Two!

On Tuesday my baby turned two.  Now to the rest of you "normal" people that sentence probably makes you think "how exciting!" or "that's great!" or "2 is so fun!" or "watch out!  terrible twos!" or any of those other silly things you normal people say about babies getting older.  But that's not exactly how my way too mushy-gushy-tenderhearted head works.  It's more like "NO!!" and "WHY?!?!" and "Where are the brakes on this dang thing called life???"  and then I cry and then eventually force my brain into submission and all those silly normal things everyone else says about birthdays.

Don't get me wrong, I love it.  I love them getting older and experiencing new things and the proud look on their faces when they accomplish something big in their little worlds.  But the thing is I just don't want to live in a world without a warm, cozy baby in my arms.  Or a little one year old stumbling around, learning to take their first steps.  Or a chubby-legged pig-tailed toddler running through my halls on their tippy toes.  I just can't get enough of every stage, and I think if I could create an alternate universe it would be one where my babies are all those ages at the same time, only without the restraint of time so I could avoid the complete exhaustion that would surely accompany having 50 baby stages running around me at all times.  :)

But I think the key to all these stages is just to enjoy the heck out of them, and believe me, that I do.  I literally cannot get enough of my sweet little Evie Sis.  She is difficult and feisty and stubborn at times, but mostly she's funny and sweet and she can turn on the charm like nobody's business. 

I love how her eyes dance and lips curve into a little smirk when she's teasing you.  I love her fuzzy duckling blonde hair she's had since she was born, and her slightly flushed face when she's just woken up.  I love the warmth of her skin when I grab her out of her crib and she holds on to me tightly, finding her comfortable place on my hip.  I love when she's tired and she's in that same spot on my hip and rests her little head on my shoulder.  I love that she still has a nice, healthy layer of that buttery soft baby fat all over her little body.  I love how she climbs all over you, standing on your legs, and sticking her face in yours when she's being goofy and wants your attention.  I love how out of the blue she'll ask to cuddle, and it suddenly becomes time for the family to pile up on the couch and watch some show together.  I love her love for fancy shoes and dresses.  I love how she'll fight you to the death if you try to take something from her, but she'll gladly hand it over when asked politely.

I just love HER.  Every little bit.  And I even love watching her grow.  I know she won't be my little toddler forever, but what a blessing it is to get to be her #1 fan on the sidelines of life, cheering her on to all the big plans God has in store.  And believe me, nothing small is going to come out of all that feisty.  :)

Love you sissypoo - forever and ever! 

- K

Lyla had a hard time grasping that all the presents weren't for her too.  :)

Evie's favorite present ended up being these awkward balloons.

This girl and her tippy toes.  :)

Two!!

Had to bust into the new art supplies right away.  Drawing and painting has always been a favorite of hers.

This was before Lyla tackled the "2" balloon, broke the string and set it free.

We headed to the donut shop in our jammies.

A Goan Goan visit was probably the highlight of her day.

"If I smile sweetly no one will notice the tail pulling..."

We finished the day with a trip to the MOA to ride all the rides our little shorty pants could get on, followed by dinner at the Rainforest Café.  I think it was probably the very best day of her life.  :)

Adventures with Grandma and Pop!

A couple of weeks ago Grandma and Pop came into town for a quick visit, and we had a grand old time!  While they were here we had the daddy daughter dance, we went "junking", and caught the very last day of the ice castles exhibit.  I even got to leave the house a few times without my two little crazy ladies in tow (Thanks, Grandma and Pop!!!)

The daddy daughter dance was at Life Time that Friday night.  This was the first time Ryan took both girls, and Evie was so excited to get to go!  And, of course Lyla was excited too.  :)  I think it might be her favorite night of the year, and I don't blame her one bit.  Dressing up, dancing, and endless amounts of cookies happen to be a few of my favorite things too.

L's been talking about the dance since right after Christmas and planning her outfit and hair.  This year it had to be her Princess Anna dress, Little Mermaid shoes and "Cinderella Real People" hair.  (The new live action Cinderella is a favorite around here at the moment.)  After getting her hair curled (for the first time ever!) she ran around the house, practicing her twirls, with Evie following her close behind.

