Welcome, Evelyn Jane!

Evelyn Jane Mecher joined our family at 8:38 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19th. She weighed i:n at 6 lbs., 12 oz. and measured at 20 3/4 in. Charlotte was a mere 6 lbs., 3 oz. We have teeny, tiny babies, apparently.

 

I labored for about 16 hrs. at home before we headed to the hospital at 7:30 p.m. When we arrived, all of the hospital beds and triage beds were FULL. I sat (and labored) in a waiting room with three women ahead of me who were NOT in labor for about 45 minutes. After Kyle was persistent with the nurses and my midwife, he convinced them to check how far I was dilated to see if I could just go home- I was only at 3 cm., so we headed back home. It was a bummer to not be admitted, but it sure was better than sitting in that waiting room. We came home for about four more hours, until my contractions were so bad that I insisted we go back to the hospital, where we were easily admitted to triage at 12:30 a.m. After a short (and painful) wait in triage, we were admitted and I was able to get some IV narcotics and, eventually, an epidural around 4 a.m. (we're at 24 HOURS here, in case you're keeping track. I labored for 16 hours with Charlotte. I thought second babies were supposed to come MUCH faster). Kyle and I both slept for a little while, at around 6 a.m., my midwife came and broke my water, and at 8:30, when my midwife came to check my progress, Evelyn was COMING OUT. I could feel nothing, praise Jesus. She quickly set up, I pushed 4 or 5 times and there she was! A little dark haired beauty!

Meeting big sister, Charlotte. She was NOT happy when Granny took a turn to hold Evelyn.

 

Enjoying a delicious Ann Sather cinnamon roll, one of the many delicious meals we enjoyed while we were in the hospital!

With Granny Janny.

With Auntie Amy and Uncle Pete.

With Gramma Lynn and Poppa.

Sick Day

After our long weekend at camp, Charlotte woke up with a nasty cough and 102 fever. Yuck. We decided to do a lot of relaxing today.

Kyle made Charlotte a sick bed on the love seat and got out her puzzles.

 

She built these pieces all by herself!

Then we watched a little PBS Kids.

 Charlotte sure found her energy after lunch. She set up all of her "guys" at the dining room table- even providing them with blankets, as pictured here.

She also provided them all with beverages. As she delivered them, she said, "This will make you healthy."

 

My mom came over in the afternoon and read Charlotte some books.

 When my mom arrived, we were talking about some of our ancestors and my mom mentioned that we have a great aunt named Maude. She started telling Charlotte a story about a girl named Maude, and then Charlotte kept asking for "another Maude story."

Two Life

This weekend we brought Charlotte to Covenant Point so that Kyle and I could cook for the second One Life Retreat, a retreat for all of the Covenant Central Conference (Illinois, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan) senior high students. It was so fun to be in the kitchen. Charlotte joined us there sometimes, and also spent some time with Linnea, Kevin, and Laurel and Auntie Courtney, Uncle Erik, Caleb, Jackson, and Emmett. On Sunday we had the afternoon off, so we took Charlotte out to play in the snow- it was beautiful and sunny and 20-ish degrees- perfect!

We started out making a snow angel.

Runny nose.

Tasting the snow.

"Mmm. Sugary."

Charlotte wanted to go play on the "parking lot" (what she calls a playground). The snow was very deep.

But Charlotte persevered.

Giving Daddy an "underdog."

Crawling out.

Pulling Daddy on the tube.

Valentine's Day

Charlotte and I made delicious chocolate dipped pretzels that I pinned on Pinterest this year.

 

After they were all finished, we packaged them up so we could deliver them to our neighbors and Pastors.

The next morning we had heart pancakes and strawberries for breakfast!

And milk with heart ice cubes.

Charlotte got a Valentine's puppy from Grandma Patti and Grandpa Rich, which she named "Woofter." Here he is, pictured at left being put to bed, complete with bedtime story. When I came to get Charlotte to tell her it was time to go to Gramma Lynn's, she said, "No. It's bedtime."

My delicious Valentine's present to myself. I got to spend the morning with my best friend, Megan at Target and Panera. I bought the ingredients to make chocolate covered strawberries with my favorite chocolate- Ghirardelli Cabernet Matinee. Yum!

We finished out the evening with dinner at Gramma Lynn and Poppa's- the best Valentine's present ever- not having to cook dinner!

Spring.

I am so over this winter.

I am so ready for spring.

I never really appreciated the seasons until I lived in Michigan. I'm not quite sure what Michigan had to do with it, but that was where I learned to appreciate the seasonality of food. Prior to this, I'm not even sure I could have told you what produce was in season when. Now root vegetables and oranges and avocados mean winter and berries and grilled meats and basil mean summer. Fall means apples and pumpkin flavored everything and soups and stews. And spring...

I know that I have never looked forward to spring so much as after a UP winter. Even wandering through the slush under grey skies in my rain boots was a thrill after feeling cooped up indoors for months and months. I remember the first year I lived there on the first "warm" day in march when the thermometer hit something like 50 degrees, Kyle and I layered on sweaters and scarves and piled on blankets and went to sit on our front porch to read. And even though my fingers were still a little bit frozen holding my book open, it felt like heaven.

I am so looking forward to asparagus and all of the lemon flavored things I have pinned on Pinterest. I'm looking forward to Holy Week and Easter celebrations and ham and eggs and scalloped potatoes. And, oh my, Reese's peanut butter eggs and Cadbury robin's eggs. And the glorious feeling of not having to wear a down coat or let your car warm up. I'll be honest, I could do without all of the pastels, but I am looking forward to finally being able to wear cute not-so-warm shoes again, going without socks, and the feeling of the sun on my skin.

I pray, I pray, I pray that that groundhog doesn't see his shadow!

Massive Blog/Life Update

As many of you know there have been some changes in our life.  We moved to a larger apartment at Ashland and Irving Park mid-October after Kyle got the job as the facilities manager at our Church.  The apartment acts as Kyle's compensation.  Jenny left her job in Northbrook after trying to make it work and now watches two infants 3 to 4 days a week at home.  Shortly after moving we were thrilled to learn that another Mecher was on the way.  All these adjustments relegated blog-maintenance to the bottom of the list.  

Now that you are up to speed, enjoy three months of pictures!

Winter Wonderfest and Pots and Pans

Jenny and Charlotte went to Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier last week with the cousins.

Charlotte climbed so fast up the slides but she would just sit at the top and cause a back-up.  Finally Jenny had to tell Adeline to just push her down the slide.  Charlotte still remembers it fondly.

 

Jenny was certain Charlotte would get her head stuck in these, but Charlotte managed to pull it out.

 Some of you may remember how a kid bit Charlie in these same tubes a year ago.  

No bitters this year.

Despite the silly scowl, Charlotte loves her new pots and pans that Granny and Grandpa Bill let her pick out at the Disney Store.  She has cooked us pasta, muffins, and eggs.  

Maybe she will be a camp cook someday...