Life Within the Cuckoo's Nest: Milesstones: Evelyne 21 & 22 & 23 Months Old + Some About Austin Because Mom is Falling Behind

She is truly the sunshine in our lives!

Okay so obviously I've let myself fall behind on the milestone blogs..... sorry Eve. Life is just flashing before my eyes and I can't make it slow down! I am staring down the reality that my baby girl will be turning 2 years old next month and I am in total shock! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??? How did two years go by that fast?! I guess we take the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" to heart! And oh the fun we have had! Well, minus the fact that we have been perpetually sick with one bug or another every week of every month since October.... :(. Seriously, this cold/flu season has been AWFULLLLL!!! No, beyond awful. HELL-ish! I thought we were finally getting past it now that spring is here and the sun has come out to play, but then Austin came down with a bout of the flu which passed to Josh over this past weekend and we are crossing our fingers that it leaves us now without taking Evie and I down with it.....

Anyways, back to my baby girl and the past three months of her beautiful life! Plus there will be some pictures of Austin along the way because I have fallen too far behind to write a separate post. I only have so much time before nap time is over....

Evie is as mischievous as ever! She is always trying to be an annoyance to her brother as he has always been to her. She is also trying so hard to grow up these days! She refuses to sit in a high chair, and recently started climbing out of her crib and opening doors! I took care of that by lowering her crib mattress to the ground like we had to do with Austin, but who knows how long that will last. She also wants to be potty trained so badly and is always asking to use the potty! However, she hasn't quite figured it out yet and just sits there while nothing happens. I'm sure in about 6 months she will be a pro at it though. That's just how she is! She doesn't give up until she has accomplished what she sets her mind to! I will let all the pictures do the rest of the talking; there's a lot of them!

Evelyne over the past three months (and Austin):

At the park hunting for leprechauns on St. Patricks Day!

Searching for that pot of gold....

We found him! (or her lol). The kids enjoyed their "gold" candy :).

We spent the day at the lake with Grandma Helm, and my Cousin Heather and her son Alex. They were visiting us from Texas and it was the perfect day to go out and feed the fish!

The kids thought feeding the fish was the greatest thing ever and cried when we had to go home.

We ate lunch on the Marina and it was yummy! This was the only group photo we got because the whole day was about watching the kiddos enjoy the wonders of nature!

Cousin Alex showing Austin how to do it.

We love Great Grandma Helm soooo much!

The kids took turns having me lower them into the water off the dock so they could put their feet in with all the fish! I was surprised they weren't too scared to try it! In fact, it was the opposite!

Touching the fish with their toes :)..... one of my favorite childhood memories!

Hanging out at Grandma Helm's house is always a good time!

Trying to get our fortune read by the pirate on the marina. It turns out, all he said was "give me more money" haha!

Sweet little sundress, little mary jane shoes.... she is childhood perfection!

All those fish!

We brought plenty of popcorn!

Watching those fish in awe...

After our wonderful day at the lake, we went back to Grandma's house to hang out in her back yard and eat popsicles!

Brekafast at Kneaders :). This girl loves her pancakes!

Taking a walk on a beautiful spring day!

Sister is OBSESSED with Minnie Mouse! Seriously, trying to get her out of these pajamas is like prying a rib from a homeless man!

She is seriously the sweetest! I was laying on the floor after my workout and she came over, draped her favorite blankie on me, and started rubbing my back!

She is also dressing herself these days! It is an excruciatingly long process and drives me crazy but she is so proud of herself when she is finally done! This girl can and WILL do anything she puts her mind to!

Sunglasses shopping with Mama :)

Our first pool day on the first day of spring with Aunt Nana and our friends Chauntelle and little Blakely!

I have been dying to put her into her new swimsuit!

Austin surprised me by his bravery while swimming in the deep end without help!

View from the back side :).

Evie LOVES her Aunt Nana. She asks to see her almost every day!

Flower shopping to plant this years garden!

"Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?....."

Austin was not a fan of getting his hands dirty at first and told me "I will just be in charge of watering the plants after you guys plant them" haha! But eventually curiosity got the best of him and he joined us in the dirty task ;).

Fingers crossed that we get plenty of tomatoes this year! Austin LOVES tomatoes!

I love this girl's fashion choices! Sun dress and furry boots for the win!

We surprised Evie a month early with her new forward facing car seat! She loved it!

Taking our first walk in the sunshine this year after busting out the shorts! Where have those little legs been all winter?!

Austin was more interested in pushing his own stroller than enjoying the sunshine and flowers. Mr. Independent showing his true colors! We looked ridiculous pushing two strollers with nobody in them hahaha!

Climbing trees!! Evie is so brave when it comes to keeping up with her older brother.

Sick again.... so tired of being sick :(.

Evie giving herself some tattoos while Mom wasn't looking....

As the kids get older, technology is becoming increasingly fascinating to them! It is nice because it keeps them entertained, but I am not liking the fights we have been having when I try to get them to do something BESIDES stare at a screen....

Oh that chubby face! I'm smitten by her!

Ever since he was a tiny baby, Austin has pulled this James Dean look whenever he isn't happy with something or someone. I think it's adorable which is probably not the reaction he is going for haha!

Grandma and Grandpa R. came to visit us for a weekend! Evie made sure she got lots of loves in from her Grandpa!

We took the Grandparents to the park!

Obviously we played pretty hard at that park haha!

Making homemade noodles!

These noodles were so much fun to make! Nobody would eat them though.....

Evie trying to steal a noodle while Austin was busy cutting the dough into strips.

Mama showing Austin how to cut a straight line.... I love these little bonding moments in the kitchen with my kids!

Rolling out the dough

Those doughy hands! Someone has been hard at work in the kitchen!

I have been trying to do "learning time" with the kids each day. We have all been enjoying it!

Building with Lincoln Logs!

Austin building us a barn!

He can be such trouble while he's awake, but so innocent while he sleeps....

LaFeber dance party! We were supposed to be cleaning up the dinner dishes but crazy Daddy turned on some 80's music and it turned into this!

Just look at that face while she danced with her brother! Having the time of her life!

Enjoying us a Happy Meal picnic outside and lots of lovin'!

Story time at the library has become a new favorite!

This gift from Grandma Helm has also been a big hit around here. We have to keep it in the garage now though because Austin ended up coloring all over his walls in his bedroom.....

My poor sick kids :(. Green smoothies for days! It was the only thing either of them would eat!

Hey, it's healthy right?!

We were trying to watch the Super Bowl when suddenly a streaker ran past!! Turns out it was just Evie.... hahaha!

Oh how I love my goof balls :).

Evie is a born dog lover. She is obsessed!

Digging outside in Grandma and Grandpa Porter's yard with the dogs. Child heaven!

Evie and Blakely are the best of friends! They get so excited when they see each other and are always hugging and kissing! It's too cute!

Austin reading his sister some stories about bugs :).

Oh my gosh that tushie! I could squeeze her all day!

I traded out Evie's rocking chair for a book shelf and she LOVES it! The girl loves books! We read before she goes to bed and she brings books into bed with her and a flashlight and reads clear into the night!

Austin passed out again from too much fun ;).

This girl pulls at my heart strings daily with that crooked smile and that happy go lucky personality!

Not to mention the adorable clothes I get to dress her up in!

Story time at the library again! Austin was front and center because today we were learning about Ninjas ;).

Austin is such a sweet brother and Evie adores him! As they get older they are becoming the best of friends! But staying true to sibling nature, they also fight constantly....