Thursday, December 24, 2009

Aunt Jean's Visit





My sister Jean came from Dallas, Texas, last week to help care for Eva. Jean has been a pediatric nurse for twenty years so we were eager to soak up her baby wisdom. As we expected, we learned a great deal from her about baby care. Little things such as making sure to put lotion on right after Eva gets out of the bath (it seals in the moisture) to more complex things like how to teach a baby to crawl or how to care for Eva's new, emerging chops. Eva absolutely loved Jean and she relished having her undivided attention for the week while her mommy and daddy worked. My only regret was that I wish I could have spent more time with my sister watching how she cared for our little one. There is just so much to learn with this baby business! Jean will just have to return with her husband, Drew, for a follow up visit. );

We had a family outing with Jean the day before she left at Pike Street Market. Eva absolutely adored all of the action at the Market, especially with the pre-Christmas bustle. We forget sometimes how much Eva loves these outings! Jeff and I are going to have to figure out a way to get out more on the weekends instead of our standard schedule of cleaning, grocery shopping, wash, etc.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Thumpty Thump Thump, Thumpty Thump Thump...



Every (good) parent thinks that her child is exceptional. Now, we can't all be above average except in the fictional musings of Garrison Keiller and the Prairie Home Companion. But still. Our child is the exception. Really.

Ever since Eva was a baby she would perk up when we played music, which we do often. Now, she joins in on the fun and taps with her hands whenever she gets a chance. Her newest obsession is to use her right foot as a drum. She throws her whole body into the movement and even does caller response format with us. We think she is quite advanced with her musical ability. I've run this by a few of my Developmental Psychology professors and they have confirmed that she is indeed a child prodigy and will naturally get a scholarship to the Julliard School before long. Do they accept preschoolers?

Vote for your Favorite Christmas Photo!






Please take a moment and write which one is your favorite. My personal fav is the one in the Christmas overalls where she looks like she is posing. I know she isn't smiling but dang I love those ruby slippers!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Eva's First Hair Cut









Eva had her very first hair cut at Lil Klippers in Wallingford this week. The salon specializes in baby and kids' cuts. As you can tell from the tricked out chairs and decor, it is definitely an ubber yuppie baby salon. Eva loved the airplane that she was seated in and was grooving on the surroundings until she realized what was going on. Eva does not like sitting still so once my toys, books, and songs got old, she wanted out of there and made a break for the door. The tears started streaming down her face but she quickly recovered. As luck would have it, mom's favorite cupcake place was right next door so I had one for her to celebrate! Here's to the first of many visits to the hair salon for our girl. Before you know it, we'll be getting manis and pedis together. );

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Eva's Six Month Check Up!


It is hard to believe that my baby is six months now! Eva weighed in at 18 pounds, 3 ounces putting her in the 90% for weight. She's standing tall at a whopping 28 inches, which is in the 97%. Her noggin measures in at seventeen inches, a healthy 75%. Most of all, I am grateful for such a happy, healthy, baby. Her fussy days are a distant memory at this point and her shrieks of laughter are what we hear far more than her cries.

Dr. Heigel was also very impressed with Eva's mobility. She predicts that Eva will skip right past the crawling stage and start walking before we know it. In fact, she warned us to start baby proofing NOW! Our home is the furthest thing from baby proof. We have three flights of stairs and a lot of glass! Good times, my friends, are around the corner.

Now that Eva has a clean bill of health, we hope to keep her that way throughout the flu season. Both Jeff and I were able to get our H1N1 vaccine last week. Eva's on the wait list at our pediatrician's office to get one on Monday. Cross your fingers that she gets one of the hundred doses allocated to the office on Monday!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Eva's Laugh



Her first smile had me swoon and I really thought nothing could top that moment. But now that she laughs she's got us in hysterics. In stiches. No matter what we are doing we stop everything to hear her laugh. It's like a drug that laugh of hers. I hope to get it on film so that you can enjoy her laughter but until then this photo will have to suffice. Here's to belly laughs from the mouth of babes!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Eva's First Halloween




