iphone download, June 7-18

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Ashley

June 7

Such a big girl.

Daddy, what are you doing?

June 11

Sweet snuggles.

She loves her soft lamb that she got from Grandma & Grandpa!

June 12

Our little Irish girl, surrounded by polka dots.

She looks like such a big girl in this picture.

Looking up, down, all around.

June 13

Her 2-month doctor visit … hugging Daddy before she gets her round of shots.

She did very well. Her cry was piercing, but brief! The nurse was quick, and then Mommy & Daddy were quick to feed her right away.

Later that evening, getting a bottle from Daddy. She was very sleepy that day, and if she had any soreness in her legs, she sure didn’t let us know.

June 14

Morning on the deck, under the pear tree, listening to the birds & watching the squirrels.

Irony.

Grumpy girl, shopping with Mommy.

June 17 – Father’s Day!

June 18

Happy baby with a full belly & dry diaper.

God Bless Evelyn

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Ashley

The day Evelyn turned 7 weeks old, she was baptized at the University of Notre Dame, our alma mater.

We knew we were going to be on campus for a friend’s wedding on Friday. So, we checked availability of the Log Chapel on Sunday & the availability of Michael’s friend, Matt. Matt was Michael’s RA in college and was ordained as a Holy Cross priest the week before Evelyn was born. He is currently living in Mexico as the priest of a very large parish. We were very lucky that he was able to make time in his extremely busy schedule to be with us on campus and welcome Evie into the Church.

These pictures are a mash-up of ones that Michael, Michael’s parents, my sister and I had taken that weekend.

Here is Michael, giving Evelyn a bottle.

Evie was very reluctant when we first introduced bottles. It took a few days of adamant protesting on her part. Soon, however, she was quickly gulping them down! I’m happy that she enjoys her bottles, so other special people in her life can feed her while I get a break! It’s also great practice for when I go back to work (on July 10), when I’ll be pumping in the office and Evie will be taking bottles during the day.

…And here is our pretty girl, wearing her first hair accessory and her absolutely gorgeous, handmade dress by Grandma Barto! I love the dress. It’s a floral fabric with tiny royal blue flowers and green leaves, with royal blue lining & a ribbon sash (the flower also goes on the sash). I wish we had gotten a better picture of it, but it definitely has room for her to grow … so she will be wearing it many more times! She’s wearing it here for her brief cameo at the wedding we attended on Friday. Grandma & Grandpa Barto babysat her in the hotel room upstairs for the rest of the night while we partied it up

Bottle time with Grandpa.

Taking a break from the party to wish my little girl a good night.

Evelyn got to see her 3 cousins again, since they made the trip for the baptism! Here is O-Baby.

O-Baby & his beautiful mama.

O-Baby was about 8 months old when these pictures were taken.

Cousins.

Girl talk with Aunt Becca.

Always smiling for her daddy!

Modeling her pretty summer dress & match espadrilles.Thank you, Tim & Lana!

Meeting Grams for the first time. Michael’s grandma has 33 great-grandchildren & Evelyn is her 31st. That’s right … there have been two great-grandkids born since Evie! Easton was the 32nd and Rafael was the 33rd, I believe.

Grams & Evie having a very serious discussion.

O-Baby is a strong baby!

Hard to believe that in a matter of months, Evie will have strength & head control like her cousin.

Later that day, going to CJ’s pub for some burgers and meeting Father Matt.

Ben loves Baby Evie.

Squinty Jackson snuggling with his mommy.

Grandpa checkin’ in with Evie.

*Love* this picture of Evie with her Aunt Em.

Lottie & Ben

Michael (Emily’s Michael … let’s call him Michael D.), Emily, Carley & Chris.

Naptime close to her daddy.

Ben-jammin’

Brothers.

Ben .. probably been a cutie again.

Michael and his Godson … and Evie.

It seems every time I look, this baby has a smile on his face.

Baptism morning! Smiles during a diaper change with Grandma.

