Book Club

Recently a couple of my girl friends and I started a book club on Tuesday mornings in order to "stimulate" our brains with more than just gossip. We were getting together and just catching up, but then decided it was high time we did something intellectual! So, we are trying to read one book a week and then get together to chat about it and anything else that may come up. :) We have each chosen a book to read and now it is back to my turn. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good book that is not too long, but that is reading and conversation worthy. So far, we have read Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor, Glass Castle, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Thanks for any ideas you may have! Have a great weekend!

Play Date

For the past few weeks Evelyn and I have been visiting some new friends for play dates. Kevin and I met Jana and her husband in our Bradley Method child birthing classes and we managed to stay in touch with them. They have a darling boy, Aaron, who is almost 9 months old. I was finally able to, thanks to TC, capture some of what our experiences are like during these "dates." Just in the last two visits, the kids have really started to play together, crawl together, and enjoy each other's company. I swear they even carried on a conversation today!! It is also a great time for Jana and me to share mommy stories and have some adult conversation! Here are a few of the photos I snapped today. PS...it's hard to capture 2 babies at the same time!!
Baby Aaron

Jana and Evie

The fun begins!
We're learning to share! :)

Sneak attack for his favorite toy!

Ok, check out the look on Evie's face!! Think we will see that same look in a few years?

We're still learning to share

Life...Is a Highway

As the song says, life is a higway and I think that we can finally say that, (for the time being) we have left the difficulties that plagued us for several weeks, in the dust. In a continuation of the last post, I would like to explain that because Evelyn was having a difficult time sleeping and would not nap, we had to, as parents, do something that went completely against the way that we have parented this far and let Evelyn "cry it out" in order to learn how to sleep. It was something that we swore against and never expected we would have to do and it was the most stressful thing we have been through as a family. Because of this, we were unable to tend to many of the things that we had been able to in the past. Thank you to all of you that led me by the hand and assured me that despite what I read, Evie would still love us as parents and still be a happy baby in the end. I will say that each day is getting better and she is now napping much more consistently and sleeping through the night. It might seem, to some, like a small matter to be so upset about, but it was challenging and we have all made it to the other side!
In addition to all of this, Kevin has been very busy at work and at home, building a deck for us in the backyard and taking over the nightly parenting duties because I am working each night until 6:30 or 7. He does such a great job and I have to take the opportunity to mention that he is really the best daddy!
I sat, yesterday, for my certification test to officially become a Reading Specialist in the state of Oklahoma. I should have the results back in a few weeks and hope to be able to call myself a certified Reading Specialist.
Last, but not least, Evelyn celebrated her first Halloween on Wednesday and had a blast! She went as a flower (that I tried my best to make) and visited several friends and family members around Tulsa. It was our own form of trick-or-treating and she even got her first Halloween goody bag! We ended up at mom and dad's house where we had dinner and were able to enjoy handing out a bit of candy. Overall, it really was the best Halloween that I have had in a long time. Please enjoy some of the pictures from that evening and some of Evie's new talent...clapping!

Life

It has come to my attention that Kevin and I have been neglecting our blog lately. Well, I do apologize to those of you that check it and use it for updates on Evelyn, however, I will say that the past few weeks have been a bit difficult with her and have not allowed for much free time to sit and type away. In addition, our camera decided that it was time to quit working and we have not been able to replace it, as of yet. Evelyn is doing well, healthy and growing. She is not, though, sleeping as well as we would have hoped and naps are virtually non-existent. Kevin and I have realized that we are just in a difficult parenting time right now and that this too shall pass. Please keep Evie in your positive thinking thoughts and be patient if the blog is not regularly updated. Next time I post, I plan to have pics and good news to share with everyone.

E-Mobile

Well, my friends, it has finally happened! Evelyn is crawling! she took her first major crawl acroos the floor on Saturday night and since then, she has been buring a path on the floor chasing the dogs and getting into anything and everthing she can. Kevin and I spent Saturday night and Sunday baby-proofing the house and we still have more to go. I'm sure that it comes as no surprise, but we have quite the explorer on our hands! Enjoy the following pics of her new adventures and be sure there will be more to come!

