12 Weeks: It is what God gave you time for.

I kind of feel like I was just announcing the pregnancy of Baby Eva but here we are again! I am pregnant! We found out on January 9th. That weekend I was a HOT MESS. Seriously. I cried so much. My emotions were just crazy (more than normal, even more than pregnancy normal) because I wasn’t too sure about how I felt about this whole thing. Since having Eva, I really couldn’t see myself having another kid. I mean, I LOVE Eva! But that was the thing… I love her SO much I just couldn’t imagine ever having enough love for another child. And I love our life so much, especially recently, I know how to be a mom now! I know how to have a child in NYC. I have a child that sleeps for 12-14 hours through the night. Being a mom right now is pretty easy and enjoyable! I know this life and I didn’t want to rock it. So, we kept prolonging the inevitable.

There were a million things we kept using as excuses as why it wasn’t the right time, in addition to those I just mentioned. Work, housing, money, blah blah blah. But ultimately we knew we needed to grow our family and it came down to this quote by Rachel Jankovic, later quoted by Neil L. Anderson that I have shared before:

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

IMG_7403I’ve had to remind myself of that quote a bit this pregnancy, especially in the beginning. This is the right thing to do. This is what life is all about. Eva has changed our lives completely and made us happier than we ever knew possible, so I can’t imagine how it’ll be with another little one! It will be different, and sometimes hard. But it will be great and rewarding! And as far as having enough love for the second child, I’ve heard from everyone that your love grows, not divides. I am still nervous about how it’ll all work here in the city, but we will figure it out. Can’t wait!

(Unflattering but perfect photo taken as soon as that sneaky second line showed up on the pregnancy test.)

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Or Santa will bring you…

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So, I debated on whether or not to write this story down. But after going back and forth a couple of times… I’m going for it. Judge me. Laugh at me. Tell me I’m a bad parent. Whatevs. If you’re a mom, you know sometimes you just accidentally say stuff, especially if you’re heated or are desperately trying to make your child do something/stop bad behavior. This story reminds me of the time I accidentally told Eva there was a fish in the humidifier.

Okay, Eva was doing something bad, I don’t remember what and it was around the beginning of December. I decided it was time to bring out the big guns. Santa threats. The convo went something like this:

“Eva, Santa is watching you!”

“And he’ll bring me lots of toys?!”

“Well, if you’re good, yes. But if you don’t stop doing [what you’re doing] then he’s going to bring you…”

Then I stopped. A lump of coal? She has no idea what coal is! My brilliant mind started listing things in the same category as coal. Dirt! Yes… DIRT!

“…DIRT!”

“Santa will bring me dirt???”

“Yes…”

Oh, I couldn’t stop there. No, I’m not a normal parent. T.J. was just looking at me so confused like, “What the heck are you telling her?” Okay, more brainstorming. Dirrrttt, what else is terrible and gross? GOT IT!

“AND snakes! Santa will bring you snakes and dirt if are bad, so you BETTER BE GOOD!”

From then on, whenever I told her that Santa was watching she’d finish it off and would say while shaking her head, “Or he’ll bring me snakes and dirt!”

There you have it. Parenting during the Holidays 101. Nailed it.

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Funny Eva Sayings: Round 4

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Are you sick of all these funny sayings posts? I’m sorry if you are, maybe you should stop reading my blog! Haha! I can’t get enough. Eva says soooo many cute/funny things everyday. I try to write as many down as possible. Here are the latest, some all the way back to November:

