a year ago today....

A year ago today, we arrived at the hospital with
excitement and anticipation of meeting our little baby girl.
A year ago today, she entered our lives and changed it forever.
A year ago today, we started our family.

How was it already a year ago, today?

Evie's nursery

The day of her arrival:

Evangeline,

You entered this world at 11:37 am on Thursday, February 13th at 7 pounds 14 ounces and stole our hearts. I have never felt a love like this before. You made me a momma - you made us a family. It has been a wonderful year of learning about you and how to be the best mommy I can be for you. You are such a loving, sweet little girl. Your love of reading and music is a perfect mix of me and your dada. I am ecstatic that I get to share each and every day with you because every day I learn something new about you. I can't imagine any other place I'd rather be than by your side. Thank you for all that you are and all that you will become. Here's to many more birthdays, my precious baby bug!

I love you forever,

Momma

we're going to see the sunflowers, baby!

"We're going to see the sunflowers, baby!" is what Hudson kept telling Evangeline on our drive to Carmel, La; just a quick road trip to view a field full of sunflowers at my mom's friend Vivian's home in the country. With over 175 acres of property to play with, Mr. Faler wanted some sunflowers on his land. He is more than generous to invite us over to reap the benefits of his hard work :) Upon arrival we were offered a beer and a four wheeler - my kind of afternoon!

After a fun ride around the property, we grabbed our buckets and scissors and got to work. My sister, Lauren, said, "Isn't it funny how some of them just call out to you to pick them?!" and it's true!

 Thanks for having us! We can't wait to come back. What do you think about a bonfire this fall ;) ??

this heart melting smile...

Sometimes I think I could just pass out from pure overwhelming love that I feel for this child of mine!

Last night I woke up to E's grunting on the baby monitor (which I LOVE by the way). I clicked the video button to see what she was up to. You would never guess - she's doing push ups in her crib! I lay her down on her back at night - "back is best" they say. She loves to roll over, but she hasn't quite gotten the hang of flipping back over from her stomach to her back and was getting a little frustrated. I went into her nursery to comfort her at 3:30 am - and when I picked her up- y'all - she arose out of the crib with the biggest smile on her face. It was so unexpected that I immediately teared up with joy. Sitting here- hours later- I can still see that face in front of me beaming. She loves me, she really really loves me! It was the best.birthday.present.ever.

 

{look who's 5 months old! and look at all of those arm muscles :) }

I am yours and you are mine, baby girl.

summer spectacular...

Our weekend in New Roads was like a sun drenched dream. We spent more time on the water and dock than on land. Just the way I like it. :)

Thursday night pleasure cruise:

{Evangeline hated the life jacket her dad bought her- doesn't she look scared?! Bless her little heart}

{It was fun waking up with all the kiddos in one house! You gotta love a slumber party.}

Friday: Red, White, and Blue Day!

{Our gracious host, Captain Coco!}

{the three cousins with life vests on = adorable!}

{Every time we got on the boat, E would fall asleep instantly and stay knocked out until the boat stopped! So funny.}

{The sand pit idea was kind of a bust- they were either throwing it in the water or throwing it in each others faces, but don't they know how to turn it on for the camera?}

{Lots of special Daddy-Daughter time was had.}

On the 4th of July evening, Fr./Brother-in-Law Andrew cooked burgers and we watched from the dock fireworks all up and down False River. Hudson was having a ball- he kept jumping and screaming, "SPECTACULAR!!!" We have no idea where he got that from, but I was cracking up.

On Saturday morning, I woke up early to watch the sunrise. The morning was filled with a million different shades of pastels. I just love what God does with his paintbrush in the sky.

{Some more morning cousin play time before we got ready for some coasting on False River...}

{This is our attempt at a group photo - Hudson wasn't having it. Poor guy just got sunscreen in his eyes.}

{See! I told you- falls asleep every time!}

{Hudson had fun driving for a second, but Andrew - our little dare devil- took this job seriously! Trouble ;)}

A quick jump in the river-lake and we were back on the road to Shreveport. The thing I liked best about our little road trip was the lack of clocks and structure. Since Evangeline was born I have been on such a schedule that when I realized I could just go with the flow this weekend- I took full advantage. (Y'all- I even took a nap!!) It felt like a real vacation!

On Sunday we had lunch with Russell and the Raleys at Oyster Bar. Yum. Also- I love my friends.

Then we had dinner with DeeDee and Pops.

What a wonderful 4th of July holiday!

Ummm, hey there. Meet my daughter!

Has it been 5 months since I published a blogpost? Really? 5 MONTHS? Sorry about that. Life has been a little crazy and awesome and I just haven't been able to take my eyes off my daughter.

Introducing to the blog Evangeline Marie Tison! My heart, my joy, the light of my life...even her name means 'good news'!

7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 inches long. Born at 11:37am on February 13, 2014

More pictures of Evangeline's b-day from the hospital can be found at Aunt Leslie's blog - The American Zimmigrant

Interesting Fact:
Evangeline was born to the You've Got Mail soundtrack.

First thing both her grandmothers commented on (besides her beauty):
Wow, she has big feet!

Everyone's favorite question is: 
What are you going to call her??

Our answer: 
We call her Evangeline, but you are welcome to call her whatever you want :)

Her many nicknames:
Little birdie, bug, bear, squishy girl, nugget, sweet cheeks, chunky monkey, angel girl, ladybug...
Baby girl, little bit, Miss E, Evie Marie, Mah-re-re --- to name a few!

