We wish you a Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!

We had a great Christmas this year! This is Eve's second Christmas - she still doesn't really understand, but she did get excited when we were opening presents! We were probably more excited to open Evie's presents than our own! Evie is LOVING all things BABY lately! She got some really cute babies for Christmas, fun toys, clothes, musical instruments . . . the works. Braden and I got $$$, Kinect, lift tickets to The Canyons, clothes, etc . . . we're spoiled!

We spend all holidays running from my parents, to his parents, to my grandma's, to his parents and over again . . .It's crazy, but we LoVe it! It's so nice to have our families here and be able to spend holidays with them.

Evie spent the holidays brushing up on her walking skills! She's been truckin all over the place! FINALLY! She's been taking steps here and there since Nov 1st, but hasn't really been too interested in walking. So we're VERY proud of her for finally 'taking the plunge'!

On Christmas Eve this year while I was putting presents out, I found myself thinking, I wish I would have got this or that too, and I should have got Braden some more presents. Then I had to FOCUS on why we have Christmas in the first place. One of my goals for next year (especially because Evie will be 'understanding' a little more) is to make sure we, as a family, don't lose sight of why we celebrate Christmas. It's such a beautiful holiday, with such a special meaning. I am so thankful for Christ, my Savior.

2010 was a great year for us! Evie has been so fun! She's CRAZY smart! I love watching her play and discover - she copies what we say and do, it's my favorite!

My ONE resolution for 2011 is to get healthy! Spritually, physically, mentally! Within each area are more goals, but who really wants to know . . .

Love,

The Robinson's

Play Date!

Well, Evie finally met her match! MYLA! We had a 'play date' at Rafaela's house today with Ian, Myla, Payten, and Evie. Evie is Miss EnErGy - usually other kids her age are a little . . . overwhelmed! I think Evie and Myla wore each other out! It was hilarious to see them interact! They are both at the funnest age, and doing the funniest things! Eve was in Heaven!

Thanks again Rafaela for being the hostess! It was great to get out! :)

Snow Day!

This snow has been CRAZY! I honestly can't remember a time when it snowed this much at once! I'm loving it :)

Last night Evie and I were feeling a little "cooped" so we went outside with Braden while he shoveled snow! I put some blankets in an old sled we have and pulled Evie around our yard. She didn't know what to think! This is her 1st time 'playing' in snow!

Champs!

Thought I would give a quick shout out to Braden's Flag Football team! They won the "Championship!" a few weeks ago HAHA :) Go Team! GO TEAM GO!

My Girl . . . Talkin' 'bout My girl

Ok, lets face it - Braden and I were blessed with the most beautiful little girl . . . EVER! I'm loving this stage of her life SO much! She cracks us up! I was going through my camera and a good portion of her pictures she's doing that "Cheese Face!" big time! I just love them!

Lately Evie:

• L.O.V.E.S. her Princess Mobile! She will sit on that thing for hours if we let her! She loves us to push her around on it and she will bob her head to the music that it plays! And just recently she started scooting around on it - her feet barely touch the ground when she's sitting on it, so she leans to one side and pushes with one foot! We're in love w/ her!
• Throws her amrs in the air and waits for us to say, "BBBIIIGGG GGGIIIRRRLLL!" I'm telling you, she can hear those two words from a mile away and her amrs shoot up in the air - she want's ALL to know she's a 'BIG GIRL'! ;)
• When we laugh at her she does this fake laugh back! I can look at her and go, "Ahh ha ha ha" and she will do the funniest fake laugh you've ever heard!
• Does SUPER great with her hearing aids! We're such proud parents! She doesn't even take them out {miracle}!
• Almost has the walking down! She's been sick for the past 2 weeks almost, so now that she's feeling better I think she's going to take right off!
• Points to herself and says, "Dada" then points to dada and says, "Dada"! I think 'Evie' is too hard to say! We'll have to come up w/ something easier for now!

I'm just loving my little Evie Grace to pieces! I wish I could jump inside her brain right now and see what she's thinking and hearing! She's trying so hard to say new words and do new things! It's so awesome to see them discover the world!

LOVE YOU EVIE GIRL!

Happy Birthday to Me

Yep, I turned 22 on Nov 23 . . . I FEEL LIKE A BABY! Braden got me those fancy boots {love them} and I also got some clothes/jewelry from my parents and in-laws. It was a great day! We ate at Cafe Rio for dinner then went to Farrs Fresh for ice cream {thanks for everyone who came and ate ice cream w/ us - I felt special!} That's about it! Birthdays aren't as exciting as they used to be - what's up with that!?

New Hearing Aids

{The first place we went after we got her hearing aids was Chili's for some lunch! She sat in her chair and listened to all the noises! She kept dancing to the music and bobbing her head to the beat! It was awesome :) }

Evie got her 1st set of hearing aids on Thursday, November 4th, 2010 (the day before her 1st birthday)! They are pink and have clear sparkly ear molds.
I'm going to be honest (don't think I'm awful) but I was not excited about this at all! I was only excited for Evie to hear better - hearing aids, not so much! I was nervous! Nervous they would make Evie look 'different', make her look 'weird', put a stamp on her that says, "I'm Deaf!" or "I have a problem". I also worried about her pulling at them, pulling them off, chewing on them, etc!
I tried to research the hearing aids that her audiologist had ordered so the appointment wouldn't be as overwhelming. I've talked to tons of other moms to get info as well. I HATE feeling overwhelmed and unprepared (which were the exact feelings I had when we found out about her hearing loss).
Braden and I took Evie on Thursday to pick up her hearing aids and try them out for the first time. IT WENT GREAT! Evie is still the same ole' Evie! To me, they don't make her look any different at all! It's obvious that they are there, but it's obvious that my Evie is still the same.
When we first turned the hearing aids on, Evie was sitting on her dad's lap. She just sat there and starred. She didn't move an inch or say a word for a good 5 minutes. THEN she started clapping! We loved it :) We went into the hearing booth where they play noises and see what Evie responds to. She responded multiple times at 10db . . . which is a whisper! Our audiologist said that she didn't think she could even get Braden to pass at that! Pretty awesome! I realized that these hearing aids aren't making her different, they are making her the same!
The even greater news is that she keeps them on ALL DAY LONG! She never even messes with them! I think she's enjoying being able to hear! It's been really cool! I sang happy birthday to her after I'd put them in and she bobbed her head as I sang. It was so cute.
I have noticed a lot of uncomfortably long starring eyes. I wish people would just ask instead of stare! It's awkward! BUT it's not like I don't get it - I was/am a starrer too! You can't blame people for wondering, it just makes for some awkward Wal-Mart shopping time. And I'm sure it will get better! Right now it's all I think about, so it's only natural that I would feel like EVERYONE is staring! And they should be, I have the most adorable daughter EVER! :)

Happy Evie = Happy Mom and Dad

(I forgot my camera for the appointment, but we have an awesome audiologist and she let me use hers - she's making me a CD - I'll post them soon)