Harry and the gang

Allow me to apologize first off, I don’t really get Harry Potter, and dare I say that I’ve never seen A single movie or read so much as the FIRST word on the FIRST page?! True statement. I don’t get it, quite frankly, but that’s ok if you do. Maybe I’m just not smart or patient enough to sit through it. Something about some stupefy…and some Muggles…and a Lord Voldemort. That’s all I can remember. I don’t get it, but these cats sure did…..

.... and so does my child

Ehhh?

If you ever question why I may be hard of hearing….here’s why. This child is LOUD and it is just amplified on our hardwoods.

(I really promise to start using my real video camera very soon. My little point and shoot is just so much handier at times like this. Also, I do not profess to excel in videography, so keep a barf bag close at hand during these videos.)

May I have your attention, please….

A little PSA for my few blog readers. If you need a little gift or are a mom that is weighed down by the inevitable “just around the corner” feeding frenzy….LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MAGICAL PODEE! Have you ever seen this wonder? Are you amazed? Probably not, but if you are trying to rush out in the mornings or are in the middle of Babies R Us or just started trying to jog again and it juts up against the feeding frenzy, and you don’t have 3 arms, 3 hands and a chair to plop down in- I’m assuming you don’t- this is the bottle for you. I think it has saved my life a good 5 times just in the last week. Actually, it just makes us so mobile that I can’t even hardly stand it. No more worries about when EB will eat or whether or not we are in a convenient location. There is no longer an “inconvenience." I can’t imagine how helpful it would be if you had more than one child.

Without further ado….. The Podee.
I’ve been asked several times how old a child should be, and frankly, I can’t so much answer that for ya. Sorry. I got it as a gift before EB, but I just pulled it out last week. Evie has recently started grabbing her paci and putting it in her mouth correctly (I haven’t blogged about it, but it’s funny and WONDERFUL all at the same time. I’ve been waiting for that for a LONG time), and so I assumed that if she could do that, she could handle keeping the nipple in her mouth long enough to eat. Does that make sense? Unlikely. Oh well. It works for us and she’s 7 months…

Now, I cannot promise that sleepiness will follow, but it sure does the trick at my house. Good luck with that!

** Late addition... An added bonus... It's $10 people. In my humble opinion, it is WELL worth it and I now own two!

A sighting…

The evening was perfect, company entertaining and the food was filling. We had a quick visit with Clay last night and it was fun. We don't get to see him enough. The love between Clay and Evie slightly shifted last night because she decided to be quite afraid of him. You may be too if he pinched your nose and then showed off his sound system and almost busted your almost busted eardrum, I guess. She quickly realized he was fun with his antics and all was restored in the love affair.

I think they are cute.

Already Monday?

Well, we definitely “laked it” over the 4th and had a swell ol’ time. The babe tried some new adventures and seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself- most of the time. Here are a few pics of EB skiing living it up.

Rating: BN (baby nudity)

Pre-weekend roll out....

Hanging out with the big folk

We tried this...but needed some adjusting on the "fountain"...

...this was better, but EB just wasn't quite feelin' it.

"You sat there working on your tan while they tortured me?"

It's exhausting at the lake...

Another day. Post nap the babe LOVES her pool sans fountain...

..even happy enough to participate in a 4th of July picture. Thanks Gracie for the dress!

Excuse the fishing boat... EB doesn't fish.

Let's pretend EB is watching the fireworks in awe.

Yep, we see you and are FULLY aware that you were there too.

A little Americana

Warning: Long-all over the place-post.

So, you know how I LOVE to reflect back, right?! Travel back with me, if you will….. This day a whole wide year ago I woke up with so much excitement/anxiety I could barely function. I jumped out of bed, grabbed Gus and away we went on a two mile walk. After all, it was early and I HAD to get the babe moving because we were mere hours from finding out what “THIS” was….

GB and I walked, prayed for the day and loaded up and went to McDonalds for a LARGE Diet Coke and breakfast for JB (don’t you worry.. you KNOW I had a gravy biscuit). Ohhh what a day. After all that hoopla, we got to the doc and, OF COURSE, the babe would NOT perform. Is it too much to ask them to show us their business just once…JUST FOR ONE TINY SECOND. So, (I’m really wishing I had my journal with me to pull out some excerpts) in the mean time, we checked all of the organs, arteries and whatever else it is that they do. ALL OF THE SUDDEN the babe moved and the tech told us she knew……. gasp…can’t breathe…. I was laughing so hard that it made her little Doppler thing move off of the baby. Thankfully she got it right back and said, “Well, folks, what we have here is a ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-by (b/c we needed more anticipation. I wanted to strangle her) G!I!R!L!” AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! The laughter ERUPTED and JB sat there. WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE WE GONNA DO WITH A BABY GIRL?!?! And, well, here we are a year later in so much love that we can't hardly stand it. Jason Black melts when EB smiles at him, acknowledges him or breathes for that matter. So, wow…. a whole year later. Isn’t it incredible to see that ultrasound pic and then to see this pic….. AMAZING! What an incredible, mighty God we serve.


