Christmas Kitties!!! .... who look very PO'd.

Christmas Cookies

I love to cook, but I have never been much of a baker. Now that I am a Mom, though, I feel I should probably learn to bake some basic things. Christmas cookies, for instance. So this year I decided to begin a tradition of making Christmas cookies as a family. I cheated a bit, buying break and bake sugar cookies and store bought cake icing, but hey, you have to start somewhere! The colors didn't turn out the way I'd hoped -- the red was more pink than red and the green was more minty than Christmas usually calls for, but they tasted great and we had a lot of fun making them and that is what really counts.

Luminarias & Holiday Fun

Evie, Kiley and I set out our luminarias this weekened. It definitely made our home look very warm and inviting. Evie and I have been struggling with a cold for the last week so it was nice just to get out and get some fresh air. Her favorite part was putting the sand in the bags, while my favorite part was making the fudge. I'll always remember my mom making a huge batch of nutty fudge for the holidays and eating 90 percent of it myself. However, once you make it and see how much sugar goes into the recipe you'll start to think twice about that second piece! 

A Two Year Old's Halloween Experience

I meant to put these videos up after Halloween, but I became very sidetracked. Here in a few minutes is what it was like for a two year old to go trick-or-treating in Southwood. First, you have to climb up a mountain of stairs and then stretch to a doorbell only to find out that no one was home. Poor Evie. This happened about a dozen times on Halloween, but her spirits were never dampened. Still very funny to watch though...

Thank Goodness for Grammy

A while back Grammy came to visit Evie. Here are some pictures we saw lying around that we wanted to share. Evie really loves her Grammy. When she saw her through the door she squealed really loud with excitement. Sometimes I wonder who's harder to keep up with because there's always something to do when Grammy's in town. 

Of course, there always comes a time when Grammy must go home. Evie always looks out her window to make sure she gets home safe. Evie sure does love her Grammy. 



Shenanigans of a Two Year Old

Friday, Dec. 10, 2010

My coworker Mary Beth and her husband Derek followed me home Friday evening so they could use our ink jet printer. Since they were following me, I parked along the street and came in the front door. As soon as I opened the door, I heard Evie say, "I eating a cookie!" She was standing in front of the advent calendar with four candy wrappers around her feet and chocolate all over her face. I could not help but laugh. My first thought was, "Where is your father?" (He was upstairs picking up the den -- at least that's what he claims he was doing...) I quickly cleaned Evie up and investigated the candy situation. It appears she decided to go ahead and eat her candy for the 21st-24nd. She was on a major sugar high the rest of the night.

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010

I was getting ready to go to my monthly playgroup with Evie, and Blake had run to the store for some groceries. I left her in the living room for two minutes to make our bed and grab my sneakers. When I came out of our bedroom, she had managed to pull every tissue out of a brand new box of tissues and was, again, standing at the advent calendar eating a chocolate bar. (At this rate, she won't have any candies left in her caleandar the last week before Christmas!) I had no one to blame but myself this time. Sigh.

Fall Festival

We went to the Fall Festival at Evie's school on Friday and had a blast!  There were hayrides, costume parades, cookie decorating, pumkin painting, bounce houses and more.  Evie was soooo wound up we couldn't get her to bed until after 9pm (she usually knocks out around 7:30pm).  Here are some pictures and videos from the night. 

Because she had a problem with her original costume we feared she might not wear it, so this was a our backup.  This is actually a 3T chearleader outfit!  

Caitlin and Kelby as Minnie Mouse and a Ladybug. 

Milo in a chicken costume.  Hayrides are awesome!

My backseat is covered in glitter-glue now...

Yummy. 

Evie being ridiculous. 

Hayrides!  Wave to the babies...

Evie and her best buddy Lydia (as a kung fu fighter) bouncing.

Watch this one until the end and notice how concerned we all are as parents.  Poor Evie...

Thanks to Buck Lake Babies for putting this on.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!!!

Buck Lake Baby Lingo

Here's a fun challenge.  First take a look at this picture below.  Then try to figure out how many belong to our kid.  These are odd and quirky sayings that Evie's school teachers write down during the day. 

ANSWERS AFTER THE PICTURE.....

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EVIE SAYS:

"I can fart" - guess who taught her this one???

