Taylor's Second White Dress

White is a symbol of purity.  And traditionally, in the Church, girls wear white dresses on three special occasions.  The Three White Dresses.  

The first white dress is at her blessing.  This is Taylor on her blessing day, when she was seven weeks old. 

The second white dress is worn at her baptism, after she turns 8-years-old.  Taylor recently turned 8 and she received her second white dress.  

One sunny day, I took her out to get pictures in her new, white dress.

Here are some of my favorites. 

 I love this one!

 And this one!

 I love this one too!  I love them all because that's my little girl. 

  

 And a couple of pictures in Sepia.  

I just love this amazing girl.  She's beautiful, inside and out.  She couldn't wait to get baptized.  She wanted to follow the Savior's example.  She wanted the gift of the Holy Ghost, with her all the time.  

She has such a love and zest for life.  She's already looking ahead to when she'll wear her third white dress.  We've talked about it several times.  It will be after her mission, when she gets married in the temple.  

But we're just going to enjoy her second white dress for now. 

Taylor's 8th Birthday

Taylor celebrated a special birthday a few weeks ago.  She turned 8-years-old.  She was so excited.  Of course.  

Her big present was a new bike, which we gave her in August, so she'd have a chance to enjoy it before the rains came.  

In fact, James took Taylor on a birthday bike ride, the day before her birthday.  

It was a beautiful, sunny day.  

It was a good thing they went out when they did, the next day (Taylor's actual birthday) was the first heavy rain of Autumn.

Taylor got her very own set of scriptures from Grandma & Grandpa, an 8th birthday tradition for their grandchildren.  Taylor was thrilled to have her own scriptures.  They have her name on them and everything!  

She's been borrowing an old set of scriptures, but was more than happy to return them to me as soon as she had her own.

She also had flowers delivered to her, from Nana & Papa.  

We spent the day doing indoor activities, like building with Legos,

 hanging out at the library, 

doing a puzzle,

and watching it rain cats and dogs outside. 

After pizza for dinner, we came home for birthday cake.

I surprised her with a dress "cake."  

So our sweet girl is 8-years-old now.  She the greatest blessing to her family.  We love her with all our hearts.  We don't know what we'd do without her.  

She's energetic, fun-loving, creative, smart, vibrant and brave, in a word, Amazing!  She's an angel, with a little bit of feisty in her, but she's ours and we are so grateful for her!