November 30, 2010
The Kitchen is a Mess
I'm not the neatest person in the world, although I am a bit of germa-phobe. (I have also been known to check the oven more than once before going to bed.) One thing that drives me crazy is a messy kitchen, and since Eva entered the scene that's exactly what I have! Bottles are always in the sink. Formula is always drying on the counter somewhere. Lot of times the dishes have to wait. Today I tried my hand at making baby food. It seems like a healthy and cheaper option to commercial baby food, and I love being able to do things for my little one. My first attempt was at sweet potatoes and squash, two of Eva's favorite foods. I think it turned out pretty well, although Eva wasn't very hungry by the time I finished the process. We'll have to see how it goes tomorrow. I think it will take me until then to scrub the taters off the cupboards. :) I also mashed some organic pears, and even managed to freeze some for later. More to come.....
November 29, 2010
Eva's First Thanksgiving!
Eva has had an amazing 8 months of "firsts." Her first Thanksgiving certainly was no exception. The Crow Family, Eva's Aunt, Uncle and cousins, live on post at West Point in New York. For the past three years, with the exception of Kyle's deployment year, Kyle and I have spent Thanksgiving with the Crows. It has become an honored tradition as an opportunity to spend quality time with our nieces, nephew, and Krissy and Mark. Although there is a lot of ground between families, we treasure our time together and always seem to pick up right where we left off. Kyle and I could not wait to include Eva in this Thanksgiving tradition. Time with the Crows is always jam-packed with excitement, lots of laughs, good food, and a few tears too. (With four kids, what else could there be?)
We left the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to make the 10 hour trek to New York from Detroit. The drive seemed to go by very fast, and for Eva's first long trip she did so well! We arrived there around 3:30 in the afternoon and were welcomed by the Isabella, Will and Krissy. Their house is amazing. It is at least 100 years old, and out of its grand windows you can see magnificent views of the Hudson, especially this time of year. Eva's cousins, especially the little girls, loved to see her. Abbey, age 3, attempted to "mother" her, and even taught Eva the sign for "more." Eva was speechless, I believe. Never in her life has she been around so many kids and so much going on! She loved watching her cousins. At one point, when Kyle and Will were playing catch, she broke out into a fit of laughter. She laughed out loud each time Will caught the ball. She also liked to watch Isabella. Isabella, being the responsible sort, held Eva and watched her at times throughout the weekend. Uncle Mark was able to meet Eva for the first time the day we arrived. She warmed right up to him by giving him a hug. Throughout the weekend, he referred to her often as the "screamer" and "brat" because compared to other children she was anything but! Eva enjoyed being carried around in the hub-bub by her Aunt and Uncle. It was truly heart warming to see the way Eva began to fit right in with the family.
For Thanksgiving dinner, Eva enjoyed a fancy ballroom sup at the Officer's Club at West Point. Isn't that what every baby does for her first Thanksgiving? It is a mid-evil, castle type of place jutting out onto the river. It was a wonderful dinner! The servers brought Eva her very own high chair, and Eva tasted mashed potatoes and enjoyed her sweet potatoes and apples, specially made by Gerber. For her first Thanksgiving Eva wore a parisian inspired sweater dress with cream colored leggings. She loved looking around the ballroom and dipping her octopus toy into her taters. Later in the weekend, Eva tried her first "puffs" and was able, after several attempts, to put them into her mouth all by herself. She enjoyed playing by the Christmas tree, and received complimentary tongue baths by Timber the German Shepard. Eva was spoiled by her Aunt Krissy. She took home at least 20 outfits, including special bath soap and a new gingerbread ensemble. Eva certainly is loved! Thank you Aunt Krissy and Uncle Mark!
The Crow Residence
Cousin Abbey Helping Eva
Eva Trying to Lick a Candy Cane
The trip back was a piece of cake, if not for Kyle feeling under the weather. Eva fell asleep at the exit gate on post and didn't wake up until past Scranton, PA, much to her Uncle Mark's dismay. (His kids are not good car sleepers.) She cooed and played during the few time she was awake, and then she experienced her first dinner at the infamous Ohio turnpike Panera's. Kyle and I feel blessed to make the trip. We love spending time with the Crows, and it was wonderful to have Eva share in the holiday with us. Everything, even a 10 hour drive along I-80, is new and exciting because Eva is here to share it with. We are so grateful this Thanksgiving to be healthy and able to spend it together. Eva is certainly our greatest blessing.
We left the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to make the 10 hour trek to New York from Detroit. The drive seemed to go by very fast, and for Eva's first long trip she did so well! We arrived there around 3:30 in the afternoon and were welcomed by the Isabella, Will and Krissy. Their house is amazing. It is at least 100 years old, and out of its grand windows you can see magnificent views of the Hudson, especially this time of year. Eva's cousins, especially the little girls, loved to see her. Abbey, age 3, attempted to "mother" her, and even taught Eva the sign for "more." Eva was speechless, I believe. Never in her life has she been around so many kids and so much going on! She loved watching her cousins. At one point, when Kyle and Will were playing catch, she broke out into a fit of laughter. She laughed out loud each time Will caught the ball. She also liked to watch Isabella. Isabella, being the responsible sort, held Eva and watched her at times throughout the weekend. Uncle Mark was able to meet Eva for the first time the day we arrived. She warmed right up to him by giving him a hug. Throughout the weekend, he referred to her often as the "screamer" and "brat" because compared to other children she was anything but! Eva enjoyed being carried around in the hub-bub by her Aunt and Uncle. It was truly heart warming to see the way Eva began to fit right in with the family.
