Our Life in Pictures (November & December)

I'm going to stop being apologetic about not posting because to tell you the truth, I'm not really sorry. I'm disappointed that I won't be able to look back and see what cute new things Evie was doing in November, December, and January, but things were just too hectic. My nights were extremely long and the last thing I wanted to do was sit at the computer and write.

Evie and I have been sick a few times despite receiving flu shots. The holidays were busy, my computer was in the shop, I've been sleeping a lot, and been extremely lazy. It may even be possible that I had a slight case of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Well I seem to be out of that slump now and ready to post! Unfortunately, posting isn't the only thing I have been neglecting as I haven't been taking many pictures lately; hence, I only have pictures from November and December.

i love this picture. i love her.

happy first birthday, evie! it's her first birthday, so we needed a special cupcake. sweet many b's was  the only way to go.

after making this mess, she began to cry.

birthday celebration #3 (these pics are out of order)

birthday celebration #2

visiting santa at three cedars farm. unsuccessful. she looks at mrs. and mr. claus cautiously and from the safety of the long hallway.

at a playdate at the university of michigan botanic gardens. there she was pelted with a rock in the face by an older girl.

looking sweet christmas morning rocking her matilda jane outfit

at this point in time she found herself on the floor a lot due to her developing walking skills

her first doll. hopefully she doesn't handle human babies in the same manner.

love this girl!

(un)decorating the tree

birthday balloons

sooo big. 

orthopedics review course

successful santa visit at the mall in barrington

shy

sending her to her grandparents'

a little christmas magic

abra cadabra

falling behind

Again, I am behind on my blog posts! I swear, without fail, with winter around the corner I begin to go into hibernation mode like a bear. I am constantly thinking about sleep, sleep when I can, and sleep for long periods of time. Recently when Evie has been napping, I skip the housework and take a nap right along with her. Unfortunately, I prefer longer naps while she opts for short ones. And just like a bear, my appetite changes drastically in the winter. Unlike the rest of humanity who loves to load up on carbs during the colder months, I lose my appetite completely, sometimes eating one meal a day. It seems like my metabolism slows down, and I begin to use my reserves from warmer months. Ok, sorry for the TMI....All this to say I haven't been getting a lot done.

Anywho, Evie is officially walking!!!! This is great news as now she goes where she wants and sometimes entertains herself. It's very fun and exciting to see what interests her and what activities she chooses to engage in. You can typically find her walking around with her red bucket around her wrist or hiding in the curtains, her daddy's shirts, or the shower curtain. Evie is also waving "hi" and "bye" as well as saying, "HI!" Currently, her favorite toy is probably my phone that she pretends to talk on while holding up to her ear. She also makes a "woof" sound whenever we talk about dogs.

We also have more teeth!!! Her top two teeth have officially made an appearance. You can't miss them. They seem like they are going to be large and in charge just like mommy and daddy's. Poor girl! It also seems as though her incisors are erupting through her gums as she has had a few very slobbery days and been quite the crank monster.

In October we were very excited to have house guests! The Cleys visited Ann Arbor (technically Ypsilanti) and it was a blast! We visited a few pumpkin patches and took A LOT of pictures. Of course I became emotional when they left. This used to happen to me when I was pregnant, and I thought it had something to do with my pregnancy hormones, but apparently not. OR, maybe now I'm just conditioned to cry upon someone's departure.

<3 the cleys clan

We celebrated out first Halloween this year by trick or treating at a nursing home and downtown Ann Arbor. We even had two costumes. Evie was a pretty peacock as well as a zebra. The peacock costume is definitely my favorite but unfortunately not suitable for 50 degree weather. I had a great time, but I think Evie will enjoy next year's Halloween a bit more. She seemed to enjoy the attention at the nursing home but fell asleep in her stroller during our trick or treating stroll downtown.

