Baby Ollie's Blessing Day

"A little bit of heaven

Drifted down from above
A handful of happiness,
A heart full of love.
The mystery of life,
So sacred and so sweet
The giver of joy
so deep and complete.
Precious and priceless,
So lovable too
The world's sweetest miracle,
Baby boy, is you."
- Unknown

Our precious Oliver Bradley was blessed by his dad on Sunday May 29, 2011, surrounded by the love and devotion of so many family members (including four grandparents and four great grandparents). He was blessed to be a light to those around him and an example to his family.  He was also blessed to learn from his sisters "the good things of this world".  And my favorite, that he would find a sweet girl to marry and that together they will do great things.  

I love the priesthood, I love that I will now have a boy to raise.  I already see things so differently, thinking about how the world and the gospel will affect my boy.  I want to be a good example of what a wife and mother should be so that he will seek out someone who will have those attributes. 

One thing is for sure, this boy is LOVED

He wore the hat and shoes/socks that all of his uncles (my brothers) wore when they were blessed.  The blanket he was wrapped in was a gift to my mom from my Great Grandma Egbert.  I and all of my siblings were blessed with that blanket around us. So Ollie used the blanket that was a gift from his Great,Great Grandmother. :)  

I found his little linen romper online.  It is vintage, I'm guessing from the '60's. I loved the charming embroidery detail  on the front.  It is a size 6 months so I was worried that it would be too big but it fit him perfectly!

We are proud parents. :)

One of the thirty pictures we tried to get of all of us together with three very tired, very crazy girls.  This one made me laugh.

 It was so great to have Jerry and Shirley there...the girls were so excited to see them (they still ask if we are going to their house on Sundays...this was a tradition when we lived closer and we all really miss it).  Huge thing to note is Great Grandma and Grandpa Lawrence.  They came to church...it was the first time either of them have attended any church meeting or baby blessing for grandchildren or great-grand children. It was so wonderful seeing them there.  Grandma Lawrence held Ollie almost the whole meeting. :)

It was so fun the have Great Grandma Stevenson there too.  She is so cute and always so sweet and kind.

I loved this one.  This is Grandma Stevenson with her twins holding our twins!

Here's four generations without Dad...he just got called to serve in the Young Single Adults Ward bishopric and had to dash over there after the blessing.

 These two were so cute!  They talked and talked.  They are only a few years different in age and seemed to just really enjoy one another.

 Loved this shot

Aren't they the prettiest Great-Grandma's ever? I hope I look half as good at their age!

Britta snuck in some pictures while I soothed Ollie after mostly everyone had left.  I loved this one.

Shirley has made a sweet little name bracelet for each of our children on their blessing day.  I love this little tradition. 

It was these two's 13th Anniversary that day as well.  We had a great time celebrating with them the night before.

My favorite sister.  I wish I could just reach through the screen and hug her!

Found Elsa and Laurel snuggly sleeping that night and couldn't resist...seriously so cute!

And I loved this one of Ollie and Abby...so sweet

Basically this boy has brought us even more love and even more happiness than we could have ever imagined.  I'm always amazed at the miracle and beauty of a new life.  I can't imagine being happier...really.