3 Months

For 3 months we have been blessed with the grace of Malia in our lives! She's happiest after a full night's rest, waking with a tired grin. She has become a professional stretcher, taking a couple minutes to bend and wiggle every which way to start the day. She's continuously making us laugh with her post-poop smiles, pterodactyl (inward breathing) squeals, and her love of bath time! She also loves sitting on someone's lap during dinner time so that she can be a part of the conversation. She is growing big and strong, spending time on her tummy, and practicing standing up with mom or dad's help. 

Some of Malia's "firsts" since our last post: 1.) First trip to California for her Auntie El and Uncle David's wedding (*note: never dress your baby in a sparkle dress unless you want to continue to find little specks STILL on her head over a month later, and many baths too!) 2.) First time celebrating Mother's Day (she got her mommy some beautiful pink roses) 3.) First outing to the Zoo (celebrating her cousin's 3rd birthday). 

So overall its been a great 3rd month of life :)....we're excited to see what surprises the next month will bring! (Maybe teething since her Momma got her first teeth at this time! Ahhhh!)

I'm 3 months old today!

Tummy time.

Hey Malia, how do you make a tissue dance?... Put a little boogie in it!

Happy 1st Mother's Day Danni!

"Yo, can I get some peanuts?!?" Flying in style :)

Uncle Vince meets his niece for the first time.

Auntie El's wedding reception.

This was a zooper trip to the Zoo!

 

2 Months Old

 

As of yesterday, Malia Grace is 2 months old! We have enjoyed every moment with her as her personality has begun to blossom, becoming more responsive when we talk to her. She loves to SMILE :), coo (baby noises) and squirm on her play mat (proof in the pictures below). God continues to bless her with great health as she grows everyday (over 10 lbs now) and is sleeping for longer periods of time (praise God). She’s becoming a real Northern-Virginian traveler, joining her Mom and Dad for trips shopping, visiting family/friends, going to Church and taking regular strolls around the neighborhood. Next update will be at 3 months! Now for the pictures...

On Danni's birthday!

Cooing!

Play mat!

2 month birthday shoot! This would be the famous Ampi (Danni's family) grin.

Baptized

It has been a while since we've been able to make a post. Here are a few reasons why:

1.) MALIA
She's been doing great! As a 2-week old she enjoys being held by her family, eating frequently, sneezing in 3's (like her Mom), sleeping in car rides, having her diaper changed, and traveling around close to Mom wrapped in the Moby Wrap. After her 2 week check up, she's weighed in at 7lbs 12oz, surpassing her birth weight of 7lbs. Praise God!

Favorite place to nap... right on Mom.

 












2.) Arrival of Papa Mike and Auntie El
Danni's Dad and sister, Elli, arrived on February 27th! Their main objective: hold Malia as much as possible. Evidence shown in the pictures below! 

Papa Mike!

Auntie El adores her little niece!

3.) Malia's Baptism
Fr. David Sharland baptized Malia into the family of God on Friday, March 1st, at St. Francis of Assisi parish. She wore my family's baptismal gown (dating back to my great grandfather's baptism circa 1885!). She fit into the gown perfectly and truly radiated the love of God through the whole liturgy. It was so amazing to have family and many close friends present to welcome Malia as a new creation, born of the resurrected Christ! 

About to be baptized!

Malia receives the cross of Christ upon her head.

Fr. Jack and Fr. David both present to celebrate Mass for our friends and family.

Judge, Ampi and Ittner families!

God Mother Auntie El and stand-in God Father Thomas G.

St. Joseph... pray for us!

Detail of the new Christian in her baptismal gown!

4.) Trip into DC
Malia made her first big outing into D.C. on Sunday starting with Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Then the Ampi/Judge crew headed to the American History Museum. It was a long and cold day, but Malia was a trooper, sleeping through most of it!

Papa Mike holding Malia after Mass in the cafetiere at the National Shrine.

