Faith's Birthday--4 Days after Levi's. I'm Tired.

Most of you know that getting Faith to join our family was a 3 year infertility battle. And during that infertility struggle, John was also battling cancer. It was quite the time in our household. Faith's name is very special because it represents the faith that John and I had to overcome both infertility and cancer. Those two pink lines on that pregnancy test represented new life and renewed hope. We were overwhelmed with joy.

It's a funny thing because my two other sisters and I were pregnant all at the same time. It was a once in a lifetime blessing. And no... the blue shirts weren't planned. Joyce (on the far right) delivered baby Ian on May 30th, Charlotte (far left) delivered baby Aaron on May 31st, and Faith joined us on June 16th. I LOVE this picture.



Faith's birth brought so many emotions for me. As soon as I gave birth to her, I knew that she came at the right time , but waiting for her was an extremely painful process for me. Holding her in my arms made that pain go away, but I will never forget that challenge (especially as I am now experiencing it again) and it has made me a better person.



Faith was such a chubby little newborn. I loved her chunky legs and double chin. She ended up losing quite a bit of weight at the hospital, however, and they almost didn't let me take her home.



If this picture doesn't make you baby hungry then you must definitely be done having children.



Levi meeting his baby sister for the first time.





The day I brought Faith home from the hospital, I was walking up the stairs with her against my shoulder. She put both arms out and pushed her body up and looked at me. I was shocked at her upper body strength. Every time I changed her diaper she wouldn't relax her head. She did some major ab work as a baby. Little did I know that it meant I would have an EXTREMELY active and wild toddler on my hands.



Unlike Levi, Faith's looks changed constantly. It took nearly an entire year for her eyes to change to the dark brown they are now. I thought she was going to have hazel-green eyes like me. When you look at this picture of her eyes, you might have thought the same thing.



Faith has been a live-wire from day one. But when I say that, I don't mean she has been a difficult child. Difficult in the sense of being busy, yes. But she's a happy-go-lucky kind of kid with a really fun personality. She's quite the diva and drama queen when something really affects her (like, say... the spider she saw on the wall today). She is ALWAYS cracking us all up!!!



Levi and Faith's relationship is a special one. The beauty of having them 5 years apart means there isn't as much fighting going on. Their age difference wasn't by choice, but now that it is the way it is, I LOVE it. The two of them are extremely cute with one another and I feel like they'll always have a special bond.



For those of you who missed out on the 'Peas' movie the first time I posted it, here it is in all its glory. I sent it in to America's Funniest Home Videos and the idiots never chose it. LAME. I think there must be some people working there who have no sense of humor. Because this? THIS IS FUNNY with a capital 'F'.



Faith's Blessing Day



If there is one thing that Faith does remarkably well, it's make messes. She is the MESSIEST child I've ever been around. She has gone from destroying toilet paper into teeny tiny bits to spreading my tampons all around the house and emptying the dish towel drawer and using them as blankies 10 times a day. She is BUSY. When I get ready in the morning, she can single-handedly destroy the bathroom in 10 minutes.



Faith on Easter Sunday '08



In the last year, Faith's hair has gone through a metamorphasis. When she was a year old, she had some major Grinch hair going on. It has gone from that to a full head of curls in the last year. And in the last three months, it has REALLY grown!

Faith on her birthday '08


The picture below was taken in the fall of '08. I can't believe how much Faith has grown and changed just since this picture was taken. She is a funny and beautiful little girl and we feel really lucky and blessed to have her in our home.



Dear Faith,
Your birth was a long awaited one. I will always remember the one night I was trying to fall asleep through my tears of yet ANOTHER failed month of trying to conceive. There came to me the tiniest flash of an image when I was not awake and yet not asleep. It was short, but it was of a little girl who looked just like you playing with Levi in his bedroom. It is what you look like today. You, my beautiful girl, are a treasured and cherished gift from Heavenly Father. You will never know how much we wanted you and prayed for you before you came to be with us. We love you so much. I feel like your name and your life will be an example to so many. You. Are. Special.

Happy Birthday, baby girl!!!


Faith on her second birthday 6/16/09