Evelyn Meets Santa and Welcome Wyatt

Evelyn looks a bit more excited to meet Santa then he is her. I suppose it's because he's been doing this gig for 14 years!!! The cousins, Mimi, Grandpa Mac and the Karrs all went to the Union League Club for a fun day of food and Xmas mood.


Sometimes I can't wait for Evelyn to talk and interact, but then again our biggest piece of advice we've gotten as parents is not to rush our wishes for her to grow up...because one day we will wish she was small enough to snuggle her up in our arms again. So I'm soaking in every moment, every spit up, every toot, every coo and giggle. I love being her mom. Life is so much more enhanced, and so much more selfless now...too bad it took a kid to get to this point.

Thee most exciting news as of recent is that the long awaited Mr. Wyatt Duke McPartlin has arrived! He was born last week to my brother Ryan and his wife Danielle. By the picture you can tell he is already an L.A. fashionista. We cannot wait for him to come to Chicago in March for Chrissy's wedding where he will get to meet his 4 girl cousins.....I hope he is ready for all the doting attention he is going to be slobbered with! He will most likely end up in a dress by the end of his Midwest debut.

Hats Off To Ya'll!

I am obsessed with buying hats for Miss Evelyn, it's my new hobby. She wears it quite well don't you agree?

Last night our fam' went to Willow Creek Community Church www.willowcreek.org for a Thanksgiving service. It was one of those depleting days where the only thing you want to do is go home, breathe in and out and wait for a new, fresh day to start. Something kept drawing me to go to the service though.......It was as if God blew His breath of air into my soul to clear away the mounds of dust of indifference in my life.

There is a ton to share from the service, but I will only share a bit. I highly recommend listening to the service though. There is a testimony that will blow you away!

One part that smacked me across the face (as we approach Thanksgiving tomorrow) was the parable where Jesus, out of His graciousness, heals the 10 lepers. The lepers were so overwhelmed at their newfound healing and freedom that they took off running in excitement to show everyone what God had done. One, only one, stopped himself in his steps to turn back around and bow before God in adoration and thankfulness for granting him healing. God was like 'No prob', but hey, I healed 10 of you and you are thee ONLY one who came back to thank me?! Where the heck did the rest of those yahoos go?!?

They forgot. It's so easy to forget. It's so easy to praise the created and forget the Creator. Too often we bask in our joys and blessings and forget those days of longing for those blessings.

So this Thanksgiving I pray that we all stop and give ultimate thanks to God. It wasn't but a few years ago that I thought God had forgotten the desires of my heart. But when I wake next to my husband and look deeply into my daughter's eyes I feel foolish for thinking that God would ever forget. He stores all our tears in a jar and turns it into the finest of wine....in His timing.

Thanks - giving for and to you!

The Angels are with me...

If someone told me that I wasn't the luckiest lad this side of the sea for having theeee two most gorgeous, beautiful, angelic ladies in my life to enjoy life, love and all of God's gifts with, they'd probably also say that Saddam Hussein is a humanitarian. Am i right? ...Just look at them!



From Africa to England, and God knows all the stuff in between, to a back home, old-fashioned family lifestyle, God has a sense of humor that just strikes ya right in the gut with Truth!


This blog is awesome, props to Sarita for creating it - everyone please feel free to respond - open forum!

Side note to Evelyn:

I just want to formally ask you why you LOVE to crap on your Daddy? I hope this doesn't continue into your adulthood. I'll say it now - to the degree to which it continues is the degree to which your shopping budget will be cut!! Countless times when I'm 'ahh-ing' and 'coo-ing' at you with tears in my eyes because you're too cute... low and behold you follow up with a nasty explosion of what seems like raw sewage which seeps and pours out your diaper, up your back, down your legs, and into my hands. And to top it all off, you seal the deal with your infamous sly but sweet smirk, knowing you're in control. Ahhhh, but you're darling, I love you, and you're worth every minute of my singed nostrils!!

Love,

Papa Leoni

Evelyn's Party Frocks

This weekend was Bobby's 29th bday. Yes, I robbed the cradle for all those out there counting up our age difference.

Evelyn begged me to dress her in something pretty for when her daddy got home from work. It was a big day......her first time ever in a dress and panty hose! She hated the hat - I guess for good reason because it kept sliding down and covering her entire face. All I could see was her frowning sweet lips begin to quiver into a wail if I didn't remove that honkin' hat fast!

Bobby's bday was so relaxing. I usually try to over-plan and over-please. But he merely wanted to spend time with his two ladies....so that's just what we did. 'Time' was indeed the most valuable gift to be had.

Newest Blog on the Block

The Leoni family is officially on the blog super-highway. Sounds kind of futuristic, but probably old school to a lot of tech heads out there.

Anyway, this is going to be our prime vehicle to brag about and post minute by minute pics of our sweet baby girl Evelyn Grace Leoni.

Like all over-zealous new parents out there, the camera seems to be attached to our hips for every yawn, cock-eyed smile, ridiculous over-sized outfit, and move that she makes. Instead of us sending out daily photo albums to people who may want more, or have had enough........we will instead post our pictures and updates on here.

That way you can check this site out as much or as little as you want. Deal?

So here we go......

We've got a lot of lost time to make up for since her birthday on September 1, 2006 at 11:13p.m.