Evelyn is 8 months old

Evelyn,
 You are getting so big.  You aren't my tiny, little baby anymore.  Everything "baby" you are growing out of and I am getting rid of.  And it breaks. my. heart.  You have done everything so quickly ( in my eyes) and I am having a really hard time letting go of you not being my baby.  The other day I thought way too hard and long about it and ended up in tears.  Why do I do that to myself?

Don't get me wrong.  It has been a joy watching you grow and learn new things.  At the same time, I am having a hard time grasping that you are the last little baby I will have.  No more newborn clothes (although actual newborn size clothes you never fit in because you were almost 10 pounds!!!!).  No more midnight feedings.  No more burping you between every few ounces.  No more holding a sleeping baby.  And the list could go on.  I just am really going to miss you being teeny tiny.  I know this is what is supposed to happen.  And, boy, am I thankful you are growing like you are supposed to be and that you are so healthy and adjusted and happy.  But, I just wish time would slow down.

Anyway, enough with the sadness.  Because the fact is, you are a healthy, beautiful, happy 8 month old.  Goodness, I love you.   You bring us so much happiness and joy it is unreal!  I love everything thing about you. Absolutely everything.  What a blessing and gift you are from the giver of all things good.  God has filled my heart (and my hands) with so many beautiful, healthy gifts and I am so unworthy.  So unworthy.  Nonetheless, He gave you to me.  What a good God!

Evie, you have begun crawling.  You love to eat food, but not your bottles so much.  You have too many things to do.  Bottles just get in the way of all the places you need to meander to and all the scraps of paper, leftover and dropped crumbs, and shoes you need to put into your mouth.  You love having freedom to explore, but we have to watch you like a hawk.  You are putting a new spin to baby-proofing for us.  You see, with your two sisters the only baby-proofing we really did was put gates on the stairs.  They never really got into things.  You, however are a whole different ball game.

You are around 17-18 pounds.  You wear 6-9 month clothing and some 12 month clothing.  You wear size 3 diapers.  You are supposed to drink a minimum of 24 ounces of formula per day.  We are not getting there  many days. As much as I try to force persuade you to drink it, you want absolutely, unequivocally nothing to do with it.  You do love to eat food though.  I have enjoyed making you your food this time around.  I didn't even attempt it with the other two and I really wish I had.  It is so easy and I feel so good knowing what you are eating.  You love butternut squash, sweet potatoes and avocado.  You also love yogurt, pears, bananas, oatmeal, plums,  and peaches.

You are on a pretty reliable schedule.  You wake up around 8 on your own.  I often wake you up at 7 so I can feed you your bottle before the other two rise and whine shine.  This usually will guarantee me that you will at least eat about 6 ounces.  Then you eat breakfast around 9 or 9:30.  On the days I have to take Ava and Sally to preschool I usually give you breakfast while they are eating breakfast.  Around 10 you take a nap that lasts about an hour and a half.  On preschool days we often miss the nap and run errands, go to Weight Watchers and just play and have some one on one time.  I love those moments with you so much.  I attempt another bottle around noon or a little after and then you may eat like 4 ounces of it.  Then, I scurry around making you lunch and trying to figure out how much of your uneaten bottle I can mix into your food.  I usually end up with 2 bowls full of a veggie and fruit mixed with cereal so you will get the other four ounces of your bottle in that way.  Many times this method works.  I just always hope I didn't stuff you silly and you explode with a massive spit up.  You nap again around 2 or 3, along with your sisters.  This time, I must admit, is glorious and the only thing that keeps me from spinning out of control.  It is also the time that helps me to stay calm and nice during the evening hours (usually).  Once you wake up from your second nap, it is usually 5 or 6 in the evening.  You will tolerate about another 4 ounces of bottle and then you want to play and discover.  You will eat dinner soon after and then I try to get you to drink the rest of your bottle right before I put you to bed between 8-9 pm.  So that is a typical day.  I am sure one day you will be so interested in your daily schedule.  😉

You now participate in the bath time with your sisters.  You like it. But you much more prefer when you get to splish and splash on your own without Ava and Sally crowding you.

One day, daddy was able to pick up Ava and Sally and take Ava to her swim lessons.  So, it was just me and you.  He took the van which had the stroller in it.  I had wanted to take you on a walk and I figured that since you could sit up, we would try the wagon.  You were strapped in and loved it.

Getting you to actually fall asleep and cuddle is rare these days.  😔 But when you do, I soak it up.

Evelyn, I am so grateful for you.  There really aren't words that can express the love a child brings to a parents heart.  But it is unlike any other.  I am eternally grateful that God allows us to become parents so that we can, in a very small way, experience the love the Father has for us.