Well, she slept through most of it but she has the pictures to prove that she was there and in costume for the big day. Eva went down for a late afternoon nap and slept until about 6:30 pm. By the time we got her into her costume the cute little trick or treaters were long gone and we had only the scary teenagers to contend with. I got her all excited and was amping up the moment after the door bell rang. When we got there it was a group of twelve greedy teenagers who weren't even in costume. Jeez! The day prior was pretty wonderful though. I took her to Bellevue College, one of the colleges where I work as a rep, and they all oohed and ahhed appropriately as I took her around with me. We also went to UW where there was an event for the kids of staff. All in all it was a good Halloween.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Eva Marie's Baptism










On Sunday, October 18th, Eva Marie Walker was baptized at St. Therese church in Seattle, WA. We were surrounded by family and friends both in presence and in spirit. Our church always includes the baptism as a part of the mass and offers the opportunity for parents to take part in this ritual with their new son or daughter four times a year. The weekend of her baptism happened to fall on the anniversary of Jeff's father's death and the birthday of my nephew, Shawn Patrick Kelly, who passed away this month. For both sides of our family, Eva Marie gave us a reason to celebrate the birth, renewal, and life that she has given us.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Watching the World Go By...



We are learning many new things from Eva's nanny, Olga. One idea that Olga gave us is to perch the "Princessa Preciousa" on the sofa. That way Princess Eva can watch the world go by and observe all of her lowly subjects (that's us). Seriously, she loves to watch all the action from our house and has the routine down. The greenbelt across the street keeps her interest in between all of the dog walkers, joggers, and cars that go by.

I'm Going to the Country..

>




We spent Jeff's birthday last Sunday in Carnation at a pumpkin patch. Eva was thrilled to spend the day with her friend, Maya, who just turned one in September. I think it was the longest we've ever spent outside. She has the rosy cheeks to prove it. Dad, Mom, and Eva sipped apple cider and enjoyed the fall festival at the organic farm. A good time was had by all.

Happy Baby

Monday, October 12, 2009

Eva's First Bite of Rice Cereal



We let Eva sample her first few bites of rice cereal last week. Here's a video to commemorate this historic event. Eva's nanny, Olga, is featured here as well.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

A Love Affair with My Feet




If I could choose a phrase that sums up the fourth month I would definitely say "Eva's Love Affair with her Feet." At first Eva would stare at her feet with utter disbelief. It was as if she was saying, "how on earth did I get these lovely toes and fetching feet. Dang! There they are again!" Every time she looked down at her feet she fell in love with them again as if they suddenly appeared for the very first time. Some time about mid month this infatuation turned into a utilitarian affair. "Not only do I HAVE feet, but I can touch them, eat them, and kick with them. Oh my goodness! I can STAND on them too! What did I do before I had my toes." I never grow weary of watching Eva discover her feet and all that they can do. Month three was the hands, month four, the feet. What will month five be?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Just Because....

Four Month Check Up!




On September 14th Eva had her four month check up with Dr. Hiegel. I still can't believe that she is FOUR MONTHS OLD! Amazing. She weighed in at a solid fourteen pounds, three ounces, which puts her in the 70% for weight. Our little Rosebud is now a healthy 25 and 3/4 inches, which is in the 90%. Her head circumference, 16 1/4 inches, 65%. Her pediatrician continues to be very pleased with her growth and development in all respects. After weighing in, she got a massive dose of shots and this time she weathered them pretty well. I really think she is growing out of the colic. She even flashed Dr. Hiegel a few smiles during the check up. I'm just so happy to see her so healthy and happy!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Lunch Revisited



I've mentioned before the First Weeks class that I attend. We've started to go to lunch before the class with all of our new baby friends. I'll miss this tradition now that school's ramping up next week. It has been a wonderful way to meet other mom's with new babies. This past week we had lunch at The Boarding House cafe. All of us rocked our babies in the carriers while we had a bite here and there. Like I said, lunch revisited!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Ode to My Daughter



I love the fact that I no longer need an alarm clock but instead awaken to Eva's coos and vocalizations. My favorite part of the day is the moment where I lean over to her bassinette and say "Good Morning, Eva." She flashes her million dollar toothless smile as she wriggles in her swaddle. It's as if she's saying "My hero; you rescued me again!"

