almost two

Evie hit the 22-month milestone a few days ago. I can't believe we're so close to her birthday. We looked back at old pictures and videos today and I had felt some pangs of sadness that my baby is growing up. Her hair is so long now, kissing her shoulders and curling up on the ends. She's still round and soft, but she's bigger. And heavier.

Today at church one of the speakers said, "To quote Queen Elsa, 'Let it go!'" Evie immediately started singing the song "Let It Go," and we shushed her in between laughs. She sings spontaneously quite a bit. Often it is "Give Said the Little Stream," but she also favors us with "Rockabye and Don't You Cry," "Daisy, Daisy," "You Belong To Me," and various songs from the Frozen soundtrack. Her bedtime song of choice lately is "Once Upon A Dream" from Sleeping Beauty. She is particularly fascinated with the dragon in the movie. We picked up several dragon books from the library, which she's been enjoying, and we visit the inflatable dragon next door (part of our neighbor's Halloween display) almost daily.

 Evelyn loves what she calls "spooky things." It started as a way to get her to tolerate shopping. I'd say, "Let's see what spooky things we can find here," and we'd look at pumpkins, witches, skeletons, and various Halloween decorations as we shopped around. Now she notices spooky things (spooty fings) everywhere we go, and she loves it. I so wish we could take baby girl to Disneyland this month. We went once on Halloween as a couple, and it was so much fun. I think she would love all of the spooky things there, and it would be just the right amount of spook without being too much for a toddler. Someday we'll go to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

We visited a wonderful pumpkin patch for Family Night a few weeks ago, and the girl was in heaven. Every time she sees pumpkins now, usually at the grocery store, she exclaims, "Pumpkin patch!"

Evelyn talks so much. She'll tell you she's almost two, and the names of her parents. Andrew and I often find ourselves looking at each other in amazement at things she says. I'm sure it is a result of living with four grownups that talked to her all the time for the first 18 months of her life, in addition to reading stories together every day. But it is still so satisfying to have little conversations with her. She has picked up some phrases that I do not love to hear repeated back to me, and it has definitely made me reconsider what I say and how I say it.

Evie got scared at church a few weeks ago when a man came into nursery to take out the garbage. He pulled out a new garbage bag and snapped it to get it open. The sound terrified Evie, and even weeks later she tells me about how Eric snapped the garbage, scared her, and made her sad. One morning it was the first thing she told me when she woke up. I just love how her new-found verbal skills have given me this little window into what is going on in her busy little mind.

in the book nook with her beloved cousin

post-nap nap, after a bad night in a hotel with no crib.

we had to take pictures with this both times
we walked by.

the girl loves green ice cream, and is very
independent (Evie do it!).

cheesy smile reading before a wedding. she chose the dress
(green one).

ah, sad this is blurry! nighttime at the pumpkin patch.
she never holds still.

another pumpkin patch moment.

apple picking at grandma's.

she won't drink milk, but she loves hot chocolate.

every time we're in grandma's front yard,
she wants to sit on a rock and have a portrait taken.
I oblige.