I think one of the reasons that I fell in love with the name Calvin was the thought of a cute little girl just learning to talk would look at this little boy and while cajoling him to play with her she would say in the sugeree-est voice, "Calll-vin." Then I could see him putting a frog down her shirt and I knew this was the name for my boy.

He is really starting to wake up. The smiles and cooing are adorable, and hard earned might I add, but worth every second. He's been smiling at his mother for some time now; I've even been lucky enough to catch a flash or two but yesterday was the first time Callie ever smiled just for me. Talk about one proud Dad. He looks like his brother, I don't think any one will ever mistake them for not being brothers but he is certainly his own person and is taking on his own personality. (and thank goodness because I don't know if we could handle two Brigs)

A couple of weeks ago we had a really cool experience. It was Calvins blessing day. It's kind of like a Christening in other churches. His uncle Aaron, Aunt Galima, cousins Max and Sophie and certainly not least of all - Grandma Susie all came to Texas to be here for it. Uncle Aaron, Bishop Hill, Dads friend Joel Tucker and brother Eldridge all stood in the circle. That is, when we finally formed it.

You see ever since we had another kid we haven't been "on time" for anything. Indeed I was never to time for anything anyhow but Michelle is now late as well. For the blessing Bishop Hill asked us to come to the church 15 minutes early so we could finalize the details and he could get the names right for announcing at the pulpit. We woke up Saturday morning with a jillion things going and 250% more people than we were used to. So we made an awesome breakfast of eggs and pancakes and hash brown and trimmings. All of which was wonderful; the hash browns were a bit mushy but we'll just not use G's recipe anymore. Church doesn't begin until 1:00 so really we have no excuse for being late - even with all that stuff going on.

And yet we were late. I snuck out early with Aaron and G and all the kids but Brigham, Michelle, Grandma Susie and the blessing boy were to be right behind us. All was well and we took up our chairs on the back row waiting anxiously for baby and mother. The opening song was sung, the prayer was prayed, the announcements were announced and still no mother or child. I had paced nervously, called cell phones to no avail and sworn under my breath in the chapel more than usual. And then it happened.

The Bishop stood up to the pulpit and declared, "We don't have this opportunity very often so it is wonderful when it does. Today we get to bless the Bradbury Baby! Would the father, baby and all those invited to stand in the circle please come to the front." This is about the time sweat began streaming down my neck, my brother began snickering at me and I had to stand up and make my way to the front of the chapel, barehanded. I whispered to the bishop, "Um...the babies mother is not here yet we may have to wait until a little later." He was kind, and he was understanding but you know he was swearing in the chapel a little more than usual as he walked back up to the stand.

In the middle of the passing of the sacrament, in walked an exasperated mother towing a toddler while carrying a car seat carrier, followed by a mother-in-law wearing the best and most dignified - 'man I remember the days of being a young mother' look you've ever seen. I was pretty sure we were going to have a meltdown and were going to have to stop the sacrament right then and there because mother and child were there and it was time. But things were cool. When the water came around I made eye contact with Bishop Hill and gave him a humongouly cheesy thumbs up so that he knew that all was well and the Bradbury's were finally ready to go.

The blessing at that point went off without a hitch. Calvin is a very special young man loved by all who know him. And most of all by his Father in Heaven. I don't remember all that was said to him in that blessing; he was given a name, there was talk of him conversion and others he would help come to the gospel, of his future family and education. But the feelings that I had most strongly were that he is loved profoundly and is one of the most capable spirits on this planet.

The interaction between these two boys has become more and more interesting to watch. Neither was much interested in the other when they first met. It was kind of like, "So you're my new brother-what's up? ... Alright cool then." Now, however, things are changing. Today I walked into the living room and found Calvin in the swing where we left him and Brig hovering over it, reaching inside (much to my exasperation). Usually that somehow ends in benching time but this time he was being really cool. Brigham was flipping Calvin's feet and saying "tickie tickie tickie" which we all know, of course, is Brig for "tickle, tickle." It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

At night between fits, blankets and sippy cups Brig almost always finds time to search out his little brother and give him a mmmmm-mwhaa. The item of note however is that the physical act of making contact when he kisses his brother is not optional - as it is with everyone else. He leans in and gives the nicest most heartwarming love to his brother you've ever seen. I think I'll get a video of it so I can remember this 16 years down the road.

While the gang was here, we had all sorts of fun. Part of the reason that I wanted them to come visit on that weekend was because I got to fly in the Dyess Airshow. Not only was I flying, I was going to be dropping jumpers from the Academy, the same jump team that I was on a few years back. It was a great priviledge and quite a bit of fun. And to make it all the better a large portion of my family was there and got to see me actually fly a plane and do what I do. It was a good moment for our little family. I always wanted to be able to have my mom look up in the sky and say, "that's my boy-I really hope he doesn't bounce."