THE JAZZ BRING IT BACK

Our neighbors offered us Jazz tickets again and I didn't hesitate one second when I realized it was on October 18th, the night before we were leaving for Florida. It was the first game of the season, and we invited Papa to come. It was a fun night. The Jazz were really behind most of the game and I was trying to prepare Stella that they might lose. But she just said: "Don't worry, they're gonna bring it back." Sure enough, right after she said that, they brought it back and it was FUN. I do love me a Jazz game. Stella and I tried really hard to get featured on the Jumbotron again, but with no luck. We had fun dancing and trying our best though.

THE GARDNER VILLAGE WITCH SCENE

Courtney and Tyler rounded us all up on October 16th to visit Gardner Village and check out their witches. It was that time of year when you really get delighted by good weather and it was a fun time. I was most delighted by Vivi's reaction to seeing her Grammie and watching her walk around in her adorable fall outfit. She and Porter had fun together too. He would do silly things to make her laugh and it was great. It wouldn't have been an Evans adventure though without some drama. I made a big scene at the restaurant when after waiting 35 more minutes than they told us, we still didn't have a table. Poor Tyler was so embarrassed and I realized how I'm like an old lady now, because I couldn't have been any less concerned. When he told me I could never go back there again, I asked "Why not? It's not like they will remember me." We ended up having lunch at a less snooty and less crowded eating establishment, and all was forgotten. How cute Vivi looked that day though? Never to be forgotten.

SIX MONTHS WITH VIVI

October 5th marked six months with Vivien in our arms. How can it be? How have we not had her forever? It feels like she has always been ours. She is a straight-up toddler. Around August she started saying new words all the time. She would repeat words for us and also use them to express what she wanted or needed. Some are easier to understand than others, but I'm always pleased when I figure out the hard ones, and she is always happy when I understand her as well. In September I started keeping record of some of her words and phrases. A list: sit down, no, (yes still sounds like "ung"), hands, hug, eyes, head, mouth, nose, ears, teeth. At the beginning of September she said "Hot dog umm yum" and then opened her mouth. I thought this was a sentence, but Brent claims it wasn't because it doesn't have a verb. Then there was of course "cupcake" at Louise's birthday party. In Idaho we were bugging her with kisses and she said "Stop!" That one is not my favorite, but I usually just reply with "Can't stop, won't stop." When we first got home from Idaho she started saying "thank you" whenever we would give her something. It sounds like "do do." It's pretty adorable. She has learned how to express what she wants with words like: help, chips, apple (applesauce), juice, wah-wah (water), cookie. When she wants food she says "food" and then she puts her fingers to her mouth. That was a little sign I showed her early on when I would ask if she was hungry. She started asking "why," but that has not kept up. On October 3 she was playing with her Minnie doll and was frustrated with her bow. I didn't want to help her and then when she did get it on she said: "Yea, I did it!"

Probably one of my favorite words she says is when we are at the top of the stairs and she wants me to carry her, she will say "scoop." Which is what I say when I pick her up. She shimmies at me sideways, says scoop, and then I scoop her up. I love it.

She can sit and watch shows now. She couldn't really do that before. She LOVES Minnie Mouse. Like, is just crazy about her. She calls her "Min-min."

She has started getting a little sassier the longer she is here. Which means she feels secure and happy at home. She truly loves all of her people. She gets excited to see them and can pretty much say everyone's names. It's probably my favorite thing she does because it just shows how much she loves being a part of this family.

Vivi is sweet. She notices when people need extra love. She is adorable. She mimics everything her sister does. She loves music. She often tries to sing to songs she hears on the radio. She is growing. At six months home she had gained 2.5 pounds and grown 2 inches. And she can do a pretty mean somersault.

She is a miracle. Every day I acknowledge this. I get frustrated sometimes, yes, but I am quick to look at that sweet face and be reminded where she came from and where she could have been. And most of all I think of the person or maybe people who wish she was with them. I am beyond grateful that she is ours.

On her six month day Stella and Vivi were being extra adorable together. So I got out the good camera and took some pictures. I love these two.