S M Squared: January 2016

We had a busy holiday season, and it's hard to believe it's finished already. I had really hoped to sit back and try to take it all in this year, but it still never felt like I did that. Severe weather the day before Christmas Eve, no AC/Heat, packing for 8 days on the road...it all added up to not much relaxing in front of the tree. We enjoyed getting to see family and getting to visit the beach for a few days though.

We celebrated Evie's 2nd birthday while at my mother's house. It was nice to have all of her girl cousin's present.She had been practicing singing "Happy Birthday" for a few weeks and has definitely mastered unwrapping presents, so this birthday was a bit more fun for her!

Her cake had been frozen, so was sweating as it thawed!

Heading for the Coast on her actual birthday.

We went for Evie's 2 year checkup this week. She weighs 27 lbs 8 oz and is 34.6 inches tall. 60th and 71st percentage respectively.

She's speaking in sentences and loves to sing songs. We are still singing Christmas carols almost every night. She especially loves Jingle Bells and Silent Night.

She is a GREAT eater. She'll try a bite of anything; especially from our plates. She still loves gumbo and requests that frequently, so I guess I'll be making another pot soon. She eats lots of yogurt, mandarins, granola bars, chicken, and rice. She and Sullivan BOTH ate filet over the holidays.

This is a first for Sullivan, and shock, he loved it!

Evie's sleep is still sporadic. Lately she's been waking up around 12:30 or 1 am and comes to get in bed with us. Since she shared a big bed with Sullivan while we traveled, she has requested to sleep in her twin bed rather than her crib! I'm going to be one sad momma when that crib comes down for the last time!

Evie has moved up to Miss Carrie's class at daycare and is working on her potty training now! She is still a climber, and I can't trust her anywhere for long. She ABSOLUTELY cannot be trusted with markers or colors of any kind as she will draw on walls, floors, chairs, etc.

Her newest sweet thing is to say "yes, ma'am" to every question, regardless of who asks. All that being sad, she has definitely got a defiant streak. Some of her favorite things to say are, "I'm gonna do it" and "Noooooo". She doesn't want help...until she does. She thinks her daddy and her brother are the funniest people on Earth and she's quick with a laugh and a smile. She loves to take care of "her babies" and our pets, and Sammy in her class. She calls ladybugs, and now most bugs, "boogie bugs", so we all say that now. It's adorable. She loves Ring Around the Roses and will sing or want to do that every day.

I can't believe she's already 2 and Sullivan is 6. The years certainly fly by, and I've the grey hair and big kids to prove it. I am incredibly blessed. The kids played great together, the adults drank lots of yummy craft beer, and it was just generally a lovely week.

Seaside has a great New Year's Eve fireworks show and usually a big party and lots of events. It rained just about all day, and we weren't sure even fireworks would happen. Thankfully, the weather cleared up in plenty of time for the fireworks show. The adults grilled steaks (Daniel did this in the pouring rain) then moved to the tower of the house to drink Prosecco and play Cards Against Humanity while we waited for fireworks. Low key and so fun.

After the beach, we stopped in to see Daniel's family and had a belated Christmas there. The kids received many wonderful gifts, but they were especially excited by their snow gear! We don't have a ski trip planned, so let's hope we get some snow to put these to use!