Resurrection Eggs

Sam made a special project at school last week to celebrate Easter.  Each child received six plastic Easter eggs and an empty egg carton.  In each of the first five eggs they put a small object that helps tell the story of the Resurrection - a plastic palm leaf, a crouton, a small cross, a piece of cloth, and a small rock, leaving the last egg symbolically empty.

When I picked Sam up at school last Thursday he announced loudly and with great excitement (in the hallway packed with parents) that he made en-erection eggs at school this week.   My eyes got big and I giggled, then I asked him to tell me again what he had made, as if I hadn't heard him right the first time (when really this was just for my own amusement).  He repeated himself, this time with even more enthusiasm, and with a smile I replied "Oh!  Resurrection Eggs!  You'll have to tell me the story when we get home".  And he did.

By the time we got around to recording his retelling of the story he decided they were called something different - closer, but still not quite right.  Nevertheless, he tells the story well.  The things kids say!

Easter Sunday

Sam and Evie and I spent Easter Sunday with Gram and Pops.  Gram fixed a nice breakfast and even though it was rainy and gloomy outside for most of the day, everyone had a good time.  Hopefully next year we can have an egg hunt outside again!

Evie's basket of pretty spring dresses

Sam's basket of favorite characters, Pocoyo and Thumper, with a new movie to try - Toy Story!

The Easter Tree, with Grandma T's handmade Easter eggs at the bottom that Mommy helped her make years and years ago

Gram made a delicious Easter breakfast - eggs, sausage and cinnamon rolls

Sam on his indoor egg hunt - it was too muddy outside again this year.

Happy Easter!

February Phone Dump

Jeepers this took forever!  Not only did I take a lot of iPhone pics in February, my computer was having fits every time I tried to download them off my phone.  Took numerous tries over the last two weeks and countless computer restarts just to get things in place.  Hope March goes a little more smoothly.  Love having these little snapshots of our daily life, though, so it's still worth it.  Enjoy!

little dolly | tummy time | waiting for Brother to get home | sad face | binkie and bow | cheeks

fussy day, pretty girl | laughing at brother | doing the twist | showing her tummy

changing table | watching the Super Bowl | snoozing with Pops | snuggling with Gram | watching Ladybug

laying on her quilt at the park | shopping at Aldi | watching the boys play at the playground

first bottle | Granny Nell | at the park with Mommy

Willowbend with Great Grandma | watching Mommy cook | Uncle Randy's mini-me

playing puzzles with Daddy and Vic | birthday crown from Ms. H. | Goodnight Moon shirt | lotta sprinkles | Daddy and Sissy | birthday bowling with Daddy | Happy 4th Birthday Sam!

soccer and playground with Daddy

keepin' it real - bottom three pics are Sam's room

before

we cleaned, top is after, and a rare sight...

Granny Nell and Aunt Dell come to visit.  I didn't make them clean this time!

Let's just caption this little collection "future blackmail"

Sam said, "Look Mom, we're cheek-to-cheek!"

Evelyn's Valentine present | Daddy's present (chocolate!) | my Valentine presents

Sam signing Mickey Mouse Valentine cards for his class | Sam strumming his neck-roll like a guitar to a Jason Mraz song | notes from Mom and Dad in the mailbox, heart waffles in the toaster!

reading at the library | kindly spreading weeds throughout the neighborhood | scrubbing potatoes with Gram

our very own Buster Bluth | doing dishes for Gram | having fun at Hobby Lobby

stretchy Evie | Ev bored at the library | Mommy and Evie at the park on a chilly day

napping while Brother was at school | kisses from Brother

Mommy and Evie by the duck pond | Evie chillin' at Market Street | Sam kicking the ball

pretty sky at the park | wearing her new shirt and headband

smiley girl | snuggles with Daddy | trying to wake you up for the day

Sam ♥ Evie | visiting Gram | scrubbing potatoes

Evie at Three Months



Evelyn Mae,you are three months today!  I think we have settled into life as a family of four and it's hard to imagine what life was like before you came along!  We've been trying to guess what you will be like as you get older (we're thinking you'll be pretty laid-back), but we know for sure you are the sweetest baby girl there ever was.

Big Brother seems more and more in love with you each day.  We continually have to remind him to back up and give you space.  Over the last week or so he's started giving you kisses - something he seemed afraid to do up until this point.  Now we can't stop him!  Your forehead, cheeks, toes - he smooches them all!  The first photo is from when he came in your room and asked to give you a kiss mid-way through our photo shoot.  I didn't want him to distract you, but how could I say no? 

