Winter and Your First Birthday!

My Dearest Evan,

Oh my, the past three months have been fun! It's been very busy with the holiday season. You were Spider Man for Halloween (because your Maui costume came in too big - that was meant for you to match your sister's Moana costume - and Dad wouldn't let me get you a skunk costume). You are still a very big boy at 24 pounds and 29 inches long, but you crawl and cruise really fast, so that has been keeping your weight steady while you eat us out of house and home. You eat 4 bottles a day, along with 4 egg whites, another breakfast at Ms Patsy's a lunch, snack and dinner! You adore your big sister and involve yourself in everything she does around the house, like it or not! You had a fun Thanksgiving in Kansas City with Grandma and Pop and then they came down to visit us for your first birthday!

You like to grunt - that's your form of talking. So when we Facetime while I'm away on work trips or something, we grunt to communicate. You love it and it definitely makes me smile. The best sound in the world is you and your sister laughing. You're two peas in a pod, although she does sometimes get upset at you for things you don't yet understand (like when you're hurting her or how to share).

You have bitten a few times but it's nothing like how Avery was (yet). You hate socks and shoes on your feet and you can say "Mama" and "Dada". You took your first official steps on Christmas Day, 2018, and took a few more the next day but much prefer for cruise while holding onto something that moves with you or speed-crawl. You shake your head "no" when you don't want something or when you understand that we're telling you no. And, oh, that smile - you have a great smile!

You had a hard time learning how to poop so we took you to the doctor and learned how to give you an enema (I know, tell me about it). Dad handled those, thank goodness! And I got to cuddle you after! But lately you've been pooping more than your fair share so I think you've gotten the hang of it! You have been a bit more difficult to transition to solids than your sister so we feel like we're learning all over again! You're no longer nursing but you have plenty of frozen milk left so we're using that to wean you.

You're into everything now so nothing is safe. You're in every drawer and cabinet and anything within your reach is game! You definitely keep us on our toes and your nickname is Tasmanian Devil!

You love riding around in your blue car you got from Aunt Cat for Christmas. You also love listening to your sister sing on her new karaoke machine - you dance and bounce up and down to her music. She gets mad at you for being on her stage - ha!

Here is your life in pictures right now......

Picking out pumpkins

At a neighborhood tailgate - first time in a chair (yes, you were supported)

Hard keeping you still for a photo!

Halloween! Spider man!

Being like the big kids!

A normal meal in our house right now! You and your sister next to each other!

Your favorite spot in the backyard - you kick and scream when we take you out

Waiting for car maintenance - two ipads to keep you guys busy!

Long hair before the cut!

Visiting the railway museum before heading to KC for Thanksgiving.

Halloween at Ms Patsy's - gotta be the best day of the year to own a daycare

Plane to KC

You and Aunt Cara

Playing at Grandma and Pop's house

An indoor play area in KC

With your great grandma Elinore, who couldn't hold you - you were too heavy for her!

Plane ride back from KC - haha - wore you both out!

Like I said - tasmanian devil!

Your sister loves you very much

And you are addicted to her

11 months!

Hanukkah!

Photo bomb

All the eggs!

In desperate need of a haircut!

Before you knew what was going on....

And the terrible first haircut

Out to eat right after the haircut - Dad and I both hated this haircut on you - you looked like a totally different kid to us!

You LOVE baths right now. You get so excited when you see the water running that you dance with your little legs until Dad puts you in!

Santa visited our house for Dad's work party this year - we woke you up to meet him and you did so great! Much different than the first time Avery met Santa!

Making holiday cookies with the family!

Your blue car you got on Christmas day

Christmas in Tucson - we were loving it!

Sharing toys!

Happy First Birthday!

Indoor playground

The mandatory locked behind a baby gate pose

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

We made it a baby shark theme, after the Baby Shark song you love so much right now.

You got right to business with your smash cake!

It snowed while Grandma and Pop were in town so we went up the mountain to visit it!

Your first time in snow!

In the car after the snow visit!

Pop's mom taught me how to play the piano - and he's passing it down!

Matching shoes with Daddy! Your first pair of shoes were Baby Js!

We spent a day in Phoenix with Grandma and Pop

Avacados keep you pooping kid!

All over the place!

Avery's #1 fan!

How can I help you, Dad?

Best friends!

You usually do this to me at night when you're tired but you did it to Avery this night because I was out of town for work.

More eggs!

First thing in the morning, saying hi to Mom while she was away!

ALL over the place!

You love playing peek-a-boo in Avery's tent.

Avery got new fish - you're not that interested in them!

Loving to play at the outdoor mall's playground!

Waiting for sister at her swim class - you'll be going here next year!

You like putting your fingers in your sister's mouth - no clue why!

Naked baby!

First time on the field when watching Avery play soccer - you'll be here soon too!

Superbowl Sunday...and the Patriots are going for the second time in your life (total of two Superbowls you've been alive for)

Evan, you are one lucky dude. You are adored by your entire family and that results in you getting to do pretty much whatever you want, as long as it doesn't hurt yourself or your family. You're a really happy kid and you enjoy just being around everyone else. Dad loves that you are a cuddler, even with him, and I'm loving that you've started communicating more with us. So much more growing to do this year!

All my heart,
Mom