"Whatcha doin"

"God our fatter" - a blessing they say at lunchtime "God our father"

"I don't like it" - what she says when she doesn't like her food

"Go away, go away, go away" - sometimes girls just want to be left alone

"I'm stuck"

"Read to you" - when she wants YOU to read to HER

"Gorgeous"

"Its a tragedy" - after she knocks her food all over the floor

Evie's Halloween Costume

This is Evie's costume for Halloween this year.  Grammy and Pops generously decided to pitch in for it.  THANKS GRAMMY & POPS!!!  She is supposed to be a flower gnome but we've just been telling everone she is a munchkin from The Wizard of Oz (that makes it easier than explaining what flower gnome is).  My reasoning for this is that for the next 7 Halloween's Evie is going to want to be a princess or a fairy and we might as well put her in something that we think is cute.  

  Evie hates the hat, however, and once she becomes aware of it she will toss it off violently:

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday, October 24, we took Evie to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins for Halloween. She had a great time running around and trying to pick up all the pumpkins (some as big as her). When we got home, we let her decorate her pumpkin with water colors, which she took very seriously and seemed to enjoy immensely. Now that we have our pumpkins, we are ready for Halloween!

I look GORGEOUS!!!

Evie says a lot of cute things during the day.  In fact, it is often hard to get her to shut up long enough for you to get a word in.  Lately she has been looking in the mirror after getting dressed and saying "I look GORGEOUS!"  Describing it doesn't do it justice so I've included a video.  Enjoy...

It's a Girl!!

On Thursday, Blake and I found out we will be adding a little sister to our family.  We are very exited to see our little one on the ultrasound.  She was moving around very a lot so we both fear she will be even more active than our little Evie.  Everything checked out good too in regards to the baby's heartbeat and measurements and we are still on for a March 3rd due date. 

Darcy Elizabeth Mallard will be here in five months! 

Boy or Girl?

Next Thursday on October 7th we will finally find out what we are expecting in March.  After pouring through several baby name books and combing through family names we managed to find one name for both sexes that we could agree on.  Actually when I say we agreed on it I mean we just flipped a coin.  Before I reveal what our picks are here are some honorable mentions that were heavily considered before making our decision. 

TOP BOYS' NAMES:

- Owen Watson
- Aiden Kenneth
- Seamus Daniel (pronouced SHAY-MUS)
- Caleb Andrew

TOP GIRLS' NAMES:

- Charlotte Elizabeth
- Leigh Anne
- Lillian Olive
- Clara Elizabeth

So here we are.  If we end up having a boy, then his name will be....

LIAM DANIEL MALLARD 



Liam is a derivative of William, Kiley's father and Daniel is Blake's father's name.  Evelyn is a very Irish name so this will definately fit with her name. 

If we are having another (god help us!) girl then her name will be...

DARCY ELIZABETH MALLARD



Darcy and Elizabeth are, of course, characters from Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice.  This is one of Kiley's favorite books and movies of all time.  Side note: Blake lost this coin toss.

Well, there you have it.  We'll be sure to update and tell everyone as soon as we know!

In case you haven't heard...

Blake and I are expecting Baby Mallard number two on March 3, 2011!!

Doorknob Experiment Update

So apparently Evie has figured out how to remove the cover from her door knob, as evidenced by her appearance in our bedroom at 6:15 this morning. Sigh. Never a dull moment...

The Great Doorknob Experiment

Ever since we moved Evie to a toddler bed, we've kept a cover on the door knob inside her room to keep her from wandering and getting into something while we are sleeping (think of it as her room being a much larger crib). Well, when she turned two, we (and by we I mean Blake) had the brilliant idea to take this cover off to see what would happen.

The first couple of nights, she did fine. When she woke up at her usual time (6:30ish) she simply opened her door and came to our room. It was actually very sweet to hear her little feet slapping on the floor as she ran to our room (ran because she never walks anywhere) and her saying good morning and urgin us to get up. After a couple of days, however, she started to appear in our room earlier and earlier. First it was 5:55. Early, but acceptable. The next day it was 5:30. Definitely pushing it. When she turned up at 4:45 I'd hit my limit.

Needless to say, the cover is now back on her door knob and we are all now sleeping (quite happily) to 6:30 again!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Evie!

Evelyn turned 2 on July 31, 2010. She had a very busy birthday week. First, her Grammy Mallard came to see her from July 25-29. Grammy kept her during the day while I worked and they had a great time together, playing and going to the store for special treats. Then, from July 29 to August 1, her Aunt Kim, Uncle Steve and cousins Chloe, Ian and Jacob, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Kornegay came for a visit. We enjoyed pizza and cupcakes and Evie had a great time opening her gifts. We went to the pool everyday, which all of the kids (and adults) enjoyed. Overall, I think Evie thoroughly enjoyed turning 2!

Evie needed some help to blow out the candles...

But knew exactly what to do with the cupcake!

"I like this birthday stuff!"

