The Baldwins: The Taylors' visit!

Kenny and I were so excited this last weekend to welcome Megan, Karl, and Camryn Taylor back to Provo for a visit. In fact, I was so thrilled to see them that I could hardly concentrate on my work Thursday afternoon, knowing that at any minute, Megan would call to tell me they were here. Even though I knew Megan and Karl were tired and probably just wanted to crash as soon as they arrived, they had to eat, right? So I suggested meeting up for dinner and was delighted when Megan said it sounded like a great plan. I waited outside the Taylor house with a bassinet for Camryn, which a friend at work had generously loaned us, and jumped up and down to see the travel-weary family of three pull up. I had to approach the wee one cautiously, as Megan warned me that Camryn is experiencing a bit of "Stranger Danger," but after a few frowns and some burrowing into Mommy's shoulder, Camryn begin to study me with more open curiosity and even threw me a few hard-won and longed-for smiles. Sure, there was a gigantic, hairy black spider crawling on the front door as a morbid welcome, which Megan had to kill swiftly and bravely with a shoe (picture major spider guts smeared all over the door), and yes, Camryn started bawling when Uncle Stephen tried to swoop her up in his arms, but on the whole, it was a wonderful reunion.

Uncle Kenny joined us for Panda Express, along with Craig Loveridge, our friend from college days, and we feasted and watched Camryn thoroughly enjoying her dinner. She waved her arms in delight every time the baby spoon entered mouth "air space," and Uncle Kenny was able to coax out some wiggles and smiles. We finished the evening with a rousing first episode of "The Big Bang Theory," and I was able to fool Camryn into sitting on my lap for a few moments to read a book before she figured out that I wasn't Mom.

Saturday began with a breakfast trip to The Cracker Barrel, where my niece warmed up enough to let me carry her into the restaurant from the car and grinned with delight when Monkey Bite, her favorite monkey puppet, came out to share breakfast with her. Then it was naptime, so Megan introduced us to the hilarious "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." Then a trip to the park across the street wonderfully coincided with the Saturday farmers' market, so we got to people-watch and even support a local Boy Scout troop by buying shaved ice before hitting the swings. Then Uncle Kenny and Camryn played with our air conditioner and Camryn poo-pooed mangoes and finally Karl came by to swoop up his daughter and wife for a pizza get-together at Craig's.

Sunday Kenny and I met Megan, Karl, and Camryn at Stephen and Melinda's house for a tasty dinner and (part of) "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," then hit the hay early so Kenny could be up for his internship and I could get to work early before joining the Taylors in Bountiful for our Aunt Jewel's funeral.

We all marveled at the timing that allowed the Taylors to be in town and free of plans on the very day that our Aunt Jewel's funeral was held... and our Grandma Mickey would be in town to see her first great-grandchild for the very first time. We all held our breath as Grandma and Camryn finally met ("Stranger Danger," remember), but after solemnly scrutinizing Grandma before we all settled in the chapel, Camryn decided that Grandma Mickey was safe and settled into her lap to be loved and cuddled. Megan and I looked at each other, amazed, and proceeded to enjoy the wonderful things said about Aunt Jewel. Camryn played on Grandma's lap for awhile, then noticed that our Aunt Dene and Uncle Erwin were sitting in front of us. From then on, Camryn would play with Grandma for a minute or so, then lean forward and tug on Aunt Dene's jacket. As soon as Aunt Dene turned around and smiled at her, Camryn would bounce and wave her arms, then talk earnestly (but reverently) to Aunt Dene in her own little language. And then she'd go back to playing quietly with Grandma Mickey fora few minutes. It was so precious.

Megan and Karl finished their trip by bringing Camryn to visit my office on Tuesday, and again I was so excited for them to arrive that I could hardly concentrate on my work. Everyone oohed and ahhed as Camryn toddled around in a brand new pink BYU shirt and jeans that were just a bit too long, smiling at her and beckoning her to come see them. She smiled shyly and looked around with wide eyes at all the new faces and the unfamiliar scenery. I was practically bursting with pride as everyone got meet my family, not just see their pictures all over my desk. It was hard to say goodbye - I miss them so much everyday - but farewells were softened by the thought that we would soon be together again to celebrate Camryn's first birthday. I love you all!!!

Camryn toddling about in the grass with Megan.