Nearly crawling

Lucy is so close to crawling! She is so fast when she rolls and scoots (mostly backward) and she can even pivot around and switch directions.  It makes life interesting for us when we see her headed in one direction, turn around and find her across the room in the opposite (diagonal) direction!

She has now perfected her plank -- and barefoot no less! She's a strong little thing! Apparently she's been taking notes at mama's workout class.

More and more she gets up on her hands and knees and is beginning to rock as you can see in the video   below:

 PS: Yes, I took a video of her instead of cleaning up the spots of spit-up she'd dropped across the floor. Keeping it real here, folks!

7 months!

Where did the time go? My sweet baby is seven months old and on the verge of crawling.  It’s true what they say: the hours drag by, but the weeks, they do fly! 

Wearing an heirloom bonnet (wish I'd gotten a picture sooner...it's already kind of small!)

Wearing a dress handmade for her Nana over 60 years ago!

Lucy can now sit up completely unassisted and she can do a controlled roll onto her belly.  She wants to crawl so badly and is putting all of her energy toward achieving that end.  This little girl has Tenacity with a capital “T”!  She spends most of her time these days on her tummy, pushing herself up and down on her arms.  She hasn’t yet put her knees under her, at least not at the same time as her arms, but she’s working on it.  

Generally she's a pretty happy (and busy!) baby

Our favorite two Lucy antics of the moment: the head bob and the foot clap!  She gets up on her arms, locks her elbows, and bobs her head up and down with vigor.  She will also head bob when she’s sitting -- so much so that she’s thrown herself over a time or two in her enthusiasm.  Lucy remains incredibly flexible.  She can still reach her feet into her mouth or up over her head. Our favorite demonstration of her flexibility is this: she “claps” her feet together.  She can (and does) line up the soles of her feet perfectly and claps them together with her hands -- or sometimes, even more impressively, she does it while lying on her back with a toy in her hands.  I have yet to get a video of this, but I dearly hope to before she transitions from this phase.  

Hipster baby

She’s trying more solids and while she initially rejects most foods put into her mouth, after a few bites she’ll lean forward and strain to get bites into her mouth as quickly as she can gum and swallow.  

Tell-tale signs of teething include chewing on any available service! 

Experiencing sand for the first time with Uncle Seth!

Lucy can now roll quickly and can efficiently make it across the room (and into trouble) in the time it takes me to walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I’ve walked into the room to find her happily wrapped up in my laptop cord, chewing on the end.  She’s already given me a couple of minor panic attacks!  She keeps us on our toes for sure! 

Lucy at Ocean Shores

This hat used to be so big on her -- now it barely fits (hence hipster babe)

This video was taken one day before her 7 month birthday since it's much cuter than anything I could have recorded on the day itself! :) 

Post note on video: Yes, she was just fine! She was actually smiling and laughing (see below) right up until I had to get the sand off her face... I dubbed that process "baby water-boarding" because we had to pour water over her face since wiping it off would have rubbed her skin raw. Needless to say she was not a fan of this process, but once it was over and she'd had a little consolation nursing she was juuuust fine! 

Cousin buddies!

Cousin buddies! What more can I say? I love these littles!! 

Mom, what is this baby giant doing to me? 

Such an obedient little guy: sitting right here until mom comes back! 

Look at those two little teeth! 

Prince London! 

Pay no attention to him, mom. 

Scheming to get Amelia's watermelon

Paci Love

I am the princess and the princess needs her paci! 

This girl loves her paci -- I mean loooooves it!  They say attachment starts right around 6 months, and boy it sure did!  Lucy has always been fond of her paci and taken it for soothing and sleep.  Until recently, though, she didn't really have control over it.  Someone had to put it in her mouth for her.  Once she figured out how to do it herself she began to be more calm... Now she's grown quite opinionated about her paci and her "do it myself" attitude is emerging.

She has now done the following to Isaac and to me:

Scene: Crying in her crib well after she should be asleep.

