Jarrett began playing on a spring league softball team with some people from church.  We go out on Friday nights to the games. Stella loves to be outside.  They started playing in mid May, so the weather had been quite cool.   Stella loves to be outside.

 

With the warmer temperatures, we decided it was time for Stella to go on her first swim!  I have been nervous that she would not like the water. I love to swim and be in the sun!  

 

 

I was nervous for no reason.. she loves the water.  She relaxes and kicks her legs. 

 When I began training at Sorenson on Saturdays in May, Jarrett had "baby duty".  He decided Stella had gone too long without a bouncer. They went shopping, and after going to several places, found the perfect one. It is her favorite place to be!

 

Hanging Around...

We went to eat sushi and Stella tried out sitting in the high chair again.  It went okay...her attention span is still pretty short.

 She finally started grabbing her toes.  She still has not had much interest in rolling over (at 4 1/2 months).  She sleeps all the way on her side, but has not completely flipped over... at least not for me.  Mom has promised she won't tell me if she does it when I am at work.  :)

 She is getting a little big for the Mamaroo, but she still loves it.  She moves the entire swing when she kicks. She also loves grabbing the mobile.  She works hard to reach for it, then gets really excited when it finally comes off.

She may be mad at me later for this...but she has cleavage when she sleeps like this... 

 Stella tasted her first bit of rice cereal on May 15th. She had been nearly begging for food, so I finally gave in and let her have some.  She was really good at eating off of the spoon.  She wanted more.  That night, tornadoes hit this part of Texas.  It was pretty scary.  The sirens went off for a while near us, but did not stay on long.  Thank God there was nothing too close.  Granbury, Texas got hit pretty hard, though.

We watched the news coverage for a while, then we played in Stella's closet.

 

 Holding my hand :)

My first Mother's Day and Stella's Dedication

May 12, 2013

Our church hosted the baby dedication on Mother's Day.  It was the perfect way to celebrate my first Mother's day.  Stella wore my mom's baptismal gown for it.  

The day is meant to show our commitment as parents to lead Stella in her faith journey.

Note: This was just for the photo.. we buckled her in her car seat correctly when we got in the car.

We stood at the front of the church as Pastor Brian talked about our role as parents to lead our family to Christ.

Stella snuggled with me through the service.

 

Afterwards, we had friends and family to our house for a cook out.

Her cake had a part of one of my favorite Psalms... "fearfully and wonderfully made"

I will add the entire Psalm below..I read it nearly everyday when I was pregnant and full of worry that something could go wrong.

We are so incredibly blessed to be Stella's parents. She has shown us a new kind of love, patience, and joy. Our prayer is that we may have the ability to lead Stella, by example, into an intimate and trusting relationship with Christ. That we may parent with the Grace and Love of our Father in Heaven. We are so thankful for the Godly examples that our family has set, and continues to set for us

 

 After church, we had our friends and family over to celebrate.  It was a great, great day.  Stella slept in her crin for the first time that night.  I took the bumpers off and she woke up a few times with her legs stuck in the slats.  I put the bumpers back on and we have had no problem since!  She is such a great sleeper.  :)

     Psalm 139

1 

You have searched me, Lord,

    and you know me.

2 

You know when I sit and when I rise;

    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 

You discern my going out and my lying down;

    you are familiar with all my ways.

4 

Before a word is on my tongue

    you, Lord, know it completely.

5 

You hem me in behind and before,

    and you lay your hand upon me.

6 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too lofty for me to attain.

7 

Where can I go from your Spirit?

    Where can I flee from your presence?

8 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

    if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 

even there your hand will guide me,

    your right hand will hold me fast.

11 

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

    and the light become night around me,”

12 

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

    the night will shine like the day,

    for darkness is as light to you.

13 

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

15 

My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.

17 

How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 

Were I to count them,

    they would outnumber the grains of sand—

    when I awake, I am still with you.

19 

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!

    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 

They speak of you with evil intent;

    your adversaries misuse your name.

21 

Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,

    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22 

I have nothing but hatred for them;

    I count them my enemies.

23 

Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 

See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.

Playin...

I have been taking less pictures lately with the business of finishing the school year and everything else going on.  These are photos from the week of May 5th.  

 She loves watching Garrett and Gus.

 The boys were at our house and we all went to the park.  Stella could keep up with the boys in her swing.

 Our good friends, Sarah and Ed, welcoming their baby girl.  We went to visit Kellyn.  She is so sweet.

 Hanging with the boys is exhausting.  (Her chubby cheeks are pretty heavy, it makes her face sag with she lays sideways. :) )

This may not have been the best parenting choice we have made so far.  Stella went for a little ride with Gus as the driver.  We just wanted a picture.  Gus inched forward a bit.

 He slowly started moving...

 Then he took off.  This is the photo I took (by accident) as I was running after him.

All is well that ends well, right?