fall trees at the arboretum 

the picture doesn't even capture the beauty of these trees

Evie and I have been staying busy with lots of playdates and walks. I am very thankful that I have so many mommy friends here in Ann Arbor! I basically make plans to get out of the house everyday otherwise we both go stir crazy (Evie and I can only play peek-a-boo in the curtains or dad's shirts before one of us gets bored or ends up in tears). We also made sure to enjoy the Indian Summer and fall colors before it became cold and the leaves fell of the trees. I still cannot believe it is November. I also have a birthday in a few days that I'm having some uneasiness about. Twenty-eight is starting to sound a bit old. I cannot believe I'm in my late twenties now. It's a bit of a slap in the face. Time really flies, especially when you have a kid! I remember my aunt telling me that once you turn 21, the years race by. At the time, I didn't believe her, but holy cow! I don't even remember years 22 through 26. I'm sure this has something to do with the 4 years I feel like I lost attending graduate school, but I had fun during those years, too! Didn't I? Why can't I seem to remember anything besides my wedding?

In other news, Dave has been working his typical long hours, which means we don't really see him. Sometimes Evie is asleep before he gets home. I feel bad for her and for Dave. Sometimes I feel bad for myself, too. First, I really like spending time with my husband. Second, this has lead Evie to become extremely attached to me. This is a problem when I need to separate from her for any reason. Today I put her in the nursery for my Side by Side group and she flipped. She cried for half an hour before they called me to the nursery. Then, I still couldn't calm her; every time I put her down, crying ensued. I'm not sure how to address this problem yet. Let me know if any of you have some suggestions.

We're looking forward to a visit from Abby Wassel starting tomorrow!!! I'm super excited to celebrate my birthday with her! Dave's parents are also coming in for a visit this weekend which should be really fun, too :) It should be an excellent birthday weekend!!!!

All this excitement has got me tired. My fatigue is beginning to get the best of me. Until next time (whenever that may be).

the arb trails during autumn are amazing!

pretty as a peacock

shoot

About two years ago, my husband gifted me the best Christmas present ever -- my camera. It was a big purchase, and I was not expecting it at all! I had been talking about wanting one, but knowing our financial situation, I had not set my hopes high. I figured I'd get one once he began residency and was earning a living. Being the awesome guy that he is, he had made the purchase knowing that it was something that I really wanted and that I would use a great deal. I think he has been happily surprised that I have been and continue to get so much use out of it.

Photography is something I enjoy immensely. I find joy in every aspect. If you look at my history, hobbies for me have been short lived. Unless, of course, you count school as a hobby. I'll pick something up for a short period of time, and soon enough, it goes on the back burner, only to be replaced by something else. Eventually the artifacts end up in some box in the back of my closet. This hasn't been the case so far. Since moving to Michigan and living on one income, I have tried to avoid situations where I will spend money (namely the mall). Photography has given Evie and I a good excuse to get out of the house and explore our surroundings (which are beautiful by the way, especially during Autumn). At night, when Evie has gone to bed and Dave is reading for tomorrow's cases or working on research, I boot up the trusty Mac (RIP Steve Jobs- thank you for changing my life) and spend the night editing. Sometimes post-processing keeps me up until the wee hours of the night but the finished product is soo worth it!

I have briefly considered turning my hobby photography into a work venture. Sometimes I think this is a great idea, but then I am quickly overwhelmed with the many reasons it would not work (lack of childcare, investment in lenses, lack of time, my perfectionism). I figure the best way to know whether or not this is something I truly want to invest in is to practice. So, in the meantime, if anyone desires a photo session (pro bono), please let me know. Taking pictures of someone other than Evie would be refreshing. Moreover, I think she may have developed an aversion to the camera and may need to spend some time away from it. 

falling back into our routine

We returned to Michigan and so did Autumn, our favorite season. Our little family enjoyed the remainder of our stay in Chicago (daddy joined us on the 17th), but it is so good to be back home! Unfortunately, it seems we couldn't leave Chicago without taking a souvenir along with us. Evie caught a virus which she so generously passed on to Dave and myself. We took our poor girl to the doctor who diagnosed her with croup. Our little peanut is doing much better now. We had our 9 month check up last week, and our little heavyweight is tipping the scale at around 18 pounds. She received the first round of a two part flu shot which will hopefully be beneficial in preventing future illnesses.

