Seven months

It's amazing how quickly Evelyn has gone from 5 to 7 months!!  Ok, well blog time, it took her less than a week, but it real time, it took two months.  In all honesty, my six month post is basically my seven month post.  She wasn't eating those things by the time she was six months, nor was she sitting unsupported.  But she is now, yay! She also had her first ear infection, which is a big non yay.  She woke up with a very runny nose, but otherwise seemed fine.  However, she woke up early from a nap crying and felt very warm.  I took her temperature and it was 103!! So, we rush her to the urgent care clinic (the only thing open on a Sunday in town) and that's when they determine it's an ear infection.  Poor sweet baby.  She's doing better now though, and had developed some new sounds.  Some are cute babble like "nananannaaaa buhbuh smack smack"  and then she has this high pitched squeal shriek that she thinks is really fun....but it's not.  at all.  Especially since I too came down with something and am not feeling very well.

six months

 She's six months old now!! We had a nice Christmas, and Evie has a lot of new toys to explore.  Apollo is a little jealous, but he did get a couple of gifts too.  I received a baby food maker, that steams and purees.  It can also warm the food for you too.  So far, I've made yams, peas, squash, carrots, avocado, and pears.  She's eaten prunes as well, but I just buy those.  She's done great with the foods, peas and avocado are her least favorites, but she'll eat them.

 here is Evie eating peas

 here she is after eating some yams

most excitingly, she had her first snow this month!  It snowed on and off for 3 days, and we had a nice little blanket of snow probably 4-5" deep.  Daddy made her a little throne out of snow.

She is now sitting up unsupported.  Not 100% reliable at that quite yet, but she's doing well with it.  She's not crawling yet, but she reaches for toys during tummy time, so it's only a matter of time I think before she's mobile.  No teeth yet either, but I'm not complaining!  She loves reaching for my hair and giving it a good tug...which is not my favorite game.  I'm wearing pony tails more often now...and Evie is learning "no"

five months

Evie turned 5 months old in December!  Easily the most exciting part was that Daddy came home from deployment in late November!!  We're going to begin solid foods later this month, starting with rice cereal.  She's doing well developmentally, she's not big on rolling over, but she can.  She's learning new sounds (mostly squeaks and squaks) She sits up really well, supported, and loves sitting in her Bumbo seat watching me cook, or just sitting near the window watching the world go by.  She has a little wooden chicken toy that she just loves, especially when I "bock" for her.

We're looking forward to her first Christmas, even though she has no clue what's going on and isn't sure why there is a tree in the living room.  Brandon's parents and grandparents are coming to visit, as well as his brother.  It's going to be a little hard for me this year, since it's the first Christmas that I won't be with my family.  However we'll get to start some new traditions :)

4 months

Ok...I realize that I'm only blogging every month and this has become the All About Evie blog, but I'm not gonna lie, that's all my life is right now.  Single parenting is HARD!!  (I know that parenting in general is hard) I have a whole new respect for single parents, especially those who have to work 1-2 jobs to support their families!  I also have a whole new disrespect for women who want babies, but don't want to "wait for a man" trust me, you want the man too, or at least someone around to help out.  I am very blessed to have supportive family who've flown all the way up here to visit and lend me a hand, and wonderful friends who have lent an ear when I just need to gripe.  The dog has been pretty amazing too.  He seems to know when I'm really upset and he'll sit by us and put his head on my lap to comfort me.  There have been days that I've needed a hug so badly that I've just dropped to my knees to hug him, and he lets me...for a little while at least :)  I don't mean to sound quite so negative, I'd say that the good days far outweigh the bad ones, but when we're having a bad day....it's a bad bad day!
I'm actually happy that Brandon's deployment was timed as it has been.  I know now that if he has to work weird hours or leave for a few days, or hunker down and study for a few days, I can totally handle taking care of Evelyn and it won't be overwhelming for me at all. 

Evelyn is doing great.  She's just shy of 15 lbs and is a little over 2' long.  She's getting really good at holding up her head, and supporting herself on her elbows while we have tummy time.  She's even getting better at tummy time, and isn't melting down until she's been on her tummy for around 10-15 minutes, a vast improvement from 2 minutes!  She's a little drool factory, and loves to suck/gnaw on her thumb and forefinger (at the same time) She's laughing, and is happy to see me when I get her from her crib.  She loves to watch Apollo, and the first time she laughed really hard was because of something he was doing.  I'm not sure what she found so funny, I think Apollo got a little offended he was being laughed at and wouldn't do it again.  I've got her sleeping in her crib at nights now, I think it's best for both of us.  I know many people who share a room with their babies, and it works great for them, but I think we were keeping each other awake with our sleep noises, and so neither of us were getting good sleep.  She's also grabbing things, her hands, toys, my hair :) and she's playing pretty well with the toys.  I'm trying to think of things along the toy area to get her for Christmas, but don't really know what to get.  She has a rattle toy that has rings and bright colors, and a stuffed elephant that rattles and crinkles.  She also has a wooden duck/chicken with bright colored "feathers" and crinkle feet for her to explore.  If any one who still reads this has any recommendations that a 6 month old would enjoy, I'd appreciate it! 

three months!

