Ezralee's Baby Blessing

July 6, 2014

Began the morning with brunch at our house.

 We ate garden style a.k.a the backyard =)

 That morning my mom dressed Ezralee and had sweet moments reminiscing of holding me in my baby blessing dress 33 years ago.

 Everyone who came!

 I have a picture of my dad holding me in my blessing dress this same way.  Here you are sweet girl with your Grandpa Sturgeon who drove all day to be here for your special day!  He loves you!

 Your Uncle Blake and Uncle Gavin made the trip too!

All the men who blessed you.  

 Nana and Granddad have been here for a couple weeks enjoying you and the boys!

 I've enjoyed feeling close to my sweet mother and having her love surround us during this time.

 A sweet lady from the ward, Jan Tenney, offered to take some family photos for us.  I love them and feel they perfectly describe our family.

 We are so blessed to live 3 minutes from the temple.  It's right next to our church building.

 So happy to have Grandma & Grandpa Mac here for your special day!

 Your father blessed you with- A LOVE FOR ALL, CHARITY.

 How my love for you is intense!  I felt the spirit very strongly as I held you in my arms and just was overwhelmed with gratitude for Heavenly Father sending you to our family!  You are a miracle!!!

 I love that you and I were blessed in the same dress.  

WE LOVE YOU SWEET BABY GIRL! 

4th of July Weekend

What a glorious way to celebrate our Nation's Birthday...with Ezralee in our arms!

Doug's parents are serving a mission in western Washington (Everett, Washington Mission) and were given permission to come over for Ezralee's baby blessing.  So fun to see them with their name tags on and to feel the Spirit radiate from them.

The next day we enjoyed being on Coeur d'Alene Lake.  Boys LOVED tubing behind the boat.

  Even Colt was super brave and wanted to ride all by himself.  We let him...he's only 4...and after about 5 seconds he nose dived off the raft because he was too light.  Doug immediately swan dived in after him.  Colt was a bit startled from the tube going over his head and going head first into the cold water, but his positive, couragious spirit didn't fear.  Doug helped him stay happy and by the time he was back on the boat he celebrated his 5 seconds by saying, "Mom, did you see me?  I stayed on for 5 whole seconds!!!"  I celebrated his bravery and that his life jacket worked well.  Also, my love for Doug grew as I saw him leap to the rescue our son...it was pretty hot.

 View from the beach.

 How I spend many moments.  Also, I should interject here that breastfeeding was a nightmare from the first latch.  Usually it's not painful until day 3 when my milk comes in.  After a week of cracking open, bleeding, tearing off scabs, screams, prayers, and completely dreading feeding time, we resorted to pumping to give some time to heal.  We met with a wonderful lactation consultant who identified Ezralee's tongue and lip tie.  A week later she had the procedure done by an ENT and nursing became endurable.  THANK GOODNESS!  (and I should report that about 3 weeks it was decent and now I'm writing this and we are at 6 weeks and it's great!)

 We enjoyed a family game of kickball at a park by our house.

 Aunt Corrie enjoyed some snuggles with Ezralee.

 Then ended the night with a little chess with Uncle Blake.