One Year Old-E

Happy Birthday is long overdue. Technically still your birthday month I think I'm forgiven, right? (Posting in May, a day late and a dollar short, better late than never...)

You've changed quite a bit in these last few weeks. The girl you were on your first birthday is not the one walking before me, 'cause you weren't really walking. You are busy, toddling everywhere. Your gait is similar to that of your sister but I feel like your backside sticks out more, reminding me of a woman well beyond your one year. You are babbling all the time, so much to say. You are pointing, sometimes with gusto when your first request isn't met/understood.

You are very sensitive, it doesn't take much to see you in tears, it doesn't take much to get you laughing either. Especially if you are Isabel. You two are going to be thick as thieves someday. I think you genuinely enjoy one another's company already.  

Finding shoes for you has been a challenge. There is a serious shortage of size 2 shoes. I guess you are walking before the curve. 

You are still a cuddler. Giving hugs and kisses unsolicited, always ready for affection. Thanks for being our sweet and cheerful Evangeline.

11mo-E

You are almost there kid! Such an exciting milestone to be one year old. However, let us not forget the feat of turning 11 months old, which is also very exciting. 

You are making lots of connections, using more sign language, reaching when you want to be held, babbling and also bringing me sisters hair ties and bows then placing them on your head. I of course am happy to indulge any girl of mine who wants hair accessories. 

You are into EVERYthing. Your favorite sources of mischief: dad's nightstand, mom's purse and everyone's favorite: the stairs. One of these days I'm gonna put a bell on the bottom step so we know that you've scaled the barriers. 

You are taking an interest in books, turning pages as well as ripping and eating them. Your only real frustration is when you want something but I make you sign for it first, I don't know where you get that stubborn streak from (I'll wink my eye for your benefit).

You aren't quite as interested in walking as I'd like you to be. You will walk assisted, which is so precious to see you and sister walk across the yard hand in hand, but you are destroying your pants crawling around the patio so anytime you'd like to give it a go, really any time, you have my full blessing. 

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Beautiful girl, you cut your first molar this month, are continuing to sleep for 8ish hours uninterrupted, eating an all table food diet and play so nicely with your sister. You are my favorite Evangeline, loves to you!

Happy 3rd Birthday- I

Happy 3rd Birthday Isabel! This year was your first birthday party (aside from our living room of course) and the first time you requested the food (hot dogs and apple pie ala mode). 

We love your excitement for life, for both the mundane and the special.

You are a lover of people. Last month as we pulled into a deserted park, my favorite, you asked where all the people are. First thought out of your mouth. An outing can't be an outing without friends.

You still love Christmas songs, weeks later you still request Silent Night at bedtime, every night, without fail.

Your favorites this month are Fancy Nancy books, frozen yogurt (fruit mixed with yogurt then frozen), stickers, dollhouses, playing "restaurant" , and playdates. 

You have fantastic retention and memorization skills. You've been soaking up Bible lessons, catechism answers and preschool lessons like mad. Ah to be young and curious. 

This last year you mastered giving up the pacifier, sleeping in a toddler bed, potty training, becoming a big sister, unloading your half of the dishwasher and going to sleep unassisted sans yelling and crying. 

I look forward to the milestones this next year has to offer. Much love to my enthusiastic, sweet and curious girl!

10 months- E

I know the above is fuzzy but I couldn't resist showing off your excellent waving skills. Happy 10 months girl. This weekend as you hit your milestone your sister turned 3. Nothing can make you smile and wave quite like her (see above photo). 

This week you took your first steps, a happy surprise for us all. You are also looking less like your sister and more like your father, if that's even possible. People often draw from the same comment pool: 

How do you have two blonde children?

Where did the blue eyes come from?

Her face looks exactly like her father, like exactly!

You pull it all off with such style and class. 

You have the greatest hair, a natural vibe, I'm sure, hipsters everywhere are envious of. 

You have two little friends that you are crazy about, head butting them and tackling them to the ground in your love and enthusiasm. Maybe you'll love people as much as your sister. 

