Expanding Once Again...

Hey everyone!!

It's been awhile, so I hope you all are happy and well during these holiday weeks!

As most of you already know, we recently found out that we are expecting Baby Evans #2!! We made the decision over the summer that we wanted to keep with the momentum of expanding the family and start "trying" this Fall. Luckily, like the first go-around, our wish came true quite quickly!

That said, we are expecting our second little joy July 19, 2013. Unlike with Kylie's pregnancy, we are going to find out the sex of the baby, as we are hoping to keep the Evans name going with a little boy. The sooner we can determine whether a third effort will be needed, the happier mommy will be!! Haha! 

At today's prenatal appointment, I finally got to see the little nugget in me, and received a great report of a healthy heartbeat. I'm exactly 8 weeks and 4 days pregnant, so this is just the beginning. 

Amazing what today's technology can detect at such an early stage.

Last Friday we announced to all of our friends and family via Facebook the wonderful news. In case you didn't have a chance to see our announcement photo, here it is. 

Speaking of "Big Sis," Kylie is doing great! She will be 7 months this Friday (holy cow... and I thought time was moving fast before parenthood!!), and developing very nicely. She is allllll over the place these days. Crawling, pulling herself up on everything, babbling (Mamama and Bababa Bob...haha!), eating lots of big girl foods, and still sleeping about 9-11 hours each night. Her energy level keeps us on our toes, so it will be VERY interesting introducing another little rugrat to the household. We've been reassured by many that even though having two kiddos 14 months apart is tough, it's so worth it! 

Everything that is not a toy is her toy, including the toy boxes.

She melts me!

Nom, nom, nom. 

Homemade body-painting--- she loved it!! 

As far as Shane and I, life is good. Shane has been busy with some worldly trips to Hawaii, Australia  Germany, his old stomping deployment grounds of Qatar, and more! I, too, have been busy completing the first 100 hours of my fieldwork at a local high school. Only 600 hours to go and that masters diploma will be mine!! (As well as the student loans that are coming with the degree...haha!) Thankfully, I will be done with my program about a month and half out from the due date. The timing couldn't be any better!!

Well that is all that I have for now. I do believe I will go back to making monthly blog posts to keep you all updated with the progress of Baby #2, so look for the next post in the new year!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!!

xoxo

-The Expanding Evans

Happy July!!

Hey everyone! 

Hope this post finds you doing well and staying cool in this coast-to-coast heatwave! 

Things are going well under the Evans' roof. Kylie is now 7 weeks old and just blossoming everyday with new developments. I cannot believe how much each day brings, such as her first smile, new sounds, rolling onto her belly, and longer nights of sleep. :) She has such a "chill" temperament about her, which Shane says she gets from me, and she is more attentive to this crazy world by the second. 

At three weeks, Kylie had her first out-of-town visitor... Grandma Carolyn!! She stayed with us for a week, which was a blast for all! Kylie got spoiled with love and gifts, and Shane and I got to share a night out to celebrate our 1st anniversary. 

None of us know what Dave is doing, nor does he! Haha! 

Then, here are some moments from 4 weeks.

Staring at her Daddy :)

One of my favorites!

At 5 weeks, we had to say goodbye to Daddy, but we welcomed her first smile :) :) :)

Bye, Daddy! See you in August!! 

Hi, Mommy! Look what I can do now!! :) 

Such a happy little girl! 

Enjoying our one-on-one time. 

Ooh, new toy that I can hold when Mommy puts it in my hands. 

Then came 6 weeks and these captured moments. 

You said time to eat??

Okay, I LOVE feeding time :)

Hi, there!

Now we're at 7 weeks!! Just this morning, Kylie finally conquered rolling completely over onto her tummy. She loves it! 

All tuckered out from rolling over again and again. 

A bit groggy from running errands, but just had to snap a few while the dress was still free from spit-up! 

Soo sweet!! 

We're really missing Shane, but Kylie and I are making the most of all these special moments together. To help Shane stay connected, though, and see the progress she is making on a daily basis, we decided that I would record a "moment of her life" everyday. I record a clip and then post it on Youtube for him  to view. From mid-feeding squeals to bath time to just hanging out on the couch smiling her cute fanny off, he's been able to see as much as he can from a distance. Also, we've done a few Skype dates so she can hear his voice and see his face. 

Next up, Kylie will have some more out-of-town visitors later this month. My Mom is coming next week, and then my Dad and Stepmom are flying out at the end of the month for a long weekend. Looking forward to the quality time with each of them, and the potential plans to visit Napa, Ikea, and some great local restaurants. 

Well that is all for now, especially as I am being summoned by Miss Kylie for an afternoon feeding. Sending much love and gratefulness to you all! 

-The Expanded Evans

Kylie Rose Evans Has Arrived!!!!

She's here!!! On May 14, 2012 at 5:18 p.m., Shane and I finally got to meet our beautiful little girl that was in my belly for all those months, and we've been in love ever since. It was a long night and day of labor and delivery (almost 24 hours), but all the pain and tiresome hours were worth it when her 8lbs, 2 oz body was placed on me for the first time. She has been such a great baby from the first moment on-- eats well, sleeps well, loves to look around and take things in, and just seems very content with her life outside the womb. Granted mommy and daddy would love some more sleep and more time to sit and enjoy a meal together (we take turns scarfing quick meals down in the kitchen), but it is all so worth it because parenthood is the best thing to happen to us! 

