Hello again!

As usual, I've managed to post the pictures before my text and I can't figure out how to move them. So, I'll put a little commentary below some of the photos, but my update is at the end. Enjoy!

Our dear friends Amy and Owen Wakefield came to visit us last week.

I can't believe how big she's getting!

Two months old and already bigger than Lullabye. I decided to dress Lullabye in the outfit we brought Laura home from the hospital in. I thought it would be a nice keepsake for the future. :)




Our dear friends Ken, Beth, and Matt Mellinger spent a few days with us on their way to Florida. Ken was my pastor in PA and Ken and Beth have been such a precious gift from the Lord. We enjoyed our visit with them tremendously!

Well, I'm not really sure where to begin with this post. It's been so long since I last posted and so much has happened. Let's start with David...

David has been busy this summer with work, church, and home responsibilities. He has been a big help to me these days (as he always has been!) by pitching in with some of my responsibilities around the home. It's amazing just how difficult it can be even to get the laundry done in one day with a newborn around! David has also been really busy helping with all sorts of things at our church. He was even given the opportunity to preach a Sunday sermon a few weeks ago when our pastor was on vacation. It was excellent! You can check it out on http://www.catalystchurchcharlotte.com/ He has also been busy leading youth group and planning our family mini-vacation to Myrtle Beach. I love my sweet husband and days are always so much more fun when he's around. We had a few hours to get away (just the two of us!) on a motorcycle ride to the mountains a few weeks ago.

As for me... I've been learning lots of things lately:
1. Baby's don't just "fall" asleep. In fact, this baby would stay awake for 6 hours straight if we allowed her to! She's so curious! I've learned to read her sleepy cues and we now know that her awake time after a feeding is really only about 45-60 minutes.
2. Pacifiers are really o.k. :) Initially, I was opposed to pacifiers. HOWEVER, I have learned that they really help her to fall asleep for her afternoon naps. That has been a real blessing. I couldn't find anything else to help her sleep in the afternoons and that made our evenings quite miserable for a while. Now, she usually takes two short naps in the afternoon, which is a big improvement.
3. Those little "ruffles" on the diapers that I thought looked really silly really DO need to be on the outside. No more leaky diapers in the morning! Thank you, husband and Beth Mellinger for teaching me that!
4. It is o.k. to schedule - at least a flexible schedule. Thank you, Meghann Hasty, for loaning me Baby Wise. It has been a real help to us! We are now on a pretty predictable eat, wake, sleep cycle, although the times still vary from day to day.
5. I love night-time feedings! Well, I actually love ONE night-time feeding. :) I enjoy those times when Laura is really relaxed and snuggly. Ahhh, I love being a Mommy!
On the job front... I am currently negotiating a job with a family practice near my parents' home. If it works out, I'll be working a few evenings each week and every other weekend as the Urgent Care physician for the practice. Please pray that God works out all the details. I am scheduled to return to work in mid-September.
Lastly, Laura is growing by leaps and bounds! Her two month check-up is on Monday and I really think she'll weigh well over 12 pounds. Atta girl! These days, Laura loves to stare at ceiling fans and kick on her changing table. She can roll over from her belly to her back and she loves to coo and babble to us. We simply can't get enough of her. What a gift from the Lord!

David and Drayton climbing palm trees at Myrtle Beach. Way to go, guys!

Laura is all suited up in her onesie from Uncle Sean and Aunt Rachel.

Drayton requested a stop at Joe's Crab Shack. Yum!

I love my husband... :)

Kenzie at Ripley's Aquarium.

David took some great pictures inside the aquarium tunnel.

Too close for me!

Our bathing beauty was tuckered out after our little jaunt to the beach.

Ahhh, sibling love. Kenzie and Drayton really have grown in loving and serving one another.

Laura was a trooper on our trip to Boardwalk at the Beach.

What great smiles!

Kenzie and Dray loved their chance to "walk on water" inside the bubbles. It was hilarious!

We enjoyed a visit with Aunt Julie and Mam (my sister-in-law and mother-in-law) before we left for the beach. I have wonderful in-laws!!!

David and I really enjoyed our short ride to the mountains.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lemonade and Lawns

Hello! Long time no post... :) Life has been quite busy here these days. Everyone in the Doty family has had lots to do this summer. Here's an update:

Laura: She's been eating, sleeping, making dirty diapers, eating, sleeping, making dirty diapers, and most recently smiling and baby babbling. We love her! Weeks 4, 5, and 6 posed quite a few challenges. She was extremely fussy (fists clenched, face red as fire, shaking) in the evenings and we just couldn't figure her out. It brought us to our knees in prayer! Eventually, we figured out that she was hungry - she needed to cluster feed in the evenings. I just assumed that it was too early for her to eat again, but that wasn't the case. She's been growing some extra chins to prove that she's a really healthy eater. See the picture below. :) David and I both agree that she is a little lady who knows what she wants and is extremely determined. She is strong! She has been holding her head steady for several weeks now and loves to climb up our bellies when we hold her. Someone prophecied over her when she was just over a week old - that she would be a woman of victory who would lead others into victory over sin and struggles. We think that will be true! She seems like quite a determined little girl already. We can hardly wait to see all the ways in which God will use her in the future.

Thank goodness double chins are super cute on babies. :)

Our sweet baby girl...

She makes us laugh!

This picture is three weeks old - her one month photo beside Lullabye the Lamb.


Makenzie has also been busy these days. She has started a "store" that she sets up in the afternoons and on weekends in our front yard. She sells Kool-aid (not actually lemonade as stated in the post title), gummies, and bottled water. She's already made quite a profit. One police officer purchased a bottle of water, handed her a five dollar bill, and told her to keep the change! How generous! She's been a big help with Laura and keeps us laughing every day.

The kids love the rope swing in the backyard.

Drayton is our businessman. He began a lawn-mowing business and has done quite well. He mows our lawn and the lawns of two neighbors each week. Also, he has been mowing the lawn of a single mom down the street (for free). The neighbors have commented on just how respectful and professional he has been. We're so proud of him! In just a few weeks, he'll be starting middle school and I think he's looking forward to it - with some trepidation :)

What a great smile! Drayton has been a great big brother to Kenzie and Laura.

The little one is waking up, so I'll have to post updates for David and for me another day!