Quotes of the Day

Evan: Mommy, did you have a fun day at work?
Mom: *at a loss for words* Um, yes, Evan, I had a fun day at work.

Evan: I want to go on an airplane to see YiaYia and Papau and give them kisses and hugs.

Sweetest. Boy. Ever.

Fore!

Mark the calendar, it was Evan's first day on the golf course - exactly on his 2.5 birthday! He loved hitting balls on the range! Yey, that means mom and dad may actually be able to play again!

I did what?

Evan, today you "lotioned" your face and legs with vanilla greek yogurt! Apparently, you were getting ready to go to the pool today :-)

Aunt Katie will be so proud...

Evan made his debut visit to the dentist this week. He doesn't do all that well at the doctor's office, so I wasn't very optimistic. We did a bit of role playing last week to prepare, and can you believe the visit was a smashing success?!

I wish the pediatrician's office was as cool as the dentist! I knew it was going to go well as soon as we walked in and there was a fish tank, TVs, and some gaming stations for the older kids in the waiting room. Evan loves fish, so it was a huge hit!

When we were called back the hygienist immediately gave him the choice of a Cars or Transformers toothbrush (he chose Transformers) and a monkey stuffed animal. The kid is a sucker for presents! There were TVs on the ceiling, so he gladly laid back and opened wide so she could "count his teeth." She was able to brush and floss without a whimper.

Dr. King stopped by after the cleaning to take a peek. His eyes welled up a little, but he cooperated and opened wide for Dr. King to find Mickey Mouse and Chuggington in his mouth.

Overall, the visit was a success. They even took his picture to document his first visit :-) Then they gave him another treat bag with floss, toothpaste, little toys, and let him choose a sticker.

When I dropped Evan off at school, he proudly wore his sticker and told all his friends that the dentist tickled and counted his teeth!

Video: Smarty Pants

We have a little smarty pants! Ev can say his ABCs and count to ten in English and Spanish. The alphabet puzzle from Santa was a huge hit to say the least. He is also really good at recognizing letters, and can find a letter when asked to do so.

Here is a video of him singing his ABCs. Unfortunately, the phone is a big distraction and he stops near the end. This was taken last month. I don't think I learned the alphabet until kindergarten, so I am impressed that he knows so much at just over 2.

Singing's my Favorite!

Ohmigoodness! MY new favorite is Evan singing! While giving him a bath tonight, I sang Pat-a-Cake, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Jesus Loves Me. Apparently he now knows the tune and some of the words and tries to sing along. Adorable!

We also had to play bread butter. Translated equals YiaYia's game of "spread a long piece of bread and butter." I had to cut it about twenty times!

An Ordinary Day

It was an ordinary Monday that I don't want to forget. Evan moved up to the toddler room at preschool today. He normally goes to this room in the morning for drop off, but he had a hard time saying goodbye this morning. Usually, he will give me a kiss, a big squeeze,  and then go about his day. But today he cried and gave me a choke hold hug. Broke my heart that I had to go to work.

At pick up he was very happy to see me, however, it took him awhile to put the books away he was reading. We piled in the car and cranked up the tunes for the ride home.

Ev loves to color almost as much as I do! Yeah, he's totally my kid. I wish he would learn to color inside the lines though :) We colored upstairs for a while, and then played with Chuck (a truck) until I needed to start dinner.

We can't do anything around this house without music. Evan instructed me to "dance." Which means I have to put my iPhone on the dock and turn on the music. Note: I can't just turn on the iPod. It HAS to go on the dock! Once that was settled, it was time to cook.

I made herbed chicken parmesan, which he loved! Score one for me! I love it at the end of the meal when he tells me "all done," and then proceeds to stuff his face with what is remaining on his tray! Now envision a total mouthful and then he tells me "all done" again. I just want to eat him up!

After dinner there was some throwing the ball to Palmer. Actually, a lot of throwing the ball mixed with some crying because Palmer (Malmer, mine!) won't give the ball back. After ball, Evan found the Sponge Bob giant color sheets, so it was back to coloring. He wouldn't let me clean up dinner. I got a "sit" command, followed by "color." He told me.

After coloring, Evan fed the dog. While in the pantry, Evan decided he wanted a snack. Coloring works up an appetite. Popsicle it is, Evan. I can't remember how he says it, but it is cute :)

Bedtime called shortly after the popsicle was finished. We gathered up Mimi (his blanket) and Malmer and headed upstairs. Bath time included more coloring with washable crayons. My little naked boy then ran (he took those short, quick steps that I LOVE) back into his room to put on a diaper and jammies. We brushed his teeth, combed his hair, read four books, and said his prayers (aaaahmen). Evan said bye to Malmer (aka, goodnight), and then Mama got another kiss and he put his head on my shoulder.

