More Words

You've gotten so much bigger in the time you've spent at Gramma Peel's while Daddy finishes school! You've also gotten much chattier! Here are some of your fun new words. You learn more every day.

Stuff in Evelyn's world:

Mone - phone

Mote - remote

Mono - motorcycle

Puddow - pillow

Minnow - window

Banky - blanket

Bahts - pants

Necka - necklace

Belt

Shoes

Boots

Carcar - car

Book

Heynow - Jane and the Dragon (a TV show)

Clock

Keys

Bag

Baby

Hat

Animals:

Anuhmool - animal

Moush - mouse

Horshie - horse

Moots - moose

Kiki - kitty

Toot-toot - bird

(clicking your tongue) - squirrel

Puppy

Monkey

Buggie - bugs/spiders

Fish

Nay - what a horshie says

Ruff-ruff - what a puppy says

ee-ow - what a kiki says

dub-dub - what a fish says

ooo-oo - what a monkey says

Food:

Milky - milk

Bites

Juice

Waah-Waah - Water

Coco - Hot cocoa

Cheese

Egg

Hot dog

P'ia - pizza

About Evelyn:

Eyes

Nose

Ears

Hairbow

Eyebrah - eyebrow

Moush - mouth

Feet

Foot

Toes

Other things:

Wherego?

Oots - oops

Aw nuts!

Sneak

Go-Go

Hot

Abbi-Dah - happy dance

budduh - booty dance

People:

Nikki

Juh'Ya

Amah Ollie

Amah - gramma

Whoa - grampa

Mommy

Daddy

Lena Puppy

Mina/Manah - Savannah

Chatterbox

Dear Evelyn,

Your vocabulary is rapidly expanding and it has been amazing to watch.

At 12 months, you had about 8 words you used regularly, in addition to your signs.
At 18 months, you had about 20 words and would try to repeat many Mommy and Daddy said.

Some of your favorite words and phrases from the last 6 months include:

Uh Elp (Uh Oh Help)
No Way
Yesh, Yes or Yep
Okay and N'okay
Owies (Kitties)
Uppies (Puppies)
AniMoos (Animals)
Toot toot (Bird)
Tsoo (Zoo)
Booyah (usually accompanied by a hip thrust)
Bites
Eyes (and recently eyebah or eyebrow)
Toes
Shoes
Poop (any bodily function)
Poo (Shampoo)
Tat Too Mommy (Thank you Mommy)

You will frequently jabber away in your own made up language but you do try to tell stories about your favorite things (at the moment this includes kitties, babies and puppies) by repeating the words you know.

You introduce Mommy (and sometimes Daddy) to everyone you meet. We practice pointing to Mommy, Daddy and Evelyn and saying names. You haven't said your own name yet. You refer to yourself as 'Me'.

Next I'm going to teach you to type so you can help Mommy keep up on your blog :)

Love you with all that I am,
Mommy

'Cheese'

15 Months Old!

Dear Evelyn,

Every morning you seem to wake up taller. You are suddenly very leggy and your face has lost some of it's baby chub. You are very much a little girl now, instead of a baby.

• You still enjoy giving kisses and hugs. Your new favorite interactions are high fives and fist bumps. The little girl next door asked you for a fist bump and you thought it was pretty much the best thing ever. So we've been working on it with you.
• For the first time ever, you have asked to go to bed. You picked up Erik Keaton (your Cabbage Patch doll) and took Momma's hand. Toddling towards the stairs, you made it clear that it was time to go to sleep. You were asleep within 5 minutes of laying down to nurse.

