Evelyn and Olivia: 24 Months

So this is it – the final monthly update on you two! I know that I will be glad when I go back to these, but they far from capture all of the things that I wish I could hold on to forever in your growing up. It’s cliché, but it does happen so quickly!

- Both of you are still waiting on our upcoming flight to the US for your molars (or so I assume since that’s when your big sister always choose to get new teeth!)
- You are both saying so many words and sentences and asking questions based on your surroundings. You are picking up on so many things around you and understanding so much.
- You know some basic colors (pink, purple, blue, yellow).
- You both love play-doh, jumping on the trampoline (Evy is getting off the ground, but Liv isn’t quite yet), sandboxes, and swings.
- You are both still taking one nap a day and will regularly ask to go for “paci nap” not long after lunch and walk yourselves up to your room.
- Both of you are still showing signs of wanting to potty train, but we just don’t have enough stability this summer with our US travels to dedicate the time needed to properly work with you.

Evelyn Grace

You are our spunky, friendly, peace-making (most of the time) little girl. You usually give whatever toy your sisters want to them even if you were playing with it first. You love to laugh and we’ve found your secret ticklish spot and take advantage of it regularly. You prefer Daddy to Mommy and found it hilarious to say “I love you Daddy” when I asked you to say “I love you Mommy” in front of our guests. (And because you got such laughter in our reactions you find it hilarious to do it now every time! ;-) ). You are such a joyful and fun daughter and you love to play with your sisters, read books, play play-doh, jump on the trampoline, swing, and do basically anything your big sister Madi is doing (even if you are too small).

Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl!

Love,
Mommy

Olivia Ann

You are full of attitude and sass (obv from your Daddy). You are quick to turn away help or hugs from strangers if you don’t want it as you prefer to tackle things on your own first. You are happy playing with play-doh and dice and legos by yourself for hours. You love to cuddle, play in water, and love pandas. You have started playing imaginary games with Madi and she’s quite entertained to have a partner. Your current favorite is pretending the grass is lava and climbing up the slide. You walk with pep in your step and we wouldn’t trade your personality for anything. You are hard-headed and stubborn and once your mind is set to something there’s no changing it. You are great at climbing and have copied your big sister in holding the two cribs and using your feet to climb the wall.

Happy 2nd birthday sassy girl!

Love,
Mommy

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Fourth of July 2017

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

Today was pretty uneventful - as expected for a Tuesday when you're an expat and your husband has work like usual. We look forward to celebrating America's Independence on US soil again in the future, but for now are thankful we are able to call America home. And are even more thankful that in less than two weeks the girls and I will be flying to the US for a whole six weeks!!

It's been over a year and a half since we've been back and are l-o-n-g overdue for a visit! I can't wait to see friends and family, shop Target, eat Chick-Fil-A, and use a double grocery cart at Sam's Club. #expatdreams

And because I was able to snag super cute photos of the girls this morning (under the bribery of gummies obviously), here's a couple more of these sweet sisters. ❤️

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Monthly Wrap-up: June Part 2

Today is the last day of June and officially summer since today was Madi's last day! We have a couple weeks here in Baku before we head to the United States and I've got a long list of things I want/need to get done before the trip. Until then, here's the rest of the fun we had in June (catch Part 1 here).

You don't see the changes daily, but seeing the side-by-side Madi has changed a lot!

I got to spend one Friday morning with just the twins. We were the first customers at Starbucks and had the place to ourselves (which was good since the video is evidence of what a frappucino sugar-rush looks like; and no, they didn't each have their own. I just separated the one into two cups to prevent a screaming competition). My friend Liza commented on Facebook that it's a young Darcy and Jason having coffee, haha. Guess we do each have our minis. ;-)

1. I've been getting up early and running in the morning with my friend Hayley, which means I have more time for things like making omelets for Jason and me during the week. It's been nice to be up before the girls and get back into exercising.
2. Evy dressing up and smiling at her Daddy.
3. Liv likes to bury herself in the sofas and of course she needed to be surrounded by pandas.
4. Their favorite birthday gift - baby doll strollers from Meri.
5. We were able to buy an outdoor table from neighbors moving back to the US and have enjoyed quite a few meals and snack times outside.
6. Cat snuggles.
7. I had Madi's parent-teacher conference with Ms Naza and got all wonderful feedback. My personal favorite? How kind and how she's friends with everyone and her affinity for mathematics. #nerdfamily
8. Madi's school had a summer concert and Madi told me that morning she wasn't going to cry like at the last concert. I was surprised she remembered how she'd acted and was happy to see her smiling and having fun during this one.
9. Reading before bedtime. 

Madi attended her friend's pirate party and had a blast! She got to see lots of her friends from school, including the school director, Ms Marsida, who we will miss since this is her last year at Bumblebee. 

Allergies. My personal opinion, whether right or wrong, is that it's my responsibility to bring a snack for Olivia to have when we go to someone's house for playgroup, birthday party, etc. I've been blessed to have a couple friends who always makes sure there is egg-free food at playgroup and get togethers, especially for Olivia (thank you Helene and Christine!!) and I appreciate it greatly, but don't expect them or others to do the same. I just ask that others do not give my girls any food without asking me so I can ensure it doesn't have eggs or nuts.

One afternoon Madi and her friend made cookies and the mom brought some over for the kids a couple days later then they were having another playdate. I didn't have any egg-free cookies ready, but I had rice crispy treats and Olivia was perfectly content eating that while the others had a cookie. No big deal. However, a couple days later the mom sent me a message that she'd made more cookies and this time they were egg-free! She'd said she was heartbroken Olivia couldn't have one before and it definitely made me cry that she went out of her way to accommodate Olivia's food allergy. As you can see Olivia was thrilled with her special cookie!

These two girls are playing together more and more and love running around! They've also started saying "cheese" for pictures and giving us a smile. They are well-trained, ha!

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