6 weeks and growing

I thought I would post a little update on Evan. He is growing big and strong each day. He is probably over 11 lbs now. We will go back to the doctor for shots in June. I think I can handle that after his surgery.

He is laughing and smiling more and more each day. I love it! Evan has had lots of visitors. Right now his great aunts Char and Nan from Wisconsin are here entertaining him and giving mom a break.

We took him to Pella tulip festival with both sets of grandparents. He loved it!

Here are some more pictures:

Mother's Day outfit or our Catholic school uniform.

Go Irish!

Mom carrying me in the Baby Bjorn.

Love,

Amy, Nick and Evan

Evan is doing great!

We had Evan's one week check up yesterday with the surgeon and he is perfect. He weighed in at 10lbs 10.5 oz! This is up one whole pound since surgery. We couldn't be more excited. He is eating us straight out of house and home now though. His surgeon was fantastic and "most" of his nurses were great too. Why does there always have to be "that" nurse??

Evan is doing great this week. We have gotten out for a lot of walks since the weather has been beautiful. We are going to Pella, IA this weekend for their annual Tulip Festival with both Grandparents. Evan will have plenty of people to hold him and pose him for pictures with the flowers.

Here is Evan at one month - we are going to try to get him each month next to his elephant to show how he has grown.

Thank you again to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. It is amazing that I get to celebrate this great holiday with my family and perfect little boy.

Is he going to be a righty or lefty?!

Love,

Amy, Nick and Evan

Evan update

Evan had to be admitted to the hospital on April 30 for a pyloric stenosis - blockage of muscle from his stomach to his small intestine. He is all better and got home today (May 2). He really came through like a champ. Mom and dad on the other hand were probably worse off than him.

He has 2 tiny incision marks and one in the belly button. He won't need anymore surgeries. He is back to eating normal, no projectile vomits so far. We are so happy we caught it early and he didn't get too dehydrated.

We went in to the clinic thinking it was acid reflux flaring up and the medicine was causing the vomiting, but luckily we have a fabulous doctor and she ordered an ultrasound that found the block. Off we went to Blank Children's Hospital and spent 2 nights.

Grandma Kate, Aunt Lindsay and Grandma Lois all came and stayed with us - thanks guys!

Mom exhausted the night before Evan's appointment - we had the vacuum out to try to calm him down. We were desperate!

Here are some pictures of his stay.

Before surgery

With Grandma Lois

No more monitors or IV's - only a band aid! Tough little guy. Lou welcomes Evan back home.

thanks to everyone for the gifts, thoughts and prayers. We needed them and they worked!

Love,

Amy, Nick and Evan

2 weeks old

Evan is 2 weeks old and perfect. I know we are biased but he is just the most precious and beautiful baby. He is starting to get on schedule so that is nice for mom and dad.

Grandma Kate has been here all week helping out. She has cooked, cleaned and taken Evan while I nap which has been great. This will be the last time our house is this clean:)

Evan's first Easter - hat compliments of Grandma Lois

We are all doing well. Thank you to everyone for thinking of us and for the gifts and cards. We will keep you all updated on Evan's progress. We go to the doctor on Monday for his 2 week check up. I am sure all will be fine.

Love,

Amy, Nick and Evan

Evan Nicholas is here!!

Evan Nicholas Wieland Varcoe was born April 3, 2009 at 5:19 p.m. and weighted 9 lbs 5 oz. 20.5 inches long. After a long day of labor we ended up doing a c-section. He came into the world just as beautiful as we could ever imagine.

Nick is home with me this week and Grandma and Grandpa Wieland are going home today. I am feeling better each day. We had such wonderful care in the hospital we really didn't want to leave. We have lots of pictures I will continue to post.

Thanks for all the well wishes and messages.

Love,

Amy, Nick and Evan

Fashionably late

There is no doubt this baby is on their own timeline and that is OK with us. Baby Varcoe will make their grand entrance by Friday at the latest. I will go to the hospital on Thursday night to begin the induction process. This will hopefully end with a result of baby by Friday.

Uncle Eric one week before baby's arrival. In honor of Aunt Lindsay's law school- Go Nova in the Final Four!

We are very excited, but I am so happy to have an end date. It has been a tough couple of weeks not knowing when. It will all be worth it in just a few days.

We will be sure to post pictures when baby arrives.

Love,

Amy, Nick and Baby

Guest columnist

I will get to our guest columnist in a minute.

Does anyone remember this photo from the fall? Well here is an updated photo for you taken on Sunday. I had to push out my belly in the first picture - no need to do that this time:)

39 WeeksHi everyone!

I am almost ready to come visit, but decided yesterday at mom's doctor appointment that I am pretty comfortable. If I am a girl I just might wait until some NCAA basketball games are on so dad has to pay attention to mom and me. If I am boy I suppose I could wait until the finals next weekend I don't want to make Dad miss anything and the Dow was up big yesterday so I must be good luck.

The doctor said they would make me come out April 3 if I don't decide to on my own. So I guess we'll see how I feel between now and then. Doctor said I weigh between 7.5 and 8 lbs.

This is like heaven in Mom's belly - warm, lots of good food (except mom has been eating a lot of spicy stuff lately), dark, cozy and I get carried everywhere we go. I am running out of room and every once in a while I hear mom tell dad I just kicked her, but I didn't mean to, this place gets a little cramped.

Mom has been walking a lot which is nice to get outside and enjoy some of the spring weather. I hear my room is ready and everyone is really excited to meet me. I will see you all when I am ready - Grandma Lois said Mom is a little stubborn too:) I wonder what Grandma Kate would say about Dad...

love,

Baby Varcoe