Opal's Third Month

Opal brings us so much joy!  She is so loved by Will and I...

...and so adored by her sisters too!  To hear each sister "baby talk" to Opal just melts my heart and reminds me that despite the challenges of raising four earthly kids, we are doing something right.

Just like when Lucy, Emma and Violet were born, we took Opal to the cemetery to visit Luke's grave.  Below is the traditional photo we take of the siblings baby feet lined up next to the ones we have of Luke's engraved on the headstone.  It is the closest I can get to having all five of my children together on earth.  One of the favorite things I have heard my girls "baby talk" to Opal is, "Did you see Luke in heaven before you came to earth Opal?  Did you give Luke hugs and kisses before you came to us?"  Oh, my heart.

There have been several times this past month where Opal has had inconsolable crying.  For over an hour, absolutely nothing I can do will make her calm, and I can tell that it is a cry of pain.  The pediatrician said that it is probably trapped gas and gave us tips to help alleviate it.  I do believe she is right, but it is so heart breaking to have your baby scream for that long in pain without being able to help her feel better.  During one memorable scream-fest, the older sisters seemed oblivious at first, as Opal cries throughout the day for various things.  But as the screaming went on, each big sister ended up coming to my side and helped me figure out how to soothe Opal.  Their sweet "baby talk" and ideas eventually did the trick and Opal fell asleep exhausted in my arms.  Here she is below, after Lucy suggested getting her undressed, and wrapping her in Lucy's favorite silk blanket from when Lucy was a baby.  

Opal sleeps just like her sisters did at this age, which isn't great, but I suppose that it would be tough not to pick Opal as our favorite if she slept better.  This way, at least I can say I love all of my babies equally!  Opal is slowly coming to accept her bath, but she still isn't crazy about it.  Again, same as her sisters at this age!  Here Opal is below, looking especially cute in outfits that were of course picked out by her sisters.

I found a set of gorgeous, pink shabby chic frames for Opal's bedroom and finally figured out how to be fair in the photos I chose for the three-picture frame when I have four daughters.  I ended up putting a photo of each sister holding Opal! 

This past month Opal is still more interested in people than she is in toys.  Below is her first attempt at "playing" with a toy.  She did enjoy chewing on the corner of this one that a friend made for her!

We ended Opal's third month by celebrating a double baptism with her cousin Hayden.  It was such a wonderful day, and I just couldn't stop smiling!  Who knew that my brother Joe and I would have baby girls just months apart, and then be able to be the God parents for each other!  Seven years prior to this, my brother Mike and I also had baby girls only three months apart, and although we didn't coordinate a double baptism on the same day for our daughters, we did become God parents for each other's baby girls.

In the photos below, the God fathers, the God mothers, and the God sisters.

It was a lovely day, filled with family and great memories.

 Opal Marie, you are very loved!