Beginning of 2019!

My Dearest Evan,

My sweet little dude. You're so active right now and every day you show us a little bit more of your personality. You're definitely a great walker by now - walking all over the place. You still have trouble with a change in elevations (aka steps) but you're learning those too. You really like the freedom that comes with walking everywhere and you can be really fast when you're trying to get away from us!

Aside from walking, you're doing a lot of dancing to Shakira music right now - we actually turn her "Try Everything" song on to calm you down. You like to bend your knees, flap your arms and sometimes you even move your shoulders up and down :) It's the cutest. And occasionally we hear you sing along to her songs with a "la la la" here and there.

You've figured out a much better poop schedule so no more health concerns or enemas there. Unfortunately for dad, you tend to give him most of the poopy diapers, which he then blames on me. You eat EVERYTHING! I can't imagine what you're going to be like as a teenager if it's more than this. You eat EVERY meat that's put in front of you (grilled, boiled, baked chicken, turkey, sausage, bison, pulled pork - you name it). You also love yogurt and bananas.

You reached 30 inches in length, which means dad upgraded you to the convertible car seats! No more lugging the car seat around with you in it! You're also in 2T clothes already, but you stay in the 24-25 lbs range - I think you just expend all your energy right now.

You have quite the temper. Sometimes you remind me of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast because they say, "you must control your temper!" You fall to the ground and scream and cry and sometimes get red in the face and clench your fists when you're mad or you don't get your way. I've learned that ignoring you is the best thing right now but not sure how long that will last.

You definitely prefer dad over mom right now, which breaks my heart. You always want dad to hold you, not mom and you smile and go to him first. I know with Avery this changed back and forth between parents a lot but I'm not liking this one bit! One saving grace I have is that we've established a new bedtime routine since we just ran out of breast milk. The routine includes us rocking together to three bedtime songs on your bedtime CD. It's pretty much the only time when you're completely calm and at ease in my arms right now and I cherish those moments with all my heart!

You still adore your sister and want to do everything she does. You enjoy playing outside and taking baths. You also really like carrying brushes around the house and trying to brush your hair with them. More often than not, you're brushing your head with the hard side of the brush but it's so cute.

You're also getting some molars in right now and you've been sharing your pain with the rest of us ;) And you've been sick a few times (on your third round) this year - we're definitely excited to see spring come!

Here's your life in pictures right now.....

Visiting sister on the soccer field!

Entertainment at it's finest while waiting for food!

Home Depot!

Dressed up for Patriots to play the Super Bowl! They won!

Messy hair don't care

For Alex's birthday, you helped me pick out toys for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.....but you would NOT allow me to donate the ball in your hands! That remained yours :)

Tubac Festival of the Arts!

All the balls!

Brushes!

........NOTHING.......

Taking turns

Two peas....

It snowed!

We stayed a weekend in Phoenix for Rodeo - this is at the Science Center

You own the place

Haircut!

Aquarium

This is a place called Uptown Jungle - we had a blast there!

February in the desert!

Mildred and Dildred

At Ms Patsy's

You guys love each other so much!

If it's not hair brushes, it's remotes

Big tub! 

Still sucking your thumb...think that helps comfort with those teeth coming in!

Riding in Dad's new truck!

Picnic in the park! Your own seat!

That tummy!

Yes, this is one of the drawers I allow you to get in. You have so much fun and they can't hurt you :) I realize this is blackmail someday. You actually really like throwing them in the air over your head like confetti :)

Hiking Catalina State Park on my off Friday!

Well, bud, I adore the heck out of you. You're fun and you've got the best smile. I hope your recent rough times with teeth and sicknesses are coming to an end.

All my love,
Mom