We tiptoe in to help her, find her paci (one of which is usually firmly grasped in her chubby fingers) and put it in her mouth.  She swats our hand away, removes the offending pacifier and swaps it for the one she's been holding in reserve since we laid her down to sleep, then calmly drifts off to sleep.



Yes, she still has a way to go on self-soothing, but she's got opinions about it, so that's a start?!

This morning (and a few previous mornings) I've gotten her up and brought her back to bed for her first feeding of the day.  I took her paci from her hand so that she wouldn't drop it on the way.  She looked first at one of my hands then the other and snatched the pacifier back.  "How dare you, mama! I need that!"

Lastly, how do you know you timed a nap or bedtime perfectly?  You place a whimpering Lucy in her crib, insert a pacifier and put a backup in her hand, and cue contended sucking.  Aaaand scene!

She loves her paci during the day, too and is starting to get excited when she sees it after an absence.  She nearly always has one nearby, but thankfully she doesn't seem to want or need it constantly when she's awake.  She'll want it for a moment or two if she's upset or bored or tired, then it's on to exploring everything else in this world mouth first!

That's my girl: Odie and a pacifier! 

Yes, yes I DO need all three. Any more questions, mom? 

Solids are a Messy Business

More gratuitous cuteness for your viewing pleasure!  This time it was squash.  It took Lucy a few bites to come to terms with the fact that she wasn't getting her usual oatmeal.  She ate like a champ, though.  And then the next day I realized that oatmeal diapers aren't so bad...but squash diapers -- whew!  For the first time my baby's diaper smelled like a big kid diaper...  So sad!  My baby is growing up so fast!  Yes, I got nostalgic over a poopy diaper.  If you're a mom you get it.  

If Lucy were a twin...

I got a glimpse of what it might be like to have twin girls yesterday.  Lucy is obsessed with the little girl in the mirror.  For just a moment it was fun to imagine that the girl in the mirror was real and playing with Lucy, instead of her merely interacting with herself.  Wow.  My hat is off to moms who do it in real life day in and day out!  I'd still love to have twins, but for now I'm thankful (and relieved) Lucy isn't double the trouble! :)

Having a chat with her mirror friend!

Oh, hey mom! 

Kisses for baby!

Can't you just see her as twins? 

So happy!

She just remembered that she was really sad before I set her in front of the mirror...
Glad she's my one and only so I can fully snuggle her in my arms at moments like this! 

Baby's First 4th of July!

I couldn't have said it better myself!  We had a low-key 4th of July this year.  We spent the day together as a family at home.  I couldn't totally ignore the holiday, though.  I had to record Lucy's first Independence Day for posterity purposes.  I realized too late that I had no outfit or anything red for her to wear -- so much for red, white and blue.  Not to be deterred, I started to formulate a plan... Blue diaper -- nope, suddenly she's not smelling so sweet -- okay, white diaper, blue and red blocks, white blanket backdrop...it's coming together... Oh, Presidential Pez, of course!  And finally the flag that I saved from Seth's homecoming (when we drove down and surprised him -- such a great day -- still makes me tear up). 

America's cutest little sweetheart! 

Then Isaac asked me if he could cook for me...  The answer to that question is always "yes...YES, PLEASE!"  So in honor of our freedom he made us the national dish of Spain.  I think he's trying to turn us into foodies -- and it's working!  It was beautiful and delicious (except the mussels...can't say I enjoyed those, but I tried...)

And quail eggs for a side -- just cause Isaac wanted to try them.  I love this guy! 

And then it got dark and the fireworks started...  Fireworks are supposed to be banned in Renton city limits...  Apparently no one cared last night.  We heard plenty of sirens, so perhaps there were police out there enforcing, but we noted no decrease in the amount of popping, booming, crackling, and the veritable war zone outside our apartment.  And in all of this I saw not one firework in the sky. Lame!  Thankfully, I can fall asleep under most any situation, so I got plenty of sleep, but poor Isaac -- I doubt he slept until well into the wee small hours! 