• You have a new bottom tooth. That makes 7 overall. You are currently working on quite a few teeth, including some molars, and it's made for some sleepless nights.
• You love waving and saying 'hi' to the world and people around you. You sometimes do a cute little wave where you hold your hand against your chin and wave. Sometimes you 'whisper' wave by waving just your index finger.
• You take pride in communicating with Momma and Daddy. You use sign language alot but you are always trying out new words. You have started to say 'lights' and 'hot'. You try to repeat people's names and words that Momma and Daddy tell you. Last night it was 'bites'. Last week you tried out 'love you'.
• You tell jokes in your baby language. You'll say a sentence and pause. Then another sentence. Pause. Punch line. And then you laugh at your own jokes. Sometimes it's a real laugh and sometimes it's the work laugh you use when you think something should be funny but you're not sure.

• Tickling is great fun, especially when you get to be the tickler. Daddy is one of your favorite people to tickle and to be tickled by.
• We're going to start teaching you how to use the potty soon. You have started letting us know when you have a dirty diaper. And on the occasions that you have an accident during diaper-free time, you are immediately concerned with letting us know so we can clean it up. Sometimes you try to clean it up yourself. My favorite times were when you ran across the room for a wipe so you could clean your bottom (this was my clue to check the nook where you had been playing for a mess) and the time when you were poised, water bottle in hand, to wash the mess away.
• We've created a play area on the porch for you with interconnecting rubber tiles. You think they are pretty fantastic. There are times you are so pleased with the tiles that you lay down and roll around. Or stand and 'stomp-stomp' your little feet in a happy dance.

• You say 'whoa' whenever you hear a burp or a fart. You even did it in your sleep the other day. You also say it whenever fast cars go by or when there are loud noises.
• Cleaning is a favorite pastime of yours. You will take a napkin and wipe your face, hands and then the table. You'll also use dish towels to wipe the floor and the noses of your toys.
• You had your toenails painted for the first time this month. Momma was painting her nails and you were very intrigued. She asked if you wanted some color and you sat patiently on her lap while she painted your toenails.

• You have an active imagination and it has been a delight to watch you pretend with your toys. Momma and Daddy often comment about how we wish we could see inside your head.
• When you want Momma or Daddy to come play or to help you with something, you pat a leg and then grab a finger and lead where you're headed. You are quite proud of your ability to get us where you 'need' us to be.

 Love you like the sun loves flowers and cookies love chocolate chips.

XOXO,

Momma

Months 13 and 14!

Dear Evelyn,

You have been keeping Momma so busy that she never got around to writing your letter at 13 months. You are an active and imaginative toddler who constantly wants to go outside and you want Momma and Daddy to come with you. You're a charmer and a flirt, but shy sometimes as well, who loves making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

• You've got walking figured out. Now we're working on running. And walking backward. Sometimes you forget to watch where you're going and you trip over things in your haste to be where you want to go, fast.

• Hugs and kisses have become your latest way to show some love. You don't give them to just anyone and you don't always honor requests but that makes it all the sweeter when you do decide to give some smooches. Sometimes you decide to smooch inanimate objects (which makes Momma laugh) like the vacuum or your toys.
• You've received your first kiss from a boy (Jacob). But Daddy is okay because we'll live on the other side of the country soon. This first kiss was followed, within days, by kisses with another boy (Jackson). Again, Daddy is glad we're moving.

• The baby in the mirror is one of your very best friends. You chat all the time, give kisses, and even, occasionally, get into little fights.
• You still love to talk on the phone. You still use all sorts of random objects as phones, like teething rings, book lights and business cards.

• You go on a walk with Momma every day. We walk by an elementary school and you love to see the kids running, playing, and yelling. After we pass the school, the sun shade on your stroller gets pulled down and you settle in, usually falling asleep momentarily. On days that we didn't manage to make it out for a walk, you always ask for one in the evening. It has become part of your routine.
• Speaking of routine, you love your shower time in the evenings with Daddy. We start by singing our Shower Time song and we climb the stairs. Daddy is usually a little busy and you call him from the top of the stairs to remind him to come up: 'Dah-dah-Dadd-eee'. You have a set order that you accomplish things in the shower, like soapy-soapy time (rubbing your soapy hands together and washing your face); putting your faces under the water; banging on the shower walls, with hands then with heads; and washy-washy time (washing your arms and chest or Daddy's chest).
• You are really starting to communicate. You know several signs: milk, more, all done, please. You have your own versions of the 'real' sign but you are consistent and Momma and Daddy understand what you mean. You've made up some of your own as well. 'Help' is holding your arms straight up over your head. 'Pick me up' is hands in front of you, palms up, and tapping the sides of your hands together. You tap the side of your mouth when you want to wipe your face. You tap your chin to ask for water. You point to your mouth to ask to eat.