  • Hannah was visiting and told Eva she has a 17 year old brother. Eva instantly asked, “Oh, his name Cheeks?” Uhhh… where did that come from? Hahaha!
  • Eva was obsessed with singing I am a Child of God, which actually only consisted of “I’m a child God, lead me guide me, blahblahblah, lead me somedayyyy” and would sing it constantly. One day she asked me, “Mom, can I sing that church song at the park?” Of course!
  • T.J. asked Eva what the best part of her day was, which was a fun, eventful day in the city. She said, “Seeing the Santa Chair!” I thought it was so funny that we did so much in the city, but the highlight of her day was just walking past the chair Santa would sit in.
  • Sometimes I make threats, bad parenting I know.., back off! But there has been a threat for a while that she has to let me put her hair back and out of her eyes or else her Nana will make me cut her hair! (My mom always is telling me to cut it haha) and so that kind of got mixed up in the holiday season when I was about to threaten Eva to do something, and Eva cut in and asked, “Or Else Santa will cut my hair like a boy?!?!” Hahaha ohh poor girl. She was so worried.
  • Eva went on the potty one day and exclaimed after she did her business, “SANTA WILL BE SO HAPPY!”
  • Looking at a video of an anaconda snake, Eva said, “Oooooh cute! He’s my best buddy ever!” I hate snakes so this thoroughly disgusted me.
  • After taking some medicine, Eva said, “Ewwww tastes like snakes!”
  • Eva calls the Muppets, “The Muffins.”
  • I was wearing a black and white leopard print sweater and Eva told me, “Mom, you look like a cow!”
  • “I can’t find my gloves. It’s just impossible!”
  • “Shoo birds… they’re dangerous, Mom!”
  • I suggested to Eva that Santa could maybe bring her a doll house. “No, mom, I want a hat.”
  • One FHE, Eva told me and T.J., “Don’t say that! Don’t talk about Jesus!” 
  • After sitting on the big toilet, shaking her head, “I was SO brave!”
  • “Mom, let’s do play dough. Ohhhhh… that a great idea!”
  • I don’t remember what I was doing, I should have written down the context, but Eva scolded me, “NO NO NO! NEVER DO THAT!”
  • The vacuum was too loud for Eva one day and she said, “It makes me sick. It’s too loud. Charlie (Eva’s make believe dog) doesn’t like it!”
  • “Mom, I have to tell you something. I have boobies just like you.” Eva said it so seriously.
  • “OOOh, Mom, you smell so sweet. So clean.”
  • “I’ve got a bunchy!” (her word for wedgie)
  • We were watching The Santa Claus movie and Eva pointed to the boy in the movie and said, “That’s Baby Jesus.” Oh gosh, I’m really failing in the religious department, but how can you not laugh at that? Hahahaha
  • After having a FHE all about the nativity and telling her over and over again about what the true meaning of Christmas was, Eva’s reply to me asking what Christmas is all about was, “CANDY CANES!”
  • While looking for her toy and having no luck, she fell on the ground and said, “This is hopeless!” Like mother like daughter, so much drama!
  • In Primary, they asked her what her favorite food was. She said, “Orange juice.” We RARELY ever drink orange juice, so that was a funny/random answer to me!
  • If Eva wants to do something for a long amount of time, she says, “One minute… LOTS MINUTES!”

Funny Eva Sayings: Round One

Funny Eva Sayings: Round Two

Funny Eva Sayings: Round Three

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Eva’s Birthday Party

Eva turned 3 on the 8th and we threw a little birthday party for her at our apartment. Our place is very teeny, so it was a bit cramped but I’ve decided I’m not going to let a small apartment get in the way of throwing parties and having people over anymore. It was modest, but we had a great time and I made it through the whole thing without crying about Eva growing up!

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Chasing Eva

Chasing Eva with the 70D Autofocus from Christopher Swainhart on Vimeo.

I was going through old videos and photos and came across this cute one my dad did more than a year ago to test out his new camera. She’s such a cutie, walking around Cincinnati like she owns the place.

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Eva is 3!

I have put off writing this blog post for a couple days now because I am still in denial that my little girl is growing up. But it’s also very exciting. A new age, a new stage! New experiences, new emotions, new memories… it’s going to be a good year. I’ve heard three is harder than two, but I say bring it on!

