Happy Halloween 2009

Our first family photo shoot and pumpkin is all dressed up in her kitty costume for Halloween! Isn't she just the cutest! Thanks to all our family members who have sent her Halloween Cards marking her 'first." She really enjoys sucking and eating the paper.....lol :)

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Love, The Tylec Family

They're Heeeeeerrrrrreeeeeee

MAY-JUH (aka - major...lol) development this past weekend....the pumpkin has not 1 but 2 teeth!!! That's right..the two bottom ones have finally "popped" through! I thought I was feeling a little something when I'm giving Evelyn her cereal...she seems to be chomping on the spoon and you can just hear this noise...so after a quick hand wash I did the gum feel (which, even though I love my pumpkin to death...it just grosses me out to feel gums...yuck)...anyway, I manned-up and sure enough you can feel these little sharp pointy things! After some persuasion to get her to move her tongue out the way I could even see the little white marks!!!
Evelyn is noticeably fussier then normal...very whiny, wants to be held an awful lot and you can tell her gums are sensitive right now. We've packed the fridge with all the teething arsenal we have...but I think I might go get her a couple more just in case.
Evelyn's appetite is also increasing so we are moving her up to two cereal servings per day...one at daycare and one at home with mommy and daddy. I'm going to do this for about another week or so and then we are going to start with the vegetables! Cannot wait to see her reaction to some of this stuff!!! I'll keep you posted!

Cinco Months!

Well, the pumpkin is 5 months old! We can’t believe how fast it’s going or how much sweeter our little girl gets with each passing day.
So, there is lots to update you on!! We are still a drool machine and we absolutely love to put anything and everything in our mouth…..just about have the toes in there, but she usually ends up letting go and hitting herself in the face (and at the same time surprising herself with the ‘klunk’ to the nose…lol)
Evelyn had her big “4-month check up” on Oct. 12th…a little late for ‘4-months’ but what can you do. She is a healthy 14 lbs. 14 oz (isn’t weird how every time she gets weighed the lbs and oz always match!) She is 26.25 inches long and the doctor said she seems to be just perfect…of course something her daddy and I already knew. She is in the 50th percentile for her weight, the 90th percentile for her height and the 90th percentile for her head size….so when you sum this information up…she’s tall and skinny with a big head and we just love it! She also had her 2nd series of shots and thank goodness Daddy came with us this time…after her last check up I didn’t want to do the ‘shots’ alone. She only had 2 this time and with some advice from her Aunt Karen, I gave her a small dose of Tylenol before we went to the doctor, which seemed to help her pain tolerance….help…not erase. After the first poke, it took a few seconds for the ‘oh my god, what are you doing to me’ realization to come…and when it did I glanced at Jay and I swear he was looking at this nurse like “how would like if I stuck that needle in your neck woman….” and then the second poke and the full-fledged crying, purple-faced, can’t-catch-our-breath wailing was on. Jay practically shoved the nurse out of the way so he could pick his pumpkin up and within a minute or two she was back to herself…although she had a few sympathy whimpers here and there to which Daddy made sure to give her extra kisses and make even funnier faces while we strapped her into the car seat! And we we’re off….we don’t have to go back until her 6-month check up in December…..
While we were at the doctors we got some ‘exciting’ news…Evelyn gets to start eating cereal. (Yes, this qualifies for exciting in our lives now…..lol) The doctor said we can start feeding her some of the pasty but ‘oh-so-yummy’ rice cereal, once per day and with a spoon so she can learn how to eat like a little lady….well, little lady is far from it. As you can see by her picture (more to come) most of the cereal ends up on her face, in her hands and on her shirt than it actually does in her mouth. You can tell she has no clue what she is doing, but every time I bring that spoon back up she opens wide….but then sticks her tongue out as I got to get the spoon in there. It’s quite comical, but getting better with each day. Typically we have to hose her down afterwards or if she gets particularly messy….as in she has her hands in the bowl and then she rubs them on her face….then we just go straight into the tub! After she gets the hang of the spoon and we have her on cereal for a few weeks, then we are OK to start giving her fruits and veggies. It’s so weird because while I cannot wait to start giving her these new foods and see her reaction to the new smells and tastes, it’s kind of sad because it just another reminder of how fast she is growing up on us!!!
There still aren’t any teeth poking through her gums yet, but she sure has to be close…that or she has a hole in her lip where endless amounts of drool end up on her, mommy, daddy, the remote, cell phones and poppa’s Ipod…lol …I just hope she handles the teething process with ease…but either way, we’ll be ready for it.
We are soooo looking forward to Halloween. We recently went and her Halloween pictures taken at Olan Mills. She is such the cutie in her little kitty-cat costume (see a pre-photo shoot pic in the column on the right) During her photo session Jay and I joined her for a few family photos as well….unfortunately I could not convince Jay that we should wear kitty ears ourselves to match the pumpkin…o’well, there’s always Christmas Jay….I mean, Santa Claus…..
She hasn’t been doing to much rolling over…either way…but tummy time is getting much better. Her tolerance for being on her stomach grows with each day…about 3 seconds longer then the day before…but I still wouldn’t say she is a fan of it!
She is quite the chatty Kathy and likes to tell us stories when we pick her up from daycare…when were home…before bed…while in bed and when she wakes us up at 4 a.m. with ‘oohh..…ahhhs……and grrrssss…” ---- riveting tales, I tell you…or at least she tells us!!!

