Baby's First (WHITE!) Christmas

We got about 4 inches of snow on Christmas afternoon! Evlyn's very first Christmas was WHITE! How perfect!

We are certainly counting our blessings this Christmas day. May you and your family be blessed this Christmas and in the New Year too!

Christmas 2012

Christmas lunch in Lake Kiowa was hosted by Meemaw and Papaw for the first time. On a cold rainy day, their house was so warm and welcoming...


The kids were having a blast with Perilou, there was plenty to eat, and lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents to visit with. Evlyn was pretty content with a jingle bell Meemaw saved for her...

We probably could have stayed til well after dark, but the downpour outside turned to SNOW and began accumulating in a matter of minutes.

Michael was smart to get us on the road when he did, because visibility became awful and the roads were crowded and slick. Our normal 40 minute drive ended up being close to 2 1/2 hours...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning started at 12:30 am for us with some rowdy thunderstorms. The baby slept through the night, but Jonah and Gracie were crammed into our bed by 2:30.

Sometime around 3:00, I noticed Michael get up and head to the living room. Apparently, thunderstorms plus a 7 year old's knee in your ribs equals no going back to sleep. He was finally able to sleep around 5:30, but at 6:15 Gracie's eyes popped open and I heard her exclaim, "Jonah! It's time for presents!"

On Christmas morning, sleep doesn't matter, right? Excitement is contagious!

Baby Evlyn didn't even wake until the presents were already opened, sweet girl. First thing on the docket for her was a Christmas bath...

It poured rain all morning. Christmas lunch was going to be at Meemaw and Papaw's, so Michael grabbed an umbrella and escorted us one by one through the cold rain to the car. All the way to the lake it poured rain! We listened to "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" audiobook and the kids were tired and happy and QUIET.

Christmas Evie

The Snuggler

This girl...

Almost every morning, she climbs into bed with me. She's quiet and careful - wadding up her Nannie Blanket, so it doesn't add resistance. I feel her wiggle into my side - strong limbs, that can push off a wrestling 65 lb dog, become malleable. She lets me arrange the sheets and comforter around her, then breathes deeply and I know she's asleep in seconds. My little snuggler.

Baby Evlyn: 6 Months Old

Our little Evlyn has been with us 6 months already. I'm daily thanking God for adding her to our family. She makes us all so joyful...

At 6 months old, Evlyn's making motorboat noises all day long, starting to squeal her distress, loves to play "blast off" and bounce. She sticks her tongue out almost every time she smiles.
I'm able to put her in the door frame jumpy while I teach violin lessons and she gets so quiet watching, we all forget she's there (until the motorboat starts up).

Evlyn's stats at her well check have soared to 64% in weight (16.13 lbs), 46% in height (25.75"), and 83% in head circumference (17.25"). That last stat got us referred to Cranial Technologies, just to make sure Ev's skull growth is not due to anything dangerous. After a bunch of digital pictures, it seems she was just playing catch-up and over did it a bit ;)

They did notice some asymmetry and flattening of the back of her head that can be fixed with a band (helmet), but we're still deciding if we want to do that. Jonah is very concerned that he won't be able to kiss her head while she's wearing the band, so he votes "no".

Everything else at her 6 month appointment checked out fine. She's had a couple of colds over November and December, but her immune system seems strong and she's able to fight them off in about 5 days. Her skin looks great, her motor skills are on track, she's sitting up unassisted, and she's sooooo fun!

Storytime

Marmee & Grandpa's Backyard

The kids spent HOURS playing in Marmee and Grandpa's backyard during Thanksgiving break. Climbing trees, playing Pocahontas and John Smith, sandbox time, and decorating every square inch of the sidewalk with chalk.

Nannie and Little Evlyn

Trick or Treat

jumpin' punkin', Anakin: striking a pose, lounging mermaid (eating purple Nerds)

Arboretum Pumpkin Patch

Such a lovely place, the Arboretum. We met the RG gang and the McGrands there on Friday to explore the pumpkin patch.

My favorite part of the outing was when the breeze picked up and tiny little dried leaves shook loose from the tree we stood under, making them pinwheel and flutter to the ground. The girls gasped, then squealed and began running through the little shower. Impossible not to be enchanted.

Halloween 2012

Halloween fell on a Wednesday this year - a crazy night of the week to be out of our routine.

A typical Wednesday: getting Jonah off to school by 7:30, Meemaw arrives to watch the girls so I can run out the door by 8:00 (to teach lessons at the middle school), Meemaw and the baby take Gracie to gymnastics at 11:00 where I meet them when I'm done, Jonah gets home at 3:00, then I start teaching all my private students at home, not done 'til 6:15.