On my way!!
Talking to Grams

Life is About to Change!!

So, over the past three days there have been some interesting developments in the life of Evelyn Paul. As displayed in the pictures below, she has figured out how to pull herself up and is now experimenting with it all over the house. She pulls up in her crib, on the couch, by the ottoman, and basically anywhere else she can get a good grip. What does this mean for mommy and daddy? Well, basically it means that our days of sitting peacefully with the baby are about to come to an end! :) In addition to her newest trick, she has figured out how to get around quite well in her walker and has made a sport out of chasing the dogs all over the house. This is really something you have to see to appreciate the extreme humor in it. Little Evelyn, running around in her walker, bumping into things, squealing and giggling as Pete and Sophie (and sometimes Duncan) run for their lives! I've said it time and time again, but having a baby really is such a fun thing! This little darling has developed quite an ornery personality and is a blast to watch in action!

Hi mommy!! Watch this!
Hmmm...look what I did!!

Baby Blues

So, Kevin got you all updated on what has been going on around here and as a mommy with no free time lately, I would just like to thank him for doing that! One small note, Evie has started taking somewhat of a nap in the afternoon (finally, after not sleeping regularly for about 2 weeks) the only catch is that she has to be "danced" to sleep listening to blues music and she has to be held the entire time she is sleeping! If the music is turned off or down or you lay her in her crib, she wakes up and wants up. So, in the 8 months she has been here, we have learned that she has a very eclectic taste in music (like her daddy) and a very particular way that she wants things done (like her....mommy). No matter what, Kevin and I say each day what a blessing she is and how lucky we are!
On a side note, to any grandparents out there, happy belated Grandparents' Day! To any grand kids out there that forgot, call today to tell them how grateful you are for them. I miss mine terribly and wish I could call each day.
Like Kevin said, we'll try to get better at timely posts :)

Long Overdue Update

So Evelyn has been sick for the last couple of weeks with a little cold. Her sleeping schedule has been a joke but things are beginning to level out again. Her top teeth are also beginning to push thru as well, another source of distress. Evelyn is attending baby sign and is having a good time.

Here she is with Grams in class.
We also attended The Art of Barbecue with the Paul's and Davis'. It was muddy but the food was good.
Then we recently enjoyed our first Drillers baseball game. We had a great time and so did Evelyn. Who is that other lady?
Dinner at The Cracker Barrel is always a good time. We could not resist putting the witch hat on her. Pretty cute... I mean scary.
Jess has signed up to sit for Reading Certification this fall and continues to see students as the school year has started. It has been work as usual for me. The shop was recently featured in a magazine article. You can read it here:

http://www.indmacdig.com/print/Industrial-Machine-Digest/Improved-Cast-Iron-Fines-Filtration-System-Pays-for-Itself-at-Paul-Precision/1$20

We will try and be more timely on our updates. Hope all is well with everyone.

Thursday at the Park

Last Thursday night, the Paul family joined the Pinix and Carlisle families for an evening at Utica Square for music, food, and fun. This was our first time to this event that is held each Thursday night during the summer at Utica Square. What a great time it was, just hanging out with the kids and enjoying a "cheap" night out of the house! I hope that we are able to make this a more regular outing as Evelyn had a great time and we got to eat, dance, and laugh.

Our spot for the night

Man guys...it's hot!!

Anna Lee and Evan on the dance floor

Fun with Granpops

Wuz Up Dawg?

Daddy says that this is Evelyn's "wuz up dawg" outfit...Mommy thinks she is a precious "dawg!" PS....Daddy dressed Evie this day...he's such a great dad!

Can I Get Fries With That?

