brave

A couple of weekends ago I went to Augusta to visit my sister.  I just couldn't stand it anymore, I missed her and I missed her children.  So I packed everyone up in the car and stuff to stay for a couple of nights and we took off.  The drive from Athens was so beautiful.  I love the southern country side.  The kids were both asleep within 20 minutes or so and I just drove and thought.  I love that kind of solitude.  I can see my babies in the rear view mirror with their shimmering closed eyelids and those pouty sleeping lips.  I can sigh a breath of relief knowing that they are with me but somewhere else completely. 

We had so much fun with the cousins. On Saturday bekah and I got the bray idea to go get the girls ears pierced together.  Evaleigh had been asking for quite some time.

Joe kept the boys and we went off on a girl date.  We stopped off and got the girls matching summer sandals first and then went to Claires in the mall. Evaleigh was determined the whole time.  She never faltered with her answer every time I asked her if she was sure she wanted to do this. 

She picked out a pretty pink glitter heart pair of earrings and hopped right up in the chair. I stooped down and held her hands to help her stay brave.  They counted to three and "pop!" The earrings were on and her face didn't even change.  

I learned a lot about that brave soul.  Not a tear, not a frown, not even a wiggle or wince. Just sheer excitement and courage. I was so proud of her bravery to do something hard, face it head on, and own it! If her reaction tells me anything about her future and how she will come to handle life then I've got one less thing to worry about.  A rite of passage in to girlhood, she suddenly looked older.

Kate cried, but then they were both so excited.  I loved doing that together, such a sweet memory.

just some time

Several times tonight before we went upstairs to bed Evaleigh told me, "Mom, I just want to spend some time with you."  It was the sweetest request that I couldn't wait to fulfill. 

So we went upstairs after family prayer, which was the usual struggle of Avett whining that he wanted to pray as soon as Evie started to pray.  I am glad they love to pray so I suppose it's a good problem to have.  John put Avett to bed while and Evie and I laughed and snuggled and played and read books for a good 45 minutes.  I sat her on my lap and told her NOT to laugh, which of course was impossible.  She would say it to me and then we would bust out laughing.  

I loved every second of it.  It's easy to hurry through the last parts of the day, especially on the days when bed time is a welcomed time.  I know I tend to do that often but tonight was different and I loved it.  

She loves to say, "Mom can I tell you a whisper?" Then she leans up close and whispers in my ear, "I love you, you are the best mom ever you silly pot."  There's just nothing in the world like having a daughter.

happy birthday Evie

I can't believe you will be two tomorrow.  You have brought a spirit and joy to my life that I never knew could be so great.  I always hoped becoming a mother would be wonderful but you came in to the world and made it possible for me to feel heart bursting love multiple times a day every day.  I can't believe that I'm lucky enough to love this much.  You make your dad and I laugh every single day.  The things you come up with sometimes are unreal.

You have an obsession with your own toes.  You must be afraid that someone is going to steal them because often times when someone gets close to you you exclaim, "my toes!"  and back away.  

You love to say your cousin Kate's name with a British accent and you call her Cake.

You give mommy back rubs a lot.  I can tell that you are a compassionate little soul.  You are often concerned about my back after I've been doing a lot of chores and you will sit beside me and rub my back ever so softly.

You are obsessed with stealing your brothers socks right off of his feet.  What's up with that?

You love polishing your nails.  

You love closing doors.  The phrase "When one door closes, another one opens." does not apply in our house.  You won't allow it.  One time you shut me inside of our very very tiny closet while I was trying to hang clothes.

You call the temple pimple.  You tell me ,"No prophet" when I try to read to you from Gordon B Hinckleys book.

When you cry you tell us "I'm crying".  It's so sad and so cute.

You are very much a daddy's girl and you love when he is done with work so he can chase you around the living room.  He gets you up every morning.  You love him so much.

You are learning new words and things everyday. You love to color, play with Besty, kiss your brother, sit with mommy, I love everything about this age you are now.  Watching you grow is bittersweet but I feel so lucky I get to do it.