Jennerbug's birthday!!!

Note: Make sure to read the post below this one with an update about Grandma.

As usual, I'm writing this the night before Jenni's birthday. My little Jennerbug turns 6 years old tomorrow on February 27. I can't believe my babies are growing up right before my eyes! So, here is my post dedicated to Jenni.

On Feburary 27, 2003, I was at work wondering and wondering how it was going with my baby sister Michelle having her first baby. I finally got a call from Steve telling me that the baby had been born, it was a girl, and all was fine. But he wouldn't tell me her name, and told me I'd have to wait until I got to the hospital. I have to admit I was grumbling about it a little bit. I mean, really, why couldn't he just tell me her name? But when I walked into the hospital room, Michelle said, "Jennifer, we'd like to introduce you to our daughter...Jennifer." I was floored--I had never thought I would have anyone named after me. Both Chelle and I got teary eyed, and it was a special moment. Ever since then, I've just been absolutely in love with my sweetest little Jenni-bug.

I have searched my computer, and I can't find any pictures of her when she was a baby. I know they are here somewhere, but are ones I would have had to scan in (I really should have bought a digital camera before 2004. It makes things so much easier). Anyway, so this is the first picture I have of her. I love this picture, and kept it on my camera card forever because I loved to look at it. Our little Jenni ended up being a little blue eyed red head--except that for the first year and a half, all she had was peach fuzz on her head. But she was the cutest little thing, and her sparkling personality was already showing before she was even a year old. Here she is crawling up our stairs toward me:

Here she is in October of 2004. Notice her hair had finally started to grow, and it was such a beautiful red gold. I love this picture of her reading her scriptures--she was getting started early!

Here she is with me on Halloween of 2004. Notice she is starting to get little curls. So cute!

And here's another stair picture with cousin Brianna. Notice that her hair is really starting to come in. I tell Jenni all the time that she is a great example of how Heavenly Father sometimes has us wait for things, but then blesses us in abundance. She had to wait so long to get her hair, but when it came in, it was SO beautiful, and just got more beautiful and curly as she grew.


This picture below is one of my all time favorite pictures of Jenni. We had gone up to Salt Lake for our birthday, and were in the JSMB looking out at the Salt Lake temple. She put her face up to the glass, and the reflection was perfect--my sweet girl looking toward the temple, so darling and innocent.


This is actually the same night, but I love it too, so had to put it in. She was and is such a good cuddler, and gives the tighest hugs I've ever gotten. I love my "Jenni hugs."

This was in August of 2005 when I met Chelle and Jenni at the Provo Temple for lunch. I still remember this day, seeing Jenni running full pelt toward me with her arms outstretched and hair flying, and of course giving me a huge hug when she got to me.

This is Jenni in November 2005 with cousin Emma. She loves cousin Emma, and was so good to help with her when she was a baby.

Here she is again with cousin Emma. Another thing I love about J-bug is her sparkling smiles. She is so beautiful! You'll notice this same type of smile in many of her pictures.

Here she in April 2006 when her baby brother was born. She was so excited to be a big sister!

And I had to put this one in, of her holding her brother for the first time. So darling!

This is another one of my all time favorite Jenni pictures. It just shows her personality so much! I think it was close to this time that we were in the car together and she told me that there were two Jenni's in the car--Aunt Jenni and Princess Jenni. She is a princess!

This is in October of 2006. We met at a restaurant for dinner, and Jan snapped this picture of Jenni sitting on my lap with her hands on my face. I love her! (did I mention that already? Well, I'm sure you'll hear it again).

This was at the family February birthday party, near her 4th birthday. Chelle had a little makeup session with her, with us all looking on, and she looked so darling.

This was in April of 2007, with cousin Brianna again. Jenni had short hair because she had cut a huge chunk out of her hair with the scissors. But it sure looks darling short!

I know, tons of pictures. I just couldn't choose between them. We're getting close to the end. This is Jenni with her little brother Joe-Joe. She loves him, and is so protective of him.

Here she is on Halloween of 2007. I love the splits. She really could be a cheerleader someday! She's cute enough, that's for sure. Of course, I'm biased...

Here she is on her first day of school in August 2008. She just looks to little to be going to school!

Okay, here's finally the last one. Here she is last Thanksgiving with four of her cousins--Sabrina, Lizzie, Kate, and Briana. They all have so much fun together.

I really could go on and on about Jennerbug, but it's late and I need to get to bed, and this post is probably already long enough. But I just have to say how grateful I am for my sweet little namesake. I never get to see enough of her, and always love it when she still runs pell mell to see me, and give me one of her signature hugs. I am so excited to see the sweet woman she will grow into. Thanks for being you, Jenni! Happy Birthday!