Happy 2nd Birthday

Monkeys and cheerios.

Those are two of Nate's very favorite things,

so that's what was on his cake.

He needed some help blowing out the candles.

Opening a gift from his friend Jack.

Nate LOVES his motorcycle that Nana and Granddad sent him.

He woke up this morning asking to ride it!

Taking Jack for a stroll.

We celebrated Nate's birthday a little early last night. Two years have passed quickly, but it's really crazy how much our lives have changed since the day Nate was born. It seems like it should have been more like 10 or 20 years ago!

Anyway, Nate had a great time playing with his friend Jack and definitely didn't understand that we were gathered to celebrate his birthday. I tried to make a cake that fit him most -a monkey with cheerios. His snack of choice is still cheerios, and not only does he love monkeys (or any animal for that matter) but he acts like one too. Unfortunately we don't have his monkey imitation on video. Happy birthday baby (or not so baby) Nate!

Birthday Video

We didn't take much video of Nate with his birthday cake, but we got this one. He spotted the cheerios immediately and went for them!

Pacifier

Evie doesn't quite have the paci thing down yet.

Yogurt

Every morning Nate eats a big bowl of yogurt mixed with fruit. Here are some pictures from breakfast this morning. We haven't figured out if Nate is left or right handed yet. Sometimes he uses his left hand, sometimes he uses his right, and sometimes he uses both!

2 months old

I've done a really bad job of taking pictures of Evie. She turned 2 months old last Saturday and had her 2 month doctor's visit on Tuesday. She's a very healthy little girl - in the 90th and 95th percentiles for height and weight! She's cooing and smiling a lot these days, although I haven't caught many good pictures of her smiling. I guess there will be plenty more to come!

Barbie Cake

I brought Mom's cake supplies back to Texas with me, and I was able to put them to good use this week. A friend asked me to make a Barbie cake for her daughter's birthday, and this is the final product. Overall I was very pleased with it. Now it's time to decide what Nate's birthday cake will be. Less than a month to go and my little boy will be 2!

Our newest addition

It's a swing set!

I have a feeling this newest addition to our household will get me through many LONG days at home with two kids this year. A friend's aunt was looking for a new home for it, and she found one! Needless to say, Nate loves it. His first reaction (shown above) wasn't as exciting as we thought it might be, but we thought it was worth showing anyway. We'll be adding a baby swing for Evie soon.

Since we've been home

Staying cool with the help of a spray bottle.

We arrived back in Texas Monday evening. Stephen drove most of the way while I entertained kids in the back, with the help a portable DVD player. Our best purchase ever!

After such an exhausting trip back we needed to relax by the pool. Well, Nate did anyway. We bought this pool before we left for Kentucky, but didn't bring it out until this week. We returned to temperatures over 100 in Texas, so it was much needed!

Kentucky: Round 4

As Elizabeth cleaned out her stuff, Nate found some treasures.
This hat was one of them.

Nate and Samuel's first duet.

Nate's cousin, Samuel. What a sweet smile!

A final picture all together in front of Mom's house.

We finished our "vacation" in Kentucky at Mom's house helping my sister move out. My brother and his family were able to come for a couple days and we spent one final weekend together in the house. I have to say it was much harder to leave for the last time than I expected. Elizabeth and I got to meet the family that moved in, and they said we could come back to visit anytime. I'm sure we'll take them up on that in a few years.

Kentucky: Round 3

Nate with Uncle Tim and his cousins on the gator.

With Granddad coming up the drive.

Evie with her namesake, Grandma Blan.

Nate's favorite pastime in Lewisport was riding Nana and Granddad's newest toy, a John Deere gator, or a farm buggy as his "Things That Go" book would say. Evie's favorite pastime was being in the arms of anyone that would hold her!

Kentucky: Rounds 1 and 2

Nate peeking through the railing. He finally learned how to go up and down steps!

Evie bonding with her Aunt Annie and cousin Katie.

Nate's first piano lesson given by Aunt Liza.

After a couple days in the car on our first road trip with 2 kids under 2, we arrived in Kentucky almost 2 weeks ago. We spent our first few days with Stephen's family and have been with my sister this week. It looks like Mom's house is going to sell, so we'll be in Kentucky longer than originally planned to help with the final packing and cleaning out. It's a bittersweet time. We're thankful that the house is selling without having been on the market too long, but it's Mom's house - the place we remember her most in.

Right now we plan on heading back to Texas around July 13th. We're already dreading the drive home, but at least we'll have a few more weeks of summer break to enjoy when we get back.

Pictures of the week

We finally caught our baby girl awake - a rare thing!

Evie isn't the only one receiving gifts for her birth. Nate was given this bubble machine by his friend Kaitlyn. He loves it!

Nate's favorite pastimes - climbing into chairs and reading books.

