Starting Rice Cereal

Today we started rice cereal.  We knew it was time because Evelyn was eyeing all of our food.  She screamed when Josh wouldn’t let her have some of his soda.  Our Dr. told us not to start solids until she was 6 months old, but this girl was ready to get going.  She also was having a hard time making it between feedings.  Breastfeeding was not keeping her full through the night.  So for my sanity and possibly hers we got started a little early.  I had heard some stories and read that babies tend to not like rice cereal and that it takes a few times to get the hang of it.  So with camera in hand we were ready for the horrible reaction we were told about. Well, Miss Evie is the exception.  She loved the cereal and has gulped it down everyday since then.  I need to learn how to spoon feed a baby.  Poor girl had it all over her face and a little up her nose.  

Special appearance by Chris Jenson.  Thank you Chris and Amanda for being there for a lot of Evie firsts.  You guys are the best. 

Evie-isms

1) She started rice cereal last week.  She LOVED it.  I couldn't spoon it into her mouth fast enough.  She has always been a great eater.  I need to work on my feeding skills.  The girl had it all over her face.  

2) She slept through the night.  Last week she really struggled with sleeping.  She was tired and I was tired, which is why we started rice cereal.  So far it has helped her to stay fuller longer. 

3) She loves to stand. 

4) I don’t know how she does it, but she moves all over her crib at night.  Most nights I find her in the exact opposite position then when she went to bed.

5) She had her 4 month well visit and is the 99% for height.  We are going to have one tall beautiful girl.

6) She loves to look at herself in the mirror.

7) She is officially to tall for 6 month pj’s so we moved to 9 month and footless ones.  Makes me sad she is growing too fast.

8) Anytime we put her in her carseat she gets so excited because she knows we are going somewhere.

9) She loves to go on walks.

10) She has started to LOVE her dad.  She likes to relax with him on the couch while he does school work.

She is growing too fast.  I know I should be happy, but it makes me sad at the same time.  She has such a fun personality and we cant get enough of her.  

I just cant get enough of those thighs.  

Baby Boy Pictures

Today I had a great time taking pics of this cute guy and hanging out with his parents.  J and M have been our great friends since they moved to El Paso.  They had this little bundle of joy about 2 weeks ago.  It kills me how tiny and new he is.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon.  

Hanging Out

We have a daughter who already knows how to relax!

Visiting Dad at School

Evie and I thought we would go visit dad at school.  He loved showing her around and treating us to lunch.  I love how she looks in her Texas Tech gear.  I hope she looks back at our time in El Paso and realize how hard her dad worked.

Sleep

This girl could sleep just about anywhere.  She has been struggling as of late with sleep.  Im hoping it is just a phase.  May she go back to these days soon.  

Tennis Anyone?

It was going to happen inevitably!  Evie went to the tennis courts.  Josh and I played with our good friend Chris (we missed you Amanda).  She had a great time as you can see from the pictures below.  

Utah!

We had a great trip to Utah planned for June.  It came at the end of 3^rd year and right before Step 2.  Josh had not been home since December and I since April (too long) so we were in need of a little St. George.  My mom planned about 6 months ago to have our entire family together and to spend some quality time at the cabin.  It was a blast enjoying the beauty of St. George and just being together.  Thanks mom for planning such a great vacation

Evie loved to go swimming.  It was so nice to relax under the shade in my parents pool.  I also will need to invest in one of these floats one day, Evie loved it.  A true pool girl.

Nielsons Frozen Custard

Evie's first trip on the St. George Carousel.  People who dont think this was a good purchase, look at the face of my daughter and my niece and you will change your mind.

Waiting in line.

I think she is almost there.  She probably will be able to ride soon at the rate she is growing.

Say Cheese!

The girls riding together.  Madelynn really wanted to go with Evelyn on this ride.  She picked out the bench so we could all sit together. 

Check out those thighs.  I couldn't ask for a cuter baby.  

Grandma and her girl

At the cabin, Madelynn holding her all by herself

They are 2 peas in a pod.  Madelynn loved being with Evie and wanted to spend every waking moment with her.

We went on a beautiful hike in Brianhead.  

It was fun to see the small waterfalls coming off the side of the hill.  This is Madelynn and Pop pop after he let water drip on her head from the waterfall.

The whole gang taking a breather on our very strenuous hike.

My little hiker.

Mom and daughter...so cute

Skyler scared us by hiking out onto the waterfall.

She had to stick her head out to see everything that was going on.  She never stopped chewing on her sling and it was soaked when we got back to the car.

Family photo

We made cupcakes.

Ahhh say cheese ceri

Like mother like daughter

I love this family!

Proof that we were all in the same place at the same time. 

Poor girl fell asleep like this.  Mother of the year award.

Happy 4th of July.  We went to the St. George 4th of July parade.  They really put on a great parade.  We had primo seating next to the Tabernacle and Miss M came away with the lottery.  This girl won everything from a frisbee to a t-shirt and a ton of candy.

Waiting for the parade to start.

"Check it out mom"

So excited to celebrate our country.

Enjoying the parade together.

After the parade we went to the park to enjoy some games.  Madelynn wanted to ride this all by herself.  We didnt stay very long at the park because it was so unbelievably hot!

Later that night we did some fireworks.  Evelyn loved the sparklers, but hated (really hated) the loud ones!

We did this most days.  My parents have an amazing front yard where we lounged under the trees everyday.