Introducing our baby girl, Evelyn Rose Dodge. Born January 3, 2012, 3:23 pm -- 8 lbs, 7 oz -- 21 inches
"Evelyn" a grown up name with the sweet nickname "Evie", and "Rose" a family name from both Jason and my family. Rose Winski was Jason's grandmother who was well loved by all in his family. Rose Fox was my great aunt, the favorite of my mother and her sisters (who would have liked to pass her name on, but were unable to because they didn't have enough daughters or it clashed with the last name or whatever reason). I remember visiting her home when I was very young and playing with her toys, but she passed away when I was only 5, so my own memory of her is very thin and fragmented.
So far, Evelyn has been a very content child who sleeps much of the day and much of the night. During the in between times (7-11 am and 5-10 pm) she eats frequently and between eating is happy to snuggle in her parents' arms or to settle onto her bed or swing. This is a very helpful quality in a child who has 2 brothers who need to eat or be dressed or snuggled during those same times, and patience is a quality that will still be useful when she's grown.
Evie has her daddy's dark hair, right now fuzzy and unruly, but sure to be tamed as it lengthens. She has her mother's blue-grey eyes. Maybe they'll change into the sky blue eyes of both her grandfathers or even the hazel eyes of her father, but for now they are momma's eyes. Evelyn's fingers and toes are oh so long and slender. They are neither her mother's hands nor her father's. I think they might've come from her Nana and her Nana's mother. I've been joking that she has giant kangaroo feet, and they are so long that her knit newborn baby booties had to be stretched onto her feet. Today she most resembles her daddy and her brother Jackson, but that could change as well.
Speaking of big brothers, they adore her. Jackson is anxious to teach her about the world. He brings her objects to show her how they work or play. He thinks she is the cutest baby ever to live, and so he calls her "Cute" instead of "Evie". Jonah loves rubbing her fuzzy head, always rubbing her fuzzy head. He's only now starting to develop some of the toddler jealousy, but not enough to over ride his urge to rub her fuzzy head.
Thanks to everyone who has wished us well. We are overjoyed to have Evelyn join our family.
We're camping at Cape Cod (Hurray!)
Jackson and I are up, and Jonah and Jason are asleep. I wanted to distract Jack so he wouldn't wake everyone up.
"Jackson, do you want to go for a walk?"
"Nah, I don't want to."
"What if we call it 'Exploring'?"
"hey, yeah. I learned about exploring on Diego!"
My Jonah Baby has just turned 10 months old (yesterday). The tiny little person who came to us as what seemed like an adorable blank slate, is now an exploding personality. The personality is his own, and is most definitely NOT Jackson's. Some of this was apparent from day one when we brought home a sweet content baby who turned into Mr. Hyde when he became either hungry or tired, and who could roll over at birth. Jonah still wants what he wants when he wants it. (Diaper changes are NOT what he wants). Jonah is also fearless.
Just before Christmas, Jonah started pulling up on things. He had been a belly crawler, so at first he could just pull up to stand on his knees. Once he built up his strength on his knees, he started using them to get around and then started pulling up to feet. Now he is usually standing up and most often uses this new ability to turn the TV on and off or to find and collect small objects in his mouth. He's not quite ready to let go, but he is cruising a bit and will bend down to get things. Every time he performs a new feat of strength, he laughs and glows with pride.
This last week, he's been saying "Muh-Ma" in EARNEST. Sometimes when he says it, he looks at me with recognition and adoration. But most of the time he says it because he wants something: to be picked up, to not have his diaper changed, for his parents to come back in the room with him, to get out of a crib. I think he's been listening to Jackson, who calls out "Mommeee" whenever he wants something or needs a problem solved. Jonah is indiscriminate with his Muh-Ma's, and lets out a string if them when either parent leaves.
Jonah is also a good eater, unlike Jackson (who is a good drinker and subsists on a diet of chocolate milk, juice, and peanut butter). Jonah likes vegetables--broccoli and cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans. He's not a fan of fruit yet, the tartness makes his toes curl, but he likes fruit mixed with other things like baby cereal or blended into a smoothie. Tonight, he ate 1/4 cup of baby cereal and plums, then ate more sweet potato and salmon than I did.
Jackson and Jonah are good brothers together already. Jonah likes to chase Jackson around and Jackson likes to say, "Ahh, Jonah. Jonah is so cute." Then he will spend hours trying to make him laugh. If Jonah laughs at something once, Jackson will keep doing it in the hopes of keeping him laughing, long past the point where Jonah gets bored of the gag.
I love to just watch Jonah move. He glides along the floor at amazing speeds with his commando crawl. Now with his standard crawl, he shimmies around so smoothly. He likes to pick up objects with his left hand and use his little right pointer finger to touch things. He likes to wiggle his finger against his lips making raspberry noises, and likes to have his people do it back. He likes to shake his head back and forth with his people, and he likes to dance. (At our weekly family dinners, we turn on the music and dance in the kitchen together after dinner. This is a tradition I hope sticks as the boys grow. Jackson made up a new dance move this week where he swings his hips around, so I pulled out some Elvis for him.)
Jonah still has his little baby mohawk, but the rest of his hair is catching up, so its not so noticable unless there's a breeze. And his hair is red, dark red, auburn I guess. It's beautiful. His eyes are a deep hazelly blue, and his skin is extra fair like his dad's.
Jackson came downstairs today, very excited about the conch shell he'd reached from the bathroom windowsill. He had it pressed against his ear, listening to the waves. I had a listen too, then handed it back. He took it, yelled into it, then held it back up to his ear. Every 10 seconds, he pulled it away to freshen the echo by yelling into it and couldn't be dissuaded.
Love that boy!
Jackson learned his first two sight words this week. The first word is "Toy" as in Toy Story. (Thank you Disney/Pixar logos). The second word is "Joy", also pronounced "Toy Story".
