Chatty Evy

Evelyn turned four months old last week, and other than the four shots at the doctor's office, she seems pretty happy about it.

Lately, she has been talking nonstop. We're not sure what she is chatting about or in what language she is speaking, but Evy is very animated. Have a listen:



Huh? What did she say?

New Trick

Getting her picture taken (finally) wasn't the only thing that Evelyn did yesterday. She also discovered something new that she can do.

Bullseye

We finally had success at the Target Photo Studio! And today's sitting lasted just one hour, start to finish.

Evelyn was asleep when we first got there, so we figured that we might get a cute "napping baby" picture. But she woke up as soon as we entered the store, so we figured that we'd have a screaming kid and another failed attempt.

But today was the day. Of course, there are no pictures posted here because they are copyrighted. And because we won't have them in our hands for 2 1/2 weeks.

Here is the final tally for her first set of professional portraits:

• 15 snaps of the camera
• 12 cookies (for the patient photographer)
• 7 1/2 hours of total time in the studio
• 6 screaming fits (by Evelyn)
• 3 separate visits
• 3 feedings
• 2 different outfits
• 2 diaper changes
• 1 crazy "helping" lady
• 1 photographer headed to a much needed vacation

We also joined the Target Portrait Club, complete with membership card. So we'll probably be back to try this all again at some point in the next two years. We just hope that it won't be a hit or miss process that is drawn out over two weeks again - we're out of target clichés.

Welcome, Benjamin!

Evy just got the call - her new cousin has arrived!

Benjamin James was born at 11:25 this morning.

Congratulations Aunt Stacey, Uncle Thad, and Cousin Hannah!

Back To The Beach

We ventured out the beach again on Monday afternoon and had much better success. We lasted almost an hour and Evelyn slept for a majority of that time, despite sandstorm velocity winds.



Yesterday, a thunderstorm forced us to the OC Outlets for some bargain shopping.

But today was the best beach day yet. We were out for an hour and a half this afternoon and it seemed like Evelyn had some fun. As much fun as you can have under an umbrella which is under a beach canopy, anyway.

Up next: boogie boarding.

Apartment Suit

Check out Evy's cute swimsuit and bucket.

It should actually be called an apartment suit, since we've only been to the beach for 5 minutes so far. And we have been in Ocean City, Maryland, since Friday.

It's not like we didn't try. It took longer to get her ready to go to the beach than the actual time we spent there. Here's a look at her first shore visit.

Don't be fooled by how calm she seems - right after this picture was taken she started crying loud enough to drown out the ocean. We decided to leave before the lifeguards could arrive to see what was wrong.

Missed Again

If you're visiting to get an update about our second attempt at the portrait studio, just scroll down and reread Monday's post.

And add the following:

• 2 diaper changes
• 1 crazy lady trying to "help" by picking Evelyn up and asking Steph if she had any milk
• 5 bad snaps of the camera

At least we're making progress, as the camera was actually used this time. But our end results were the same.

The next attempt will be on June 30th.

Target Practice

You'll notice that there is no picture in this post. We actually attempted to have a professional portrait of Evelyn taken today. That plan didn't work out too well.

We got to Target just after noon, sleeping child in hand. We went to the portrait studio to tell the photographer we'd arrived. She said there was not another sitting until 3:00, so we could take as much time as needed to get Evy awake/fed/happy. We thought we would have plenty of time.

We were sadly mistaken.

After a very long nap, two feedings, three screaming fits, and four attempts in front of the camera, we decided to call it a day. It was already 3:30 (the 3:00 appointment was a no-show) and all of us were all ready for a nap. Photographer included.

Luckily for us, she was very patient and didn't ban us from the store altogether. Instead, she's letting us try again on Wednesday. But we're only penciled in for a 3 1/2 hour sitting, so there's a good chance we'll come away with nothing again.

Maybe Next Year

Evelyn went to Kennywood for the first time today. There are lots of fun rides and games there. She especially liked the lights and bright colors in Kiddieland, but you can tell that she's already thinking about the future.



You see, she wasn't quite tall enough to actually go on anything, so the only riding Evy did was in her stroller. Which she seemed to enjoy just fine.



Regardless, she got her money's worth - her admission was free. And maybe next year she'll have even more fun. It just depends on how well she can walk, how tall she gets, and how many rides she can go on while wearing a protective suit of bubble wrap.

First Pet

Evelyn loves her new stuffed doggie.



We're happy about that, too, since there is a good chance that it is the only dog that she will ever have. I got bit by one when I was a kid, and Steph is allergic to just about every animal with fur. So unfortunately for Evy, this means that many common pets are off limits - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, llamas, etc.

One day she may say, "This [animal] followed me home. Can I keep it?" But the answer will have to be no.

Unless it's a fish.