A name and a blessing for Junie B

June's blessing day was the warmest, most beautiful day in December this year. We had a great day and an amazing turn out for a baby #3 blessing. (Sometimes I feel like the first baby gets the most attention and celebration. Then, with each consecutive child that is born in a family, the celebration and attention slowly reduces). But we were surrounded by so many friends and family that day, love and support we felt was overwhelming. 

At church that day, while Ryan was giving our baby a name and a blessing, he felt inspired to change her name. When we left the hospital, her legal name was Juniper Bea Williams. The "Bea" was for the letter B which for her grandmothers: Beth and Bobbi. But when we received her social security card in the mail, it hit me a little that it didn't quite look right. Maybe it was because that was the first time I saw her name typed out, or maybe it's because her first name is a little unique and I didn't think it was fair to ALSO give her a middle name that most people wouldn't quite know how to pronounce either. It also kind of looked like the name of the city we live in, which is Brea. I don't know, it just didn't sit right with me. I talked to Ryan about this a little and he agreed, but we didn't think we'd do anything about it. 

But during June's blessing Ryan felt prompted to say "The name by which she should be known by is 'Juniper Belle Williams...'" Down in my pew, with my head bowed and my eyes closed I smiled to myself. It was perfect. Belle is Ryan's grandmother's name (technically it's "Isabelita" but she goes by Belle). I love it so much. I love that it's a family name. I love that it's still the initial B like both her grandmothers. I love that it flows with her first name and often call her "Junie-Bell." And I get the feeling that someday she will love that it is the name of a Disney princess. 

I really love all my childrens' names but I'm pretty sure I love Juniper's the most. I love her full name. Juniper is an evergreen tree, a botanical name, just like mine. It's covered in beautiful periwinkle-blue berries and smells just like Christmas. With her middle name, I think of Christmas bells on an ever green tree and it reminds me of the year she was my newborn during the holidays. There's something magical about having a newborn during the holidays- bunkering down in our cozy home, cuddling my fresh new baby with the christmas tree lit up, it was all wonderful. But her nickname, "June," I love just as much. Not only is it the most adorable name out there, but it makes me think of summertime and sunshine. She is my earthy, all-seasons baby. 

 

 

9 Months with Juniper Belle

Juniper Belle at 9 months:

• first time at the Williams Family Beach House
• on the first night of the beach house, she slept her longest stretch of sleep! 11 1/2 hours! From 8:20pm to 7:50am! (kinda sad that it's not a normal occurrence after nine freakin months). I think it was because we were in a room that was pitch black, with a loud fan, the room was a little warmer than normal, and she slept on her tummy. I've been trying to recreate the situation ever since, but it hasn't quite worked out. 
• first tastes of: squash, oatmeal, peas, blueberries, raspberries, and ICE CREAM! (actually it was pineapple gelato that her aunt Celestial gave her when I wasn't looking. Wish I could have seen her face!)
• had her first hair cut by her (great) aunt Ruth! To be honest, I was a little nervous to cut the rat tail for a second. I don't know why, it was kinda gross. Maybe thought it might change the look of my sweet girl, but the minute it was cut off I could tell it was a good thing. It was long overdue. She should have had her first haircut when she was a week old.
• went on her first bike ride! It was just June, mommy and daddy. We rode along the Newport Beach boardwalk at dusk. Everyone coming toward us on the boardwalk lit up at the sight of her, some smiled, pointed, giggled or waved, like she was her own little parade. She LOVED it.
• has started DANCING!! It's more like bouncing up and down and waving her arms around. Sadly... it's usually to "Gangnam Style," which is Harvey's favorite dance party song, so she's been hearing it since she was in the womb. I guess I should have been putting classical music up to my belly. I hope she hasn't lost brain cells.
• she does this adorable thing where she leans in and goes forehead to forehead with me. She lingers there with this adorable genuine smile across her face like she's the happiest little baby in the world. I love it so much.
• has been "singing" this song where she sticks her tongue in & out and says "Labalabaladalabalada." It's my new favorite song and I get to listen to it on repeat all day long!
• she has been trying to get on all fours and rocks back & forth like she's going to crawl any day now! I'm a little nervous for her to start crawling so young (well, young for our family. Wendy and Harvey never really crawled, and were late walkers) but I'm excited too! I think crawling is adorable and intriguing because my older two never did it. But I'm nervous to have to keep the floor clean and free of choking hazards with two other kids who love things like legos and littlest petshop. 

