21 Months.

Yesterday, the baby in our house, er toddler I guess, turned 21 months old.

Major disbelief over here.

I just can't believe it.

I say the same things over and over and over again. Time just moves so fast. I can't believe it. Yada yada yada.

But it's the darn truth.

There are things I've never written here about Miss Evelyn Nanette, who's name is two-fold.

Evelyn as in my great grandmother Evelyn Louise. Mother of one, grandmother of six, great grandmother of 13 and great, great grandmother of six, two of which she didn't live to meet {H and E}. I have always loved the name Evelyn and Evie and even as we called my great grandma, Ev.

E's middle name has the most meaning for me, and when I've said that aloud before I've had people ask why I didn't use it as her first name. They just wouldn't understand.

Nanette as in my mother. Mother of three, grandmother of six, one {so far} of which she didn't live to meet, her own namesake.

Not so long ago someone passed along the blog of Kelle Hampton and when I checked it out a couple weeks ago she had written something that gave complete meaning and understanding to E's middle name:

If your first name is common and your last name defines you, then what lies
in the middle is the mystery of who you are, the secret of what lies within.

So, so, so very true.

And if there is anything E inherits from her grandmother may it be her strength and her ability to love and see good in all.

Before my mom passed away I remember driving home from visiting her in the hospital during one of her stays. I had T and M and H and we pulled out of the parking garage and I called J and told him it was time to have another baby that maybe, just maybe, if I saw my mom and told her I was expecting, maybe she'd hold on.

{As I write this and admit this publicly for the very first time, I am fully aware that it is never a good reason to have a baby based on emotions like this. I sound like a crazy person! Don't worry, J has a much more level head than I, wouldn't you say?}

It wasn't the right time and I knew I wasn't ready but I was grasping for something, anything. There was no pregnancy, no baby news before my mom passed away.

We told friends and whoever else that listened that we were nowhere near ready for another baby that winter following my mom's death and then just four days after my 26th birthday we found out that we better get ready because sure enough a baby was on the way.
These last twenty-one months have been a ride, wouldn't you say?

God never takes away without giving in return. -Jennifer Samuel Patterson

But oh man, this girl, there is a sparkle in her eye and a rhythm in her laugh that gets us everytime.

She is full of joy and isn't that every parents wish?

Her ears, the ENT tells us, are perfect. She even passed her hearing test.

She surprises us. She teaches us. And while she, much like her brother H, keeps us on our toes, she also has such a content spirit.

While most days I crawl into bed exhausted from my days as a mom/stepmom, there is nothing I would rather be doing right now.

My heart is smiling.

Happy 21 months, Miss E!
You are a joy, a love and we are so very thankful for the gift you are to this family.
Love, Mama