Well, my friends, the time has come and Evelyn has begun the journey to real food. She started her first solid food last Monday and so far is really enjoying it! The first few times were the most hysterical experiences I have had in quite a long time. The look on her face as she took her first bite, the raspberries full of food that she blew all over me, and the chasing her swiveling head with the spoon to make sure she got as much as possible all made this experience so enjoyable! Honestly, the first 3 or 4 times, she absorbed more of the food than she actually ate. But, now she is a pro and welcomes the spoon with a sly grin and hands grabbing for more! Following are some of the pictures from the second day...enjoy

OK, mom...I'm ready

Watch this!!
Success!! Yum, Yum
But, right back out it comes....She's so funny!
See, absorbed more than she swallowed

Catching Up

A few weeks ago Evelyn, Grams and Mommy took a road trip to Oklahoma City to visit Great Grandma and Aunt Karen. We stopped by the house for a visit and Evelyn was as entertaining as ever chewing on her favorite toy...the measuring spoons. We had a really nice time and enjoyed to visit. While we were at lunch, Evelyn had her first experience sitting in a high chair at the table with the "grown-ups." She is getting to be such a big girl!!

Pretty in Pink

I only hope that all of you will enjoy these as much as I do!! I don't know if it was the dress or the entertainment of Grams, but these are some of the best pics we have captured lately.

Yes, she really is this happy! This goofy grin is the newest addition to her facial expressions and I think it has made its appearance because Evie is getting her first teeth!! That's right, 2 little pearly whites on the bottom row!

We took her to the doctor when we got back for a check up and our little girl is 28 1/2 inches long and 18 pounds. She is in 12 month clothes and the good news is that she is finally growing into her beautiful head. She is a healthy baby and a total blessing to her mommy and her daddy./ Parenthood is good!!!

Road Trip!!

This is the life!!

We just returned from our trip to Milwaukee. My brother and his fiance', Beth, tied the knot on 7-7-07 and the family trekked up to Milwaukee for the festivities. Thanks to the generosity of my father-in-law, we were able to ride in style in his Yukon XL (formerly known as a Suburban) and Evie was able to experience her first cross country road trip. She lasted in the car seat for about 2 hours and then we resorted to traveling with her like my parents traveled with us. She had a comfy bed made for her just behind the back seat and she ate, napped, and played the whole way!! What a trooper she was! And now she can say that she has been to 3 new states!

Checking to make sure daddy is still there

Are we there yet?!

Laundry Day

Chores that used to drive me crazy, even the smallest ones like laundry, are much more enjoyable with Evie! Here she is relaxing in a basket of freshly washed towels, while her dad plays with her and mom fixes dinner. Ahh, this is the life...enjoying a basket of towels!!

Sitting Pretty

Well, it is official, Evelyn is sitting up on her own! She has really been working on this new talent for a few weeks, but has always needed a bit of support. As of June 9th, she is sitting up all by herself. She loves to play in the floor surrounded by toys or sit and watch as the dogs go by. Time is going by so quickly!! Before we know it, she will be crawling...then the fun really begins!

Baby Phun!!

So, over the past few weeks Evelyn has become more and more fun to just watch and hang out with. She is laughing and squealing all of the time and is discovering so many things around her! What is amazing is that she is so entertained by the smallest thing! We hooked up her "Jumpster" about 3 weeks ago and she loves it!! I wish I had video to share with all of you because it is quite hysterical to watch. She jumps and spins and laughs with no cares in the world. As you can see in the above picture, she also tends to get very goofy while she is in it! The pictures below are of her hanging out at Grams' and Granpops' house while we helped in the kitchen. As you can see, she was a big help!
Having a child is an amazing thing! Each day I am so inspired by her to step back and enjoy the small things. I hope that you guys enjoy these pics as much as I do! Have a great day


"You know the difference between you and me?" "I make this baby walker look good!"

Entertained by a balloon....now that is the life!

Mother's Day

Because Father's Day is just around the corner, I wanted to pay tribute to Mother's Day and to my mom. For those of you that don't know my mom, she is the most amazing, giving person in the world! She has taught me to be the mother that I am and for that I will always be grateful! Enjoy the pic of 3 generations!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Well, it's official! Kevin and I are celebrating our 4th anniversary today. It has been a wonderful four years and I want to say thanks to him for being a part of my life and for being a great husband! I love ya honey!:)

Welcome Back!

I thought that it was about time to update this long forgotten blog. Because Kevin and I could find nothing exciting about ourselves to write about, we are going to use this site to keep everyone updated on little Evie and all of her activities. She is, of course, much more exciting. So, thanks for checking back in and I'll do my best to keep pictures posted and updates coming!