Seven Weeks Old

Warning: Picture Overload

I guess when I don't update frequently, the pictures pile up quickly. 

I can't believe we're already to week 7. Time is flying by. 

Only 5 more weeks of maternity leave. 

Please excuse me while I go cry about it. 

This week's highlights: 

The Tuft is still growing. Love that she has an automatic faux-hawk. 

This week, we found out E has a "contact rash." Something that she came in contact with irritated her skin. (You can see a little of it below.) We have no idea what it was, but the dots should eventually clear up on their own. I think this picture is so sweet.

As she gets older, she is spending a lot more time plotting evil schemes.

Perpetual motion, this girl.

The darned orange (anti-red eye) light on the camera always makes her turn away just in time to smile not at the camera, like this:

Or this...

But that shows you how much she moves her head back and forth. It's pretty constant. So much, in fact, that she has a bald spot now. We're working on a comb-over to fix it. 

Once in awhile, we can time it just right. Take that, orange light! 

It's really fun to see all the developmental changes that occur each week - or each day! Her hands are open a lot more now. So special to watch her actually touch and explore. 

She's started to grab and hang onto some of her toys.

Another fun milestone this week: Bumbo! This picture gives her a bit of a double chin. Oops!

She did well in the seat and smiled most of the time. 

On All Fours

Here's a quick snapshot of what each of us has been up to: 

The Mrs.

Just started the second round of antibiotics - for two different illnesses -  in two weeks. 

1 pill...4 times a day...for 10 days.

(Nothing major either time. Just tired of taking meds.)

The Mister

He continues to make me smile every day. 

Babers spent her first full night in her crib (not in our room). 

I was afraid I would wake up and freak out since she wasn't in the pack-n-play right next to me, like she has been the last 6 weeks. 

When we went to bed, I found this handy reminder where our girl used to sleep. 

PUP

He decided his new favorite food is nursing bras. 

(Silver lining = Mama and E get to go shopping this week!) 

BABERS

She's growing like an adorable little weed. 

On Friday (February 18, 6 weeks old), she weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces.

We discovered that her head is also growing (shwew!). 

When she wore this headband at two days old, it fell right off.

Now, it fits like a glove...on her head.

Six Weeks Old

Today I realized that we just passed the one-year anniversary of when R and I decided it was time to add to our family. He gave me "The Five Star Baby Name Advisor" as my V-day gift - his way of saying, "Let's go for it." 

(Sorry if that's too much information. But we started this blog, in part, for self-preservation. And. We're not forcing you to read it.) 

(Nervous laughter.) 

Anyway, it is crazy to me that one year later, our baby is six weeks old.

This week, I was telling the story of our labor and delivery, and I had to stop and think… I couldn't remember who was watching E when we woke up in the middle of the night with contractions because I knew she wasn't in the living room with us at that time. Ha! What was life like before!? 

The time has absolutely flown by. Babers is such a joy. Such a joy. She's getting SO big, has started cooing, and now smiles almost nonstop - even when she's alone playing with toys in her gym. 

Such a happy girl. 

I think she has started her 6-week growth spurt, so we may have a couple rough days ahead. On the flip side, it means we will snuggle lots more - that's the only way she sleeps during the growth spurt.

E finally got her picture taken with her bestie from church. Rebekah is 3 weeks older, and her dad is from Steele.

This was also the first time E wore a dress. We tried to put tights on, but they hung off her feet like garbage bags. Then we put shoes on to try to hide the excess...but the shoes just fell right off. It was gorgeous out, so socks worked just fine!

 Sleepyhead.

As with all things lately, our pup has taken a backseat in this blog. Time to show his face!

Val-in-Time

Our first Valentine's Day as a family of three!

It was pretty low-key, since The Mister had to work until 9:00. Babers and I decided to still go ahead and forge a new V-day tradition. We made homemade pizza - this time as a surprise for The Mister. BBQ chicken...complete with sauce hearts. Yikes. Thankfully, it tasted better than it looked. (At least I hope it did. It's harder to cook when alone with a 5-week-old.)