Sweet dreams, little man. Can't wait to see your toothy smile in the morning. XOXO

Catching Up

Sorry for the lack of posts. We've been busy playing at the pool, keeping sicknesses at bay (Evan had strep, Miquel had strep, Evan had a viral rash, Miquel had strep again, and Evan had the stomach flu - what a summer so far), marathon training, and trying to stay cool in this hot Atlanta summer.

At 20 months something in Evan's brain clicked and now he is a talking machine! He's in a stage right now where he points to everything and says, "that?" His current favorite book is, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, so it make the "that" game interesting. I'm not sure what a Zelf is, but it is on the shelf.

He also hearts Elmo. Daycare played an Elmo YouTube clip one day, and it has been downhill ever since :) If I have to hear Feist sing 1234 one more time...! It's my own fault for encouraging it. I needed him to calm down in the car one day and played a clip from my phone. I bet you can guess what happens now. Yep, he wants to watch Elmo or puppies on every car ride.

I'll leave you with a story from the pool today. Evan and I were playing in the water, and all of a sudden he says bye-bye and starts walking towards our towels. He picked up the bag and said bye-bye again. Apparently he was done playing at the pool and wanted to go home. First time that has happened!

Hoppy Easter

Because I'm lazy, I am combining over a week's worth of Easter activities in one post. Easter festivities started the Sunday before Easter at the John's Creek Easter Egg Hunt. The paper said that pre-hunt activities started at 12:30, and the hunt started at 1:30 sharp. We arrived shortly after 12:30 and the park was zoo. The line was a mile long to see the Easter bunny, the "make a bunny mask" station was out of supplies, and we barely got two strands of Easter necklace beads. E is too small to go in the bouncy house, so we sat around for an hour for the hunt to start. The park was nicely divided out by age group so the toddlers didn't have to fight with 5 year olds over eggs. The organizers let everyone on the soccer field about 5-10 minutes before the start. Mass chaos ensued. The toddlers wouldn't stand still. At 1:30 sharp (they weren't messing around), the horn went off and 30 seconds later the hunt was over! 30 seconds. Not kidding. Evan ended up with 8 eggs, and only because mom and dad helped put them in his basket!

On Tuesday night we colored eggs. Evan LOVED it. I boiled a dozen eggs, and when we were finished with the 12 he cried because he wanted to do more.

Evan found his Easter basket without much trouble. (I had it on top of the ottoman in the family room.) He knew right away it was for him and he dug right in :-)

After church we took a family photo on the front porch. (We took one last Easter as well, a tradition, perhaps?)

We headed over to Uncle Mike's and Aunt Wendy's for Easter dinner (yum yum). Uncle Mike dressed as the Easter Bunny. Ariana and Evan were a little unsure of the bunny! We had such a great day (until Evan had a meltdown because he didn't want to leave even though he was UBER tired)!

Pretty picture of Ariana in her Easter dress

Family group shot!

16 Months

Another new month, another cold turned ear infection! We were referred this week to an ENT. Little Evie may be getting tubes :-(

Daylight savings and a new nap schedule at daycare has really screwed up Evan's bedtime schedule. Gone are the days of 6:30 to bed every night. Depending when he gets up from his nap at daycare, bedtime is now between 6:30-7:30. It's nice that Chad is able to see him for more than 10 minutes in the evenings.

Evan moves at warp speed! He is a little runner now, and especially likes to take walks in the park. We tried flying a kite last weekend. He was interested for about 3 minutes, and then decided he would rather run up and down a hill!

New Tricks:

• He is getting pretty good with the shape blocks. If we point to where they go he can get the blocks through the sorter.
• Evan is picking up on what the animals say. So far, he knows what the puppy says
• New sign: bird
• Getting very good with a fork and spoon.
• Gives kisses and hugs

Likes:

• Music and dancing
• Playing outside
• Birdwatching
• Playing ball with Palmer

15 Months

It surprises me every day how much Ev comprehends what we are saying to him. Even the teachers at school say that he is one of the few who follows directions well. In terms of signing, it seems we have regressed this month. I've tried to teach him a few new signs but lately he has resorted to pointing and grunting. I am working with him on the signs for water, bird, chicken, hear, where, wait and want.


The morning daycare drop-off crying has thankfully ceased. He learned quickly that breakfast awaits him! Speaking of food, the kid loves to eat. I swear as soon as we finish a meal and clean it up he is giving me the eat sign again. Do kids still only eat when they are hungry at this age?


