First Born

David and Donovan

There is something so special with a first-born child. Every child we are given after the first one is definitely sent from heaven, a blessing beyond belief, and brings sunshine and joy into a family. But watching brand new parents of Donovan David Burgess (they call Nova) to mommy and daddy, Sarah and David, made me smile and took me back to my first-born and the first-born's of all my children.

Every movement, gurgle, squeak, squinch and sound needs immediate documentation with a "ahhh," photo, or blog post. All new parents can agree, this new bundle of joy has you non-stop smiling. You watch them sleep, pray for them night and day, and want to do everything right with and for them. They are yours to love, snuggle, cuddle, and carry around (bundled tightly), where you just can't imagine life without them. You even forget the nine months of pregnancy and difficult labor and delivery.

Thinking back to my first-born with Ben, he went everywhere with me. The most journaling I did took place his first year, along with the most pictures taken. Like I said, you adore every child you are blessed with as they enter this world, love them more than life itself, and hope you do everything right with them, but that first-born seems to slightly edge out the others with more brand new clothing, more microscope attention (where every movement is monumental), and starts the family memories and traditions going. Ben and Cooper's Adelaide ... Angela and Eddie's Madison ... Chris and Lesa's Kelli Jo ... Joshua and Ashleigh's Chamberlain and now David and Sarah's Donovan brings that immediate grown-up personal and couple posturing that moves one from "me" to "we" in the way it's supposed to be, and Heavenly Father wants it to be - an eternal family.

Priceless Moments

What a special, busy time in our lives right now with tons of business traveling, family visiting, and getting ready to move. But jumping on an airplane and heading to Vegas this past week for a few priceless days was important to me. #20 grandchild was born and this grandma needed to be there to give new baby Donovan some good grandma lovin', singin', cookin', baby talkin' and soakin' in a little bit of heaven.

Grandma Lovin'

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And the Winner Is ...

Oliver, Calvin, Jane, Adelaide and Nolan

I love technology. I can communicate instantly with my thousands of Facebook friends and distributors from coast to coast, send group text message reminders about meetings and calls, and tweet updates. But more importantly, I can keep in touch with my five married children and 19 grandchildren. None of them live here in California, and I miss those "Trunk 'r Treat" events at the church with them. But between Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and smart phones, Skype, Facetime, family blogs, etc. I can still feel a part of their lives.

Angela and baby Jacen

So keep those pictures, posts and tweets coming. I love them. They make me laugh and smile. Halloween pictures last night were priceless. Cooper and Ben's kids costumes - all homemade - were unique and reflected each personality since they decide what they want to be months in advance, Cooper sketches out the pattern and hand sews the costumes. I remember doing that when the kids were young - but I used a pattern. I didn't have the same skill set with creating the patterns.

Jacquelynn, Jacen, Madison, Sutton, Brooklyn

Angela and Eddie's family took on the glamour - monster theme, and I smiled at them all dressed as they favorite monster dolls.

Chamberlain and Siri (where's Harrison?)

Joshua and Ashleigh's kids were decked out in Halloween's best with Josh jumping in with a matching daddy-daughter theme. Gotta love the hunter who saved Red Riding Hood!

Daddy-Daughter :-)

And the winner of the night was Chris and Lesa's family taking on the incredible characters in Despicable Me to include the Minions! My Facebook friends are liking and commenting on these costumes as much as their neighborhood there in North Salt Lake!

Kelli Jo, Beckham, Chris, Lesa, Zoey, Ava and Zachary

So keep those pictures coming. The next post will definitely highlight the birth of grand baby #20 with David and Sarah!