In March, Evie & I were in Minnesota for 10 days. We stayed with my parents and Evie got to meet all of my mom's side and part of my dad's side. Good times were had by all! It was pretty tough to leave, but honestly, it was nice to be "home". It's weird for me to really call Houston home because honestly, Minnesota will always be my home. But, I guess home is where the heart is and Darin, the puppies and Louie have that. (And obviously Little Miss Evie, but she was with me.) It was fabulous walking into the house though, as Darin busted his butt and had it gleaming. Even the laundry basket (and the washer and dryer) were empty! Yeah, I married a good one.
Here is some photographic evidence of our trip. The number of pictures is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is the number of pictures taken and not used. Sometimes digital is not the way to go.
So we didn't need this, but damn she's cute in it!
I love my baths.
The sun makes me so...sleepy....
(And apparently it had the same effect on Grandpa!)
Hi Bethany!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Watchin' TV with Grandpa, wearing a sleep sack that used to be mine.
Carters...worth every penny apparently!
Cousin Addie (5) and Evie...and Carter making her laugh in the background
Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom
4 generations!
Great Grandma J & Evie
Cousin Addie & Evie
Great Aunts Kellie & Jody
Great Aunt Jody & Evie
Great Uncle Brad & Evie
Addie was very happy to get to feed Evie
Cousin Carter (10) His fingers must taste good.
...I do not want to know where a 10 year old boy's fingers have been.
Great Grandma Blackstad
4 gerenations
Great Auntie
Great Auntie and Great Uncle Craig
Blackstad Family Photo (minus Darin)
Hangin' with Grandma
Playing with Grandma (in an outfit that just barely fit!)
Grandpa's getting the hang of the bottle thing,
but...maybe I should help.
Here, chew on this.
OMG, I love this picture!!! She looks so cute!
My mom and I were having a "fashion show" with my old clothes.
Last day. Gorgeous weather. I can barely believe it's March in MN!
Wow! What a difference a week makes in the life of a four month old!
Evie had her four month appointment on Monday. She's a very healthy baby with "good muscle tone".
Weight: 14lb. (43rd percentile)
Length: 24.5" (47th percentile)
Head Circumference: 15.75" (33rd percentile, we think)
Up until Tuesday, Evie had been eating a 7oz. bottle in the morning, 3 6 oz. bottles during the day and another 7 oz. bottle before bed. These were evenly spaced at 3 hours apart throughout the day. Everything I had been reading on eating, including the info we got from the doctor said she should be able to go 4-5 hours between feedings. Well, her fussiness and screams said differently. Until Tuesday. She went 3 hours and 15 minutes. Wednesday she went 3 hours and 30 minutes. Thursday she went 3 and a half hours also, but was able to hold out for 4 hours before bed without issue. And Friday...she did 8 oz. bottles (not always drinking all of it) 4 hours apart. No issues at all. We'll be starting rice cereal before we know it!
Evie is also a talker. Or she really tries to be one. Up until this week her "talking" has been a spit laced coo. Well, she has now mastered the clear "Oooh". She loves practicing it and I love hearing it. Here's a sampling.
In addition to "oooh"ing, Evie now giggles! It just happened tonight. Darin grabbed the camera so we have video! Music to our ears!
Won't be long until she's rolling over, either. She knocked her nuk out the other day and I went in her room to put it in and had to run back out to get the camera because I thought for sure she was goin' over. She didn't, but it will not be long!
We are in awe at how she is growing. It's amazing to see this miracle change before our very eyes. I love being a mom!
Life changes in a second. Or it can. Mostly it changes slowly over a long period of time. But when you look back at it, it feels like only a second has gone by. This recently happened to me.
I'm finally getting around to labeling and putting away pictures from 2010. I ordered the pictures before we moved to Houston with the intention of getting them labeled and put away while we were living in the rental apartment. Well, clearly that didn't happen. I was too busy watching TV. Anyway, as I'm looking at these pictures, I cannot believe how quickly life has changed!
In March 2010 we bought our first house. It was a simple time with Darin, Louie and me. Then, in July, we got Josie and our lives changed. A lot. March 2011 we got Boomer, which was the same month we found out I was pregnant and put the house on the market. May we moved to Houston, June we closed on our house and November Evie was born! It doesn't seem like that much has gone on, and really most things have been evenly spaced, but to look back at those pictures, it seems like yesterday. Josie was so little, Louie was so sociable.
I know it won't be long before I'm looking at pictures of Evie at this age wondering where the time has gone. I already think these four months have flown by, but I can't really remember what it was even like when we brought her home. I do remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, is it always going to be like this? Will I ever sleep again?" And then it changed. And then it changed again, and again, and again. Getting more fun and enjoyable every day. Remind me of this when the terrible twos & teenage years hit...it isn't forever and things will change yet again.
And now, because no blog post is complete without a picture or two, here ya go.
I'm putting this picture on here because
she looks just like a baby picture I have of myself.
Considering she's a replica of Darin normally,
I feel pretty special to have photographic evidence that
she's mine. Although, if I photographed my flabby
stomach, I could have had the evidence all along!
My adorable bathing beauty.
Can't wait to hit up the pool in a couple months!
My cousin, and friend's, teeny, tiny perfect little boy was born on March 15, 2012. Jack entered the world reluctantly, but he's here now and there's no turning back! I can't wait to head back to Minnesota in May/June and see how this little guy has grown! Until then, Skype and Facebook will have to do.
Baby Jack and cousin Hali
Evie is a giant. Louisa getting a feel for what just a few
months will bring! Me getting a feel for what it was like
just a few months ago!
Sweet baby Jack
How does this thing work?
Long fingers and toes!!!!!! Baby Jack
is ready to head home!
Proud parents happy to be heading home
I'm so excited for them to be embarking on this insane ride called parenting. Can't wait to share the good, the bad and the ugly with each other!
Darin's dad came down and spent a week with us in the beginning of February. Evie has now gotten to spend quality time with all the grandparents; probably more importantly at this point is they've gotten to spend quality time with her!
Josie had to get in on the action.
She keeps the house interesting!
Or, I should say, we went to North Carolina a month ago (already!) for Grandma Coble's retirement party. She retired from Duke University after 20 years. Pretty unbelievable to work somewhere for that long (at least to me who changed jobs every year or so)! She might have started a trend, since my dad retired from Frito-Lay after 25 years. Greener pastures are ahead!
This was Evie's first plane ride. And Mommy and Daddy's first plane ride with a baby and her absolutely ridiculous amount of stuff. Evie was a pro and we didn't do so bad either. Security was a little nerve wrecking and hectic, but we managed as every other parent who has traveled with a baby has done. And, because we flew Southwest and I am convinced they are the absolute best airline out there, they let us use her car seat in the plane because there were extra seats available. She basically slept through the whole thing and only whimpered a couple times. Not too shabby! There are an obscene number of pictures on here, so I apologize!
Chillin' in her own seat. Such a big girl!
Meeting Great Granny for the first time.
Happy retirement!!!!!
Evie thinks Granny is pretty funny!
Hangin' out with Mrs. Gillis
And Mr. Gillis too
So many people, so little time!
Gotta squeeze a bottle in sometime!
Peek-a-boo!
Evie & Uncle Neil
Apparently I now need to be holding something at all times.
Molly and me
Smiley girl!
Evie and PaPa Coble
Grandma Beth finally got a turn!
Adios North Carolina
Happy, and tired, girl in her car seat.
Thankful no one is holding her for a while.
Until Mom got her hands on her!
Although, if she's getting food, she's happy to be held!
Stretching the legs a little after the bottle.
Ready to get back in her seat.