We happily jumped back into our routine and are enjoying our friends who we've missed while we have been away. We've been practicing walking and Evie can now walk with the help of her Sit to Stand Learning Walker (awesome invention, btw)! On most days Evie only takes one nap in the afternoon and typically goes to bed at 8 pm (hooray). Yesterday she started making her first consonant sounds!! It sounds like she's saying "PSH." I love it! She even spits a little when she says it :) Also, I noticed her little top tooth poking through! This little chick is growing up sooo fast.

We have been enjoying Autumn by visiting farms, cider mills, and orchards as much as we can. Dave had this past weekend off, so we headed to Dexter Cider Mill (twice) to enjoy cider and donuts. Evie and I also visited Three Cedars Farm on two occasions with friends. Both locations are extremely charming. I think I may have to take a break from these outings as it is possible that I have consumed a record breaking amount of sweets (in the form of sugar and cinnamon coated donuts) in the past 5 days. Nevertheless, we are really digging living in Michigan in the fall. The leaves have begun to change color, and I enjoy driving down the country roads admiring the massive trees and foliage. So much so that sometimes I accidentally swerve because I'm mesmerized by their beauty. I'm looking forward to enjoying as much time outside as I possibly can before the winter frost sets in and we're homebound. According to the forecast, we will be having at least a week of Indian Summer. We plan on taking full advantage of it.

we came across these trees when driving on the back roads by our home

long time no post

Evie and I have been back in Chicago since August 21st. A lot has happened since we've been here. In regard to milestones, Evie has been crawling up a storm!! Before we left Michigan, she had been kind of getting the hang of it. She was getting where she wanted to be, but her movements were rather clumsy and she was moving slowly. Now she is crunning (crawl-running). You really have to keep an eye on her because she takes off. Once we get back to Michigan, installing a gate in front of the stairs will be one of the first things we do.

Other great news- we have kind of gotten a handle on bedtime! One day when Evie was especially crabby, and I was desensitized to her crying, I let her cry it out in her crib. It was still one of the more difficult things I've had to do as a mommy. I sat right outside the bedroom and listened to her wail for 20 minutes (only consoling her once in that time), but it was one of the best things I have done. I now, on average, only have to put her in her crib for about 15 minutes each night and she clonks out. For the past week and a half she has been asleep by 8 pm! This has changed my life dramatically. I finally have a good chunk of time to myself.

The past few days have been a little rough. Evie appears to be teething again, and along with that, she has caught another cold. It has been relatively minor, and today she seems to be doing a lot better. Hopefully her top two teeth will soon erupt, and she will be back to her smiley self.

We've been missing daddy a ton. Evie and I try to video chat with him every chance we get. We're looking forward to getting back into our daily routine when we return to Michigan on September 21st.

my latest endeavor

Ever since I was informed that I was going to be having a baby girl, I have had my eye out for cute clothes and accessories. In the process of scoping out goods, I have fallen in love with hair accessories. Evie popped out and surprise- no hair! Nevertheless, my love for hair accessories turned into a desire to create my own. Since January, I have been working in the wee hours of the night, glue gun in hand, to make hair clips and headbands. I just wanted to post a few of my favorites.

My hope is to sell my accessories, but I have not yet decided if I will do this through Etsy, Facebook, or another website. You will notice that I do not have any headbands posted as I'm still working on perfecting my headband creations. More to come soon!

time is on my side

"Time is on my side" - Jerry Ragovoy aka Norman Meade

Is it? Lately I've been feeling as though that is the one thing in my life that I'm lacking. I've been working diligently to daily cross tasks off of my (seemingly never ending) to do list. When I (happily) quit graduate school and work to be a stay at home mom, I was so excited at the thought of having endless amounts of time and energy to devote to things that I have always wanted to do such as learning how to cook, photography, blogging, crafts, reading (I can go on and on). Perhaps the first year of a baby's life is just extra challenging for a mom, but I don't find myself with chunks of extra time to devote to my new found hobbies. I find myself counting down the hours and minutes until Evie takes her next nap or goes down for the night so that I can enjoy supergluing a flower to a headband or spilling flour all over my kitchen. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with Evie, but sometimes you need to accomplish some things scrawled on your to do list to feel like you have been productive. And why have I been so busy with the little one, you ask? Well....she's been quite busy.

