Bentlee Amy Haskell

I just realized I never posted about Bentlee's name, which is really special because she is named after her Aunt Amy, whom we can't wait to tell her all about some day. We know without a doubt that she is one of Bentlee's angels watching over her.

She is also named after her Grandpa (Lee), her Nana (Jennifer Lee) and her aunt Stephanie (Stephanie Lee). These 4 wonderful people mean so much to us and we hope that she will use them as role models throughout her life.

More pictures

Everyone in the blessing circle

Jillian!! 

Even Nixon made an appearance at only 2 weeks old!

Bentlee's blessing day

In our church, babies are given a special blessing and then when they turn 8 they can choose to be baptized. We were excited to be able to have Bentlee's blessing while Steph was here. We chose to do it privately with family and really close friends, instead of at church.

Bentlee's dress is really special to us because my amazing mother-in-law made it with the material from my wedding dress. She kept asking for my opinion on it, but I wanted to be surprised and insisted on her creating it herself. I about died when I saw it. The bottom even looks like my wedding dress did! And it looked even prettier with this adorable baby wearing it, no?

We are blessed to have so many friends and family members close to us here. We felt so much love that day and we appreciate everyone that helped and everyone that attended. All 75 of you! It was such a special day and we are so touched by all the people in our lives who love and care about Bentlee.

I wish I could have snapped my fingers and had my family in MI here for it, but since they weren't, all of these pictures are for them! I will do another post with pictures of everyone there.

Aunt Stephanie

Or maybe Steph or Stephie? We're not sure yet. I guess we will let Bentlee decide someday. I received the name "Kiki" once Skyler started talking at 9 months. What I do know now is that we are so lucky to have a sister and aunt that care about us enough to leave her family and fly here all the way from Michigan for a week! We had so much fun and Steph was in heaven snuggling Bentlee all week. It was nice for me to have a shopping buddy. We went lots! And you can bet that every time my daughter started fussing her Aunt scooped her up within seconds. I'm pretty sure it is no coincidence that she suddenly despises her car seat! When I said something about her spoiling my baby, she came back with something sarcastic about me doing the same with her girls. Touche. :)

Basically our time together consisted of cuddling baby, shopping, movies, and too much eating out, which is an excellent week in my book. I took Steph to the Tanger Outlets in Park City, one of my favorite places to shop in Utah. Carter's has become a dangerous place for me. Other than a swim suit from Target, the only 2 times I have bought clothing for Bentlee have been at that Carter's. We also went to the new City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake where we met one of Steph's friends for lunch. I'm glad I had an excuse to check it out because it was really fun. My aunts, who run a preschool and daycare together, arranged their schedules so that they could each spend a day with us. And we all had a GNO (Girls Night Out) together one night. We also spent a lot of time with one of our mutual and best friends, Lindsey, who lives less than an hour from me. The more I'm with her, the more I realize I don't see her enough. Love her and her cute boys! I can't believe we didn't take any pictures of all of us! I don't even have one of Steph and I. Lame.

Saying goodbye to my sister (and all of my family in MI) is never an easy thing to do, but luckily I will see her in just 4 short weeks. Actually, just 3 and a half now! 24 days. But who's counting? :)

1 MONTH!!

A month has passed and I. can't. believe. it. But it has by far been the best one of our lives. I'm a little sad at how fast the time is flying, but it helps that each day I fall more and more in love with her. Right now she is snuggled up next to me on her belly on the floor and I'm itching to pick her up and squeeze her. She has started smiling for real (!!) which makes her look much happier and that makes me feel better. :) She still has a slight scowl whenever she's sleeping, and she is never very happy to be confined to her carseat, which we may have Aunt Stephie to thank for. They say you can't spoil a newborn but Steph may have proved that to be false. Bentlee LOVES tummy time and usually falls asleep within seconds once we lay her that way. She has been lifting her head since day one (freaked us out when her head jerked up off Kyle's shoulder at the hospital) and while she is getting bigger, she is still just as cuddly. Aside from only a couple of hours in the evening, she is usually asleep most of the day, AND....(I'm seriously afraid I will jinx this) has been sleeping through the night! She has slept 7 hours straight for the last 5 nights. She really is such a good baby. We can't get enough of her!!

I will post more pictures this week, but my bed is calling to me!