So much has happened in the life of the Sterlachinis. Unfortunately, one of those things is not the completion of a kitchen. Our house is still in shambles, but I did pay our first mortgage payment last night, and it was pretty awesome. We've also had some fun adventures!

E is growing and learning so much. When she gets tired, she puts her own binky in. We got her a new carseat since she was getting too tall for the infant one. I put a closed book on her lap and her binky next to her. 5 minutes later I found her like this. Book open, binky in, looking at me like "Mom! I'm trying to read here!". She's SUCH a big girl now.



We went to a petting zoo on Sunday. She's really too young, but she loves to watch animals, so rather than petting, we watched. Angry baby was angry.

But she cheered up when daddy put her on his shoulders so she could pull his hair. He's wincing, but he's used to it.  

Grandma came to visit. Ohhh boy is she in love. They live in Philly and haven't seen E for a while. She was in her element. E was soooo tired at night, though.

She was happy during the day! She looks like a little elf or hobbit or something, but it cracks me up. She's so freaking cute.

And we are getting better at swimming! She put her face in and didn't cry, and she's starting to pull herself along the wall.

The most interesting thing (that I don't have a photo of) is that she's trying to pull up! She pulls up on my shirt if I steady her. She's like a little gym rat - she's always trying to do sit ups, and rather than getting on her knees and then standing, she tries to just do baby pull-ups. Yesterday she pulled up on a toy and sat there with her butt off the ground. Once again - gymnastics, folks.

She's backed off of saying "Mama" but she still does it sometimes when I call during the day. Still no teeth (thak God). She's been sleeping strangely. For a long time, she slept through the night most of the time. Lately she's been getting up to the point that I have to get up once, which isn't too bad. Last night she got up and cried, though, which she doesn't normally do. Seems to be a growth spurt because she was fine once she ate, and has been napping like crazy. What's strange is if you watch her, she has extremely restless periods at night. Sometimes she wakes up and opens her eyes, and sometimes she just rolls around. She usually is back to peaceful sleeping in a few minutes, but it's so strange to me.

I'm currently shopping for her for Christmas. I can't wait to spend our first Christmas in our new house. We're going to decorate and put tons of gifts under the tree and wake up Christmas morning and open gifts with our little one. I'm feeling very blessed today. I just love my little girl so much. Words cannot express it. Everything is just different now. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I can be stressed, angry, frustrated... but it's hard to be sad with this sweet girl in my life.

Fall and GPOYD

Fall is coming. Fall is so amazing for so many reasons (cool weather, Halloween, long nights, excellent light quality for photography, Thanksgiving, pumpkin spice lattes for those who drink them [I don’t]). This year Fall is even better for me. Fall brings the beginning of the holiday season. Because I work for the government, I get every holiday off (Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc.). So this year I get to spend all those three and 4 day weekends with my little girl.

One of the things I’ve been excited about with our little family is starting new traditions. Like going to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Going to Linvilla Orchards with our friends for a hay ride. Thanksgiving with Family, waking up Christmas morning to open our presents as a family like I used to do with my parents. This year we’re having Christmas dinner at our house, so the house will be filled with the smells of turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the wonderful holiday food. We’ll go pick out a first Christmas ornament for Evie and attend a holiday Church service on Christmas Eve.

I’m so excited to share some of my very favorite things with my own little girl. Now that the weather is getting colder I get to put her in hoodies and dresses with tights, and soon? Shoes! I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have her to do all of these things with, and a husband that loves tradition, too!

A few years ago, Andy and I went on the hayride at Linvilla with his friends like we do every year. We smiled at each other, thinking about the fact that one day we’d be bringing our child with us… and this year is that year. And his friends love her SO much. They’ll get all sorts of joy from seeing her giggling at the hay and the silly witches.

I’m so incredibly blessed.

And gratuitous pictures of Evie

We were told to start giving her juice and water in a sippy. She usually likes to play with it more than drink from it. She puts it in her mouth, but is still figuring out that she needs to tilt it. She's not used to the spout since it's not a nipple, but she'll take water from it.

I stuck her in her crib standing just to see what would happen, and this is what happened. She stood. I'm not touching her here - I was so shocked I put my hand next to her in case she fell.

Pretty Eyes

Being all tough eating her apple peach oatmeal yogurt. Seriously, could you fit another ingredient in the jar?

As evidenced by her expression, she'd rather be playing with toys.

This picture is only here because I really adore this outfit. I'm still trying to figure out her eye color. I think her eyes are still trying, too. Usually they're grey, but sometimes I think they're going to turn hazel and then they don't. It's so strange. She'll be 7 months Saturday, so maybe they're just going to keep changing.

Love.

This sweet girl slept in her crib for the first time last night. I fed her and rocked her and daddy read her a story. Then I layed her down in her crib with her Polky the Caterpillar, her glow seahorse, and her blanky. It took about a half hour, and about 15 seconds of crying, but she got to sleep no worse for wear. She stayed asleep until 3am, so over 7 straight hours before she woke up. We moved her back to the rock n play for the last 2.5 hours, but she did an amazing job for being so in between houses right now. We're finally in the new house for good and she finally has her own room, but it took some time, and she's been an angel.

I'm still all melty and gooey over her smile when she sees me first thing in the morning. Love like this I never imagined. Not in a million years.

Dadadada

I haven't a clue if this work, but if so, yay!

This is the face I make when I say "DADADA". Hopefully a video will follow, but probably not haha.

Update: WHAT? I didn't tell you she says "DADA" now? I'm terrible. She does. Cosntantly. And makes that face. OK now I HAVE to post a video.