I could go on and on about how this night and dance and everything it stands for turns my heart into the best kind of mush.  The excited buzz in the house as my sweet girls flutter around, twirling and giggling and loving every gushy compliment they get is just my cup of tea.  Not to mention their date is quite the catch!  Lucky girls.  :)

The next day we went to a nearby town and hit up some fun junk stores.  The girls are better junkers than I ever imagined.  Forget Toys R Us for their gifts - from now on they'll be accepting rusty tricycles, old lockers, and beat up toy cars only.  For lunch we ended up at a hole-in-the-wall burger joint where Sis camped out by the M&M machine and Lyla learned about shooting rifles. 

Since we were on a roll, we decided to keep the momentum going and head out to the Ice Castles exhibit where the Frozen sisters happen to frequent.  It turned out to be the last day of the exhibit due to the uncharacteristically warm weather, so we really lucked out.  The Frozen sisters did make an appearance, and Everly insisted on going down the ice slide about 100 times.

All in all a pretty good weekend!  Next time we see these grandparents we'll be in Florida, and then Alaska!  Can't even explain how excited I am for this summer.  :)

- K

Cheesing with Grandma and Pop!

The best we could do with Sis in the picture.  Stinker.  :)

I don't want to be all braggy, but HOW CUTE is her hair?!  :)

Cutest little thing!

This will forever be a favorite photo.  Lyla's face!!  Not the last time I'll get that face, I'm sure.

Twirling.  :)

Practicing their dance moves.

These two - too cute!!

Bunch of cuties!

I know I'm biased, but SO MUCH BEAUTY.

This is an "after" photo.  You know a dance went well when you come home with a heart balloon and missing a shoe.

Lyla sweetly brought a half eaten cookie home for Pop.  Pop bravely took a bite.  :)

Those sturdy legs in those pink boots!  I can't get enough.  Haha!

I mean, those thighs!  I could eat them up.

Ice castle!

 

Lyla was thrilled.  Sis clearly had other sentiments.

 

Happy Sis.

Sad Sis.

How does this thing work?!



Trespassing isn't wrong when it's this cute, is it?

Gabba

I always have a list of things I want to post and little things the girls are doing that I want to memorialize, but then real chores or just bed wins out and I have other things that happen - holidays and events and visitors - that end up taking the priority.  Suddenly, months later those things are sadly not even close to current anymore.  While I have a million pictures to post from our recent visit with Grandma and Pop, I just couldn't let this Sis current event escape me, it's just my favorite right now.

Sis has always been a good little communicator and mimicker.  Ever since she started talking more she's had a few words that she throws in the mix that aren't really words at all.  It used to be "guhda" and "dogga", and has recently morphed into "gabba".  Gabba may not be a real word to us, but to Everly it is everything.  It's every word and no word.  It's a good word and a bad word.  It's everything she wants to say, but can't. 

Many of our daily conversations go just like this:

Sis: "Mama?"
Me: "Yes?"
Sis: "Ummm, gabba."
Me: "Gabba?"
Sis: "Uh huh."
Me: "Ok."
Sis: Walks away.

Sometimes it's a little more heartfelt.  Like tonight, after giving her and her sister baths I was busy lotioning her sister.  She marched up to me, grabbed my face with both hands, stuck her little face in mine, tilted it to the right and solemnly whispered "Gabba."  Like, you feel me, mom?  Gabba.  And I'm just like I feel you, girl.  Gabba for sure. 

I can't get enough of this stage and the constant evolution into her own little person.  Oh Sis, I just love the gabba outta you!  :)

- K

Valentine's Day

I've always loved Valentine's Day, and I think I have my mom to thank for that.  Whether I had a boyfriend or not I could always look forward to a celebration at home and the candy and the little gifts.  It's such a fun holiday, and now getting to celebrate with my own girls makes it that much better. 

We kept it pretty casual with heart pancakes for breakfast, church and brunch.  There's not much the girls love more than brunch after church.  :)  It was a fun day celebrating love with the cutest love bugs around.

Here's some photos from a little Valentine's Day photo shoot.  For the record - these chicks are not very cooperative with me and my camera.  To put it politely.  ;)

- K