Adventures in LaLa Land

I haven't updated the blog for the past two weeks because life has been BANANAS since my last post. In addition to all of my fabulous adventures with Everly out on the town, we also moved to a bigger place & successfully prepared for (and conquered) our first cross country flight with the baby & the dog! Holla!

Let's start with a recap of our latest adventures in the big city. Everly attended her first movie (Hugo) last week and was completely mesmerized by the experience. Our favorite theater in town hosts "Mommy & Me" movies once a week and I must say it is a brilliant idea. When I first heard about it I thought that it might be a little difficult to watch a movie with a theater full of babies. Boy, was I wrong. It was actually enjoyable and quiet for the most part. There was even a changing station set up in the theater and a roped off red carpet area for stroller parking. Everly was an angel during the entire movie. She slept for the first 45 minutes, ate for the next 20, and sat in my lap and actually watched the movie for the rest of the time. She even turned around and gave me her famous giggle cough and wrinkled up her nose at one point during the movie. Even though I thought the movie was a stinker, I am pretty sure that Everly would give it two thumbs up! We will definitely be attending this event again in the near future.

Since finding time for "ME" is next to impossible these days, I decided to join a stroller workout club that meets 4 times a week. I figure if I am going to lose the last 12 pounds of this baby weight then I need to get my rear end in motion and burn some extra calories. I cannot even begin to explain how much I am enjoying these classes. At first I thought the classes would be easy and I would get more out of the camaraderie that comes along with hanging out with other moms who can relate to the insanity of parenthood, however, I was most definitely singing a different tune when I could barely get out of bed the morning after I attended the second class. Running and pushing a stroller, combined with intervals of circuit training is one heck of a workout. I also get a serious kick out of the people's reaction who happen to stroll by as we are working up a sweat while all of our sweet babies chill out in the stroller. My favorite comment to date was made by the young Hollywood hipster, with his spiky hair and his sunglasses down on his nose, who stopped dead in his tracks and asked, "What is this...the bad ass moms' club?" I wanted to reply, "you bet your ass it is" but unfortunately I was so out of breath I could hardly speak. I also get a kick out of Everly's reaction. She loves to ride in her stroller and she seems genuinely amused by my huffing and puffing. Looking at her sweet face actually gives me the motivation to push myself harder during each class. Something about the fact that she actually grew in my stomach has given me a new level of strength and the motivation to be the best that I can be.

On another note, have I mentioned lately how funny our little dumpling is these days? In the past few weeks her personality has really blossomed. She gets tickled when you talk to her and she is doing her very best to talk back. Her facial expressions are hilarious and she has even learned how to raise her eyebrows to change her expression. My absolute favorite reaction is when she giggles, flashes her double dimple toothless grin, and wrinkles her nose.

In addition to an adorable personality she also seems to be developing into a confident and independent little girl. I have noticed the past few weeks that she enjoys having time in her swing or bouncy chair to explore the world around her. Her hands are her latest fascination. She will sit and stare at her hands and practice moving her fingers and grabbing the closest item within reach. It seems that her latest and greatest accomplishment is removing and reinserting her own pacifier. She also seems to be favoring her left hand so maybe she will be a south paw like her mama.

Another precious thing that she has recently started doing involves waking and sleeping. She is regularly putting herself to sleep at night and at naps without any intervention from us. She has also stopped crying when she wakes up in the morning. Instead of waking to screaming and crying we now wake to her sweet little coos and giggles as she "talks" to the animals on her mobile above her bed (which is probably her most favorite "toy" these days). Danny & I love nothing more than to lie in our bed and snuggle up together and listen to the sweet sounds of our happy baby girl in the morning. It is also awesome to walk in on her and watch her reaction when she sees us in the morning. It melts my heart every time she smiles and recognizes me.

While it is true that Everly is happy the majority of the time, there are still a few things that really seem to tick her off. Tummy time and bath time seem to be her least favorite activities. I can understand why tummy time is not at the top her favorites list since she has spent limited time on her stomach, but her hatred of bath time still baffles me. I am seriously praying that she has a change of heart toward both of these activities because neither one can be eliminated from the daily routine. Wearing a helmet for a flat head and being the stinky kid are not options in my book.

