Eva Turns 2!!!

So, like I stated before, I'm a little behind on my updates.  But last month, our little Eva Diva turned 2 years old! I know everyone always talks about the terrible twos, but honestly the sweetness and developmental growth during this time far outweighs the occasional grumps.  She talks in full sentences now, and usually even uses the correct verb tense and pronoun.  I'm not even surprised by the things she says anymore.  She is extremely verbal, and it's so fun because we can have real conversations now and even make up jokes.  I love her spunky and feisty little personality.  Eva is so happy all of the time, and she loves to be the center of attention around the people she is close with.  She has even made a few friends at school and likes to talk about them at home.  It's so sweet, she names each one of them and calls them her "frennzz." She takes one nap a day from about 1-3:30ish, and sleeps through the night.  Recently, she started having night terrors, and those wake us up, but it doesn't take long for her to calm down and get back to normal sleep.  Sometimes it takes a little help from mommy and daddy, but she's getting a little better.  We were really concerned at first and thought she was in pain at night, but it turns out she's not even awake... it's kinda scary and creepy at the same time.  They say that stressors such as starting a new school or fevers can trigger them, and she got her first one shortly after she started school and also was sick.  We're hoping that she doesn't have them very often. Anyway, just wanted to share a few updates about our sweet girl (mostly for myself so I can look back and remember them) as well as some pictures from her mermaid/under the sea birthday party last month! 

Eva Charlotte: 2 years old

Height: 32 inches

Weight: 25 lbs

Teeth: 16

Physical abilities: walking, running, jumping, hanging from the bar at gymnastics, finally swinging on the rope all by herself, walking on the balance beam, swimming with her puddle jumper
Mental Developments: Counts to 20, knows all her colors, knows her shapes, can recognize most letters, can sing songs now, follows directions, do puzzles

Favorite food: anything sweet lol, fruit, quesadillas, cheese, yogurt, peas, pizza, all snacks

Favorite color: blue

Favorite toy: Baby Gina and her legos, also likes her puzzles 

Favorite show: Daniel Tiger and Super Why

We had some super fun decorations thanks to Pinterest and my mom :)

Little crab sandwiches

Starfish PBJ's

Clam cookies

          

My little water baby!

 Eva's future husband

Eva loved when we all sang Happy Birthday to her!  She now asks us to sing it several times a week just so she can blow out a candle.

My niece Bella is so creative and talented! She made Eva this adorable book about a unicorn.  She even drew pictures to go along with the story!

Besties!

Trying out her new tricycle

Thankful to everyone who came to make Eva's 2nd birthday so much fun! 

I'm still here...

I realize I haven't posted in a few months.  Life got crazy, and blogging became extremely less important.  I still want to keep posting though, so I can remember all the highlights and memories of Eva growing up.  Last time I posted, we had just moved into our new house.  We are mostly settled, but we have been working on a renovations.  We really wanted to update our kitchen, since it was the original cabinets that were still in there, and they were in pretty bad shape.  We ordered new ones, and are planning on installing them this weekend.  I'm so excited! Eva and I will be moving out and staying with my parents for the week while Andy does all of the hard work :)  Guess we'll just have to spend our days lounging by the pool.

Our first tomato from our vegetable garden!

The last time I posted,  I was getting ready to start school.  Well, right before I started, we went with my family to Grand Cayman for one last hurrah before school began.  I will save those pictures for another post, but Eva had so much fun at the "vacation house!"  Some of her favorite people were there, so she was in toddler heaven.  

The biggest change in our lives lately has been me going back to school, Eva starting daycare, and Andy starting his own business.  These three things have been HUGE in our lives, and it's been a lot of work to stay on top of everything at home.  I have been extremely busy with school, between classes all day and studying all night after Eva goes to bed.  We may have had a lot of pizza, take out, and frozen vegetables for dinner.  #mommyfail.  I did really well with food prepping and cooking the first half of the summer, but it all went to pieces once Pharm and Patho started.  I know the rest of my classmates can agree that we did not have much time for anything else except for studying and class.  However, I officially completed my first semester of nursing school, and I only have 2 more semesters to go!  9 more months! 

Eva started daycare the first day I started school.  It was so sad.  I know it was hard for her to adjust and get acquainted with her new environment, especially since she only goes part time.  However, now she made some friends and is more comfortable, and she looks forward to it each week.  It's such a relief to me as a parent that she is in good hands, with good kids, and eating healthy food.  The school makes such great meals for the kids! I'm so happy that we can drop her off without her having a meltdown.  Of course, as soon as I pick her up in the evenings she bounds to me ready to leave.  But, she really does love her school and her teachers.  

Eva's first day of school... This is what she does when I ask her to smile for the camera

Lastly, amidst all the craziness, Eva turned 2!!! My baby is getting so big, and I love this age more than ever! I can't wait to share pictures from her party, but here is one before everyone arrived.  We had a mermaid/under the sea theme :) 

Our Crazy, Transitional Period

Hi, Everyone!

Life, as usual, has been quite crazy!  There's almost too much to share for just one post.  But let me tell you, things have been quite wonderful around here in the Ingrassia household.  Here are a few fun things that have happened the past 3 months.


