Lynae

Baby Lynae 1996

17 years ago today, our family was blessed with daughter #3.  Kent was expecting a boy.  (He correctly predicted the sex of each of our 6 children EXCEPT for Lynae.  We didn't ever have an ultra-sound, so there was no possible way for us to know in advance anyway.)  However, we were BOTH most excited when Lynae joined our family.  Lynae was and is perfect: big beautiful blue eyes, a contagious smile, and a sweet, easy-going personality.  Since I didn't blog when Lynae was a baby (I don't think blogs had been invented), but now often read blogs of mothers of babies who list month-by-month "accomplishments" of their babies, I thought I would make a list of things that my "baby girl" learned how to do during the last year :)

1-Slalom ski (Water-ski on one ski)

2-Drive a stick-shift.  (Be impressed; she drives a 5-speed 1995 GT Mustang with a 302 V-8 engine.  I doubt any blog-readers are "car guys" (the two are kinda mutually exclusive), but if you are, you will know that this is way cool. (Not because I know, but because I have been told many times by "car guys.")  However, most of its coolness is lost on Lynae, who is much more excited over the bejeweled seat covers for the Mustang that she recieved for Christmas than she is over the Mustang's engine.)

3-Do pre-calculus and physics problems.

4-Act as a "back" in cheer-stunts.  (She has spent the last 4 years as a "flyer," but grew several inches in the last year, and now is one of the tallest, if the not the tallest, member of her cheer squad which requires her to "back"-  a "tall person job.")

5-Independently play the organ for sacrament meeting.  (She used to "share" her organ-playing calling with Kaylee. On "their week" one of them would play the prelude and opening hymn and the other the sacrament and closing hymns and the postlude.  Since Kaylee left for college, Lynae plays ALL the songs on her week.)

6-Be a Varsity Cheer co-captain.

7- Date.  (She has done a LOT of this.  Kudos to the teen-aged boys her age who ask out lots of different girls a LOT.   She has had dates between school and ball games, two on the same day, and even had to turn down dates because of conflicting dates.  These are all with different boys.)

8-Run a half-marathon.  (She ran her first a few days after her 16th birthday and now has her sights set on a full marathon for this year.)

9-Be the "only" sister at home.  (Since Kaylee left, Lynae is "out-numbered."  Lynae handles it well, and mom is just grateful to still have a daughter home since she has determined that boys may be genetically incapable of cleaning a bathroom to her satisfaction.)

10-Play the piano for jazzband.  (This has been a bit stressful for her, since she is not into "improv."  But she was recruited by the jazz band teacher, and she is doing well.)

I'm sure my "baby girl" has learned and accomplished many more things during her 17th year, but 10 will have to do for now.  Happy Birthday baby girl!  We love you

Lynae- 2013