Tiny Dancer {18 Months}

Evie Girl is a year and a half old!

Oh, this girl. She is a handful. :)

 We are so blessed. Evie is so full of joy and curiosity. And she is just so smart. (At least in my opinion.) It really blows me away sometimes.. it's very humbling and it's brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Precious girl.

Here's what you've been up to lately:

 

Smarty Pants. On Mother's Day, you decided to give me a sweet little present of your own- spelling your own name! We were pretty shocked, frankly. You spelled E-V-I-E all on your own on the way home from church. I was glad someone else was there to hear it! You've done it a few times since then, but typically you'll just do a few of the letters together at a time. It cracks me up when you do, because you use the exact same intonation that I do, drawing out the Eeeeeeee, veeeeee, eyeeeeee, E! It's pretty cute.

You've also been working on your numbers and counted up to 16 this weekend! We weren't really sure how you got that far (we typically stop at 10), but realized that Grandmommy counts as you climb the stairs at her house. You've been paying attention!

Swings. Hands down, your current favorite past time. We went ahead and bought you a swing to hang on our back deck/overhang and you LOVE it. Multiple times a day, you'll go to the back door and say "wing, wing, wing!" over and over. 

Strawberries. Your favorite fruit of the month. And the way you say it just kills me: Stah-beh-sees. :)

 

Shh shh shhhhh. You still love your babies and stuffed animals. Your favorites lately are Cleo the Cat, Roxy Rabbit and Baby Lisa. You do more loving on them lately and less throwing. Thank goodness! You will hold them up on your shoulder, pat their back and shhh shhh shhh as you rock back and forth. Makes me want to cry. You are a sweet little mama and love on your babies just like I held and loved on you when you were so teeny tiny.

Shows. Well, it's happened. As much as I fought it and held off, you have started watching some tv. But just a little! You somehow discovered Mickey Mouse and would go around talking about "mouse" all the time. It took us a while to figure out what you meant. So now you ask to watch Mickey Mouse Club all the livelong day. It is pretty cute how excited you get when he comes on, though. You've also watched Olivia, and like her, too.

Sweetie Pie. Since we went to KC a few weekends ago, you have been a bit more clingy. Nothing bad, but I've noticed you want to be held more and call out our names when you notice we're not in the same room. You have such a loving nature and I'm so happy you like to give out hugs and kisses and cuddles. Sometimes when we're in the car, you'll say "touch" and reach back your hand. You want me to reach back and hold your hand or stroke your face. :) Sweet girl.

 Potty Training. No, it hasn't happened quite yet, but we've been making some slight moves in that direction. You have been telling us more and more when you need a new diaper, but it's usually after the fact. I don't think it will be long! Mainly, I just need to bite the bullet and do it. :)

And finally, we've been working on being obedient and listening to mama and daddy. Like all kids, you have your moments of wanting to do or touch something that you're not supposed to.. or my all time favorite- throwing food on the floor. But we're working on it and I know you understand what we're asking you to do (or not do). It's hard not to laugh when I've told you not to do something and you walk away, shaking your head, saying "no, no, no, no no". Or you say "yissen, mama. Yissen, dada" which means Listen to your mama. :)

My sweet, precious Evangeline. Happy 18 months! 

I can't believe you are already so big. Your daddy and I decided we want you to stay little, so please stop growing right away. Listen to your mama! :)

Happy Memorial Day

This long weekend has been all about the pool. 

It's been nice and warm so we've taken full advantage, cooking out and hanging with friends. It's been great!

We have all noted, however, how very different a day at the pool is now that most of our friends have kids. Just a tad less relaxing, I would say. Mainly because this one is constantly on the go- in and out of the pool, running all around it, in and out of the house, up and down on the lounge chairs and on and on. Makes me tired just typing it. :)

So a little less lounging around, sunbathing and enjoying a cold beverage and more chasing an  Energizer Bunny active toddler who doesn't want to miss any of the action. But we all had a great time. 

How was your weekend?

 

Project 52:21 {Independence}

thankful for...

independence

I am a very independent person.
I like to figure things out on my own, make my own way, rely on my own resources and be by myself at times. This has been both good and bad at different times in my life.

And I see my girl stretching her little wings, lately. I think she may be a lot like me in this respect (or maybe not.. maybe she's just a toddler. :) That's fine, too.).. She definitely likes to figure things out on her own, make her own way, rely on herself to do things and sit and play or read by herself at times.

I love seeing this, and I want to encourage her independence, but also gently teach and remind her that we're not in this alone. Too much independence equals too much reliance on yourself, rather than God. This has always been my struggle.
And I'm praying that it doesn't become hers.

I pray she carves out her own path in life, takes big risks and goes where others might be afraid to go. Be independent.

But in that independence from people, places and things, always remain dependent on Him. The one who will never leave her or forsake her. The one who gave her her independence.

