The Story of My Life

A day in the life of Evelyn (according to Daddy)

Jen — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:46:31 +0000

Evelyn, three months old. Picture sent from Dan’s phone to me at work. Titled “Should be sleeping”

***Since I had to go back to work last week, Dan has had the privilege of taking care of the little Ms. on Thursday, Friday, and today (Monday). Tomorrow is her first day with our sitter, Stephanie. I had mucho to do to get ready for the day, one of them being a little write up of a loose schedule for Stephanie about what to expect of Evelyn. After putting her down for the night, I came out of her room to find this little write-up according to Dan. I’d say he’s got this whole thing figured out, a regular Mr. Mom if you will. And to that, I am so very thankful.

A day in the life of Evelyn (according to Daddy)

Wake-up – Usually starts around 8 or 9 with some squeaks and sometimes a little crying to welcome the morning and get the blood flowing. A little play time and some food should follow shortly. She needs about four to six ounces at each feeding, but she may forget that and try and get by on three. She also needs a couple solid burps, one halfway thru the bottle, one at the end. She’s not always a big fan of burps, but she always needs them. She also needs to sit up for ten or twenty minutes after eating to keep the spit up down. While she’s hanging out, it’s play time and then a diaper change. We like to live by the motto “Eat, play, sleep.”

Hello, New Day – Including the essentials above, Evelyn likes to be awake for about an hour and a half and expires quickly if its much longer than that. Depending on her mood and the alignment of the planets she likes: laying on her zebra platmat, watching the ceiling fan and playing with her toys, sitting in her Bumbo and playing with her toys, being held in a wide variety of ways including like a football while you’re standing, riding frontward in the Moby, crying, sitting in her swing with the mobile, standing up in her jumper and generally being consoled about the hardships of life.

Mmm, Morning Nap – Evelyn goes down for naps best after a little holding with swaying/rocking and some pacifier time. Sometimes, she can go down with her eyes open and be happy. Other times, she can be totally out and then open her eyes when you lay her down. Nutty, but true. Be sure to put her on her belly and help her find her pacifier if she wants it. She’s great about holding it in with her cute little fist. If she fusses, pop the pacifier back in or blast some Weezer (new or old, she’s not a too cool hipster). Seriously, she goes to sleep better with some Pork and Beans. She’ll do the things she wants to do, by the way. Sometimes that means sleeping for an hour, sometimes its more like twenty minutes. One look in the mirror and she’s tickled pink. But really, if she gives you a run-around with the paci more than three times then she’s not really tuckered out enough for this so=called nap.

Lunch, Milk Again – Similar deal to the beginning of her day, but you’re a little more likely to see some smiles when she wakes up. She usually doesn’t get changed til a half hour after she’s eaten. Her diapers have four snaps showing and she doesn’t mind the diaper wash applied directly to her and then a little powder between the rolls for good measure.

Mmm, Longgg Afternoon Nap – If things go well, our little lady will sleep for two or three hours for her afternoon nap, though it may only be an hour. Sometimes she fights going down and she may or may not eat a couple more ounces of milk at this time, but once she’s down she’s out. If she wakes up, she may need changed, more food or someone or something to entertain her for an hour and a half or so.

Mom will be home around 4:15 so hurry up and get that nap in because she is always dying to see your cute face!

Baby Girl, you’re our favorite!

Happy Birthday, Sir!

Jen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:06:46 +0000

1. First off, today is my dad’s big birthday! How big, you ask? How does 60 sound to you?

2. The above pictures are from Evelyn to my dad for some birthday picture text loving.

3. When we asked my dad what he wanted Evelyn to call him, he replied, “Sir”.

Most grandpa’s choose sweet names like Pa-Pa, but my dad? Well, I guess, we’ll go with Sir… for now.

4. Isn’t my Evelyn the sweetest little Baby Jay you’ve ever seen?

5. Don’t you love her cute red top? Yea, vintage is in and I like sharing my old hand-me- downs.

6. Do you see those jeans? Can’t help but sing “Baby’s got her blue jeans on!” Lord, have mercy!

7. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD – we love you so much!