We are truly loving every stage of Everly's growth & development and are constantly in awe of her presence and impact on our lives. I try to remind myself every day to be present for each stage of her life because I am starting to realize that they really do grow up fast! I can't believe 14 weeks have passed already!

Stir Crazy = New Adventures!

Although I am loving every second of my time with Everly I must admit that staying home every day has been challenging for me. I have never been the type of person who can sit still for very long so life without a schedule has been difficult. Don't get me wrong there is VERY little free time when you have a newborn (hell, some days I don't get out of my pajamas or brush my teeth until late afternoon but that is another story for another day) but staying at home every single day is about to drive me to the funny farm. I need adult interaction...I need to be a part of the world.

Last week I decided that Everly and I were going to get out and explore the best kept secrets of our wonderful city. There are so many interesting and unique places in our neighborhood so I would be nuts not to take advantage of all this free time off of work. My goal is to get out of the house at least once each day and try something new. I will admit that it is quite the s#!t show to get out the door each day (packing the diaper bag is nothing short of a production because Heaven forbid I get caught without my Boba wrap, extra pacis, gripe water, burp cloths, clean diapers, wipes, a change of clothes in case of a blowout, hats, a blanket, bottles & formula), but once we are out Everly and I are both happy campers. Last week I tried a macaroon for the first time at a charming little bakery, discovered a fabulous new clothing store and stocked up on some fashionable sportswear (think baggy, soft, cotton duds - I refuse to buy real clothes until I lose the rest of this baby weight), and browsed the racks at a baby consignment store (I keep hoping I will stumble across a pair of True Religion blue jeans for her but no luck yet). I also made a new friend in our neighborhood who has a precious baby boy who is 5 days older than Everly and we went for coffee/tea and then took the babies on a nice little stroll to the mall. This week I plan to attend a "Mommy" movie (every week there is a featured movie at our local theater for moms with infants - what a brilliant idea - moms can try to watch a movie while all the babies scream), explore a few antique shops, eat lunch outside at an Italian restaurant, check out a new coffee shop, and attend a stroller workout class.

I may go broke with my new adventure plan...but I figure who needs Prozac when you have retail therapy to keep you sane? Stay tuned for updates on our latest adventures!

Gobble Gobble

Even though Everly couldn't enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal this year her Daddy and I were very excited to start creating our own family traditions with our little dolly. We were also lucky enough to have Danny's brother, Casey, his wife, Jenn, and their daughter, Kaili join us all the way from Washington D.C. to celebrate.

I started the day by making sausage balls (a Southern favorite!) and serving cheese and crackers for a pre-meal warm-up. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade played in the background for a while (one of my all time favorite childhood memories), but was quickly switched to football as soon as the first game of the day started. The menu included ham and turkey (courtesy of Honey Baked Hams), Southern cornbread dressing (Aunt Mary's recipe), onion casserole (Maw-Maw Ponder's recipe), green bean casserole, corn casserole, cranberry sauce (Jenn Callaway's recipe), sweet potato casserole (another Aunt Mary specialty), and dinner rolls. I also served my homemade pound cake for dessert (made famous by Maw Maw Ponder).

Everly was quite content for most of the day and even took a nice little nap when it was time to eat so her Daddy and I could both enjoy a hands-free meal. After stuffing ourselves with the carb overload described above we all joined Everly in dreamland for a few hours in an attempt to recharge for round 2.

As our first Thanksgiving as a new family came to a close Danny and I reflected on all of the wonderful things we have to be thankful for in our lives. While our lives are not always perfect, we both agreed that we are incredibly blessed with love, happiness, good health, and amazing friends and family. Everly is truly the best thing that has ever happened to us and we are extremely proud to be her parents. There is absolutely no doubt that being a parent is the toughest job on this planet, however, I truly believe that it is also the most rewarding job in more ways than one. Over the past ten weeks there have been numerous times when I have doubted myself and had my strength, confidence, endurance and patience pushed to boundaries that I didn't even know existed until recently, but at the end of the day I am really proud of the people that Danny and I are turning into as parents and partners. Even though our relationship and our individual identities have been transformed and taken to an entirely different level since Everly's birth, we are slowly but surely finding new ways to define "us" again along the way.