Jacob and Ian attacking Uncle Blake at the pool.

Evie grinning at Mommy after running through the mushroom waterfall.

All photos courtesy of Grandpa Kornegay.

Baby Shower

On July 15, I left my sweet Evie with her dad and drove to North Carolina to attend my oldest sister Christie's baby shower. I met up with my second oldest sister Kim and her family in Georgia, and we made the rest of the trip together. The baby shower was on July 17 at The Secret Tea Room in Greensboro. The food was delish (Hello, Chai Tea! Where have you been all my life?!), the conversation was lively and Christie and her husband John were truly "showered" with gifts for their soon-to-be born baby daughter. Kim, Christie and I spent the rest of the weekend getting the nursery ready, and Kim and I gave Christie and John all the advice and tips we could think of. Now all we need is a baby!

Photo courtesy of Bill Kornegay.

July 4th Weekend 2010

We spent the 4th of July in Apollo Beach with Blake's mom and dad. It rained from the time we pulled into the driveway until the time we pulled out! We made the best of it, and managed a couple of dips in the pool when the rain let up for a few minutes. Below are some pictures of what Miss Evie got up to with her Grammy and Pops...

Grammy stocked the bottom drawer of this dresser with toys. Evie thought it would be more fun to put herself in the drawer...

Grammy and Pops decided Evie needed curls, which turned into more of a mohawk. (Still adorable though...)

Do you think she has these two wrapped around her little finger or what?!

Popsicle by the pool. Does like get any better?

A Visit with Gammy and Pops

On May 28, Blake dropped Evie off in Apollo Beach to spend a week with her Mallard grandparents (Gammy and Pops). Here are the highlights of that week from Gammy and Pops themselves:

Visit with Pops and Gammy on May 28 to June 5, 2010

Things Evie Has Learned:

To say her last name (she pronounces it Man-erd with a strong emphasis on the first syllable).

In addition to her eyes, nose, ears and mouth, she now knows where her hair, tongue and boobies are.

How to kick her feet, to splash with her arms and to jump into deep water.

How to hold her nose and dunk her head under water.

How to turn on the trash compactor.

To recognize and say gator and to do the Gator chomp.

How to kick a ball.

How to put her face in the water and blow bubbles.

How to open and close her eyes.

Our Favorite Things Evie Says:

op-an (open)

pets (her new favorite show "The Wonder Pets")

Oh, darn!

Wow!

Aw-right!

Oh, no! (emphasis on Oh)

goo-ness (goodness)

ahs-lame (airplane)

e - end (The End)

Butt-en (button)

I see you!!

Cutest Things Evie Does:

Spits

Shushes you when she's watching her favorite TV shows

The way she says "Bless You" when anyone, including herself, sneezes, coughs, burps, spits or poots.

Picked up pictures around the house and identified Mommy and Daddy. Especially cute when she kisses their picture.

In the bathtub, she shows you where her "behind" is, then she spreads her legs and points to her "bootie"!

Tells you to stay as she holds her hand up to stop you.

She tells you when to change her poopie diaper.

Pretend to go to sleep and she starts snoring.

When she sees the numbers on the pool thermometer, she starts counting her numbers.

Our Favorite Moments:

Evie and Gammy side-by-side putting on makeup together.

Pops lying on his belly to read a bedtime story to Evie when she crawls up on his back with Kitty, pulls her blanket over them and says night-night! I think she wants a sleep-over with Pops.

Evie reading the Barney book to Pops.

On Memorial Day, Gammy was doing the dishes and Evie initiated a kiss. She came up to me and said "kiss, kiss"!

We think dressing a toddler should be an Olympic event.

Tomorrow will be a sad day for us to return her, but we are looking forward to a little rest next week.

All our love,

Pops and Gammy

Celebrating Jennifer & Emory

On Saturday, June 6, 2010, my friends Susan, Ashley and I threw a baby shower for our friend and coworker Jennifer to celebrate the impending arrival of her daughter, Emory Claire. We had a great time eating, talking and watching Jen open her baby gifts.

Jen opening an adorable outfit for Emory.

Evie and Ana 5/19/10

Evie and Ana having a tea party.

Trying out the baby swing and bouncer. Some things are so much more fun the second time around.

Piper in the swing and Addison in the bouncer. So sweet!

Nan with her two eldest great grandchildren.

Evie and Ana taking a break from playing.

Playing at Nan's House 5/21/10

Evie enjoyed running up and down the ramp in front of Nan's house.

Evie with her namesake, Nanny Evelyn

Nan with Ana and Piper (2 of her 5 great grandchildren)