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27 May, 2014

Funday: Georgia Aquarium

A few weeks before I had Maggie, my nephew Zachary came to town to stay a week with my parents.  My mom and I thought it would be fun to take the kids down to the Georgia Aquarium. It's one of the activities on our Funday List too!
They're the perfect age to start doing trips like this.  Evie and I had fun peeking in the touch and feel animal area.

Then we were on to the beluga whales. I'll be honest, I think they're kind of nasty looking so I didn't take any pictures of them.
Evie was over stimulated from the crowds.  And she hated every second in the stroller.  I gave her a snack and pulled her up to the colorful tropical fish aquarium to calm her down a bit. It seemed to work. 

Seriously. The aquarium was so crowded it was miserable.  I was over stimulated.  We had a pretty miserable time, which is why I didn't take pictures for the middle part of the day.  The four of us ate lunch.  The kids ran around for a bit.  After we all calmed down a bit and the school tour groups went on their lunch break, we resurfaced and headed to the big tank. 
Evie and Zachary had a BLAST!  They stood at the wall for almost an hour. They'd point, clap and squeal at all the different types of fish, sharks, and rays.
 
 
As much as I love going to aquariums, it will be a long LONG time before I go back to the Georgia Aquarium. The crowds were just overwhelming and the school groups rambunctious and unbearable. 
 The kids had fun, and that is the most important part.  Nana treated them to stuffed penguins from the gift shop and ice cream on the way home.

19 May, 2014

At Home With Maggie - Our Newborn Photo Session

Once again, we have Amy from The Charming Blog to thank for beautiful family photos.  One of the things I loved about this session was that we'd do a posed shot or two and then she's just capture us doing normal things -- wrestling with Evie, burping Maggie, etc.  We had a great time.  And we can't thank Amy enough for capturing Maggie's first week!

















17 May, 2014

Evie: Thirty Months

Measurements:

Weight: 36lbs 10oz  >97%
Length/Height: 37 inches >78%
Eats: 3 full meals, 1-2 snacks, 6oz cow's milk, 10-15oz of water
Diapers: Cloth at home (Kawaii, TotsBots, and BG4.0)  but she's almost outgrown all of them
Size 6 disposables for school and night time 
Clothes: 4T and a few 4s depending on the brand
Shoes: 9W
Teeth: All are accounted for that she should have by now
Sleep: 8/8:30pm bed, 6:45/7:30am wake, one nap about 2hrs long around 2/2:30-- She can make it through the day without a nap, but she needs a movie or rest time of some sort

Firsts and Milestones:

Evie is officially in a big girl bed! She has her very own full sized bed that was actually Eric's when he turned two!

Evie knows all her colors and shapes, and is starting to draw her shapes by name.

She can sing her ABCs by herself, as well as several little kids songs. 

She can mostly count to 20, but still skips a few numbers.

She speaks in very complete, long sentances. Often full paragraphs. She asks lots of questions like "Who?" "Where?" and "Why?"  

Evie grasps chronological order like before and after, but still doesn't have a concept of time (I don't even know when that begins).

She can complete a two-part task, and sometimes three if it's not too complicated.

Evie has graduated from her highchair and sits in regular chairs all the time now!  She can get up and down from them by herself.

While she's still struggling a little with the stairs, she's getting really comfortable with them and with climbing in general. She's still very cautious, which makes me worry a lot less :)

Her pretend play is really picking up.  Evie has gone beyond mimicking us in her play, and is now creating her own scenarios.  She also likes to pretend she's a dinosaur or a puppy quite often.

Parallel play still dominates, but interactive play is starting to pick up.  Mostly she likes bossing other kids around, "Stop!" or "My turn, please!"

She seems to have outgrown the true night terrors but is still waking up occasionally at night.

At her 30 month check up Evie could complete verbal and reasoning skills up to that of about a 3.5 year old. But her gross motor skills check out at only about 2 years old.  Everything else (fine motor, self-care, etc) seem to be right on par!

We've had a few fun adventures, like going to Daddy's office, riding MARTA, and going to the Aquarium.


Likes:

aden and anais blankets
friends
school
reading books in her bean bag chair
baby sister
playing dolls
bubbles
puzzles
playing at grandparents houses, or with cousins
Helping Mommy (cook, put clothes in the dryer, sweep, build things)
TV/Movies:  Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Dinosaur Train, Dora, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Sofia
food/snacks:  peeze-pouch (squeeze pouches) trail mix, sweet potato chips, cheese, waffles, Moe's, Starbucks bacon gouda sandwich, green beens, and any fruit or berry.


Dislikes:

being told NO
behaving in Mass
having her diaper changed if it interrupts her play
riding in the buggy or stroller
not having Mommy's FULL attention
any mention of potty training or using the toilet

Fun Things:

Evie is generally happy and easy going, though she does not like a break in her routine without fair warning. (Just like her mama!)

She is a great eater most of the time.  She's fighting us more and more with dinner time, but I think it's for attention.

It takes her a while to warm up to a new environment, situation or friend, but once she's comfortable she's excited to participate and rarely wants to leave!  She LOVES her school and playgroup.

Ever since Maggie has arrived she's struggle with independent play and has really craved that interactive play with Eric or I.  Partially for the one-on-one attention, but partially because I think she likes to interact so much more now!

Evie is learning how to pray.  She knows the Sign of the Cross, Grace Before Meals and can sing the Hail Mary.  She can sing I Love You, Lord (the "o" is two syllables when she says it. precious)

She's starting to have "favorites" - often whatever she is doing or eating.

Most days I pick out her clothes, but she's starting to have opinions, "No, I want a skirt today" or "I no wear stretchy pants, I want jeams" (yes she says it with an "m")

Evie is a great big sister.  She loves Maggie so much and is generally really good with her.


Not So Fun Things:

Evie has done really well with her diet changes proposed at her two year old visit. We've only had a few constipation issues in six months.

Potty training did not go well, but I think once the Big Sister newness wears off she'll be ready.  I am hoping we can master it before school starts, but she doesn't have to be trained before school next year.

We're really struggling with her behavior.  Whenever she's short on our attention or doesn't get her way she starts hitting.  Recently it's transcended to hair pulling and pinching.  I've figured out ways to manage this behavior at home or other places, but she seems to know just how to push my buttons at Mass and then follow it up by hitting me and then screaming an ear piercing scream.  We've tried a lot of things, but have more things to try. We'll get there.

She's started waking up earlier and earlier in the mornings.  She's almost at that dreaded 6:30 most parents complain about.  I'm not sure if it's the sun? or that Little Sister is up? I'd like to think it's a phase.



 Evie is kind-hearted girl who wildly loves her family.  She loves to snuggle, play and go on adventures.  And even though she misbehaves she passionately loves going to Church and spending time in the Adoration chapel. She has a sweet, sensitive soul.  She responds well to words of affirmation and ice cream.  She is entirely her mother's child: build, looks, and heart.  I think it's why we can butt-heads!  Eric and I love watching her grow and discover the world around her.  We can't wait to see what summer brings, and her new pre-school next year!  We cannot believe she's getting so old and mature!

Watch Evie Grow: Twenty Four MonthsTwenty One Months | Eighteen Months | Fifteen Months |  All Monthlies