Honoring

Jen — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:52:25 +0000

Seems like a shame to let this 11/11/11 Veterans Day go unnoticed. We sure are thankful for those who serve and have served.

And in honor of this day, here are a few photos from our trip to VA and Washington DC this time last year. I gotta say, it’s even more impressive at night.

Dan getting a closer view of all the glory

Fist Pump for the Red, White and Blue!

Always Evelyn

Jen — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:15:05 +0000

Do you need more daily Evelyn doses?

I’ve been squirreling away at a blog of her very own! Always Evelyn is a place for you to find daily and monthly pictures, milestones, videos and all things Evelyn. Go there now to see what you’ve been missing

Two Months

Jen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:17:29 +0000

Two months – You are over 8 weeks old! I didn’t believe you had gotten any bigger but then I glanced back at your One Month photos and wow, how you have filled out. You are no longer a scrawny little thing but instead have started to be an expressive, sometimes serious, sometimes smiley face little gal. I love your button nose and the tiny little peeks at your now emerging right dimple. You have a mad obsession with your hands – to suck on, to flail, to ball up into fists, you name it…they are your best friends. Your sleeping is somewhat more predictable and seems to be becoming less and less at a time (BOOO only 3 hours at a time overnight) and if we could figure out how to get you to sleepytown before 12:30am we would all be a little less crazy, you silly night owl!

It may sound cliche but it really is hard to remember times without you. We love you little Evelyn and are so glad we get to keep you forever, well… at least until you go to college. One month at time though, right?

Punkin Head

Jen — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:11:26 +0000

Walking home is not much fun on a Halloween night when day is done.

Spiders, ghosts and flying bats;

pumpkins, monsters and black cats.

Horrid things and scary witches,

make me run and split my britches.

Now I sit afraid to run,

for fear my pants will come undone.

Walking home is sure no fun on a Halloween night when day is done.

~author unknown~

(I promise she is a happy baby!!)

Baby Keeping

Jen — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:16:58 +0000

Sometimes when I sigh at the pile of unfolded laundry, when I yawn in the middle of the night, when I wipe the spit up off my shirt, when I just want to use two hands for a minute, when I have changed and nursed and rocked and bounced and I still can’t bring on the sleeping…I find myself whispering these words…

babies don’t keep

And I give my girl a little tighter squeeze.

Don’t grow up baby girl…

image credit Lay Baby Lay

Secret Baby Notes: weeks 12-15

Jen — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:18:10 +0000

his week I am sharing some posts that I saved as drafts about being pregnant. I call them “Secret Baby Notes” because I wrote most of them before we shared our news with the world. I wrote all of them quickly and never read them again until recently – boy, am I so glad I took the time to record those thoughts as I will cherish each of them forever. I hope you enjoy them.

***Originally written on March 21, 2011***

Me, Pa-Pa, and Lisa – Palm Springs, March 2011

gone golfin

Palm Springs Palm Trees

Pa Pa relaxing

Ma Ma helping me discover my new love of Frozen Yogurt!

My mom and me in front of “the trees”

the obligatory Palm Springs flora

Dan and me for my last ski day at Copper this season

fun with our friends Jason and Cari

I knew it was my last day because I could barely zip my jacket – 13 weeks!

14 weeks – why do I always make those faces when I show my belly?

feeling good again

Oh holy moly, time sure is flying by. I didn’t realize it had been so long since I checked in with our progress around these parts.

As mentioned in my last note, the upcoming weeks were full of fun and adventure. Parent Teacher conference week was great because I was finally able to share the good news with my principal at school and then my colleagues. What a relief to have the news out in the open since I was truly running out of clothing concealing options. You are making your appearance and people can tell. The news was well received and the three most common questions continue to be as follows: 1. How are you feeling? (said in a motherly tone). 2. When are you due? 3. And are you going to find out what you are having? My answers are always as follows: 1. Great, a little tired but doing well. 2. September 3 (I know you are really due on Sept 11 but we all know that diabetes will bring you to us by Sept. 3rd). 3. No, we want to have a surprise. People are always so excited to hear we won’t be finding out and it makes me wonder how we are in the minority on this option of not finding out. Funny stuff.