• You can say hi, Daddy, help, eyes, this and that. You are seem to prefer sign language but we think it's just a matter of time before you start using your words.
• You are an affectionate stuffed animal owner. You give them cuddles and kisses. You wipe noses and cloth diaper. And sometimes you try to use your baby laptop as a panini press. But you definitely care for your friends.

• You adore being outside. You would be outside all the time, if we let you. Naked, preferably. You are a little irritated that we make you wear clothes outside.
• You are showing signs that you'd be interested in potty training. We'll be starting that adventure very soon.
• A little boy moved into our apartment complex and the two of you have become fast friends. He's a year older than you but it's fine because it means you can push him around. You want to climb the stairs to his house every time we go outside.
• You've discovered that keys unlock things. Like doors and mailboxes. You often play with a set of keys and pretend to be unlocking things. Like the vacuum and your Push'n'Go. And, earlier today, a broom. You've got quite the imagination.

• You are starting to play more independently. You want to know where Momma and Daddy are but with us safely positioned, you've started keeping yourself busy for up to an hour at a time. 

• A third bottom tooth appeared this past weekend.
• You've had your first cold, first ear infection, first stomach bug and second cold and second ear infection since turning one. You're getting better but we really need to stop hanging out with other kids with stuffy noses...
• You have started picking out your own clothes. And you love wearing shoes- yours and other peoples. You like to wear Momma and Daddy's clothes sometimes too.

• You are wearing size 18 month clothes and size 5 shoes. You have been weighing in between between 24 and 25 pounds but you're so active you are really getting tall and lean. You are 31" tall and very leggy.
• Your favorite foods are Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, lima beans, cheese, and bites from Daddy's dinner plate.
• We've done some tourist-y things: you visited the beach for the first time. You weren't impressed.

 We saw the Hollywood sign. You weren't impressed with that either.

Okay, maybe you a little...

You are an ever-changing little person. You pick up new quirks all the time and slowly drop old habits. It's impossible to truly capture who you are in a single blog post. Momma and Daddy are so blessed that they get to be there for each moment of your growth, in stature and in experience.

Love you more than chocolate chips! Which, as you have discovered, is a very big deal,

XOXO,
Momma

Love at the Mall

We've gotten into the habit, E and me, of taking walks each day around noon. This works well at the moment as it coincides nicely with nap time and the early spring weather is lovely. This past week, however, we've had a brush of summer in the air. In order to avoid melting, I decided that we would do our daily walk at the mall this past Thursday to take advantage of the free A/C.

The local mall has a play area that is always swarming with children (usually significantly taller than the welcoming Kangaroo says should play there) but, being a weekday, was relatively tame during our visit. E explored a tunnel, a ladybug, and attempted to steal another child's shoes before she discovered a little red car available for her use. She climbed in and happily chatted while spinning the steering wheel. A little girl, perhaps 4 or 5, came to investigate. She was nervous that I was right next to the car but succeeded in getting E's attention. Being very social, E thought this was fantastic news. It got even better when she noticed, over this girl's shoulder, a boy. Maybe 2 years old. With dark hair and Asian eyes.

She waved and he toddled over to wave back. They sat in the car together. She let him drive. I told her this was the only time she would ever be allowed to sit in a car with a boy. He was quite smitten- his mother mentioned he normally runs all over the place. Today he was content to play quietly with E in the red car. Ah, young love.

Good thing Daddy wasn't there. He's declared that E won't be allowed to date until she's 35.

