Just Call me Grandma

Again, I've been negligent with this blog, but in honor of this cute girl's first birthday, I thought I'd post about this sweetie that made me a grandma one year ago.  She arrived almost 3 weeks early, weighing in at only 5 pounds 2 ounces.  Of course, we made a mad dash to Provo to meet tiny baby Fayette Nicole (named after a favorite place to serve in the New York, Rochester mission, where both her parents served missions.) And then I got to go up and spend almost a week tending her while momma started back to school (fall semester of her senior year at BYU).  Since then, I've counted the days between visits.  Faye likes me pretty well (as long as she's well rested and can't hear or see her mother.)  It's so much fun to be a grandma, and I can't wait to welcome two more cuties to the family in the next few weeks.  I'll let pictures tell the rest of the story.

My Favorite First Born

29 years ago today, I became a mom.  Dallin Kent Barlow has been making my life better for the better part of my life.  So in honor of his 29th, here are 29 cool things about Dallin.

1- Dallin loves EVERYBODY.  And everybody loves Dallin.  When he was in high school, I never knew if he'd bring home the seminary president or someone who looked like he'd walked out of a rock concert.  To Dallin, they were/are all the same.  He doesn't see "appearances"; he just sees people.  Even when he was very little, I remember giving him a lecture cause I had lost him in the grocery store and found him talking to person of questionable appearance.  I told him he should not "talk to strangers."  He said, "Mom, he's not a stranger.  He's just a  man; and he is my friend."

2-Dallin is smart.  I remember trying to help him with homework. He'd have the math problem worked out in his head, and spout off the answer, while I was still trying to methodically show him how to do it.

3-Dallin has THE. BEST. LAUGH!!  If you haven't watched a funny movie with him, you've missed out.  His laugh is contagious.

4-Dallin is a great companion.  I remember when it was only me and him, all day, every day.  Kent went to work.  I didn't have any other children yet, and even though he was under 2, he was just my little buddy.  I loved playing with and driving with him.....he never cried in the car or the car seat, and would even do belly laughs (see #3) when I sang him funny songs in the car....It was hard to have a bad dad when I was being mommy to baby Dallin.

5-Dallin is forgiving.  As my first born, he got the uptight, not-so-good mom version of me.  And yet he didn't (and doesn't) seem to mind.

6-Which brings me to #6: Dallin is laid back.  He doesn't worry too much about things.  I remember one time in high school when he got in trouble for some stupid (not bad; just stupid) high school shenanigans.  I was not happy with him, but he remarked, "This will probably be a funny story in 10 years."  I did not find that remark comforting-or appropriate-at the time.....but you know what? He was right ;)

7-Dallin loves to eat.  He has been known to eat himself sick; and this required some monitoring on my part when he was little.

8-Dallin is a great cook (which goes well with #7).

One of Dallin's masterpieces

9-Dallin is not needy.  He has never been homesick for one second in his life.  He never cried when he went to nursery, pre-school, or a babysitter.  As a new mom, I sometimes felt bad that he would go to anyone and stay at anybody's house for any length of time, and never cared or seemed excited when I came to get him....in fact as a toddler, he usually didn't want to come back to me.....However, as I got more kids,who were more needy, I realized that I had not sufficiently appreciated his independence.

10-Dallin is generous.  He loves to buy gifts for people.  And he loves to buy food for people.  (See #s 7-8).  

11-Dallin loves to have fun.....and Dallin IS fun.  Whether he's snowboarding, fly fishing, watching a movie, eating, shooting, or playing a video game (all things he likes to do), he's having fun, and it's fun to do those things with him.

12-Dallin speaks Spanish.   Serving as a missionary in Chile required him to learn Spanish.  This has proven very useful.

13-Which brings me to #13...Dallin knows and loves the gospel of Jesus Christ; and tries hard to live with integrity and in compliance with his beliefs......which is pretty difficult in the world today.

14-Dallin is a computer genius.....He went to school at BYU-I and studied IT (Information/Technology) He now works as the "IT guy" for a company, and he is so helpful to me and the rest of the fam, whenever we have computer problems.

15- Dallin loves and is great with kids.....Just observe him around his niece.

16-Dallin has great teeth.  (Ok, I know it sounds like I'm stretching for ideas on this one, but hear me out.)  Dallin has always taken great care of his teeth....which after having other kids, I know is not always the case.  He brushes and flosses, and did so even as a kid, without reminder.  He said the two things that people were always impressed with on his mission were his blond hair, and his white, straight teeth haha..

