1st Ballet Class

Evelina's first ballet class was yesterday.  We have been prepping her for weeks.  Driving by the dance studio everyday, reading ballet related books, talking about ballet and the new little friends she would meet, trying on ballet shoes and leotards, even attending an open house so she could see where her dance class would take place and meet her teachers.

I knew this class would be difficult for her since we couldn't be in the room with her.  We told her we would be watching her through the viewing window and that it would be so much fun.  As much as she wanted to participate, it was just too scary for her.  She spent the majority of the class looking at the other little girls through the viewing window.  Poor thing.  We eventually got her to sit inside the door, but that's as far as we got.  Maybe next week that will be her starting point.  Fingers crossed.

She did happen to be the cutest little ballerina in her leotard and skirt though.

Photos | Evelina Turns 3

I'm definitely not the best at taking, downloading and editing photos lately.  I finally sifted through some photos from Evelina's 3rd birthday.  Yes, yes...I know it was over 2 months ago, but I'm certain there are a few people who read the blog that would like to see them so here they are. 

One observation, both Evelina and Daphne have more hair now.  Ha!! 

Just for Fun | Evelina "Monthly" Photo

After I took Daphne's 9 month photo today, Evelina wanted to partake in the fun as well. Wow!! What a difference a year (plus a month) makes!!  When I was getting ready to take the photo Evelina asked, "Where's my sticker?!".  Too cute :-) 

Evelina's 3 Year Interview

I've seen cute questionnaires for toddlers all over recently so I thought it would be fun to ask Evelina similar questions each year on her birthday to see how she changes year to year.  This is the first installment....hopefully I remember in years to come. 

 

A few disclaimers:  

1. Turn the volume up, it is hard to hear all of her answers. 
2. I thought she was finished eating when I started recording, I guess I was wrong.
3. Daphne was right next to her, and seriously the quietest baby ever.   
4. Yes, that is a burp at the end. This 3 year old has some lovely manners I tell ya. We need to work on that.  

Counting the Old Fashioned Way

Oh Evelina

I've seen this blog (http://reasonsmysoniscrying.tumblr.com/) floating around the interwebs over the last couple of days.  It is totally hilarious and totally accurate.  If it had a submission page I would need to include an episode from this morning.  

Chris is in VT for work so I had to take over the morning responsibilities today.  Daphne woke first and while I was feeding her and getting her dressed, Evelina woke up.  We usually let her chill in bed for a little bit to wake up, otherwise she is Miss Grumpy Pants.  Well, I clearly didn't wait long enough this morning. I went into Evelina's room and put Daphne on the little sheep skin rug in front of the bookcase.  She loves chilling there and usually Evelina enjoys "playing" with her little sister for a bit, getting her to laugh and smile. This morning Evelina decided to be her difficult self and throw everything from her bed onto the floor and sulk.  She was probably peeved that Papa wasn't home.  All I wanted her to do was get undressed and use the potty...not too much to ask right?  What I wanted to avoid was a fight...why does everything need to be a fight?  I used one of my reverse psychology methods and told her that I was going to finish getting ready (in hopes that she would want to do the same).  I had to run downstairs for something and while I was down there I hear Evelina screaming while breaking down in tears.  From this outburst alone, I thought for sure she had fallen off of the bed or hurt herself in some other way.  I ran upstairs as fast as I could to make sure she was okay.  She was tucked against one of her bed rails crying when I entered the room.  I asked her what happened, her reply in a tearful voice....."Daphne smiled at me....WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Wow...just WOW.  I swear, it is really tough to be a toddler when your cute little sister smiles at you because she thinks you are the bees knees.  

A Good Spot to Read

This weekend we are tackling potty training.  Evelina has been peeing on the potty for months now but I don't think Chris and I were really ready to take the potty training plunge yet.  This weekend we don't have anything going on so I thought it would be the perfect weekend to make the transition to underwear.  So far it is going okay.  She's had a few accidents and leaks but for the most part, she makes it to the potty (after we ask her about 1000 times if she needs to go).  Pooping on the potty is another story though.  The first time she actually pooped on the potty was last week at school and we have yet to have a successful #2 this weekend.  She had said she needed to go, so on to the potty she went (after bribing her with Caillou on the iPad if she was successful).  I left her with some books and went away to give her some private time.  She started reading Thomas and Friends Blue Mountain Mystery to pass the minutes.  She had no idea I had come back upstairs to spy.  Chris and I love how she licks her finger to turn the page. Hilarious...she learned it from her teachers at school. Oh, and in case you were wondering, no success on the poo front. 