New tricks:

• New words: Mama!! and uh-oh
• Folds his hands to pray

Likes:

• Music and dancing
• Playing outside
• Coloring
• To help do just about anything - feed Palmer, rake the leaves, start the dishwasher, load the washer

14 Months

January got away from me, so here I am a week late or so on Evan's 14 month update. The big change this month is we have a full-fledged, full-time walker! He gave up crawling during the week of vacation snow days! He hasn't had an injury in awhile, until this weekend. We were up in the Georgia mountains again with a bunch of friends. He tripped and hit his head on a door. A lump. A cut. Crying. Ice. Even more crying.

This week he started a new room at daycare - pre-toddlers. Evan is adjusting well, but drop offs have been a little harder these last two days because he isn't familiar with the early teacher. Things are a lot different in the pre-toddler room. No high chairs. No cribs. Evan apparently really likes sitting at the table to eat his food (I wonder how much of it ends up on the floor?). And nap time is going well too. I'm shocked! He slept 2.5 hours on Monday and 2 hours today - on a cot - where he can escape. Crazy, I know.

New tricks:

• Walking
• New signs: please, help, light
• Knows where his head, eyes, teeth, ears, mouth, belly are (in addition to nose and tongue that he knew last month)
• Words: hi, bye, Dada, Yia Yia
• Going down stairs

Likes:

• Petting Palmer
• Crayons
• His mama :-)

13 Months

2011 started with another illness - croup. Evan is doing better now that he has been on medication all week. The barking cough has subsided, and even the cold isn't as bad as it was on Monday.

We still don't have a full-time walker! Although, he is walking a lot more than he was two weeks ago. It's crazy how fast things change! Evan is very cautious when it comes to walking. He doesn't take many risks, and doesn't go very fast. However, when it comes to climbing stairs, crawling on the fireplace, or trying to climb in/out of the toy box he is fearless.

Yes, more crazy hair! The left side doesn't cooperate!

New tricks:

• Giving kisses and hugs
• Blowing kisses
• Can point to his nose and tongue
• Signs: milk, more, again, eat, bath, drink, all done

Likes:

• All Mommy all the time
• Books
• Baths (especially with the new Flow n' Fill Spout Santa brought him)
• Electronics
• Whole milk
• Turning on/off light switches
• Brushing his hair and teeth

Dislikes:

• Naps
• Diaper changes

Evan Turns 1!

Whew! What a crazy week. Evan's daycare had a Thanksgiving feast at lunch on Tuesday, a birthday dinner with Chad Tuesday night, Atlanta Half Marathon on Thursday morning, Thanksgiving dinner with Moran's Thursday afternoon, we put up Christmas decorations on Friday, Evan's birthday on Saturday, and dinner with Chad's cousin, Heather, on Saturday night. I think I am sufficiently pooped (but not so much that I am ready to return to work tomorrow).

It was an exciting, rewarding, sometimes difficult, joyous, life-changing, and love-filled year (and every other emotion in between)! But, we made it (and so did Evan)!

Evan's new favorite thing is to say hi and wave - to anybody or anything! It is cute beyond words. He is not quite walking yet, but he has taken 4 or 5 steps here or there. (Chad and I first witnessed him take steps at the daycare's Thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday.)

He had a rough month 11. It started with a fall on our hardwoods while he was pushing one of his trucks around (small goose egg). A few days later we found out he had a double ear infection (no worries though, the kid loves the bubble gum flavored amoxicillin), and then he took another fall at daycare and cut his top lip.

On the teeth front, he has four on the top and two on the bottom. Evan has started showing signs of a cranky teething baby, and he took a frozen teether for the first time this weekend.

Likes:

• Saying hi and waving
• Pushing/walking his truck(s) around the house
• Electronics that he is not allowed to touch - my mouse, computer, camera, video camera
• Palmer and "Calling" Palmer (he pats his hand on the ground to call the dog over)
• Dancing
• Baths
• Climbing on the fireplace
• Touch and feel books

Dislikes:

• Naps
• Riding in the car
• Changing his diaper

Stats:

• 23 lb, 12 oz (70%)
• 30.5" (75%)
• Head circumference 18.75" (90%)

Evan says thank you all for the gifts! He didn't like opening them (cried when I tore the wrapping paper), but he enjoyed what was inside of the boxes! Oh, and he is a big fan of chocolate cake and frosting!

11 Months

Where did October go? Evan's 10th month sure went by quickly, and what do we have to show for it? Lots of memories (and pictures) - a trip to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, pumpkin patch/corn maze fun, a first Halloween, and several new teeth!

Evan's two middle top and bottom teeth are now in, and two more on the top are on the way. Be warned, don't put your fingers near his mouth - those puppies are sharp!

