A Visit from Aunt Chris & Uncle Nate

On the first leg of their honeymoon, my sister - Chris - and husband - Nate - spent the long 4th of July weekend with us.  The girls loved having Aunt Chris and Uncle Nate around.

I can't speak to how it was as the first part of a honeymoon -- but for us, it was great!

They helped with feeding.

Cooked some great meals and danced with babies in the kitchen.

 Got some one-on-one time

And read a few page-turners.

Gram & Grandpa Evans Are Back!

It was great having Gram and Grandpa visit in mid-June. We traipsed around SLC, checked out Red Butte Gardens, and did a lot of backyard-playing and living-room-reading.  Katy left town for a conference for a few days at the end of their visit - needless to say it was great to have the help.  They also cooked up a delicious storm and stocked our freezer.  We're still eating cookies that Mom made.

Playing in and near the fountains at Red Butte Gardens.

Sitting on new chairs with Gram.

We are 15 months!

We just went to the doctor for our 15-month visit and here are our stats: Noemi weighs 23 lbs. and is 32" tall (90% for height!); Zora weighs 18 lbs. and is 30" tall. This was also our first doctor's visit since December where Noemi didn't have ear infections! It might be because she is no longer drinking cow's milk or eating cow's milk cheese - flax milk and almond cheese seem to give her less fluid in the ears.

We are both walking, although Zora is really zooming around (see video below) and we love to use our words. Noey says "dog," "cat," "car," and "uh-oh" a lot (with a few others thrown in now and then); Zora says "belly," "dog," "that," and "more/mine" (we can't tell which), and is constantly shaking her head no.

We love to eat grown-up foods like pasta, peas, peanut butter toast, eggs, yogurt, crackers w/ hummus, and grilled cheese. Noey is going through a fussy eating phase so is rejecting most solid fruits and vegetables (she doesn't notice them if they're pureed and mixed with yogurt or oatmeal, though). Zora will at least try most things, but doesn't eat as much as her sister.

We got these chairs when Gram and Grandpa came to visit - we've got this summer relaxing thing down.

We enjoy playing pretend (especially "talking on the phone" and "sleeping" on throw pillows) and doing things like the grown-ups (sitting in our chairs! drinking from cups! "using our spoons"!)

Finally, a quick video of Zora in action:

 

Dada!

For a long time now the girls have been saying "Dada," but it didn't always refer to Mike. Lately, though, they say it with such glee when they hear his voice or see him or when he leaves the room for just a second that we know they mean him. They love him to pieces, especially when he sings to them, tickles their bellies, and swings them around in the air. There was a lot of all three happening today on Father's Day.

Thank you, Mikey, for being such an incredible dad to our girls. For always taking the fussy one, for always carrying the heavy one, and for making me laugh even when I want to shout or cry. You are the rock this family is anchored to. Happy Father's Day!

Today at the park

And a heartfelt Happy Father's Day to our dads, who have always been there for us. Wish you were here (or we were there)!

In the Park

Although it's more evidence that having babies really does obliterate your ability to carry on an interesting conversation, I just have to talk about the weather. This spring has been fantastic! Most days have been in the 70s with sunshine and blue skies. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and the strawberries are just now turning red. To top it off, we have a family of baby birds just outside our dining room window! I try to ignore the pile of bird poop and dissuade Twyla the Cat from making them her afternoon snack as I listen to their tiny chirps.

Mike has been working long hours to prepare for the second summer of Real Food Rising and I've been trying to teach myself new tech tricks as I prep my first online course. But last weekend we took a break to head to Liberty Park with the girls (and Mowgli). They loved watching a little boy fly a kite, listening to the hippie drummers, investigating pine cones, and pigpiling on Dada. Mama and Dada loved the frozen custard shake (snack bar's open!). Here are a few pics from my phone:

 

And a bonus shot of Mike at the RFR farm a couple weeks ago, just as the crops started coming up:

Starting to Act More Sisterly

The girls have been getting more and more interactive with each other recently. Although they've long recognized and acknowledged each other, these days they engage with each other more deliberately and for longer stretches of time. They "play" together (if one of them has a cool toy, the other wants it and either steals it or shouts/cries until they're distracted by something else), display physical "affection" (pat each other on the head, often way too hard), lean on each other (no, they literally lean on each other to hold themselves upright), and giggle at a funny face or noise the other is making.

Here are just a few of our favorite recent shots of them acting sisterly:

Testing out Noey's new car seat

Noey pushing Zora

Checking out the world together

Mama!

It's difficult to put in words what it is like being a parent.  Is there one word that can encompass how happy our daughters make me, how challenging it all is, and how much I love them?

Similarly, I don't know how to adequately express my feelings about raising these two with my partner in crime.
And I won't try to do it here. 
However, I do want to mention three things for which I am continually thankful that my better half possesses.   K, thanks for your neverending patience, your levity when both girls are melting down, and your ability to expertly divide your attention.

And big direct-flight hugs to our Moms on the East Coast.
Thanks for everything.  And yes, it's true.  Now that we have babies, we are even more amazed and thankful for all you've done for us.