Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A Visit to Connecticut
Last weekend Evan and I got the chance to head up to Connecticut to visit my sister while Ian went on a diving trip. I was excited to see Audra and Tommy but a little nervous about hauling Evan and I and all our luggage through the airport by myself. Fortunately, I've traveled enough with the whole family that I was pretty used to it, and strangers are very nice when they see babies. So, we arrived at La Guardia after an uneventful trip, well, unless you count the surprising news that Michael Jackson had died that Audra passed on when we landed.
The first day that we were there was the girls shopping day. Well, Evan tagged along too. First, we headed to the mall to get a bite to eat. In the middle of the food court was a huge carousel. Evan had never been on one, so we couldn't let this opportunity pass us by. We hopped on. Evan didn't know what to think at first, but by the end of the ride he was happily watching the people pass us by. He also was lucky enough to get some strawberry ice cream on the way out of the mall, YUM!
After our excursion to the mall we headed over to Babies R Us to scope out what Audra needed for her baby registry. It was nice to feel helpful and like I actually knew what I was doing as I showed her some things in the store. It's amazing how much difference a year makes because that store was the most overwhelming place that Ian and I had ever seen when we were creating our registry. I'm glad I could help it not be quite so overwhelming for Audra and Tommy (hopefully).
The last stop in our shopping day was Destination Maternity because Audra had started to outgrow her clothes and needed to get some actual maternity clothes. While she had some difficulty because she's so small to start with, she managed to find lots of cute clothes. She was amazed at how much more comfortable they were than her regular clothes. Evan definitely enjoyed the play area in the middle of the store. He thinks that every women's clothing store should have one!
After a trip home in the pouring rain and wind we settled in for a relaxing evening at home. Stay tuned for details of the rest of our fantastic adventure in the Northeast!
The first day that we were there was the girls shopping day. Well, Evan tagged along too. First, we headed to the mall to get a bite to eat. In the middle of the food court was a huge carousel. Evan had never been on one, so we couldn't let this opportunity pass us by. We hopped on. Evan didn't know what to think at first, but by the end of the ride he was happily watching the people pass us by. He also was lucky enough to get some strawberry ice cream on the way out of the mall, YUM!
After our excursion to the mall we headed over to Babies R Us to scope out what Audra needed for her baby registry. It was nice to feel helpful and like I actually knew what I was doing as I showed her some things in the store. It's amazing how much difference a year makes because that store was the most overwhelming place that Ian and I had ever seen when we were creating our registry. I'm glad I could help it not be quite so overwhelming for Audra and Tommy (hopefully).
The last stop in our shopping day was Destination Maternity because Audra had started to outgrow her clothes and needed to get some actual maternity clothes. While she had some difficulty because she's so small to start with, she managed to find lots of cute clothes. She was amazed at how much more comfortable they were than her regular clothes. Evan definitely enjoyed the play area in the middle of the store. He thinks that every women's clothing store should have one!
After a trip home in the pouring rain and wind we settled in for a relaxing evening at home. Stay tuned for details of the rest of our fantastic adventure in the Northeast!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Striking a Pose
Do we have a future model on our hands? Check out Evan posing at swim lessons in his new fashionable swimwear that he got for his birthday from Aunt Audra and Uncle Tommy. Thanks guys, doesn't he look handsome??
Monday, June 29, 2009
The First Birthday Celebration
In honor of Evan's big day, we had to have some people over to celebrate with us. So, last Saturday we invited some of our friends and family to eat, play, and party at our house. Ian's parents showed up a few days earlier to share in the festivities and help us get the house in order. It was so great to have their help and even greater to have them here to celebrate with us! Before the party, we were in a frenzy of cleaning, cooking, and decorating. We may have gone a bit overboard with the cupcake decorating or streamers, but hey, you only turn one once.
(Evan was a little anxious for his guests to arrive--check out the doorway.)
The party started at noon on Saturday, and the guests started to arrive. We fed them all as much food as we possibly could: burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, chips and guacamole, etc. Then, we let the kids run loose in the family room which I had tried to make as fun and baby safe as possible. (We didn't do much playing outside because the temperature was right around the 100 degree mark that day! Too hot!!)