Papa Got His New Heart -- In Heaven from Jesus

REPOSTED from my mom's blog: 

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

After fighting the good fight, Lee went to be with Jesus on June 28th at 2:45pm.  Tonight we experience utter heartbreak and simultaneous joy for we know that while we grieve his death he is already with Jesus and could say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." and heard in return "Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your master" Amen and amen. 

His passing was peaceful, and we know that he finally received his much-anticipated new heart!  And we have great joy in knowing that this heart will never wear out.  He's rejoicing with Jesus, hugging on Lonnie Jr. and Gabbie and those that got there before him.  

 

Lee's memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 12th at 11am at LifeWay Church - 5015 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA.  The service will be officiated by Pastor Don Turner and our brother-in-law, Pastor Lonnie Arnold.

We would be honored to have you join us in remembering Lee's life.

photo credit: Mark Hendricks

The doctor told his nurse (who told Seth) that they were to pull out every possible treatment because this man is special.  It is healing to our family to know that they exhausted all options in treating Lee.  The nurses were so attentive, constantly adjusting his medications and equipment, never leaving his side (literally -- they left the room to use the restroom -- and were never gone more than 5 minutes), and called his doctor if there was more than a minor fluctuation.  His doctors did everything they could to restore his health to the point that he could return to The List.  Ultimately, God saw fit, in His goodness, to take him home, and we know that Lee was ready.  

We credit this attention above and beyond attention to Lee's unwavering faith.  He shared his "win-win" philosophy with anyone who would listen.  As he would say...if I get a new heart, I win.  If I'm with Jesus, I win.  He truly lived out his faith and we know that he planted and watered many seeds for the Gospel.

Doing what he loved

He was always upbeat.  He rarely let his condition keep him down, despite being unable to do so much that he loved.  I don't believe many fully realized how sick he was, and how he longed for heaven and complete healing.  Still, like Paul, he fought on for us.  

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus...(Philippians 1:21-26)

His doctors, until the end, commented on how well he looked and they would have to read his chart and vitals to recognize how sick he was.  Unless you were with him daily, and knew the man he used to be, the active, helpful, craftsman, sports-loving guy he wanted to be, you wouldn't have seen how sick he really was.  

We love him and will miss him dearly.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed with us -- we've truly experienced the comfort and peace that comes only from God and is communicated through His body.

  
This comes from his brother-in-law, Lonnie Arnold on Lee's passing: 

Lee lived a life of a humble Christian man. He was a devoted follower of Christ, a loving husband and father. He was affectionately known as Papa Lee by all the Arnold children, and he was a second father to them all. My life has been incredibly blessed by the Lord to have Lee alongside me in my Christian journey. He provided endless encouragement as a Brother in the Lord, and a true fellow father in parenting our children. His godly wisdom was always was filled with spiritual insight and genuine love for me and my family. He walked and talked with me through both difficult and delightful days. I will miss my dear brother, brother-in-law, and irreplaceable friend. I rejoice that Lee is with Jesus. He has arrived at the goal of the Christian life. His hope has been fulfilled, and the joy of being in the presence of the Lord infinitely exceeds any joy of this fallen world. Oh yes, we miss you Lee. The temporary separation produces deep grief because of the depth of love we experienced with you for years. Yet at the same time, I bless the Lord for the gift of your life in Jesus, which based on the unbreakable promise of God, we will share many more conversations in eternity, filled with praise and glory. I will miss you my brother. You have been one of the richest gifts of God in my life!!!

From his cousin, Shannon: 

The adorable man with the mischievous, smiling Irish eyes is my cousin Lee Hendricks. We lost him on Saturday afternoon after a long battle with heart related conditions; he had been at the Mayo Clinic waiting for a heart. The tenacity and faith was humbling, but he was so much more.

He was a man of epic dreams who made you imagine the impossible. The testament to his role as a father is seen in his fabulous kids Seth, Sarah and Katie, and his role as a husband to his wonderful wife, Peg Hendricks. 

I feel privileged and thankful for the time that he was in my circle. Time to spill some fine Irish whiskey for my sweet cousin.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21