Dear Evelyn,
You are taking a little evening nap right now....you are so perfectly beautiful...it amazes both mommy and daddy. We love you so much. Now wake up so we can PLAY!!!!
love,
Mommy and Daddy

4 months!!!

Wow, I cannot believe it has been 4 months since our little pumpkin came into our lives. It was about this time last year ( a little earlier…Sept 13th to be exact) that we found out we are going to have a little bundle of joy! As we are getting into the fall months and cooler weather, little Miss Evelyn is not a fan of ‘bundling up’ She has now found her feet so socks don’t last longer than 5 minutes. She will ‘deal with’ sweaters as long as she can suck on them…or anything else for that matter! Anything that gets in this little girl’s hands goes directly into her mouth! Which, by the way, has turned into a faucet! Drool, drool, drool…..everywhere…all day…all night! It’s ok though b/c we know this is the beginning of another milestone in pumpkin’s life – teeth!! Nothing is breaking through the gums yet, but we are definitely there….she sucks on her bottom lip…puts everything in her mouth, has rosy red cheeks and becomes quite the little fuss muss at times and thank goodness for Baby Orajel!! She may not like the taste but you can tell she is quite fascinated by the effects!
She is now rolling over from back to front and has even learned how move her chubby little arm out of the way….and that’s where the fun stops. She is Ok on her tummy for a few minutes…but then the whines and cries start. We are gong to be spending a lot more time on our tummy though so she can learn how to push up and flip back over…because Evelyn likes to do her little roll over trick about 1 a.m. and then Mommy and Daddy have to get up to roll her back over…LOL J
We are so excited for Halloween! The pumpkin already has her costume…and NO she is not going to be pumpkin…instead she is going to be a little black kitty cat! She looks so cute in her costume! I cannot wait to take her around and she her off J
Next up for Evelyn….learning to read…. I know you are probably like what?...learn to read? She is only 4 months?! Well, Mommy and Daddy are either going to be heroes or suckers as we have invested in the Your Baby Can Read Program….a series of videos and flashcards that are supposed to help infants and toddlers learn to read! Anything we can do to invest in her education, no matter how early, seems worth it to me….so I’ll keep you posted on her progress!

Best Beach Baby EVER!

