Eli's Dedication

This morning was a special morning for our family. We participated in our church's baby dedication for Eli. We were originally scheduled to have him dedicated last March, but due to COVID, our church transitioned to virtual services, and unfortunately the dedication was the first of many events that were cancelled over the next few months. We are so glad that we were able to participate today. Pastor Rob prayed over each of the babies and challenged us to likewise pray fervently over our children as we raise them. Our prayer is that Eli will grow up to know Jesus and that we will set a good example for him. We commit to bringing him up in the church so that he will be introduced to the Word. Just as we did with Emmy, the dedication service was our acknowledgement of God's precious gift of Eli and our desire for him to become saved one day. 

The ceremony was not without a few bloopers...like Boomer dealing out raisins to both kiddos, and Eli spotting Aunt Megan in the audience. (Thank you, Aunt Megan, for being the photographer.)

We are heading into the final three weeks of the school year, and this weekend was a great taste of summer. On Friday night, we met up with the Williamses and Houstons for a park picnic and play date. On Saturday, we went strawberry picking at Hedgecock Strawberry Farm. Grammy came along (Grandpa was on a golf trip), and she was a big help in picking strawberries and chasing kids. We went to the same farm that we went to last year, and now that we've gone twice, I suppose it's a new Kennedy tradition! (I can practically see Boomer rolling his eyes as I type this!)

On Saturday evening, Boomer and Emmy went to the Daddy Daughter Dance hosted by the Kernersville Parks & Recreation. They let Eli and Mommy tag along for dinner beforehand at Ledo's, and then they were off for the dance. I signed them up a few weeks ago, and we had talked about it frequently in the days leading up to it. We didn't realize that in all of our conversations ahead of time, Emmy thought she was going to her dance class with Daddy. There was a lot of confusion and tears when they pulled up at an unfamiliar building. To hear Boomer tell it, it was touch-and-go for the first 30 minutes, but then "Let it go" came on at the perfect time and seemed to draw her to the dance floor. The last hour was better, and they came home with lots of treats from Daddy and daughter goodie bags. Judging by Emmy's blue tongue and sticky face, it looked like she enjoyed some sweets there at the dance as well. Boomer summed up the evening as "peaks and valleys" but I know he will keep going as long as Emmy will. He is such a good Daddy!

My mom reminded me that we purchased our home 11 years ago this month! Wow time flies! We are so blessed to have this home filled with over a decade of memories and now two precious babies!

UPDATE 5/18/2021: Eli had his 18-month appointment this afternoon. He weighed 23 pounds 1 ounce (35th percentile) and measured 32.1 inches (40th percentile). He still has a big noggin - 19.1 inches (81st percentile!) Luckily there were no shots during this visit, just some poking and prodding. He was a happy boy.