Friday, December 30, 2011

Solids!


We decided to try solids after her peditrician said she may be ready. By solids, I mean cereal mixed with breastmilk until it's completely runny and could even go through a bottle if needed. This may have been the first time we've ever used a bib. She wears them at daycare all the time, but I hate for her cute outfits to be hidden! So we strapped one on, plopped her in her Bebe Pod and gave it a go.




The first couple of bites were semi-successful, but after that, she didn't want any more. We'll try again eventually, but I'm not in any hurry to start her off. Solids mean stinky poops and that my girl is growing up, so I'm okay with waiting!







Just Like Mommy






Evey's new favorite "snack" is anything that I eat or drink! Dr. Poole says that lets us know she's ready for solids and we've tried once, but it must be something about mommy's chocolate milk or mommy's breakfast! It cracks me up to watch her stare and reach for whatever I have. She never actually gets any of the contents, she just chews on the rim.





The funniest thing was when she kidnapped my pizza bone! She snatched it right out of my hands and before I even realized it was gone, she had it in her mouth! When I tried to take it away, she cried and cried, so I just gave it back. How much damange could a little pizza bone do?





 

One night, in order to eat, we had to give her a plate to play with. She leans and reaches so well now, and she's always had great hand-eye-coordination, so if she wants it, it's only a matter of time before she gets it!




Just Hanging Around!

 This was her first time playing in the exersaucer and she seemed so small, which is an accurate statement, but she loved playing anyway!

Her feet don't touch!!


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Chatterbox

For now, Evey thinks her Papa and I are the funniest people in the world. We know that will most likely change in a few years, but we'll take it for now! The smiles we get when we act silly are priceless, and the more silly we act, the bigger her smiles!

So, why not?

I love the times when she talks to us. She was really quiet for her first few months, but now, she loves to chat. She responds best when we speak her language and even though we don't know what we're saying, it means the world to her.


Christopher says he loves her "froggy" voice!

Sing-A-Long


Something that Christopher hoped for with our daughter was that she would love music. We played music for her all the time while I was pregnant and hoped it would instill the same love for it that we share.

All I can say is that it worked. The first time Evey sang along with me, she was 3 1/2 months old, and it took, me a minute to even figure out what it was doing. The second time, my friend Meghan and I were singing "This Little Light of Mine" and she sang along. For a while, that was the only song I could get her to sing, but at least it was a good one. I've been tring to catch her singing on video since that time, but she knows the camera and just stares at it whenever I pull it out.

So, I've resorted to recording absolutely nothing visually, but this video is priceless! Her squeaks and squawks let me know that she does appreciate music, even at this young age, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Milestones: Five Months




Evey keeps astonishing me as each month passes. Her hand-eye coordination is impecible to the point that she can hit a toy she's holding against one hanging above her to make the same noise repetitively.

As you can see by her pictures, she's at the stage where everything she touches goes straight to her mouth, except her toes. She loves playing with her feet, but doesn't chew on them yet. Her favorite toys are her crinkle-paper book, her Eric Carle lion, which I call Leo, and of course... my tervis tumbler.

She loves to read and touch the pictures on the books. Evey night we read "Time for Bed" by Mem Fox and she loves to touch the different animals.

She loves to sing, and while she still loves Secondhand Serenade (which consequently is playing in the other room as I blog) her favorite song this month is "This Little Light of Mine". She sings and giggles whenever I sing it to her. She also has fallen in love with "Blue Christmas" by the King it always make her smile when I sing "Ho. Ho. Ho. Who wouldn't go? Ho. Ho. Ho. Who wouldn't go up on the house-top? Click, click, click. Down through the chimney with good St. Nick." (That's my trick for getting so many smiles on camera!!)

I'm proud to say that she's still a mommy's girl. I'm her favorite person to the point where it's hard for me to get anything done. Even if Christopher takes her from me, she starts to scream. At daycare, I sit her down in her turtle (a soft little play area shaped like a turtle) and play with her and once she's distracted I dart out the door. I hate to see her cry, but I can't always come to her rescue so sometimes Papa's and grandparents have to deal with a screaming girl even if I'm right across the room. It breaks my heart to see her cry, but I want her to realize that she's safe with other people and that she can be soothed by people other than me.

If I'm not around, she plays hard and sleeps well! If I'm around and she's with me, then she's the happiest girl in the world!

She learned to reach this month, which makes it even harder. How can I say no to that sweet crying face with outstretched arms?!? I have to admit that, even though it may be inconvenient at times, I love knowing that I'm the one that she wants!