* * * * *

Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

styleberry BLOG

 What We're Sayin'

Oh The Places We'll Go 

Englexas 

Wicked Kate

Here's the dish

Okay, kids. It's time for me to get serious about this meal plan business. 

It's no secret that I go to Target up to 4 times per week. That's just shameful. And no, it isn't always for groceries, but it is a waste of time. So my plan is to really get with it and make time each Sunday to plan out our meals for the week and my grocery list at the same time.

So here's what we're eating this week. All can be found on my Pinterest Yummy board.

Sunday:

Sour Cream Chicken*

Bruschetta

via Making Life Delicious

* This chicken was delicious! So moist and flavorful. 

I didn't use full fat sour cream- I always buy  the 1/3 less fat and it was perfect. I just should have made more!

Monday:

Crescent Calzones*

Corn on the cob

via My Kitchen Addiction

* I'm switching this up to pepperoni and possibly sausage, rather than chicken pesto. 

Hubby can only take so much chicken in a week.

Tuesday:

I have Bible Study, so Hubby's on his own :)

Wednesday:

Crockpot Ravioli Casserole

Edamame

via Becoming Betty

Thursday:

Skinny Baked Mac and Cheese

?? Haven't decide what to make with this.. hot dogs, maybe? 

You know, to cancel all of the skinny out of the baked mac and cheese.

via Six Sisters' Stuff

Friday:

Open/leftovers. 

Or to be more realistic- our favorite Mexican joint.

And I'm also hoping to make some of these Veggie Muffins for Evie this week. 

Sister can eat her weight in fruit, but veggies are harder to get down.

via Dana Made It

So what are you cooking this week?

Insta-Evie

 

 

 

Happy Sunday!

Project 52:20 {baby blues}

thankful for...

baby blues

My blue-eyed girl.

Never in a million years did I imagine I would have a blue-eyed baby. I kept expecting them to change when she was tiny.. everyone thought they would. Especially me. But after a few months we realized they were staying blue. And gosh, I love them. So big and pretty and clear.

But in the last few weeks I've noticed them changing. I can see tiny flecks of gold and hazel in the middle where it was only blue seas before. Truthfully, it makes me a little sad to think they won't always be blue. But I'm thankful for her baby blues while she was a baby (she still is my baby!), and I can't wait to see how they change as she grows.

* * * * *

Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

styleberry BLOG

 What We're Sayin'

Oh The Places We'll Go 

Englexas 

Wicked Kate

Evie Time {Swings}

This girl LOVES to swing!

 

Whenever we go to the park she makes a beeline for them and stays there the whole time.

And she typically throws a nice little fit when it's time to get out. :)

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Such a sweet little joy.

I'm sure we'll be hitting up the swings all summer long!

Monday Monday

Every single holiday, I have great intentions of posting meaningful pictures and words..  

Oh, hello, Mother's Day!

Oh, well. I'm not going to beat myself up about it, because frankly, I'm not all that surprised that it didn't happen. but thankfully, I did enjoy the day, fully. From sleeping in and a surprise breakfast from Panera to church with my little family of three to chocolate raspberry cheesecake to painting projects during naptime to my daughter spelling her own name aloud.

Yeah. That's right. Wonder Baby here spelled E-V-I-E out loud on the drive home from church. We just looked at each other like, did you just hear that??? I think we may be in for it.

I just put a lasagna in the oven, and before you get all excited, just know that it came in a frozen red box stamped with Stouffers. And I'm okay with that. Excited, frankly. Their lasagna is freakin good.

On Saturday night I ran a 5k with my friend Nina, who does the Strolling Moms class with me. It was great! It was pretty weird doing a run like that at night.. they're usually in the morning. I really didn't know what to eat beforehand, so I made the weirdest shake concoction ever: baby spinach, peanut butter, greek yogurt and ice. OH! And a few splashes of QT's Pumpkin Spice Latte. I thought I needed a little caffeine in the mix. It was.. interesting. Stunk up the car, that's for sure. But honestly, I felt great during the run and we made good time.

I was surprised at how many kids were running! And not just the Fun Run, but the actual 5k. No way I could have run that far as a kid. On the last little hill up to the finish line, we passed this adorable 7 or 8 year old girl running with her dad. They were holding hands and he was talking to her, encouraging her, as they ran. Melt my heart! It was so precious.

Today I put out the SOS to other moms asking what kinds of outside toys and activities were good for toddlers. I'm seriously running out of ideas! Well, scratch that, I really don't have any at all, other than playing with the rocks in our landscaping, and that's losing it's shine. I need to get her one of those water tables. I think she would love it. And it's just so much nicer to spend time outside while the weather is nice. And you can only take so many walks/runs, am I right? We did head to the neighborhood pond to feed the over-zealous ducks this afternoon. I was a little scared at how close they came to Evie in the stroller. Those beaks!

Oh, so any ideas for me?? Seriously, please share.

I hope you all had a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!