Rainbows
Actually, everything makes her smile.
Sometimes
Sometimes, things get weird around here.
Every Morning
Every morning, sometime between four and six, Evie starts to cry. I bring her to our bed and feed her. Sometimes she goes right back to sleep; sometimes she kicks her legs and flaps her arm for a good half hour and then falls asleep. Either way, this is the face I wake up to almost every morning. How lucky am I?
So pretty, even as she sleeps.
Surprise Fan
Somebody came to Sam's t-ball game for a surprise visit...
No, it wasn't Gram or Pops. He knew they would be there.
It was Uncle Andrew! Tee-hee!
A former t-ball player himself, Uncle Andrew knows just how to cheer-on a group of four-year-old ball players.
We were so glad Andrew came to this game, because Sam won the game ball. You can see him peeking over at us in one of the photos. I'm sure he was wondering if Andrew was watching...
After he got the game ball, Sam ran over to us and tossed the ball over by the dugout. We told him it was his ball to keep. He said "No fanks, I have a ball". We insisted it was a special ball awarded to him for a job well done and he burst into tears. He sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. Loudly. Poor Coach was a little uncomfortable, and probably confused as well. We're thinking Sam was a little overwhelmed by all his visitors and trying to figure out this "game ball" business was a little much for him.
But it was nothing a trip to the donut shop and the playground couldn't cure! Thanks for visiting, Uncle Andrew!
Muv-er's Day Tea
Sam and his classmates treated their moms to the nicest Mother's Day Tea this year. When we arrived, we were escorted to our chair by our kiddos where we found presents, special place settings, a beautiful flower lei to wear, and handmade centerpieces.
Sam brought me some 7-Up that was in a pretty stemmed glass with raspberries. We snacked on fancy bundt cakes, opened our presents (a handmade stepping stone for the garden), and listened to the kids recite Psalm 139, which they had worked on for a while.
Sam was so excited. He'd been talking about it for weeks. It was such a special day!
Just an Old One I Found
Found a picture of Sam I hadn't posted. I was on the floor with Evie, taking pictures of her, and he had come in her nursery, trying to make her laugh for me.
Her Things: Five Months
Now that we're pulling out some of Sam's old baby toys for Evelyn to use, we're starting to reminisce more about when he played with them as a baby. They grow so fast their things don't stay their things for very long, yet they're a big part of each stage of their life.
Here are Evelyn's things at the moment - the items that are part of her everyday...
Black & White Beach
Sam and Evie and I took a picnic lunch to the beach Friday. Just to be clear, by "picnic" I mean Sonic popcorn chicken, and by "beach" I mean the oversized sandbox that runs alongside a part of Lake Lewisville. Nothing fancy, but still a fun outing. I dressed him in this cute new shirt Granny gave him thinking I might get some colorful spring photos of him playing in the sand or climbing at the playground. The blue in the shirt is so pretty, but for some reason, things just weren't jiving with the grass, the flowery-weed things he was picking and the sand he was jumping into once I pulled it all up on the computer to process. Maybe it's because it was such a dark, cloudy day, these just lent themselves to moody black-and-whites. Unexpected, but I like them. We'll have to try cute kid in cute shirt photos again on a sunny day. There will plenty of those to come before we know it.
(by the way...this is my 400th post - oh my!)
Dinner Distraction
I was sauteing chicken for dinner the other night when I went to check on Evelyn in her Pack-n-Play. She looked so pretty, I had to grab my camera. I ended up snapping longer than I should have, but surprisingly, I didn't burn the chicken. Phew! It would've been worth it, though, even if I had...just look at this gorgeous girl!
Deep, Deep Down
Sam sang a new song for me on the way to the car after school Thursday. I asked him for an encore once we were all buckled in so that I could get some video. He was happy to oblige. He sings with such enthusiasm, it's a little hard to understand everything he's saying. Allow me to translate:
"I've got joy, down in my heart
Deep, deep down in my heart.
My Jesus put it there
And nothing can destroy it, destroy it, destroy it
(Ugh!)
I've got joy, down in my heart
Deep, deep down in my heart."
Evie at Five Months
Evelyn Mae, you are five months today! You are growing like a weed and getting more and more beautiful every day! You are a bright, alert, happy baby full of sweet smiles. You had a busy month playing, growing and learning.
Your official chair photo
You've found your knees and are very close to finding your footsies!
