Talking the Talk & Walking the Walk

By sheer luck, I got Eve's first time crawling AND her first word on video. I find myself watching them over and over again.

Summer Summary

It's been awhile. When we went to stay with Matt's parents for the summer so we could both work and be closer to family and friends, I lost all time for blogging. I worked at the gym six days a week, and spent any spare time with Matt and Evee, trying to squeeze in visits with friends the best I could. Relaxation? It wasn't really in this summer's agenda.
Highlights from my summer via pictures:

Evee & I enjoyed every day of sunshine & sundresses.

She started her own blog... well, not yet, but I'm sure in about five years or so she will have one.

My little sister Kara graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design.

When I got back from the trip to Georgia with my family on Memorial Day, Matt proposed. And of course, I said yes! It feels so wonderful to be engaged to him.

Three out of four of the Homer 3 girls were able to make it down to the annual
St. Mary's College reunion.

I brought Matt along, but we quickly realized that as parents we are just too tired to keep up with the college lifestyle - we just can't party like we used to. Nevertheless, it was wonderful taking a trip down memory lane and seeing old friends.

Matt celebrated his first Fathers Day :)

Occasionally we got to have adult time and go out, but I didn't get many chances to stay out late, as I worked early in the morning every weekend.

Maria & Keegan came to visit! In years to come they'll be doing the same things at the same time, but with how rapidly they grow as babies, it feels like they're years apart. Time flies when you're having fun though, because those few days just flew by, and I miss them so much!

And, they seem to be getting along great. Look at that hand holding :)

Evee's first summer meant Evee's first time in the pool. She loves swimming in the water. She kicks her feet like she is swimming when she wants to go after a toy. I think back on last summer, and it is such a change for me from lying poolside as big as a beached whale!

Evee loved lunches with Auntie Alexis!

Fourth of July! My favorite holiday. We spent the day at a cookout at Matt's grandfather's house. Oh, how I love holiday food! Evee didn't mind the fireworks at first, but when everyone kept coming up to her to see if she was okay, she started to
sense something was wrong and got upset.

Family photo op. I love the phases she goes through, like when she spent
the whole day just sticking her tongue out.

Actually, every moment I wasn't at work was a photo op. Like any mother, I can never take enough pictures of my baby!

Family time was the best part of the summer. Whether it was going out for a nice dinner just Matt & I, or sitting outside at Starbucks so Evee could enjoy the weather,
I treasured any time we got to spend together.

Evee took her first plan ride to Texas to meet the Autens. I feel as though they are my family too. I haven't seen them since last year when Bethany got married, and we were both barely showing! It was so nice to just be there, and be around them.

Caleb & Evee seemed to hit it off well :)

Did I mention we went to Starbucks a lot? I found out I was known as "Ice Coffee Girl."
Not a bad nickname at all!

I love watching Matt & Evee interact. It makes me love both of them a little deeper
each time I see them together.

We've been to a few Orioles games this season, but my favorite going with a big group of friends that included my Homer 3 girls for a few reasons: Evee was the star of the show with ten plus people, the Orioles won, and I just love being around my college best friends. I know no matter where our lives take us, we will always be close and there for one another.

We went and had Eve's nine month pictures taken. It was an awkward stage, because she was heavily rolling, and didn't like to sit up much just yet.
But the child doesn't take a bad picture, so we got plenty of good ones.

Eve spent a ton of time with her friend Brooke, either going to the pool or playing at Starbucks.
It is going to be so fun to watch them grow up together.
Sharlene & I with our mini-me girls. I am so glad we bonded over pregnancy and became close friends. She is truly one of the sweetest people I know, and makes me feel ten times better anytime I need to vent about something. Having girls so close in age is so much fun.

I can't believe that in three days Evee will be ten months old. A few weeks ago her first tooth came in, and now the second tooth is quickly catching up with it. She started crawling, her first attempt being to pet a kitten. Just the other day she said he first word - "duck." I will post videos of those moments soon :) It feels like just yesterday she could barely lift her head on her own, and now I'm about to start planning her first birthday party. This little girl and my first summer with her have been wonderful. I'm so excited for summers - and beach trips! - to come.

My 1st Mothers Day!