We love to see your personality develop as you come into your own. Welcome to the double digits my girl. Hugs and kisses. 

9 Months- E

Happy New Year girl and happy nine months!

This month you are beginning to stand for longer periods unassisted, fussing when a toy is taken from you, crawling with speed, and signing and verbalizing more. 

Your sleep is sporadic at best. The length of your stretches is a formula I struggle to recreate. Was it the temperature, the full belly, the full diaper, the pajamas, the bath at night, the length between naps, the stimulation during the day? If only I could solve the puzzle as to what makes you sleep often and longer. If I could master those questions I'm sure I'd be a happier me, or at least  a better rested me, as would you. And so I relish the times you give me more, longer naps and fuller nights are the way to my heart. 

To our delight you have also learned to play peek-a-boo, dance to music and clap to the songs we've taught you. It is oh so cute. 

This month you have also started to give us the "evie smile"which includes scrunching your eyes up as you smile and engage with us. It's wonderful 'cause I know you are imitating what you see us do, absorbing and implementing is the name of your game. I can't wait to see what else you've been learning!

8 Months- E

Evangeline, Happy 8 months! I'm not sure if it's because Dad and I know a little more this go round or if you are worlds apart from your sister but there is so much about you that seems relaxed, laid back and easy going. 

Easy going but also growing quickly. You can climb the stairs now, and the fireplace hearth, discoveries we made as we heard you several stairs up- whoops. You can now say "dada" and "mama". I think for your next trick you should try "bell" or something to that effect. 

You have six teeth now and are eating most of what we do. 

Your sister is your greatest source of entertainment, thankfully she just can't seem to get enough of you either. I think you'll make great play mates when you're older. 

We are still honing your sleeping skills. If you are anything like your sister it's a skill, I'm sorry to say, that will take many more moons to perfect. Good thing we love you so. Here's to another month of exploration and curiosity. 

If you knew I was writing this you could impress us with you're waving skills, also learned this month, "bye-bye".

7 months-E

Happy 7 months sweet child of mine. In honor of you, 7 words for 7 months. 

Curious. Joyful. Relaxed

Content. Growing

Sweet. Clever

Six months-E

Happy half birthday sister! Today is Dad's birthday too, 33 years today. You have many years until you'll be 33 but you are growing in your own way. You have learned to sit up, obviously (see photo above) and have started crawling. For a few weeks you were just crawling in the living room but this week you've started to explore the bottom floor of the house, I was really hoping you'd wait a little bit longer. Isn't 5 months a bit early to start crawling. 

As you've upped you're game so have the rest of us, hiding shoes and cords and all manner or valuable possessions-please read library books-agrh! 

You are so curious about everything, the shadows on the curtains, the noises from your sister, the feel of something in your mouth. I guess 'tis the season for exploring. 

You're sister is having a hard time adjusting, especially this month. Perhaps it's due in part to your new mobility and need for supervision. Nevertheless, she is struggling and taking it out on you I'm sorry to say. I hope you can bear with her. My hope is that one day you'll come to respect and even appreciate one another. That might be many years to come but for now we are doing our best to teach her to handle you with love and care. 

It's not always a bad thing when the two of you nap back to back. Sure, I'd love a rest too but for you're sake, and for hers, I think it best to have some one on one time with mama every so often and even a much needed break from each other. May we cultivate a love for solitude in you!

Kisses, your introverted mama. 

Let's hear it for the boys

Hospitality, how I wish I offered it more. In the current Magnolia Journal there is a whole spread dedicated to opening up your home, throwing down some soup and calling up your friends. Said article is currently hanging on my cork board, and each time I pass it I brainstorm a way we could make it happen. I yearn for it, for space enough to have folks over. We currently maximize all of our 1,200 square feet and I just couldn't envision another family of 4 dropping in for an evening of fun, scratch that chaos that would be a meal at our house. 

