Navy’s Special Day

On June 6th we had the wonderful opportunity to bless our sweet Navy! Now typically these are done at the church on the first Sunday of the month but because our little nephew Cruize was going to be blessed that same day and there church is at the same time as ours, we decided to bless Navy at Zach’s parent’s home that evening. I wasn’t sure how I would like not having it at the church but if you have ever been in Zach’s parents backyard you know how magical it is. It has 2 waterfalls, trees and plants surrounding it giving it a natural border. It is breathtaking and makes you feel like you are in the woods camping instead of right there in town.

My whole family was in town from AZ for our family getaway in Park City so they were ALL there…even my sweet grandma was in town for a convention so she was able to make it along with my Aunt Diann and Uncle Chad.

WOW…That’s a big ole family..that I LOVE! ;)

Zach’s whole family was able to make it too besides his brother Ryan and his wife Lindsay (whom we missed).
(sad we didn’t get a picture)

To be in that beautiful backyard surrounded by our dearest family whom we love SO much….it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was such an intimate setting and as Zach took our precious girl in his arms and the men whom I love so much laid there loving hands on her head to give her a priesthood blessing…my heart was FILLED to the max with love and happiness. I knew that this was right where we needed to be!!
   
As Zach pronounced the blessing upon her…the spirit was so strong and he spoke so profoundly and from his heart. It was one of the sweetest blessings I have ever heard and every word of it was so precious and perfect just for our little Navy!! It is times like those when you watch ordinary men turn into extraordinary…you know how powerful the priesthood is. You know that they are being given guidance in there thoughts and in their words from our loving Heavenly Father!!

 
As you can tell, Zach was a little emotional! His love for Navy is FIERCE!!

After the blessing I tried to hurry and write down some of the things she was blessed with so that as she gets older she can look back and read and reread them to help her through this journey of life…I sure hope she will!!

She was blessed to:

-Be polite and respectful

-That she will find JOY and SATISFACTION in serving her brother and helping to give him the best life possible

-Have health and strength

-Have a desire to accept the gospel and choose to be baptized

-CONTINUE to be a light to our family

-Have compassion and patience

-Have a desire to go to the temple and be married

-Have patience and persistence in enduring the challenges she will face in this life

-Have a kind and compassionate spirit

-Realize what a blessing the gospel is in her life

Although these were some of the main words spoken…it was truly the spirit that was felt as they were spoken that gave them such power. I only wish that Navy could remember that feeling throughout her life as well! I hope she will ALWAYS know how important she is to our little family and to her Heavenly Father! My prayer is that she will become the person that He sent her here to be!!
We love you Navy Jo!!!

Of course there were LOTS of pictures of this beautiful day!

Zach’s mom was so sweet and wanted to capture her getting ready for her big day!!! I love that she captured this day so well!!!

Thank you Vicki!!!


Getting undressed! She has no idea everyone is coming for her! ;)

Her GORGEOUS dress that was made by my mother’s talented hands with SO much love!! It will be a treasured keepsake forever!!

Wish I had an ounce of my mom’s talent!





Her gorgeous little shoes I had my talented neighbor Terra make just for her!


Getting dressed...



So patient while mommy buttons her up! Ohhh I die over her little face and dark wise eyes!!



Of course a headband is needed to top it all off! ;)



I LOVED the detail of it!


Especially the back of it!



Then the shoes…


Once she was all complete it was time for her Dad and I to love on her! ;)

Of course Zach would be holding her hand! ;)






Do you think she knows how much she is loved?!


My mom was there to help with the finishing touches! Such a special memory for me and Navy!





I LOVE this sweet picture!!!


And then of course we had to have a quick photo shoot before going down!!

The accessories! ;)



Her sweetest little face!


  
I think this one was my favorite! Love the sweet angle!!

She got loved on a lot from so many people! She was so happy, sweet, and content the whole entire night! She never even made a peep! I think she could feel what a special day it truly was!


Her sweet and SO special Great Grandparents! She has NO idea how lucky she is to have them here in her life!!!



4 Generations!



Navy and sweet cousin Cruiz…blessed the same day!



I love this picture! It looks like Navy is whispering something in his ear! I’m sure something VERY important!



Their mommies lovin on them!!



And their handsome daddies!!


Sweetest cousin Lola was there too so she had to get in on this action! ;)

One day these 3 and Baby F that will be here soon are gonna reak some havoc together!! Until then…we will enjoy this imobile time! ;)



Sweet feet!



Grammy and Poppy time!






My beautiful sisters/best friends!!!



The 2 most important woman in my life!! I hope Navy and I can both grow up to be just like them!


Such a beautiful, happy, and special day! One that will stay in my heart and mind forever!!!

Thank you to our wonderful families for being a special part of it!!


By the end of the night she was pooped! ;)

We love you SOOOO much Miss Navy!!

3 MONTHS!

I know you always hear this but truly I feel like Navy is growing up WAY too fast! I feel like every day I look at her she has grown so much!!