Measurements -
weight - 18 lbs according to Mommy's scale
length - not sure - you don't have a doctor's appointment this month - but your footie jammies are getting small again
head - not sure - let's just say your headbands are getting snug so you must have lots of brains!
Clothes - You're still in 3-6 month clothing but most outfits are getting a little too snug. I photographed you in a 6-9 month onesie and I think it's time to start washing the next round of clothes
Diapers - You're in a size 3 for now
Feedings - You're now eating around six times a day for a total of about fifty minutes a day. You eat around 5, 9, 12, 4, 8 and 11.
Sleeping - Okay...sleeping through the night - no longer your forte. Boo. You started rolling over completely this past month - front to back and back to front - so I had to stop swaddling you. Now you roll over onto your tummy in your sleep which sometimes wakes you up and makes you mad. I flip you over onto your back and often times barely make it out of your nursery before you flip over on your tummy again and fuss. You must like your tummy occasionally, though, because sometimes I come in and you're asleep completely face-down on the mattress and I have to turn your head a little bit. You sleep on your back or side for naps, and usually you take three naps a day. Sleeping is no problem when I bring you in to Mommy and Daddy's bed in the morning. You fall back asleep for another two or three hours and sometimes Sam and I have to go in and wake you after we eat our breakfast!
It was a busy month for our family. Sam started playing ball and you are his favorite cheerleader, watching him play at every game. Papa Emil and Grandma Jan came to visit you and you got to meet Aunt Kathy and cousin Dean for the first time, too. The weather's been nice and you enjoy walks in your Bjorn. Your still a good errand-runner and you make trips to Kroger and similar otherwise-boring places a little more fun!
You're getting really good at grabbing for toys and things on the table or in our hands. Your neck is very strong and you can spend a lot of time on your tummy, especially if your best buddy Sam is nearby to entertain you. You still love to stand on your legs and look around while you're on our laps and you're starting to scrunch your legs under your body when you're on the floor, like you're trying to get somewhere on your own. Makes me wonder when you're going to start crawling. I've discovered some tickle spots underneath your chin that make you giggle and that makes me giggle. You babble and coo some, often when other people are talking nearby you, as if you want to be a part of the conversation, too!
Almost half a year! How can that be? We love you Evie Mae!
Here's Sam's 5 month chair photo:
My Mini-Me
(iPhone photo by Mommy)
A few weeks ago I did a photo session with Evie where I placed her on her quilts while I photographed her in the nursery. Later that same day, Sam called me in to the kitchen so I could see what he was working on. He wanted to show me
his
photo session and he was very proud of the way he'd spread out his blanket and placed Puppy just so, capturing his subject from all different angles. He was using an old camera I got off of Craiglist a couple of years ago for
- a 1957 Brownie Starflex - and he made sure to show me the "picture" on the back, just like I show him image previews on my LCD screen. He was taking it all very seriously. An aspiring newborn photographer, maybe?
A few days later we were coming back from a walk and laughing at how Evie looked in her Baby Bjorn carrier. He asked to take our picture with my phone and this is the first shot he got:
After "chimping" the camera (looking at the photo he took), he said to me, "Mom, let's go over here where the light is better". Oh my, someone's picked up a little photography knowledge after listening to Mom! Turns out he was right - the light is better on the other side of the porch. Here is his next shot:
Sam was happier with this one, but wanted Evie looking at him, so he got her attention and snapped again:
He was pleased with his final result and I was too. Way to read the light and connect with your subjects, Sam! I'll forgive you for the limb chops...
this time
!
Papa and Grandma
I'm so happy to be able to show off these special people on our blog. As our family website's biggest fans, Papa Emil and Grandma Jan have loved and appreciated every photo, video, and story about their children and grandchildren over the last four years. I'm glad they get a turn to be on the other side and we're so thankful for the wonderful time we spent together last week!
They arrived at our house Thursday to meet Evelyn and spend some time with her before going with me to pick Sam up at school. He gave them a little tour, showing them the incubator of chick eggs and their indoor recess spot known as "the play tubes". Friday we had a nice lunch at Market Street, explored Heritage Farmstead, played in Haggard Park and finished our busy day enjoying some awesome pizza at Urban Crust.
Papa and Grandma made it back out bright and early the next morning to see our Kansas City Royals play ball. After the game the boys went fishing at the pond while Jan and Evie and I had girl talk at home, and in the evening we had a nice dinner (and lots of Trader Joe's Pub Cheese) at Gram and Pops' house. Sunday was a relaxing day with more beautiful weather and we were able to chat, play with the kids, and enjoy another meal together.
