Back to the Baby Quilt

I sat for the last 3 nights not doing any sewing because I couldn't figure out how to quilt this baby quilt. I was torn between doing lots of freehand or just stitch in the ditch. I know that freehand and lots of quilting can make a quilt, but I also know that less quilting usually makes a quilt that is much softer.

So, I looked at it, walked away, looked at it, walked away---way too many times. Then I remembered the first time I stippled a whole baby quilt. My son said, "Mom, you need to wash that quilt to make it softer." So, I washed it a couple of times and it still wasn't that soft. (I know part of it was the batting that I used.) But, this weighed on my mind. I also wasn't sure if the mother would hang it on the wall or use it daily. So, when I got up this morning and looked at it, I thought I would do a mixture of light quilting and heavy quilting.

Here is where I am now. I still have quite a way to go. I have used stencils for part of the quilt and free hand for part of it.

I am still undecided how to quilt in the white areas around the words. I am thinking maybe "pebbles". What do you think? Any suggestions will be appreciated.