Harvey goes to "presthchool"

Highlights:

• Wendy's prayer for him the night before: "Please bless that he'll have a good day at school, make new friends, won't miss mommy or be sad, learn good things, have fun with Miss Lisa and Miss Julie" really touching for a big sister that he pesters and fights with all the time.
• 
  
• For his bedtime story the night before, we read the book "The Night Before Preschool" and changed the main character's name to Harvey.
• 
  
• laying in his crib, Harvey asks me what he's going to do there tomorrow. I answer, " You're going to play, do art crafts, have snacks, and play some more." Very concerned, he asks, "But when am I going to learn things?!"
• 
  
• Wanted just daddy to take him to school like Wendy so they took they're own car.
• 
  
• Did his hair with daddy's pomade and kept checking it in the mirror.
• 
  
• Had the biggest smile on his face all morning and especially when we got there.
• 
  
• Was so excited to go in he was holding my hand and jumping up and down.
• 
  
• We signed him into the classroom, got his heart shaped name tag and put his back pack in his cubby (#20) held his hand and showed him around the classroom. looked at all the toys, cars, animals...
• 
  
• Mommy was relieved when a friend from church, Max, unexpectedly came in with his mom. Harvey didn't know him, but I knew his mommy and we introduced the boys to each other and showed each other their back packs and led them to the pile of cars to play together.
• 
  
• Teacher had them sit on the carpet, went over the rules and where the potty was. Harvey keeps looking back and smiling at me. Teacher has them wave good bye to the parents. Ryan and I wave and walk out the door. Someone opens the door for me and I feel rushed. I go back and give him a couple big hugs and kisses, He doesn't seem nervous at ALL but I can tell he's happy I came back.

*with cutest girl Whitney Sneddon

*with best friend Max Chase

June is 8 MONTHS OLD!! WHAT!?

June at 8 months:

• Has figured out how to roll from her back to her tummy and now rolls ALL OVER the place! Seriously, if I take my eye off her for two seconds she's across the room. My older two children were late when it comes to mobility, late rollers, sitters, crawlers AND walkers. But I think June is going to break the mold. I wouldn't mind if all my kids were late in that department...
• Sounds insignificant, but can pick up her pacifier and put it back in her mouth (thanks to our new favorite pacifier, the wubbanub. #googleit). I don't know why it's so cute to watch her pick the little stuffed animal up and shake her head back and forth with her mouth wide open until she finds the binki and latches on, but it is. And now I'm not constantly putting it back in or making my older children do it for me.
• NEW FOODS: prunes, carrots, & peaches
• Sitting up! Unassisted... and raaaarely flopping over anymore
• First time on a swing. It was at the park in Brea by the Plunge Pool after the older kids' swimming lessons. The poor thing kept flopping forward but she still loved it!
• 1st 4th of July!
• 1st road trip: Las Vegas, Utah, Idaho. She was a ROCK STAR in her carseat. The happiest out of all my little road trippers. We learned her limit when we tried to barge it straight home from Idaho all in one day and hit 4th of July weekend Vegas traffic. Eleven and a half hours. My June is happy as a clam in the carseat, facing backwards and staring at the blank nothingness of a seat for eleven and a half hours. The older two lose it after 5 minutes if they don't have a dvd player in their face. But my sweet, dream baby lasted eleven and a half hours before letting us know she was done. It took us twelve to get home so... not too bad.
• First hair cut! Took June to aunt Ruthy to finally cut the mullet/rat-tail off. Honestly, I was a little nervous. I know those whispy, Gollum hairs were sparse and always out of control, but I was used to her little face surrounded by a crazy mane. But we did it and she still looks like herself, only a little cuter (if that's possible). 

*My babe and my baby... LOVE these two!

June in June

June at 7 months:

• 18.5 pounds
• 1st "SOLID" foods: rice cereal, avocado, sweet potatoes, bananas - loved every thing she's tasted
• moved out of her bassinet in mommy & daddy's room into a big girl crib in Wendy's room. She did great with the transition and loves her new bed!
• First trip to the temple! We went to the San Diego temple for our cousin, Alyssa's wedding.
• Is now reaching out for people when they go to hold her... probably my FAVORITE milestone this month
• On June's first memorial day, 5/26/14, she went swimming for the first time. She wore a hot pink with white polka dot swimsuit that matched Wendy's and kicked and splashed in the cool water for as long as I let her.

*love the baby rolls and the little glimpse of her congenital mullet in this photo :)