The big news at school also lead me to California and feeling so excited to tell more of my family in person. I bought Ma-Ma a birthday card that said something along the lines of “I bet you never…” and on the inside I wrote I bet she had never been a great-grandma before and then signed it from Dan, Jennifer, and Baby Northcraft. She was more than a little surprised and excited and we spent the rest of the day at the street fair swapping fun baby memories. I loved spending time with my mom and Lisa and Pa-Pa, too. We squeezed so much goodness into those 2 1/2 days.

Coming back to school was not as bad as I thought and I started getting more questions from students about my tummy. My most favorite one came from an innocent little 3rd grade gal claiming she really needed to ask me something. When I asked what she needed, thinking she was implying she needed the markers for her table, she straight up asked me if I was having a baby. And when I responded with a yes, she prompted came back with a “um, yea…you can kinda tell.” Point taken, little lady. And that marks the beginning of the questions. Even kindergartners are asking about you and the fifth graders are constantly checking in (they are so excited and it is really sweet) asking daily questions of, so how’s your baby? Cuteness.

Second trimester has settled in around us and I can say for sure that things do seem easier. I’m still tried and my back is a little sore but other annoying symptoms have disappeared. I would think you might not be there but then I just look down and I know you are there. I seem to have quite the sweet tooth and have settled back into my love of Starbucks. I was quite happy with my green tea in the mornings and the thought of coffee was kinda gross but lately, the sweeter the drink the better…Decaf Iced Caramel Macchiottos? Since when? And just tonight I ate a whole bag of gummy bears.

Dan and I have started talking more and more about what your name should be. We have funny conversations more so about what your name should not be and we laugh and laugh when we come up with names we both genuinely dislike. Finding names we truly love is a lot more difficult. We know we like more classic but not overused names. We also like strong, short, bold names so long multinames are completely out. I suppose we are making progress although we do still just call you Baby.

We have another appointment coming up this week – it should be the 16 week one but I’ll be in a little early since we will be out of town next week. I don’t expect anything major from this one, just a simple check up like the last one. Maybe another heart beat listen which is always fun. The rest of this week looks pretty eventful as we will be heading home to Missouri for my Spring Break. I am so extremely excited to see family but also a little anxious since Dan’s dad will be starting his chemo treatments. The idea has been there but the news came quick that he would be starting treatments this week so we are very thankful we can take the time to be there in the midst of it all.

Everyone is getting excited to meet you little one. **SO**excited!

***This is technically the last “Secret Baby Notes” but stayed tuned for some summaries of the following months!***

Catch up with the other “Secret Baby Notes” background history, THE news, feeling the early effects, life with diabetes, the Baby Jay, weeks 5-9, and weeks 9-12

Secret Baby Notes: weeks 9-12

Jen — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:36:04 +0000

This week I am sharing some posts that I saved as drafts about being pregnant. I call them “Secret Baby Notes” because I wrote most of them before we shared our news with the world. I wrote all of them quickly and never read them again until recently – boy, am I so glad I took the time to record those thoughts as I will cherish each of them forever. I hope you enjoy them.

***Originally written on February 26, 2011***

Nick, Dan, and Keri – Feb. 2011

Keri and Me

12 weeks

getting the bump

Hello Baby,

Yes, it seems we have settled into calling you Baby. Just plain Baby. It works because we use different tones to address you depending on the situation. Week nine was met with a series of breakdowns for me. None related to you but mostly stemming from the fact that I have diabetes and I want you to be oh-so-healthy.

