Backyard Gardner

Splish-Splash: Hot Day (& Free!) Fun

We went to this mall end-of-year last year, but Evie was still a master scooter and not quite a walker. This year she ran up to and away from all the water spurts until finally warming up to the idea. She thoroughly enjoyed herself and completely wiped herself out (read: 2.5 hr nap!)

Hopeful neighborhood friends?

I remember all my friends came from where I grew up, namely, the neighborhood. Many enemies came from that same location... but let's focus on the positive, shall we? Will Anna be Evie's childhood chum?

No Touch!

Evie's latest (and greatest? Not so much...) phrase is yelling, "No touch!"
I haven't a clue where she picked this up. She puffs out her lips when pointing at your face in a scoulding mannerism, "No touch!"
She doesn't seem to 'know' what it means so much as she knows its something you yell when you are frustrated or displaying your anger at something. If Puck barks out the front door (at another dog), if I tell her to sit on her butt in her chair... if I ask for a hug? This is getting out of hand. Who taught her this an how do I break it? I miss my mute baby.

Baby Chou-Chou

So K and M bought Evie (well, ME) this baby doll as a joke since she GROWS TEETH and I found Evie's first teeth such a fascinating topic on my blog. Evie has recently taken a liking to Baby Chou-Chou and will feed her, pat her head, throw her on the floor and give her hugs. Ah, a great future mommy in the making.

Miles' Turns 2: A Birthday Party

Happy Easter!

Evie woke-up with MANY, MANY "Wow's!" of excitement to her Easter basket. Each and every item was removed with the reception of "Wow!". After an M&M snack-pak breakfast and an energetic display of running in circles grunting... we decided to put up the basket and have sausage & eggs.
We got dressed late and headed in the backyard for Evie's first egg hunt. Grandma La-La and I made it rather easy not knowing how absolutely eagle-eye this kid is. After 5 minutes... we decided to turn her around and do another egg hunt with more tricky hiding places. She got all those, too. This apple didn't fall too far from THIS tree, apparently.
All are currently enjoying naps (the author here is enjoying a Bloody Mary after finishing up her Mimosa's from breakfast. Ah, holiday's the way my family always celebrated them. Drunk.)
Up next: A 12lb ham lunch followed by the Easter Parade on Monument Avenue?
Stay tuned...

Our first conversation...

While driving to Lowe's tonight, I heard some backseat exclamatory gibberish.
I returned the enthusiasm, "Did you see the doggies, Evie?"
{pause}
"Nooooo...." she replied (Evie has this really cute and funny way of furrowing her brow and slowly saying"no").
"You didn't see the dogs? Right there [pointing]. Look out the window!"
"Dawgs?" she asked while leaning forward to see.
"Yeah!"
She sat back. Obviously, she missed them.
"Evie, did we just have our first conversation?"
{pause}
"Noooooo...."

Pretend

I was giving Evie a bath last night when she suddenly (and quickly) reached into the water, shoved her fingers in her mouth and began to much on something.
I asked her (as if she'd answer the question, "What are you eating?"
She had her lips pursed tightly. We looked at each other for an extended second before she hummed in response, "MMmmmm!"
I thought, "Is she eating a hair? Gross! Did she find a floating hair or... lint?!. What is it? what is she eating?"
I wasn't worried... more curious.
She reached into the water again with her thumb and forefinger. She pinched something and quickly returned her fingers to her lips, "Mmmm!"
Did she just pick something out of the water? Did she just eat a pretend food?
She did it again.
I did it, too.
She did it again.
We began to mimic each other back and forth and laughing at the silliness of it all.
Did we just share a pretend snack? How cool.