Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Olivia 7 Months!


Beautiful, sweet Olivia... I'm sorry that I'm late this month on posting your 7 month blog. Things have been pretty busy this past month and you've achieved some major milestones! Including... CRAWLING! You officially started crawling the weekend of July 4th. We all knew you'd be a happier baby once you could move around on your own, and it's true! Miss Independent! This has also made taking your photos for this post very difficult. You do not want to sit still and smile for the camera! I tried a couple of different times to take pictures of you for this blog, but we just had no luck with smiles or sitting still. That's okay! I think you're still pretty cute even when you're mean mugging for the camera! =)



You're super fast and are obviously very proud of your achievement. You love to sneak off down the hallway and when I follow you and 'catch' you, you flop down, turn around and give me the biggest grin and giggle.

You also are tickled that you can now go after the dogs. They are two of your very, very favorite things in the whole world and you are so happy that you can crawl at them on your own accord. They don't often stay put when you're on the hunt towards them, but sometimes they do. You squeal with delight anytime they let you touch them and are beside yourself when they give you kisses on your cheeks or top of the head. Emma is slightly more patient than Jackson. We're trying to work on being gentle with them - not sure how much of this concept you can even comprehend at 7 months old - but there have been many times when I have had to remove chunks of dog hair from your tiny, impressively strong, baby grip. Poor puppies! Haha!

You're also pulling up on the furniture and are able to "walk" your way around the ottoman and sofa. You greet me standing up in your crib each time I go to collect you from your nap or in the morning. I  love seeing your grinning face looking up at me. It also just breaks my heart when you're protesting sleep and I now have to walk away from you standing at the edge of your crib, crying and reaching for me. It takes everything in my power to not just scoop you up and hold you forever.

Child. You. Are. Still. Not. Sleeping. Through. The. Night. We had a good run there for a couple of weeks where you were sleeping for pretty long stretches and only waking me up once a night (after a late night dream feed). But due to some new teeth trying to come through, we are back to some pretty sleepless nights. Good thing you are stinkin' cute and totally worth it. ;)

You also have lots to say and speak gibberish often. Car rides are some of your chattiest times. We listen to baby lullabies, baby hymns or veggie tales in the car and I think you may actually be trying to sing along. You also say "mamma" pretty clearly and are working on "dadda". You say 'mamma' while crawling over to me and it makes my heart explode.


You also started solids this past month!! We knew you'd like eating real foods as you have always shown an intense interest in food. So far we've made all your food from scratch. We got the Baby Bullet and it's made things really easy. You ate bananas first and loved them. Since then you've also had carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados. You love them all, but I think bananas seem to be your least favorite and maybe avocado is your most favorite.






You've started making a humming noise while you eat - both nursing and eating solids - and it cracks me up. I was attempting to nurse you in church this past weekend and you drew quite a bit of attention our way with your 'mmmmmmm'-ing.

You are still quite serious. Especially with people and situations that are new to you. However, you're definitely a happy baby and seem to thrive with routine and in your own setting. You're pretty attached to me and I have a love-hate feeling about that. I love being needed and wanted by you, but sometimes I need a break and a baby-free lap. Most days we spend chilling at the house and I push the furniture out of the way and we both hang out on the floor. I'm right down there with you. This is because you are happiest when I'm right next to you or close enough to be accessible.



You're a good errand running buddy and I love taking you places with me. You sit up in grocery carts now and love to be charioted around a store with the freedom to turn about and look at everything around you. You still get tons of compliments whenever we're out and I still love hearing them. People often remark to me about how you're obviously studying the world around you.



We also go to story time at the local library each week and you're really starting to warm up to it. We see many familiar faces each week and repeat the same songs and activities. Afterwards there is a play time and you really love the Easter egg shakers.



Daddy and I also like to take you on walks in the evenings - when it's not melt you to the ground hot. You love it, we enjoy it, and it calms you down before bath and bedtime. We are really enjoying our new neighborhood and I'm so grateful to be in a safe community.



You're at a really fun age right now baby girl. The world is so full of possibilities and I love watching you learn and soak up all that is around you. I love seeing your personality develop and shine through. I know there isn't anything else I'd rather be spending my time doing than being your mommy. You are so, so, SO loved little one. Happy 7 months, princess. 

Monday, June 27, 2016

Olivia 6 Months!


How is it that at 6 months pregnant I felt like each month had dragged by, but the past six months have gone by in a flash?! I seriously cannot believe our precious little, nugget is SIX freakin' months old!!! 

Olivia Jane... goodness. You have made my heart so, so, so full! It is bursting with love and joy and pure happiness! Yes, not every second feels like that - like in the middle of the night when I am zombie walking to your nursery to feed you- but, generally and overall that is how I feel. Sometimes I just pinch myself and cannot believe that I am a mommy and that YOU are my sweet baby girl! You are my greatest joy and biggest accomplishment and I am very proud of you. I didn't know love existed this deep. Having you has made me understand our Heavenly Father's love in a whole new way and it is amazing that what I feel towards you is just a fraction of his love for us. 