(Margarette and I wore matching outfits for the occasion!)
(The Overton family and Shauna check out the play area, especially the ball pool.)
After some playing and eating Evan turned to the task of opening his presents (with a little help, of course). Evan got some great gifts, and we are so excited to watch him explore all of them! Funny, he used to be just interested in the wrapping paper, now he doesn't even pay attention as we open. He just waits for us to show him the gift.
Last but not least, Ian brought out the cake that he had slaved over for several days: a raspberry mousse cake! He even made the decorator's icing that we used to decorate the top! There were raves from everyone, but we didn't quite know how the star of the day would react. He's not much of an eater. He blew out the candle and we gave him a piece. At first, he just stared at it. Then he dug in with one hand and mushed it up a bit. Finally, he tried some. Lo and behold, he actually like it! He proceeded to shove as much as he could in his mouth, all with that one hand of course.
(Evan's friend Ellie tries a cupcake in preparation for her first birthday.)
It was a fabulous party and we are so glad Evan was able to share this big day with people we care about. We miss all our friends and family stretched across the country and wished they all could have been here, but we are happy that you are all in Evan's life no matter how far away you are. We had a great, but exhausting day, and at the end we all collapsed for some much needed rest.
(Ian decorates the cake, I tackle the cupcakes.)
(John hangs the streamers from the fan blades. Babies are a BIG fan of this!)
(Evan was a little anxious for his guests to arrive--check out the doorway.)
The party started at noon on Saturday, and the guests started to arrive. We fed them all as much food as we possibly could: burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, chips and guacamole, etc. Then, we let the kids run loose in the family room which I had tried to make as fun and baby safe as possible. (We didn't do much playing outside because the temperature was right around the 100 degree mark that day! Too hot!!)
(Margarette and I wore matching outfits for the occasion!)
(Gary and Amy hang with the birthday boy.)
(Dave and Jane grill with Ian on the back deck.)
(The Duke crowd enjoys the food.)
(The Overton family and Shauna check out the play area, especially the ball pool.)
After some playing and eating Evan turned to the task of opening his presents (with a little help, of course). Evan got some great gifts, and we are so excited to watch him explore all of them! Funny, he used to be just interested in the wrapping paper, now he doesn't even pay attention as we open. He just waits for us to show him the gift.
(Evan looks at a shiny new car.)
(The peanut gallery watches the present opening from above.)
Last but not least, Ian brought out the cake that he had slaved over for several days: a raspberry mousse cake! He even made the decorator's icing that we used to decorate the top! There were raves from everyone, but we didn't quite know how the star of the day would react. He's not much of an eater. He blew out the candle and we gave him a piece. At first, he just stared at it. Then he dug in with one hand and mushed it up a bit. Finally, he tried some. Lo and behold, he actually like it! He proceeded to shove as much as he could in his mouth, all with that one hand of course.
(Evan prepares to blow out one candle.)
(He suspiciously eyes the cake.)
(He digs in!)
(Evan's friend Ellie tries a cupcake in preparation for her first birthday.)
It was a fabulous party and we are so glad Evan was able to share this big day with people we care about. We miss all our friends and family stretched across the country and wished they all could have been here, but we are happy that you are all in Evan's life no matter how far away you are. We had a great, but exhausting day, and at the end we all collapsed for some much needed rest.
(This is what Evan does to the rest of the family!)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Evan!
So, the big day finally arrived. Evan Bitler Davis turned one last week! I can't believe that a year ago I was holding a tiny little 6 pound newborn. Now, I have a boy who is rapidly becoming a toddler! Every part of this year has been a wonderful journey, and we are glad to celebrate this milestone and are excited to see what the next year will bring.
Our big one year old has decided that since he's one, he's ready to grow up. We switched him to whole milk in his bottles, and he didn't even notice the difference. Two days after his first birthday he started to take some steps on his own. He's up to the point where he takes about 6 steps in between Ian and I. Evan is also thinking about talking. When he wants Ian to come get him in the morning out of his crib he yells "dada", and I'm almost sure he means it. He also has been working on his sign language. He can do "all done", "flower", and "dog" as well as clapping and pointing at everything he sees. Evan can also identify our nose, ears, and mouth pretty consistently, and much to Ripple's delight he's getting pretty good at throwing a ball. It's amazing to watch him learn new things every day!
