our Merry Christmas capers ...part 1

We had quite a busy December once Evelyn was well. Ryan had some vacation days to use up before the end of the year so we were able to do a lot together and with our families. Not to mention all the fixes Ryan finished around the house. Here are a few of the highlights, including Christmas Day at both our parents homes.
Looking at the lights on the temple grounds.


Christmas Eve with the Stewart's.


Her cousin Sophie, 21 months old, wanted to read to Evelyn.

All the cousins looking sharp in their matching pajama pants made by Steph.


We enjoyed the sibling gift exchange, the nativity with the kids, and cookies, and Evelyn loved opening a few gifts that night. Although she wanted to taste the paper, she seemed to know there was something in the boxes for her to find.

6 months!

Yep, last Thursday we celebrated 6 months with our sweet, little Evelyn. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect addition to our eternal family. She weighed in at 17lbs 10oz, almost triple her birth weight! She's 27 inches long and in the 75th percentile for both weight and height. Not some bad stats considering she was in the 25th percentile,and almost a full pound less than her birth weight of 6lbs, at her one week appointment. She's been rolling to her back since she was 4 months and to her tummy since 5. She's just recently started rolling every time she is set down, and can even scoot a bit if there is a toy she really wants in sight. I'm afraid it won't be long before we'll have ourselves a crawler! Yikes! The last 6 months have been the best of our lives. We love our little princess!Here are some recent pictures...

sick

The last few days, and nights, have been long ones. I noticed Evelyn was more tired than usual and a bit grumpy last Wednesday but thought it was due to her teething. Thursday evening when sneezed every five minutes I realized she was getting sick. She had a fever. I gave her infant tylenol. Then she became congested. Her fever went to 101.9 on Friday night. I gave her more tylenol.I was wishing I had taken her to the doctor that day. Her congestion was getting worse and she started to cough down deep from in her chest. Ryan gave her a blessing and got some Vick's baby rub and a vaporizer from CVS. The next morning her fever was gone! We stayed home from the boat parade Saturday night and from church just to be safe. Her voice is coming back now, but she's still got a bit of congestion and a cough. She's definitely getting better though. That's the most worried we've been about her sine she was a newborn. Today we went for a walk to get the mail. It was the first time she rode in the actual stroller instead of the car seat set on it, and the first time we had been out of the house since Thursday. She can almost sit up on her own now.


I snapped a sot of this lovely fiberglass boat that Ryan brought home from work last week too. He's been working at Horse Mesa Dam for a few months and said some other guys who work up there found it a couple years ago. He asked if he could have it, and since the price was right he brought it home. It needs a few repairs, but he hopes to have it fixed by next summer.

a few new things

3 days before Halloween Ryan turned 29. He got a 2 man tent for his overnight camping adventures, a few other things from me, and other great stuff from family members. Thanks to everyone! Everyday I get to spend time with him, which is sometimes not more than 20minutes awake, I am so thankful that Ryan is who he is and that his parents raised him the way they did. Thank you Floyd and Linda for shaping such a considerate and hardworking son. I think he has to have the credit for his... unique sense of humor though... He is one of a kind. I love my Ryan!


Here we all are on Halloween as promised.

Here we are on Thanksgiving. We had a nice relaxed one this year for a change.
We ate with the Stewart's on Thursday and with the Quist's on Friday. Ryan has a new boss this year who isn't requiring him to work seven days a week this dry-up season, so he was able to take the whole weekend off and do some work on the replacement fence between ours and our neighbor's yard. He started it in June but hasn't had much time to work on it again until recently. It will be great to have it finished!

Evelyn is 5and a half months old and is starting to get teeth! A few months ago when she started to drool I thought I saw some coming on the top, but after some research and looking everyday, I finally realized she has some just under the surface of her gums on the bottom. They aren't poking through yet, but when they do you are guaranteed to see a picture of them here. The day after Thanksgiving she did have her first taste of rice cereal and she loves it! I love my Evelyn!

our little lady

Our sweet little Halloween Ladybug and her room. The pictures of her parents are coming soon... I forgot to charge the camera battery, so the 2 of her in the costume (thank yoiu Steph!) were taken the night before our ward trunk or treat.

why i love the number 3

A couple weeks ago Ryan and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary! We went on our first date during the 3rd month of the year. 3 months after that we became engaged. 3 months later we were married for eternity. Now 3 years later there are 3 members of our family. The number three is sure a great one!

We spent a couple of nights in Vegas at a resort that Ryan booked (for fun without me knowing) through Bass Pro Shop. Originally it was for a place in Tennessee last April, but since I was 7-ish months pregnant, I really didn't feel like flying. He moved the reservations to somewhere a bit closer and made sure that it would be the weekend after our anniversary. He's so sweet!

I glad that Evelyn slept well in a strange place. She had just regularly started to sleep over 6 hours at night, which is great! I was a little concerned that the trip might upset her new schedule, but she did fine. She isn't a big fan of riding in the car after dark though. Overall she was her sweet, beautiful self.

Here are a few pictures, most taken inside of the Bass Pro shop there (go figure), and some of the new bridge to replace the driving access that Hoover Dam gives to and from Nevada. We didn't do much as far as seeing shows or anything. Even with the little bit of homework that Ryan brought along we really enjoyed getting away to spend some time together and relax. It feels like yesterday that we kissed over that sacred alter. Time goes by faster when you spend it with those you love, and I wouldn't spend it any other way.




OCC Bass Pro motorcycle (who knew?)

Salt water tank in BPS. Evelyn loved watching the fish!

Awesome leopard-looking ray and a shark.


Duh duh... duh duh... duh duh... It has to be fake.





Our sleepy girl and Ryan wishing.

Who does our 3 month old look like?

Yep, she's three months old! The days go by slow sometimes, but the weeks are flying by...





Ryan and I both agree that she looks like him when she's sleeping. We definitely see his smile in hers. We think she has my eyes, and the rest of her face is just a good combination of good lookin' genes from both of us. A few of you have said she looks just like me. Here are some baby photos of Ryan and I. What do you think?