Everly & Brookie Meet for the First Time

A few weeks ago Danny and I got together with our friends Brian & Kristi from Vegas so we could introduce our sweet baby girls to one another. Brian & Kristi both went to high school with Danny and over the past few years we have all become really good friends. We were delighted when we found out that we were expecting our sweet baby girls within weeks of one another. It has been a real treat to begin our journey into parenthood with our close friends by our side. It really helps to have another couple to compare notes with and to support one another as we adjust to all the changes that come along with a new bundle of joy. I keep threatening to call Bravo! and pitch a reality TV show to follow our journey and adventures because I know it would be "reality gold" for all of the viewers. Kristi and I are always texting each other and sharing our latest "OMG" moment.

I could not be more excited for Everly and Brooke to grow up together and become BFFs. I can only imagine the adventures the two of them will have over the years (and if the girls are anything like their parents then we are all in trouble!). :)

Dear Everly...

Dear Everly,

As we listened to your favorite lullabies tonight I danced with you in my arms and held you tight. I wanted to soak up every sweet second with you before bed because it feels like time is flying by so quickly. You are growing and developing into such an amazing little person right before my very eyes. I am in constant awe of your strong will, your sweet spirit, and your independence. You light up the room with your big dimples and your giant toothless grin. I melt every time you look at me.

As I sit here typing this letter I can actually hear your precious little coos in the next room as you lie in your bed and put yourself to sleep. Yes, Miss Everly Lily you are already confident and secure enough at 2 months old to soothe yourself to sleep in your very own bed. No rocking and singing for you! No 'mam! All you need is the quiet hum of your vacuum cleaner CD, the classical sounds of Beethoven, and the soft glow of your mobile in the background to help you settle into dreamland. When I peeked in on you a few minutes ago I had to snap this picture because I want to remember this moment forever.

I am so proud to be your Mommy, Everly. Always remember that the journey is most definitely the reward. Be sure to appreciate all of the wonderful blessings in your life, focus on the positive, and give more than you take. Sweet dreams, sunshine. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,
Mama

Namaste! Greetings from the Mini Yogi

Everly attended her first yoga class at the ripe old age of two months last week and is officially a mini yogi now. It's funny when I think about it because I've never jumped on the yoga bandwagon until now. As a matter of fact I actually got bamboozled by Danny about 4 years ago when he talked me into taking a yoga class because it was supposedly relaxing and good for stretching. Yeah, right! Let me tell you, the class we took was anything but relaxing. I had images of downward dog, deep breathing, and meditation poses and what I got was nothing short of torture. Needless to say, that was the last yoga class I considered taking until I saw a flier for a baby yoga class a few weeks ago. Since cabin fever was getting the best of me I decided to conquer my fear of going out in public with Everly alone and dig out my yoga mat from the back of the closet and see what this class was all about. I am happy to report it was quite the opposite from my first experience with yoga. This class was amazing. There were kids ranging in age from 2 months - 2 years old in the class and Everly loved it. She really enjoyed all of the stretching and was completely mesmerized by the movement and sounds of the other children, the flowy scarves, the singing, and the calm and soothing tone of the instructor's voice. She made it through an entire 45 minute class without one crying episode or meltdown. And in case you were wondering..."Everly's Mom" loved the class too! I even broke a sweat during all the stretching and moving around. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I was sore the next day either since the most exercise I have had the past few months consisted of shoveling food into my mouth, strolling at a leisurely pace around the neighborhood or bouncing on an exercise ball to calm Everly when she is fussy. Overall I would say that the class was a success and we will definitely be going back. Until next time... Namaste Y'all!

