Looking back...

I decided to back up my iphone photos today, which turned into 2 hours of backing them up, putting them on an external hardrive, and looking at all 500 of them!!! 

I decided to post a bunch starting from when I first got my iphone when Zeke was a little guy.  It kind of gives you a glimpse into daily life with the Halls.  You'll see there are a few themes.  He loves to learn, sort/organize, go pant less, wear hats, and be silly!  I hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane. (WARNING: there are a lot of pictures!!!)...

PRE-ADALYNN

ADALYNN IS ON THE RADAR!

Last picture in a cloth diaper!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

ADALYNN ARRIVES

First cloth diaper

Happy face!

Sad face!

Laughing face!

Adalynn's Baby Dedication

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28a)

 

We were thrilled to dedicate Adalynn to the Lord this past Sunday, July 14, 2013 at Northstar Church.  It was a special day for many reasons.  

We committed publicly to raise Adalynn in a Christ-centered home and do our best to teach her about Him and His love.  We were joined by my parents, Jared, Kariss, Sophia (Jami and Harper were out of town), the Fernandez family, Ellen, Bill, and the Smiths (our next door neighbors).  Several of you were actually able to watch online too, which is pretty amazing.  

I talked to my grandma and she pointed out how astounding it is to see the changes in technology that have happened in her lifetime.  She was able to see her great granddaughter's baby dedication from her home in Amarillo, TX before she headed out for her church service.  She said she wonders what it will be like when Adalynn, Zeke, Kariss, Sophia, and Harper are her age.  What a thought!

Gregg had a meeting at the church, so my mom came to help me get the kids ready (so I could get ready too).  We all met for the service.  Pastor Steve Roach led us in the dedication.  Zeke was very excited to be up on stage for the first time and celebrated by hopping and walking in circles around Gregg's legs.  It was not how we preferred him to behave, but we had to just accept that he is 3 years old and has his own free will!  We were thankful Adalynn was happy and didn't make a peep!

Steve handed us two letters, one addressed to us, and one to Adalynn.  We are to tuck it away in  a safe place to give to her on the day she accepts Christ as her personal Savior.  They also gave her a Bible with the date and our pastor, Mike Linch's name in it, in addition to a rose.  You can see Zeke holding the Bible below.

After the service, we all went to lunch at Dogwood Terrace.  My parents hosted a delicious lunch.  The kids had fun playing together and the adults had a nice time visiting.  

Overall, it was a blessed day.  We are so thankful for all of you that we know support us through prayer and action in our desire to raise our children in a Christ-centered home.  It is not always easy to be IN this world, and not OF this world, but with God all things are possible!

A few more close ups of the baby of honor...

 

Blessings to you all!

Adalynn lately...

Four Months Old

Adalynn is 4 months old and is definitely becoming her own little person.  She knows what she wants and will let us know if she's not happy!

With Zeke, we started solid foods (per Dr. Denmark's recommendations) at 3 months, so by 4 months he was eating a small bowl of "mush" 3 times per day.  This has not happened with Adalynn.  Things were so busy, and it was just easier for me to exclusively nurse until 4 months.  At that point, I tried avocado.  She wasn't a big fan.  I think it was too chunky for a first food because I didn't have my mini food processor yet (bought for free with a Macy's gift card...Gregg loved that!).  The Vitamix is too big for the small amounts I am currently feeding her.  I'll try avocado again soon.

I tried sweet potatoes next, but she was fussy and had a little bit of a rash.  I'll go back to those later.  Then, I went against what I had planned and tried rice cereal.  I was going to avoid grains for longer with her than I did with Zeke after reading information from the Weston A. Price Foundation.  They recommend soft boiled egg yolks (from pastured chickens) as a first food and introducing grains at 1 year old.  I am planning on trying egg yolks at 6 months.



So for now, I am back to Dr. Denmark's mush.  Zeke STILL eats it for breakfast.  It's a great way to get everything in them, and it just tastes like a sweet hot cereal (it has spinach, green beans, peas, beans, chicken, beef, grains, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, or whatever else I decide to mix in).  Her mush is now organic basmati rice cereal, peas, carrots, and bananas.  I'll continue adding more veggies and fruits, then legumes and proteins.

Rice Cereal

Peas (and fingers)!

Eating peas while looking at big brother!

Stats:

• weight: 14lbs, 4 oz. (47%)
• height: 26 in. (95%)
• head:16.25 in. (66%)

Firsts:

• rolled from her stomach to her back (while in her crib napping) - July 4th
• ate avocado, sweet potatoes, rice cereal ,bananas, peas, carrots, and butternut squash

 Some fun photos...

Hasn't found her thumb, but sucks her fingers backwards!