He is cruising all over the furniture, and he has stood by himself several times now. This afternoon, he took about a step and a half by himself and then fell on his butt!

Last week, we started the bottle weaning process. It has been six days and he is completely off the bottle. I thought the bedtime bottle was going to be a huge issue, but since the milk has just been transferred to the sippy cup, he doesn't really care. I think the tougher part will be to get him to drink his formula/milk before bathtime so we can brush his teeth. One step at a time...

We still haven't baby-proofed the house. Last month was so busy, but we need to get on it. Did you know opening cabinet doors are pretty fun?

I think he made his first sign too - more, as in more food! It is hard to tell though, because he claps rather than put his fingertips together. Evelyn at daycare knocks fists together, but Evan and another boy clap. He uses it at the right time though, so Miss Angela and I think he is making the sign. Pretty exciting!

Likes:

• Pushing the dinette chairs around the kitchen (thanks Brandon at daycare for teaching Evan that one)
• Bath time - and trying to drink the bath water (gross!)
• Pushing trucks, dumping blocks on his head, knocking over the stacking block tower
• Dancing! It is soooooo cute! When one of his toys plays music he will twist back and forth with his arms out. LOVE it! I'm trying to get it on video, but as soon as Evan gets a glimpse of what I am doing he stops immediately and makes a dash for the camera.
• Feeding Palmer rather than feeding himself. The word no is not working yet.
• Stairs
• He's still into all things electronic - cell phones, remotes, my computer, mouse

Dislikes:

• He is still not a huge fan of the diaper change and/or getting dressed
• Taking away of electronics!

First Visit to the Zoo

In honor of our 12 year anniversary, we took Evan to the zoo! Zoo Atlanta is much smaller than the Milwaukee County Zoo. No polar bears, penguins, otters, rhinoceros, hippos, and a bunch of others I fail to remember.

We like to think Evan had a good time, but he was playing it cool so it was hard to tell! Most of the animals were pretty far away from the pedestrian paths, so we aren't sure he saw a lot of them. We did have a good view of the giraffes and zebras though, and he seemed pretty interested. He also enjoyed the pandas, and the goats in the petting zoo.

First Haircut

Evan had his first haircut yesterday. (The over-the-ear look was bugging Chad.) The process took all of about three minutes - and he cried the entire time! The woman was very efficient and obviously had dealt with screaming and crying many times before.

When we were done, Chad said, "My haircut this morning was less expensive and I had a 15 minute neck and shoulder massage included!" Yep, $17.99 + tip was a little ridiculous for three minutes! Oh well, Evan is nice and tidy now!

Video: 10 Months

Evan discovered the stairs yesterday. He climbed four stair before I stopped him! Here is a short clip of him climbing stairs and talking. He NEVER says mama, I was shocked taping this today since he didn't want to say dada. Thanks kiddo, I feel loved!

10 Months

10. Months. Old. When did this happen?

Evan is now quite proficient in crawling. We haven't purchased baby gates or cabinet locks yet, but I think we will have to sooner than later. You can hear the kid a mile away when he crawls on the hardwood. He smacks those little hands quite hard and purposefully.

He is starting to cruise around the furniture too, which means he may no longer be allowed in the family room! My poor furniture. Sigh. I'm glad we purchased the leather ottoman, as the glass top coffee table that resides in the living room would have to be windexed every five minutes! I kid (sort of). Chad and I were laughing at Ev this weekend because he favors his right leg. If we hold his hands to help him walk, he moves his right twice and then sort of moves the left. We need video, I know. I better get him doing some squats and lunges to help support that little belly.

Evan now has three teeth coming in. Two on the top and one on the bottom. (Aunt Katie is surely beaming at the thought of three little baby teeth!) His top left one is showing the most, but is only about a quarter of the way in.

Ev is still a mamas boy, but his babbling is constantly dadadadadada. I don't think he can make the "m" sound yet! Oh well, at least mama should beat out Palmer (I hope) :-)

Likes:

• Touch and Feel books
• Pushing his fire truck
• Crawling everywhere
• Pulling himself up to a standing position
• Electronics - tv remote, cell phones
• Feeding himself

Dislikes:

• Having my diaper changed (especially after bath time because he knows a bottle is coming)
• Taking away something he shouldn't have (like a cell phone)

A Tooth!

E has been a little grumpy the past two weekends. The reason, we hope - a tooth! We can feel one coming in on the bottom. I have tried for the past couple of weeks to give him a frozen teether, but he doesn't want anything to do with it. Even stranger, he really doesn't put blocks, books, etc in his mouth anymore. I thought everything went into the mouths of babies when they teethe. Apparently I am mistaken.

I am going to miss that gummy smile! Sniff.