Apologies ahead of time for the all photos post, but I wanted to share some more of these from last weekend. I’m pretty happy with most of them, but I also see a lot of room for improvement so I’ve been studying up all week trying to figure out what I did wrong.
The boys
My handsome little man
My goofy nephew, Ryan
Best Friends Forever
My Girl
Dear Evie,
Oh my little monkey, here you are at 22 months old and already I’m seeing visions of your pre-teen years. You’ve always had a little sass to you, but recently the sassiness has escalated to levels I was not prepared for. Rest assured, I am not the only one that has noticed this. You suddenly seem to think that you control the world. Though I hate to burst your bubble, I have to tell you that it just is not so.
All of this attitude came along with a huge speech explosion. It seemed like overnight you went from saying single words to speaking in sentences and making demands. You tell us what you want, when you want it (NOW!), and how you want it. When we don’t comply with your wishes, you let us know just how unhappy you are by screaming like a banshee and repeating yourself over and over again. Maybe you’re trying to make us understand your words, but yeah, WE GOT IT.
You have also discovered the fact that humans were blessed with free will and you apparently think that makes all things in life optional. So now, when Mommy says things like, “Evie, it’s time to take a bath.” you respond with, “NO, I NOT!” It was charming and rather funny the first few times, but it got old really fast. Even the things you like to do (like take a bath) usually get a “NO, I NOT!” these days until you figure out that you really do want to do it. I know you’re only trying to assert your new found independence, but I still dream of the day when “yes” becomes your favorite word.
While it may sound like I’m complaining about all the talking, I absolutely love it! I finally get to know what’s going on in your head. We have actual conversations now which just amazes me. You are one smart little girl. You have a great memory and surprise me constantly with all the words you know. The best part though, is when I tuck you into bed at night. Every night we say a bed time prayer and then sing a couple of songs to help you settle down. You can almost recite the entire prayer with me now and you always request “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and sing along with me to the words you know. It’s a sweet way to end a busy day and I enjoy it every time.
Your brother, on the other hand, does not like you talking so much. You see, before you started talking, he was under the impression that he controlled the world because he was the only child in the room that spoke. He assumed that his demands were the only ones that existed, simply because we heard no others. Now things have changed and he’s having a hard time getting used to it. He gets really upset when we allow you to make a choice before him (even though we generally alternate) but I suppose it is just something we all have to get used to. I remember arguing about the same things with my brother and sister.
You are becoming so much more independent all of a sudden that I have to remind myself to just let you do things yourself. You are getting really good at using your fork and spoon and actually getting the food to your mouth. You have also started using a regular cup when we’re at the table. You usually still request a sippy cup full of milk when we’re finished eating, but it is nice to see that you can use a regular cup without spilling too much.
The other thing we’ve been really working on is potty training. You know exactly what to do when we get you to the potty at the right time, but you aren’t really telling us when you need to go. I think you’ll be there soon. You’re brain has just been busy focusing on other things. You definitely have the right idea. You do love wearing your pull-ups during the day and can even pull them up and down by yourself now.
A few weeks ago, your day care provider started watching a new baby. I was a little afraid of how you would react at first because you and your BFF had been the babies there for so long. You seemed to adjust just fine though. At home, you started carrying your baby dolls around with you constantly. You tell us when they are hungry, feed them bottles, change their diapers, and tuck them into bed when they are sleepy. I love watching you take care of them. You’ll be a great mama some day.
Each month seems like it goes by faster and faster as I watch you growing up so fast. Two is less than two months away now. As you inch towards it, I feel myself relaxing in some ways. Even though I still call you a baby, you really aren’t any more. I see more and more glimpses of the big girl you are quickly becoming and I am so proud.
Love always,
Mama
It’s time for my first iheartfaces weekly challenge of 2010! This week’s theme is “Best Face Photo” and they are asking for your best face photo from either December 2009 or early January 2010. I took a ton of photos during December thanks to my awesome new camera, but this is the one that has stuck out as my favorite!
It started snowing Christmas day and the kids were begging to get out and play in it. We finally got out on New Year’s Eve and Evie got to experience her first time really playing in the snow. She was unsure at first, but once she got used to it she really had fun!
Wow, there are a ton of entries this week! Head over to iheartfaces and check out some of the other Best Face Photos!
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This week’s I ♥ Faces challenge is Sweet Dreams. I must have taken hundreds of photos of Evie sleeping when she was a baby. She just looked so peaceful every time she would drift off. These days I can barely catch her sitting still, much less sleeping!
For more sleeping beauties, head over to the I ♥ Faces blog!
Comments closedLast night at 12:30, I was just getting in bed as I heard a cry from the kids’ room. I assumed it was Evie because she’s been rather cranky the last few days and not sleeping well. I waited to see if she stopped before heading in there, but when she kept crying I figured I better go see what was wrong. When I got in the bedroom, it wasn’t Evie crying. It was Zach.
He was sitting up, holding his ear, and crying. He couldn’t sleep because his ear was hurting so bad. By that time, Evie was awake also, sitting up and crying. I got Zach up so I could take a look at his ear and give him some Motrin for the pain. Evie was screaming her head off so I handed her off to Daddy and listened to her scream the entire time.
