This Here Blog

...will be on a bit of a vacation. Actually, we'll be on a bit of a vacation. The three of us are going to Alaska until the end of June. Be sure that Evangeline will have a great time running with the baby girl gang of Ellen, Ellsi and Sadie (no Ruthie this time, but we're looking forward to that one!). And taking saunas. And probably getting a few kisses from more than a few relatives. We'll be sure to take lots of pictures and put them up if possible, but my folks have dial-up internet, so by the time we get a picture up, we just might be back.

Travel Checklist

Baby, check.

Teething baby, check.

Teething baby with cold, check.  :(

Poor little girl. Her first airplane trip will be one in which she sports a cold. But when she's not sneezing, coughing and sniffling, she's smiling (ok, and sometimes crying). Rats.

1 More New Thing

  Since our car has something wrong with it (that only seems to go wrong when I'm driving), has 218,000 miles on it, and since we need to drive to North Carolina, we decided it was time to get a new (to us) car. Kyle found a Subaru Forester that suits us perfectly. It is red. It looks like a shoe. It only has 44,000 miles on it. It has doors that all open and windows that open. And it runs. Perfect. Thanks, parents, for helping us out.

 

Evangeline's new view

Camry, you served us well. For 4 years you took us around St. Louis, hundreds of times to and from Pevely, around New Orleans, evacuated us to Chattanooga from hurricane Gustav, and more. You didn't always work perfectly, you were a bit rusty, your driver's door handle was broken, and your passenger side windows did not work. Your heater barely worked, and you leaked water onto the floor. But you were $500. 

2 New Things

1. Evangeline drinks from a cup. Really. Slurping sounds and all.

2. I put a soft "blankey" thing in her crib when she was fussing before falling asleep for a nap to see if she would comfort herself with it. 

She took the bait.

Saying Goodbye

Kyle helped our friends Anne and Ryan pack up today. Ryan and Anne are Sam's mom and dad. We said a sad goodbye to them as they head out to their new home of Seaside, California. Not exactly close to Greensboro.

 Evangeline stood in for Sam, who was taking a nap.

Evangeline also said goodbye to Aunt Beth this morning...

She was sad to see her go...

...but happy that they will meet again in a few weeks.

Finally, Evangeline visits...

Cathedral Basilica!

 It's hard to take a non-blurry photo in there

Evangeline enjoyed her trip to the Cathedral Basilica. Very cute to see her looking up at all the artwork. 

Sadly, today was Auntie B's last day here with us in St. Louis. We went out for Indian food, where Evangeline showed off her newly-acquired talent of drinking water from a glass. Then the Cathedral, then lots of playing at home. The good part is we'll see her in Alaska in a couple of weeks.

Baby's First...

Buffalo Wild Wings. Thanks Uncle Jim! We hope we did you proud.

Bedtime Part II

Have a stripey night!

Sleeping...

after a long, fun weekend.

 Can this be comfortable?

The Best Thing

There's nothing better than seeing my daughter in the arms of those who love her so much. Except for seeing how much she loves them back.

This morning Kyle left for Greensboro for the weekend. Grandpa Dave, Auntie Jessie, Grandma Becky and Auntie Beth (and mom) took Evangeline to the art museum. Then out for dinner. What a great day. While Evangeline misses her dad, she loves loves loves being with her aunties and grandparents, so these couple of days will go by happily for her.

Graduation Day

Hooray! 

Tired. More tomorrow.

Love, us.

In the Arms Of...

Deaconesses!

We had a deaconess party today. Evangeline got to spend some time in the arms of these lovely sisters. She also got to meet a new friend, Norah. Norah is two weeks younger than Evangeline, and three pounds heavier.

Evangeline had a busy day. Before the deaconess party, she went to chapel, she went shopping with her auntie Beth and me. Then during the party it was discovered that she is getting a tooth! Yipes! With the appearance of the tooth (but you can't see it yet) came some angry cries and frustration. Auntie Beth took good care of her. While I panicked.

She felt better in her dad's arms.

She started to learn the Athanasian Creed to keep her mind off the tooth.

And, Kyle had his last class of Seminary! Hooray!

Auntie!

Auntie Beth is here:

 But Evangeline is:

So, we'll have fun tomorrow!

"Smiles At Dad"...

...that would be her Indian name.

Kickin' Back Monday

Evangeline slept very little today. That makes a long day. But she had a pretty good time. I need a nap.

Kickin' back, deciding when not to take naps.

Awake!

Awake!

Awake! (maybe she has too much to do here...)

Kyle finding books in his easy-to-access library.

You Asked For It

Shrieking (warning: this is not a baby "squeal", it is an actual shriek):

Having fun?

Non-shrieking (preferred):

Having fun?

Suggestible Parents

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Shrieky Friday

Evangeline learned to shriek. So here are some quiet pictures of her, not shrieking.

 Goodnight!

Rules of Recording

By the time you start recording cute baby activity they will either be quiet or grouchy. Or both. Even if you try to sneak up on them.

Baby's First Baseball Game (and cap)

In a rare moment of St. Louis nostalgia, mom buys Evangeline a Cardinals cap.

Dramatic Sleeping

A half an hour later...

Tummy Time is getting sassy: