Book Exchange Party

I can't believe EV is turning 3 next month.  EV LOVES to read.  She can read the same book over and over again.  Currently, she loves any books that have to do with animals.  She's also been getting into classic stories like "Rumplestiltskin" and "Billy Goat Gruff."  So, we thought it would be appropriate to make her birthday party a "Book Exchange." I think Jimmy did an amazing job with the invitations. 

We decided to keep the party small and to ask guests not to bring gifts this year.  My sister is an awesome aunt to let us host it at her house since our home will be under renovation.  What makes this party so much fun is actually making decisions with EV.  She knows that she wants: pink cupcakes with ice cream :)

Sneak peak of EV and her dress:

First Haircut

We finally took EV in for her very first haircut--EVER!  I usually am not a very sentimental person but I have been attached to EV's hair so this was a very big deal for me.  EV has very beautiful hair--I am totally jealous of it--from the color to the texture to the thickness.  It's what I always wanted for myself. So, maybe that's why I'm so over-protective of it.  I have also vowed never to give her the type of haircuts my mother gave me (you know it's bad when Jimmy pretty much laughs every time he sees my childhood pics at my parent's house).  So, we made it a family event, momma, papa, eemo, and halmi were all there to witness EV's first haircut.  Her facial expression was priceless--she had a look of, "what are you doing, is this safe, should I freak out or am I okay?"

I loved how they gave you a certificate and clippings from her hair to save. They even put some jewels in her hair. How fun! It was definitely a moment we will always remember!

And so it begins...

After six months of planning, budgeting, appraising, applying, and preparing we are finally starting our home renovation!  Praise God! Now it's a matter of praying that nothing unexpected happens because no matter how much you plan you can't fully plan for the unforseen costs. 

As much as I am excited, I am very nervous.  It's going to be a long 3-4 months but I am also very grateful for friends who are letting us stay at their house during the renovation, friends who are helping to watch EV when we need to clean out our house, and friends who offer their time to help in any way that they can.  I am realizing how blessed we are that we can make such changes to the house and to have a community of friends and family who are offering their time and home.  Feeling super blessed.  We love you all!

EV, during this time, you are going through some anxiety.  I think it's a mixture of dealing with the renovation and partially developmental.  When we first moved some furniture, we did it while you and I were out, and that made you really nervous.  When we got home, you asked, "What happened to our table and chairs?"  Afterwards, I realized that I needed to explain to you what was happening so that you can better prepare yourself and not be surprised by all the changes.  The biggest uncertainty is staying at someone else's house.  You keep asking if mommy and daddy will be with you and what's going to happen to your room.  You are also preparing to turn 3 and as exciting as that is (you go around saying, "I'm 2 years old, but will be turning 3 on March 16th" Haha), it's also bringing more persistance, temper tantrums, and demands on your part.  I know that once this is all over, you will appreciate the space.  So, I pray that we can get through the next 4 months without any major hiccups with both the renovations and with EV.  Can't wait to share all the before and after pictures!! 

Obsessive Compulsive

My mom, sister and myself have varying degrees of being obsessive compulsive. My mom takes ridiculously long showers at least two times a day. She is as squeaky clean as a human can possibly get. My sister has to have everything in order. It drives her absolutely nuts to see things misplaced. And I like a routine--not just your typical day to day things but weird things like if I start a notebook in blue pen then the whole notebook has to be in blue pen. We all have a little bit of the other things but these are the things that set us off the quickest.

So, I have been noticing that EV has been displaying more and more obsessive compulsiveness. She always had moments--for example, when she eats, she doesn't like it when her food touches each other and she also doesn't like it when she has a food item she doesn't want on her plate. She can't just ignore it, it has to be removed. The other day, she got really upset with me because she was placing stickers on a piece of paper when I wanted to help. So, I asked if I could help and at the same time I placed a piece on the paper. She got so upset because I placed a yellow triangle on the paper but there were still a few pink ovals left. She said, "Mommy, no!!! You can't start the triangles until you finish the ovals! You messed it all up!" She was very upset and didn't want to play with the stickers anymore.

I think she inherited my weird obsessiveness of needing routine. Yes, it bothers her if her hands are sticky and yes she likes to sort and organize things but the thing that bothers her the most is when things are not done a certain way. Just like me. I think the greatest challenge is to teach her flexibility and that it's okay when deep inside its driving me crazy too. It's so humbling when you see your own flaws through your kids!

Daddy's Little Girl

I left the house this morning upset and frustrated with EV.  I am not proud of the fact that I left without saying good-bye to her or the fact that I got mad at her, but I can't help but feel hurt when she acts like this.  I know she is not even 3 years old yet, but that makes it even worse because it seems more genuine.

Since the day EV was born she was a daddy's little girl.  Her first words were daddy and her first joke was when I told her to say "I love you, mommy," she would look at me in the eyes and say, "I love you, daddy."  Daddy can do no wrong.  Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact that she loves her daddy and I love the father Jimmy is, but what's hard is when it is constantly all about daddy.