I've been lamenting over our current situation this week, lusting after a larger living room, a larger dining room with a table big enough for friends. But as one of our international friends left our house tonight, this blog post came to mind. While I don't have space to feed another family for dinner or host our small group we have had and continue to have space for "the boys". We affectionately call them "boys" because most have been 18-20 years of age. 

We've hosted three different groups of students during our years in Tuscaloosa, this year included. First from Brazil, Germany and Austria and now India. It's been our pleasure to offer meals, games, dessert, and hangouts around town to our guests. 

The great thing about "our boys" is that they're relaxed. They don't mind that my house isn't immaculate, or that my oven and now my house are smoking from the spilled contents or that my children are children in our home. And for that I'm so grateful. This thing I have been lusting after, this opportunity to open our home and provide a meal hasn't come in the most traditional form but it has come nonetheless so let's hear if for the boys. Thank you for coming!

Five months- E

It was more than a little tricky taking your photos today, you are on the move and curious about everything, including today's picture frame. What doesn't go in your mouth? 

Milestone markers include: 

sleeping long stretches, some 12 hrs, bless you!

sleeping through a loud roommate; crying, shouting, climbing out of bed- again bless you! I'm sure this skill with come in handy somewhere down the line as well as now

sampling avocado and sweet potato

trips to both Alaska and Washington

two teeth

rocking on all 4s and moving to a sitting position

So thankful for the joy you bring and the reminder you give me to just roll with it, be it a rambunctious sister, a jet setting father or a sleep deprived mother you are up for it all, all while keeping your cool, thanks little one. 

Three Months-E

In June you shared your first laugh with us, slept through the night for the second half of the month and took your first flight to Orlando, Florida. You are talking so much, I love when you engage and try to get our attention. My favorite is when your toys are very close to your face as you sit in your chair, you just chat it up girl!

I see a lot of Harris in this photo by maybe I'm just reading into things. 

This month will be marked by travel to Washington, 'cause no matter where I roam, Washington is our home. So get ready for 6 weeks, 5 different houses, 4 flights, 3 weddings, 2 sets of grandparents and a partridge in a pear tree. But really, it's gonna be great. With loads of time outside sans humidity and even a side trip to Alaska we can't wait to introduce you to Washington and all the folks we love there. They're gonna love you! 

Two months- E

Poop. This month has been marked by so much poop. To be fair it hasn't all been yours. We are in the midst of toilet training your sister, (she's doing awesome by the way) so between her accidents and your normal newborn behavior (read loads of spit up and poop) I've been doing more laundry than ever. Good thing I kinda like laundry- twisted I know.

Your sister and I got a pool membership this month, both to keep cool and to give us some much needed one on one time. So lucky you, you get some one on one time too, but with Dad.  I'm sure he's been taking great care of you. He pulled out his guitar from storage this week so maybe you'll have a few afternoon jam sessions while we're away. 

You've been sleeping and eating like a champ, even respecting the designated "nap time" and letting me have a couple hours kid free each day- thank you for that! You've acquired an extra chin this month coming in at a whopping 13lbs 10oz. 

You've been cooing and smiling non-stop, even preferring it to eating sometimes. Isabel loves when you start "talking" to us and, of course, we love it too. You have a great smile. 

We drag you along almost everywhere, you have a very busy social calendar my girl. Thanks for being so flexible. You make being an mother of two enjoyable (I was gonna say easy but let's be real). Love ya' kid!

One Month Photographs

Photo Credit to Caroline Espy

Evie girl, You are looking more like a Harris with each passing day. Don't worry I still see some McCurry in you too. 

Your sister loves you passionately, almost too passionately sometimes.

Most days you can sleep through anything but the trick to waking you up is to put you down, big stretches upon waking up.

See what I mean, this has Harris written all over it I think.

Dad's scheduled changed recently and we love having more of him in the morning to manage the chaos of getting everyone ready. He also loves you passionately, and cares for you deeply. 

We are so thrilled to have you, happy and healthy. Lots of love kiddo.