Summer Into Fall!

My Dearest Evan,

You are quite simply the best. You're pretty easy going and you just enjoy hanging out and being mobile. You've been crawling all over the place since you were 8 months old and you're standing and cruising along furniture too. You even just recently started letting go with both hands so we know it's any day now that you will try to take your first steps, unsupported!

We've also noticed that you seem to get a slight bit of enjoyment out of pulling your sister's hair. Of course, we tell her you don't know that you're hurting her but sometimes we catch the slightest bit of a smile out of you when she screams.....makes me wonder if you really do know what you're doing ;)

You like to grunt and lean forward when you poop. You've never taken a pacifier but you still like to suck your left thumb (not at daycare, just when around mom or dad). You're also a ladies man - boy do you light up at the sight of a teenage girl! It's truly amazing - no one can make you smile like a young lady.

I finally found your birth mark - it's a small little brown mark on your lower back. I noticed it once when trying to get all of the poop off of you and that piece didn't come off, haha.

I also have to tell you that you have a fantastic older sister. She cares very much about you and wants to make you happy and keep you safe and protect you. She says how cute you are and sometimes doesn't know her own strength when being around you but she's learning.

You've had a busy few months - becoming mobile, starting the football season, visiting Phoenix and taking our first road trip....you are not a fan of the car seat but we made it through ok - with a little help from the baby shark song :) You also just had your nine month check-up and you're in the 90th percentile for weight at 23 lbs and you're in the 60th percentile for head circumference. You're 27.75 inches long and perfect!

Here is your life in pictures right now:

Dad likes taking you to the courtyard - we just finished making it nice and it calms you down when you're cranky.

Must be nice to be wheeled everywhere you go!

Avery reading to you!

You adore her.

One of my favorites!

Costco shopping! You've always got something in your mouth!

My handsome boy!

Having to feed yourself

Trying out the elephant - it will help you walk within the next few months!

Looking dapper!

Sometimes you have to be contained - haha! You're getting so fast!

This hairdo is "my little Jewish boy"

This was one of the first times you pulled yourself up on anything - I knew you were getting dangerous!

Your first solid food experience! It's oat cereal (with some of my milk in there too, of course)!

Working on your fine motor skills with puffs!

ALMOST

You're definitely not as big of a fan of this bouncer as your sister was but you tolerate it sometimes.

Hanging out in your room - notice the sonograms on the wall - I have LOADS of pictures of you before you even came out!

Baby mind BLOWN! Grocery shopping in style!

Oh my heart!

The first time I saw you pull up on your own. This was when we were getting ready in the morning - right after this, you pulled the fence down on top of you and scared yourself into a fit. I was grateful it was just a fence!

Speaking of getting ready in the mornings- this is what you like to do in my closet while I'm getting ready!

Mommy/Son selfie!

Got dressed up to play

Playing in the backyard

I told you you couldn't play with the door lock - such a cute sad face

More shoes!

Swinging at the new park!

Ok, to be fair, it was really hot out.

And here are your monthly pics:

Eight months!

And nine months...Avery wanted in on the action too!

oh my heart!

And some good times at Daycare:

This is Cierra - she's your first love and your first babysitter - and Patsy's daughter (Patsy is your daycare provider)

Cierra getting in her time with you before she goes to college. I tell you, you light up when you see her. And whenever she's around, she's taking care of you. You're her boy - and when she facetimes with Patsy from college, she makes sure you're there so she can see you too!

Getting ready for daycare!

And here are some pics from our day trip to Phoenix:

At the Arizona Science Center - you were not as impressed as the rest of us

Waiting on sister and dad to come through an exhibit - in your NASA shirt, of course!

Stealing food from my bag, without me knowing it!

Mommy is in back - this is new! Using our third row seating!

Football season also started - here are some of our celebratory moments:

Looking so cute in your TB12

Ready!

Can't say it enough: oh my heart!

Football season wouldn't be complete without some K-State gear!

And, finally, here are pictures from our roadtrip. We went to Waco, Austin, Roswell and Portales. You were a trooper, with only one night really off. 

Austin Aquarium had us nervous since it was in a deserted shopping mall but it was pretty cool - and interactive!

You guys are so cute. Having fun!

Waiting to see the bats! Dad wasn't happy and you were ready to go to bed so it was not a great time to have to wait an extra hour for the bats to come out but they finally came and Avery and I thought they were worth the wait!

Getting ready for the family photo shoot!

Giving your sister a hard time in the hotel

Yay for getting out of the stroller!

You had a blow out in Ann Taylor outlet! Oh my! Daddy to the rescue...but not before a picture!

Looking at Cousin Rachel's animal rescue! You liked the raccoons :)

...And her daughter, Jade,.....of course you liked her too!

At the ENMU football game - ready to cheer on the hounds!

Better seats with more flexibility for you - you're a wiggle worm!

And you were way into seeing the volleyball players and cheerleaders!

Sister trying to scare you in the Halloween section of Walmart - this is how we have fun in Portales :)

My view of you from my seat on the trip!

Meeting your cousins!

Helping me look through photos of dad when he was a kid

With Grandma Gail!

Next to UT in Austin

This was our rough night in Waco - I took you outside in our PJs to avoid waking everyone near us

You liked the real grass!

K-State game in Waco - you photo bombed us - you were very sweaty!

First time in a big person folding chair!

And you're out! No matter how loud!

At the original YETI store in Austin - dad had to go!

And another "it's too humid here" photo from Zilker park in Austin. Avery and I were digging up dinosaur bones but you weren't having it!

Well, bud, you're so much fun right now. We enjoy every second we get to spend with you! Next up: Halloween and the holiday season.....and meeting mom's side of the family!

All my love,

Mom