1.  We bought a house!  We were wanting to move out of our condo and into a house with a yard because face it... having a great dane mix in a condo with a tiny yard isn't exactly ideal.  Plus, Eva loves being outside, so we wanted to have a nice yard for her to run around and play in.  Looking forward to buying a swing set soon so she can swing in her own stomping grounds.  Swinging is pretty much her favorite thing in life.  There's a lot of work that still needs to be done, but I am looking forward to sharing pictures once we get a little more settled.  There are still boxes everywhere!

2.  I got accepted into SLU's accelerated BSN program! Crazy thing though, I start in just over a month.  I don't think my brain is ready for this yet.  Still so much to do to get ready.  Kinda bumming though, because we are going to have to take out some student loans. Cheers to being extra frugal these next few years :D

3.  Thirdly, since I will be going back to school full time, we were going to need some more childcare options.  Currently, we have tweaked our schedules to where I only work when we have baby sitters.  So far, it's worked well.  But in less than 2 short months, we were going to need more availability.  I started my search as soon as we found out they accepted our offer on our house, and I found an amazing daycare that exceeds all of our expectations and wants.  I was at such a loss when I first starting looking at options.  I didn't know what I wanted or what to look for.  Luckily, a friend from work told me about this place her friend takes her kids.  I looked into it, and it was amazing! I am so excited they had just gotten an opening in one of the classes for Eva also!  It was such a blessing, and I am excited for Eva to start.  I am a little nervous for her, but I know she will end up loving it and do awesome.

4.  Today (4/3/15), I decided we would take Eva's binkies away for good.  The past year or so, she only got them at nap time and bed time, but I thought with her starting daycare soon, it would be good to get rid of them.  I'm not the type of person who cares if your 3 year old still carries their binky around all day, I just thought it was best for us to move on.  I didn't want her to drop them and have some other kid stick them in their mouth, or have some other kid steal them from her, or have to make her teacher take them from her after nap time.  Plus, it's just one less thing I'll have to remember to pack every time before she goes to daycare.  This is how we did it.  I told her that her binkies were sick and that they had to be thrown away, but she was going to get a new toy to replace them.  We went to Toys R Us this morning, and she picked out a new baby doll and a blue adirondack chair to sit in with us outside on our patio.  She named her baby "Baby Lou-Lou," and she now carries her all over the house.  After coming home with our new loot, I sat her down and explained to her (I prepped her for this for the past few days) that her new toys were replacing her binkies.  I then got some scissors out, and cut all the rubber off each binkie one at a time.  I gave her the cut up binkie after each cut, and she got to kiss each one and throw it in the trash.  I think it was easier for her to grasp what was going on if she was able to have a part in the process.  It took her a while to get settled for nap time today, and she cried for a bit, but after a little reassuring and cuddles, she eventually settled down and fell asleep.  She is actually still currently sleeping!  I think it's a WIN!  Hopefully tonight goes as smoothly, and every day after should be easier and easier.  Honestly, I think I cut up the binkies more for myself, so I wouldn't be tempted to give them back to her if she was unable to fall asleep.

So those are some of the major positive things that have been going on in our lives.  (Okay, so the binky thing isn't that major, but it is to Eva!)  My little girl is getting so big!  On a more somber note, we went to see the pediatric cardiologist a couple months ago.  Turns out, Eva's atrial septum has a hole in it.  The specialist thinks it is too big to close up completely on its own, so she will have to have heart surgery to close it.  We are so upset at the news, but we are encouraged that it is not anything more serious.  In fact, the surgery is not needed until she gets a little older, like around school age.  We are praying that it will close on its own, but the dr does not think it will do so.  At first, I wondered why we would even need to get it fixed if we were able to wait so long without risk.  Unfortunately, if you don't get it fixed ever, that can lead to severe dilation of the chambers of your heart due to the increased pressure, and that can damage it.  The doctor actually showed me some dilation already present in Eva's poor little heart.  Luckily, once surgery is performed, the dilation is not permanent and will go back to its normal size.  Just hoping it closes on its own, so we don't have to deal with an open heart surgery after all.  Prayers are appreciated!

There are so many seasons in life.  Right now, I think we are in a tumultuous, crazy, busy season.  But it's full of SO MUCH LOVE and plenty of joy.  It makes all the long days seem like great days.  This is my favorite season so far :)  I get to spend it with this crazy little sweetheart!

Just a little update from Eva

O haiii! It's me Eva! I decided I wanted to post a blog too just like mama!  I like to do everything mama does.  I think I might bother her sometimes because I never leave her alone.  I just love her soooo much!  But that's okay because I know she loves me too.  

Let me tell you about some of my favorite things lately!  