Getting checked in at 4 a.m. (This was after we went to the hospital and then got sent home only to return an hour and half later). 

Epidurals are the greatest!!! 

Our Kylie Rose Evans... 8lbs, 2 oz and 20 inches long.

 

A very happy Daddy with his daughter :) 

My first meal after 24 hours... yum!!

Dad was hungry, too!

Bonding time in the hospital

Kylie loved our visitors... thanks, Dave and Jenny!! 

Her newborn picture from the hospital... surprise, surprise that she'd sleep through it! :) 

When we were finally released the next day, we came home to this wonderful surprise from the roommates. 

Looks like she is practicing for her senior pictures already ;) 

Hanging out on her play mat. 

She LOVES stroller rides, and mommy LOVES dressing her up in all of her new cute outfits :) 

Missing our other kitty, Dora, but this picture is heaven to me! My family :) 

Can't believe she'll be three weeks old tomorrow. The days are FLYING, and we're loving every minute! As per her two week doctors's appointment, she is doing really well! She weighed more than her birth weight, grew a quarter of an inch, and all signs point to a healthy/happy baby :) 

In other news, Kylie and I will have to part from Daddy in a couple of weeks, as he'll be heading to Andrews AFB in D.C. for 52 days for work. It's going to be tough, especially since Shane gets withdrawals from her if he hasn't held her in four hours (so sweet!!), but thank goodness for Skype! Also, I start school again in July, which should make things interesting in regards to my time management. :)

Thanks to all of you who have sent gifts and checked in on our baby girl!! We feel really loved these days, and definitely have a greater appreciation for our parents and all the parents out there! What a feeling it is to hold a part of you! Our love grows stronger by the day for Kylie, and we look forward to all that is to come as we watch her grow. 

Hope you all are doing well and enjoy the summer months! We love  you!! 

-Shane, Alison, and Kylie :) 

The Final Weeks Have Arrived!!

Hello everyone!!

Today marks 37 weeks, or full term, so Baby Evans could make his/her debute at any point over the next few weeks!! Can you believe the time has come?? It feels like just yesterday I was telling Shane that we were expecting and soon after beginning this journey with you all. I must say, it has been a lot better of a ride than I had imagined, and I look forward to the final push, filled with patience and pain meds, before we meet our precious gift. 

As per my last doctor's appointment, Baby Evans and I are doing really well. Great blood pressure for me (103/80), healthy heartbeat for baby (130 bpm), and all tests have returned "normal." Size wise, my belly came up a pinch short (only 34 cm when it should be about 36 cm), but the doctor said not to worry because the baby could just be on the smaller side. She'll run tests next week if she thinks there is a problem, but she said most likely "Small mommy, small baby." (HA!I certainly don't feel small as I waddle around and dig through Shane's clothes for shirts that fit.)

In addition, we've finally completed the baby's room, as well as packed our hospital bag. Here's hoping we prepared for what is to come! 

In other news, we had a wonderful time on our trip to Seattle, Washington at the first of the month. The drive was about 13 hours each way (due to poor weather, traffic, and yes, my bladder), but the quality time together was great!

Our weekend with close friends was filled with quite a few activities including an incredible dinner on the 75th floor of the Columbia Center, the Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival, a Sounders game, and a ride to the top of the Space Needle. 

An early morning stroll. 

Shane taste testing a... get ready for it... Dark Chocolate Bacon Porter!! 

Apparently people sent in these ideas for beer flavors, and now it is up to the public to decide which is best. From the verdict of our group, the Bacon Porter was more like bacon juice. Caramel Apple was, ehh, but the Blackberry Tart was quite tasty! 

Before the Sounders game. 

The stadium knew we were in town, so they set off fireworks upon our arrival ;) 

BEAUTIFUL stadium!!

View from the Space Needle

Happy Babymooners :) 

Then, just the other weekend, Shane and I attended an annual recognition dinner with Shane's new squadron. It was great meeting the people with whom Shane will be working, and from what it seems, he is in GREAT hands for some career relations and opportunities. 

As fun as it was to dress up, I felt like a blimp in heels! Haha!

Then, the other day we made an adventure of our daily walks, thanks to a new activity introduced by Shane's brother, Jesse and family, called geocaching. In a nut shell, it's a scavenger hunt for an item at a certain longitude/latitude. We went to the website and found one near our house and guessed as we walked what we may stumble upon. (Shane's initial guess was correct. We weren't even out of the driveway!) Our clue was that these are normally red, and our long/lat led us behind a Chinese restaurant.

Yep, a fire hydrant! 

Now, going back to the topic of BACON, Shane and I are going to see our favorite comedian, Jim Gaffigan, in San Francisco next weekend. His favorite topic is food (I should probably bring snacks to get me through the show...), especially bacon and Hot Pockets. In fact, here is a tidbit on bacon if you'd like a lovely chuckle. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaK9bjLy3v4

The hospital bag will definitely be in the car because who knows if I'll go into labor due to nonstop laughter. :) 

Well that is all for now. Not sure if I'll do another post before the baby arrives, but just know that very soon you'll be viewing pictures of two proud parents and our bundle of joy! 

We love you all, and once again, appreciate you never-ending love and support!

-The Expanding Evans

P.S. Thanks to all who are participating the Baby Evans pool! The winner should be quite happy with their reward money :)