Our little diva...

'Helping' Daddy.

E loves beer bottles. She gets excited every time she sees one. She enjoys sitting on Daddy's lap and 'helping' him drink.

Last night Daddy blew over the lip of the bottle to make a sound and then offered E the (empty) bottle. She put her mouth over the lid and sang the same note Daddy had just made. We're pretty impressed with her musical ear. :)

Evelyn and PDA

Evelyn has made her opinion quite clear on the topic of Momma and Daddy hugging. She does not want to see it. Ever.

Kissing, however, is greatly encouraged. She grins and pushes us together to kiss more. Then kisses for Evelyn!

One Year Old!

Dear Evelyn,

An entire year has passed us by and you are still getting more awesome by the day. Your personality is blossoming and it has been a pleasure to watch. I'm not quite sure where the time has gone. I am positive it was only yesterday that you were learning to sit. And the day before that you were learning to roll over.

• Scrunchy face and 7 teeth have combined into a delightful combination we like to call your "Toothy Grin". You flash it when you are being sneaky, find an item that you just love, or get compliments. Sometimes you flash it just because.

Toothy grin because Momma is singing 'Hot Stuff' to you.

• You can make a noise that Momma and Daddy can't duplicate. Sounds like D'go but somehow you make it throaty and add a double tongue noise. 
• You are very chatty with your Mamamamama and A-da (Momma and Daddy) and like when we make your noises back to you.
• A few days before your first birthday you really figured out this whole walking thing. You took your first steps during the Christmas holiday but were too cautious to commit right way. If you were walking, you wanted one hand (at least) holding onto the couch (or a chair or Momma's leg, etc) for security sake. Occasionally you'd break away and take 4 or 5 steps before realizing you were on your own. Then you'd get nervous and sit down. Until a trip to the mall with Momma and Auntie N. Those racks of clothes were SO tempting. You couldn't help yourself. While Momma tried to find a pair of jeans to fit her still-post-partum booty, you discovered the joy of walking.
• Shaking hands has become a pleasure of yours. As has head butting. That one's not as cute though.
• A favorite game we play on the bed is called Flops. With a pillow behind you, Momma or Daddy will say flops. And you'll fall backwards onto the pillow. From a sitting position, of course, and always checking to make sure there is a pillow there. Or a pile of laundry. Whatever. You're adventurous, but not foolish.
• You adore taking showers with your Daddy. You two have a whole routine involving 'soapy-soapy', where your rub your soapy hands together and then wash your face; 'washy-washy' or 'cleaning Daddy's chest'; and laughing your little head off when he shakes his head under the water spray.
• You enjoy being able to feed yourself, as well as feeding others. Favorite eats include pouches of pureed fruits and veggies, cheddar bunnies, cheese, tortilla chip, pretzels, and apples. Breast milk is still your favorite. You make a funny laugh noise when you know you are about to have some.
• Your hair sometimes has a mind of it own because Momma is not ready to cut it yet. And hair clips have a habit of being removed...

Is there something on my face?

• You adore talking on the phone. In fact you have 4 fake phones you practice on. And when you don't have those handy, you use whatever you have: crackers, shoes, pizza crust, anything.

Hello, hello!

• Momma is your best pal and sometimes you yell at Daddy for hugging her. Group hugs are much appreciated however.
• Almost every time we go out, you are complimented on your eyes.

Love you, Dear Girl. Cuddle monkey. Senorita Poopy Pants. Face. Sweet Love.

xoxo,
Momma

Happy Birthday!

Today you arrived in our world and changed it forever for the better.

We love you more than we can express and more than we could ever have expected.

Thanks for letting us be your Mommy and Daddy. Or as you say, "Mamamamamamamamama" and "A-Dah!"

Happy Birthday, dear one.

One year ago today...

I was due to have a baby. I was 44 pounds heavier and had more sleep on board than I've ever had since. What an amazing year it has been!