What I've learned so far

• it takes a lot of patience to breast feed
• the first week of a baby's life is a constant battle to keep them awake
• it takes forever to get your baby on a schedule
• still haven't mastered that one
• Evelyn won't go down for naps when I lay her in her bassinet
• she will only fall asleep if I'm holding her to my chest
• not sure how this happened because I put her down every chance I get
• she is incredibly cuddly and needy
• which, I confess, I kind of like
• so, I'm working on putting her down for naps without cuddling first
• it's not going so great
• Evelyn will fall asleep in her car seat as soon as you pick it up
• so I made an impromptu trip to the grocery store today just so she would fall asleep
• not sure if this makes me a bad mom or not
• I could eat all day long and still be hungry
• in fact, I do eat all day long
• and I'm hungry right now
• I have the best husband in the entire world
• and Evie couldn't ask for a better dad
• I can't imagine my life without this little one in it anymore
• because she is my world
  

Happy Easter!

Today

Evelyn went right back to sleep after her middle of the night feedings. Yay!
She also didn't want to stay up past 11pm. Another BIG yay!
As a result, I got about 6 hours of sleep. Hallelujah.
She did a little better with her afternoon naps
but, not by a lot
of course she is a perfect angel once Dan gets home
show off
I was able to clean a little today
put all my maternity cloths in a bin under the bed
and got out all of my non-maternity stuff
folded the laundry that has been sitting in our closet for weeks
made dinner
straightened up the living room and kitchen
and watched Arrested Development with the Hubby

All-in-all, it was a MUCH better day. I hope tomorrow goes as smoothly.

Lately

Dan bought me flowers, lillies, just because.
It made me cry a little

My mom left
This also made me cry a little. Okay, a lot.

Evelyn is slowly getting better at eating
she has also decided that being fussy from 11pm-1am is a good idea
this makes for a couple of very exhausted parents
the last couple of days she has also been extremely fussy in the afternoon
and refused to take any naps in between feedings
which makes for a very exhausted and frustrated me
It brought me to tears today
there are burp cloths strewn all over our apartment
as well as bottles
and blankets
the mess is driving me a little crazy, but who has the time to clean?
especially when your baby won't nap
I don't think I have ever been more worn down and frustrated in my life
But, I've also never been more happy and content
her little face makes even the worse moments worth it

I love what being a Dad has done to Dan. He is such a natural. I wish everyone in the world could see him in action because it's adorable. Last night when I couldn't get Evie to settle down for about an hour and a half, I finally just broke down crying and woke Dan up. He simply got up, took her from me, held her for a little while and she fell right to sleep. She loves her daddy. It's not like I hadn't been holding and rocking her the entire time. So unfair, but somehow I don't care all that much because at least she finally went to sleep. Being a parent is really hard, but I am loving it and so is Dan. We're exhausted and a little overwhelmed but extremely happy to have this little angel in our lives.

pucker up

Evelyn does this face. A lot. I like to say she's just practicing for when she starts dating.

People have been asking me where we got her name from, so I'll explain. I have wanted to name my daughter Evelyn for as long as I can remember. I have just always loved that name. It just so happens that it is also my grandma Nelson's middle name. The name Louisa comes from my great grandma Bluhm, who had a lot of middle names, so we named Evie after her. We thought that would be kind of special for her later on. So, there ya go!

Little Girl

Evelyn has dimples.
She also has her dad's dark hair.
When they delivered her and started doing all those tests on her, she didn't cry. Not once.
At one point she did look at the nurse like, "wth?" but that was it.
She loves to eat her hands. Especially when I am trying to feed her.
So I have to pry her hands away from her face.
She poops frequently. I'm not sure if this is an over share, but we are quite proud. Doing something right
She takes up the majority of the apartment with all of her stuff.
I'm totally okay with that.
My mom is here this week to help out, so I have actually been able to shower
Dan had to go back to his internship this morning, but they let him leave early
He is totally smitten.
And, so am I.

Evelyn Louisa

Extremely miserable. Extreme. They had to poke me 4 times to find a good place for my IV
FOUR times.
+ contractions= misery
I almost passed out from all the pain :(
BUT I didn't

After the epidural. Bliss

She just came right out. I think I only pushed 4-6 times
Bless her

Finally getting to hold her

proud daddy

Itty bitty girl in a big seat

Precious

Given loves by Grandma


We're already so obsessed with her and so in love. The Christensens are a happy bunch

Happy

Some things that have made me a happy girl the last couple of days:

There are very few things, in my opinion, as satisfying as crossing things off a list.

Our pantry is full

Eating taco salad for dinner. Yum.
(Dan was unsure as to why I wanted to take a picture of him eating, so he wouldn't cooperate)

Yay! It's not cereal! We were running REALLY low on groceries and may or may not have been eating just cereal the past couple of days.

It really is the little things in life that make it worthwhile.

Also, General Conference was this weekend. How amazing is it that we can relax in our own homes and listen to the prophet and apostles? So blessed.