Funny side story: At first it took me a minute to realize the teacher was talking about me when she first referred to me as "Everly's Mom" when talking to the other kids and parents. I was like, "Hey! That's Me! I am Everly's Mom". Have you seen the show "Up All Night?" If so, you will get the reference to "Everly's Mom". If not, you should definitely watch that show.

Evelry's Visit with her Fairy Godmother

A year ago this week our family suffered a heartbreaking loss when my Uncle Jimmy passed away unexpectedly. This tragic loss caused many people in my family to step back and examine their lives and remember what is important in life. In fact, it was this loss that prompted Danny and I to start a family. And much to our surprise, a little over a month after we lost Uncle Jimmy, Everly was conceived. Our family believes that God sent Everly to us to bring some of the joy and happiness back that we lost the day Jimmy died. Everly is often referred to as "the angel baby" in our family and we are all convinced that she met Uncle Jimmy in Heaven before she was sent to Earth. I personally like to think that he is her Guardian Angel and that he watches over and protects her. Interestingly enough, a few weeks ago, on The Day of the Dead, Everly and I were talking about her Uncle Jimmy (well I was talking and she was listening very carefully). After we said a prayer for his soul, Danny said to Everly, "You already met your Uncle Jimmy in Heaven didn't you? He was a rascal and you are going to be a rascal just like him, aren't you?" On cue, Everly started to coo and smile, almost as if to say, "You bet I did! And let me tell you he is fabulous!"

I have always been close to my Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Mary, and their children (my cousins), Tracy & Trent, so when it came time to choose Godparents for Everly, Tracy and Trent were the obvious choice. When we were kids they were like the little brother and big sister I never had. Some of my fondest memories with Tracy include going to the beach (I will never forget the trip to Ft Walton and the Penthouse, teaching our Dads to play "Quarters" & "Chandelier", and rowing the boat at Salty's), hanging out in her room with her and her friends, cleaning out the trailer behind the Hitching Post so she could move in it, and letting her dress me up and do my hair and makeup. Trent and I have our fair share of memories too. From childhood birthday parties, trips to the beach, playing with match box cars and building roads out of crayons, swimming every summer and sliding down the hill while the pool was filling up with water, riding the scooter all over Hidden Hills (and a few places we weren't supposed to go) rolling our high school teacher's yard and getting caught, shenanigans in Indiana, and our many adventures in Chicago, there is certainly no shortage of stories that we could tell.


Back in July Tracy started traveling to Los Angeles for work and as luck would have it she was in town the day Everly was born (coincidence? I think not!). Since Everly's birth she has been back for work twice and last Sunday we were lucky enough to spend an entire day and evening with her before her work week started. After dressing Everly in her most fabulous outfit, we drove downtown and picked her up at her hotel.

After hanging out at the house for a few hours and soaking in all of Miss Everly's wonderfulness, we took a trip to the Grove. After a great dinner at Wood Ranch BBQ, we wandered around the Grove and took some pictures. Everly slept through most of the outing but we sure had fun showing her off in public.

It is really heartwarming to see the special bond that Tracy and Everly are building. I can already see that they have a special connection. From the moment they met Everly was comfortable in her arms. It makes me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside to see them together. I can hardly wait for Trent to meet her next month when we go home to visit for the holidays and for her baptism.

While the pain and sadness of losing Uncle Jimmy will never go away, we are indeed comforted by the amazing gift that God has given to us in Everly. I know that Tracy and Trent will be wonderful role models for Everly throughout her life. I cannot wait to watch as their relationships develop and grow over the years. I am proud to call them Everly's Godparents. I know Uncle Jimmy is looking down from Heaven and smiling too.

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet, Give Me Something Good to Eat!

Everly's first Halloween was a huge success. Of course she had no idea what was going on but Danny and I sure had a great time! We started the evening off by dressing her in her Bumble Bee costume and taking her to the Grove for dinner.

After an uneventful dinner at Cheesecake Factory (she hung out in her car seat during our entire meal and did not make a peep), we walked around the Grove and took a few pictures.

When we got home it was starting to get dark so we all bundled up, put Everly in the Baby Bjorn, and headed out for a little trick or treating in our neighborhood. Of course we took her up to a few houses and collected some candy on her behalf. We figured that we might as well get some goodies while showing off our Prize Piggy! ;) Of course she was a hit at every house.

If I would have had my wits about me this year then Danny and I would have dressed up as the Bee Keepers and Bama would have been the honey. Cute, right? We can hardly wait for next year. We have already started tossing around some ideas for a family costume theme (Bama included!). Will we go with the Alabama football theme - Danny as the quarterback, Everly as the football, Me as the cheerleader, and of course Bama as the coach? Or will it be the Nintendo theme - Danny as Mario, Everly as Toad, Me as the Princess, and Bama as Bowser? Who knows...I have a year to think about it and plan it so whatever we decide it will be over the top!

Getting our Groove Back!

I am hesitant to even write this post because I don't want to jinx it, but something is definitely different about this week. Everly seems to be finding a rhythm and our lives are starting to feel somewhat (dare I say) normal again. She hasn't been nearly as fussy the past week and as a result this has given us the courage to go out in public with her. This makes me very happy because turning into a hermit family was not at all what I had envisioned when we decided to start a family.

Our adventures started with a simple walk to Starbucks (yes, after 36 years I have started drinking coffee), with a side trip to my favorite little boutique Veronica M. Now granted, Everly was sleeping in the Baby Bjorn the entire time, but in my book that still counts as a victory. Maybe it is because I am a first time parent but the thought of going out of the house with Everly alone terrifies me. I am not sure why I am nervous about her having a melt down in public because I know it is bound to happen sooner or later. Plus, I figure that since I have been observing and listening to other people's kids wreak havoc on a quiet restaurant or over crowded airplane for years it is our time to shine now. :) Just kidding...one thing you can always count on with us is that we will NEVER be those parents who sit back and pretend to be oblivious to the fact that our child is terrorizing an entire room with a screaming fit or inappropriate behavior (like crawling all over the floor at a restaurant or talking/screaming during a movie). I am wise enough to know that ALL children (even our sweet little Everly) will melt or misbehave at some point or another when we are out and about, but I refuse to let that behavior disrupt or ruin other people's experiences in a public place. If we can't get it together then rest assured that we will pack it up and leave.

After my mini-victory with the Starbucks trip, Danny and I decided that this weekend we would leave the comforts of our family room and become active members of society again. Our Saturday afternoon adventures included a trip to the pumpkin patch and ended with a late lunch at the Grove. Everly was awake while we were at the pumpkin patch but dozed off shortly after we got back in the car to drive to the Grove. By the time we arrived at the restaurant she was in dreamland which made me a little more comfortable when we sat down to order. We made it through an entire lunch without any hiccups. She slept the entire time in her car seat! We even watched some football and enjoyed an adult beverage. It was nice. I beamed with pride as I looked across the booth at Danny and Everly. I remember thinking, "I am so proud of my little family."

Since Saturday was such a huge success, we got brave and took our little angel to church on Sunday, followed up with a trip to Denny's for breakfast. Everly slept soundly throughout the entire church service, cooing at times and even opening her eyes for a brief second when she heard the Hallelujah song that she always danced to when she was in my tummy. At one point Danny asked me if I wanted him to hold her and I told him that I was OK. There was no way I was going to give her up before we went to Communion. Ever since I was a little girl I have watched new mothers carry their new babies up to Communion at church and I could not wait to walk Everly up that aisle for her first blessing.The gratitude and joy I felt as I walked with her to the front of the church is hard to describe. At that moment everything in my life felt complete. I thought I was happy and complete before Everly, but now I know that was not entirely true. Everly has added a new level of love and happiness to our lives that we never could have dreamed of before her arrival.

