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Lauren: She is her own cheering squad.
[Photo credit: Dad] {Can anyone come up with other captions for this pic? :)}

Joining with Jodi from Practising Simplicity with a portrait of our daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015.

First Sabbath at church

Today was Lauren's first time at church! We had visited Loomis SDA Church a few times in May and June, just after we moved to the area. Then I was put on modified bed rest for my blood pressures and we were unable to attend services for more than a month. We had actually meant to go to church the week before, but we'd had a rough night that Friday night/Sabbath morning, so we opted to sleep in and take it easy instead. This week, though, we were feeling more refreshed, and it was great to be back at church again finally and so nice to see our new church family again!

Lauren was asleep when we arrived at church, so we just brought her in sleeping in her car seat. She slept for most of the church service and then woke up for a meal near the end of the sermon. Once she was finished eating, the service was over and everyone enjoyed meeting her. One of the head elders, Ed, made sure to give us membership transfer cards to fill in and bring back before we left the church that day. We're so glad we found this wonderful little church family to share our Sabbaths with!

Sleeping when we got to church

Family photo on Lauren's first Sabbath at church

Sleeping when we left church

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Lauren: Baby and Mum tired out
[Photo credit: Dad]

Joining with Jodi from Practising Simplicity with a portrait of our daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015.

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Lauren: Just home from the hospital.
[Photo credit: Dad]

Joining with Jodi from Practising Simplicity with a portrait of our daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015.

A name for Baby G

I'm sure that for many parents choosing a name is one of the more trivial parts of introducing a new baby to the world, but it hasn't been for us. Since before we were even married we've known that we don't agree on many names, and surely many good names have fallen by the wayside because one or the other of us didn't approve.

However, we've finally come to a decision. It's taken us nearly a week from when she actually joined us, but now we're ready to introduce to all of you...

Lauren Bryn

Meaning of the names:

Lauren: In Latin, Lauren means crowned with laurels or from the place of the laurel leaves. Laurel leaves can signify honor or victory, since they were used in wreathes or crowns given to victors of competitions.

Bryn: Short form of Bryna, which is a Welsh name meaning strong one. Her aunt's name is also Bryna.

Welcome Baby!

We have become parents! Baby G is a girl! She was born at 7:52 p.m. on July 4, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 18 inches long.

We're still working on a name for her, but we're overjoyed at the arrival of our new daughter and head over heels in love with her already!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts for us during the past few weeks. They were so encouraging and meant a lot to us.

Love, Jonathan, Ali & Baby Girl G.

(Tip: click on the images to view them larger :) )

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Lauren: In her coccon the day after she was born.
[Photo credit: Dad]

Joining with Jodi from Practising Simplicity with a portrait of our daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015.