A Great Family Day

This past Saturday, for whatever reason, Justin felt like spoiling me :). I said, "Well...alright if you want to." Hehe. He took Eva and out for an incredibly delicious breakfast. The food was prepared by an English chef (at least he sounded English). I had the best eggs Benedict I have ever had and Justin had a ham omelet.

And then he took us to Cheesecake Factory for dinner! Wow :).

Little STories

Best friends...

Last night while I was cooking dinner Eva was plying in her little cabinet and extracting all of her kitchen supplies. She got out the basil and wanted a sniff. I unscrewed it for her and turned back to what I was doing. Behind me I hear, "help, help." As I turned around she was surrounded by basil and had no where to go for a clean step! It was so funny :). I took the basil and then told her she needed to get her broom and clean it up. So she scurried off to get her broom (side note: Eva runs the way Chris Farley danced like a maniac in Tommy boy - I love it!). Anyway she comes back with her broom and starts to sweep it under the stove! Justin was wondering if she learned that from mama!

After that I decided she might want to help me cook. Her response, "COOK! COOK!" as she runs into the kitchen and tries to reach up to the counters. I was making pancakes so I had a bowl with my dry and another with the wet to mix. As I mixed the wet and I thought she was mixing the dry she was really taking the fork and trying to slowly take a fork full of flour and such and feed me! Woop! All over the floor, haha. It was so cute.

Eva loves her Kokolum, my mom. Whenever she sits at the computer or gets a hand on a phone that is one of the first words out of her mouth. We do webcam visits with her everyday so they are able to be together despite the distance. Well today Eva Took the phone and sat it up on the table so that she could talk to my mom with animated hands. After a few minutes she started to try to give my mom a drink and feed her honey mustard via phone! I am a dork and took these with my phone and took the video sideways...SO SORRY! Still cute though.

Today Eva and I walked around the neighborhood this afternoon and as we walked through a shady spot she sat down and insisted that I do the same. I did. She laid down and again insisted that I do the same. We watched the blue sky and the faint clouds disapear. It was such a warm, breezy day in the shade. It was one of the most precious and peaceful moments of my life.

So often when I am with Eva I think of the lines from the Avril Lavigne song Innocence. Always bringing tears to my eyes. Turn on your speakers and check out the song that can only make me think of Eva Mae.

Waking up I see that everything is OK
The first time in my life and now it's so great
Slowing down I look around and I am so amazed
I think about the little things that make life great

I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling

This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by

I found a place so safe, not a single tear
The first time in my life and now it's so clear
Feel calm, I belong, I'm so happy here
It's so strong and now I let myself be sincere

I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling

[Chorus]

It's a state of bliss, you think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry
It's a state of bliss, you think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry

It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry
This innocence is brilliant
Makes you wanna cry
This innocence is brilliance
Please don't go away
Cause I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by

This Week

This is the cutest little dress! We got it for her at downtown disney.

At the OB today waiting for me to pay.

Before I got the camera Eva was making them kiss so I got her to do it on the video.

Money in my pocket.

First Family Beach Day

This was with my phone so its a little primitive and low quality...

This was such a fun day! We all had so much fun at the beach together. Eva and I have gone several times but this was the first time Daddy went into the water with us.

Eva laughs every time a wave comes.

Birthday Party With a Jump House

This is Eva at Gabriella's birthday party. You can see Gabriella in the picture and video. Eva was the best little jumper! Makin' me so proud :).

A Latte Fun

Eva and I went to her favorite place last week, A Latte Fun, thanks to Kakalum. She loves the trampoline!

Weekend with Aimee's Paternal Family

Well the three of us, my dad's parents, my uncle and his family and my dad and his girlfriend and my brother Chris gathered together for a weekend at Busch Gardens. Although the theme park didn't work out because of the weather we managed to still have a good weekend in the house we rented.

The long drive - Eva playing peekaboo and successfully putting her pillow behind her head completely on her own.

One of many creepy bugs we encountered

Two games of Mini golf. The first Justin, Chris, Eva and I all played in the heat! We were so hot we had to leave, cool off then come back and play the second game. The second game it was pouring and Justin took one for the team and watched Eva while Chris and I played in the puddles.

The all too convenient park 3 houses down!

Eva being a princess at Downtown Disney

My brother, Justin, Eva and myself also spent a lot of time in the pool! It was so much fun to have 24 hour access to a pool. Chris and I had so much fun making up stupid games and diving onto floating devices. Eva loved the unheated hot tub - it was just her size. We also got to have a game night the night before we left with a few of us - hearts and catch phrase at its best!