When he's not kissing you, he's dancing around trying to make you laugh, and you almost always do.  You gave us your first belly laugh this month.  Sam was doing The Robot dance and you thought that was pretty funny.  Then we started bouncing around which really made you laugh.  We can't wait to hear more of those hearty laughs.


I love this image of you because it shows how you smile with your shoulders.  You give us big grins, then scrunch up your shoulders.  You are still the smiliest baby I've ever known.  I get a big smile from you in the morning when I come to get you out of your crib, then you end the day by smiling at me while I swaddle you up after your last feeding.  Everyday is the same!  We love that you're so happy and content. 


People comment on your eyes now more than your cheeks.  They are always wide open, taking in all the details of the world around you.  You still look just like your daddy.  I don't see a bit of me in you which is funny because Brother and I look so much alike.  We also see a lot of Papa Emil in certain expressions you make.  You're a Straka for sure!



You've discovered you can chew on your hands and fingers.  You also like to play in your "jungle gym" and grab on to the ladybug and ring rattles.  You're getting a little better at tummy time, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to your neck strength while you're laying down.  You hold your head up really well when we're holding you, though.  It seems you're still happiest being held and bounced while we walk around the house with you.  Sam and I have taken you to the park several times in your baby carrier and you always fall asleep - you get really snug and warm in there!  


Measurements - 

weight - 14 lb, 5 oz 

length- not sure, but you're too long for your 0-3 months pants and sleepers!
head - ___ in -- your 3-6 month hat doesn't fit, silly girl!

Clothes - You are definitely in 3-6 month clothing now, with a little room to grow in most of your outfits, which is great.  I have to say it's been fun dressing you up everyday!  You wear a sleeper or a onesie and pants to bed at night.

Diapers - You're in a size 2, and hopefully we'll be there for a while.

Feedings - You're a very predictable eater now.  You eat five to six times a day, your first feeding is between 8 and 9, your last between 11 and 12.  You're still a fast eater and an easy burper.  You've got this eating thing down.  You had your first bottle this week.  I was worried you wouldn't like it or know how to take it, but you snarfed it down like a little piggy.  Gram and Pops fed you a bottle last weekend and you ate it right up!  Such a good eater you are!

Sleeping - You've been sleeping through the night (a good 8-10 hours) every night for the last four weeks.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!




official three month chair photo


Look at you GROW!

These Two

Gram and Pops are going to babysit Evelyn for us while we take Sam out for his birthday this weekend.  She'll likely need a bottle while we're gone, so we decided to test it out a couple of times this week since she's never had a bottle before.  She didn't have any problems when I first gave it to her, so I asked Sam if he'd like to feed her.  They had a great time snuggling, and there was no prompting for any of these photos, not even the kissy ones.  In fact, I had to ask him to give her some space while she ate.  These two!

Sleepyhead

Evelyn is a fantastic sleeper.  She's been sleeping 8-10 hours a night for the last month.  I still can't believe it!  Sometimes she wakes me up in the morning, sometimes I have to wake her.  On this particular morning I wanted to wake her up but she had different plans.  I started out by opening her doors, then opened her blinds.  No luck, but it was a gray, rainy morning, so opening the blinds didn't do too much.  Sam and I continued on with making our breakfasts, laughing at Evie, watching her sleep through all our commotion.  We finally decided to turn on all her lights, but she just kept on snoozing.  So I grabbed my camera and started snapping.  She looked so cute in her crib, even though this is not how I lay her down at night.  Every night I start her with her head up by heartbeat bear and she somehow scooches her way down the crib and turns at least 90 degrees, sometimes more.  As long as she's swaddled nice and snug she's happy.  And that makes Mama's happy, too!

The Beach at Fairview

We had another spring-like day forecasted in North Texas last week, so our Lens Baby group scheduled a last-minute playdate at one of our favorite places to meet up, The Beach (and fountains) at Fairview.  Even though it was cloudy and really windy, the unseasonably warm temperatures made for a great afternoon of running, running, running!  We started out on the beach side of the park and then migrated over to the fountains.  I didn't think they'd be turned on in January, so I didn't dress Sam in swim trunks.  He was a little unsure about running through the fountain, especially in his clothes, but once he saw a friend run through, he decided to give it a try.  As you can see, he ended up completely soaked.  When it was time to go home, I stripped him down to his undies, had him sit on his coat in his car seat, and I cranked up the heat!  He had a great time, and so did little Evie, at her very first playdate!  It won't be long before she's out running around the fountains with Brother!

I've blogged about these fountains before - click

here

to see Sam's first trip to the fountains and the "blue wall" in August of 2010, and

here

to see our first trip to the beach side in March of 2011.  How is it I don't remember him ever being that little...