I adore watching her tiny hands move in undulating patterns when she's in that drowsy dream like state as she nurses.

I love our nap and nighttime routine. I adore singing her lullabies and love to see her face light up as I croon along with Rene and Jeremy. Sometimes, right before she goes to sleep, her eyes soften and she gives me the most loving, adoring smile. When it happens, it's magical. There's really nothing like it.

I love giving her baths. If I had my way, we would do it every night. The best part is the end when I hold and cuddle her and take in that "new baby smell."

I love dressing her in all her new precious adorable girlie outfits. Now that Eva is not so fussy, we can actually get her into more than just a snap t-shirt and a diaper. She looks like a little doll in all her new dresses and outfits.

I love watching the world through her eyes. Now that she's waking up to the world you can literally see her taking everything in with wide eyed fascination. I try to imagine what she sees as she beholds each object or person for the very first time.

I love being Eva's mom. Each day I settle more into what this moniker means and dig in to the rich complexity of motherhood. I love seeing my confidence grow and my Momma Bear instincts come out as I take her out into the world.

I love Eva. I try to tell her her so when she awakens, when she goes down for the night, and with every diaper change, bath, and feeding.

I love watching Jeff embrace fatherhood and what it means. I see a bond developing between them as they play and interact with one another. Before long she'll be daddy's little girl and have him wrapped around her little finger.

I look forward to what lies ahead as Eva grows, develops and becomes our little girl. In the meantime, I try to take in each moment of her infanthood and witness each milestone with a sense of awe and reverence.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Eva's New Friend





Today Eva met her new friend, Claire Patricia Walsh. Our friends, Sean and Julie, welcomed her into the world three weeks ago. It's incredible to see Claire next to Eva and imagine that she was her size just two months ago. Everyone says that time goes by so quickly but it really does! We are thrilled that so many of our friends are having their first and second babies around the same time. Eva seemed to do pretty well with the drive and all the Sunday visits today.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Visit with the Oswalds





Last Sunday, our friends, Kjell and Kelly, invited the Walker clan over to dinner. The Oswalds welcomed Bjorn Oswald into their family a month and a half ago. Their daughter, Annika, was very sweet and helped me soothe Eva with "shushing" and even covered her with a blanket when she got cold. We had a great time enjoying the cool evening weather while we ate, drank, and tended to our babies. We really appreciated the kid friendly atmosphere to get out and enjoy ourselves. Also, an added bonus, Eva fussed minimally on the way there and only half the way home. Hopefully, she will get acclimated to her car seat over time.

Friday, August 14, 2009

First Weeks Class




For the last twelve weeks Eva and I have been going to a drop in parenting class called "First Weeks" at the Yoga Tree in Issaquah. It's led by a nurse-educator, Diana Solomon, and is loosely affiliated with the Seattle shop, Birth and Beyond. We've loved going to these classes for the past three months. Not only was it a great nudge for Eva and I to get out of the house, but it was also a great forum to hear what other moms were thinking, doing about different challenges that come up during the newborn stage. Since Eva is waking up to the world, she also has been enjoying all the stimulation of the class. She loves seeing all of the babies and watching the action going on in the room. You can see here in the photos above being held by Diana and also hanging out on the rug with her buddy, Lennon. We hope to create a follow up class on Friday evenings for those of us who would like to continue attending the class once we go back to work.

Work? Did someone say work?? Yes, I go back to work on Monday. I cannot BELIEVE how quickly the last three months went by.
It will be very hard to leave Baby Eva.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Roll, Baby Roll!







I didn't get to witness this developmental milestone but her Daddy did. While I was out for a run, Jeff snapped some photos to prove that our baby can indeed roll from one side to another. He later admitted that he did give her a bit of help. );