What I Had For Breakfast

Dad, should I be serious?


Is Evie Lu getting into the goth scene already with dark lipstick? No, that is just prune residue.

I realized I couldn't talk about our great nine month old baby and only have an old picture, so here is Evie Lu enjoying her prunes. It is the circle of life really. You start out eating prunes and then eventually you need to start eating them again. And for the same reasons I think.

Or should I be happy?

Who Is 9 Months Old?

Dad, I told you the Cubs would win!

Evie Lu is nine months old, can you believe it? I sure can't. Evangeline is doing things today that I didn't know when she'd learn. Her newest trick is mimicking. She heard me say "up" on Saturday and even though she doesn't know what it means, she keeps saying it. How cool is that?

The picture above is from April 2 and Evangeline is just three months old there. Why was she cuddling the Cubbie bear and holding onto Cracker Jacks? It was Opening Day of course! The Cubs lost that day and quite a few of the days after that, but Evie Lu's beloved team turned things around and now we're all atwitter for the playoffs.

It Might Be. It Could Be. It Is!!!!

Get ready for a Chicago Cub themed week at Rainy Day Baby!

Caught Red Handed

What? I'm not supposed to be here?

Evie Lu's got teeth, she's got crawling figured out, and now she's pulling up on furniture and whatever else is around. I was working at the computer today and when I looked up to check on Evie Lu I found a laundry bandit. You can see all the toys she has to choose from and of course Evangeline wants the laundry. Evie Lu doesn't look even a little guilty does she?

Evie Lu Loves Her Mom

"I have a story for you mom!"

What do you do when confronted with love like this? You drink it in and try to remember exactly how it feels and what it looks like. Seeing Kaia and Evie Lu together can be an overwhelming experience because of the bond between them and the love that is so clearly there.

Look at Evie Lu's little feet grabbing onto Kaia's side. Evie Lu now gives amazing hugs. Before she would just hang onto you, but now she'll give you a real honest to goodness hug. They are the coolest.

"Will, quit taking pictures. We're having a moment."

A Postcard For Me!

Did you see my postcard?

Yesterday was a big day for our little family. Kaia successfully passed her Topics Exams (there was much rejoicing and great Thai food) and Evie Lu got a postcard from her far away Aunt Megan. The Topics Exams were stressful, but Kaia was amazing and we are incredibly proud of her.

What does it say?


Evie Lu's postcard was a nice topper for the afternoon. In a pile of junk mail there was a gem addressed to Evangeline. The last time we saw Megan in person she had just gotten married and Evie Lu was still two months away. It may be that by the time Evie Lu meets her Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris she'll run to them. It was so good to hear from loved ones from so far away.

Rome to London to Rome! When are they coming home?

Two More Teeth

Can you see them dad?

They've been a long time coming, but Evie Lu's top two teeth are now prominently on display. We were certain they'd break through while Kaia and Evangeline were in Minnesota in July and we kept waiting until just a couple of weeks ago. It used to be kind of cute to let Evie Lu gnaw on your finger, but not any longer. She bites hard! We'll have to keep her exposure to her Aunt Megan's biting ways at a minimum. I can imagine it now . . . "Evie Lu stop biting your Aunt Megan. Megan stop biting Evie Lu."

How about if I tilt back?

The Unstoppable Evie Lu

Searching for the target . . .

What do we do these days? Mostly we chase Evie Lu and make sure everything within her reach is soft or plastic. I actually lost Evangeline two days ago. I turned my back for a second and when I turned back around she had vanished. I freaked out for a moment and then looked under the coffee table. Sure enough, there she was.

We've transformed our living room from an entertainment focused space to a baby focused space. Toys are in the basket and big pillows provide soft barriers. If I wasn't me, I'd make fun of myself. It really is goofy.

I'm locked in . . .


As if crawling wasn't enough of an adjustment, Evie Lu is now trying to pull herself up. I'm not so worried about the pulling up as I am about the inevitable falling over. Evie Lu doesn't seem to mind too much unless she's overtired.

Target crushed! I'm onto my next goal.

Crawling Is For Everybody

Do we look alike dad?

It has been a week since Evie Lu kicked crawling into high gear and everything has changed. I rearranged my office so fewer musical instruments were in Evie Lu reach and we are rejoicing that Kaia's living room redesign idea came just at the right time.

Shoe laces and paper of any kind are Evie Lu's favorite targets. She won't crawl just to Kaia or I just yet unless we have some incentive, but I'm sure it won't be long.

L. P. S.

From the comic strip, "Mutts"

Evie Lu is a constant source of amusement and amazement. There are little things she decides to do that stump Kaia and me about where they came from and why Evie Lu thinks they are necessary. One of those things is the removal of socks. If she can reach them, they're coming off. It feels like a running joke every time I go into the office and I get one of four reactions.
1) "Wow, the socks are on today!"
2) "You're about to lose a sock Evie Lu."
3) "Will, do you know you lost a sock?"
4) "No socks today, huh?"

You take the pink sock off . . .


Evangeline always starts out with socks, but they don't stand a chance. And now we think Evie Lu is hiding them while we sleep. We were given a package of six pairs of knee socks by a church member and now we only have three pairs and two singles. I really hope Evie Lu isn't eating them.


. . . and you shake it all about.

Extreme Close-Up

Did you think you could get away from me? Silly dad.

Taking pictures of Evie Lu has turned into a full contact sport. I was trying to get a good shot of her "I'm serious face," but she kept moving towards me. Attack of the 50 foot baby!

Search And Destroy

What is it? I'll point at it.


Evie Lu has her own way of exploring the world around her now. When she sees something new, Evangeline will point at it cautiously until she just makes contact. It is a riot to see her investigate. Evie Lu loves flowers of any kind, but after the initial inspection the flowers are in trouble.