Danny and I both thrive on routines and we enjoy creating little "traditions" that we can look forward to in our lives. Before Everly was born we went to church every Sunday and after church we always went out for breakfast. We are both creatures of habit, so after trying many overpriced brunches and fancy schmancy cafes (all with sub-par food), we soon found ourselves going back to Denny's each week for our weekly breakfast treat. The food is good and cheap, and the atmosphere is about as non-pretentious as you can get. Since we made it through an entire church service without any outbursts, we were a little hesitant to tempt fate and go out for breakfast too but we figured, "what the heck", let's just roll with it. By the time we got in the car after church Everly was good and awake (and starting to get a little fussy). Since it was about time for her to eat we fixed a bottle and took it into the restaurant with us. This calmed her down immediately and we were able to get through another meal (with her awake this time) without any problems. Since Danny has mastered the one armed multi-task challenges, he fed her while I assisted with tasks like cutting the waffles and putting ketchup on the hash browns. What a team! :)

I cannot even begin to describe how happy it makes me to be a part of society again. I have always been a social person and I enjoy getting out of the house. If I had to guess, I think Everly is going to be the same way. I know this weekend is the first of many exciting weekends with my little family. I can hardly wait for all the adventures in our future. Look out world...here we come!

P.S. - On a side note, Everly has also decided this week that bath time is not such a bad thing after all. This brings me such happiness and relief. I kept telling her that no one likes the stinky kid on the playground so it looks like we might have avoided the nickname "Pig Pen". :)

Look Who Is Hiding in the Pumpkin Patch!

Halloween is by far one of our favorite holidays. Every year Danny and I dress up and celebrate like we are still kids. Every year our Halloween shenanigans include a trip to the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, overindulging in candy (white chocolate Kit Kats are the bomb!), decorating the house, burning "pumpkin spiced candles", baking sweet treats, watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", and of course dressing up in costumes. Some of our past costumes include Charlie Brown & Lucy, Britney Spears & K-Fed, & Strawberry Shortcake & Purple Pie Man.

For as long as I can remember I have thought about how much fun it would be to have a little one to celebrate Halloween with each year. This past weekend we took Miss Everly on her first trip to the pumpkin patch. Even though she had no idea what was going on, it gave us a good excuse to dress her up and take photos! Check out some of our pre-Halloween adventures below and stay tuned for more Halloween pictures. We have plans to take Everly & Bama trick-or treating in their costumes on Halloween night!!! :) I can hardly wait.

It Takes a Village!

Not gonna lie...life with a newborn is tough! I don't think anything can ever prepare you for becoming a parent. I used to say that owning a puppy was good training for parenthood but I would like to retract that statement now. Raising Bama was a piece of cake when you compare it to the work that goes into caring for a baby.

Since Danny and I are so far away from family the transition into parenthood has added an extra layer of stress. Thank the Lord for wonderful friends! Throughout this pregnancy and since Everly has been born my awesome friends Lisa, Heather, Kristine, & Michelle have been lifesavers. They spoiled me throughout my pregnancy with little gifts, words of advice, weekend getaways, and shoulders to lean on when I was feeling down. And now that Everly has arrived they have continued to spoil us rotten by stocking our freezer with food after we arrived home from the hospital, visiting and making weekly phone calls/texts/emails to check in, and offering to babysit so Danny and I can find time to recharge and reconnect. I swear we were about to crack under all of the stress and pressure last week when my dear friend Lisa offered to come up and babysit so we could have a few hours out of the house together. I am 100% positive that just a few hours away added at least 5 years back to our lives. Even though we missed every second away from little Miss Everly, it was nice to feel like ourselves again for a few hours.

In addition to our wonderful friends, I honestly don't know what I would do without my amazing husband. He has always been the "dream partner" and there was never a doubt in my mind that he would also be an incredible father. He is so "present" when he is with Everly. I often catch him holding her and just staring down at her while he talks to her about her day. You can tell that she already adores him too because she lights up when he walks in the room. She turns her head when she hears his voice and he even got the first real smile out of her last week. I cannot tell you how much it makes my heart melt to see the two of them together. I firmly believe that little girls need a strong male role model in their lives and Everly definitely hit the jackpot in that department. There is no doubt that every man she meets is going to have to measure up to her Daddy's standards, which won't be easy! I can only pray that one day she will find a man as caring, loving, selfless, brilliant, and hard working as her Daddy.

