baby leeland Archives

The baby Els go to school!

September 1, 2011ALL1 Comment

It has been a busy week at the El house! On Friday, Miss T. and Little L went to visit their school and El Momma went to orientation. The Big Els were both in Elementary School at the time. So, I was able to give the event and my little ones, all the attention they needed. It was good. T loved her class. She is pictured (top, below) with the pink star balloon they gave her, which happened to match her outfit. She was super happy. On Monday morning, Trinity was still excited about school. The other picture below is just after she’s happily entered her room, and just as she’s decided that she would rather go with me. 🙂

L. was totally chilling at his orientation. He acted like he had been there a million times before. He had been there several times before. So, I’m glad he is comfortable.

And, here he is (below) at drop off. He was just chillin…again. He pretty much chills most of the time. They said he was a star student the first day. He ate, he played, he napped, he pooped. Success!

I am excited for L and T to be in school. I pray they will be blessed this year and that the time I have, I can use it wisely. I don’t know how I’ve gotten anything done for the past 7 years. Perhaps, I will hit a new found stride with my kids at this age and I will get my house organized! I am hopeful!

Leeland’s Birthday Painting, the Third Painting in the series

July 18, 2011ALL2 Comments

When I began painting the first of what would eventually be three paintings, I had no idea that I would be painting variations of the same painting more than once. The first painting was for our first son, Bakri, when he turned one. We planned a baseball themed birthday party. I made him a cake shaped like a baseball and decorated like a baseball and I painted a baseball jersey on canvas for his wall in his room. I used the painting as part of the decoration for the party and I made a cake that matched the jersey. That was all for the first birthday of the first child. Little did I know, God would bless us with 2 more little boys with first birthdays! So, this week, I began the fun job of painting Leeland’s first birthday painting to go with the paintings for Bakri and Maddux. Here’s how it went:

And, here they are all together….Leeland’s is nearly complete. My blue paint was old and didn’t offer much coverage. It was the day of his party when I made this discovery. So, we just went with it. I’ll finish it soon. I promise. As for the significance of these paintings, well they are very important to my babies. I realized that this week when working on Leeland’s. It was so cute to watch the other children light up as his painting became more and more finished. In fact, Bakri (our 6 year old) now wants me to find a way to make real jerseys…hmmm…I’ll have to think about that one for a bit. Maybe when they stick with one size for a while.

Leeland’s painting with a cake ordered from H.E.B. They do a good job with the jersey, don’t they?!

The famous baseball cake by El Momma. I really do enjoy making this cake!

The Happy Birthday side of Leeland’s baseball cake.

Pictures from Leeland’s first birthday party and day to come soon! We had a great time celebrating our little Leeland!

My First Tooth

May 24, 2011ALLLeave a Comment

I am 10 months and 1 week old. Today was a big day for me, because I cut my first tooth. Yippee! I am looking forward to all of the wonderful food I will soon be able to enjoy…after getting a few more teeth, of course. But, for now, I will enjoy my one bottom tooth and my momma will update with a new photo once it comes through a bit more! Until then, I will keep smiling and making everyone around me happy.

love,
Leeland

Happy 9 months, Leeland!

April 16, 2011ALLLeave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that just 9 short months ago we were anxiously awaiting your arrival. Wondering what you would be like. Who you would look like. If you would be okay. Would you be happy? Would you be content? Would you be everything we could ever hope and dream for? We didn’t know then what we know for certain now. You are an amazingly wonderful little boy with such a bright future ahead of you. Please don’t grow up too fast, Little Leeland. We love you! Happy 9 months!

Happy Leeland with his Daddy

Baptism Day! Baby Leeland!

March 21, 2011ALL1 Comment

Sunday was a very special and memorable day for the Els. We celebrated the baptism of our fourth child and youngest son, Leeland. He was so thoughtful during the baptism, seeming to take in every word. He also was up really late that night after all of the excitement and extra stimuli from the day being surrounded by so many loved ones.

Infant baptism in Presbyterian Christian faith is a way for the parents to commit before God and our friends and family to raise our son intentionally to know and love Jesus. And, our congregation also committed in assisting in the raising of Leeland in “the way he should go, (so that) when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

One of the scriptures from this Sunday was

Genesis 12

The Call of Abram
1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

This blessing that the Lord promised Abram, was and is fulfilled through Jesus Christ. We are a part of that blessing. Read again the words “Go and I will go with you. I will bless those who bless you. And, all of the people of the earth will be blessed through you.” We are a part of this amazing blessing. Let the people of the earth be blessed through you today and always.

Leeland Thaddeus, 8 months, Baptism Day

(most of) Leeland’s family (wishing our California family were with us!)

Momma’s big brown eyed baby boy

enjoying the baptism

Baptism

really listening to Pastor Jeff, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Houston

Sleepy Sister

baptism

lots of cousins

family

Momma, Daddy, Bakri and Leeland

All six of the Els

Brunch!!!

Feeling great after a quick nap!

cake!

hungry!

El Momma with the Els and the Madduxs

happy boy

our family

love of brothers

Another busy day!

March 20, 2011ALLLeave a Comment

Hello, friends!
I spent the entire day preparing for Leeland’s Baptism and brunch tomorrow. Whew! I am exhausted! I did take pictures, but I am afraid to remove the card from the camera, just in case I forget to load it before tomorrow. So, I’ll wait and update this post with pictures soon. Let’s just say, I spent almost the entire day in the kitchen! All of the special clothes are laid out for each child, the table is set, the flower arrangements look beautiful, the food is prepared and now it is time for me to email tomorrow’s music to the media team and go to bed! Good night!
love,
Rebekah

A Special Wedding Celebration

March 19, 2011ALLLeave a Comment

Tonight, Moustapha and I and Leeland celebrated the wedding of some very special friends here in Houston. The bride and Leeland have a darling love affair. I’m pretty sure the groom isn’t jealous! As soon as we arrived, she swept Leeland out of my arms and carried him around the reception introducing him to everyone. It was so cute and sweet. We are thankful to call you friends and we wish you a very wonderful life together. Congratulations, Andy and Lisa!

Leeland’s first bath

July 25, 2010ALL2 Comments

Leeland is 9 days old today. I was so ready to bathe the child, but had to wait until his umbilical cord stump fell off. This evening I gathered everything together and prepared to give him a sponge bath in the sink. I went to pick him up and voila! – off came the stump! So, he had his first real bath tonight. Here’s how it went.

We started off very calm. He likes the sound of the water flowing from the faucet. He was even calm when I first put his feet in the water. And then…

He lost it! Normally, I wouldn’t post a picture like this, but he is mostly covering everything that needs to be covered. And, I thought it was just too cute to see how upset he is. And, to see the absolute craziness that is my kitchen countertop!