Before we had Navy I think both Zach and I were looking forward for her to turn 2. We both longed to bring back that stage we were at when Dakota’s accident happened. He was at such a fun age…talking, laughing, hilarious, independent, entertaining, so much personality, etc. and then all of the sudden that was gone. Even though we have still had the privilege to continue to raise him and watch him just celebrate age 6…I feel like I don’t fully know what it is like to have a 2.5-6 year old in many aspects. I LOVE being around friends and family with kids this age range because I love to listen to them say silly things, be naughty, and everything in between because I miss it so much!! Don’t get me wrong…Dakota has slowly progressed and gotten more and more personality each year since his accident and I LOVE being around him…but I miss out on the normal stages of development and growth that other kids go through.

So when Navy was born I think Zach and I were ready for her to be 2 right away. But…we have easily come to LOVE and ENJOY this baby stage of her life and now I’m wanting the time to slow down so we can continue to enjoy her snuggles, sweet chubby rolls, her smiles at the simple things, her sweet soft coos, etc. We seriously are savoring every piece of her!!!

At 3 months:
-She is still chunking up daily…which is so weird and fun because Dakota was such a skinny boy

-She is in size 2 diapers and just starting to fit into 3-6 month clothes

-She smiles SO much at her mom and dad and sometimes to strangers. She is already starting to get a little dose of stranger danger which makes me a little sad and happy at the same time. Dakota was NEVER like that…he would go to any and everyone…which was nice for babysitters and nursery. But I kinda like that she loves to be with us! ;)

-She has the softest sweetest coos and hums

-She is a hyper little girl CONSTANTLY kicking and waving those arms all about

-She loves to bat at toys

-She already sits in her bumbo like a champ!

Check out those bicep rolls!! I love her little proud grin! ;)

-She can finally keep the binky in pretty good but doesn’t use it a ton. Mostly when going to sleep. (After all the many brands I bought…it was the original hospital brand that she ended up doing the best with!)

-She is sleeping 10-12 hours at night like a champ…I am LOVING this! ;)

-She is such a chill pill all day and is happy and content just chilling. She is so patient when I am busy that she will just fall asleep playing on the ground without even making a peep.


I was going to get her dressed…hence the nakedness but got busy making Dakota’s birthday cake and she just decided to take a nap!

-I swear she secretly loves to have her headband over her eyes when she sleeps. It always ends up that way and she never fusses.

-She is still a finger/thumb sucker! ;)

-Even though she is not a super cuddly baby on your shoulder…she will let you snuggle her to sleep with her blanky and binky. This is Zach’s most favorite thing to do at night!!


I LOVE how she stares at you so sweet when you hold her!!

-She pays a little more attention to Dakota man now and will occasionally give him smiles!

-My most favorite thing of all: She LOVES her blanky and loves to hold it and snuggle it up to her face…just like Dakota did!!!

Oh Navy...STOP growing up!!

My Favorite 6 Year Old!!!

Dear Dakota,

You turned 6 today and I thought my heart was going to burst! My emotions were running very high today…in a good way!! I’m sure part of it was due to the emotional high we had yesterday with the AMAZING F2TF 5K. (more to come on that soon).

I was overwhelmed as I woke up today thinking about how grateful I am to get to celebrate this day with you!! I almost lost my opportunity to celebrate birthdays with you, so today I celebrated YOU with the happiest of hearts!!!

This birthday was your first birthday since your accident that I felt that you really understood it was YOUR birthday…at least it was the first time you shared some emotion with us…smiling and laughing as we poured balloons over your body when you woke up as we sang Happy Birthday to you!!


We blew these up at midnight for you…that’s how much we love you!!! ;)




You smiled and giggled as I let you listen to all the voxes, phone messages, and videos sent to you from our family and friends that were thinking of you today and even everyone singing to you at Vayden’s luncheon!! I could tell even though you couldn’t tell me in words that you knew it was your birthday and you were SO happy to celebrate it today!! I think you are SUPER excited to be 6!!!  It made today even more special to watch you smile and enjoy being youl!!!

Dakota…when you came into this world 6 years ago and made me and your dad parents…we had no idea the influence you would be in our lives!!



You opened our hearts then and since that day you have continued to AMAZE me in every way possible!! You are not just my son…you are my teacher, my angel, my example, my light, my happiness, my sunshine, my little piece of heaven, my daily reminder of what really matters in life, my LOVE!! You make my world go round!!!

So I sit her today with tears in my eyes SOOOO grateful to get to celebrate this 6 years with you today instead of without you!!!


He even put out the candle on his own…with his arm! ;)

I still don’t know how I got so lucky that you chose me to be your mom…my only guess is that you knew I needed A LOT of help in this life to make it back to my Heavenly Father and you knew I would need you to teach me, lead me, and guide me every step of the way!!

Whatever the reason may be…THANK YOU for choosing me!! I will love you with all my heart every single day!! I’m so lucky I get to spend eternity with YOU!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAKOTA MAN!!!!!