Namesake

Definition of NAMESAKE

: one that has the same name as another; especially : one who is named after another or for whom another is named

Do you wonder why we chose the name Angelyn?

No, it was not the fruit of our own creative genius. But that's not too far off. It originated with my parents. Or, if my distant memory serves me accurately enough, I recall my brother Mike making the original suggestion. But I was only 4 or 5 at the time so there could be several versions of how the name really came about. The point being, here she is. My sister...

Angelyn Richards Foster

holding our sweet little one.

Of course, she goes by Angie now, and has done for as long as I can remember.

Let's see...how do I do this without embarrassing her too much? Simply stated, I love the girl. Her most defining characteristic is a heightened sense of awareness of the feelings of others. This among many other admirable qualities. I could drone on and on about how we talk several times a week and how she is one of few souls by whom I feel truly understood. But, I won't.

This photo is all about having sisters. I love it.

Fast forward to last Summer. Weston and I are in the midst of that hopeless search for a baby name we both like. During one of several brainstorming sessions, he suggests the name Angelyn. Suddenly in my mind all others are excluded. It is somewhat unique without being too bizarre, it is really, really pretty, and as far as namesake goes, we both felt we couldn't ask for better.

Of course there were some "ifs" about it. One question being how Angie would feel about it. This was second only to the quandary about whether it would be too similar to Annelise. In time, both obstacles were surmounted. So, we may have invited trouble by having two daughters whose names start with the same syllable, but I really don't care. And just for the record, both names were chosen for their beauty and any similarity between them is purely co-incidental.

Angie, thanks for letting us use your name, and for the person that you are. I have been blessed with many, many wonderful friends. But, as Jordana would say, You're my Bestie.

Ah, Motherhood. She makes it look so easy!

Going Private

I am going to go private on the blog again soon. Please send me your email address or leave it in the comments. And PLEASE continue checking in on us (even though we won't show up on your reader...sniff, sniff). I know we have picked up a fair number of readers since Angelyn was born and we welcome your visits. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Weston if you find yourself locked out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We Love You!!

Newborn Portraits - part 2

Newborn Portraits - part 1

...and a couple of candid shots...

Blessing Day

"You've stopped blogging," my Father-in-Law told me when we were all together for Angelyn's baby blessing this weekend.*

Yes. I took a little hiatus. But it wasn't for want of an adorable baby of whom to post pictures. It was mostly due to stress and fatigue. "But no one cares about that sort of thing nowadays."

(name the movie quote.)

If I had had time for blogging this past month, you would have heard all about how Angelyn failed her first 12-hour trial off of the home oxygen (much to my chagrin), and about how eager I was to repeat the test earlier than the doctor-ordered two weeks (which didn't happen). And then you would have seen the picture I snapped of her first time without oxygen and without tender-grips (think of them as cheek stickers). A picture that could almost convince us to pretend Angelyn could play the part of a normal full-term baby.

But now you will have to settle for the most up-to-date event I am here to blog about today:

The Baby Blessing.

Now, you may think this looks like your normal, average, large-mormon-family baby blessing photo. And I suppose you are right. But you must know that this is the first normal, average, large-mormon-family baby blessing photo we have ever taken. This thanks to our move back to Utah in 2009. Our poor other 3 children have had to settle for blessing guests approximately 1/5 in number. (Though no less precious).

Truth be told, we are very glad that we moved back to Utah when we did. With bed rest and a 3-month NICU stay, we have relied heavily on BOTH our large family and our ward. Many a helping hand was needed, offered, and received. Kensington, we love you but are glad we didn't burden you with the bi-annual Ricks family preemie this time around.
A few of the Colorado contingent succeeded in slipping out before picture time, but the folks in the photo above also made the long winter trek. We had a great time spent with the Ricktensens this weekend.

The blessing Angelyn received from her father was beautiful and expressed much about the legacy of faith and prayers that have surrounded her birth.

Here is Angelyn all tuckered out from greeting her adoring fans. And it is only 11:30 am.

*This beautiful blessing portrait was taken by Angie of A-M photography. What? You want to know if there is more where that came from? Why, of course. And they will be coming to a blondzoo near you very soon. Ok, ok. Here's another teaser. But only because you promise to check back soon!