Notre Dame’s Log Chapel … a replica of the one built in 1831.

Grandma holding Evelyn in her baptismal gown. Evelyn is the third generation to wear this gown. My grandma (my mom’s mom) made the gown for her four children, including my mom. Then I wore it, then my brother, and then my sister. It hadn’t been worn for 21 years, but it was still pristine & beautiful.

Grandma & Papa

The sign of the cross

Evie’s Godfather.

She was so calm while having water poured on her. She likes having her hair washed! Father Matt made sure the holy water was warm, and that made all the difference.

Chris (Godfather), Becca (Godmother), me & Michael.

The newest member of the Church!

Little family of three.

Thank you, Father Matt!

With the Godparents.

Three generations.

Kisses from Grams.

Log Chapel steeple

Everyone walking down to the grotto … Jackson was smart and hitched a ride with Michael D.

Michael, Jackson & Mike lighting a candle.

Our little angel.

…Love these pictures of our family… Mom, Dad, me, Evie, Emily & Chris.

Evelyn is so lucky that her great-grandma came to her baptism! We all love Grams very much.

A close-up of Evie’s gown.

Baptism brunch at Tippecanoe Place … relaxin’ with Papa & Aunt Em.

Observing from her perch on Grandpa’s shoulder.

Grams, beautiful as always.

O-Baby having a ball, bouncing with Grandpa.

Just missing Jeremy, Tina & Lucas!

Thanks to Mom, Dad, Chris, Carley, Emily & Michael …. Grams, Lottie, Michael’s parents, Becca, Mike, Jackson, Ben & Owen for making the trip to campus for Evelyn’s baptism! It was a wonderful weekend and we feel so blessed by your love & presence in her life (our lives).

iphone download, May 23 – June 2

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Ashley

May 23

Tasting the air out on the deck

Naptime close to Mommy’s heart

Stretchy smiles

Sprawly girl.

May 24

She doesn’t like sucking on her individual fingers, but sometimes she’ll suck on her knuckles.

May 26

Saturday morning relaxing in bed with Mommy.

Snuggled in & happy in her swaddle.

Mommy, why did Daddy cut his jeans?

… and what are “jorts”?

Because he looks silly.

It’s for the Red White & Barn party? I knew Crazy Uncle Chris had something to do with it!

May 27

At Fusian. Maybe in a few years, Evie will have some of my PB&J roll.

May 28

Playing with the rattle Grandma got for her … and making Grandpa proud with her subtle hand gesture …

… and of course, Daddy snuggles.

May 29

May 30

Hey Mommy, where are we going?

Ah, Target. Yes, I need to pick up some things too.

Just a typical day.

Chest cuddles with Crazy Uncle Chris.

May 31

She fell asleep next to me on the couch, and I needed to hold her arms like a swaddle so she wouldn’t wake herself up.

Look for the sleep laugh right around 20 seconds:

… Successfully transferred to the Pack n Play for a nap … which lasted about 5 minutes before she woke herself up.

June 1

Draped over Daddy’s shoulder.

June 2

How she looks after I take her out of the Ergo carrier.

Hi grandparents!

June 3

First car trip – one hour down to Cincinnati for Baby T’s baby shower.

So comfy with Nery!

Hangin’ out with the girls

Snuggling in with the mommy-to-be … she’s a natural! Nevermind Evie. We need to teach her some manners.

One of her first successful bottles! Michael is in charge of bottle duty and Evelyn has been quite the champ at taking them down.

Tummy time in her jungle … checking out her elephant.

June 5

More happy jungle time. She now occupies herself in her jungle for 20+ minutes! I can now shower reliably around the same time each day

A cute little bunny flopping around in our neighbor’s … ahem … yard?

Nearing the end of jungle time.

June 6

Morning nap in the carrier.

Telling each other about their day.

June 7

Finding her hands once again.

Big baby blues.

play date

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Ashley

(June 4)

A play date with her friends the elephant & lion.

happy daddy day.

