Rachel's first Christmas

 

Six Months!

 

5 months!

Rachel is a happy girl!  

• She loves being held and isn't a huge fan of the swing or bumbo...however, she doesn't seem to mind swings that go side to side.  
• She's rolling over back to front a lot and is still getting stuck on her front.  
• She kicks her legs super fast like she's riding a bicycle - oh man!  She's got "Jimmy legs!".
• She loves to "talk" and has a really cute squeel!  Hopefully it won't escalate too much!  :)
• We're going to start solid foods soon!  This has gone way too fast!  
• Ellie doesn't hit her very much anymore, thank goodness!  But we noticed that when we went to Boston recently that Ellie likes to hit bald heads.  I was holding her beside her uncle and then SMACK....his poor head!
• Ellie has leaned over and kissed her several times without being told....sooooooo sweet!!!  Love it!!! 

Rachel's age progression and 4 month pictures

I'm so behind on posting pictures!  I'm so glad we have the pictures for our records but I wish I had more time to post them to our blog.  Oh well....here's an age progression collage (click on it to see a bigger version) and a few from Rachel's 4 month "photo shoot" (haha...it's almost time for her 5 month "photo shoot"!).  Still not much hair!  But she's so cute! 

Happy Heart Day! 4 wonderful years!

Four years ago today, a HUGE MIRACLE occurred!  Ellie's AV Canal heart defect was mended...and her parents' hearts were mended too!  We are so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who worked through a humble and inspired doctor to fix a heart smaller than an acorn.
We love you SO MUCH Elle-Belle!!!  We are so proud to be your parents!!!

Bath: Getting ready to go to the hospital early in the morning of 10/10/08. I wanted to get a picture of her chest before the scar from surgery. 

Ellie post-surgery


We were so happy when we FINALLY got to hold her post-surgery!

Discharge Day: She looks so happy and healthy! 
Her first smile ever (that we caught on camera)!  
 

Ellie 4 years later: She wore her heart shirt on this very special day!
 

This sweet picture reminds me of the peace and assurance I felt when praying for her heart to be healed.

Dr. Moga, the humble instrument in His hands :)