New York!

So, for a few nights over my spring break week I convinced Grant to go to NYC. He has never been and I just had the itch to go back. Even though I have been there several times in and since college there were still things I had never done. Well, we did it ALL! I mean in three days we ran the gammett. It was so fun, not relaxing, but very fun. We walked more than we ever had in our lives but saw so much and enjoyed so much. I will spare you ever single little detail and only describe the highlights, then I will include an itenerary of our events. First, we got to go to see the Today's show one morning and meet Merideth Viera. We also got to go to a filming of David Letterman, what a production. Very fun, but of course our guest was Birmingham's own Charles Barkely, go figure. We also got to go to Mary Poppins. I will admit, Grant was not really into the musical scene but after our fantastic ticket price and our private box seats, he loved it. Not just because of that, but the experience and the effects were not what he had anticipated. I am glad he agreed to go because it was so fun. We got to up in the Empire State building at night, never done that, and go up Top of the Rock, a new attraction on top of Rockefeller Center. We visited the upper East side shopping row and brown stones, and got to eat at Bobby Flay's favorite hamburger joint, J.G. Melon, very good and local. Last, but not least we also visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We didn't go up in the statue but we did go into Ellis Island Museum. Whew, we took a bus tour to get to all these places as well as Ground Zero and Canal street and Little Italy. It was the way to go!

This is me being interviewed for British TV about William and Kate, which I am a bit interested in by the way. (FYI- Grant does not ever want to be in pictures alone, so they are all of me!)

After every day of walking around in the 40-50 degrees we were exhausted. Our feet ached and we slept great, but were more than ready to get back to our little girl. Eva got to stay two nights with her Mimi and PawPaw and two nights with Mamama and Papa. She loved it!!

Whew, what a trip...

Of course, I can't post without a few updates of my Eva. This is her first, maybe second, full ice cream cone, but this time she was determined to hold it! "I hold" she says about everything!!

Also, these are the kind of pictures she takes now. There is no in between. She is either saying "Cheese" with all her might, or not interested. It is funny even if I don't get a normal smile.

I guess this one is more normal, right? See what I mean? Not even looking at the camera. Just "CHEESE!"Or oh yes, the silly face. Too cute!

Eva Lately...

Yea!

Other than being a full blown two year old for the past couple of months, Eva is constantly surprising us. Lately, she has been singing full songs, counting to ten and counting items, singing most of her ABCs, pointing out things and using words we had no idea she would know what they are or how to use them. One of our newest favorite things because she can talk and make clear who and what she talks about now, is to say our prayers together every night. She says the little prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my sould to keep. Angels watch me through the night, and keep me in your blessed sight." She loves to say the last words really loud becuase she must know they rhyme. Her great grandmother gave her a precious moments doll that says the prayer when you press its belly, so she has wanted to do it herself ever since.

sportin my piggie tails

Eva does not like to be carried much anymore. She wants to walk, run, and dance everywhere she goes. Her personality is hysterical. She is not shy, quiet or uncertain. Even her voice is just a voice that carries. Every thing she says is loud and excited, which makes those tantrums and fits she randomly decides to throw lately very difficult to hide. I totally get those moms who have the kid laying and rolling around on the floor of the grocery store. Thankfully, I do not EVER have to got there. Grant does all of that for us. Granted if I did have to go, I do not want to imagine what would happen. All that said, Eva can keep herself entertained in her toy chest and her kitchen for hours all by herself. She is not scared of being by herself or in the dark. I do love that I have a determined, confident and independent little girl. I know it will serve her well later after we can teach her how to use these qualities!
Some of her other favorite things lately have been coloring, markers (she says Ma-ker, and stickers( stickies). Oh yes and saying Please after everything becuase she knows that means, most of the time, she gets it (including cookies after a good dinner).

did i mention we are obssessed with stickers?

Very soon my baby will be 2 for real. I am not ready for her to be a big girl or grow up, but I am clearly not able to stop it, so hopefully she will continue to love me and hug me and kiss me at will. Oh I just never imagined the outpouring of love and emotion I would feel on a daily basis being a mom. The unconditional love of Christ is most easily displayed through a child, the way they love us and the way we love them, incredible.