We also picked up some cheapy Dr. Pepper for him. And a Snickers bar. But I couldn't even find the wrapper from that to take a picture of today. I guess he enjoyed it!? 

I did pick up a little something for myself. I have been craving these since at least July. Seriously. Thank you, February, for finally allowing me to indulge.

Here is what Evelyn spent her Valentine's Day doing. She can sit like this for minutes at a time. The girl is sta-rong! 

Five Weeks Old

We have traded in the Glo Worm for this Mr. Grinch, who is a little taller. He (and his story) are a gift that (Rs) Grandma Ruby prepared for her great-grandchild years ago. Wish she were still here to meet our girl!

Not so sure about that crazy green thing. But I do love my headband. Thanks, Auntie Kim!

Still a bit stressed out about the Grinch. She calms down a lot more easily than her mama does. Thank goodness.

She got a big kick out of pat-a-cake today. I couldn't decide which of these was cuter, so you get to see both.

Such precious little details.

And, I have a reason to be thankful for my ridiculously old, ill-fitting sweats. Last night, the Babers peed my pants.

Love Food

It's one of my first days home alone with Babers, so I thought I should give my awesome husband a little shout out. It has been so wonderful having The Mister home on paternity leave. I don't know how moms do it without help - especially these first weeks. I guess it really does take a village.

One of the most helpful things R did for us was cook. Nursing has made my appetite even stronger than usual, plus I want to make sure I'm taking in a good amount of calories. I've eaten a lot of peanut butter (for the protein...and the flavor). Enter R. Never one to be boring, he created this beautiful gem:

PB-Apple-Flower

The Mister has also been our grocery-getter extraordinaire, which means he is able to take more liberties with the loot he brings back from Hornbachers. This week, we have been eating a lot of bacon. (I will never, ever complain about bacon.) It started with a deli chicken, bacon, ranch sandwich. Delicious! And last night, he made deli turkey, bacon, avocado sandwiches. Let's face it - I wanted to marry him all over again. The man is a culinary genius! The sandwich didn't stay on the plate long enough to get a photo. 

And a quick "hey-oh" to our friends Jason and Neal. A couple weeks ago via Facebook, I expressed my ridiculous need for a peppermint mocha. Mostly, I was thinking loud - no expectations. But a couple hours later, one arrived at our door. How's that for service?! 

Sadly, the coffee arrived during one of the three times I've been out of the house since Babers was born. (Ok, we've ventured out more than that...but it's just so cold here! Pretty sure she will think we moved to the Coast when she finally gets to breathe some fresh air in, like, April.) Anyway, this was also the day after our spare key had been moved from its hiding spot outside to the windowsill inside the house. Nice! So, the coffee sat outside. Thankfully, it still tasted wonderful when reheated.

Four Weeks Old

Including the 3-week post I just added like, 5 minutes ago...

I think we are all caught up - for now. 

We love, love, love this little tuft that's longer than all the rest.

Loves her daddy!

So exhausted - just got done making rice krispies treats. 

Big smile!

Three Weeks Old

We are a week behind... so another post will come later tonight. 

On week 3 picture day, E wasn't feeling super excited about having her picture taken. 

See! Not happy. (We found out this was the beginning of her first growth spurt.)

We went on our first road trip to celebrate Christmas at Mom & Dad's.

The littlest kids got the most presents. Super fun! And below, you can see how thrilled the cousins were for this picture. This is the way Babers looked for most of our time away from home:

Later that weekend, Auntie A threw a beautiful shower at her house.  It was wonderful!

E wore her first outfit and first pair of socks (gifts from G & G). Here she is with Great Grandma.

Not that she didn't love the party in her honor, but this was how she looked the entire day.

So much fun. (Anyone know whether you can rotate photos here?)

4 generations.

Love!