summer colds

Gosh I'm consistent!

Evelyn in snow bunny hat!

Utah is totally fun but pretty sure all the gear needed will stop us
from moving here. Also six months of snow is a lot for a Texas girl.
More later on first plane ride...

My iPhone died and Evelyn's baptism

Well first I have to say, and this is all I will say about it, my
iPhone died and and had to be restored to it's factory settings. I am
devastated b/c I lost all my music pictures contacts etc... I admit
it's an unhealthy love, but there it is...

Anyway, this Saturday we had a party at our house for Ev's baptism.
The house looked so cute and it went well. We asked Christy and
Michael to be her godparents and they were all so sweet to come down
for the occasion. Coincedentally, christy's friend Ken was in town for
the weekend so he and his wife Jenny were around as well. I think he
wants to invest in some land with my brother...anyway. The babtism was
at the fairly Hispanic church here in town which I like for it's laid
back vibe and sincere priest. Really, I'm pretty lapsed, but I did
this more for my mom. It was so dang hot in the church b/c out of the
blue it decides to get warm. I almost passed out in the cryroom
holding Evelyn-- it's like a gameshow issolation chamber at the front
of the alter-- crammed full of overweight mexicans and no
ventilation...there was one little baby boy up for babtism in a
hilarious stark white three piece suit-- with a white cap and bowtie.
Also had the virgin of guadelupe sillouted in gold on the back of the
tiny jacket. Precious.
Evelyn was a total sunflower doll sweetie in her white cotton dress
and bonnet. Loved her bare feet. She makes this raspberry sound when
she is frustrated and getting angry. She was doing that but also
smiling too. She is absolutely delicious!!! And now she is a child of
God too.

We leave for park city tomorrow for 9 days! It's gonna be cool to see
O in the snow!!

Sent from my iPhone

First Picture!

Evelyn Alice

I'll jump ahead to the night we met her. I got a phone call from my
doctor asking us to go to the hospital at ten pm on the night of the
27th. We were a little late and it was starting to rain as we ran up
to the hospital. Pretty funny me running that pregnant! I remember two
things about that moment-- the rain because it was breaking the long
hot rainless summer (it was record hot all summer long) and that I was
wearing my favorite maternity dress a strapless long orange floral one.
I was quickly checked in, weighed in etc. And put to be with an ambian
and cervidil. It was around midnight and I fell asleep pretty easily.
Jeff and I decided he should just go sleep at my moms to be with Owen.
I really wanted to try and sleep and I just didn't want to worry about
him at all. I woke up Four hours later with pretty good contractions
so I just focused and visualized the ocean waves surging into this
cave that jeff and I saw once in big sur. With every wave I imagined
opening up wider... When my water broke I knew it was time to call
jeff but I waited unto it was 7 am because he had Owen at my moms
house and I wanted to give them both a good nights sleep. Jeff came in
a few mins and my doctor showd up and at some point I felt the baby
coming-- I was siting on the edge of the bed and wishing I could squat
and deliver her that way. I remember saying "the baby is coming I'm
not sure what to do!" and the nurse And doctor sort of scurried over
and in a few big pushes it was over. Evelyn Alice was born at 7:51 am
and weighed almost 8 lbs. She was puffy and adorable and I held her
and nursed her right away. The nurse kept trying to clean her up but I
said it was alright... It was the most fun exciting empowering birth I
could imagine. I was up walking around an hour later and I felt so
strong and healthy. I basically had her with very little help from
anybody but her. She is such a doll and I want her to know how strong
and capable she made me feel!

Sent from my iPhone

Where have we been?

Wow--time is really flying by. Jeff finally got back from Africa and France. He had a great time and built the wifi network in Kilgali. Maybe one day we can all go back as a family. France would be a great place to go too--we are talking about buying a small house there in the small village where Alex and Amy live. While Jeff was gone, Owen and I spent most of the time outside. We cleaned up the back yard and planted a bunch in the front. Owen LOVES it outside. At first he was not too thrilled with the playpen in the back yard, but he is pretty cheerful in it now. He throws his toys out for the dogs to play with. He has to stay in the playpen in the back yard b/c Scout and Putter are pretty rambunctious and have scratchy paws. But in the front, we are free. I put the hose on and Owen waters everything. Such a big help! Im not kidding...Last week Jeff and I laid stone for a patio and now that is finished so hopefully no more dirt in the back porch from the old dirt patio. We are really on the move lately. Owen is "cruising" as they say. I actually think all of the standing in the playpen has helped strengthen his legs. I guess he will be walking soon and that just blows my mind. He is talking tons too. He now says "UP" very clearly....of course he does. Owen loves to be carried around. I am the mommy taxi and I drive him around while he points at things and makes this certain sound (think Beastie Boys "whoo whoo" its my disco call) and waits for identification. Wall, door , wall yes thats a wall.....Our first year with Owen has come to an end and what can I say...the overwhelming exhaustion is over and he is now capable of more interesting, imaginative play so things are really looking good for the future.
On a different tack, I have the opportunity to buy half of a thriving flower shop here in town. This has many good aspects--money, great health insurance, 401k, but also many drawbacks--I would have to put Owen in some sort of childcare situation, tied to New Braunfels --also what about more children? Anyway, its a big decision and I will let you know how it all turns out.

Well, the long hot Texas summer has officially begun. It has been at least 95 degrees for two weeks now. Yikes! This puts a damper on our outside time b/c its is truly too darn hot to be outside. That is another one of O's words---he says "Hot" as we get into the car...I also don't like going outside in the heat of the day because I can't stand putting sun block on him. I think it is too full of chemicals...We have been swimming and it looks like Owen is going to be a water baby. I am looking into lessons at the Y.