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!

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. 

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! 

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.

One month- Evangeline

There are times when I swear that I'm looking at pictures of little Danny, and other moments when your Harris genes shine through. I guess that makes sense, since you are a mixture of both and yet uniquely you! 

I'm having a hard time remembering how to put a newborn to sleep, you really love to be held, sleeping best when someone is near you and so I find we hold you a lot while you are sleeping, something I think will change since we no longer have relatives in town. Thankfully you are only one month old and still teachable. Holding you can sometimes stress me out cause nothing else gets done in the house but as your grandmother has advised me "don't miss this".

After five weeks of visitors we now find ourselves alone, just the four of us. It is oddly quite at times and yet necessary as we figure out our own rhythm and schedule. 

Our plans for next year are still flexible, still undecided. A little like you I guess, what will you be like? What will the future be for you my girl? One thing we are sure of is that you look VERY much like your sister when she was your age, very much related and yet uniquely you. 

As we focus on "not missing this" know that we love you girl and are so glad you are around!

Isabel at one month

One week-E

Meet our girl, one week old today. We love every ounce of her 8lbs 3oz. So far she is a great sleeper, and several mornings her sister has even slept in, an oh so helpful bonus for those of us in recovery!

We are thankful to have "mimi" Harris here with us as we- or I- transition out of the postpartum fog and begin to feel more and more human with each passing day. 

Baby E looks so much like her big sister, sometimes I have to remind myself this is the second child and not my first, her twin-wink, wink. 

I'm trying hard not to wish these weeks away, I'd love to skip the rough patches of postpartum hormones, interrupted sleep and sprinkles of sibling jealousy. But parenting has taught me that she won't always be this little, we won't always feel this "rub" this "new", after all births are hard, as are beginnings. So for now while we search for our rhythm, our new normal, I'll press through the moments that are sandwiched in between loads of snuggles and family time, coos and newborn sleepiness; my new daughter.