Just look at this little beauty! Evelyn Darlene was born to Craig and Stephanie on April 29 just before 10 p.m. 7 lb., 10 oz., 19 inches long. What a precious gift! Evelyn is named after grandmothers of both Steph and Craig.
We spent a good part of that day hanging around the hospital waiting for her birth. Eric and Molly were there too, and every time Craig came out to see us, he relayed the information that it would probably be a couple more hours…. About 10:15, I started feeling a little anxious about how long she had been stuck without progress and took a walk down the hall. I heard a baby crying, so I stood at the nurses' station and made conversation while listening to see if I could figure out which room the cries were coming from. I heard Craig laugh and deduced that she had arrived! I hurried back to our waiting room and announced to Will that I was pretty sure she was here. Just then I got the text from Craig that confirmed it! We only saw her briefly that night since they were very exhausted after their long night and day. But we were back on Saturday to see more of her! (Fun fact, my co-worker Trudi's son and his wife had their baby about a half hour after Evy was born, just two doors down! We enjoyed the opportunity to share the experience of receiving our first granddaughters on the same day!)
One of the sweetest occasions in the world, seeing your son and his wife experience the joy of new life.
Followed closely by watching your husband get acquainted with our first baby girl McAnulty.
The size of his hand and finger next to her little body and fingers…just love it.
A hospital can be a really fun place!
The joy of a new mother - so beautiful, such a reward after all the pain and agony!
At home, a few days later, looks like daddy is already communicating really well with his daughter.
A week later, we enjoyed the Mother's Day Brunch with Steph's mom and brother at the restaurant where Craig works.
The next Friday, I got to babysit her for a brief time while her mommy ran an errand. We had fun.
Here are some pics from a photo shoot with Ashley E. Photography when she was a week old, the day before Mother's Day. Ashley is a good friend of my niece Venisa, and the pictures were taken at her parents, Doug and Anisa's home.
I love these. So gorgeous.
The next Sunday was the first visit to Grandpa & Grandma's house.
Kam is fascinated.
Grandma can't get enough.
Neither can anyone else!
(Hmm, not sure why Kam's face didn't get thoroughly washed after dinner! I think I was the one who let him out of the high chair. Bad grandma!)
Zeek wants to get acquainted too!
Evy enjoyed her first fire at Grandpa's house that night. I snapped Eric's snapchat of Molly holding Evy. Great snap, Eric!
We were talking about how you never realize the last time you pick up your child that it's the last time you will ever do so. And the last time your child sits on your lap…if you knew that was going to be the last time, how would you feel? What would you do?
Ok, the last time I picked up my oldest son, the new daddy, was one week ago. He is 30 years old. He is not a small man. He was standing, and I managed to lift him about one inch off the ground for about one second.
I held him on my lap for slightly longer. You're never too old to sit on your mom's lap! (And it helps to be sitting on a sturdychair made by a sizable man who only builds heavy-duty items!)
This little bootie plant holder was a gift from my friend Carol Eichelberger when Craig was born. It was filled with a baby tears plant back then. I counldn't find any little baby tears plant, so I got one with pink leaves in honor of Evy.
Our first family picture with Evy! The first of many! We are so blessed and so grateful for the blessings of these beautiful sons and daughters, grandson and granddaughter, and each other.