 (3.28.14 - one month-ish)

(4.4.14 - two months-ish)

13.4 pounds and  24.5 inches

(5.20.14 - three months-ish)

(6.19.14 - four months-ish)

18.6 pounds and 2 inches long

E at 4 months: She is very social. She loves to smile and when she does it lights up a room with those dimples. She loves to be talked or sung to. She is rolling over. She is beginning to laugh, but right now it sounds like a snort. She is grabbing at everything - my hair and earrings, her toys. She even tries to grab patterns on t-shirts and ends up just scratching. It is pretty cute. She eats every 2.5-3 hours and is very particular about the temperature of her milk when we feed her a bottle. She loves her daddy so much that when she sees him she starts jumping in your arms.

Childcare:
Right now everyone is pitching in to watch baby E - My mom (DeeDee), my MIL (Mammaw Chris), and my sis (Aunt Lauren). They are AWESOME! Starting when she is 6 months old, at the end of the summer, she will be going to a nanny recommended by our friends Shelley and Cory. Evangeline has met the nanny already - Memaw and Papa (they want to be considered another set of grandparents) and they get along swimmingly.

Her daily schedule typically looks like this:
(obviously some variation if she's hungry earlier or later)
6:30 am feeding (in bed with me)
9:30 am feeding (with DeeDee, Mammaw Chris, or Aunt Lauren)
12:30 pm feeding (I go to her at lunch)
3:30 pm feeding (with DeeDee, Mammaw Chris, or Aunt Lauren)
6:00 pm feeding ( at home with me)
7:30 pm bath time with Dad
7:45 pm feeding and rocking to bed
8:00 - 8:15 bed time in big girl crib (moved from bassinet next to my bed to crib on 6-14)
possible 1am need for a pacifier/comfort
3:00 or 4:00 am feeding
and then we start all over!

The things I have learned about being a mother so far:

• She is always changing - our routine, what she needs and when, so I am learning to take each day for what it is and learn to adjust to the changes as they come. Even though we may have just gotten used to doing it one way - I am learning to adapt to the never ending cycle of change.  For example: when I went back to work in May it was incredibly difficult on all fronts, but especially because we had just established a routine. I thought there was absolutely NO WAY I could squeeze anything else into our day and be on time, looking professional, and have a mind to do work - come home and have any energy left to offer my little girl ... and now, 7 weeks later, I am amazed at all we do in a day. Which brings me to....the support from my husband and our family. I don't know if I would still be standing if it weren't for our family! From the second we brought Evangeline home from the hospital to this very day, I have felt nothing but loved and supported by everyone. They love our baby girl as much as we do. She is so lucky to grow up surrounded by this much love and so are we. 

• I need my husband's support. Tison has never questioned my mothering. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that he trusts me- even when I'm not sure I should trust myself. He believes in my motherly instincts and not only tells me that I'm a good mother, but never questions my abilities. We are learning together and it is the most challenging and bonding thing we have ever done together. He is an amazing dad and husband.

• I never thought I could love this much- with my whole heart. instantly and always.

• Sometimes I look at her and I can't believe she is mine... for like- ever...

•  Not everyone wants to see baby pictures (even though it is the most adorable baby photo in the entire world and they are really going to miss out)
• Running errands with a baby carrier is kind of the worst and is biggest ordeal. 

Things I never thought I'd say:

•  That purple tube of lanolin is the best! Am I right?
  
• Can you give me just a minute I have spit up in my hair?

•  I'm going to be about 15 more minutes - I need to pump. 

•  Sorry, she's hungry. We're all girls right? (as I pull my shirt off)

•  Is that your baby's poop or mine? (smelling a stinky diaper)

•  Oh, these Target nursing tanks are a-mazing. I wear them every day.
• I can have another scoop of ice cream. I'm nursing.

•  Whoo-hoo! I pumped like 8 ounces!

•  Oops, I forgot to brush my teeth.
• Tison- I just feel asleep in the bath tub!

•  Do I have my breast pump, bottles, nipples, bottle caps, burp cloth, bib, pacifier, extra set of clothes, matching headband, socks, shoes, snack for mom, car keys, wallet, my sanity??

Side note: You know I have taken a million pictures and it was really really hard for me to narrow this down, so expect a million more soon. I am trying to get back in the routine of blogging! Thanks for understanding my hiatus :)

the most beautiful shower I have ever seen...

My baby shower was more enchanting than I could have even imagined. The a football team of hostesses made every detail special from the entry way with a chandelier to mimic the nursery to having items that were in mine and my sisters childhood scattered around the venue to find like Easter eggs. Each table's centerpiece contained a diaper cake and a baby photo of Justin or me. They even went to my Pinterest account and took some things I had pinned and incorporated them into the decorations! I am so fortunate to have such amazing, thoughtful and talented ladies in my life that share with me their generosity and love. I cannot wait for baby girl to meet all of these beautiful women that are a constant inspiration to me. How very blessed we are...

{Thank you to Mrs. Mary Beth and Roxanne for taking such lovely pictures of the shower!}

We are ready for your sweet girl - we can't wait to meet you any day now!!

{check out Lauren's shower for Hudson here}

a little nursery update...

We have been little weekend warriors in baby girl's room! This is what we have been doing in the nursery thus far...

I am obsessed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Thank you, husband, for your tireless efforts in this space! It is really coming together. I am excited to get things on the wall, recover the chair, find a rug and finish her crib linens :) xoxo