Summer Echo - Blessing





I think this is the most darling picture!

This is Summer in her Blessing Dress.

Summer is such a mellow child - very peaceful, sweet and happy.  The name Summer brings to mind watermellon, swimming, being warm, playing in the creek, green grass, adventures, flowers, family reunions, evenings laying on your back watching the stars come out, sprinklers, fireworks, walking along the beach.....etc.... It is a name full of life. 
It's important to us that names be easy to spell and easy to remember.

Echo reminds me of the word remember. Remember who you are, remember where you came from, remember who loves you, remember where you are going, remember that what we do here impacts eternity. On my mission, someone said to me that hearing the gospel was like an echo of something they already knew. When hearing it for the first time, they said it felt good to them and was like they already had it as part of them and just needed to be reminded of that.

Echo is something that comes back...softer when it comes back. Summer is a soft personality.

  River takes such good care of her sister :)

She is very gentle, and caring, always looking out for her.

 Silver takes good care of her too...she just shows that love differently.  Here are Silver's favorite things piled on top of Summer.  There were over a dozen books, add to that a doll and a teddy bear with animals on her head...this was Silver's best way of saying she loves her!!!

 Silver has started to smile and "talk".  As soon as the camera comes out though...she just stares and doesn't interract so much.

 Here's Silver being soft.

At 2 months old Summer weighs 11 lbs 13 oz and is 24 inches long. 
She's gained 5 lbs and 4 inches. 

95th percentile on hight and 50th on weight

Tall and Skinny - Fits right in our family :)

We love our baby Summer!

We are blessed!

Here are some past posts on the meanings and feelings of River Joy's and Silver Dawn's names:
http://ckhendersonfamily.blogspot.com/2009/03/river-my-joy.html
http://ckhendersonfamily.blogspot.com/2009/03/silver-dawn.html

Our Names

Our sentence continues:

Colt Karin-ed (careened) into a Silver River last Summer. 

With middle names:

Colt Joy-fully Karin-ed into a Silver River at Dawn last Summer up Echo Canyon. 

Enjoy the Journey!

Silver Dawn

Silver is starting to really interact with us! She giggles and coos. Her favorite thing is to be with her Daddy and have him talk to her. Her shirt says it all: I Love Daddy!

Silver is such a good natured baby! She loves to laugh and does really well at calming herself down and tries really hard not to cry. In the middle of the night I know she's awake because her breathing changes. If she tries to get our attention, instead of crying she lets out a loud squak! She'll get giggling with River and have such a fun time!

It's amazing to look at pictures of just 3 months ago and see how much bigger she is now. She was born 6 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long. She is now 14 1/2 lbs! River loves to hold her sister and show her things. River told me "Our baby's being mean to me" Oh, I answer, and how's that? She says "Mom, she bit my finger" Hhhmmm, I wonder what the finger was doing in there in the first place :) River holds Silvers hand while they are in their car seats.

Silver is another name that can represent something beautiful and of God, or something of the world. She will choose what her name stands for. Silver can represent $$ and the pursuits of the world. What do we spend our time and attention on?

Silver is in the land of promise 1 Ne 18:25 What kind of land is promised us if we are faithful in all things? All the father has - eternal life and eternal families.

Silver brings to mind beautiful images, Silver Bells at Christmas time, and a silver thread in the fabric - Silver can make a difference and her life can be as a silver thread.

I love to look for the Silver Lining in a situation. We can learn from everything we experience. What have we learned from the things we go through?

My favorite image when I think of Silver is in D&C 128:24 Christ will sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver - In the process of purifying Silver one needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The purifyer needs to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be injured. The silver is done when the purifyer can see his own image reflected in the silver.

What a beautiful picture of Christ sitting holding Silver, knowing that He won't try us above that what we are able to withstand. His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random.

Colt and I both love light. Light is a requirement for life just as water is. Light will always win over darkness. Dawn reminds me of light breaking the darkness. Christ is the Light of the World.

Dawn is also the start of a new day. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. What will I do with it. Today stretches before me with endless potential. What will I make of Today?

River My Joy!

I love the name River Joy. Colt and I wanted something unique yet easy to pronounce and spell. People remember her name - people that we have met briefly when we run into them again remember the name River Joy! River has such an impact on people because she talks so well and is very friendly and engaging. River loves people!
Names are very important. It is the first impression, as an introduction. I love the scripture Helaman 5:6-7 "...Behold I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works, ye may know how that it is said and also written that they were good. Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." I'd like our first boy to be named Brock - for the reasons above. Our family heritage is a great one, one with much courage, faith and goodness. When they remember their names, to remember what it stands for.

To me River stands for life. I have a hard time living in a desert where all is dry. Wherever there is water, there are trees, grasses, shrubs, wildlife, all sorts of life surround a river. There is life surrounding our River. She is full of energy and an excitement for life! Colt is a fly-fisher and I love sitting by a river while he fishes. The sound of running water to me is very peaceful and relaxing. In fact, our first date was on the Provo River fly fishing. A river brings back great memories for me.

River loves water. She loves taking baths and throwing rocks into water. She loves helping me water the plants and water the birds in our bird bath. She also loves to wash her cars off in the bird bath :) River loves washing the dishes with me and pouring water from cup to cup. The name River reminds me of the "Living Water" To remember her name is to remember the source of salvation: 2nd Nephi 22:3 "With Joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Christ is the living water that fills our lives with purpose and life.

River is used in two major concepts in the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 2:9 A River continually running unto righteousness or 1 Nephi 12:16 Filthy water...depths of hell. River will choose which her name stands for, something beautiful and of God, or something of the world. I love the imagery of a river constantly running to righteousness. River loves to do good and please those around her. She loves to be obedient and be a big helper. She goes around singing "When my mother calls me quickly I'll obey"

Colt and I name our kids with their middle name as a virtue of the Gospel. Joy. Living the gospel brings us so much joy and happiness. We have joy in our family, in our faith and in our lives. River spreads joy and smiles wherever she goes. Her sweet little voice introducing herself to everyone "My name is River Joy" "How old are your kids?" and "Guess what? I'm a big sister!" She is truly our Joy!

River's Favorites:

*Bath Time

*Going down the slides at the park

*Wrestling Daddy! She is a great wrestler!

*Throwing Rocks

*Playing with her baby sister

*Painting pictures

*Drawing

*Play Dough - Anything with playdough! She loves molding it and cutting it!

*Singing: In a silly mood, River will make up songs and sing them on the top of her lungs.

*Dancing - River loves to turn up the radio and dance in the kitchen with mommy and daddy.

*Making up stories: every nap I tell her 2 made up stories and every bedtime, daddy tells her a made up story or two. River is really good with making up her own stories. Sometimes they are so believable people ask me if they are true. Sometimes I wonder myself :)

*Being outside with Daddy

*Washing dishes (trying to keep most of the water in the sink, but we both always end up wet :)
Every day is truly a joy with River!