For Thanksgiving dinner, Eva enjoyed a fancy ballroom sup at the Officer's Club at West Point. Isn't that what every baby does for her first Thanksgiving? It is a mid-evil, castle type of place jutting out onto the river. It was a wonderful dinner! The servers brought Eva her very own high chair, and Eva tasted mashed potatoes and enjoyed her sweet potatoes and apples, specially made by Gerber. For her first Thanksgiving Eva wore a parisian inspired sweater dress with cream colored leggings. She loved looking around the ballroom and dipping her octopus toy into her taters. Later in the weekend, Eva tried her first "puffs" and was able, after several attempts, to put them into her mouth all by herself. She enjoyed playing by the Christmas tree, and received complimentary tongue baths by Timber the German Shepard. Eva was spoiled by her Aunt Krissy. She took home at least 20 outfits, including special bath soap and a new gingerbread ensemble. Eva certainly is loved! Thank you Aunt Krissy and Uncle Mark!
Beautiful West Point!
The Crow Residence
Cousin Abbey Helping Eva
Eva Trying to Lick a Candy Cane
The trip back was a piece of cake, if not for Kyle feeling under the weather. Eva fell asleep at the exit gate on post and didn't wake up until past Scranton, PA, much to her Uncle Mark's dismay. (His kids are not good car sleepers.) She cooed and played during the few time she was awake, and then she experienced her first dinner at the infamous Ohio turnpike Panera's. Kyle and I feel blessed to make the trip. We love spending time with the Crows, and it was wonderful to have Eva share in the holiday with us. Everything, even a 10 hour drive along I-80, is new and exciting because Eva is here to share it with. We are so grateful this Thanksgiving to be healthy and able to spend it together. Eva is certainly our greatest blessing.
November 15, 2010
"Isn't She Lovely?"
Visit with Aunt Julie and Great Grandma Templin
Hi Papa!
Watching football with Papa T.....
My new high chair! I'm a big girl now!
What baby doesn't have a satin lined leopard coat?
Going for a walk with momma!
My Husband is the Best
This New Year's Eve, my husband and I will have been married 6 years. I can honestly say that at least once a day for the past 11+ years that we have been together, I have thought, "How did I get so lucky?" Kyle is the kindest, most honest, and moral person I have ever met. We have been through a deployment, being "poor", health scares, five college degrees, being lost on a train in Europe across three countries, six moves, high school, and the birth of our daughter into the NICU just to name a few events. He continues to surprise me all the time! With Eva's birth, I had a chance to see yet another side of him. He has become the most tender, goofy dad a little girl could ever want. Here is a sample of what I heard one morning this week while Kyle was bathing Eva:
"Hello, hello, my little gnome. It's time to wash your little dome. (head)"
"Hi Sweetie! How is my lovie? You are so pretty. I love you so much. You're going to have a good day today!"
"Oh dear, don't scratch your eye. You need your eyeball to see. This is the lense, and the light enters your eye through the lense and is reflected off your retina. Can you say retina?"
"Don't eat the soap!"
I don't know how I would live with out him! Kyle has been known to make me dinner after a long day at work. I have witnessed him washing bottles and breast feeding gear. He obtained his own membership card to Carters and Osh Gosh, and it is not uncommon for him to come home with some kind of surprise for our little one. He's the best "baby wrapper" at night. He woke up with Eva three times last night. Never once have I heard him complain! Not even when Eva has a blow out diaper or is fussing with an ear infection. Eva does not know it now, but she is a very lucky little girl to have a daddy that loves her as much as Kyle does. I'm a very lucky woman to have him by my side.
"Hello, hello, my little gnome. It's time to wash your little dome. (head)"
"Hi Sweetie! How is my lovie? You are so pretty. I love you so much. You're going to have a good day today!"
"Oh dear, don't scratch your eye. You need your eyeball to see. This is the lense, and the light enters your eye through the lense and is reflected off your retina. Can you say retina?"
"Don't eat the soap!"
I don't know how I would live with out him! Kyle has been known to make me dinner after a long day at work. I have witnessed him washing bottles and breast feeding gear. He obtained his own membership card to Carters and Osh Gosh, and it is not uncommon for him to come home with some kind of surprise for our little one. He's the best "baby wrapper" at night. He woke up with Eva three times last night. Never once have I heard him complain! Not even when Eva has a blow out diaper or is fussing with an ear infection. Eva does not know it now, but she is a very lucky little girl to have a daddy that loves her as much as Kyle does. I'm a very lucky woman to have him by my side.
November 01, 2010
Happy Days
Eva rolled over! She wobbled a little, but rolled from left to right on her tummy like a pro on October 30th. Now we can't stop her from going where she wishes! She rolls and scoots across distances! It was amazing to see. Kyle, Mimi and I were there. It won't be long before she will be crawling, I know it!
For Halloween we went over to Tyson and Kristen's house. They just moved into a beautiful home in Monroe, about 25 minutes south of here, close to the Ohio border. We were expecting lots of trick-or-treaters there, but unfortunately we all ended up with lots of candy and few treaters. Eva went as the cutest cow you have ever seen (courtesy of her Aunt Krissy), and Kyle and I did not really go as anything. We can assure you that next year we will be planning a very clever costume. Eva seemed to have fun, and she even got to stay up a little later than usual for the special occasion. Kristen made Eva her very own Halloween treat basket, complete with rice cookies and a skeleton finger puppet. Eva especially loved the "Happy Halloween" balloon and pumpkin basket. A great time was had by all. (And, no, I did not get sick from eating too much candy this year! I made Kyle take it to work so I would not be tempted.)
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