Picklebee

Nate still doesn't say many words, but he talks a lot. One of these days we'll know what he's saying! In the meantime, one of his favorite words is "picklebee." We're not sure what it means, but we humor him by speaking his language now and then (as you can hear in the videos below). Here are a couple videos of the Nate we know, but that others don't often get to see.

Survival

This is a picture of our week. I went in to see what Stephen and Nate were doing yesterday afternoon, and this is what I found - Stephen passed out on the floor, Nate's room a disaster, and Nate oblivious to it all!

This week's goal has simply been survival. Stephen took Monday off and then I was alone with my newborn and 21-month old for the first time. They've been some of my longest days, but overall we've done really well. Stephen has been coming home exhausted from having interrupted sleep and then working all day to finish out the school year. Today is his last day, so we're thankful that we'll have the summer to adjust to life with 2 kids. Great timing!

Saying goodbye

Today was a sad day. We had to say goodbye to my sister Elizabeth, known as Aunt Liza to her nephews and niece. Elizabeth came to stay with us for a little more than three weeks while we waited and waited and waited for a baby to arrive, and then to help us once she arrived. I can't begin to describe what a help she was to us - cleaning our house, cooking our meals, getting us stocked up on groceries and supplies, taking care of Nate and Evie, and doing everything in-between.

When Nate was born my mom spent three weeks with us in Istanbul doing the same thing. My mom was probably very sick at the time because it was only a little more than a month later that she was diagnosed with cancer, but she gave herself so sacrificially. I'm indescribably sad and heartbroken that she wasn't here for Evie's birth, but I'm forever grateful to my sister who sacrificed her own time and energy to take her place.

Evie at home

Sleepyhead.

Nate loving his baby sister.

Nana, I think we might have a brown-eyed offspring.
Evie's eyes are dark so far.

Pointing to Evie's nose, mouth, eyes, ears, hair, belly ...

Spending lots of time in Aunt Liza's arms.

Again, pointing to Evie's nose, mouth, eyes, ears, hair, belly ...

This picture reminds me of one we have of Nate. I love swaddled babies!

We've spent the week slowly adjusting to life with two. We're not outnumbered yet, but it sure is starting to feel like it! Nate and Evie have a love/hate relationship. Nate loves to look at her, touch her, hug and kiss her, but he misses being picked up, held, and receiving all of our attention and has been somewhat out of sorts the last couple of days. I'm hoping that won't last long!

Evie has been a very easy baby so far. She eats well and sleeps well at night. We've had some 3 and 4 hour stretches the last couple nights.

We're so thankful for an easy pregnancy, a good labor and delivery, a quick recovery, and most of all for our sweet baby girl!

At the hospital

A first moment with Evie.

Weighing in at 7 lbs and 7 oz, she was smaller than we expected.

Nate playing in the hospital room ...

We were successful at having a short hospital stay, although it was still longer than we would have liked. Evidently the baby has to be observed for at least 24 hours in the states. In Turkey we were home about 18 hours after Nate was born. We had a pretty good American hospital experience, but I think I prefer my Turkish experience!

She's finally here!

Our family of four!

Nate meeting his little sister.

Giving her kisses.

Evie meeting her Aunt Liza.

Arriving a mere week and a half late, Evelyn "Evie" Ray Blan made her entrance into the world on Monday at 7:20 am. She was 7 lbs 7 oz, and 20 inches long. Evie's name comes from two of her grandparents. Evelyn comes from her great grandma Blan, Stephen's grandmother. Ray comes from her grandfather, my late father, Raymond Iles.

Nate has been having a blast with his Aunt Liza. He seems to like his little sister so far, but she hasn't invaded his territory yet. We're hoping to go home early today and let life begin as a family of four.

Overdue

Still no baby. My due date came and went on Thursday, so now we're waiting and hoping that Baby Girl Blan will arrive sooner rather than later. Elizabeth, my sister, arrived a week and a half ago, so we're spending our days playing with Nate and taking lots of walks! We'll post the little girl's arrival when it comes ...

Baby Girl Blan

Patting the baby.

Kissing the baby.

My BIG baby bump.

I'm due in 2 1/2 weeks, so we decided it was finally time to take some belly pictures before it's too late. When I was pregnant with Nate we took them regularly, but this little baby has been so neglected that this is the first time we've taken pictures just to show my belly. I guess that's the way it goes with #2 and beyond.

Nate has learned to be gentle and pat the baby or kiss the baby. If only he understood that his little world is about to be turned upside down by this baby he keeps hearing about! We'll keep you updated as the due date nears.

Bengal Bean Bag

Nate got this Bengals bean bag chair from Uncle Tim and Aunt Annie for Christmas. He's always liked it, but this week we brought it from his room to the living room and he has loved it! He sits in it to eat a snack or watch a show, and he loves to jump and roll around on it. It's providing some good entertainment for him and us!