wedding bells & baby smells

so i mentioned that we had our first family outing for matt & holly's wedding rehearsal last weekend.  well, what comes next?  a wedding of course!  benny spent the day at the beautiful bed & breakfast where the reception was held with little emmie.  i was able to feed her in between primping and spending time with the bride & maids.  my mom came in the evening so we could both attend the ceremony & rehearsal.

the entire day was beautiful from start to finish.  usually august in kentucky is the stickiest, hottest mess but on holly's day it was perfect.  75 degrees and sunny.  ptl.  the venues, the details, the vows, the couple - it was just perfect.  how gorgeous is holly? and her dress - obsessed.

the bride & her family were so accommodating; they found ways for emmie to be near & for me to still get to be involved in all the festivities.  they already had plenty on their minds so i consider it extra-special that they would take out time to find a place for us!  it was a little bit challenging for me to juggle feeling like i should take care of emmie and be a supportive friend & they helped to ease that quite a bit.  i knew e.c. was fine, it's not really like a guilty feeling, just more of a wanting to take care of her & know that she's alright.  she had a wonderful day & momma got to have some girl time. i'm so thankful for  that.

once we arrived at the church i realized that i brought my pump but no bottle to pump into [i had left it at the b&b in one of ben's bags].  bummer.  i started to feel anxious, not only am i terrified of leaking all over my silky dress during communion but i also don't want to do anything to hinder milk production.  double bummer.  someone suggests pumping into something else.  i don't know if it will work but i find a dusty bowl in a cabinet, a small piano room down the hall and give it a try.  since i was in a fancy dress there was no choice but to strip down, sit on a bench in my undies, plug into the wall & pump into a bowl.  i felt ridiculous.  but not quite as ridiculous as i felt walking down the hall post-pump with a bowl full of breast milk.  my plan was to sneak on down the hall & get everything cleaned up before i saw anyone.  of course as luck would have it, the two bridesmaids i don't quite know exited our bridal suite just as i passed by.  "are you on your way to feed a cat?" they wonder as they eye my saucer full of milk. 

 

 i'm so excited for the websters to start their lives together.  we are so blessed to get to be a part of that, on their wedding day...and ever after. 

my favorite part of the day was when matt spoke at the reception.  he thanked everyone for being there and then went on to say that he couldn't let this opportunity go by, with all the most important people in their lives in one place, and not give glory to God and let their guests know how the Lord has changed them.  it was such a sweet & sincere moment.  i knew matt was a great man if holly would choose him but hearing that heart for people & confession of faith just made me so thankful that this will be the man leading one of my favorite friends.  i know God will use their family in mighty ways.