I know I'm getting around to this late, but I've been on the go the last couple of days. I have to share about my first holiday being recognized as a Mommy! It feels so strange to have been included in Mothers Day this year. While I was a mother in the making last year with Eve in my belly, this year it truly felt real. Matt and I went home for the weekend so he could umpire, as we have been doing for the past month or so. It was was nice to be able to see our mothers for Mothers Day weekend.When we got in on Friday we dropped Eve off with my parents and went on a dinner date to Applebees. I love our little dates. It's nice to relax in our apartment with Eve, but every now and then I enjoy that we get to go out and focus on each other.
Saturday Eve and I met up with Sharlene and her almost four month old daughter Brooke at Starbucks. I love chances to get together and chat with Sharlene; we are on the same page about a lot of things and it's nice to share concerns, advice, and stories on being new mommies. When I held Eve up to see Brooke, she immediately grabbed her hand. I'm so mad that I forgot to take pictures!
After coffee I met up with my favorite shopping buddy and roommate from college, Rowena. We browsed Target, which is one of my favorite things to do when I go out (besides getting my iced coffee!) I got a cute pair of clearance shoes and leggings, and a bunch of Mom/Grandma cards. Those things really add up! I went from buying one card last year to buying four this year!I spent the rest of the afternoon with Matt's family for his Aunt's birthday cookout.
Sunday Matt & I got up early to go get our moms flowers and Starbucks gift cards. He headed off to work shortly after. Matt and Eve gave me a card with a very sweet message. Having him write that him and Eve are excited to spend all the holidays to come with me meant so much. I feel so blessed to have the two of them.


When Matt left for work I headed over to spend the day with my family. We went to Starbucks and then I picked up some crafts for the apartment at AC Moore. And of course we had a little Mothers day photoshoot :)





Besides the weather not being very warm, I had a wonderful day. I love being able to celebrate being Eve's mommy.

Spooning

Today Eve turned 6 months old! I cannot believe half a year has gone by already. This time last year I was not even showing yet! We started her on cereal today, and it didn't go half bad! She was a little skeptical of it, but enjoyed chewing on the spoon and playing with the little bowl. All in all, it was a success, along with a messy face!

Big step... well, roll.

A milestone happened today. Eve rolled over all the way! I never realized such a small movement could make me so proud. It seems minute, but for her it changes so much. A lot has happened even in the last week: She grabs her bottle and reaches for things, has become progressively more ticklish, puts her arms out to be picked up, is more and more vocal with each day, and so many other things. In less than 2 weeks we will be intoducing her to cereal and baby food. I can't believe almost half a year has gone by already. I love every day of it.

The perfect spring accessory...

...is my daughter! Oh how excited I am to put her in adorable warm weather clothes and document it through pictures all spring and summer long!

Eve's First Easter

Happy Easter! Today was a wonderful day, but also exhausting. An earthquake couldn't wake Eve up; she had so much excitement. Matt and took Eve to my best friend Maria's house for an Easter celebration with all of her family. It was so good to see her, she lives 10 hours away in Tennessee, so visits are few and far between. They'll be in Maryland for the week, and I'll get to see her again next week for her son Keegan's birthday party! It was beautiful outside, and after Eve got her picture taken with the Easter bunny, we sat out on blanket with her and watched the older kids have an Easter egg hunt.

Eve with the Easter bunny

Family picture

Maria & I with Eve

After Maria's, I took Eve to my parents house for an Easter egg hunt and dinner. It was nice to be together for the holiday, but I wish my younger sister Kara, who is away at college in Georgia, had been with us. Eve was so tired from being out in the sun and seeing so many people that aside from waking up for a few minutes to have a cranky tantrum, she has been passed outsince after dinner. I hope the holidays in the future are this fun filled and go as well as today did.

Spring Pictures

Last week we took Eve to Sears and got Spring pictures taken. They were really simple, but I feel like simple worked well :) She is such a perfect mix of Matt and I, but I think in these pictures she looks just like I did as a baby! I know I'm biased, but she truly is a beautiful little girl.

Quote

"This is how we sometimes stumble onto the best moments of our lives: over committing, getting into more than we bargained for, letting life take is where it takes us and understanding, at least momentarily, that we are not nearly as much in the driver's seat as we think we are."

My New Life as a Mother

A little less than a year ago, I was holding an EPT in my hand and hyperventilating. I went from being content with the place I was at in my life and excited about the limitless possibilities of my future, to having a never ending list of unanswered questions. I had a hard time letting go of my freedom, 23 year old fun, and small amount of responsibilities. I felt as though it all was taken away from me before I was ready. I still do sometimes. My life was no longer following the mapquest directions I had written out; it was making up its own course and I was not prepared to drive that way. My boyfriend had a point when he asked me, "how often do things happen exactly how we plan them?" I cannot think of one example.

Looking over at the beautiful tiny person sleeping next to me, I am okay with having to grow up faster. I am so blessed to have my two month old daughter, Eve. Every obstacle, critic, financial stress, and changed plan are easily trumped by dimpled baby smiles. Love is a strong force, and I do not mind having it steer for me.