I’m sorry Life… you might hate me for dressing you in this when you’re older! (Mom, thanks for saving my Christmas outfit for my kids. It was quite ridiculous(ly) (cute) looking on her and I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy these pics & the fact that you saved my baby clothes for my kids :). You’re a great saver. And a great mom! Love you.)

So, you guessed it! This red and white outfit was what I wore on Christmas when I was about Life’s age. So… here she is in all her Christmas cuteness!

:::Pre-Christmas with the Larsens:::

Little smarty! She watched me open her gifts… like she knew they were for her or something ;).

Honey and Big Daddy got her an American Girl baby doll. I think we might have a spoiled child on our hands? Or maybe just… well-loved. (& yes, the doll & Life are almost the same size.)

:::Christmas morning:::

Sporting the new cool-weather suit on our mid-60s degrees Christmas morning.

“A Real Muffin”

The McFadden family came to Dallas for the holidays and ended up making some time to come out for a Family Portrait. I met this family for the first time (except for the wonderful Kayla and Jay) and felt like I had known them forever. [Thank you all for praying for Life (and us) when she was so sick. It's amazing how trial brings people together. Thank you thank you thank you for everything...]

Hope you all enjoy seeing these beautiful people…

I can hardly believe that 5 months ago today I was in the hospital delivering Life. It both feels like forever ago and yesterday all in one.

It is fitting that this morning’s reading in the Book of Common Prayer was Psalm 46. Two verses from this psalm carried me through much of the difficult times when Life was so sick.

Verse 5 was my prayer when Doctors told us that they didn’t think she was going to make it (for all of you just joining the story of Life, I will fill you in with pictures and some commentary in the coming weeks)…

It reads:

“God is in the midst of her. He will help her at the break of day.”

I will never read that verse again without thinking of Life.

And during the delivery, I kept reciting in my head Psalm 46:1. “God is our strong refuge, he is truly our helper in times of trouble.”

How fitting that today, as we celebrate Life’s 5th month with us, that we would re-read and remember what a gift she is to us. Happy 5 months sweet one.

And THANK YOU to our Redeemer. Healer. Our Strong Refuge.

My brother and sister-in-law (Heath & Amy) welcomed their precious daughter, Campbell Mae, into the world today at 5:54am. Campbell weighs 8lbs 4 oz and is 20 3/4in long. She’s beautiful & her and Life will make great playmates really soon! Welcome to the family sweet girl. We love you!

::Gourmet lunch for Amy::

:::Daddy’s girl:::

:::Life with her good friend, Aunt Amy:::

:::teething like a mad-woman:::

:::Campbell’s going home outfit:::

:::Life’s new chub!:::

Congrats!!! We can’t wait for those play dates!