Wendell's baby blessing

Friends Forever

(They really do really like each other!) Isabelle has come to be one of Wendell's favorite people. I wonder if that's one reason babys like high pitched voices so much- their fellow little people have high pitched voices. Isabelle doesn't have to use "parentese", she just naturally has this little bitty high voice. He just loves it, even when she's not trying to make him smile. She's become a lot more gentle and loving towards him too. (Thank goodness! She was getting really feisty there for a little while.) I can't think of many things that have brought my heart more joy than seeing my two beautiful children interact in joy and love. It really is a blessed sight. That alone truly makes all the little sacrifices worthwhile.

Isabelle has a fetish with stickers on her face lately. She was the hit at playgroup- other kids trying to take her stickers. A trend-setter from the start.

Seriously the cutest baby on the planet. (What? Me, biased?)

Visitors
Monday March 16th to Friday the 20th was Richard's Spring Break. We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Brooksby (Brenda and Craig) and Great-grandma (Beth) fly out from Cali to visit from Wednesday the 18th to the following Monday. They were here for Wendell's baby blessing on March 22.

The following are some pictures from their visit:

It was a really neat experience to go to Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith and others were innocently incarcerated. This site is testimony that blessing can stem from trials; the Prophet Joseph received comfort and instruction as revealed through the Lord, which is recorded in the Docterine and Covenants scriptures.

City Park playground. Isabelle made a routine of running to Grandma after going down the slide.

Richard gave a little tour of the vet school. Complete with horses (Isabelle's favorite part) and a brand new foal.

Isabelle holds Wendell after church the day he received his baby blessing from Daddy. She was very interested in the concept of him getting a baby blessing and has talked about it on numerous occasions since the day. She links together when she got a blessing for health last month, when we use the word "blessing" or "blessed" and Wendell's baby blessing. I recently taught her more about the priesthood and the general authorities (as we prepare for General Conference.) It's really neat to see the little wheels turning in her mind as she learns about the gospel.

Just a happy little mini-man.

So windy! But I still like this picture. I wonder what the literal mathematical probability of getting a perfect family picture is? And by perfect, I really only mean, everyone's hair and clothes are nice and everyone is looking and smiling at the camera. Hmm... One day. Maybe. (It had better be before we have another one though because that probability drops with every addition!)

Brenda, Beth, Richard, Isabelle, Wendell, Amy. Blessing Day, Manhattan, KS, outside our apartment.

In our living room, Grandpa and Grandma Brooksby with their first two grandkids. (Two more on the way.)

4 Generations. (Grandpa) Craig Brooksby, (Daddy)Richard Brooksby, (Great-grandma) Beth Brooksby. Wendell is named after Beth's husband (and middle name is after Amy's Mom's Dad, Mac.)

Big sister, little brother shirts.

Mommy's tickling him. He loves it.

Richard must have gotten some of his baby-skills from Craig. Wendell is really comfortable with Grandpa-- (a mutual fondness.)