Christmas Time and New Years

This Christmas we were extremely excited. Kids make Christmas really fun. I couldn't wait for Everly to wake up Christmas morning.
We went up to cut down a Christmas tree, it's tradition. Everly started counting on this trip. Aunt Sia and I would say one and she would say, "teeoo"... and then we would say three and lift her up by her arms.

We went to the Botanical Gardens for the first time. It was really pretty. Everly loved the "yites".

Christmas day was super cute. Everly loves her kitchen. We didn't realize how little she would be to it. She can't reach the facet. LOL. She was making up some eggs right away. She also got a magnadoodle, books, and some new Disney movies.

Everly and I got matching PJ's and Ryan got Bronco pants and a sloth shirt. He looks sweet in it.
Ryan got some hunting gear for Christmas. I got a new coat, boots and diaper bag.

We love dressing her up for holidays. This year she was our little elf. :)

For New Years we were invited to my sister in laws super fun party. We stayed up all night to ring in the new year. Even Everly!

What's New with Everly Sue

Everly will be 14 months on the 21st this month.
*UPDATE* She weighs 16 lbs and 13 oz as of Aug 25th.
Since her birthday, she has been learning a lot of new things!

She says "Ow" when she bumps her head or something and then she puts her hand where she bumped it. She started the holding part a few months back.
She knows where her eyes are and likes to point at any eye she can find. whether it be on a person or a toy.
When I ask her where her nose is, she points to mine and squeezes it.
She knows where her belly is and pulls on her belly button.
She says "Hi" constantly.
She pushes out her bottom lip as a pucker for a kiss while saying, "mmmahh" and kisses right on the lips. It's the best.
She was playing with Ryan and he taught her to do the Home Alone impression where he slaps his cheeks and screams. It was so cute
She knows what snacks mean.
She knows what milk and water mean.
She thinks it's funny when I am upset at her and tell her no with a stern voice.
She helps me when I am trying to put on her pants by lifting her legs.
She likes Johnny Cash.
She LOVES chocolate.
She likes So You Think You Can Dance.
She likes to wear any type of cloth around her shoulders sort of like a scarf. Pants, jammies, dish towels...
She is a model for the website Positively Oakes. :) 
She has a favorite yoga pose that she does all the time. (shown in pic above).
She is walking EVERYWHERE! She took her first steps at Roaring Springs on July 16th in the water! [Quick story on that: We were in the little kids part at the water park and she was standing like she did all the time, but then she took a step and then another and then another. It was about 4 or 5 steps! Sie and I were screaming with joy. It was so cute. All of the mommies were looking at us and laughing with joy for us. It was just a super sweet moment.] But now she is to the point where she likes it more than crawling. It's seriously so cute. I am loving this stage. I really have enjoyed all of the stages. It's just exciting when they learn something new.
She loves books.
She still loves dogs and cats.
She folds her hands still for prayer.
She says thank you.
We have played the game 'where's Everly' for a while now, and the other day she covered her eyes and said, "ess Ehyee?!" (where's Everly?!) in the same tone I say it to her. It was SO cute!

We are enjoying every stage! She is such a sweet little thing and so much fun!

Everly Sue is 1!!

 

 she really liked the puzzles.

^^ so much so, that she kissed one. ^^

June 21st - Everly is 1 year old now.

Everly hasn't grown much since her last appointment which was on April 22nd (weighing 15lbs 6oz and 26 3/4"). As of yesterday July 6th, she weighs only 15lbs and 15oz and is 29" long.


On her birthday we went to the zoo because of how much she loves animals. she liked the monkeys and the giraffes.
Later that day we had all of our family come to our house to watch her eat her cake and i made german chocolate cake for everyone and Diane made cupcakes to share too.
Ryan's cousin Lisa made her 2 beautiful puzzles for her that were inspired by and old pig puzzle of Ryan's when he was little. She also made her name out of wood and painted it, this was the gift Grandma and Grandpa Van Leuven gave to her.
Ryan made her the cutest wooden puzzle toy with shapes that you have to match with the same shape hole.
It was so fun to watch her dig in to her cake and watch her open her presents. It was so fun to have everyone come share her day with us. Everyone stayed pretty late. It was so much fun.


Everly is standing every chance she gets.
she loves books.
she loves to be chased or scared by me growling at her. and she screams back at me and tries to hide. she also tries to get away when she hears a noise like her daddy coming through the door. she always thinks everyone is going to get her so she screams and tries to hurry away.
she loves to play peek a boo. her hands dont always cover her eyes, but her attempt is good.
my favorite word she says is "wow". she whispers it most of the time.
she likes to tickle. and makes a noise like "ticka ticka ticka..." or, "diddle diddle diddle.." or, "liggle liggle liggle..." or, "digga digga digga..." and scribbled her fingers around. it's usually my toes or her toes that she tickles.


I stopped nursing around June 12th. And she has done really great. She mostly sleeps through the night. I think it was harder on me than it was on her. She didn't take well to cow's milk (just like my instincts told me would happen)... so she is on goats milk and loves it.


It still seems so unreal to me. I can't believe she is really a year. It can't be a whole year ago that she was born. But that day seems so very real, like it could have been yesterday. The pain, the crying, the spirit, the exhaustion, the absolute true and utter joy. Nothing happened how I had planned. It was harder, longer, and... so much better.
I grew so much more love for her daddy. So much love for her with each second. I had no idea I could love so much. She is absolutely our best blessing so far.

Everly Sue - 11 Months

May 21st - Everly turned 11 months old!

she is a speedy little crawler when she wants to be, but usually takes it slow like she is strolling along. i think she gets that from me.
she has been free standing a bunch lately. she can stand up with using only her legs, no hands.
she has 4 teeth now.
she finally sleeps great! she can sooth herself  to sleep. she doesnt sleep through the night quite yet, but this is a huge step!
she says "sis" (what's this) now along with her "ssa" (what's that).
she gives kisses. when i ask for one it used to be an open mouth kiss, now she just sticks out her bottom lip a little and says "mmm..." That's what I do when I ask for one, so I think that what she thinks a kiss is.
when she bonks her head or something she will put her hand to the spot that got hit and hold it. i love those little hands.
she has always loved dogs so much, but i think it's really any animal. she follows cats around if someone has one. and she flaps her arms around and says, "ooooo!!"we went to my grandparent's house in Teton Valley and she let the baby calves lick her face and suck on her hands as she just giggled.

she likes to wear her sunglasses now. it's the cutest thing.
she dances to almost any song, but she hard core dances to the song, I Love a Rainy Night.
she loved riding in my grandparents razor. flapped her hands about the whole time.