Meanwhile, after all the exhaustion of the CGM sensor site drama, I came down with a cold. It was a nasty one and I would have paid thousands of dollars for some sudafed and nose spray on numerous occasions if it weren’t for you and your first trimester tininess. It was super hard though because I just couldn’t breath and our friends Nick and Keri from Missouri were in town and I just wanted to have a good time. Instead, I spent one whole day sitting, laying, shivering on the couch and in bed. It was down right miserable. We did manage to have a lovely time with our friends though and aside from telling our parents and our two closest friends out here, they are still the only ones that know about you. It was wonderful to share the news but I can’t imagine the heartache of losing you. I wish my dear friend Keri didn’t have losing a tiny one as her story and I pray good things for them and their family someday soon. I still secretly fear you might not be there sometimes. I am constantly checking for reassurance and my symptoms keep on being there letting me know that you are growing and forming by the day.

Shortly after Nick and Keri left, Dan got sick too and I felt all sorts of bad knowing in advance what he was in for. Turns out, he was even more worse off than me and together we did nothing but lay around and be sick for the entire next weekend. It was even a long weekend and I was so ready to feel better by the next week. The next week came and each night I still felt mostly terrible and I was cranky about being sick STILL. And I was not always nice to Dan. I felt so uncomfortable – couldn’t breath, headaches, belly aches, back aches. I have not been pleasant. I know the pain is worth it because you are growing my belly bigger.

I am looking forward to this next week. We have parent teacher conferences which will mean a shorter week with longer days but a lot more down time for me. We also have our next appointment with the midwife on Thursday morning. Dan still HATES the idea of ultrasounds and thinks they are so unnecessary but I just don’t care and I’ve told him more than once that I can’t wait to see you again. I bet you’ll even look like a baby now which is pretty hard to believe even though I know you are there.

As for other bits of information…most of my pants fit in the morning but not after lunch or dinner so I have resorted to the elastic hairband trick around my button and that seems to work just fine. I am still struggling to find a breakfast groove because I seriously love my cereal but most days it makes my blood sugar go sky high for a little too long and I feel guilty for making life hard for you for a few hours. Two fried eggs on toast are still my fool proof blood sugar preference if I have the time to make it. I haven’t had any other food cravings since the sugar cookie ordeal but sometimes I just get so darn hungry, I would eat anything. And I forgot…donuts have been sounding fabulous. I might have to remedy that this weekend. My best time of day continues to be first thing in the morning which is just wild to me because not one day in my life aside from now have I ever been able to say that before. Nights are not really my friend. I get tired. More tired than I can stand. I go to bed around 9. I get A LOT of sleep. But no matter how much, I still run out of me and my pep by about 7:30 and then I just get a little mean. Sorry, Dan.

This time next week, I will be in Palm Springs for a quick two night stay to see Ma Ma and Pa Pa and my mom and Lisa. I am thrilled it somehow worked out for me to be there this year and to get to spill the beans to all of them in person. It is going to be fantastic and fun and I’m already sad that it will be over so soon. But in the meantime, my head is buzzing with things to get ready and pack before I leave.

UPDATE: Our dear friends Nick and Keri now have a beautiful adopted daughter named Solibel. What a happy ending!! She and Evelyn are only two weeks apart in age – and man, I can’t wait to meet that sweet girl and for our gals to hang out!

***Stay tuned for the last “Secret Baby Notes: weeks 12-15”***

Catch up with the other “Secret Baby Notes” background history, THE news, feeling the early effects, life with diabetes, the Baby Jay, and weeks 5-9

Cry it Out

Jen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:58:40 +0000

Evelyn so soft and sweetly sleeping at 16 days old

starting to stir

simmering

and scream!

Is it strange that I love pictures of Evelyn’s scrunchy, squishy, screaming face almost as much as I love her soft, serene sleeping face? Almost. It’s true, I love the peaceful ones so much but someday I feel like I will want to look back and remember the sad faces just as much. Whenever she starts to get the cry face, Dan always tells her that it is not a cute face but, I dunno…I think it kinda is.

**adorable infant owl hat, a gift from Nicole, from MarysMoxee on Etsy found HERE.

And while we’re on the topic of cry faces…here’s a cutesie video of a slightly fussy little gal showing off her supreme one-legged kicking skills.