Let's Give Them Something to Talk About

I woke up this morning before Eva did. I thought I would quietly peak into her room and check on her. When I did I found her laying in her crib just quietly "talking" to herself. By talking I mean little baby coos and chuckles. She makes lots of little sounds but nothing that resembles human language yet. So there she was just talking away when I peaked over the crib to tell her good morning. It is so cute to see her in the morning because she always gives me a suspicious look for about 10 seconds before breaking out into a huge smile when she realizes " Oh, yeah, that's my mama!"

I got her up and fed her. She talked all while she was nursing - not an easy task to do! Then she talked the whole time that she played on her blanket with toys while I sat next to her and had breakfast. It's so funny because sometimes I can hold and get her to have a conversation with me. She coos, I answer in real words. Repeat 20 times. It's amazing. Of course, only one of us makes sense, but that's okay. Next she talked and talked and talked while we practiced tummy time. Usually she gets fussy but today she seemed pretty happy.

At 9:30 AM I rocked her and put her down for her nap. Within a minute of putting her down I could hear her chatting away over the baby monitor. Usually she either falls right asleep or cries because she pacifier falls out. Since I could tell that she was happy I just listened to her talk to herself for about ten minutes. And then silence. I guess she finally ran out of things to say :)

If the jeans fit....

{Photo Credit} 

I decided this week that I needed new jeans. Not wanted - needed. As in my other pants would.not.work. I have been living in the post baby era where maternity jeans are way too big but my old jeans do not fit either. This is a place no woman wants to be. I try not to be overly into my looks. I would like to come across put together and classy without spending an obsessive amount of time or money (I don't have much to spare of either). The other night my mom came over and held Eva while I mercilessly went through my closet. I probably made a donation pile of about 1/3 of my closet. I figure that other people can make better use of my clothes that no longer fit. Here's the ironic part about losing baby weight: you can loose ALL of the weight - actually more - but everything on your body is redistributed. And not swimsuit body redistributed. All of this to say, that I was feeling pretty desperate when I decided to go to the mall and conquer the task of shopping for jeans.

Bless my wonderful husband for going shopping with me last night. I walked into a store that I haven't shopped in often but thought would sell age and body appropriate fashions for a hip 28 year old mom. Their jeans were all on sale for 40-50% off! Yes! I was already on roll. I casually browsed the store and took a few pairs of pants back to the dressing room. I tried on the first pair. Too tight. I tried on the second pair. Too loose. Third pair - too short. Forth pair - too long. I was starting to feel like the Goldilocks of the fashion world and then the sales lady knocked on my door and asked, "Is everything fitting alright?" I opened the door with a helpless look and said, "No. Nothing fits. At all." And then I went on to explain my post baby relationship with pants. I was lucky to find the worlds most understanding and encouraging sales lady (she wasn't even working for commission). I told her that I'm not trying to look like a ultra-skinny 16 year old girl but that I don't want to fall into the dreaded "mom jeans" look either. She listened and looked at how everything fit me that I had tried on. She was a mom herself and could relate.

With her assistance, I probably tried on 30 pairs of pants. I'm sure she wished she had never knocked on my door, but she was so kind. I finally found 2 pairs that worked well. I figured since I was tackling this task I might as well pick out a dressy and a casual pair. The ironic/interesting/horrifying part is that the size of my new pants is so different from the old size of my pants. I know that size is just a number. I know that all stores size differently. I know that my baby just turned 3 months old and that it takes time to tone up after a c-section. Be honest though, do these facts make any difference when you are the one shopping for jeans? I didn't think so. BUT I did really like how I looked and felt in the jeans and they were very affordable. I decided to overcome the vanity of hating the size and get pants that look great on the body that I have right now.

3 Months Old

Dear Eva Kate,

Today you are 3 months old! Oh, what a mess of joy you have been today. This morning you ate and spit up all over me. And then you laughed. You looked at your toes during most of our photo time until I put you on your changing table. And then you laughed. You cried when I tried to fix breakfast while you played with your floor gym until I picked you up. And then you laughed. What can I say? At least every day with you is filled with smiles and laughter!

It is so awesome to see your personality developing and to see how you are becoming more aware of the world around you. Often during the day you will "talk" back and forth with me. You love to be held and rocked. Sometimes I think about setting you down more, but I know a day will come when you don't need to be held so much, so I think about that and decide to hold you just a little bit longer.

Your biggest accomplishment has been.... sleeping through the night!!!! Since the night after you turned 2 months old you have been sleeping through the night. Well, you have at least mostly been sleeping through the night. There have been a few hiccups but overall you are doing great. I can take no credit for this though because it wasn't anything I did. It just happened. You just slept all night one time and I guess you decided that you like it. And I do too :) We still swaddle you to sleep though we have just started to swaddle you with your arms out in the past few days. You like this just as much and it lets you chew on your fingers.

Outfit change!

Here is a typical day for you at 3 months:
8:00 AM Good Morning! You are awake and ready to eat. You are still nursing and feed for about 25 minutes. We play while I eat breakfast and do tummy time.
9:30 AM Morning Nap
10:15 AM More play time...sometimes we go for a walk during this time
11:00 AM Time to eat again
12:30 PM NAP
2:00 PM Awake and hungry! Eat again.
3:30 PM Shorter nap...just a little bit of beauty sleep
4:00 PM Play, play, play. I try to get you to do tummy time but you don't want to. We read. We talk about your toys. Exciting, wonderful baby things.
5:00 PM More food. Eat. Eat. Eat
5:30 PM Play with DADDY!!!!! Then hang out and do whatever plans we have for that night. We are usually on the go during this time.
8:00 PM Eat some more. Daddy usually gets to give you a bottle at this time.
8:30 PM Bath time. You love the tub.
9:00 PM Into your jammies and time to sleep
10:00 PM Late night snack - gotta eat one more time before bed
10:30 PM Goodnight.

Add it 10 - 15 diaper changes and a million kisses and that is a typical day for you, Eva.

Giggles!

Here is what else you've been up to:
* You like to hold onto our hands and stand up. You are awesome at putting weight down on your feet. You are also very good at holding your head and neck up when you do this.
*You LOVE to smile at Daddy. He must be the funny one.
* You like to look at the lights on the Christmas tree and are interested in the "snow" inside my gingerbread house snow globe.
* You occasionally grab a toy on your floor gym. Yesterday I saw you grab one and then put both hands on it. Woah. (Probably by chance)
* You do not like to be in the car. Your carrier is okay if you are in the stroller, but you don't want to be left alone in the backseat. This has made for some very loud car rides.
* No more newborn clothes. You fit just right into 0-3 months and some 3 month clothes.
* How much do you weigh? I'm not sure because we don't get a check up this month, but I'd guess around 12 pounds. I'm sure you've grown some in the past month but it doesn't seem like tons. Your mind is doing all the growing this month :)
* You will need to attend Pacifiers Anonymous one day. You are already so addicted to your "binky."

Mama, I'm done taking pictures now. Seriously.

My heart is so full of happiness every time I see you. It is the most amazing blessing to spend each and every day with you, little girl.

love, Mama

Eva's Dedication

This morning at church we had Eva Kate dedicated. In a baby dedication the parents present the baby before the church and promise to model Christ's love to her, pray for her, and to teach her about the Bible and Jesus. It is different than baptism in that we believe that Eva will hopefully one day place her faith in Jesus and that the decision to be a believer in Christ is one that she must make on her own. Above all else for our little girl, I'm praying that one day we will be celebrating with her when she decides to get baptized.

After we dedicated her our family and our Pastor Scott prayed for Eva Kate and for us. I love our church and that we have a family of believers.

Proud parents! I adore our baby so much and enjoyed presenting her before the church. The gown she wore was sewn by my mom 27 years ago. My sister and I both wore it and have our names embroidered in it - and now we can add Eva's name as well :)

Ryan's side of the family

We had so many family members there to enjoy this special day. After church we all went out to Mi Cocina's to stay warm with some Mexican food.

My side of the family

We really appreciate everybody that joined us on the cold, rainy day. We love you all so much!

Wassail Fest 2011

Last night we went to Denton for the annual Wassail Fest. We were also celebrating my best friend Ashley's 26th birthday! I love this yearly tradition. It is fun to drink hot cider, see the lights, and laugh with friends. The weather was perfect - cold enough to feel wintry but not too windy or frigid. Sadly, this was the first year that Brave Combo, a polka band, has not been the main entertainment. I did miss dancing around and doing the polka version of The Chicken Dance.

After wassailing for a while we walked down to Fuzzy's for some good tacos and cupcakes. Happy Birthday, Ashley!

The birthday girl and her boyfriend Jason

Best Friend Marianne and her husband Regan

Sometimes a girl has to go a'wassailing!

My baby was safely bundled under many layers. We had every intention of carrying her in our Moby until we got out of the car and realized that neither of us had packed it. Oops. So instead we had to be "stroller people." You know, the ones that walk to slow and are always in the way? Yes, that was us. But Eva did great. She was very content to stare at the lights and be adored all night long. Side note - did you know that restaurants are not required to have a baby changing station in the restroom? It's something I never paid attention to until I had a baby that needed her diaper changed right then. There are not many sanitary / practical alternatives. Luckily Marianne was able to help me out a bit and we got Eva taken care of.

Dear Fuzzy's in Denton,
Please add a changing station. Thanks.
From a food loving patron

A Visit to Santa

Last night Eva got to see Santa for the first time! She told him that she's been a very good girl (eats and sleeps like a champ!) and that she would like a huge package of Pampers for Christmas (let's be practical, Santa!). Just kidding... but it was fun to get a picture of her with Santa. We went to the Westlake Community Christmas and had fun walking around, visiting friends, and seeing the Big Guy. I'm sure I mentioned this last year, but I LOVE community holiday events. LOVE them. Everybody is so happy and there is music and laughter. Tonight we're making the trek to Denton for Eva to go to her first Wassail fest. Hope to see many Denton friends there!

P.S. Check out the onesie on Eva. I made it by tracing her hands for the antlers and her foot for the reindeer head. Super easy and way cheap, plus it makes a fun keepsake!

Christmas Time is Here

For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

I am so joyful to begin this Christmas season. Maybe a little too joyful... yesterday morning I excitedly asked Ryan if he wanted to begin our advent calendar together. He smiled and replied, "Sure... tomorrow..." I was so joyful that I thought yesterday was December 1st! Needless to say, we did our advent calendar first thing THIS morning as we began our December.

I am looking forward to doing many Christmas things as a family with Eva, even though she will be too little to understand or remember - but that's what pictures are for! This is also our first year to send out a Bradley family Christmas card. We agreed when we got married that we wanted to wait until we had a baby. I love how our card turned out! I wish I could have sent one to everyone I know, but we were limited, so at least I can share it with everybody on my blog!

Merry Christmas from our snuggle bear and her joyful parents.