I often stare at you in wonderment and dream about all the possibilities you have ahead of you. I pray for you to have a blessed and easy life, that you make wise choices, and (to steal a phrase from Lolly), that you 'skin your knee' just enough to know you need the Lord and that otherwise he keeps you safe from all harm. 


You seem like such a big girl to me now. You have definitely left the "newborn" stage and are full into the pure "baby" stage. You need me less and less and I am already struggling with the pull between wanting to you to reach each new stage and the selfish desire of wanting you to stay little and needing your mama forever and ever. 



At six months old you have mastered the sitting up independently thing. You are super duper close to crawling (on hands and knees and rocking back and forth) and can actually scoot around by slugging your way across the room pretty quickly. You have two bottom teeth that are razor sharp, but not quite as sharp as your fingernails which grow at record speed. You still like most people, but have very recently become more clingy to mommy (maybe it is because of the crazy few weeks we have had). You are very interested in grabbing glasses off of faces. You're curious about everything and it's a blast watching you learn and figure out the world around you. You really enjoy shopping trips especially now that you are sitting up in the shopping cart and can observe everything that is going on. We get loads of compliments about how cute and beautiful and strong you are whenever we are out and I won't lie, I eat each one up and love hearing the compliments. 


This past month has been a big one, full of events! You were dedicated, went on your first Leeper family vacation (I love that we are carrying on that tradition!), and moved to a new home (I may have cried ugly, sobbing tears leaving your nursery and the home we brought you home from the hospital to). --- Quick shout out to Uncle Jason who let us and the two dogs crash at his place for a week and also to your Aunt Jessie who took a couple days off of work to come play with you while mommy unpacked boxes!


We discovered that you're quite the little fish in the pool. It's adorable. You splash and kick and smile and I love it. Kicking seems to be a thing of yours right now. You also kick and thump your legs in your crib when you're ready to wake up. It still takes me a few seconds to figure out that that is what I'm hearing. 



You're still a serious little girl but you have a lot of fun too. I should try round two of photos sometime when your daddy is around and can help by getting you to giggle. I get you to laugh and then as soon as I put the camera back up to my face you go stone cold haha. Plus, it's a little hot (100°) outside and I may have locked us out of the house for 45 mins today... oops... so you were pretty much over it. 


Oh sweetheart, I love you to pieces. Happy six months! 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Olivia Jane's Dedication




Mark 10:13-16 tells us that, “…they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

In May, surrounded by our families and members of our community group, Miguel and I dedicated Olivia to the Lord. It is important to Miguel and me to raise Olivia, and future children, to know Christ and to be raised in a household that honors the Lord. We recognize that she is a gift from God and we want to honor Him by teaching her about her heavenly father. It is our hearts desire that she accepts him into her heart and lives a life running after him.


Our church doesn't do baby dedications during the services, but encourages us to do one within our community group. We asked our group leader to officiate and invited family and and members of our CG to attend. Miguel and I wanted such an important moment to be in a beautiful location that also felt like a church setting so we decided to have the dedication at the pretty Tybee Island Wedding Chapel.


We were so grateful that both our families made the long drive down to Savannah to be at the dedication and to witness us present, first ourselves, and then Olivia to the Lord for both His blessings and our surrender for His service.


During the ceremony our community group leader, Mark Stivers, asked us the following questions:


1. Laura and Miguel, by coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and Olivia to the Lord?

2. Do you today recognize this child as the gift of God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?

3. Do you now dedicate Olivia to the Lord who gave her to you, surrendering all worldly claims upon her life in the expectation that she will surrender her life wholly to God?

4. Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s gracious help, you will bring up Olivia in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every effort, with patience and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into her life?

5. Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of Olivia, looking to the Father for the wisdom, love and strength to do so?

6. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, Olivia will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of her sins and for the fulfillment of all His promises to her, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey His teachings?



Miguel's brother, Juan, and my sister, Sarah, graciously agreed to be Olivia's godparents. They pledged to fulfill the vow we made by becoming Olivia’s godparents and to help us in our duties as Christian parents.


"This candle represents the light of Christ in Olivia’s life. Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. May Olivia walk always as a child of the light. May she keep the flame of faith alive in her heart. When the Lord comes, may she go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom."

Our friends, family, and community group members also made a pledge of commitment :

"So that Olivia may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you pledge by God's help, to pray for and encourage Laura and Miguel in their effort to raise Olivia in the fear of the Lord, so that Olivia might receive our Lord's guidance and instruction?”

And finally, we all gathered around our daughter and family laid hands on us as we prayed the prayer of dedication over Olivia.

“Olivia, together with your parents, who love you dearly, and these people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claims upon your life, in the hope that you will belong wholly to God for ever."



Afterwards we invited everyone for some yummy treats to celebrate Olivia's special day.





The very talented Izzy Hudgins captured images for us that we will cherish for the rest of our lives! 






Did I forget to mention that Olivia cried during most of the ceremony? 




Aunt Jessie!

Amador Grandparents 


Uncle Jason

Aunt Sarah
Godparents!

Lolly and G-Daddy!



Olivia is wearing a baby dress of mine that I wore at her age! 

Thank You Izzy Hudgins Photography for the beautiful photos!



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