Blizzard 2013

Yup, we had a "blizzard" last weekend.  Not sure what the exact total for Ashland was but based on totals from the surrounding towns we got between 24" and 30".  Chris lucked out in the snow-blowing department.  Since he was up north snowmobiling for the weekend, we hired a plow company. 

Evelina LOVES playing in the snow.  When I picked her up at school yesterday one of the first things she told me was, "I climbed a mountain today, Mama!!".  Meaning a snow bank of course...too cute.  While driving home, she was looking out the window at all of the snow and the following conversation ensued: 

Evelina:  (While pointing to a snow bank) Mama, that snow dirty.  
Me: Yes, it is dirty.  
Evelina:  Move it, Mama.  
Me:  Move it?  You want to move the snow?  Do you mean shovel it?  Someone could move the snow with a shovel like we were doing over the weekend.  
Evelina:  No, I want to move it.  
Me:  Why do you want to move it?  
Evelina:  I want to move it, get new snow.  
Me:  Ohhh, you want clean snow?  
Evelina:  Yeah.  
Me:  I see, well, it may snow on Thursday so all the of the dirty snow will get covered with new, clean, white snow.  
Evelina:  Okay, Mama. 

Do you think she takes after Chris and I or what? 

Potty Training Fun

Apple Picking

Over the weekend we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went apple picking.  We figured it may be the last excursion we have as a family of three.  Evelina really enjoyed it.  She was an expert apple picker by the time we left and even held the bag until it got too heavy.  I was looking forward to having a cider donut and thought she would love them, but she preferred munching on the just-picked apples. 

Click here to view some pictures.  

Evelina Tidbits

Evelina is D.O.N.E. smiling for pictures.  Maybe some day she will be inspired again.

It is amazing to think that Evelina won't be an only child for much longer.  It makes us sad to think that she will have to share us with her little sister, that we won't get to spend as much one-on-one time with her and that her life will change just as dramatically as Chris and mine will in the coming weeks.  Even though it may be a challenge for all of us, I know our hearts will be filled with more love then we can bare, and we can only hope that Evelina will love her sister just as much.  I'm looking forward to witnessing a beautiful sibling bond form, to watch them grow up together, and to see their love evolve into a friendship that will last them a lifetime.  That is the joy of having a sibling. 

With that, here are some recent Evelina tidbits:  

