adjective here) baby I'd ever seen. I couldn't get over how perfect she was. With Joshua, I just couldn't wait for him to grow up so that we could play ball. Benjamin is a bit of a blur, but he truly WAS the perfect baby...my prevailing thought with him, though, was just about keeping him healthy. Samantha, I didn't want her to grow up. I thoroughly enjoyed the baby phase. And now with Reillee, I find myself in a combination. I'm like a brand-new mother..."Did you see that? She smiled. I swear she smiled. She's only three weeks old and she smiled!"...and a basket-case..."Wash your hands. Again. Did you use soap?!"...and endlessly speculating about what she's going to be like when she grows up..."Did you hear that belch? That was awesome!"...and thoroughly enjoying the moment...or moments...here are some from the past week(ish)...

Emmeline was baptized on Sunday, April 18th. We are so incredibly proud of her...and I really can't believe I have an 8 year old daughter. EmJ loved it, and took the day very seriously. She's such an amazing kid. We, erm, attempted a family photo just before the baptism.

EmJ and Luke, just before her baptism. EmJ wore my sister, Lindsey's, baptism dress...made by my grandma. Awww....

This week we also had EmJ's birthday party (photos were taken, but they all have other peoples' children in them, so you'll just have to use your imagination) and we mowed the weed patch. I just had to snap a picture because the goggles and boots are hilarious. No, Gus, you wouldn't want to get hit with a flying piece of grass shrapnel and be emotionally scarred for life and thus physically unable to mow a lawn. Not that I know anybody like that...

On Sunday, we also blessed little Reillee Anita (whose name I just misspelled three times before I got it right...I am either really sleep deprived or, no, I'm really sleep deprived...) Here are the girls with Luke before church. I am pleased to announce that Reillee's dress stayed clean and poop free all day. (Seriously, I appreciated that little miracle on a very physically and emotionally draining (in a good way) day.)

EmJ, so proud in her white dress. And poor Sam, totally neglected...she was however, clean, bathed, and ready for church about 5 minutes later. Yup, I am superwoman. (No, not really. I'm pretty sure Luke has done all the chores and kept the kids fed and dressed and sort-of bathed the last 3 weeks. He has NOT, however, changed any diapers....hmmmm...)

Reillee is wondering why she has to be bothered with the camera.

Like I said, I had 15 minutes to create this post. And my time is up. So, unless I want to type the rest with one hand...not fun...I'm off!