So....the beach was AWESOME to say the least. Evelyn could not have been a more perfect baby for our week up at the cottage in Long Beach. Joining us, were Ev’s Nana and Poppa, Aunt Jenn and Uncle Larry and a handful of other family friends who headed north of the border to enjoy some fun in the sun!
As the previous posts states, packing was no easy feat….we brought everything but the kitchen sink and it proved to be worth it b/c the little pumpkin was never in need of anything!
To protect our little babes from the harmful UV rays, Jay and I got the cutest little sun dome! It was her own personal cabana on the beach complete with her little vibrating bouncy seat and additional sun-blocking umbrella…only thing she needed was a rum runner and cabana boy….whoa...wait a minute there…that’s what Mommy needed…not my 3-month old pumpkin…she’s becoming a nun as far as her parents are concerned.
Each morning we woke up between 4 and 6 a.m. for our very tasty formula breakfast…while we were there for the week…the little pumpkin let us know it was time to up the feedings a notch so she moved up to 6 oz. per bottle during her little vacation (maybe she figured since everyone else seemed to be drinking in excess, she would too…lol). After breakfast we usually spent the next hour or so looking around…trying to remember where we were…focusing in on all the surrounding (this seemed to happen for Daddy every morning as well…LOL). As the morning hours passed on…Ev would get a sleepy again so it was usually time for the mid-morning nap around 10 or so....perfect timing for the rest of crowd to get their breakfast in!
After breakfast it was time to head down to the beach. Of course a lot more preparation goes into bringing a baby into an area filled with sand….much more then just throw your towel down and crack your beer! Before getting into her swimsuit Evelyn would have the much ‘enjoyed’ pleasure of getting lathered and greased up with Water Babies Sunscreen….a process which I have to say she wasn’t the biggest fan of…not b/c of the oiliness on her…but because Momma chose convenience over comfort and got the ‘scary’ aerosol spray kind….not a fan to say the least. By the end of the week, I was spraying it into my hands and then lathering her up! While Mommy and Evey were getting ready, usually Daddy would set up our spot out on the beach….starting the Cabana in the shade of a nearby tree….which we would move hourly with the sun! Then we would make sure Mommy had a towel for her and one for Ev…extra sunscreen for her and extra for Ev…a book for her and binkie for Ev…a hat to protect her little pumpkin head (Ev’s not mommy’s)…rattles and toys in case of emergency entertainment needs (Ev…not Mommy…maybe Daddy)
Now, it would only take maybe 30 minutes (if that) each day of fresh air that would knock the pumpkin out! It was both awesome and sad at the same time. Awesome b/c we got to enjoy the beach too and do ‘adult’ stuff…but sad b/c this was our time to hang with our pumpkin during the day when normally we’d be at work and her at daycare and she…not by choice, I’m sure…and we know…(whine, whine, whine)..slept pretty much the afternoons away!
After the first day I was convince there was no way she was going to sleep through the night after full day of ZZzzzzz’s, but sure enough…bedtime of 8-9 p.m. (we were on vaca...she got to stay up later sometimes!)…anyway, bedtime came and down she went without a whine or peep and back to dreamland it was! So precious and perfect…Daddy and I will have to remember this when your 16 and driving us nuts!
We hit a very important milestone in Evelyn’s life while we were on vacation too! She rolled over!!! Now, there’s a little discrepancy if she actually ‘rolled over’ because I was on the other side of the bed, and may have inadvertently helped her go from back to belly, but whatever…..as far as I’m concerned she did it! (twice too!!)
During the times that Evelyn was awake…she was an absolute joy. Smiling, laughing and discovering this whole new world around her! Everyone took turns making her laugh and giggle…although none as much as Poppa…we’ve decided she must be laughing AT him….LOL, just kidding Poppa!
The weather was picture perfect all week. We had a great time as a family! The vacation was made complete by a thunder and lightening storm our last night there...right on the water...lights flickering...loud thunderous boom's that shook the cottage slightly...Ev was so intrigued (not scared at all!) I let her stay up a little bit longer that night... well everyone else was, and probably because I knew my full nights and days with my baby were coming to an end….
Friday morning came and we packed up the car and headed back to the states (makes it sound like we’re coming from so far away). When we got home, Evelyn recognized her room as soon as we walked in…the colors, the ‘baby’ smells, the stickers of animals on the walls...and smiles and coo’s ensued…followed by (of course) a nap!
What a great vacation it was! Can’t wait for our next one…6 weeks from now...a "Staycation" at the casa with the pumpkin!!!
BEACH PICTURES COMING VERY SOON!!!