• Evelina is officially in her big girl room sleeping in a twin-sized bed!!  The transition hasn't been too difficult and she doesn't seem to miss her nursery.  The first couple of nights she would tell us "I scared", but overall, she is sleeping better in her big girl bed then she did in the last few months in her crib. What's even better is that she hasn't slept in our bed in over two weeks...yippee!!  Hopefully the stretch continues.  All we can hope for is that she doesn't go through a sleep regression after Siby arrives. 
• She is very intrigued by the camera to the video monitor. In the nursery it was hung up high, but now it is on the top of her bookcase where she can see it.  Since she has heard my voice from it, she has begun to ask what it is.  "What's that, Mama?" I told her that it's a monitor that we use to make sure she is safe in her big girl bed.  Now she will point to it and say "Keep me safe".  Too cute.   
• She associates us telling her that we need to go potty with us leaving her awake in her room at bedtime. It was taking her a long time to settle one of the first nights in her new room and I really needed to "potty" so I told her I needed to go and I would be right back.  She was so content in the room that I didn't go back and she eventually drifted off to sleep.  Now we use the same line frequently and it works every time.  She even told me last night that she wanted to go in the bed and said "Mama, peepee in the potty", to get me to leave!!   
• For some unknown reason Evelina all of a sudden does not like Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street.  Whenever he comes up on the screen, she will go over to Chris and ask for "cuddles" and curl up in our lap.  Once the shade closes and his segment is over, she will inch her way back onto the couch out of our arms. Strange toddler behavior I tell ya.  
• Evelina has no problem using the Baby Bjorn potty or the toddler potty at school, but ever since switching to a preschool sized classroom earlier this month with a larger and higher potty she is "scared" to go there.  She protests and tries desperately to run as far away from the potty as she can.  Her teachers and I have tried to reassure her that we will keep her safe and help her on the potty but she still wants nothing to do with the bigger potty.  Poor thing, maybe she doesn't like change just as much as her Mama?  I plan to get a toilet trainer for our toilet at home in hopes that we can help ease her fears for when we officially start potty training.  
• Evelina always wants to know where her loved one, teachers or friends are and she will ask you about 400 times a day.  "Where's Papa?", "Where's Mimi?", "Where's Auntie KK?", "Where's Grandpa?", "Where's Auntie Ro?", etc.  She will ask even though she knows where they are because we told her minutes before.  Many times, I will ask her where they are and she will say "Pittsburgh" for Auntie KK or "New Hampshire" for Mimi.  She likes to associate the dogs with the appropriate family member as well.  "Mitzy" for Auntie KK and "Tulip, Lily, Oggie" for Mimi. 
• Everyday after school she asks for a "lollipop", which is really a frozen Stonyfield YoKids Squeezer.  They are quite yummy.  
• She likes it when we open the sunroof in the car.  
• She is determined to put on and take off her own clothes.  She does a pretty great job with skirts, pants, socks and shoes but shirts are quite a challenge. The more independent she is, the better off we will be when we eventually have to get two out the door.  Many times, we can avoid tantrums if we just let her dress/undress herself, even though it may take longer.     
• At nap time and bedtime, she prefers if we read stories in her bed, instead of rocking in the chair.  
• She LOVES stickers!!!  
• She broke her first plate at a restaurant by swiping it onto the floor.  Oops, sorry about that Cheesecake Factory. 
• I took her into the American Girl store for the first time and she was in "baby doll" heaven.  Although, she was petrified of going up and down the escalator.  Our child definitely has some fears.  
• Her appetite seems to have increased over the last couple of weeks.  Perhaps she is going through a growth spurt of some kind?  She had 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at lunch the other day in addition to fruit/veggie...I don't even eat that much!!  I'm sure this will be short-lived, but for the time being, we will go with it. 
• Her favorite foods are buttered pasta with lots of cheese, tomato and cucumber salad with ranch dressing, corn on the cob, and Dunkin' Donut's munchkins, preferably chocolate, jelly and pumpkin.  
• I fear that she will only call her sister "Siby" once she is born and not use her real name.  I think she is going to be confused when we change her name. 
• She talks about Siby frequently and if I'm not home, will ask where Siby is.  Papa of course, always says that she is with Mama.  She wants to bring Siby places, "My bring Siby to playground."; and she frequently likes to hug and kiss Siby, "My hug Siby", "My kiss Siby?".  It is incredibly sweet.  Last week while we were rocking at bedtime, Siby had the hiccups so I put Evelina's hand on my belly.  She just kept looking up at me and smiling.  When the hiccups were gone, she kept rubbing her hand over my belly searching for movement.  I just wonder what she really is thinking about all this??  

Clean Up, Clean Up

Evelina finds great delight in helping us "clean up" and she really enjoys her kid-sized broom and mop. She was assisting me after breakfast the other day while attempting to sing the clean up song: "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere. Clean up, clean up, Evelina do your share."

 

Ogunquit 2012

If you'd like to take a look at a selection of pictures from our week in Ogunquit, ME a few weeks ago, click here. 

We had a wonderful time, the weather was perfection and it was so nice to spend a week with Auntie KK, Mimi and Grandpa.  Evelina was in heaven!!  

We hope to make it a Summer tradition every year.  

1st Day of School - Todder Twos

Yesterday was Evelina's first day in the Toddler Twos program at school.  The program has been designed to ease the transition into preschool.  There are 12 kids and 3 teachers.  She will be assigned to a group of 4 kids and one teacher for the year which is a great student/teacher ratio.  Her new classroom is very spacious and has so many fun activity areas.  She is already obsessed with the doll house (hmmmm...Christmas present perhaps?).  

She had a great first day and enjoyed exploring the classroom.  She only cried for a short time after we dropped her off :-(  She grew very attached to her teachers last year so it must be tough for her to be in the caring hands of others.  

When I picked her up, one of her teachers, Kathy, was changing her dirty diaper.  After all was said and done, I strapped her into the car seat and we had the following conversation:  

Evelina: My have a big poop, Kathy change diaper.  
Me:  Do you like Kathy? 
Evelina: Yeah.
Me: Do you like Amy, too? 
Evelina: Yeah.  
Me:  That's good, I'm glad you like your new teachers!!
Evelina:  My like Noelle, too.  

So adorable (she says "my" instead of "I" most times in case you were wondering).  Noelle is a substitute until a the new 3rd teacher starts next week. 

In other positive news, there are 3 other girls in her class this year.  She has been 1 of 2 since starting at the school so it will be nice for there to be some other little girls.  One of them shares a birthday with Evelina, too!!  

