2017 Reads

There was a time in my life that I was completely anti-screens when it comes to reading.  I didn't want to jump on the e-reader bandwagon, and I couldn't understand why anyone else would want to either.  I love the feeling of the pages, the smell of a new book, and the look of accomplishment as you see how much you have completed or how they adorn the bookshelves in our home.  Heck.  You're talking to the lady who still refuses to do online bill pay!  But looking at this year's reads, compared to last year's, I think it's time to make a case for the e-reader.

I read more than twice as many books last year!  With my kindle paperwhite, I could read into the night without a light on disturbing my husband or any children who might have joined our bed.  I can turn pages with the touch of a finger and therefore read a book using one hand while also nursing a baby.  It keeps my spot.  It highlights and even stores my favorite points to look back on.  This year, I tried to set the e-reader to the side and check out real books from the library, and I just didn't get as much accomplished.  Proof is in the pudding so to speak.  (Now, the husband has also kindly pointed out that I also didn't have 4 kids last year including a needy infant, so there's that too of course.  But still.)

I think for 2018, I'll pull the e-reader back out.  I'll get on the public library's wait list for Overdrive books, and I'll ask for Amazon gift cards for gifts.  I've got lofty goals! ;)

Here's this year's reads--

• "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand

• "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah

• "Missional Motherhood" by Gloria Furman

• "Families Where Grace is in Place" by Jeff VanVonderen

• "Hinds Feet on High Places" by Hannah Gurnard

• "Different" by Sally Clarkson

• "Wherever the River Runs" by Kelly Minter

.... And an honorable mention, I'm about 1/3 of the way through "Dragonfly in Amber" by Diana Gabaldon, the second in the Outlander series.  It's a big book though.  I very well might be working on it all of 2018. HAHA!  

Evelyn is 4 months!

This little ray of sunshine is 4 months old tomorrow!  

In the last month she has...

-Bumped up to size 3-6 clothes and size 2 diapers

-Put her toes in the sand at the beach for the very first time

-Rolled over from tummy to back

-Attended her first parade (and slept right through it.)

-AND Celebrated her first Thanksgiving

She is such a happy baby!  We could not be more thankful for her and all of the joy that she brings to our family.

On our scale at home, she currently weighs in at a whopping 13 pounds, 6 ounces.  And she is measuring 25 inches in length.  

Happy 4 months sweet Evelyn!!

Evelyn is 3 Months!

3 months.

1/4 of a year.

Our sweet girl is growing fast.  Tipping our scales at 12 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 

23 1/2 inches in length.

She's a happy girl.  Dishing out smiles to most anyone who will talk to her.  She's starting to get into the baby babble phase and also has a few ticklish spots.

She's currently wearing size 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers.  And for now, wakes once in the night to nurse.  She loves to snuggle, and loves her wubbanub paci.

.... and apparently if you dress her with a large bow, she might try to eat it.

Our baby girl is spoiled rotten, and I couldn't imagine life for this princess being any other way.

Happy 3 months little Evelyn!

What's in the diaper bag!?

Surely I'm not the only one guilty of watching diaper bag or purse videos online, right?  .... crickets....  HAHA!  I mean, surely!  The reality is that especially if I'm buying online, I need to see what the interior looks like and see what a bag is capable of holding before I buy it.  Plus we already know that I'm a bit of a nerd and I'm also super cheap so purchases are planned.  Anyway, since I don't think I'm the only one that enjoys or appreciates a good recommendation once in a while, here I am with one.  The Skip Hop Versa diaper bag.  I'm kind of in love with it!

I had a Skip Hop Studio diaper bag back in the day when we had only two tiny kids in cloth diapers.  The Versa is very much comparable to the Studio, but it's a tiny bit smaller, and works a lot better for our current situation.  We gave up the cloth diapers with the birth of Evelyn.  (The previous 3 were cloth diapered basically full-time.)  And now that the two oldest carry their own things when they have something they need to take out with us, I just don't need as much room.  Did I say I'm in love with this bag though?  I did, and it's true.  I'm also still loving my zipper pouch system from my thirty-one bag post a while back.  It seems like an extra step to have things in separate bags inside of the bag, but it just works SO much better.

So here goes nothing.... :)

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Evelyn 1-2 Months

A little bit of precious to fill your Friday.  

This little lady is growing too fast to keep up and is two months old today.  At one month she was 9 pounds, 5 ounces and 21 1/2 inches in length.  Still in newborn clothes and diapers. She loves snuggles and was still in her sleepy phase.  I always feel the need to knock on wood when I say this, but our girl is pretty content.  Just your typical eat, sleep, poop schedule kind of baby.

Not so keen on photos at 1 month.  At least not photos that don't involve being held and snuggled by Mommy.

And then at 2 months our sweet girl has definitely grown.  Her next check-up isn't for a couple weeks, but according to our scale and measurements, she is 11 pounds, 2 ounces and is 23 1/4 inches long.  Wearing size 1 diapers and her 0-3 month size clothes are definitely not as baggy as they were in the beginning.  

Sweet girl is mostly smiles, though she usually doesn't dish them out for a camera.  And she LOVES to be talked to.  Like she can seriously go from crying to smiling just with someone talking to her.  Not sure if that's a girl thing, or if that's a, "hey, don't forget me the 4th child, I need attention too." kind of thing. Haha!  She loves to snuggle and has grown to enjoy having a binky which is a nice change from two of her older brothers.  

Happy two months sweet girl!