Saying Goodbye

Me, Wendye and Evie

Judy, Me, Wendye and Michelle

Racheal, Evie, Judy, Shelly, Wendye, Me, Michelle and Dana

Michelle, Wendye, Me and Evie

There are many great things about the Army but one of the things I don't like is that it keeps taking away my best friends.  Wendye has become one of my dearest friends over the last few years.  We met through work and were both RNs in surgery.  She always had my back in the OR and we worked like clock work anticipating the other person's moves.  We really didn't become best friends until our husbands returned from tour but since then we have bonded as close as sisters.  Wendye is an amazing mother, wife and friend and I am going to miss her so much! I am dreading the last few months here without her and honestly don't know what I will do without my confidante and workout buddy.  She is moving to Fort Bliss, TX November 31st.   We have become so close and have laughed, cried and can even finish each other sentences.   I feel so blessed that God has placed her in my life and can honestly say that she has taught me a lot of valuable lessons that I will take with me forever. 

This past weekend we had a going away party for her and although there is nothing I could do to show her how special she is to me it was a great night.  There was lots of yummy food and we played Bunko.  I know Wendye had a great time and felt appreciated which is exactly what I wanted. 

Our First Family 5K!

Travis warming up for the big race and listening to talk radio.

 

 

 

Wendye, Me, Michelle, Evie and Gabby

Travis, Me, Evie and Gabby waiting to start our race

Evie (12 weeks) with Stanly and Gabby (14 weeks)

The first place winners!!! Travis is the only one that broke a sweat.

Evie got a new hat to keep her warm on the runs

I have been running by myself and with friends and so this weekend our family entered in our first 5K race.  It was so much fun to get out there and run.  Travis ran with the little girls and took first place.  I was so proud of him!  The babies were so good and never cried just laid back and enjoyed the bumpy ride.  The big girls (Wendye, Michelle and I)  did really good for our first race.   I have many more races planned and honestly hope that is something that our family continues to do together. 

The race was downtown and they were also doing celebrating Veteran's Day with booths and music so we walked up and down the street.   When I saw this penguin hat Travis and I couldn't resist and got it for Evie.  It will be really handy on our cold morning runs to keep her ears warm. 

Our Louisiana Family

Great Grandpa George.  Evie gets her orneriness from him.

Rene and Evie

Auntie Wendye and Evie

Although we are far from home we have made such good friends here in Louisiana they are like family.  It is so wonderful as a mom to see so many people truly love and cherish Evie.  She always has someone asking to hold her or bring her more gifts. She is so loved and I think she knows it!

12 Weeks Old

I am 12 weeks

I will rule the world

Evie is 12 weeks old!!!!!!  This week has been tricky with her sleep schedule! She has been very restless in the middle of the night which means lots of trips in and out of bed trying to put Stanly (her giraffe pacifier) back in her mouth or swaddling her back up.  I have had more sleepless nights recently but in the morning when I walk in there and she sees me peek over the side of her crib and say good morning she has started to smile back at me.  She is all about her hands and mouth or hands in her mouth this weeks.  We have started teaching Evie sign language and although she can't sign back she smiles when we sign to her.  I really think she can recognize kiss and milk.  She has started to love to look at the TV or our phones whenever they are on.  She is talking more and more to us and really studies our mouth and hands when they move.  She has also started to really reach for objects.  The only change that is challenging is she has started to really scream when she isn't getting her way. 

Celebrations!

This week I turned in my resignation letter at Byrd.  It is rather bitter sweet because I learned so much and have so many friends at work.  However nothing is more important than trying to soak in every minute I can with Evalynn.  To celebrate Evie and I went to a local store and tried on some clothes.  Doesn't she look good in zebra fur!

Our Puuurrrfect Halloween

My little Kitten

Waiting of trick-o-treaters

Our Puurrfect Feline Family

I told Evie she couldn't have any candy....we had a long talk after this picture

Evie has got her claws out!  This is another mean mug face.

Road kill and his kitten

Our neighbors and us handing out candy.

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays.  I have never really understood why adults liked to dress up in tiny costumes and pretend they are kids again, until this year.  Evie was a kitten this year and I had planned on doing nothing for Travis and I, but that afternoon I decided that we would be a feline family.   Even though Evie didn't get a single piece of candy and slept through the entire holiday it was one of my favorite Halloweens I have ever had.  I can't wait till I am taking her from house to house next year and her saying something that sounds similar to "trick or treat."  Travis was a Tom cat and he did his own makeup, but by the end of the night it was all smeared and so I said he looked more like road kill. 

Eleven Weeks Old

Look at me I am 11 weeks old

I don't want to grow up!

Evie is 11 weeks and is really starting to show more and more of her personalty.  She is such a good baby and hardly cries.  This week though she has found her voice and if I guess wrong she quickly lets me know that is not what she wanted.  The other thing I have noticed is that she HATES to be woken up early from her naps.  Just another confirmation that she is her daddy's daughter.  She also hates tummy time! She loves to look out and watch everything.  She is cooing and babbling more and more and it is adorable.  She has also started playing with her hands and her mouth more.

Bumbo Time

Evie at ten weeks old

"Look Mom I am sitting up!"

Evie is a little young to be put in the Bumbo but she loves it and does really well sitting up for the most part.  She sits on the counter in the morning or at night while I am cooking.  It gives us lots of time to go over what each food is and the utensils.  She just stares and tries to take in all the sights, sounds and smells, but I know she is learning. 

Evie's Mean Mug

Travis and I call this face her "Mean Mug."  I could sit and look at those eyes and kiss those chubby cheeks.  I wish I could read her mind and listen to what she is thinking when she has this face on.

Sunday's Best

Ready for church

This just makes me smile!

She knows she looks good!

Having a little girl sometimes takes me back to when I was young playing with my dolls; dressing them up and doing their hair.  The only big difference is your daughter is WAY better!  I started out with my favorite dress of Evie's.  I always called Evie "Guppy" while she was in my belly and while shopping I found this guppy line at a store and bought it all.  Well it was a cold morning so I added the jacket and tights.  Her feet looked so bare so then I dug through her shoes and I couldn't resist I put the furry boots on! I added the bow and POW Evie's Sunday best.  It really is a fashion disaster and years from now she will look at this and ask what was I thinking.  I can tell her that I was dressing my baby doll up and got a little carried away:)

Russian Dinner

Delicious Russian Food!!

George, Mary, and some other friends from church were invited over for this delicious meal

Evie was the life of the party

She was too pooped to party after dinner

Dominick is the Russian couple from our church's little boy. He loves holding Evie.

Good friends of ours from church invited us over for an authentic Russian cuisine meal. It was fun hanging out with people from our church having a good meal and learning a little bit of Russian.

Daddy Daughter Time

Recently Travis had staff duty at Battalion Headquarters so he had to stay there 24 hours. We went to visit him and bring him dinner and just hang out. Evie enjoyed laying on the ground with him and playing. Evie really enjoys Travis' voice and stares at him while he talks and sings to her. I always enjoy watching the two of them interact and can't wait for her to grow up and get to know her Dad even better.

My Running Buddy

Evie is my running and walking buddy! She loves to be outside on the rolling sidewalks of Fort Polk. I have started running a little more. I am really slow, but it just feels good to get moving.

Nine Weeks Old

Add caption

She is growing up way to fast! She isn't really doing anything new this week but growing faster and faster.  She loves to watch me talk and reacts to funny noises I make.  One of her favorite is when I saw "Moooo over Evie."  I am so thankful for her and Travis. 

Evie's Two Month Checkup and Shots

Travis passing the time

Travis trying to stay warm

My poor baby resting

Evie had her 2 month check up and got her first set of vaccinations.  She did really well! She cried while getting her shots but once they were done and I got to pick her up and hold her she calmed right down.  She was very tired and cranky after she got her shots which was totally expected.  That night we went to Bible study and I noticed she was getting warm.  When we got home I took her temperature and it was 100.4.  I wasn't too worried but when we originally left the hospital they said a temp of 100.1 was cause to bring Evie to the hospital.  Travis insisted that we call the triage nurse.  I was honestly just calling to see when the 100.1 temperature ended and 101 was considered a temperature.  By the end of the conversation though the nurse advised us to go to the emergency room.  At eleven o'clock we packed everything up and headed in to the ER.  Travis was very worried and was already telling me the Army protocol if Evie is admitted over night.  I really wasn't worried but when someone tells you to take your daughter in you loose all reason and I knew that if something did happen I would regret not taking her in.  Evie was checked out and got her first and hopefully last rectal thermometer reading.  Evalynn got a clean bill of heath thank goodness and we were home by three in the morning.   As frustrating and tired as Travis and I were we laughed so much waiting for the doctor to see us.   My favorite is when I told Travis to reenact Evie getting her rectal temperature being taken...he nailed it. Watching Travis on the stretcher with a sheet over his head like he was marry with his fuzzy Santa socks was also a memory I will not forget.