Evelyn is three months old today!  Only two more until Daddy comes home!  This past month, Evelyn has become more alert, she's holding her head up like a champ (although she still hates tummy time!) she's even started "talking."  (and by talking I mean making sounds, she's found her voice, not that we're carrying on conversations over afternoon tea....she also doesn't drink tea)  She's beginning to reach for things, though most of her play time is still failing her arms and legs, I can see the little wheels working in her head.  Most excitingly, she has slept through the night 2 nights in a row!!  I nurse her around 9:30ish and she doesn't wake up until 6!  This makes for a happy mommy!  Currently Evelyn is sleeping in a bassinet in my room, but I'm going to start moving her into her crib at night time next week.  She sleeps in her crib during day naps, so I'm hoping she'll be fine. 

She's so sweet and smiley, so good natured.  Even Apollo is starting to love her!  I came home from the grocery store this week, and left Evie in the car while I opened the front door and was going to let Po out in the backyard.  However, he wouldn't go!  Usually he'll begrudgingly go, but he just wouldn't go.  I didn't want to leave Evie in the car long, so I just gave up and went to get her.  Once I brought her in, Apollo gave her his usual sniff over, and then he was happy to go outside.  It was almost as if he wouldn't go at first because he noticed the 'human puppy' wasn't there, and that wasn't right!  I usually have 'tummy time' in the nursery so I can have her on the floor without the dog intruding.  Now, he'll sit outside the baby gate that is in the doorway of her room and watch us.  I think she's beginning to notice him too, and she thinks he's funny.  I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship :)

2 months

*Sorry this is late
Goodness, another month has gone by!  Well, now Evelyn is 2 months old and has grown so much!  Seriously, the kid gained 4 lbs in the month!  She is now 12 lbs 2 oz and just over 22.5" long.  She's smiling and cooing and learning to hold her head up on her own.  Her great grandparents got her an infant bouncer seat, which she LOVES!  She's beginning to learn to reach for things.  Currently, she's still mostly flailing, but her movements are much more controlled than before.  She's also sleeping better, which makes for a happier mommy! 

We're starting to go out and socailize more.  MOPS is starting up again this month, and we're going to Bible study.  We usually don't stay out long, because I'm very uneasy about nursing in public.  A lot of people do it, I don't think there is anything wrong with it, but I just feel so uncomfortable with the idea.  I guess I'll just have to get over it though. 

1 month

One month ago today, little Evelyn was brought into the world.  As cliche as it is to say, I can't believe that much time has already gone by! 

She's able to focus on objects for longer now, and she's even beginning to return smiles.  I can't tell you how amazing that is!  It's like a small reassurance when you're feeling like you have no idea what you're doing and are terrified you're going to ruin her life by making the wrong choice!

She's been lifting her head and holding it up longer and longer, she's even turned herself over a couple of times. 

She loves to cuddle and spend time with a warm body and she's learning to sleep well in between feeding times.  She still has fussy times, and when they occur at night, it's frustrating.  However, it seems like lately she's more reliable to sleep soundly through the night.  (by through the night, I mean in between feedings, she doesn't sleep all night long.  I'm still getting up 2x a night to feed her)

I can't believe the capacity of love that God has allowed the heart to accommodate.  I love this little girl, and it's so natural to love her, even when she's screaming in my ear, clawing at my neck or pulling my hair.  (she really hates hiccups...)  I just want to do right by her and be the best mom I can, and I'm so scared of messing up, because she deserves so much!  However, God decided that I was who she deserved, so I need to realize that I will not be perfect, we're both learning right now.  We'll have bad days, but those will make the good ones that much better.  I've been blessed to have loving family and friends come help me out.  I know that this first month would have been terrible if I hadn't had that assistance!  I'll miss having those extra pairs of hands, but know that I am strengthened through Christ. 

I do have pictures...but they're on my camera and I don't know when I'll get them off :)