Ettley’s Blessing:

Ettley Kate Rahlf was blessed on August 7th, 2016. We waited until August because we really wanted Dane’s parents to be there, home from their three year mission in the Philippines. I was so excited to have a baby girl because I was going to bless her in my baby dress but since we moved and a lot of our stuff is still in boxes I couldn’t find it. I’m really sad about this but we found her another cute dress. Hopefully we have another girl and she can wear my dress!

We did her blessing in church unlike Adler’s. Dane’s parents were there and so was his brother, Tony. I was so happy that they could be there for the blessing because it is events like this where I miss my Dad. I remember him at Adler’s blessing and I really wish he could have been there to help bless my little Ettley girl. I know he was there in spirit. My mom and Courtney were also there which I also appreciate. 

It was a beautiful blessing by Dane even though Ettley girl decided she wanted to cry during the majority of it. Dane explained that she was named after a place that he loved to visit while on his mission. He blessed her that people who were in her presence might enjoy the same beauty and companionship and to be able to hear the message of the gospel. I love being able to hear the blessings Dane gives our children and they will always hold a special place in my heart. 

The whole group (minus Tony)

Adler playing in the bushes...

Ettley with her Oma and Grandma

Ettley is three months:

Our little girl is growing like crazy and we can’t keep up! I love experiencing the firsts all over with her and I have loved dressing her up and buying all things girly. She continues to melt our hearts. 

 - She is still sleeping through the night and her napping has gotten a little better! Sometimes we can even get a 2 hour nap out of her. 

• She LOVES to chew on her fists all the time. There isn’t really a time where her hands aren’t in her mouth. She still likes her binky but doesn’t take it all the time which makes me wonder if she will be a hand sucker.
• She has started reaching for toys and playing with them on her mamaroo and bouncy chair. She can even hold a few chew toys in her hands but she usually just ends up eating her hands and dropping her toys.
• When she is on her back she will rotate herself all over the floor. She is never in the same place I left her.
• She is my snuggliest baby and I LOVE it! Sometimes she will just lay on my shoulder or snuggle her face into me. She also likes it when we hold her hand while she tries to fall asleep. She still loves to sleep in my arms and I hope this snuggle phase lasts.
• At about 3 1/2 months she laughed! It was the cutest sound ever but she saves them. She will smile like crazy but getting a laugh is hard.
• We recently went on a Disney cruise with Dane’s family and unfortunately Ettley had to stay home because she wasn’t 6 months (a rule I didn’t know existed). I had pumped milk for her before I left but my mom also gave her formula. She is now the happiest baby. She was just hungry and wasn’t getting enough from me. 
• I have stopped breastfeeding Ettley. I am still pumping but I wasn’t making enough milk for her. My supply was decreasing before I left on my trip and so I decided that I would stop nursing her and just pump milk and mix it with formula. This decision has been super hard for me again especially because I really loved breastfeeding this time around but I hope that next baby I will be able to finally figure out this breastfeeding thing. Ettley is so much happier now and that’s all the matters. 
• On 8/27 she rolled from her stomach to her back! 

We love our Ettley girl and her cubby cheeks that she has now gotten from drinking bottles. Here are some cute pictures: 

Sleeping through mommy's birthday dinner

Starting to notice the flowers

Celebrating Lorelei's baptism

Ettley's blessing day! We were so glad Dane's parents could join us (his brother Tony was there but had to leave before pictures)

My cute girl!

I love when she sleeps on me!

Don't worry we checked her every few minutes...she likes her stomach better

Naked kids!

This is what Ettley has to deal with but I think she likes it!

I have two kids! Crazy!

Going through the Philly temple open house

Visiting daddy at work!

Look at those cheeks! 

My Graduation and Adler’s Blessing

A few weeks ago we took a road trip to Utah for my graduation. This was Adler’s second road trip to Utah and he slept the whole way again! He loves his carseat and the car. 

My parents flew out for my graduation and so did my grandma. It was so nice to see them again and spend more time with them and have them spend more time with Adler.

Walking at graduation was such a fun experience and I am so glad I finished college and that I could share this experience with my family. I was also able to sit and walk with a high school friend from Virginia, so that made graduation all the more fun.

We also decided to bless Adler while we were in Utah because then my parents, grandma and sister could be there. It also worked out perfectly for Dane’s family, including some people who happened to be in town.To top it off a lot of my cousins were there too!

When Adler was first born my mom and I started looking for blessing outfits because we knew we wanted to do it at my graduation. We found a cute outfit but when the blessing got closer I was nervous he wouldn’t fit into his outfit and when we tried it on the morning of his blessing it was way too big! We quickly tried to find another outfit and ended up getting white pants from gap and a grey sweater. 

Getting dressed for the blessing

Visiting before the blessing 

Everyone that blessed Adler 

Everyone that was at the blessing

Such a little cutie

I love how small he is but I can’t wait for him to start fitting into his 0-3 month clothing because I have some cute things for him. But I will also be sad that he’s getting bigger and growing up.

After his blessing we went to Benihanas to celebrate my graduation and his blessing. I loved spending time with my family and hope there is always family near by so Adler has plenty of people to play with!