Diva Beach Baby

So...we are getting ready to spend a week up at Long Beach, Canada at Ev's Great Grandpa's Cottage. Heading up with the family and some friends! Little Miss Evelyn is such a diva, I swear!She insists on bringing every outfit she owns b/c she just HAS to have several wardrobe changes to ensure she is the center of 'ohhing' and 'awwing' all week!

It's so hard to pack for the little bebe!! We need onesies - both short and long sleeve, socks in case the feeties get cold, pants incase her tiny little legs get cold, jammies and of course her little bathing suit (Used to be her cousin Brianna's, which oddly enough I bought for Bri-Bri when she was just a little pumpkin herself). Then we need hats, sunscreen, a tent, her boppy, play mats, bouncers, bottles, formula, liners and of course she demanded that Mommy bring her laptop so we can watch the Golden Girls and Finding Nemo while we are there....I tell ya, I would put my foot down, but she's just too cute to say no too..... lol :) Besides I'd rather be over packed, then not have something she may need and/or want! And, let us not forget the approx 200 diapers that are comin with us....just in case!

Pics from the beach to come when we get back!! My baby is taking her first international trip!!

First shots :(

This morning was very difficult for both Ev and I...it was her big 2 month check-up (little late..she actually 3 months now..) Happy to report she is a healthy 11lbs. 11 oz. and 24" long...she is the 75th percentile for her length and the 50th percentile for her weight! The doctor said she is right on schedule! Evelyn was all smiles and coo's while Dr. Amy bent her every which way till Tuesday....and then it was the time...Dr. Amy left (weird how they don't want to be the ones to inflict the pain) and the nurse came in with a tray full of (according to my mommy eyes) needles the size of turkey basters!! Of course, I had to hold Evelyn's tiny hands...she was getting fussy b/c it was time to eat so I had to physically hold her down...she got one shot in her right leg and two in left and oh boy....she was not a fan. The first stick brought on the most heartbreaking face...followed by absolute screams of pain...her face turned so red it looked purple!! Of course, I broke down in tears....the whole thing was over in less then a minute but it felt like 2 freakin' years to get it all done with. Afterwards, we cried together for a minute and when we both calmed down she had her bottle and by the time I had her back in her car seat to leave the doctor's office she was the smiley pumpkin again. We will see how she is for the rest of tonight and the next few days.......Daddy and I will be giving her some extra cuddles and kisses tonight for sure though :)

Tummy Time!!

We did it! We finally had a successful, enjoyable and 95% tear free tummy-time experience. The trick was to prop her up on her boppy pillow! She was a little whiny throughout, but she was looking all over the place while holding her head high (and letting out little whines here and there...lol)

After about 2 minutes, the pumpkin had enough and the bottom lip came out, the eyes started to squint and she let mommy know she had enough!!

But now we do our boppy tummy time each night, and each night she gets a little better and indulges her mommy and daddy - who of course, have their own chins planted to the rug making funny faces and noises at her!.

'i swimmin'

Little Evelyn had her first dip in the pool last week!! My sister, brother-in-law, their babies (Brianna, 2, and AJ 4 weeks)mom, and Ev and I all ventured to the wading at Kohler Pool. Ev wasn't the biggest fan to say the least....if you can tell by the terror/cry face she's got going on in her picture! Perhaps this was because she was half asleep when i decided to dip her into the icy waters of the baby pool.....who knows...lol. She calmed down after a minute and was fixated on watching the other swimmers and staring off into the world. She's so content just watching things...it's amazing...I only can imagine what she was thinking..(probably, Mom get me the h*ll out of this cold water!)