Just yesterday Evie began to produce immeasureable amounts of mucus (i.e. she caught a cold). My little snot factory had a pretty miserable night. I slept in the twin bed next to her crib as she tossed, turned, and gasped for breath all night. She seems to be in good spirits throughout the day. She smiles, laughs, and bangs her toys together. Occasionally she will extend her hands out towards me so that I'll pick her up. I follow her cue as she lays her head on my shoulder. Apparently she's just checking in to see that I'm available for her because as soon as I struggle to get up off the floor, she immediately begins to push away from me. I can relate; when I'm sick, I'm pretty indecisive as well. I don't know what I want and nothing feels right. You just feel like garbage. Poor girl. Along with my wide feet, she seems to have inherited my weak immune system. I mean the girl has been sick 4 times now and she's not even 8 months old yet. Isn't this the primary reason I'm feeding her breast milk?

(please skip the next paragraph if the topic of breast feeding and breast milk make you feel ill) 

As of last week I had made the tough decision to slowly wean Evie off of breast milk. Bring on the guilt!! My goal was to pump for 6 months, and I told myself that pumping for any more than that was just bonus. Well, it's almost been 8 months, and I can't help but feel guilty at the thought of quitting. There were many reasons that I decided to toil and provide Evie breast milk as opposed to formula. The primary reason being to boost Evie's immune system. I'm not sure if I was successful or not, but the girl has been sick every other month. And I don't think I'm going to be stopping any time in the next week. Her recent malady has got me working overtime! Any mom who breastfeeds/pumps for a whole year deserves an award! It is HARD work, and I'm shocked that I've been able to do it this long. 

Let's move on to less serious subjects. I have a book recommendation for everyone out there! Read Tina Fey's Bossypants! I highly recommend it, and I haven't even finished it as of yet. If you like to laugh, this is the book for you. If you like more serious topics, I have recommendations for you as well! If you are feeling particularly serious give, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach a try. If politics is what you fancy, pick up John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's Game Change. Please note that I have not finished any of these novels and that this is the result of lack of time rather than evidence that I meet at least one of the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis. 

my funny girl

Speaking (or rather writing) of laughing, Evie has been cracking me up as of late. Today, as opposed to other days when she doesn't have cold germs covering her hands and face, she thought it would be hilarious to put her hand in my mouth (and then remove it, and then put it back in again). I too thought this was funny and I couldn't spoil the fun especially because I knew she was feeling crummy. Anything to make her laugh right now is worth it. I can already tell that I'm going to be a great disciplinarian. 

Attention!!! New milestone met!!! Evie can now stand up all by herself. It's been about 3 days and she can now do it with the greatest of ease. I'm thinking she'll be walking in no time. It seems as though she is in a rush to grow up as she seems to be wanting to skip the whole crawling phase. 

kate and christian

evie's first trip to the lake

This last weekend we had Grandma and Grandpa Ruta in town along with Aunt Beth and Uncle Matt and cousins Katelyn and Christian. We had the best time! Friday we visited the pool. On Saturday we spent the morning at Independence Lake and then had lunch at Dominick's. After spending some more time at the pool (these kids are fish :) grandma and grandpa treated us by babysitting the grandkids and Dave, Matt, Beth, and I visited The Jolly Pumpkin for a couple of hours and unwound. Sunday we took our visitors to Kerrytown followed by a visit to County Farm Park where the kids played together before everyone headed home. It was such a wonderful weekend, and we all enjoyed spending time with family.

cousins

I apologize for jumping topics so much in this post. As I read through this post I notice I covered a lot. I plan on posting more frequently so as to avoid this and focus more on one topic. It's on my list.