I loooove gymnastics!  I get to go every Tuesday.  Sometimes I wish I could go more often so I could see my friend Anna.  I talk about her alllll week.  I like to run a lot.  The beam is fun too, but it's kind of scary.  Not as scary as that nasty pit though!  I won't be caught dead in there.  Mommy climbs in sometimes, but I cry because I want her to get out.  Sometimes I throw the foam blocks in though.... that's kinda fun.  I'm getting stronger too because now I can hang onto the bar for a really long time!  Maybe soon I will be tall like Mama too so I can reach the drinking fountain by myself.  All of the other girls can do it by themselves, and it makes me sad that I can't reach it.  My favorite part is the trampoline!  I could jump all day.

Also, my other favorite things are fruit snacks, reading books, singing, and talking.  I like to talk... A LOT.  I love learning new words.  Also, I can say my whole alphabet now!!! I think the letters H,Q, and W are kinda hard to say, but I try and Mama likes that.  

Apollo is still my best friend.  I like to use him as a stepping stool to help me get on the couch.  He doesn't seem to mind.  Plus, he eats all my food that I don't want to eat when I throw it on the floor.  That way, Mama doesn't have to clean up as much!  Win win!

My favorite TV shows are the ones on Netflix.  I like Super Why, Sid the Science Kid, and Oct-No's (Octonauts).  Mama doesn't let me watch tv very much, but that's okay because I can't sit still very long.  I like my toys much better.  My favorite toys are my kitchen, bowls and spoons, tea sets, my ice cream cones, and my cash register.  I like to play with the Munneeee (money).

My days are pretty awesome.  When I wake up in the morning, I play with my stuffed animals for a while until I get bored and ask Mama and Dada to come get me.  Then we go downstairs and eat oatmeal and fruit, sometimes yogurt eggs.  I loooove OATMUH!  It's the best.  Then we go get dressed and I get to pick out my very own hair bow... every day! Sometimes there's so many that it's hard to choose which one I want to wear.  I don't really like wearing clothes or shoes, but I do like dresses.  They are so pretty! After that, my days sort of vary as to what we do.  Sometimes I run errands with Mommy, Tuesdays I go to gymnastics, and some days I go get to see my friends Everett and Lyla.  When Mama and Dada both work, I go to Yaiyai or Grandma's house.  It's soooo much fun! When I go to Grandma's house I get to see my cousins.  They're pretty cool gals. At 1:00 every day, I get to take my nap.  I used to fight nap time, but now I love it! I feel so much better when I wake up after.  The evening varies, but usually I get to eat dinner with Mama and Dada and Apollo.  I like dinner time because I get to see Dada!  Sometimes I don't see him all day so I miss him.  At dinner, Apollo has to stay on the rug and wait until we are finished eating, but after dinner he gets to eat the stray pieces of food I threw on the ground for him.  Then it's bath time or story time! I love my books.  My current favorites are "Turtle Opposites," "Pinkalicious," "Who Dunnit," and "Curious George."  Then I get to go to bed and sleep until morning.  Sometimes mama comes in and checks on me while I'm sleeping, but I pretend like I'm asleep so she doesn't know.  If I lay real still and pretend I am asleep, she gives me lots of kisses.

I guess that's all for now.  Before I go, Mommy wants everyone to pray for me because I have to go to another doctor now.  We got the results back from my echo, and I have to go to a cardiologist now, whatever that means.  Something about a septal defect in my atrium.  Hopefully it means more stickers and prizes from the treasure box!  Wish me luck!  

Love, 

Eva-Diva

One point five

This is what she does when I ask her to smile....

Take two... pretending to be a rhinoceros

Eva is 18 months!!! She is growing like a little bean sprout, in more ways than one.  Her personality and vocabulary has made leaps these past few months, and her legs are finally starting to grow a little bit.  She is as sweet as she is feisty.  I think we have our hands full.  I probably say this every post, but THIS is my favorite age so far.  She learns a new word or two every day.  I really have to watch what I say around her.  She is my little clone and repeats every word I utter.  She does so many things each day that make my heart smile.  I want to take her picture 100 times a day when she does these cute little poses or has an adorable expression or basically anything she does.  I'm pretty much obsessed.  I guess it's like this for every mom and their first born.  She just feels extra special to me because she's my first biological family member I've ever known.  My one and only blood connection to this earth.  Seems pretty special to me :)

We started baby gymnastics this month!  The first week didn't go very well.  She has been extra clingy lately, and gymnastics was no exception.  It was hard for me to put her down, so I was basically holding her the whole time while she cried and told me which things she did NOT want to do.  The next week went a bit better, and this past week even better.  She is warming up to the class and the people.  She's the youngest and the smallest one there too, so she can't do as much as the other girls, but I think she will enjoy everything once she warms up and tries it.  She even made a little friend!  She smiles every time I say her name :)

We had her 18 month appointment recently as well.  Poor little girl is below the 1% for her height! Guess she's going to be short like mama :)  Unfortunately, the doctor noticed a heart murmur that she never heard before.  She said it's most likely nothing to worry about, and that Eva will most likely grow out of it.  However, she's sent us to Cardinal Glennon for an echo to get things checked out.  I was so proud of my little nugget.  She didn't shed one tear, and she laid completely still on my lap while the tech stuck electrodes on her back and checked out her torso with the ultrasound.  We are still waiting to hear the results from that, so any prayers until then would be much appreciated!