He is always here to give me a break and take care of Everly whenever I need to step away too. In fact he insists that I get out of the house and take time for myself every few days. He never complains and is always willing to step in and help before I even have to ask. And even though he is working every day he helps out during the night so that I don't lose my mind. In fact we have created a little system to help make the sleepless nights more manageable. He is responsible for Everly if she wakes up before 3 a.m. and I am responsible for her after 3 a.m. Even though neither one of us is getting more than 5 or 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night, it works for us right now. We are both counting down the days until she sleeps through the night though!

Even ole' Bama is taking her role as big sister seriously. She is in LOVE with Everly. It is crazy to watch how protective she is over her already. The other morning when Everly woke up I walked in her room to find Bama lying on the rug in front of her crib barking, as if to try and make more noise so that one of us would wake up. When Everly gets really upset she also barks at us like we are not doing enough to help her. Every morning when I get Everly out of her crib I have to let Bama sniff her to make sure that everything is OK. before I can change her diaper or feed her. She also has a role in the night shift job. She goes to bed with me at 10 and gets up with me after 3 a.m. when Evelry wakes up for a feeding. One night she accidentally got locked in the bedroom with Danny and he said she stood at the door and whined until he got up and let her out. He thought it was so funny that he walked in the living room and announced, "Captain Lewis reporting for duty!" as Bama came barreling through the door and jumped on the couch (*Lewis is one of Bama's many nicknames).

Like I said earlier the transition into parenthood is abrupt and hard. No one can prepare you for the journey, so it is critical to have a strong support system in place to help you as you adjust to all of the changes. Danny and I are very lucky to have each other, our amazing friends and family, and our spirited girls (Bama & Everly). Now I truly understand what is meant by the saying, "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child".

"Did You Give Her a Starbucks on Your Way Here?"

Week 4 Round Up!

This question asked by our pediatrician sums up the Week 4 Round Up! Little Miss Everly turned a month old last Tuesday and she is growing and thriving. She weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and was 21 inches long at her one month checkup. She is definitely starting to notice the world around her and she appears to be more than ready to get moving in the world. Everly might just squirm and wiggle more than any newborn I have ever met. She moves when she is eating, getting her diaper changed, when she is lying on a blanket hanging out on the couch, when you are holding her, and most of all when she is sleeping. She even managed to roll over on her back during tummy time this week (what???). If she isn't wiggling around then she is squawking. Sometimes she coos and oohs, but here lately she also screams a lot. According to all the books Everly is what the experts like to call a "spirited" or "intense" baby. She definitely has an opinion and is not afraid to share it. She has also started to have intense crying episodes when she gets annoyed, frustrated, or uncomfortable. When this happens it is difficult to soothe her or calm her down and sometimes the crying spells can last over an hour at a time. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by her temperament since the nurses at the hospital were calling her the CEO of the nursery on her 3rd day of life. However I would be lying if I said this phase wasn't challenging. I have been reading several books to help us understand how to deal with her outbursts and so far "The Happiest Baby on the Block" has proved to be the best resource. We have been using his techniques a lot (5 S's - swaddling, shhhshing, swinging, side/stomach position, and sucking) and have had some success in calming her down when she gets upset. So far her fits seem to be worse at night (when we are the most exhausted - hooray)! This behavior also fits the textbook definition of colic and according to the books spirited babies are more likely to go through a colicky phase than calm and easy going babies. Danny refuses to accept that it is colic. He says that she is just passionate (like her mama & daddy). After all you shouldn't expect to get a Labrador Retriever after two Doberman Pinchers mate, right? Nope! Instead you get a little "Min Pin". Either way, the books all say that colic is normal behavior for some babies and that it will pass by the time we hit the 3 month mark. Hallelujah! One month down...two to go!

Cuddling with Cousin Claire


Defeated Sausage! The Woombie Wins Again! :)

Video of Everly rolling over!