Sorry this is sideways, but its too cute. Eva is saying, "Get it! Get it!" She would hit the ball, chase it and pick it up.

Fun Pictures

Eva Loves my shower cap

Eva pretending she's a big girl...

In front of our Chiropractor's office there was a little bird that let Eva get as close as she wanted! First the sea turtle and now a little bird. She might have even let her touch it...

An Eva size tree

Eva at Duffy's - showing off her favorite strength move :)

Eva drinking out of her tea cup - really my espresso cup. She loves to hold the handle. She use to stick her pinkie up.

Crab Night

I have to say that - that night was one of the best nights of my life. We ate outside and I had the all you can eat seafood bar. For the next week I could taste the reminiscent savory goodness of butter, oysters and crab. I have the best husband in the world!

After eating outside we walked up and down the deck. It was so nice. Eva and I saw a school of fish. I chased Eva up and down the deck, "I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna get your little bootie!" Then she chased me, "bootie! Bootie!" Much louder than I had. But it warmed my heart so much!

We got ice cream! It was so much fun, each of us with our own spoon in hand sharing two cups of yum yum!

It was so special - thank you Justin!

Babies Are Cuter Than Theology

Okay, I am about to concede to this position. This blog, which has been up since before Eva was born, still averages 9-10 hits per day, over 250 per month. However, my other blog, in which I am writing my own bible commentary, is on par for its best month ever with a whopping 105+ hits, averaging just 3-4 hits per day. Thus, babies are approximately 2.5-3 times cuter than theology. While I can't deny my little Eva's cuteness, I am not sure how I feel about this.

Of course, our loyal readership could also take a moment (just a smidgen!) to read a posting or two on my blog at http://ponderingscripture.wordpress.com/ when they are done here, you know, if they had any extra time on their hands. I am currently up to chapter 12 in the book of Genesis, and I strive to bring originality, and not to simply repeat other teachings I've heard. I can be reasonably certain that you'll read some things you've never heard before. So - if you feel up to it - enjoy!

Coming soon: More baby cuteness - we took a trip to Orlando recently and have some pictures and video for you all!

Crab Dinner

Aimee doesn't know it yet, but in about two hours she will be chowing down on some buttery crab goodness. I know she has been jonesing for some seafood, and was going to take her while we were out of town, but the timing didn't work out. So I made reservations at the Crab House in Jupiter tonight. I'm not into seafood, so I will eat a steak and take one for the team :)

If we have any room left in our tummies we will head over to Palm Beach Ice Cream Co. and get some fresh homemade ice cream, which Eva loves (and we do too of course!)

Here are some fun pictures of Eva.

Making brownies :) - licking the bowl is the best

Story with Daddy!

Eva and her swim coach - she really liked him

Ready to go to the park

Downtown

Independence

I knew that Eva would want to do things on her own and want to be independent when she became a toddler, but i don't think that I was quite prepared for it to actually happen to me. Sure I've tried to teach her things and encourage her to grow, but I didn't expect her to not want me to be a part of certain activities.

A couple of months ago Eva decided that she didn't want us to read to her anymore. She wanted to sit by herself - not on our laps - and "read" independently. If we chose to sit next to her that was fine. Well the other day when Eva was strapped into her car seat while waiting for Justin to get off work she let me read her the Three Little Pigs and now is wanting us to read to her all the time again! YAY!

When its time to eat now that Eva has some novice spoon and fork skills she will fight with us to not let us feed her EVER!

I want to empower her, but man...she is only 19 months. I hope she still do stuff for her and with her when she's 10.

More Fun with Vocabulary

The other night I made some baked potatoes and Eva Loved them! I couldn't put them on her plate fast enough. Her cheeks were full of "tatoes". Later that night Justin asked her if she liked what Mommy made and she said, "MmmHmmm. I like tatoes."

Today something exciting happened! I told Eva, "I love you" and she said, "I love you too". Yay! It sounded like, "I hello too."

When we turn off the lights in a room now she says, "Nigh-night" or "Buh-bye". Then she'll lay her head on her hand as if to sleep.

She can say "Lucky", our cats name, perfectly now! She can also make her 'J' sound too.

Stunt Girl Practice

Eva decided she wanted to practice falling (on the bed of course) for her future career as a stunt woman. In between falls, you can see her practicing her scream in the mirror.

After we take any video or pictures of her, she immediately wants to see it afterwards. That's why she's running up to me saying "you! you!" Sometimes she refers to herself as "you" because we point to pictures of her and tell her "that's you!"