Anyway, thanks for traveling back. That’s a fun memory that is so so vivid for me. The story was only just beginning of that day and it was SO fun to call and tell everyone and listen to them erupt in laughter over the thought of JB having a girl. Well, folks, the Lord knew what he needed and he really is a great daddy to little EB. He wasn’t the only one, I went to buy our first “gender friendly” outfit and COULD NOT for the life of me buy something pink, ruffled or a “dress.” So, I went and picked out paint instead. (note: we were NOT upset...just shocked. See, I had convinced EVERYONE that we were having a boy b/c of my cake walk pregnancy. Well, almost everyone as my mom whipped out a pink blanket when the tech said "girl." funny times)

Now, what’s more American that baseball, hotdogs ($.25 ones at that), Diet Coke, flip flops and a babe in her 4th of July attire? Ahhh, Americana at it’s finest, I’d say. Thanks Gracie for letting Baby Evie borrow your dress. EB wore it and was pretty darn cute, if I must say so. She tried to eat the sleeves, but we’ll wash it and iron it before we return it, ok?!

We’ve been getting geared up for the long weekend at our house. Thankfully Evie is finally well and we are headed to the lake. I’m almost giddy. I LOVE the lake! I spent last summer sitting on the dock while everyone participated in various water sport extravaganzas, but not this year folks… I’M GAME! What child of Ron and Lynn’s doesn’t show up at the lake for the 4th? That would be Clay and I’m really really sad. He is SUCH a source of entertainment and fun. Summer jobs STINK, don’t they little brother?! You’ll be missed.

Last summer:

You know, I get real sentimental about holidays such as this. I’m a HUGE fan of our military and the work they do daily to allow us the freedoms that I take for granted. Every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner (even with my half eaten $.25 hotdog in hand) I get teary as images of so many friends, family and neighbors pop into my head that I’m so proud of and truly respect. They don’t read my silly ol’ blog, but I do appreciate you so very much. I’m thankful that you allow me to spend an extra day with my family playing at the lake and not worrying about our freedom b/c you fight for it. I’m thankful for the sacrifices you make for the job that’s been asked of you with very few accolades.So, thanks to you, we will enjoy our freedom this weekend while we have fun.

I’m gonna show you my REAL roots…. I LOVE Toby Keith. So, here ya go!

Ok, people, Happy 4th! Have fun. Be safe. The babe and I shall return next week.

7

Really? Is this a dream? Hardly. Sweet little EB is 7 whole months today (I may have to be medicated in 5 months from now for the big 1 year post. tear). I can’t even form the words…. this has been the fastest, best 7 months of our lives!! WHAT A FUN MONTH IT HAS BEEN. She is such a little character and just a “wee” bit feisty, but it’s funny FOR NOW.

Factoids on the Evie-tron:
-started napping in her bed instead of in her swing. HUGE. FINALLY.
-no longer uses her baby tub and is in the “big girl” tub
-she is conquering all of the stage 2 foods (still not a fan of peaches or peas)
-LOVES HER DADDY MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD (it only makes me partially nauseated).
-very interactive with “Brother Gus.” He looks for her and she looks for him. Pretty sweet. She loves to put her hands in his fur (yes, I wash them afterwards).
-the child babbles NON-stop and is SUPER loud.
-do not drink or eat while holding her or you WILL be sharing your dinner.
-she has one measly pound to go before we are out of the infant carrier (PTL!).
-her hair has finally started coming back in and seems to be really thick and course. We’ll see.
-EB thinks she’s REAL big and has tried part of a corn nugget, mashed potatoes and in keeping real with her mom, some Spanish rice. Sister doesn’t play around. She LOVED them.
-As of today (literally. it changes hourly), EB has had three ear infections, two being double infections in less than 65 days. I hope tubes are in our VERY near future. However, we are thankful and praise the Lord for a sweet, happy and, all things considered, healthy baby girl.

Ok, that’s enough. On to the infamous chair pics- which have become quite the battle these days:

So we started here at 6 months (early morning pic)....

What? She isn't interested in pictures? No shock here!

Gus can get a reaction, at least...

And so begins the demise of Spice...

Ears. Easy access, EB. Surely one day you will understand why I used Spice as a measuring tool.

We only serve pink rabbit for dinner once a month.

Getting closer....

YAY! Happy 7 month Birthday, EB! We love you to the moon and back!

Another smile thanks to Gus.

Hammin' it up. See ya next time, folks!