Don't worry, I made it go away.


Evie Lu's next move is total annihilation. In the pictures above Evie Lu decided to grab the poor dandelion, pluck it out of the ground, and try to put it in her mouth. Plants of the great northwest, consider this a warning.

Dad, this is kite flying hill, not baby flying hill.

Batton Down The Hatches . . .

. . . Evie Lu is on the move!

Here I come!


It has been about a week since we saw Evie Lu do her first rudimentary crawling. In the past week she really hadn't put all the pieces together and we could still count on Evangeline being basically stationary. This is no longer the case.

The Hulk baby will not abide by chairs in her way!


Friday afternoon saw the delivery of the new Sports Illustrated and the premiere of Evie Lu Crawling Mach II. I mention the Sports Illustrated because the magazine was what caused Evie Lu to really get going. I place the magazine on the floor for a second and Evie Lu was on top of it.

I'm still coming for you. I'm like the Terminator, but cuter.


For the rest of the afternoon we experimented with placing different things in front of Evangeline and she came to us more quickly each time. Evie Lu crawled the length of our living room/dining room at one point. Wow, are we in trouble.

Eyes on the prize.

The Daily Grind

Ugh, I just woke up . . .

Now that Evie Lu has top and bottom teeth, she has discovered the ability to grind those teeth. Wow, is that a sound that puts you on edge. Of course Evangeline doesn't know what she's doing, but she sure enjoys the reaction she gets from us.

Those top two teeth are coming in nicely though and as soon as I can get a picture you'll see them here.

Mom, don't laugh at my sweaty head, you try falling asleep on dad's arm.

Mmm, Mmm, Good

Listen closely to hear Evie Lu's love of sweet potatoes.



Evie Lu is now doing this funny breathe through her nose and scrunch up her face trick to express her joy. It cracks me up.

If you can't see it above, just look under Evie Lu Movies to your right.

Evie Lu's Big 24 Hours

Aunt Kaitlin, read with me!


It isn't very fluid, but Evie Lu has crawled for the first time and she's getting better at it all the time. Kaia was working away last night and I was watching Evie Lu when she unmistakably put on hand forward in time with one leg and repeated to move towards her goal. I was amazed.

The other trick she pulled today was moving to a seated position from her belly. Kaia and I are now looking around our place and dreading all the things Evangeline can now get into. My office has never felt so small as it did today when everything seemed to be in Evie Lu's reach. Yikes!


Hey, Aunt Kaitlin your side of the book is dry. Are you sure you know how to read?

Dinner With Friends

Now listen to this story . . .

Whew! What a weekend. Our little family was running crazy during the last couple of days. Evie Lu continues to almost crawl and worm her way towards the things she wants. It really is going to be any day.

On Saturday we had dinner with our good friend Erik and Evie Lu got to meet Erik's sister and her two little ones. Evangeline loved being able to sit with people closer to her size. We really need to find some playdate buddies.

Cutest couch ever.

A T-Shirt From My Favorite Band

I'm so excited to show you my shirt!

Our good friends Brady, Tricia, and Annabelle went to see Ralph's World (one of Evie Lu's favorites) play live and they picked up a gift. Not only did they get a rock star onesie, but Ralph himself signed it for Evangeline. How cool is that?

If you've never heard Ralph's World I highly recommend any of his discs, but don't ask Kaia because I may have played Ralph's World non-stop for a while. Like weeks non-stop.

Ralph signed it! He signed it for me!

Something New To Try

You guys couldn't buy me the real thing?


I like round things.


I wonder if it would fit in my mouth.


They are awfully sticky.


Is there something on my face?

Reading To Evie Lu

I sure hope that little engine makes it.


It wasn't a decision we consciously made, but Kaia has become the unofficial story reader at our house. I sing the songs and Kaia reads the stories. I was working away and looked up to see what you see above. My heart almost burst. I don't know that I've ever seen anything sweeter.

Oh, I love this part.


The books Evie Lu likes the most are Barnyard Dance, The Little Engine That Could, The Hungry Little Caterpillar, Are You My Mother?, Goodnight Moon, and the Bible story book. Kaia has some books in reserve for when Evie Lu is a little older, like Make Way For Ducklings, since the pages are a little more fragile. What a gift to share stories!

Dad, go away I'm reading.

At The Zoo

Okay Mom, let's get moving!


On a gorgeous Saturday Jillian, Kaitlin, Kaia, Evie Lu and I headed out to the zoo with the rest of the city. (Or so it seemed as we tried to park.) We became members of the zoo so we can go back whenever we want and some of our friends get in free with us. (So come visit.)

My Aunt Kaitlin and I are spiders, can't you tell?


Evie Lu was incredibly fascinated with all the plants she could see. I thought she'd be impressed with big cats or the gorillas, but it was tough for Evie Lu to see the sleeping animals. We didn't get to see the whole zoo, so I don't know if there are flamingos or not. We'll have to look again next time.

I'm dangerous. Dangerously cute that is.


Of the animals Evie Lu really liked there were the Serow (which is a Japanese goat type animal) and the miniature donkey. Livestock seem to be what caught Evangeline's eye this trip.

Piggy back rides for everyone!


What is so great about our zoo is we are just a few minutes away. Zoo playdate anyone?

Dad, you're weird.

Going For A Drive

Hey, let's go somewhere today!


Our friend Jillian is in town, Aunt Kaitlin is free, and it is a nice day so let's go to the zoo. Evangeline has never been to the zoo and since she loves the animals she's seen so far we are excited for the day. Our friend Brady says flamingos are the best to keep little girls attentive, but I think Evie Lu will love the monkeys.

Don't worry, I can drive.