Age two wasn’t “terrible.” There were terrible moments but overall, it was the best yet. There were tantrums, but there was lots of hugs and cuddling. There was major attitude, but there was laughter every day. That girl. She knows how to have fun, and boy, is her laugh contagious.

Eva, Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl! We love you and are so proud of you!

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2 1/2 Years
25 Months
2 Years
Twenty-three Months
Twenty-two Months
Twenty-one Months
Twenty Months
Nineteen Months
Eighteen Months
Seventeen Months
Sixteen Months
Fifteen Months
Fourteen Months
Thirteen Months
Twelve Months
Eleven Months
Ten Months
Nine Months
Eight Months
Seven Months
Six Months
Five Months
Four Months
Three Months
Two Months
One Month
Two Weeks
One Week

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It is worth it then, now, and forever.

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Eva was kind of a handful tonight and I kept catching myself getting frustrated and yelling at her. I almost wanted to skip through FHE, but I decided to do it anyway before bedtime. As soon as I started playing through the children’s hymns, I heard Eva singing along. She had her microphone out and was singing so sweetly, seriously… so precious. I instantly felt so guilty for all the frustration I had felt and expressed earlier. Sometimes being a mom is so difficult, especially on days where T.J. doesn’t get home until 8 or 9 and I have Eva all day to myself. But those moments, where Eva is singing Primary hymns or when we are laughing together out on walks, those simple moments make it all worth it.

I came across this talk by Elder Holland tonight and just had to share it. I’m pretty sure he was writing it in April 1997 for me today in 2014. I know it’s kind of long but it’s worth the read, I promise!

In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island…

…Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Husbands—especially husbands—as well as Church leaders and friends in every direction, be helpful and sensitive and wise. Remember, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever. And if, for whatever reason, you are making this courageous effort alone, without your husband at your side, then our prayers will be all the greater for you, and our determination to lend a helping hand even more resolute…

…In light of that kind of expression, it is clear that some of those Rhode Island–sized shadows come not just from diapers and carpooling but from at least a few sleepless nights spent searching the soul, seeking earnestly for the capacity to raise these children to be what God wants them to be. Moved by that kind of devotion and determination, may I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He knows that your giving birth to a child does not immediately propel you into the circle of the omniscient. If you and your husband will strive to love God and live the gospel yourselves; if you will plead for that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit promised to the faithful; if you will go to the temple to both make and claim the promises of the most sacred covenants a woman or man can make in this world; if you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do.

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Funny Eva Sayings: Round 3

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  • It’s been so long, I can’t really remember the context of this, but Eva said, “Me can’t exercise!”
  • I making magic!
  • Our DVD player broke and for some reason now inverts all of the colors and makes it look very strange. When it first happened, she said to me,”You tricked my TV!”
  • One afternoon Eva ran around in circles singing like Elsa, “Don’t feel. Don’t feel. Don’t feel! Anna say that.”
  • I want to cut my hair like Sophia.
  • When we got back from visiting my parents, Eva looked at our TV and said, “Mom, our TV is small!”
  • What a cute guinea pig… it has soft feathers, so cute!
  • I told Eva to say, “GO Cougars!” She replied, “No! Goooo baby dolls!”
  • At church, Eva rubbed my belly and said baby in there? Big belly. Big belly happy.” (And no, there is NOT a baby in there… just an extra five pounds.
  • Eva has been saying “of course” a lot. “You want to eat it, mom? Of course, of course, you can.”
  • In the middle of Eva saying a prayer, she stopped and said, “Oh, Grandma is calling! Hi Grandma!”
  • One night, Eva said to me, “No no no, no eating so much, you get sick!” Thanks, Eva.
  • “Goodnight mom, nice to meet you.”
  • I accidentally scratched Eva and she said, “Mommy! Say sorry to me!”
  • While TJ was carving his pumpkin, she started crying, “No, Dad!!! You breaking your pumpkin!”
  • “Mommy, my best friend lost forever!” Who’s your best friend, Eva? “My best friend Donald Duck!”
  • After eating her dinner, Eva said, “I’m a growing princess.”
  • We were babysitting for our friends up on the 7th floor. Once TJ got there, Eva and I left so I could put her to bed while TJ stayed to continue babysitting. Eva turned to her dad and said, “Is this where you live?” Uhhhh… no… he lives with us, Eva!
  • Eva kept putting on and taking off the witch hat and would say, “Me not a witch, it’s just me-a princess!”
  • My mom had to run an errand, and Eva said to her, “Bye, Nana! Get lost, okay?!” I think she meant to say, “Don’t get lost!”
  • “No sing the song.” Eva is the only one who’s allowed to sing around here, apparently.
  • “Eva, what did you do with your wand?” (As in, where did you put it?) Her response with eyes big and wide: Magic!!!

