Snow Day!

We may have a couple inches of snow on the ground, but the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day.  So, this morning, Evelyn and I decided to head outside to enjoy the snow!  We only lasted about 10 minutes before the struggle began.  Lately, Miss Evelyn is not too fond of her gloves.  A few times, she would take them off, but would easily let me put them back on.  After a few rounds of this, she'd had enough and refused to put them back on.  So, after chasing and looking for the bunny that hopped across the yard during our ordeal, we headed back inside.

Evelyn is not as eager to have her picture taken these days - she'd much rather look at "picture Kenna," or a picture of her cousin McKenna, on the camera.  I was able to catch a smile though - as she was taking off her gloves. :)

A Week of Firsts

Last week was a BIG week for Miss Evelyn!  Once we got past all of the "major milestones" (you know, walking, talking, etc.), I didn't think there were many "firsts" left.  Boy was I wrong!  And we knocked out three in one week!

Last Monday, Evelyn went to her first tumbling class.  Given that she's only 2, she was a little bit of a handful for the coaches, but she did a really good job!  The best part, they were able to hold her attention for the better part of an hour... I wish I could do that!  Her good friends Gretchen and Maggie (aka "Maggie and Chicken") are in the class, so any time she got distracted by me, I just had to tell her to go play with Maggie and Gretchen, and she did!

Here, Evelyn works on her backward roll with Coach Katie... 

And tries her hand at the balance beam with help from Coach Katie.

 I've also been saying for weeks now that Evelyn needed a hair cut.  Nothing drastic, just a little trim to help with the tangles.  Afterall, it has been 2 years without a cut.  So, finally on Tuesday, Evelyn got her first haircut!  She was such a trooper!  The place we went, which caters to children, really knows what they're doing: cartoons, stuffed animals, bubbles, candy... whatever it takes to get the little ones to sit still.   Not a single fuss from our big girl!

 This is serious business!  Playing with Elmo and sitting on the froggy chair.

Helping Miss Nancy squirt the water.

And finally, our biggest first of the week.  I've been readying Evelyn's big girl room in preparation for #2's arrival.  This last week, it was finally in good enough shape to make the transition.  So, Sunday night, with rails in place, bunnies, blankies, owl pillow, and everything a big girl needs to go to bed, Evelyn slept in her big girl bed!  Again, this girl was such a trooper!  At 8:00, we read books as usual, sang a song or two, then it was "night-night" time.  When I left the room, we got about 30 seconds of cries, then not another peep until 6:30 am!  Wow!  Ethan and I both thought we'd see her in our room a few times throughout the night, but no such luck!  Even at 6:30, she stayed in bed, yelled out "Mommy!  Mommy, where are you?"  I went to get her up and she looked up, smiled and said "Come here Mommy.  Lay down Mommy.  Mommy, lay down."

We tried again last night with the same results.  This time, to bed quite a bit earlier (she was WIPED after tumbling), yelled "Mommy!" at about 5:45, but I left her and she didn't make another sound until 7:00.  Again, from her bed, it was "Mommy!  Mommy, where are you?"  And "Lay down Mommy."  Man I love this girl!

Happy Birthday Evelyn!

Oh my, how time flies.  Today, my baby girl turns 2.  Although, as parents, we know these days will come eventually, it is still unbelievable when they do.

Evelyn's birthday celebration started this weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's with all of her Owens' aunties, uncles and cousins there to help celebrate.  As she was last year, she was spoiled again this year.

This was Mommy's attempt at creativity.  The snowman cake was a big hit with everyone.  But seriously, what did they do for snowman scarves before we had Fruit By The Foot?

 Evelyn's celebration continued last night at home as she opened the rest of her gifts from Mommy's side of the family.  This was my way of distracting her while Daddy assembled.  What's a birthday without "Some assembly required"?

Because every 2-year old needs 3 days of birthday celebrations, Evelyn's party continues today.  We took cupcakes to all of her "buddies" at daycare, and tonight, 2 of her best buds (who's parents are 2 of Mommy & Daddy's best buds) are coming over for more cupcakes and ice cream!

Although she has definitely reached the Terrible Two's, we have to count our blessings every day.  Evelyn is a big lovebug, she loves to give hugs and kisses (her new favorites are Eskimo kisses, although she's still learning that they don't all come with a head-butt.)  And although almost everything is "mine," she loves to play with everyone and is usually pretty good about sharing.  After watching Happy Feet over and over, she loves to walk like a penguin and show off her own happy feet (I really need to get a video - it's hilarious!)  She also loves to sing the ABC's and sing/sign Row, Row, Row Your Boat (thanks to Bama for teaching her the signs!)  Our biggest challenges these days are hitting and head butts.  She's getting better about hitting, but some days she spends an awful lot of time on her naughty step.  We're thinking the head butting will take care of itself - she doesn't butt us, but usually the wall or the floor; yesterday it was the lid to the toilet.  One of these days it will hurt bad enough that she'll think twice about doing it again (at least we hope so.)  All in all, she is a sweet little girl and a joy to be around, bringing a smile to my face at the drop of a hat.  Happy birthday sweet girl.