We hopped on over to the park for a quick pic before they left Sunday evening. No matter what we were doing - talking on the porch or exploring the city - we enjoyed every minute of our time together. It was hard to see them go, but we so appreciate them making the trip to Texas and we're looking forward to the day when we can take the kiddos to California to see what's known around here as "Papa and Grandma's beach"!
Thank you for visiting, Jan and Emil. We love you!
Over She Goes
Evelyn first rolled on Easter Sunday, in her crib at about four in the morning. She'd been rolling onto her side for a few days, clearly working really hard to roll all the way over. Such a determined little girl! As soon as she made it onto her tummy, she cried for someone to help her. I think she got there and didn't know what to do next! It was strange to go in her room and see her in her crib on her tummy as she'd only ever slept on her back up to this point. Now she sleeps on her side or her tummy all the time at night. She looks so cute when we go in to check on her.
It wasn't as easy getting this series of images as I thought it would be. I had to empty out her room of all the furniture that isn't bolted to the wall, and lay on the floor on my stomach and wait. And wait and wait and wait. I felt like a wildlife photographer, hiding in the bushes, waiting to catch an image of little Evie in her natural habitat. We had already taken a bunch of photos right before we tried the rolling shots, and she was definitely running low on energy. She kept rolling on her left side, getting red in the face trying to push over, then falling again onto her back like a frustrated turtle. You can see her red, fussy face in her mid-roll photos, and her happy, proud face in the last two! Finally! We did it!
Our Girl
Just some photos of our girl, having fun playing in her room...
Sweet, chubby baby hands, chewing on Giraffe
She's so into her knee today.
Every time I look at her she's checking it out - like she just discovered she has one
and thinks it's the coolest thing. Silly girl.
Upside-down Evie, her gaze following Brother all around the room.
Our girl.
Evelyn and Me
This took
forever.
Evelyn kept wanting to look outside. We had to ask Sam to stand behind the tripod so that she would look in the right direction. Oh well, at least I made it into a picture. I exist! I exist!
Fearfully and Wuhn-fully Made
As soon as Sam and I got in the car yesterday after school, he asked me if I wanted to hear a Psalm. I thought he said "song', so it took me a second to figure out what he was doing when he started reciting (almost yelling) "Lord you know what's in my heart". I watched him in the rearview mirror as he rattled off the rest of Psalm 139 at lightning-speed. I was so impressed with how much he'd memorized and how well he spoke. I asked him if he would do it for me again today so I could record it for all the grandparents to hear and luckily he agreed. After I stopped recording he informed me that Psalm 139 does not have an amen at the end! Sorry...
Number Five
He's a ball player now, and a Kansas City Royal, no less. Pretty exciting for Gram and Pops and the rest of his Kansas City family! The first game was last Saturday. We were worried it was going to be cancelled due to the heavy rains the night before, but luckily the grass held up nicely and despite the cloudy, chilly weather, Opening Day went on as planned.
He had a great time and played really well, too. He got four solid hits and ran the bases. The things we thought might be issues like wearing a helmet and batting in front of strangers turned out to be no big whoop. Ask him what the best part was and he's likely to tell you the "granilla bar" (granola bar) they got at the end, but I think he liked hitting the ball, too. He played two positions - pitcher (who doesn't pitch) and something called "second shortstop", which was located between first and second base.
It's funny to watch the kids play ball at this age. They're just working on the basics at this point - hitting the ball off the tee, automatically running once they've hit the ball, knowing where to run, etc. When a ball comes their way, they often will just look at it rolling by them. They
might
reach for it...if they're wearing their glove and not throwing it in the air! His coach and the assistants are all very nice and
patient
- oh are they ever patient!
Before the first practice, Brian got him a glove from Play it Again Sports. It was an older-model glove with former Royal George Brett's signature stamped inside. Last week the kids got their jerseys and Sam was assigned #5, which happens to be George Brett's number. Perfect for this new Royal!
We practice once a week and have games on Saturday through the spring. He loves to practice and play and we're glad he can get outside, be with kids his age, and learn the game of baseball. Here's to a great season - Go Royals!
Got quite a few shots of him doing this...typical ball player already...
I chose to crop this photo so we could see Sam's face, but in the original photo Coach is off to the left and Sam is looking at him just before his first swing at the tee, something he also does when he bats at practice.
Coach pulling him aside to remind him to stay in one place, face the batter, and pay attention when the other team is batting. :)
Go Royals!