We went in to his 12-month check up last week. This is the one that I have been dreading for a year because of the nasty shots he had to get. Our new doctor, Dr. Pickens said that he is right on target developmentally. As with most other little boys his age, he's a bit more advanced with his motor skills than social skills. His eating habits, while they cause Ian and I much frustration, are perfectly fine. He also looked good physically. Here are his most recent stats:
Head Circumference: I didn't find out the exact measurement, but we're still 95th percentile!
Weight: 19 lbs, 10 oz (5th percentile)
Height: 27 and 3/4 inches (3rd percentile)
So, we're still a small boy with a big brain! Dr. Pickens wasn't worried at all about Evan's weight. He was 5th percentile last time so he seems to be holding steady and getting what he needs. When he looked at Evan's growth chart he was a bit worried about his height. The doctor said he was falling off the growth curve a little bit, which means he's not growing quite as fast as he should be. He said that we'll come back six weeks from now to make sure that he's growing and if the doctor is still concerned, we'll do some tests. I think he's just fine, Ian and I are not tall, but I'm glad that the doctor is carefully checking in to everything!
Our little boy had a great first birthday! Stay tuned for birthday party and one year portrait pictures. Here's the last round of car seat pictures before he moves to his big boy car seat. I've included all of them so you can really see how much Evan has grown!
(seven months old)
(big boy-one year old!)
Our big one year old has decided that since he's one, he's ready to grow up. We switched him to whole milk in his bottles, and he didn't even notice the difference. Two days after his first birthday he started to take some steps on his own. He's up to the point where he takes about 6 steps in between Ian and I. Evan is also thinking about talking. When he wants Ian to come get him in the morning out of his crib he yells "dada", and I'm almost sure he means it. He also has been working on his sign language. He can do "all done", "flower", and "dog" as well as clapping and pointing at everything he sees. Evan can also identify our nose, ears, and mouth pretty consistently, and much to Ripple's delight he's getting pretty good at throwing a ball. It's amazing to watch him learn new things every day!
We went in to his 12-month check up last week. This is the one that I have been dreading for a year because of the nasty shots he had to get. Our new doctor, Dr. Pickens said that he is right on target developmentally. As with most other little boys his age, he's a bit more advanced with his motor skills than social skills. His eating habits, while they cause Ian and I much frustration, are perfectly fine. He also looked good physically. Here are his most recent stats:
Head Circumference: I didn't find out the exact measurement, but we're still 95th percentile!
Weight: 19 lbs, 10 oz (5th percentile)
Height: 27 and 3/4 inches (3rd percentile)
So, we're still a small boy with a big brain! Dr. Pickens wasn't worried at all about Evan's weight. He was 5th percentile last time so he seems to be holding steady and getting what he needs. When he looked at Evan's growth chart he was a bit worried about his height. The doctor said he was falling off the growth curve a little bit, which means he's not growing quite as fast as he should be. He said that we'll come back six weeks from now to make sure that he's growing and if the doctor is still concerned, we'll do some tests. I think he's just fine, Ian and I are not tall, but I'm glad that the doctor is carefully checking in to everything!
Our little boy had a great first birthday! Stay tuned for birthday party and one year portrait pictures. Here's the last round of car seat pictures before he moves to his big boy car seat. I've included all of them so you can really see how much Evan has grown!
(one day old)
(one month old)
(two months old)
(three months old)
(four months old)
(five months old)
(six months old)
(seven months old)
(eight months old)
(nine months old)
(ten months old)
(eleven months old)
(big boy-one year old!)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A Visit from the Yuraskos
I met Sarah Grimmer about 14 years ago in our sophomore English class at Taylor High School. Since then, we've been to homecomings, proms, Sadie Hawkins dances, late night debates, graduations, college visits, and eachother's weddings. So, when it came time to tell people that I was pregnant with Evan, she was one of the first ones I told. I called Sarah up and said, "Guess what...I have great news!" To which she responded, "Guess what...so do I!" That's when we found out we were both pregnant at the same time. Then, when I called her to announce that Evan was born, there was no answer. A few minutes later I got a text message from Sarah's husband Christopher saying that she was in labor. So, Evan and Alexandra were born a mere 21 hours apart!