Funny Eva Sayings: Round One

Funny Eva Sayings: Round Two

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Funny Eva Sayings: Round 2

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I’ve got some more funny Eva sayings to document! Here are the latest ones that I wrote down:

  1. Some kids on TV were wearing costumes, and she exclaimed, “Costumes! Costumes! I loveeee costumes!”
  2. “Want to try bite?” (Gives TJ the tiniest bite you’ve ever seen)
  3. I called Eva my daughter, she said back, “I’m not your daughter, I’m a princess!”
  4. I was really upset about the subway closing down and said out loud, “Curse you world!” Eva loudly repeated the phrase. Oops!
  5. We came home one day and Eva went right over to her baby doll, picked her up, and said, “I missed you too!”
  6. Sebastian, the crab on The Little Mermaid, came on TV and Eva said, ” Look, it’s Ariel’s sister!”
  7. Brooks was crying a little bit and Eva told me after we parted ways, “Mom, Brooks sad. He needs his daddy. His daddy left him.”
  8. “You sick? Me got chocolate soup!” Then she pretended to feed me from a bowl.
  9. I asked Eva what her favorite animal is, she said, “Squirrels!”
  10. “Me making soup, mommy! It’s chocolate cake medicine. Me feed you. Shhhhhh… eat!”
  11. Eva finally went number two in the potty (big potty, may I add) and I was obviously ecstatic and screaming from excitement. Eva looked at me and said, “Mom! SHH! Shhhhh! Too loud!”
  12. Whenever I call T, by his name, Eva corrects me, “His name is daddy!!!!”
  13. We had a time out at the park because Eva was whining too much, so I told her if she needs something, just come talk to me and we will work it out nicely without crying. And so about ten times after that at the park, Eva kept coming up to me saying, “Mommy, Me talk to you.” Then she would run away.
  14. TJ and I still call each other “bushka” for whatever reason (read background story here), and I called after TJ saying, “Bushka!” Then Eva repeated me saying really loudly, “Bushka?!?” That girl is a parrot. We need to be careful.
  15. Eva told me she wanted to play with a little girl, but the way she phrased it was so funny, “Little girl wanna play me again!”
  16. While helping me bake, Eva asked, “Can I have a little taste?” She then proceeded to take a HUGE bite.
  17. “Brooks my best friend. Me love him.” She says this almost everyday. Adorable.
  18. “Me so full. Me eat too much.”
  19. “My belly is sad.”
  20. Eva’s baby makes crying sounds if you squeeze her hand. Eva responded saying, “Ohhhhh honey!” Then kissed her like crazy.
  21. Eva took off all her clothes (she’s been going panty-less around the house since we started potty training) and said, “Me goin’ NAKEY!”
  22. This one is probably my favorite in the list because it sounds so horrible. TJ helped to wipe Eva after she went to the bathroom, but she had a little rash so it must have hurt her a bit. Right after, we were in the elevator with another person, Eva was in her stroller and said out loud, “Daddy hurt my body!” Oh yikes! HAHA!

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My Little Sickie

Eva had a little fever over labor day weekend. Nothing big and it passed pretty quickly. She was still adorable though, playing doctor on her animals and watching movies on the floor with TJ.

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