Evelyn turns TWO!

Our sweet Evelyn turned two last month. I can not believe it and I'm sure I'll say that every year on her birthday for the rest of my life. Time really does fly especially with kids.

Evelyn, you bring so much joy to our house!!! The faces you make are priceless and you have the most hearty laugh. Its a deep laugh and your Daddy and I giggle every time we hear it.

You prefer to run everywhere and you still sometimes run the way you did as a baby where you hold one arm still and close to you and pump the other arm. Of course, this running and your big head (its in the 90th percentile) causes you to fall down a lot. So you often have bruises, bumps and knots on your head. We've been to the emergency room with you twice and a third time, we almost went, but decided to stay home because the bleeding from the back of your head stopped by the time we got everyone loaded up.

You love to wrestle and if Mommy or Daddy or even Josie get on the floor, you try to tackle us so that we will wrestle with you. You and Josie have been playing horsey lately and you've actually been riding on Josie's back. Its pretty cute, but given there is only about 8 pounds between the two of you, you fall off a lot. This of course contributes to the extra bumps and bruises.

Independence is your middle name. I hear "I do it!" all the time. You already want to dress yourself, buckle yourself in the car seat and wash yourself in the bathtub. You won't let me help you in and out of the car at all. (again, more reason for the bumps and bruises) But with so much independence, you still need us to hold you almost immediately after you wake up in the morning and after your nap. You just need about 10 to 20 minutes of snuggling and you are a much happier girl. To ensure you get your hold time, you have perfected the 'hold me' move where you simply step in front of us even if we are trying to walk somewhere so that we either knock you over or we do what you want and drop everything and hold you. On a sweet note with the snuggling comes us still having to hold your milk cup for you while you play with our fingers.

We love to watch you pretend to talk on the phone. You walk around and speak some sort of gibberish and then laugh, and say a little bit more and then laugh....its pretty much a lot of laughing with a little bit of talking. You love to read books, play with your doll house, play in your kitchen and you love shopping carts - particularly car carts. You also love jewelry particularly bracelets. Many a day, we have had panic attacks looking for "the bracelet."

You are uniquely you and bring many gifts to your sisters and your Mommy and Daddy. Happy Birthday Evelyn!

We started the morning with a birthday doughnut for breakfast.


You crack us up when you try to blow out candles. You blow up instead of out as you can see in the picture as your hair is actually blowing up.


With a few more tries, the candles go out. And for that, you get a high five from Daddy.


The birthday cupcakes. Thank you to Meghan for letting me use her punch so I could make these cute toppers. We had a "bling" party because if Evelyn loves anything, she loves her bling.


All ready to hear the happy birthday song...
Who would have thought your Momma would let you wear a tank top for your birthday in November?


Blowing out that big '2' candle. I love the look on Ev's face - its almost as if she is saying, I don't think this candle is ever gonna go out.


Josie enjoyed her cupcake - I think she actually ate 2. :)


Evelyn definitely enjoyed hers as well - I'm not sure why she chose to not use her hands. Oh well - it made for a cute picture.


Cousin Maci and you admiring some presents.


Bling and more bling! Aunt Jessica gave you these bracelets because Maci has some just like it and she says that no matter what, every time you go to her house, you find these two bracelets and put them on. You were so excited to get these. It was funny though after the party for the next few weeks when you would see these bracelets, you would say, "Maci's." I think it has finally soaked in that you have some of your very own.


Our sweet 2 year old with her big and little sisters.


Daddy and Mommy even stole a moment during the party to pose with you. What a blessing you are to us - we love you always Evelyn!