Pushing boundaries

It's so amazing how much Evangeline has grown since her first birthday.  It's been an exponential growth, leaps and bounds.  This past week has been a challenging week though.  I think it's the first time I really questioned my ability to be a good parent.  I picked EV up on Tuesday after school like any other school day.  They said that she ate well, slept well, played well, and was in good spirits all day.  We got home and played a little before I started getting dinner ready.  Well, it was pretty much downhill after that.  EV just kept on having these hysterical meltdowns.  At first I thought it was because she was really hungry (even after eating two breakfasts, once at home and once at school, three snacks, and a full lunch) but it just continued until she went to bed.  I started off being firm with her and disciplining her but that only made it worse.  Then I tried ignoring her but that made it even worse than when I disciplined her.  I started feeling very frantic, is she sick, did I miss something, is it something I did?  In the end, all I could do was get her fed, washed up, clothed, and in bed (which was not an easy task since she was kicking and screaming most of the time).  After I put her in bed (which made her stop immediately), I sat down to reflect.  It made me realize how on most days, EV is a really easy baby.  It made me grateful for all the times we've had up until that day.  At the same time, I was really worried, is this how EV will behave from now on?  Unfortunately, it continued throughout the week but once I realized that she wasn't sick or in danger and that really she was just pushing her boundaries, it helped me to know how to pray, ask others for guidance, and pray some more.

Today was a good day.  We went to church, came home and had a short morning nap, ate lunch, and went to Barnes and Noble.  EV, you love little chairs.  You spent the whole time getting in and out of the chairs at the store.  You did this for nearly an hour!!  Afterwards, we came home, you took a longer afternoon nap, had dinner, and went down to bed.  You have been trying to figure out how to prolong your bedtime routine for a few weeks now.  Today, you were very funny.  I usually read you your books while you drink your milk.  Usually you drink your milk really fast, so I usually have time to read you 2-3 books.  Well, today, after about 20 mins of reading, I asked you if you were all done with your milk.  You were holding your cup so that I couldn't see the contents inside but I noticed that there was about 1/2 an ounce left.  So, I said we'll read until you finished your milk.  Well, it sounded like you were drinking but the milk wasn't disappearing.  That's when I realized that you were drinking and spitting the milk back in the cup to prolong the time.  So, I said, "EV it's time for bed, all done."  I picked you up, and you quickly finished the rest of your milk, and pointed to the bed (you used to put your head down on my shoulders and let me rock you for a little bit).  But lately, once you're done with your milk and your books, you don't want to cuddle, you just want to sleep.  So, I asked for a hug and a kiss, which you very sweetly gave me, and I put you in your crib.  Well, I am not ready to give up my cuddle time, so I tucked you in and continued to stroke your back.  At that point, you looked up at me, waved bye bye (telling me to leave) and put your head back down.  So, I gave you another kiss and left you to sleep.  You are already more independent than I am ready for you to be.  Oh how will your teenage years be?

Happy Anniversary!!

I cannot believe that I have been married for 6 years!  Time really does fly.  We've definitely have had our ups and our downs but God has really grown me through it all.  I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for all the joys and trials.  So, thank you for 6 wonderful years and I look forward to many many more!  We celebrated last night with dinner and a movie.  It's amazing how something so simple can be such a fun date.  It was nice to be able to have a conversation over dinner and relax watching a movie without worrying about a little toddler.  I feel so blessed to have my parents and my sister close by that they can babysit so that Jimmy and I can have some alone time.  It also reminded me that this is something we need to do more regularly.  Date nights are important we definitely can't take it for granted.  

Today we took EV to the park and played in a water fountain.  She was having sooooo much fun, she did not want to leave.  Here she is embracing the shooting water.

Mother's Day

Being a momma myself, it makes me realize how little I show my love and appreciation to my own momma on most days.  If EV treats me the way I treat my momma sometimes, I would be so hurt and upset.  It also humbles me and makes me want to be more like my momma.  It doesn't matter what I do (or don't do), how I say things (or don't say things), or what I think--my momma has always been there for me.  I hope I can be half as good a momma to EV as my momma was to me and my sister. 

Me and my momma

This mother's day, it also made me realize how great of a husband I have.  How supportive and loving he is and how blessed I am to have him here loving me and EV.   I know that I am not the perfect momma and I know I have quite a bit of growing to do, but it is encouraging to know that I have people around me that love me and are willing to be patient with me as I learn and grow. 
 
Evangeline, for this mother's day, you made me a placemat.  Your teacher was telling me that while other kids were trying to put as many flowers on the mat as possible, you would take your time and make sure each flower was on correctly before you moved on to placing another flower on the mat.  It just shows how at 13 months you are systematic and thorough.  I love how now you will just come grab my neck and give me big hugs, how you will blow kisses at me, and just be more affectionate then you've ever been.  You make being a momma totally worth it!  Thank you for being my beautiful daughter.  I love you more than you'll ever know.