Evie Time {book worm}

This girl loves, loves to read. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

I've loved to read for as long as I can remember... back to frequent summer trips to the downtown library with my grandma... flying through every Michael Crichton book my dad would let me read after seeing the midnight showing of Jurassic Park... laboring through Wuthering Heights when I was about 8... trying to figure out all the 17th century English language in The Last of the Mohicans in the 5th or 6th grade... begging my mom to buy me a fat new Christian fiction novel every.single.weekend at our local book store. I read fast, furiously and way above my age range and could always be found under my covers at night, deep into a book when I should have been fast asleep.

But this isn't all me- this girl and her books. Her daddy loves to read, too. And the thing is, with our busy days, we tend to do most of our reading in bed at night. Which means Evie doesn't necessarily see us reading. So this love of hers for books- it's all hers. 

We have always made it a habit to read to her, especially at bedtime. I started doing this regularly when she was about 3 months old. And I've made a promise to myself to drop whatever I'm doing and sit down with my girl any time she asks me to read to her. It's not always possible, but it's one of the few things I believe is always worth it. For both of us.

And now? Well now I find her at least 2 or 3 times a day like this. In some quiet spot in the house by herself, pouring over a book. And it makes my heart ache just a bit every single time it happens. 

Don't ever stop reading, baby. Read all you can, about anything and everything. You won't regret one minute of it. 

Evie Time {Splash Park Fun}

Last weekend we took Evie to the splash park for the first time. 

Big success.

 After a little initial timidness, she really got into it. 

So fun!

1. Love that belly. 

We've noticed she only seems to grow these days in her belly and her hair. :)

I loved this place because she could just run around everywhere, watching other kids and having fun, without the worry of her falling into a great big pool. All she wants to do is "Run, run, run Evie!"

We'll be back soon!

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!

Evie Time {Strolling}

 

Grandy sent a gift card for Evie for Easter, so we picked out a few new toys. This little stroller for her stuffed animals and baby dolls was at the top of my list. I knew she would love it, since she's always trying to push around her big stroller when it's parked in the garage.

She's all about pushing it everywhere. Inside, outside. She'll choose one particular doll or animal to give a ride and take them all over. Cleo the Cat is the current favorite.

"Ride, Cleo?" :)

She also digs the buckle, of course. This girl is all about the buckle! She's finally mastered them, so she asks us over and over to open it back up when she's clicked it into place so she can do it again. Oh, and she also likes to yell "YAY!" and clap for herself when she does it.

Thanks for the fun gift, Grandy!!

Evie Time {Counting!}

Mommy Brag Time is now in session.

My 15 and a 1/2 month old child is counting people. COUNTING.

Tonight as I was getting her ready for bed, I started counting aloud the snaps on her jammies as I snapped them. 

Nothing unusual. 

One

Two

Fwee!

What the what! She just said Three!

I kept going:

Four

Five

Ssicks!

Ahhh!! Cue the Yays and Very Good Evie!'s and general show of mommy adoration. I seriously was in awe!

My smart girl.

Then we took our show on the road and went out to find Daddy.

Sister didn't disappoint. 

One, two, Fwee!

 And again while we were brushing teeth.

One, two, Fwee!

Four, five, Ssicks!

Evie has liked to "count" for quite a while now, using her little pointer finger and usually saying "two two" and pointing to objects when she sees more than one of something. And in the last few weeks she's started saying "one.." like she's going to start counting animals or objects in books. But those are the only two numbers I've every heard her say. Until tonight!

And I am so amazed that she knew the right number to say next. She wasn't repeating what I had just said- she already knew which number came next!

We are so amazed each day by this girl. She understands so much, it's unbelievable sometimes. Just a little sponge.

We're very proud of you Evie Girl!!

Evie Time {Amen}

Wednesday night we went out to a friends birthday dinner and so bedtime was a little late. Evie and I did an abbreviated bedtime routine and after I had nursed her in the dark and started to put her up on my shoulder to cuddle, I realized we hadn't said our bedtime prayers. So I whispered "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for my sweet baby girl.." I could feel Evie lift her head up at the sound of my voice and touch her cheek to mine. "Bless us while we sleep and watch over us. In Jesus name, amen."

"Amin" a teeny voice whispered back in the dark.

:)

I don't ever want to forget that precious little moment.

Amen.

Evie Time {Turtle Baby}

So my painfully advanced child has a little secret...

Yes, she's been rolling over for months, sitting up on her own is old hat, she crawls like a champ and pulling up is now all the rage.

But my girl can't roll from her back to her tummy.

Can't. Do it.

We heard a squack in her room this morning, and came in to find her like this. Playtime interrupted by a backwards flail that left her lounging on her back like a sad little turtle on the sidewalk.

See? A sad little turtle on the sidewalk, aka Evie.

Sigh.

Is it wrong that I find this slightly hilarious?? 

Truth be told, I haven't encouraged her to learn this skill very much. Bad mommy. 

She's always been a tummy sleeper, so she's usually only on her back when we're changing her diaper or if I want to lay her down and know she won't go anywhere. And I have CLUNG to that since she's become mobile. 

Is that wrong of me? Eh. Maybe. But I don't think it will leave any lasting scars. 

Seriously, mom, roll me over already.

And yes, I did in fact leave her lying on the floor, helpless, as I ran back out of the room to grab my camera and take these pictures. 

And to get back at me, the little stinker decided that that was the moment she would ROLL OVER.

I kid you not.

I nearly missed it! That stinker! I could hardly believe how perfect it was.

:)

Like I said: painfully advanced.