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Ashley

All day long, Mommy and I play

Smiling on walks in the sun

or inside my jungle when it’s rainy & grey

Chatting with Mow Mow is always fun!

{Mow Mow is her monkey in her rainforest …. }

But when Daddy opens the door,

That’s when the real fun starts!

We talk and sing and sometimes I roar

We bounce and walk and smell my little farts.

Daddy, you are my favorite guy

and I feel so protected with you

You’re always there so I don’t cry

I can’t wait ’til I can say “I love you too!”

Happy First Daddy Day, Daddy!!

Love. Evie

——-

Michael,

I’ve fallen in love with you all over again. Seeing you be such an amazing father to Evelyn makes me look forward to our future together even more than I did before. This is going to be so much fun.

I love you.

- your wife

spring baby

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Ashley

(June 2 – Evie is almost 6 weeks old here)

All pretty to go to a baby shower for Baby Girl T with Mommy! Baby T is due in July. Evie can’t wait to meet her friend!

(June 3)

Chillin’ on the deck with Daddy.

Wearing her extremely cute outfit from Aunt Lo and Uncle D!

Love her cheeks.

Excited hands.

Concentrating really hard to talk with Daddy.

Stopping to smell the flower poof (she was fascinated by this).

Squinty baby.

1 overtired, crabby baby + Ergo carrier = peace & free hands.

snuggles

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Ashley

(May 27 – Evie’s about 5 weeks old here)

Getting her daily dose of Daddy.

She seems pretty comfortable with him, don’t you think?

Wiggling around.

Showing off her cute summer romper.

(May 28)

Peeking in on her manicure appointment with Daddy.

Mommy’s little girl.

welcome to the jungle

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Ashley

(May 25)

Evelyn: 1 Month Old.

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Ashley

Age 1 month

[She is currently 7 weeks old. At this rate, I'll be doing her 10-year-old update when she's nearly twenty.]

Weight 10 lb 11 oz

Length ~22.5″

Clothing size 0-3 month in most items

Hair getting longer. Looks like it’s thinning, but may just be because it’s getting longer.

Teeth none.

Sleeping We start her bedtime routine around 8:00/9:00: feeding, changing & then feeding her until she’s in a light sleep. She sleeps until 2:00 or 3:00, then wakes to eat. She’s up around 5:30/6:30 for the day. She slept in her bassinet in our room for the first week or so. Since then, she’s done very well in her crib. Since she’s a noisy sleeper, we all get more sleep this way The video monitor is the only way I’d allow her to sleep outside of our room … I just set up the iPad on my nightstand and I can see her really well.

Eating Nursing is going well. She eats every 2-3 hours during the day. She’s always had very loud GULPS at the start of her meal, but she’s starting to vocalize throughout the entire feeding. It’s pretty dang cute. One frustrating thing is that she is very eager to “help out” with her own hands. I normally have to restrain her hands in the beginning. We haven’t introduced bottles yet; maybe around 6 weeks.

Movement Not a lot of control over her movement. She startles easily, and will splay her arms WAY out & open her eyes really wide. Both her arms and legs are extremely active. She frequently pops herself in the face with her hands & gets upset with us about it. Very strong neck muscles. On May 2, she was lying on my chest for a nap & turned her neck right & left 5 times!

Milestones First time to urgent care, first hospital stay (besides birth), first time she slept 6 hours straight, first sleep smiles, first/second/third times to Graeter’s ice cream

Favorite toys/activities rainforest play mat (specifically the elephant & monkey), stuffed lion, being bounced on the yoga ball and/or danced with while being sung to, having a clean diaper put on, being worn in the Ergo or Moby & going for a walk

Dislikes pacifier (she was only into it during her hospital stay, with the Sweet Ease) and being still. She doesn’t like to be held for too long if you’re not bouncing her, she doesn’t like to be in the car seat too long unless the car or stroller is moving.