Happy Four Months!

Dear Evy, You are growing by leaps and bounds! You have learned new things and your sweet personality is continuing to bloom. These four months has passed by so quickly so we are treasuring every little (and big) thing you do. ~You now weigh 14 pounds 1 ounce and you are 25 1/4 inches long~ ~You have advanced to size 1-2 diapers~ ~You are wearing 3-6 month clothes, but growing out of them quickly~ ~Your version of talking is blowing raspberries. We love it when you are in your bed and wake up from a nap, you will call out to us by blowing raspberries~ ~You are laughing out loud and it comes out as a squeal...so cute!~ ~You are sitting up with little support for longer times and you love to sit in your bumbo and watch your favorite show~ ~Grandpa loves that your back and neck is stronger so he can do his fun trick with you~

~You love kisses and will grab my face and pull me to you to kiss you~

~You now grab both your toes every time you are on your back~

~You are rolling over (you first rolled over on August 15th) mainly from your back to your front. You can roll from your front to your back, but you prefer to be on your back~ ~Your favorite show is Yo Gabba Gabba and you smile and squeal every time DJ Lance appears~ ~You love jumping in your jumper and you can jump pretty high~ ~You are very ticklish and laugh and squeal when "the claw" gets you~ ~You love to dance with daddy~

~You love when mommy sings to you...especially "You Are My Sunshine"~ ~You are looking more like mommy did when she was a baby~ ~Everyone says you are such a sweet, relaxed baby, and we would have to agree with them~ ~You aren't sleeping through the night yet, but we are hoping that now you can have cereal you will begin sleeping longer~ ~Your smile is precious and you still smile every time we tell you we love you~ ~You have gone to the church nursery all month and seem to be doing well there~ ~Everyone at church and in our small group love you and get so excited when they see you~ ~Everyone who sees you always says how "cute", "pretty", and "beautiful" you are...even the pastor at church~ ~You had your first cold this past month but were such a trooper~ ~You are definitely teething...you gnaw on your hands, or anything else you can get into your mouth, and are drooling a lot~ ~You went to the farm and pet a chicken and saw baby chicks for the first time~

Evy, we are looking forward to see all the new and exciting things you will learn to do. We love you so much we feel like we're going to burst at times. Our love for you grows every day. And, we are having so much fun being your parents. You are a blessing to our lives!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I want to wish the best dad a Happy Birthday! I love you, dad!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

First Cold

Evy Lynn has her first cold. She has had a fever off and on all week and has congestion and a cough. She's been such a trooper because even though she's been sick, she mostly has a smile on her face and will "talk" to us like normal. But, you can just see in her eyes she doesn't feel good. We've been doing a lot of cuddling and watching a lot of Yo Gabba Gabba and Veggie Tales. Even though it has been an exhausting week...I think I can say I survived caring for my sick babe and have done a pretty good job. I just hope and pray Evy begins feeling much better this weekend!

Immeasurably More

One year ago today I found out Chad and I were expecting. I remember after taking that first (out of like 7) pregnancy test I was so excited, but it was hidden behind shock...shock that this had finally happened for us. The first thing that came to my mind was Ephesians 3:20; "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." I first read this verse in seminary a few years ago and it became one I prayed often, especially when I was faced with a difficult challenge in my life. I continue to pray this verse as I pray for our family and our precious daughter. I have had the best year of my life so far. My pregnancy with Evy was such a blessed time. And having her in our lives has changed us so much...hopefully for the better! We are looking forward to many, many years ahead of "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine".

(Evy's Aunt Meagan created this announcement and we think it's precious)

Sweetpea Beauty

When we first found out we were pregnant, before we knew we were having a girl, we called the baby "Sweet Pea". It was only fitting when I found out Veggie Tales was releasing their new story "Sweetpea Beauty" that I had to order it for Evy. This is such a sweet story about how beauty on the inside is what matters most. Nichole Nordeman, who is my favorite Christian artist, wrote "Beautiful For Me" and sings it in the story. When I found out we were having a girl the first thing I thought about was making sure she felt beautiful on the inside and to know how much God loves her. I believe it is so important to tell Evy how beautiful she is inside and out. There is a father I know who has three daughters. One thing he does is tell them, and his wife, how beautiful they are every single day. Wouldn't you just love growing up hearing this!?! Every little girl deserves to be treated like the princess she is in God's eyes. I desire for Evy to grow up knowing she is beautiful in our eyes and in the eyes of her King of Kings. She is God's princess and deserves to feel like one.