Ready, Set, Go

Rolling over!

It's official we have a rolling little girl!!  Last Thursday is when it started, but it wasn't until Monday that we actually witnessed it.  Today she is doing so just for the fun of it and with much more ease and grace :) I won't go as far as to say she completely understands what she is doing quite yet, as she still gets a surprised look on her face and grunts in frustration.  It's pretty entertaining to watch.  She laid on her play mat this morning for a good 30 minutes just rolling, batting at her toys, and talking to me.  What a joy it is to see her growing and changing and learning new things each day!!  It's amazing how quickly they learn.

In other news, two weeks from today we will be landing in Lyon anxious to introduce you all in person to our sweet little Zaylee.  We tell her about the trip every day, so I'm pretty sure she is excited too! :)   This weekend she gets to meet her Florida cousins.  All the cousins love to hold her and love on her, and now there will be four more fighting for her to be in their arms!  It only last's until they find something more exciting to do.  In their minds, she is still pretty boring ;)

Love to all!  

Father's Day

It was Paul's very first Father's Day on Sunday, and it was a beautiful day spent together.  We were invited to the Carrera's house for some good ol' Mexican food.  It was delicious!  Zaylee is such a trooper when we tag her along on our busy days always adjusting to change with smiles.  Sunday was a long one with many small cat naps, and when bedtime came around she was definitely ready for SLEEP!  Daddy said he had a great day, and that is what we were hoping for.  He deserves the best, and we are so thankful for him and all he does to support us and love us!!  So proud of him!

Daddy LOVES when you fall asleep in his arms!

Father's Day...you have the BEST dad!

So Long Swaddle

Our Zaylee really loves her sleep!  This week we reached a few milestones.  From day one she has LOVED her swaddle.  The tighter the better!  She and I have got a pretty good "sleep time" routine down and as soon as that swaddle was snug around her little body she was half way to dream land.  After a few kisses, songs, and prayer she was ready for the comfort of her bed.  She has mastered putting herself to sleep, and rarely ever do you hear a peep from her cute little mouth!  Out of the blue she decided it wasn't for her anymore!!  I would wrap her up and she would give me a frustrated grunt, but I ignored it and off to sleep she would go.  For the past 6 weeks or so you could set a clock for 40 minutes from the time I put her in her bed, to the time she woke up.  By the time I started doing my housework, she would be up again!  Although I didn't mind, because she was always in a joyful mood filling my days with smiles :)  This week though, her nap times have stretched out between an hour to two hours!  The other day I found out why.  When I went up to peek on her (who doesn't love the sight of a sleeping baby?!?!), she had ROLLED OVER!!  Normally this would be an exciting sight, BUT she was still in her swaddle helpless, with her arms tucked snug against her body.  Although it clearly didn't bother her as she slept soundly for over two hours, I knew it was time to kiss the swaddle goodbye.  This was a hard one to let go.  She wasn't my tiny little baby anymore.  She is growing up TOO FAST!  I was nervous she wouldn't sleep well, but to my surprise she slept in until 8:30.  Crazy!

Does it look like she was bothered?!

All week I have been working with her to accomplish her great attempts at rolling over.  She would get SO close, and then flop back on to her backside.  Yesterday, however, when I tiptoed into her room at nap time, she did it!!  She went from her back to her belly!  I was so sad I missed it.  This morning she did it again, and again we missed it.  Hopefully she will show us her new moves today.  It's so fun watching her grow and change and adapt to new things! 

She is now giggling, but doesn't do so freely quite yet.  We have to work pretty hard at getting that big grin to turn into a sweet sounding giggle.  I can't wait to hear what her laughter sounds like.  I love the YouTube videos with babies laughing, it truly is the sweetest thing!!  Soon, very soon, she will be joining all those little ones.  Maybe she is waiting for her Aunts and Uncles to really pull it out of her!!

Her last little accomplishment is holding tightly to a toy.  She doesn't get it quite yet, and the toy of choice is about her size, but this little lady has a mean grip! :)

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

3 Months/Father's Day! 

It still seems surreal to me that I'm sitting here in our little home, listening to the birds sing outside while the sun shines through the windows,  all while sitting next to my three month old little girl.  How did I get so blessed?  I guess that old saying, that so often in my life I resented to hear, has rung true in so many ways, "God's timing is perfect!"  If someone would have told me two years ago that I would be hearing the sounds of my cooing, cheerful little baby girl on this beautiful morning just days before celebrating her most wonderful, loving, handsome father, and that father being Paul Gregory, I truly don't think I would have believed that life could be this good. This blessed.  This lovely. 
As I was going through a box of old memories the other night, I came across a "Put-up" note that Paul had written me TWELVE summers ago while we both served on Teen Staff at LGYC.  It reads, "Dear Wife, :) Your Beauty Blinds me every time I look at you. :)  (HAHA), Not only that, but then I studer (read:stutter) and go out of words when I get fact to face with you.  You are truly the love of my life.  HAHA!!  PS:  See ya"  It's amazing to me to think that all those years ago, God was preparing our hearts for each other.  Through our years of playful banter, heartbreaks, friendship, ups and downs, the Lord had a plan far greater than we could have even "joked" about.  His timing is perfect.  For years, 12 years in fact, Paul called me the love of his life.  He always made sure to add a little snicker at the end of the phrase as to keep to the playful banter it began as, but deep down we both knew it was more than that.  Much more.  It never grew old hearing those four words uttered at the beginning of a phone conversation, or while ending an email written with such raw, honest words, or simply said while hugging after being absent from each other for some time.  Love of my life.
I sit here now beyond thankful, at a loss for words, for the blessing I have in his love for not only me, but now for our sweet Zaylee Jean.  What a great honor it is to be able to raise this little girl with a man that loves so greatly.  She and I are two extremely blessed ladies to have a man that follows after Christ and loves like He calls us to love, unconditionally and selflessly.

Our baby girl is three months old already!  Where does the time go??  She is such a happy, playful, sweet, smiley, active little lady, with so much personality already.  We can't seem to get enough of her, and thank the Lord everyday for her presence in our life.  My heart is filled with more joy than I thought possible, and continues to grow as I watch her grow daily. 

We love you Zaylee Jean and pray the Lord's blessing on you every day.  May He always be the ruler of your heart!!