That is all I can say about the weather around here. We are able to crack the windows open to hear the birds sing while we eat our breakfast and we have been playing outside.  This playing outside business has caused some problems though: We can’t get her back in the house. She loves it so and bawls when we come in the house.  We went and played at Nama’s house yesterday and took a walk down the driveway with her and Aunt Gigi. It took all our efforts to keep her out of the mud.

We came back home in the afternoon.  This nice weather also means the start of grilling season and we decided to kick it off with one of our favs- pizza.  Pizza on the grill is so good but is a little fast-paced so its hard to get pictures but I will try next time.  I made pepperoni for Scott and I had steak and potato with barbecue sauce. So great.Any time someone goes outside Evelyn throws a fit and wants to join them so her daddy was wrangling her while I grilled the pizzas. She was so inconsolable yesterday evening and this was the only time from four to eight-thirty that she was not screaming.

And sometimes with daddy that means no shoes, jacket, or hat until your toes are filthy icicles (they were all put on shortly after these pictures, which were taken by Scott). She hadn’t had a bath in three days anyway so whatever.

Looking forward to more dirty piggies.

It finally happened! Spring is on it’s way. The birds changed their song to a lighter, happier one and the snow has started to melt. Its raining. I’m sure we will have another snow storm next week but for now its nice.

Whew. We had a busy weekend. Scott had to work so Evelyn and I went to my parents’ house Saturday night. Evelyn got to hang out with Uncle Clifton and his fiancé, Cassie, for a while before bedtime.  Then it was off to Cassie’s bridal shower on Sunday afternoon.

Evelyn was good but she refused to take a nap, even on the drive home. So when bedtime came getting her to sleep wasn’t the easiest thing to do. I have to sleep in the same room with her and she kept crying and whimpering in her sleep so I didn’t get too much, either. She got up at who-knows-what time and I could hear my sister and dad getting ready for school and work. I changed Evelyn and set her loose in the hall and watched her run down to my parents’ room and squeal when she found them. Good. I went back to bed. Papa came in my room later to give me a hug. My hair smelled like his cologne after, which I love. It reminds me of when I was younger living there and he would come in my room well before the sun was due to come up and hug me before leaving for a business trip.

After everyone was up and fed then napped and up and fed again, momma and I took the girl over to visit my cousin, Clarissa, and her little girl, Lucy. Evelyn is only about five months younger than Lucy so they get along pretty well.

My girl thinks she needs to sit on everyone, though, so she would back her little butt up to Lucy and plunk down in her lap. Lucy wasn’t sure what to think about this but she eventually started to push Evelyn off. Smart girl.

They played and had some snacks then read Lucy’s favorite book and had a cheese party.

Then look what we found! Piggy tails!!! She is getting so big.

Here are the little ladies modeling their spring-themed coats. We had such a good time and when we left it was already time for dinner.  We went back to momma’s long enough to eat a little something and not have a nap and get completely wild and grouchy.  We said good-bye to papa when he got home from work and left for our home. Finally she slept and only opened her eyes to see her daddy for a minute before he put her to bed.

Then it was my turn.  So good to be in your own bed.  Every cell in your body shudders and sighs with relief. I don’t think there is too many other things better than this feeling.  Except hearing a little voice behind me as I’m typing this saying ‘hi’ and turning around to see my sweet babe sitting on the hearth with her face scrunched into a smile and her chubby fingers opening and closing around her palm, just for her mama. My heart is butter on warm toast.

I don’t think I would mind getting up this early if it was warm out. If I could her the little birds sing their morning songs through open windows. If we could eat our waffles out on the deck, already warm with sunshine.

I am aware that to some seven o’clock is, in fact, late, but around he we are night owls. It sounds all nice to say I’ll be in bed by ten but that can be hard when I don’t get home from work until after nine and I’m starving. Even if I do get to sleep at a reasonable hour, I don’t sleep well enough for it to count. A natural sleep cycle is an hour and a half. I’m up every 45 minutes. Exhaustion results.

It’s a bit harder this morning as my little butter bean went to her 1 year physical yesterday, and with this comes vaccinations. Now this tiny person has some serious affinity for my leg.  Worse than two electrons. With constant whining. I’m thankful for strings on my hooded sweatshirt and the poor dog who is trying to take (unsuccessful) naps in the bit of sunshine on the carpet.  They keep her from not crying for more than twenty seconds. Hopefully she will be herself later- after we both take naps.

She is a whopping 17.5 pounds and is 27 inches tall. The doctor said we should be able to put her in a front-facing carseat when she goes to college. She has started to say some things, like ‘kitty’ and ‘hi daddy’ and ‘doggy’ and Scott swore she repeated ‘I love you’ twice the other night. I’m sure ‘no’ won’t be far behind.

For now I’ll think of these early mornings as preparation for daylight saving time to start, which is the weekend after this one. That only means we are closer to being able to have our early morning breakfasts in the warm outdoors.

P.S.  Thank you for all of the congratulatory posts.  It makes me so happy that there are many who are excited for us!  ♥ Andria

So yesterday was the big day.  Evelyn turned one.  I didn’t even cry.  Even when I was up early cleaning downstairs and heard her daddy singing happy birthday to her over the baby monitor.  Even as I was handing her her cake.  Even when I kissed her goodnight.

Everyone had gone to sleep early and I sat in bed writing in my journal about that day just a year ago.  When everything changed with the entrance of that little pink body.  There is a quote I read soon after she was born from Story People - “She laid on my chest & her breathing filled me almost to beyond what I could hold.”  But it did fill me to beyond what I could hold.  I think my heart broke open the moment I saw her and every little piece of love it had ever held spilled out.  Then it healed several times larger to hold this new kind of love, one that I had no idea would hurt so bad but for all the right reasons.  The scars gently flexing and tugging, stretching to make room for more love as her hours of life turned into days then weeks then months.  And now a year.

I was right when I said it before Evelyn was born.  You can’t prepare yourself for your heart to be permanently tethered to another.  It is so much different than anything else.  It just hits you and those bruises are forever.  So wonderful.

I was so happy that so many came to wish her a happy birthday. I put her little cake in front of her and her big eyes panned the room to see all the faces of those who love her, singing just for her.  It was such a good day.  Thank you.

And now some news:  Our hearts will be growing some more as we welcome our second child this fall.