Last night EV woke up crying.  She's been having some bad dreams lately and would wake up hysterical.  The first thing she asks for is daddy.  So, I went into EV's room to console her but when she saw me she lost it.  She started flapping her arms and kicking her legs like a crazy person and started to scream even louder for daddy.  This isn't the first time, in fact, this happens all the time.  So, eventually, Jimmy woke up and soothed EV back to sleep.

When she woke up this morning, the first thing she asks is, "where's daddy?"  Daddy on Tuesday mornings goes to this thing called breakfast club where he meets with students before school starts at a local restuarant.  Then for the next few minutes all she does is whine, "I want to go to daddy, I want to go to breafast club, I want daddy."  That's when I lost it.  I said, "Fine, why don't you go outside and look for daddy then."  Thankfully, Jimmy got home at that point.  EV was estatic.  I was fuming.

I know that EV loves me and she shows me her love in different ways.  There are also moments, far and few between, when she wants mommy.  It's usually when I'm on travel or when daddy's on a retreat.  I cherish those moments and take every bit of what I can.  I love EV, I love Jimmy, and I hate that it makes me upset that EV prefers Jimmy over me.  I hope if we ever have baby #2 that he or she will be a mommy's boy or girl.

Liar, Liar

I have really been enjoying having a toddler.  Evangeline, you are such a vibrant little girl with a big smile and a big personality.  But with all the things I enjoy, there have been things that have been challenging and frustrating.  One of those things we have been dealing with more and more is lying.  At first, when we caught you in a lie, you would say that you were just "pretending."  Then "pretending" turned into "forgetting."  And now it's just straight up lying. 

This past weekend, we went to go visit aunt Gina (eemo).  When we got to eemo's house, EV and uncle Chris went downstairs to play with Happy (their dog).  Apparently uncle Chris fell asleep and EV watched some TV with Chris's mom.  Well, at home we do not let EV watch TV and she has to ask before she plays with our phone or iPad.  So, when eemo and mommy started asking what she did downstairs, she started avoiding eye contact. 

Then I asked her: "EV, did you watch TV with grandma downstairs?" 
EV answers, "No." 
Then I ask her to look at me and tell me the truth. 
She continues to respond with a "No." 
I then tell her that I don't care that she watched TV but that I do care if she tells me the truth. 
She responds with, "No." 
Then I ask her if she promises that she didn't watch TV.
She says, "No." 
Then I ask her if I can go ask grandma.
She frantically says, "No!" 
Then I ask her again, "Okay, then tell me the truth, did you watch TV?"
She proceeds to answer, "No." 

This goes on for a few minutes.  Then I tell her that I am going to believe you because I don't know if you fully understand what it means to lie.  This whole time EV is looking stressed and upset.

Later in the car on our way home after she has had some time to forget about the situation, I ask her again, "EV, when you went downstairs to play with happy and uncle Chris fell asleep, did you watch TV with grandma?" 
She says with a sly smirk, "Yes..." 
I then explained to her that what she did was wrong (not the watching TV but the lying).  I asked her, "EV, can you apologize?" 
EV says, "I am sorry." 
I ask her "Why are you sorry?  What did you do wrong?" 
EV says, "I lied."

The next day, EV spills milk and plays with it.  I turn around and she quickly walks away. 
I ask her if she played with the spilled milk. 
She says "No." 
I think to myself, "Are you serious?!? I thought you learned your lesson yesterday! I just saw you play with the milk and you're going to lie again?!?" 
I say out loud, "EV, remember mommy wants you to tell me the truth.  You will get in more trouble if you lie than if you tell the truth." 

And so we start the lesson all over again.  Lord, please grant me the wisdom and patience to deal with this lying.  Show me when I need to discipline her, love her, forgive her, and teach her. 

The face of a liar:

EV loves her uncle!!

Single Parenting

This past week has been a whirlwind at home and at work.  After having two long peaceful weeks of vacation and personal time, I was thrown right into a week of crazy schedules, no sleep, and to top it off no hubby to help me out.  Jimmy went on a staff retreat (Jeff if you are reading this, please do not do that again immediately after the holidays) this week and I felt like I was hit by a bus.  Granted it didn't help that I had some unpleasant situations come up at work but by Wednesday I felt physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically drained.  It really made me wonder how single parents do it and really give kudos to those who single parent well.  I have a whole new level of respect for single parenting.

Evangeline, this week showed me how much you have matured.  You were so aware of my short temperedness and my tiredness.  You knew when to back off and you were doing your best to be supportive.  You would ask me if I'm tired and if I needed you to rub my belly or scratch my back.  Haha.  You were even forgiving when I fell asleep on you while putting you to bed and in the end you put mommy to bed.  When I woke up again, you had turned off the light and were peacefully sleeping next to me.  You never whined or complained, and you were gracious to me even when I was short with you.  I am sorry you had to go through this week but thankful for the person you are becoming.  You brighten my day with your beautiful smile and you remind me that there is more to life than the hecticness of our schedules.  I love you!