Emily, originally uploaded by netdoc73.

She has the long skinny Edwards feet…

…And she has grown into then nicely! Another of Grandpa’s photos of Emily.

(4 months) Uncle Doug sent Emily her first piano. She has been playing it with her feet so far. It is tied to the end of her cradle and she has figured out that when she kicks it that it plays music and talks to her. I thought I was doing a good job of turning it off when we were done playing with it, but one evening when I went to put her to bed she kicked it, and the music rang out in the room. I turned it off as quickly as I could. I know better than to wake a sleeping baby! I got lucky and she just dozed off again. She is starting to really engage with toys now and it has been so much fun to watch. . . The joys of motherhood!

(3 months) Emily’s car seat has a fabric foot cover that stretches across the bottom of the car seat. She has taken to kicking her feet to rest on the top of the cover. This way she has foot freedom! I have decided that this new trick has transformed her car seat into a recliner (maybe even a LazyGirl recliner).

Caleb and Nathaniel (and their parents) came to visit for Emily’s dedication. The boys seemed interested in her, but not sure how to play with her. To be honest she slept most of their visit. She did watch them for a while playing on the porch. I expect that she will become a little more interesting when she can move and talk. Of course that is when she isn’t taking their toys.

Emily, originally uploaded by netdoc73.

Another photo of Emily by Grandpa.

We dedicated Emily on May 6th at our church Christ Chapel. Dedications are not required in our faith, but it is an act of surrender that we wanted to make. I’ve been thinking about what that surrender should look like for me. I have always had a sense that Emily was God’s creation as much as she is a mix of Robby and I. In fact, my doctor gave me a compliment about the pretty baby that I had made, and I pointed out that her beauty is God’s gift. God has entrusted her to us, and it our desire is to give her back to Him.

Who can be with Emily every moment of the day? Who knows Emily’s personality before she expresses it? Who knows what will happen before it occurs? Who always hears Emily when she cries? Who knows what each cry really means? I definitely don’t and can’t.

If I want to give good gifts to Emily, what better gifts will her heavenly father give her? What can I give Emily that God has not given to me first?

We prayed and waited for Emily. In God’s timing we received our gift. We’re excited to see the gift grow and enjoy the blessing everyday. We pray that we are as big of a blessing to Emily as she is to us.

I commit to remember that Emily is a gift from God and teach her of her Heavenly Father, of the love and salvation of Jesus, and the companionship of the Holy Spirit. I pray that God will give me the strength to do this and that my friends and family will encourage me in my lifelong effort to do so.