Here's to a happy, successful school year for our Bean, filled with lots of challenges and fun!! 

Last year's photo entering Toddler Ones

"I chase seagull!!"

One of Evelina's favorite activities at the beach last week was chasing seagulls. When she would see one close by, she would shout "I chase seagull!!" and then get up and go. This one had half a brain and flew away.  

I hope...

...Evelina is this happy with her big girl bed when we start the transition this weekend!! Fingers crossed. 

Summertime Yums

First Pigtails

Peering out the window while looking at the ice cream truck

Evelina Sings the ABCs

I was finally able to convince Evelina to let me take a video of her singing one of her favorite songs. I've tried to sneak up on her but she always catches me and wants to see herself via the phone.  So, this time around I told her if she sang for me, she could watch the video.  Worked like a charm!! She can be so easy to reason with...sometimes. 

Evelina Tidbits

As Evelina's second birthday was approaching, it was becoming increasingly difficult finding time to write her monthly posts.  I'm happy I was able to keep up with it during her first two years, and I know I will look back and be glad I captured some of her milestones, new discoveries and habits.

I would like to continue documenting her development in some way without it being too time-consuming, considering Siby is due to arrive shortly.  There are endless tidbits of information that I could share, but it would result in another full-time job. So, instead, I may start writing "Evelina Tidbits" posts every so often, similar to this one.  I think a "Conversations with Evelina" post may be in the future as well.  Who can resist cute toddler talk? 

• Favorite sentence of all time:  "What's that?" or "What's that, Mama?".  She must say it about 1000 times a day.  Even if she knows what something is.  
• Teeth:  All 4 2-year molars have appeared!!  Yay!!  That means, she has a full set, although the molars still need to push through a little more. There is space between all of her teeth and I often wonder if the gaps will close once her teeth push through more. I think its time she goes to the dentist.  That should be quite the experience.  
• She lives and breathes so she can have a Flintstones vitamin everyday. She calls them "ryans". If she could eat the entire bottle in one day she would, she loves them that much.  Her color of choice is purple.  If Papa gives her one in the morning, she will try to convince me that I need to give her one in the evening as well.  Little does she know that Papa and I speak during the day.  Thank goodness she is *usually* receptive to the "one a day" vitamin policy. 
• She now sleeps with a pillow in her crib which she seems to enjoy...until she slips off of it in the night.  
• Favorite TV shows:  Elmo/Sesame Street, Wiggles and Thomas the Train
• Favorite songs to listen too:  Hot Potato, I like to Move it, ABC Song, Wheels on the Bus
• Evelina LOVES to sing and has an endless number of songs in her repertoire.  She sings some better than others. A few of her favorites include, the ABC song, Row Row Row Your Boat, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Ring Around the Rosie
• She will shake hands and say "Nice to meet you!" 
• She is a total rock-star when it comes to identifying colors.  
• She enjoys counting and will point to things and count as she points.  She can count up to 15 or so. 
• "I peepee on the potty!!" is one of her favorite and most enthusiastic sentences. She will take every chance she is given to attempt to peepee on the potty and she has been extremely successful in the evenings and at diaper changing time if she has a dry diaper.  She tries soooo hard to make pee come out, it is quite hilarious.  Many times she "thinks" she has pee'd because she tried so hard, but her potty is empty.  Even so, she still celebrates.  
• In addition to peeing on the potty, she is an expert toilet bowl flusher.  She waits patiently to flush the toilet after Chris or I have gone.  Luckily, she doesn't flush until someone has actually used the potty...our water bill thanks her for that. 
• She will lift up my shirt and yell "WAKE UP" to Siby.  She also has been giving my belly more hugs and kisses, and even referring to "Siby" in some of her little conversations to us.  It is quite adorable. 
• Thank goodness we decided to purchase a big girl bed instead of another crib.  Miss Lina climbed out of the crib 2 times over the weekend.  She was in the crib jumping and playing around while I was tending to some chores upstairs and all of a sudden she appeared!!  WHAT?!  So I put her back in the crib and asked her to show us how she got out.  After our vacation next week, the big girl bed transition will begin.  
• She likes to tickle so beware!!  Especially bare bellies after she has lifted your shirts.  
• She is a typical, exhausting 2-year old, testing boundaries, throwing frequent tantrums, not listening to us, and causing mischief at every turn.  Even though she challenges us everyday, she is so sweet and caring.  A sponge trying to absorb as much information about her world as she can. Gosh, we love her to pieces. 

 Now, I need to get better about talking photos again.  I'm really slacking.