When I finally got Zach ready to go back to bed, he refused to go to his bed and crawled in our bed instead. He refused to move. Evie was still screaming. After a few words with Hubby I left Zach where he was, scooped Evie up and snuggled up in her bed with her. The screaming continued for quite a while after Evie and I got in her bed. She was not at all happy to be woken up.
The funniest part of the night though, was what I learned about my daughter during the hour or so that I spent trying to settle her down. She is so much more like me than I ever knew. She wanted to snuggle, and wanted me to be close, but she didn’t want me to touch her at all. She sat up and adjusted her pillow multiple times before finally settling down. She had to have her blanket just right and every single time I moved the slightest bit she woke up and screamed again, thinking I was getting up. She apparently sleeps just like me – except I don’t scream every time Hubby moves.
Hubby, on the other hand, got to find out what it was like to sleep with someone who is just like him. Zach spent the night smushed up against his Daddy, kicking and wiggling all night long, while there was an entire half of the bed empty on the other side. He’s a bit of a snuggler.
Let’s just say that neither of us slept very well. It was one of those nights that you have to expect as a parent, but they never get any easier.
I took Zach to the doctor today and of course he does have an ear infection. He’s now on oral antibiotics plus antibiotic drops because his ear tubes are apparently clogged. To top it off, he ended up getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots as well because we happened to be there right after the doctor’s office got a shipment in. He was NOT happy about the shots or the ear drops, but hopefully his ear will start feeling better soon.
As for me, I’ll be all better after a good night’s sleep…which I may get in another 18 years or so.
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Dear Evie,
It’s been a while since I’ve written a monthly letter. I got off when I had surgery a few months ago and I just never could find the time to get caught back up. It’s not that I don’t have a lot to say about (or to) you, I just don’t have the time to focus because you demand that my attention be on you whenever possible, not on the computer screen.
Tonight was a night when I just really needed time to wind down. Zach was watching a movie back in the bedroom. You were demanding to watch princesses on the play room TV, and I was ready to go sit in my chair and relax for the evening. You had other plans though. As I stepped away from you, you hollered out, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommmmyyyyy!” and held your hands up in the air. One look into your big, bright eyes and I just couldn’t walk away. You have that power over me.
I grabbed you up into my arms and then sat on the floor hugging you for as long as you would allow. We watched a few minutes of Beauty and the Beast before you were up searching for toys to play with. TV never keeps your attention, even when you beg for your princesses or Elmo. You grabbed your favorite bucket of toys – your shape sorters and stackers – and we sat in the floor playing together for over an hour.
Even though I know to expect it now, you amaze me with just how smart you are. You pick up on things so quickly. As we played with the shape sorter blocks, I named each shape and soon you were saying the shape names with me. Then you started stacking the blocks to make “towers” just like your brother does. Perhaps not an amazing feat for a kid your age, but it still impressed me. You just seem to be doing things so much faster than your brother did, although it could just be my memory failing.
Your verbal skills are definitely good for your age. You talk all the time. Seriously, all the time. It’s not often I get a chance to be alone with just you, but yesterday you weren’t feeling well and went to work with me for a while. You sat in your stroller (incredibly well behaved) and pretty much talked non-stop the entire time. Most of the time you were just playing and talking to yourself but it was so fun to listen to you. Not every word is clear, but I can figure out what most of them are.
Before I had you, I would have sworn up and down to anybody that there really wasn’t much difference between boys and girls (other than body parts). You, my darling, have proven me wrong. You have a gentleness about you that I rarely see in your brother. You are obsessed with princesses, dolls, ponies, and kitty cats. You love your shoes, purses, hair bows, and pretty clothes. Sure you like Elmo, your brother’s cars, and wrestling on the floor with the boys too, but when it comes down to it, you are one of the girliest girls I’ve ever known. And, surprisingly, I love every single bit of it.
My heart aches when I realize just how close you are getting to your second birthday. I’m so proud of who you are, yet I am really missing my baby. Every now and then when you snuggle up with your head on my chest I remember those first few weeks at home with you. Never in my dreams did I imagine that in 20 short months you would be filled with so much personality, love, and charm.
Tonight as I put you to bed, you started crying. It wasn’t just the normal “I don’t want to go to bed” type of cry. You were sobbing and becoming hysterical. I never could figure out exactly what was wrong, but after holding you and singing “Rock-a-Bye Baby” (which has magical powers over you for some reason) a few times you finally settled down. Maybe it was just a long day. Maybe it was due to you not feeling well the last few days. Maybe you were scared about something. I have no idea. Whatever it was, I was there to make it better. I always want to be there to make it better, and take the hurt away, no matter what the cause is. That’s the thing about Moms, we’ll do just about anything to take the hurt away.
Right now I’d give just about anything to peek in on you before I head to bed myself, but you are too much like your Mama and the slightest noise wakes you up. Instead of checking in on you, kissing your soft cheeks, and saying good-night one more time, I’ll quietly sneak past your door to my own room. Just know that I’m looking forward to morning, because I know the moment I crack your door open you’ll pop up out of your bed with a huge smile on your face and yell out “Morning!” as you do every day. It is one of the highlights of my day and I hope someday you’ll understand just how much it means to me.
With all my love,
Mama
P.S. You know that big smile you get on your face with the batty eyes when you’re trying to get away with something? Save that for Daddy. I’m on to your tricks, little one. After all, I’m pretty sure I used that on my Daddy a time or two. 😉
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