Oh Jeffers

In anticipation of a baby boy Cornwall arriving any minute - let's take a look at Jeff as a baby so comparisons will be easy in the next few days.  Jeff was born on a warm Thursday night.  We had already been to the hospital earlier in the week.  Got all the kids packed up, dropped off and arrived at Huntington Hospital.  I thought I would wait through another contraction in the car before we walked in and it never came.  We sat there for an hour or so in the dark wondering what to do.  There was only one choice - go home, everything had stopped.   We headed back to La Canada, picked up the kids,  waddled through the last few days of swimming lessons and then headed to the hospital again on Thursday afternoon for the real show.  We came home on a Sunday.  I love the picture below, those cute older brothers so anxious to see their baby brother.  Siblings were not allowed inside the hospital in those days.

 Naming Jeff was difficult.   I'm not sure if we didn't have a short list or not.  Like the naming of Caleb it was right down to the wire.  We wanted to use the name Melvin.  We wanted him to be named after someone so wonderful, but you know, the name. . . . . Melvin, there could be some complications.  We loved Elder Holland, so we decided on Jeffrey.    At the time of Jeff's birth Elder Holland was not Elder Holland, he was still the President of BYU.  I don't know why he was so on our radar, probably because I loved Pat Holland so so so much and would tune into their talks at devotionals.  My dad was named after an apostle - Melvin J. Ballard.  We loved the two names, but what order?  Melvin Jeffrey, same initials as my dad? We loved the initials, but being called Melvin in every class and hospital for time and eternity, we didn't love it that much.   We settled on Jeffrey Melvin.  With naming our kids we always had to give it the general authority test - "We would like to announce the call of Jeffrey Melvin Cornwall to be an apostle".  Well that hasn't happened yet, but that name sure sounded good to me on Sunday.

 I have always loved the picture above.  It was a moment in time to cherish.  Busy, bustling and bursting at the seams at 331, but such a wonderful time of life.  Jeff in the cradle, Katie in the crib and Jason and Robb in the new set of bunk beds we had just bought.  The back yard and benches look pretty great dad.  Thanks for always having a beautiful yard to play in.

 Jeff was the 14th grandchild born on the Hodgkinson side (just like this baby will be).  Jeff was supposed to be the 11th grandchild born on the Cornwall side.  Todd Alvord was born six weeks early and arrived a few weeks before Jeff beating him out for the 11th spot.. 

 Having some older siblings can be a little tough at times.  I am sure that Wendy will be sweet to her baby brother.

 Jeff was a happy happy kid.  He lost most of his dark hair by Christmas and it came in pretty light for a year or so.

Love the lower lip sucking!!!

 Arcadia Stake held a women's conference in November of 1986.  There was a fashion show that was the main event of the morning.  I was serving on the Stake Relief Society Board.  I am not sure if they were missing the sleepwear piece of the fashion show, or if I volunteered, but I made all our outfits (except for dad's nightshirt  of course - man that guy looks good in a white turtleneck.)  We modeled at the show sans dad - I don't think he was willing to participate in said event.  I even made the boys sweatsuits.  Oh that old Singer did me well.  My parents were on a mission and we made them a pictorial calendar.  We decided to take this picture to put in the December slot.  I am glad we did so that I could not only see us at this moment in time, but to also catch a glimpse of 331 in all it's glory.

Cute siblings - what a blessing they are in your life.  I love Robb hanging on to that baby Jeffrey.  It reminds me a little of Sethie - they would have been the same age.  Looking forward to NUMBER FOURTEEN - Go Reesa - we love you.