First Tooth!

This morning started out like any other. Evan played on his playmat white I tried to get just 5 more minutes of sleep before getting ready for work. He was insistent on chewing my finger like always. But this morning, I felt something different, something tiny and sharp! Turns out that it was the corner of his first tooth! It is the bottom right, for those who care to know such details. Of course, after I realized what was going on, he would not let me inspect his mouth any further!

Unfortunately, he had a rough morning at the sitter's and was pretty difficult to deal with till after his afternoon nap. His afternoon was decent and then he got fussy again after getting home. I had suggested to Robert that he give Evan one of the teething biscuits that I had made once they got home. He later told me that he offered Evan one and Evan threw it! Twice! So that wasn't the answer tonight.

He is sleeping peacefully now and hopefully will for the rest of the night. Soon, the tooth fairy will visit again and bring him another pearly white!

9 Months Old!!

Evan turned 9 months old this past Saturday. He "celebrated" with a check-up at the doctor's. Evan now weighs 20 lbs 8 ounces and is 28 and 1/2 inches long!! He seems to be going through a "more long, less round" phase. The doctor was pleased with how he is growing and said that he looked happy and well-adjusted.

He has been experiencing one of the hallmarks of his age: separation anxiety. It seems to be improving a little. He is at least adjusting well to the new sitter. It's still a scary thing for him when I leave the room for longer than a few seconds and especially scary when I shower!

Evan hasn't shown much interest in crawling or standing, yet. He is able to get around well enough rolling for now. I'm not worried as every baby develops at their own pace. Still no sign of teeth, either, but that's fine with me as he is not yet weaned!

We are looking forward to warmer weather so that we can take Evan on the trails in his bicycle trailer! I think he will enjoy that quite a bit. He loves anything to do with being outdoors!

My Handsome Boy!!

I just had to post some more pics of my handsome little guy! He was looking so spiffy in his polo that we took some picture today. Enjoy!!

All Geared Up!

Evan has a new carrier! We are all geared up and ready to walk for the American Heart Association. The walk is Saturday, May 3rd. This was a spur of the moment decision so we don't have a lot of time to raise support. If you would like to support our team and make a donation visit my AHA page! We'll post pictures from the event!!


In other news, Evan is now 8 months old! He is around 21 pounds. Quite a chunky monkey!! He is still rolling to get where he wants to go. I now call him "Mr. Independent Sitter" as he is doing very well sitting on his own. His new trick is "High Five." He loves for people to put up their hand so he can give them high fives! It's so funny and he gets a charge out of it, too! Today he has also been experimenting with his vocal volume. This time instead of screaming and sqealing, he was whispering to himself. It was cracking me up! Evan starts with a new sitter, Ms. Debbie, on Monday. His previous sitter was licensed for day care and could only have 2 infants at time. We are hoping that he likes his new playmates, he already likes the cat, Gabby, that lives there!

7 Months Old!!

I am seven months old now. Mama says that's hard to believe! I am beginning to roll like a pro! Last night I rolled until I was under the dining room table and couldn't roll any further. I have been eating lots of solid foods. My favorites are oatmeal, carrots and sweet potatoes! I'm not a big fan of green beans and sweet peas, but Mama gives them to me anyway.

When I'm not rolling on my mat I like to read books with Mama and play with Daddy! I have also been to the park a few times since it is getting warmer. They have swings that are made just for little guys like me! I love to swing!!

I still don't have any teeth, but I'm chewing on everything that I can get a hold of to try to make them break through. I'm also getting better at sitting by myself!

When the Tickle Monster Strikes!!

What's that Tickle Monster saying? Heeee's aaaaa chunky monkey, he's a silly monkey, he's a funky monkey, he's my baby monkey!

Gets him every time! I love that he has begun to giggle in anticipation of being tickled, just from seeing my hand hover above his belly and hearing the beginning of the Tickle Monster Chant! So much fun!!

Prunes and Carrots Everywhere!

First it starts with a hand...


Then the other hand gets involved...


And before you know it...



Prunes and Carrots Everywhere!!

Cabin Fever: Times Two!

On Sunday, Evan didn't seem well and felt kind of warm to me. So, following the mama instinct, I took his temperature (the accurate way, which he tolerated quite well). Good thing that I did, the poor baby had a fever of 103! I was a little freaked, but considered the facts that he was nursing well, wasn't overly congested and wasn't having difficulty breathing, I decided to treat at home and not run to the e.r. Some Motrin followed a few hours later by some Tylenol and his temp was down to 99.6 by bedtime.

Monday had to be a sick day for me as Evan's sitter doesn't take kids that have had a fever in the past 24 hours. I wholly agree with that policy. Evan had a temp most of the day around 100 anyway. He was only happy if he could lay in Mama's big bed and nurse and sleep, which he did most of the day. Thankfully he was agreeable to also do this on the futon so I could watch Oprah and the 5 o'clock news and not go completely crazy!

Tuesday was better. No fever and he went to the doctor for his 6 month check-up. He received his shots as well. By the way, he is now 26 and 3/4 inches long and 19 lbs 2 oz. I told the doctor about the fevers and she confirmed that he likely had a virus and she saw inflammation in his left ear. She told me to give her a call if the fever came back and she would call in a script for antibiotics. No fever before bed last night.

This morning I got up and got showered for work. I could hear Evan fussing in his crib so I got dressed and went to get him ready for the day. I put him on the changing table to dress him and he totally freaked out! He is usually the happiest first thing in the morning. Okay, I thought, he's probably just really hungry. I nursed him, but when I put him back on the changing table he started screaming again. Today his temp was102.2. So we made calls to the doctor, the sitter and my work, then I took Evan to sleep in the big bed.

Our only outing today has been to the Shop N Save to get Evan's amoxicillan and to the Starbuck's to get me a skinny sugar-free latte. What a day to start South Beach again! How long till my Laughing Cow cheese wedge and celery? Hopefully Evan will be feeling better tomorrow and we can go walk the track at the Y. For now, I'll close as my right hand is tired from typing and my left arm has fallen asleep from holding Evan! Why did I have to make this such a long post?!

Snow Day!!

Today we are having a snow day! I was so excited to see how white everything looked out the window when I woke up this morning! Mama said that I could go out to see the snow for "just a little bit."


Here I am all bundled up in my snow suit ready to go! It turns out I don't have mittens, so mom put socks on my hands to keep them warm. That was fun! I like to chew on socks on my hands!!



This is what we saw when we went out the front door! Snow everywhere except where the snow plow had been! It was so bright and white it made me squint my eyes!!


Here I am in the snow! Mama says that I am her Snow Angel! Don't worry Grandmas, I was only in the cold long enough to get these pictures!!

5 Months Old!

Evan is now 5 months old and full of new tricks! Just to recap from the last month: he grabs his toes, raises his head while on his belly, has rolled once from back to front on his own and is beginning to sit up leaning forward on his own. I must note, however, that the sitting up is very brief, usually followed by a topple to the left or the right. Thankfully he is a sturdy little fellow and doesn't scream once he hits the mat!! I will post several new pics from today. I think I have figured out what I was doing wrong at Christmas to make the pictures so blurry.

Evan has a new foam alphabet play mat. We set it up in the living room for him to roll around on and play with his toys. It is quite large (6'x6') so I put some of the squares away and will set it up in full when it gets moved to his bedroom.


Evan also has a new chair! It is a high chair that attaches to a kitchen chair to save space. He likes sitting at the dining table now like a "big boy." Besides, his legs are getting a little to chunky for the Bumbo. He still uses it, but when we pick him up, sometimes the seat stays attached!


Showing off new tricks!


Smiling for the folks at home!!


Smiles is Sepia!!

Look Ma! Toes!!

Evan has discovered his toes and oh, the wonder!! Whenever the opportunity presents itself, he lifts his legs and grabs his toes. Usually this happens on the changing table and makes diaper changing a challenge. He will even grab the feet of his pajamas in an attempt to get to the toes! So much wiggly fun!! Here's a picture and a video clip - I attempted to email the clip, but it is too large to attach.