I can't believe my baby is almost 2!!

Watching my nieces and friends' children grow up, I always knew time would fly when I had a child of my own.  I guess it was just wishful thinking that it would somehow slow down for me.  No such luck.  Next week, my sweet baby girl will turn 2.  Where has the time gone?

Here are her stats as of Dec. 2:

Height: 35 in. (85% - doctor thinks a growth spurt is about to hit - she couldn't believe that, for once in her life, she wasn't in the 99%!)

Weight: 34.2 lbs (99%)

All in all, Evelyn is still the sweetest, most laid back little girl you could ask for.  She loves giving hugs and kisses (even to the baby, aka my tummy).  She has hit the Terrible Two's and can be an emotional train wreck at times, but still so good.  The last few days, all she has wanted to wear has been a dress, and has been less than thrilled to have mom get her up in the morning (that's usually daddy's job!)  She's also helping us get warmed up for #2, as she's decided to start waking up in the middle of the night.  So helpful. :)  She loves to color, dance and go "schwimming;" and she loves to Skype with her Bama and Papa and sing "Papa's Song," otherwise known as the Husky Fight Song - it was the first song her uncle Jeff and I learned to sing, so it might as well be her's too!

 

 

Splashing Around at Great Wolf Lodge

The first weekend in November, our family had a much belated birthday celebration for my Gramma Betty.  Rather than gifts, Gramma most enjoys watching her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids laugh and have a good time.  So, we packed up and headed to the Great Wolf Lodge outside of Seattle.  Unfortunately, Gramma was under the weather and wasn't able to join us.  With her in mind, though, we all had a great time!

McKenna and Evelyn are ready to hit the pool!!

Evelyn had a great time riding the waves in the wave pool.  (Disclaimer: Daddy is right behind her and she's touching the bottom - like I would let her float around on her own!  What kind of parent do you think I am?)

She wasn't too thrilled about the little slides yet, but loved splashing in the little fountains.

After a full day of swimming and splashing, we headed out to dinner, where Evelyn got some swings in with Auntie and Uncle.

 

Evelyn had some very important phone calls to make before we left.  I'm pretty sure she was calling Gramma to tell her we were on our way to visit.  Or maybe she was calling room service?

 

Bama's only request for the weekend, a family photo.  It's not very often that we're all together in one place, so these moments are few and far between.  (L to R: Papa, me, Evelyn, Ethan, Bama, McKenna, Uncle Jeffy and Auntie Nissa)

Happy Halloween!

Since I am so far behind on updates, I've just decided to start anew, rather than attempt to play catch up.  Needless to say, our summer was a busy one and it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Sheesh!

Halloween was a treat at our house this year.  To get Miss Evelyn in the mood, she and I flexed our crafty muscles.  Thanks to Bama and her delicious pickles, we have (literally) hundreds of empty jars at our house.  With clothes stripped and drop cloth in place, Evelyn and I painted our very own "punkins."  Each night, Evelyn got the biggest thrill out of going outside and turning on her punkins.  Here she is, so proud of her work. :)

We were so lucky to have Bama and Papa here for  Evelyn's first real Beggars' Night.  And we were also lucky to have such a crafty Bama to make Evelyn's Minnie Mouse costume!  While Ethan was doing his part at the Waukee Haunted House, Bama, Papa, Evelyn and I went to Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo.  Basically, organized chaos with a piece of candy every 100 feet or so.  I think if more of the animals had been out, Evelyn would have enjoyed it more.  Either way, it was fun to put on her costume and practice "Trick or Treat" before the real deal.

When the big night came, Evelyn was gung-ho!  She wanted nothing to do with her wagon, except to pull it herself.  If any of us even attempted to help, she would turn around, put her hand up and shout "Watch out [insert name here]!"  After the first house, we had an old pro on our hands.  She was couldn't wait to go up to each door, do a "ding dong" (ring the doorbell), and say "Trick or Treat!"  She was so excited, in fact, that she wanted to go in each house we went to.  It was hard to say good-bye to the nice people handing out candy, but after a while, she got the hang of it, and said "Thank you!  See you later!"

Our attempt at some family photos... by the end of the night, she wasn't too keen on her Minnie ears - it's amazing what you can get a kid to do with a sucker bribe. :)

(Almost) 18 Month Stats

Evelyn went to the doctor a little early this time around, but still, I can't believe she'll be 18 months old in just 10 days! Once again, little girl did not disappoint. Seriously, the number 99 should be "her" number.

Height: 34 1/4 in. (99th percentile)

Weight: 30.8 lbs. (99th percentile)