17-Dallin is capable.  It seems like when I'm with Dallin, I just know that he can take care of whatever the situation.  Last summer, he and I were coming back from Vegas with a load of chair rentals for his sister's wedding, when we blew a tire on the truck.  It scared me to death, but thankfully Dallin was driving and successfully maneuvered the truck to the side of the road (not an easy task when you blow a front tire going 75 on the freeway with a full load) and changed the tire, and got us home.

18-Dallin loves me.....and he's not afraid to show it.  He always gives me hugs and kisses on the cheek; and even did so when he was in high school.

19-Dallin is a master video game player.....He's pretty much an expert at Super Smash ;)

20-Dallin can remember every detail of every movie he's ever seen.....pretty amazing, considering I can't even remember IF I have even seen a particular movie. One time in high school he was supposed to have spent weeks researching a particular subject and give an oral report on said subject.  He didn't.  But instead he used his knowledge from movies he'd previously seen on that subject to give a stellar report....one that earned him an "A" and kudos from the teacher.  The teacher even scolded the rest of the class for not "researching as thoroughly as Dallin."  (By the way,  I don't condone or recommend this approach to research :)

21-Dallin loves his grandparents and aunts and uncles and has always been a favorite.  As the first (and for a while the only) grandchild on BOTH sides and with teenaged aunts and uncles, Dallin was a "hot commodity" and babysitting offers were numerous.  He still likes to go get Sushi with his Uncle Justin or hang out and talk with his grandparents when he's around.

Baby Dallin and Uncle Justin

Teenaged Dallin and Grannie Annie

22- Dallin is an Eagle Scout. 

23-Dallin is a perfect big brother.  He loves and is kind to his siblings.  I am sure that they probably fought growing up, but I really don't remember my kids fighting.  It seems like Dallin's laid-back attitude just permeating our home and set an example of "not freaking out" for all the younger kids.  So yes, we had some "wild times" with lots of "play fighting" but not any real fights, not even very many verbal confrontations.  Thanks Dallin!

Barlow kids (before Luke arrived on the scene)

Barlow kids (again sans Luke) at Disneyland

Barlow Brothers

24- Dallin loves his dad....and his dad loves Dallin.  This post wouldn't be complete without including the fact that Dallin looks and acts like his dad....which is a GOOD thing ;)  Kent was sooo excited when Dallin was born and loved to play with and tend him.  Dallin and Kent have had some good times working jobs together and enjoying good movies and good food together.  Dallin has Kent's sense of humor and his ability to make friends with anyone (See #1 above).  It makes me happy that Dallin and Kent enjoy one another's company ;)

25-Posting these newborn pics of Kent and Dallin, brings me to #25....Dallin was my smallest baby at birth.  Only 5 pounds, 10 ounces.  BUT.....he was my strongest newborn.  He could hold his head up, and even stand (bear his own weight) as a newborn.  

26-Dallin is helpful.  He is ALWAYS ready and willing to lend a hand to ANYBODY.

27-Dallin is skillful and talented.  He can ride a 4-wheeler with skill, water ski, and even plays the piano and the saxophone. 

28-Dallin is a talented writer.  Some of his stories are pretty phenomenal.  I always think I should send them off to a potential publisher.

29-And finally to borrow a phrase from a movie (which seems appropriate.....Dallin will know who I'm quoting):  "Dallin is my best good friend. And even I know that ain't something you can find just around the corner."  Thanks Dallin, for 29 exceptional years.  I love you!! 

The Wedding of the Decade-one year ago

Although promised in my last post, I never composed a post about the "wedding of the decade," so I thought it only proper that I do so today on the one-year anniversary of this momentous occasion.

My oldest daughter Analise's very first date in high school was with a local boy, Dallin Seely.  They dated a bit in high school; on again, and off again; and off again and on again during college.....then after both had graduated college, served LDS missions, and had actually had little contact with each other for months (8 months to be exact), a random text message was sent by one on the very day the other had decided to end a current relationship.  The timing was finally right, and within a few weeks, they were engaged, and within a few months, married; but despite the rapid courtship and short engagement, the wedding had literally been 10 years in the making (from first date to wedding date.)

They are the PERFECT couple; and we are so glad that this wedding FINALLY happened!  The circumstances leading up to this wonderful occasion, were nothing short of divinely orchestrated.  So Happy 1 year Anniversary Dallin and Analise!  In honor of the occasion, some pics (and their wedding video) from the event one year ago :)