Let the Childern Come

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

One of the most exciting things we have been waiting for since Malia was born is to take her to Mass. This moring she went to Mass for the first time (outside the womb)! Although she slept through the whole liturgy, there was a great joy that filled our hearts to be able to worship and praise God, within the highest prayer of the Mass with her present. Her baptism will be this Friday, which we are so thankful to the Lord for pulling together. To raise Malia in such a way that draws her into the crossfire of love that is awaiting her, found in the Holy Trinity, is our deep desire. God has many things in store for this little one, so we're doing our best to hold on tight :)

On the day to day side of things, we're understanding her wants more and starting to lay down a foundation for routine. It's miraculous the ways Malia is able to learn little things in order to grow. She has had a few more visitors through the weekend, including a few video chats with our good friend Alyssa and also Matt & Chirsti Marcheschi!

Outside St. Francis parish after Malia's first Mass.

Car ride home.

Beautiful Mommy holds Malia Grace in her Sunday's best!

The Grace Continues...

So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1

It has been a very eventful first week of life for our little lady. Malia Grace's first 2 pediatrician doctor appointments (Tues & Wed) affirmed her healthiness as she has started to gain weight since her birth. She gained 2 ounces over the span of 24 hours, that's a lot for a little 7 pound-er!!! This is contributed to her growing expertise in eating, sleeping and pooping :-)

On Wednesday night, Dani Lu (aka Auntie Doula) came over to do Malia's first Photo Shoot. The only word to describe this photo shoot is... precuteling. Yes, this is a clever hybrid of precious, cute & darling. See the photo's below and you'll understand. Malia also received her first wash cloth bath, which she was surprisingly peaceful during. 

Danni and I are doing our best to sleep when she sleeps, but so much excitement and joy fills our hearts that it's hard to rest! We are both reaching an exhaustion that should have us down for the count. But with God's grace, our hearts have not become weary. Prayer is a huge factor and fuel for us! We are very grateful for the ways you lift our family up to the Lord in your prayers.

Outside our pediatrician's office after Malia's appointment.

Could there be 2 more beautiful ladies in my life!?!

Photo Shoot #1: camera shy

 

Photo Shoot #2: my fingers taste great / pretty in pink

Photo Shoot #3: Are we done yet?

First wash cloth bath :-)

<3 Lots of love for our little one. <3

I'm getting the one-handed "football" hold down!

Home from the Hospital

We packed up and check out of postpartum yesterday evening. Danni was anticipating dressing her up in one of 3 outfits she packed a few weeks back (see picture below). Buckling her nice and snug in her car seat, I absolutely loved walking her through the hospital to the front door :-) Danni's Mom kindly pulled up our car so we could race through the cold into the warm car. Malia enjoyed her first car ride home, sleeping like a baby the whole 45 minutes home! Once we arrived home to Nana & Papa's house (my parents), we were able to sit down for an awesome family dinner to toast the new love in all of our lives... and this love has a name, Malia Grace!

"Halleluiah, I'm in my own clothes and going home!"

Swaddled up all nice and warm this morning at home.

 

First Full Day

It's pretty amazing how our first full day (yesterday) with Malia was a Sunday, the Lord's day, a day of great celebration, resting and feasting! There were many "first's" throughout the whole day, but my favorite was her first hiccups! It happened when I held her for a moment while she was restless and crying. The hiccups came and definitely startled my little lady, but were the most precious hiccups I've ever heard :-) The rest of Malia's day consisted of lots of mother-daughter bonding time, testings, feeding, time being held by Grandma Ampi, napping, being swaddled, filling her diaper, filling her diaper again, and filling her diaper again. She is passing all her tests (praise God), so we are on time to be discharged late this morning. We are so stoked to bring her home to my parents house, to love her more and spend each waking moment with her. One last highlight that filled Malia's day with God's grace was when Danni and I were granted the grace to receive our Lord from a visiting Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

And now for some pictures...

First pacifier!

She's waving at you :)

 

Malia Grace Judge

After 16 plus hours of combined contractions and labor, Danni delivered Malia Grace Judge on Saturday February 16th, 2013 at 7:50pm! Malia's entrance into the world was an overwhelming experience of enduring struggle, tearful joy and God's love. Thank you for the many ways you interceded for us during this glorious day! And we cannot thank our parents, dula (and good friend) Dani Lu, nurses (Ruth and Nicole), and Dr. Fisk enough for aiding us in the beginning of this monumental chapter of our lives.

Waiting with joyful hope!

Holding Malia for the first time!

Our little sweetheart!

Danni is recovering well! We can't keep our eye's off of her :)