Fall 2019

My Dearest Evan,

Oh my sweet boy - you're a handful and a half right now! You're into everything and more right now and you're an absolute mess when you don't get your way. You've just barely started having conversations with us. They go something like this..."Evan, did you poop?" "no" "Evan, do you want to go to time out?" "no" "Evan, give that back to me" no" "Evan, do you want a skittle" "uh huh" :)

What can I say, you drive me crazy and make my heart swoon at the same time. You're a screamer.....even in public. I remember specifically looking at moms with toddlers who had tantrums and wondering what that was like - now I know. But I know it's hard being a toddler. You're testing your limits and learning so much and if you're given the chance to do something once, you want to forever and always be able to do it again and again.

You're a dancer - you love music and you like to shake your torso whenever you hear a beat you like. You cry out for mama or dada when you need our help and you like to say "up" to be more involved in whatever we're doing. And you put your forearm over your eyes whenever you don't want to be seen....as if covering your eyes makes you invisible to us! I'm finding that your brain works like mine. When you are in a new place or situation, you're quiet and reserved and clingy to your parent or sister, but the second you feel comfortable, you're walking around like you own the place. Even others have described you coming into a room like, "I have arrived!" It's comical to watch you grow.

You like to help clean up and you need you hands and mouth cleaned off when eating (you do this yourself sometimes). You also like to walk around and eat, which I've limited to your dismay. You're in love with dinosaurs and really anything that roars. And you LOVE showers and baths. You're a water baby, that's for sure. You think you're opening and closing things by hand like you're a Jedi or something (you reach out towards the door and move your arm with it like you're making it work). You like the "this little piggy" game and usually make me do it twice so I do it once on each foot (so like me). And you fall.....and hurt yourself (also like me). Your favorite book is "I Love You So" and I SO love reading it to you :)

In the past few months, you've started going to your sister's soccer games regularly and we've done a big trip to Washington D.C. You're not a great flyer (you want your space to move about and you will scream when denied it). And your affinity for licking things (i.e. bus stops and elevator doors) was not fun for us to manage but it was a great trip!

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

Getting ready for the day

You and your sister and good friends. You two get along pretty well.

Dad time!

You love things on your head - headbands, bows, clips, hair ties!

You say "Cheeeeeese" when we take your picture

You love waiting in the front seat of the car/truck when waiting for your sister to get out of school

Eating while standing on your perch - some days you eat here more than you do sitting down!

Circle time at Ms Patsy's - you're learning your colors and numbers

Not always happy about it!

You love walking around in everyone else's shoes

You're definitely a singer too - this is you using sister's karaoke machine.

Two peas....

Hi mom! Getting ready for the day

Playing outside at Ms Patsy's

Cool dude

Waiting for sister to get out of school on a rare rainy day

Setting up the new tent in the back yard

You love wearing these gloves and playing the drums (or making dad play the drums)

At sister's soccer games - you refuse to sit in your own chair - you want a grown up chair

Cheeeeeese

You went to time out because sister was there. She has sent you there too and you've gone!

Again, waiting for sister.

Still sucking your thumb - it calms you down quite a lot

Again, two peas.....

Water bottles are another thing you like the bigger version of....this is finger painting outside.

One of the many faces of Evan!

Dad bought you this rad jacket and you get SO MANY compliments on it

Playing with sister's mask

NOT happy

Halloween preview!

Your first time trying ketchup and mustard - you like it!

You love getting ready for the day. This is you putting detangler in your hair. It's really for Avery but you require it too. You also like getting deodorant and cologne and even a brush of makeup on.

Ready for the soccer game!

Apparently you have a sky cycle at the Arizona Science Museum

A rare all smiles moment on the plane to D.C.

Walking the streets of D.C.

WWII memorial with the Lincoln monument behind it.

Washington monument

Free to be you at the hotel room (and in Avery's shoes)

Natural History Museum was THE BEST!

American Idol was doing try-outs right outside our hotel.

Climbing up to daddy - looking like you're going to fall down any second but you didn't!

We went to the Smithsonian Zoo in D.C. and you would NOT LEAVE this exhibit - it was set up for Boo in the Zoo to take place later this month but you loved the skeleton dogs! You kept woofing at them.

Cool ride!

The first time I've ever seen you slide by yourself!

Cool dude with some special street lighting on you.

Taking control

Air and Space Museum

Postal Museum  - this is you sorting packages.

Driving the postal truck - you didn't want to leave this one!

Aunt Laura and Uncle Don joined us for a day of fun in D.C.

Delivering mail

All worn out on the metro ride back to the hotel!

You wanted to be in the picture too!

Eating on the go - headed to the airport!

And trying to keep the peace with Moana - it lasted for a little while.

Evan, I simply can't imagine life without you. You're the best cuddler and both dad and I can't help ourselves when you tell us to sit next to you. You smile and we melt and I think your sister agrees with us - you're a keeper! I can't wait to experience the next few months with you as your vocabulary rapidly expands and you turn TWO!

All My Heart,
Mom