Throw in some homework, feeding baby, dinner, then Trick or Treating at the end of it -and whoa!

We did it though, and it was awesome :)

Jonah was absolutely certain that he wanted to be Anakin Skywalker this year. Gracie teetered between Merida and Ariel - Ariel won out.

Evlyn had no choice. She's our chunkin' punkin' this year.

Evlyn: 5 Months Old

At 5 months old, Evlyn's started jumping in the doorway jumpy-seat. She looooooves it. LOVES IT. She finds a new sound every few days and wears it out. Right now it's a shrieky growly yell. (Next, please!) We're still drinking milk after trying yogurt and avocado with no interest from baby. We'll try again soon :)

Interview with Gracie (4 years old)

1. What is something Mama always says to you?
Don't disobey.

2. What makes Mama happy?
disobeyin'.

3. What makes Mama sad?
disobeyin'.

4. How does Mama make you laugh?
uh...make silly faces!

5. What was Mama like as a child?
good.

6. How old is Mama?
pretty good.

7. How tall is Mama?
pirteen sixteen!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
uh...buildin'. Gettin' stuffed animals for Gracie.

9. What does your mama do when you're not around?
uh...get in trouble?

10. If your mama becomes famous, what will it be for?
uh...be surprised.

11. What is your mama really good at?
uh...doin' uh fixin' stuffed animals.

12. What is your mama not very good at?
not bery good at doin' phings?

13. What does your mama do for her job?
uh...fix da, uh...uh...fix animals.

14. What's your mama's favorite food?
pizza.

15. What makes you proud of your mama?
uh...fixin' stuffed animals

16. If your mama were a cartoon character, who would she be?
pink! yes.

17. What do you and your mama do together?
build Legos

18. How are you and your mama the same?
good

19. How are you and your mama different?
uh.......not good.

20. How do you know your mama loves you?
huggies. even not spankins'

21. Where is your mama's favorite place to go?
to da grocery store! And get Barbies! Uh, Mama, can we get a Barbie at duh grocery store later?

Evlyn: 4 months

My, how this sweet girl has enchanted us all. She smiles and squeals and giggles and snuggles and is generally wonderful.

At 4 months Evlyn is finally happy on her tummy - mainly because she can now roll to her back at will. She hates the carseat. (With a passion.) Blowing razzberries is a new obsession, and she occasionally occupies herself in the middle of the night practicing. Until now, I don't think I've ever been waked in the middle of the night by something that made me smile...
 

Found: Feet

Scout Jonah

At the beginning of school, we got a flyer about a Cub Scouts informational meeting. Michael and I both agreed that it seemed right up Jonah's alley. We talked to him about scouting and he was super excited to try it out.

After the informational meeting, it was CLEAR, this child was made for scouting. It was like the story of the Ugly Duckling. The boy had just realized he was a swan.

He took the Scout's Pledge tonight, and earned his very first badge!

Bobcat badge (AND a door prize)! Best day EVER!!!

Status Updates

August 9 - We have our first baby giggle! Jonah got it out of her :)

August 24 -

Gacie: See, now Baby Evlyn's got curly hairs like me!

September 6 - Clearly, dogs do not understand the concept of letting babies "cry it out"...
...I don't really like it either, and don't do it, but this AM my 4 yr old needed some attention and I couldn't deal with the baby for a bit. Baby was TICKED OFF. When I came to get her 10 min later, Tink had brought her a bone, licked her head, and was sitting by the cradle panting.

September 7 -

4 year old on the left, granny dog on the right. Definitely up to something'.

September 11 (am) -

Hard to get much done when all you really want to do is smooch cheeks.

September 11(pm) - FOUND: 1 travel shampoo bottle, 2 bottle lids, and 1 golf ball....all down the shower drain.

September 16 -

My very own princess Merida

Athlete of the Week!

This award is extra special awesome for us. It was hard-earned with all the effort behind kinder and 1st grade and the summer leading up to 2nd grade.

It was the very FIRST athlete of the week award for the school year, AND he was picked from the whole school! Not just 2nd graders! FRIGGIN' AWESOME, JONAH! You rocked it!!!

(Baby Evlyn thought the awards ceremony was awesome too...)

Evlyn: 3 Months

There are LOTS of smiles this month and a few elusive giggles. She's sleeping through the night most nights and having happier awake moments. She's enjoying her time with Gracie while Bubba's away at school, but as soon as he gets home, she lights up like a firecracker! We like her a lot :)