Raylee's Six Months Old Today!

Happy half birthday!

Baby Dedication

This past Sunday we dedicated Raylee to our Lord and Savior. It was a beautiful ceremony! Our good friend, JP, led the service, which we had outside with our friends and family. Raylee wore a very special dress that her cousin, Grace (who only lived 7 weeks) was baptized in. My mom flew all the way from Missouri to participate in the ceremony. Thanks to all our friends and family who participated.

Throughout our struggles with miscarriage and infertility, I fervently prayed for a child. Then when we did get pregnant we had many ups and downs as Raylee was again and again diagnosed with multiple health issues. On Sunday, we praised God that he healed her in so many ways before she was even born, and we symbolically gave her back to the Lord. For she is merely on loan to us; she is always in the hands of God. I have included some of the scripture that spoke to me during this process.

In 1 Samuel 2 Hannah says to God “As surely as you live, my Lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give this child to the Lord, for her whole life will be given over to the Lord.”

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Here are some pictures from Sunday.

Patsy Aiken Trunk Show

Hey friends, with children, grandchildren, neices, friends with children! I am hosting a trunk show at my house on Saturday from 4-6! Patsy Aiken has adorable clothes for boys and girls! There will be fun, food, fellowship....and of course clothes! Please feel free to stop by with your kiddos, and bring your friends. If you want to come, please let me know at erikatoney@gmail.com, so I can prepare food. You can check out the cute clothes at www.patsyaiken.com.

List of Fun Summer Activities for Moms and Babies

As a stay at home mom I am always looking for fun ways to interact with Raylee and stay busy! I am not the kind of mom who can sit at home all day every day...I would go crazy. I have, however, learned that some moms find "outings" to be very stressful (and I have learned to never judge these women because they are most likely fantastic mothers) but for my own sanity I need to get out sometimes! Here is a list of fun Dallas activities (many of them free!) that my church put together. I thought I would share them!

1. Rattle and Reel-Landmark Magnolia Theatre-3699 McKinney Ave Dallas 75204
The Magnolia’s Rattle and Reel program offers parents of infants a chance to see first-run movies with their babies. ongoing each Monday. Ages 0-3 at 11:00am cost is $6.50; infants are free
214.764.9106 for movie titles

2. Kids Train Museum-Museum of the American Railroad-1105 Washington St Dallas
Model train layout, steam whistle demos…all ages open from 11am-4pm…cost is $3-6

3. Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse-Galleria of Dallas-13340 Dallas Pkwy Dallas 75240
A marionette performance-ongoing each Friday @10:30 / Saturday @10:30 or 1pm / Sunday @ 2pm. Age is 3-12 Cost: Adult -$9 & child $8.

4. Dallas Children’s Theater-5938 Skillman St Dallas 75231
Ongoing productions Friday @ 7:30pm / Saturday @1:30pm / Sunday @ 1:30 & 4pm
Cost is $12-$22 Call for performances (214) 978-0110or www.dct.org

5. The Stockyards Championship Rodeo-121 E. Exchange Ave Fort Worth 76106
Buckin’ Broncos, calf roping, bareback riding & more
Ongoing each Friday and Saturday @8pm-all ages…Cost: adults $9.50 children $6
Contact 817.625.1025 or www.cowtowncoliseum.com

6. Pottery Barn Kids-3228 Knox Street Dallas 75205
Storytime Tuesdays ongoing @ 11am. Cost is Free. Ages 0-5. 5 visits and you get a free $10 gift card to use in the store.
Contact: 214.522.4845

7. Dallas Library Activity Series-Northpark Mall
The Dallas Public Library's offers story time and music for small ones.
Located underneath the AMC theatre by Forever 21
Baby Bounce: Mondays/Thursdays 12:30 Cost is Free... Ages birth-2
214.361.6345

8. Quiggly’s Clayhouse-1344 E. Beltline Rd, Richardson 75081
Painting pottery. All ages… cost is relative to pottery piece you buy.
Contact # 972.234.2644

9. Dallas Museum of Arts
First Tuesday of the month is free for child and adult. Crafts and storytime.

10. Dallas Nature and Science Museum-3535 Grand Ave Dallas 75210
They have an interactive children’s museum(ages 0-7) along with IMAX and Planetarium. Open all week 10-5pm. Cost varies based on what exhibits you want to do. Tickets are less than $10.
Contact: 214.428.5555

11. Thunder bird stroller-skating
Thursdays @9am
3200 Thunderbird Ln Plano 972-422-4447

12. Destination Maternity has free Mommy and Me Yoga. Check out their website for times.
http://www.destinationmaternity.com/

13. Dallas Aquarium or Dallas Zoo

14. Dallas Arboretum

15. Dallas Splash Parks

NYC

Michael and I went to NYC last weekend and we had a blast. We went with our friends, the Rowlings, and it was great to have some much needed "adult" time, although we really missed our little Raylee bug! We went to see Chicago (the musical...not the city), walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, ate amazing food, and the list goes on! Here are some pics from the weekend!

Times Square at night
Brooklyn Bridge

Chicago!

Most amazing candy store ever!

We had brunch at the famous Plaza Hotel

Statue of Liberty from the Brooklyn Bridge

Central Park

Omni Hotel...fabulous!

It rained a lot, but we made it fun!

China Grill
Rockefeller Center This is what we got to come home to! We bought her this New York Princess onesie on Canal Street!