Farewell, January! And Hello, 15 Months.

Are we really 31 days into 2012 already?  Gracious.  And that means that our little munchkin is a couple days away from the big 1-5.  15 months, that is.  And man, is she living large these days....

...exploring high and low...

...helping with chores...

...organizing cabinets...

...snuggling after baths (although the snuggles have begun to decrease as Ev's independence increases--the very definition of bittersweet, I think)...

...gazing at the moon (I'm not kidding--this girl's new favorite activity is looking for the moon anytime we are outside, no matter what the hour, and then nudging me impatiently until I sing, "I see the moon and the moon sees me....")...

...and even sleeping sometimes.  Ev stopped nursing (of her own accord) a couple weeks ago, and she has seemed (a little) more settled at night, which is an amazing blessing.  Naps are still another story, but we will take what we can get!

Happy 15 months, sweet pea!  We love you so many.  And a very happy February to you, as well, dear friends:)

Cheerios and a Fashion Show

OK, not a real fashion show this time:)  But our little lady has two fun new wardrobe items this week that are worth showing off!  A cute pink knit poncho, edged in brown, made by a dear old family friend, and some navy blue Chuck Taylors (from a consignment sale!) for when our girl wants to kick it old-school....

Also, I walked around the corner yesterday to find this:

Oh, I thought, Ev must be hungry.  It's definitely easier to eat Cheerios when they are all OUT of the box on the floor.  However, I was mistaken.  It turns out that she merely wanted to do this:

She then proceeded to spend the next 15 minutes or so daintily picking up one Cheerio at a time off the floor and dropping it back into the box.  Moving items in and out of boxes is one of Ev's most favorite activities in the world.  A little obsessive, perhaps, but we're not too worried yet:)

Lately

We've been having a quiet week around here...kind of nice after the holidays, right?  Not that I didn't love the months of November and December; oh, I LOVED them.  But I think quiet weeks are good for the soul.  A little owl-watching.  A little park-strolling.  A little laundry.  A little reading-by-the-fire.  You should try it, too--it's pretty wonderful.  Happy weekend, friends!

Our Favorite Kitchen Helper

As you can see, she takes her job VERY seriously:)

Happy New Year!

Our sweet pea is 14 months today...hard to believe, right?  She is walking and climbing and chattering all over the place these days, and still loves to read and eat and dance and play (note that sleeping is not listed among her favorite activities--maybe someday?).  What a blessing she was to us in 2011--we are excited to see what the new year holds for all of us.  Happy 2012, friends!

 Last year, about this time...

...and last week, in the tub with her cousins Piper and Lily (who is 3 today!  hooray!).