She can sit on her own now. She's been doing it since November, but we've been watching the time get longer and longer. She has so much core strength and can even pull to stand from sitting in our laps. She's rolled over a couple of times, ussually if she's on a slight incline, but doesn't really make that much of an effort to. She'd rather stand all the time.

At daycare, she's still one of the smallest (possibly the smallest, I'm not 100% sure) and they tease because she likes to be carted around on the hip. It definitly feels weird to have such a small baby propped on my side, but I don't mind... It's less to carry around!

She likes to look around and take everything in.










Bathtime!

Evey has always loved her bathtime. We still bathe her in the kitchen sink, but she plays in the faucet and sprayer and she likes to drink the water. She just chills, and we take our time. When we're done, her skin is all wrinkly, like a cute, little raisin!!




Full of Thanks

I'm running a bit behind on my blogging this month! December has been a little bit crazy, but this one is important, so I needed to write it down!

What an amazing year this has been for our family! Last year at this time, we found out that we were finally getting our hearts desire... Our little girl has blessed our lives more than words could ever express. Even after all this time, I still look at her and cry because she is that incredible. I can't help but stare - and she stares right back. Even though she may not understand how to say "I love you" I can tell she does. Those big smiles and bright eyes give her away. My world revolves around her and I could not be more grateful for the gift of life that God has placed in our care!

God also gave Christopher and I both new jobs this year. They are both closer to home and allow us to spend more time with our rotten little squirt. We had talked about Christopher searching for a new job over the summer, but if he couldn't find anything, our plan was for him to return to Louisville Collegiate School. I hated for him to have such long days and to be away from Evey and I so much, but you do what you have to for your family. Thankfully, Christopher, got an interview for Immanuel Baptist Church while I was in labor and, even though I couldn't have cared less at the time, I am so glad that the opportunity came available. He started work at the Solid ROC Cafe when Evey was only 8 days old and that has helped us so much, that I was able to quit my job of six years and move to a part-time position for our chiropractor's office. Now, I am able to spend more time with the girl, and Christopher doesn't have to drive 3 hours each day to get to work. We know for sure that God orchestrated the whole process and it feels good to have our family exactly where we're supposed to be.

We officially joined Vineyard Community Church, and through that, we have connected with so many new friends. We've been attending Vineyard regularly for almost 3 years, but have never felt like we needed to become a part of the Core. This year, we felt, without a doubt, that this was where we wanted to raise our children.

So, our lives have literally been turned upside-down this year, but in the best way possible. We are so thankful for all of the changes that have been made, and it has made our little family even more tight-knit.

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Thanksgiving is always a busy day for our family, but it's so worth it! We spent the morning at Christopher's grandmother's house with his family and of course, had a HUGE traditional Thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, but Christopher's dad took some pictures that I may be able to post later. That afternoon, we went to my aunt's house for a second Thanksgiving meal. Evey did so good that day - especially with being passed around from person to person all day! What can I say, though. At four months old - you'll always be a hot commodity!

Evey with her Great-Grand-Nanny and her Nanny loved that they both had Turkey shirts on!
Evey's said "Mommy's Little Turkey".
Nanny's said "Gobble 'Till You Wobble" and I told her she needed to quit gobbling!

My big girl can't wait to move around on her own. She's so independent already!

My cousin's son, Clayton, wasn't sure about "the baby," but he wanted to hold her. It was so funny to see him with her! (Also, check out his boots...)



This is part of the mess that Hazel Lee Rachel McDowell-Hughes-Johns-Underwood created. We most definitley missed the other parts that are in the Afghanistan and Florida.


I had bought a little onesie for E to wear at Thanksgiving, but the Sunday before I found the cutest dress online and decided to order it. Talk about timing. The owner of Livvy Lou's Boutique in NY went out of her way to get the dress and hairbow in the mail on Monday, but, of course, it didn't arrive in time. No matter, though! She looked adorable on Thanksgiving, and we had a second Thanksgiving with my family that Saturday to show off her new dress. Then she wore her outfit to daycare that Monday, so it was definitely worth the effort!!


My girl is so happy!!! That smile is like gold to me!







Laughing at her Papa and me. She thinks we're so funny... I can't wait to embarass her later!!

We call this her "coy" face. This one's going kill the boys later, and I'm okay with that!

Our "second" Thanksgiving meal will become a tradition in the Davis household. My favorite breakfast meal - Eggs Benedict - which I wanted last year, but couldn't eat because the raw eggs weren't good for the little you-know-who I was carrying! My mom, dad and sister were the only ones who could make it, but the meal was great and the company was even better!

Evey and I are kissing each other. I kiss her cheeks with a long, drawn-out kissing sound and she opens her mouth as wide as she can an turns to face me. She knows what kisses are, and I love getting that kind of slobbery love!