Ryann Leigh's first teddy bear

Today was a pretty exciting day and a day of many first. First, I got to listen to the Chief Justice of the United States. His lecture marked the first time the Chief Justice has ever been to Idaho, much like the first time a president's first visit to the state was when Teddy Roosevelt visited the campus during his term. I got to ask him a question after his lecture, marking the first time I've ever got to ask a Chief Justice of the United States a question.

I asked him a question about how the court is so big on seniority, yet he got to come in and be the senior ranking official on his first day and what that felt like. My first choice of question was, "How come you forgot to bring a copy of the presidential oath with you for the inauguration?" But I thought better of calling out a senior ranking member of our government while a guest to the university. Apparently, he only makes about one such-speech a year and I didn't want to wreck his visit to the school by asking something that might embarrass him. Though, this lady totally got up and said something about some case she's trying to bring to the Supreme Court challenging Obama's presidency and it being legit for some reason that was hard to understand.

Anyways, the real highlight of the day came after his speech was over. From there, I walked across the street to the bookstore to purchase my niece, Ryann Leigh, some baby Vandal gear. It turns out baby Vandal gear is just as expensive as grown up Vandal gear, which doesn't make any sense to me because you can get an entire one-piece baby outfit for less material than one large hoodie. I wasn't worried about how much the gear cost, but whether or not my BSU-loving sister would let my niece wear Idaho gear before I spent an insane amount of money on it.

Calling her was a good idea. It turns out she has more than enough clothes for the next 12 months and my sister asked me not to buy anymore of under 12-month size clothes for her. I was a little worried about buying even a 12-month old outfit because it won't take her very long to outgrow it, like 12 months..., so I started looking around at other baby items I could send her. It turns out she didn't need any more bibs or socks and it's too hot for her to wear a beanie in Hawaii. And then I saw teddy bears.

My sister told me Ryann Leigh didn't have a teddy bear because um, something about how she's too little to have one because she can't grip anything yet and baby's aren't supposed to sleep with anything around them until they get a certain age. I didn't really follow, it's safe to say it's a good thing I don't have kids yet.

So, I got to buy my niece her first teddy bear ever. How cool is that?!?

They had the kind where you could buy a bear and pick out his outfit and had a cheerleader and soccer uniform, a T-shirt, a sweater and a jacket to pick from to make him wear. My first thought was to get her a bear dresssed as an Idaho cheerleader, however, I'm pretty sure he's a guy bear and he has a beer (or is it honey?) belly and so he looked pretty silly in a cheerleading outfit, so I got him sporting an Idaho T-shirt.

He's hanging out watching me type right now and I think I'm going to let him sleep on my bed until I send him to Hawaii next week.

I sent a picture of him to my sister and she texted back it was adorable then sent me a picture of Ryann Leigh. I love when she sends me pictures of her. I know right away when my phone shows I have picture mail from my sister what it is. I get all excited and after a series of clicks that take me to the picture, I get all gushy and smiley. I'm like an M&M melting in your hand, not in your mouth. She touches me in my heart in a way that I've never felt before.

I love that little girl.