4 Months Old!

Evan turned 4 months old on Monday! So hard to believe!!

He had his well-baby check-up yesterday complete with 4 more vaccinations. Yuk! He is now 25 3/4 inches long and 17 lbs 10 ounces. Quite a big boy.

I would post a picture, but my camera is currently on hiatus to Dover, NJ for repair under warranty (long story, I'm not too thrilled to relay, but if you really want to know, ask).

Evan also has eczema. For the past month or so I have been slathering him in Eucerin lotion twice a day and he was still turning into something akin to a lizard. Then, more recently, he has taken to aggressively rubbing and sometimes scratching his forehead during the night. I wouldn't see the damage until the next morning as I don't turn on any lights for night feedings. But there he would be in the morning a bloody, scratched up mess. The doctor came into the room and the first thing she said when she saw him was, "He has eczema." So now Evan uses a steroidal lotion three times a day and already on day 2 it has made a huge improvement on his face. He also seems to be relieved of the itching (good for baby) so he will be able to sleep better and wake up less frequently (good for mom). Once my camera has returned from the nether-regions known as Joisy, I'll post some new photos!

3 Months Old

While I'm posting, I'll add Evan's 3 month update. I'm only 2 days late on this - see I'm getting better, catching up!

Evan is growing big and is stronger every day. He is getting good with head control so he likes to sit up either in the boppy cushion or the bouncy seat. He has discovered his hands and stares at them on occasion. They are also good for sucking and are getting better and grabbing dangly toys and Mama's hair!!

He is still smiling like crazy, but no audible laughs, yet. Though it does seem like that will be soon, too! This morning he was holding his nose with his index finger and thumb. I'm not sure why and he wouldn't tell. When I asked him what he was doing he just gave me an ornery smile behind his hand!! If I can, I'll try to get a picture of this, it's great!



Smiling for Grandma Bryan!



Sitting in the rocking chair like a big boy!

Happy Halloween!

Okay, okay, I know it's actually Veteran's Day and that I'm nearly two weeks late getting these pics up! Cut a new mama some slack!!

Here are some photos of Evan in his Halloween outfit. In case you can't see it in the pics, his shirt says "Daddy's Little Monster." He didn't do any "official" trick-or-treating this year, but we did visit a few neighbors. He received some candy, which I assured our neighbors he would eventually eat in the form of breast milk!! He was also given some spider rings that the cats have now claimed as theirs!



Me and Evan



Daddy and Evan

Celebrity Cribs

Okay, so maybe not celebrity cribs, but definately a crib! Evan and I embarked on our first mother/son project this week when we assembled his crib! I told him that this is the first of many "big boy" beds he will get to sleep in. We will begin the transition from bassinet to crib in a couple of weeks. First he needs to get adjusted to me going back to work two days a week. One change at a time...

2 Months Old!

Evan is 2 months old today! We took pictures this morning as his well-baby check-up this afternoon came complete with 4 shots! Owwiee!! Evan weighed in at 14 lbs 4 oz, 23 1/2 inches long! He has gained 3 lbs 1 oz and 2 inches is the past month! Tonight our big boy is sleepy and somewhat fussy from the shots - very sad, but he should be back to normal soon :) Enjoy the pics!

Looking Spiffy!!

Evan's Infant Dedication

Evan had his Infant Dedication at church this past Sunday. It was a nice ceremony and Evan even had a fancy outfit for the occassion! Evan was fussy during the ceremony and screamed when Pastor Mark placed his hand on his head to pray the Shield of St. Patrick! We had lots of family in attendance: Grandma and Grandpa Emery, Grandma and Grandpa Bryan, Great-Grandma Jones, Aunt Michelle and cousins Grace and Eva! After church we had dinner and visited at our house.

Silly Mommy!

Trying to catch the elusive first smiles! Evan's been social smiling for a couple of weeks, but boy, they come and go quick!

Six Weeks Old!

Mama's got a new toy (a digital camera) so that means instant pictures for the blog! Here's Evan today at 6 weeks. He's growing so fast!!