{embrace} the camera: december 23rd

Someone can't wait to open her presents!!!

Santa's Coming!

I love the movie Elf and every time I see Santa or hear about him I always think about the scene when Buddy sees Santa in the department store..."SANTA...SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!"

Well, Evy wasn't as excited about Santa like Buddy the Elf. We were so excited about taking Evy to see Santa at his workshop and we never expected her to not like Santa...she typically likes everyone. As I said in an earlier post, the hospital Chad works for has Santa come for employees children to get their pictures taken. We stood in line for almost 30 minutes and finally got to the front. I put Evy on Santa's lap and all she could do was stare at him. You could just see the gears in her brain working to figure out who this man was. Then all of the sudden she burst out with her big, crocodile tears...never once taking her eyes off of Santa.

 

Although this year wasn't a success, it is definitely a tradition we will continue. We can only hope next year Evy will LOVE Santa!



{embrace} the camera: december 16th

The hospital Chad works for has a family night for their employee's families every Christmas.  They have Santa visit and take pictures with the kiddos and a huge fireworks show.  This was the 4th year we have attended and we were so excited to take Evy.  This picture captures Evy and I watching the fireworks.  This is such a great tradition we can now share with our Love Bug!

{embrace} the camera: december 2nd

I know I'm really late posting this week's {embrace} the camera, but we had a bad virus on our computer over the last 24 hours.  And, this virus prevented me from getting on the internet.  So I'm thrilled the computer is finally working.

We took family pictures last weekend and this is just one of the many great ones we got.  I love these two people so much!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving family and friends!  We have so much to be thankful for this year!  God has blessed our family "immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine"...especially with this little one.

Sending you all lots of love,

Chad, Steph, and Evy

{embrace} the camera: november 11th

Last week someone made a comment about why I wasn't {embracing} the camera the  past few weeks.

So while Evy and I played in the floor this afternoon I {embraced}!

{embrace} the camera: november 4th

This picture was taken with my iphone not too long ago and I just love it.

Happy Halloween

Isn't she the cutest lil ladybug you've ever seen?

We wanted to do something fun for Evy's first Halloween and we knew she wouldn't enjoy trick or treating.  So we went to Mansfield's city festival.  Everyone we passed commented about how cute Evy was and we'd have to agree!

There were lots of things for Evy to see and her favorite was the petting zoo.  She couldn't take her eyes off the goats!

However, I think she could have done without McGruff.



We had a great night making memories with Evy.  We know she won't remember what she did on her first Halloween, but we will.

{embrace} the camera: october 28th

 These are some of Evy's 6 month pictures I took this past weekend.  The dress she is wearing was mine as a baby.  I just love how these pictures came out!  It helps when you have such a beautiful baby. ;) 

 

Happy Six Months!

Dear Evy,

You are six months old!  As I write this I cannot seem to wrap my mind around this.  It seems like yesterday we were checking in at the hospital anxiously awaiting to meet you.  You have learned so many new things this past month!

~You now weigh 16 pounds 4.5 ounces and you are just shy of 26 inches long~
~You have brown eyes and your hair seems to be lightening to a light brown~

~You are in size 2 diapers~

~You are wearing size 6-12 month clothes.  Mommy is having so much fun dressing you up in cute outfits~

~You are gabby and love talking, especially in the car when mommy is driving you to your babysitters in the mornings.  You have a deep voice just like your mommy and Grandma~

~You giggle and laugh all the time...at us, at your stuffed animals, and sometimes at the ceiling fans~

~Your smile is precious and lights up the room~

~You love to love.  You will caress our faces and give us kisses...and we love it!~

~Your eyes are very expressive...they will get you in trouble one of these days~

~You love for mommy to sing to you.  If you are fussy (which is rare) all mommy has to do is begin singing and you will stop fussing~
~You also love music...specifically Veggie Tales songs~

~You love to dance with daddy~

~You are definitely a daddy's girl.  You smile every time he looks your way.  You've enjoyed watching the Rangers games with daddy~

~You love playing and your favorite toys are your stuffed dog, stuffed monkey, your exercauser, and johnny jump it~

~You also enjoy playing with smaller toys in the floor.  You roll and scoot everywhere so we really have to watch you now~

~You LOVE being outside so we take a lot of walks.  We just took you to the park to swing and you absolutely loved swinging~

~You are sitting up without any support (first time was on October 8)~

~You can hold your own bottle~

~You are a great eater!  You are now eating banana in your oat cereal in the mornings, for dinner you have sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots, and for a nighttime snack you have oat cereal with pear~

~You love taking baths and you have learned to splash the water (first time was on October 6)~

~On October 9 we took you to your first visit to a pumpkin patch~

~On October 17 we carved your first pumpkin.  Mommy wanted you to feel the inside of a pumpkin but you did not like it...you even cried when mommy wouldn't clean the pumpkin off your hand~

~You are finally sleeping through the night and taking 2 great naps every day.  We can now lay you down when you are sleepy and you will go to sleep on your own.  You go to bed about 8:00 pm and wake up between 4:30 am and 5:00 am, then you go back to sleep for a couple of hours.  You take a 1 1/2 hour nap in the morning and a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.  You don't realize right now...but your good sleeping habits are a blessing to us~

Evy, you have changed our lives so much.  We cannot imagine our life without you and don't know what we did with our time before you were born.  You are a wonderful baby.  You are so laid back.  And, you have a sweet, sweet personality, with a funny sense of humor.  We love you so much!

{embrace} the camera: october 21st

This past Sunday we took Evy to the park after church and she absolutely LOVED swinging.  She smiled and laughed the whole time.  Precious!

{embrace} the camera: october 14th

Evy loves her daddy very much!

Pumpkin Patch

We had our first trip as a family to the pumpkin patch this weekend.  It was so much fun!  Of course Evy was too young to really know what was going on, but I think she'll enjoy picking out her own pumpkin next year.  This will definitely be a yearly tradition for us.

{embrace} the camera: october 7th

Even though Evy is only 5 1/2 months {which is so hard to accept} I can already tell she has a caring, loving heart.  Evy loves to love on us.  She will caress our faces or grab our faces and pull us to her for a kiss.  She loves to give big slobbery kisses.  While I was feeding her today she was so sweet and kept rubbing my face and smiling.  Such a sweetie!

Happy Birthday, NayNay!

We LoveYou!

{embrace} the camera: september 30th

 I love her soooo... much!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Daddy! Happy Birthday to you!

Happy 32nd Birthday, Chad!

We love you!

{embrace} the camera: september 23rd

My dad used to always balance me in his hand. It was his special trick. He has been waiting patiently for Evy to be strong enough to balance her in his hand. When she was about four months old my dad thought it was time for his trick.

{my dad and me}

{Grandpa and Evy}