Evan was born in Seattle and Alexandra was born in the DC area, so they never had an opportunity to meet. However, now that we're back on the east coast, Sarah and I thought it was about time for them to get together. So, the Yurasko family hopped in the car last week and came down to visit Durham. We were so happy to have them stay with us.
Evan and Alexandra had a great time together. You really could tell that they were the same age because they had a lot of the same mannerisms and noises. They would follow each other around the house and up and down the stairs. When they were in the high chairs together they would watch each other. Alexandra even taught Evan how to clap while she was sitting in her chair. (It was a skill we had been trying to each Evan for months!)
They are a great compliment for each other. Alexandra is tall, Evan is short. Alexandra is very talkative and social while Evan just wants to move. Evan is a great sleeper. Alexandra is a great eater. They're a perfect pair.
We all had a great time while they were here even though it was a quick visit. We went up to the Eno River State Park for a hike with the babies in their backpacks, we had a lovely BBQ lunch at Q-Shack, we took the babies for a dip in the neighborhood pool, grilled out for dinner, and had a great game of Boggle after the babies were safely tucked in their beds.
It is great to have shared so much with Sarah. We're so lucky to have so much in common. I wonder what adventures the next 15 years will hold. The Davis family can't wait to get up to DC for another visit with the Yuraskos!
(happy moms with their babies)
Evan was born in Seattle and Alexandra was born in the DC area, so they never had an opportunity to meet. However, now that we're back on the east coast, Sarah and I thought it was about time for them to get together. So, the Yurasko family hopped in the car last week and came down to visit Durham. We were so happy to have them stay with us.
Evan and Alexandra had a great time together. You really could tell that they were the same age because they had a lot of the same mannerisms and noises. They would follow each other around the house and up and down the stairs. When they were in the high chairs together they would watch each other. Alexandra even taught Evan how to clap while she was sitting in her chair. (It was a skill we had been trying to each Evan for months!)
(following each other around the house)
They are a great compliment for each other. Alexandra is tall, Evan is short. Alexandra is very talkative and social while Evan just wants to move. Evan is a great sleeper. Alexandra is a great eater. They're a perfect pair.
We all had a great time while they were here even though it was a quick visit. We went up to the Eno River State Park for a hike with the babies in their backpacks, we had a lovely BBQ lunch at Q-Shack, we took the babies for a dip in the neighborhood pool, grilled out for dinner, and had a great game of Boggle after the babies were safely tucked in their beds.
(dads and babies on the hike)
It is great to have shared so much with Sarah. We're so lucky to have so much in common. I wonder what adventures the next 15 years will hold. The Davis family can't wait to get up to DC for another visit with the Yuraskos!
(happy moms with their babies)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Big Boy Stroller
Since Evan was born he has had the most wonderful stroller. We just popped his infant car seat out of the car and set it in his "Snap and Go" stroller. It has been so lightweight and easy to manage, and I have gotten so much good out of it. However, recently Evan's little feet have been getting awfully close to dangling off of the edge of the car seat. This meant only one thing, it was time to get a new car seat and stroller! Another clue that Evan was in need of a new stroller was the fact that he really couldn't watch where we were going in the old one. All he could do is basically stare at me and the ceiling which holds little interest for a curious almost one year old.
So, we went shopping. In our garage a new convertible car seat awaits installation. No, this doesn't mean you can put its top down so Evan can ride in the breeze, it means that you can convert it from facing backwards to facing forwards. That, and the fact that its weight limit is 65 pounds means that he will probably have this car seat until he is driving himself, HA!
In addition to the car seat, I reluctantly went shopping for a new stroller, and lucky for me I found the Snap and Go's cousin made by the same brand. It's nice, lightweight, easy to manage, and facing forward so Evan can take in the world. We took it for a spin at the mall today with some friends, and it was fabulous! Evan and I both agree that we made a great choice. It's the perfect stroller for a one year old. (which he will be as of tomorrow, gasp!)
(See how much we like our new stroller!)
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