19 months and Paci Free

Success! Evan is pacifier free and doesn't seem to miss it. We used to get his bear and paci before we read him a story and put him in his crib, yesterday we just did his bear and left his paci in the crib for him to find if he wanted - he really didn't even look for it. So before naptime today I told Evan that his paci was all gone, he looked at his crib and then at me and that was it. For those that were asking what it was I was doing I have included a picture of the before paci on the left and the after on the right. We did this over the course of about 4 nights slowly cutting it shorter.

As for month 19 - Evan continues to grow and change. He is talking more and more and putting a few words together at a time. He loves to walk backwards, climb and is known as a daredevil in the childcare at church. He loves people and is very social like his dad, yet he plays really well on his own. His love for books is expanding as he can now get through a story he used to not be able to sit through. He is working on his "fang" teeth and so all we really have left are the back 4 molars - should be fun ones. I should write more stuff down as I know things are changing every day but I can't always remember them. We are having a great time with him and can't wait to see what the new year brings...welcome 2008!

Evan's New Year's Resolution

While I am not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions...Evan has one. It's more of a goal really and he is figuring it out. The goal/resolution is for Evan to be weaned from his pacifier by Jan 1. The process has already begun. For the most part Evan has only had the pacifier in his crib and is great about giving it up to get out of bed, however it's time for it to go completely. He is past the point of needing to suck on something and at a good time to give it up with no other issues. (I am the dtr of a dentist afterall :) ). So each evening before bedtime I cut a little bit more of the pacifier tip off. Evan looks at it funny and sticks his finger in the hole. He tries to suck on it upside down which works a little better. He pretty much just holds it now. He looks at us wondering what happened and we've told him what is going on and he seems to just go with it. So...by Jan 1 we will see if that night we will go to bed with out the pacifier at all.

Christmas 2007

Evan's first look at the tree and presents on Christmas morning.

Christmas 2007

Evan had a great Christmas this year. (be patient with the slideshow - 21 pics) He was so much fun as he not only understood how to open presents but that there was something under the wrapping paper. He loved his wagon from Lela and Grandaddy and of course Elmo is a hit (he doesn't really like TV, so this love is from Elmo on his diapers - go figure!), he got a ball from his great grandma in Iowa and Grandma and Grandpa gave him a wonderful scrapbook. He also got a set of legos from Santa and a t-ball from mom and dad. He figured out t-ball quite well and was fielding his own balls and setting them back up. With dad he's quite good, without dad he is quite the hacker at the plate - it's fun to watch.

We spent Christmas in Dallas this year and truly enjoyed our Christmas Eve service outside - brrrr - and enjoyed lunch with some new friends and their kids on Christmas day. We feel truly blessed for all that we have and the freedom to celebrate Christ.

Chatty Evan

For those that want to watch...Evan being chatty and a little stubborn with his "moo" - it was intentional if you can't tell. The end is cute if you can put up with the rest. Every day there is a new word and they are starting to string together too.

Bubbles

Evan loves bubbles - outside and in the bath. "Bubble" is one of his favorite words and at times I get long dissertations in an unknown language however every few words I get "bubble." As you can see he likes to put the bubbles on his face and even eat them.

"New" Playground

Some friends of ours passed down a small outdoor playground to Evan. Evan has a great time climbing on it and sliding down as you can see. I was thankful for a nice day today after yesterday when Evan sat at our sliding glass door with tears running down his face as it rained outside. "Outside mommy, outside." It was so sad!!!

A new favorite picture

Just Hanging Around

Evan was playing on the couch and I realized that he matched! He does look cute in those courdoroy overalls!
Spencer loves cheerios and was initially eating off of Evan's plate, but then Evan started sharing and inbetween bites he gave some to Spencer

Weather will never stop Evan from being outside, so even though it was 38 degrees and felt like it was 15 with the wind, we bundled up and went out. He loves his mittens and just took off. Usually he just goes to the houses right around us, but this evening he just kept walking and walking...we finally had to carry him back against his will because it was getting dark - he was a man on a mission - not sure what mission but on one nonetheless.

We went to see the Trains at Northpark Mall. There is an area set up with mini cities including Dallas and NYC with trains and even a mini subway in NYC. There were trains running different directions and triple decker railways - it was really cool. Evan loved it. He also found a ground to ceiling pilar of balloons that he was so excited about - downside of whomever put them up...they weren't attached to anything so it was all we could do to keep Evan from trying to run off with them. We'd get one put back and he would be off with another one, it was hilarious. We also stopped in briefly to hear Santa telling a story, but it was lunch time and Evan does not like to miss his meals.

Who does he look like?

Many in our family keep wondering who Evan looks like and there have been all sorts of ideas from grandparents to aunts and unlces...so here goes. I found this on a friend's blog and thought it looked fun. It only looks at Jeff and I so we are going from there. Of note though - I changed pictures to see what would happen and I "won" by 3% so it's a close race. Evan is definitly coming into his own and looking like Evan, but this was still fun.

And the winner is...

18 Months

Month 18 was full of fun. Evan is now 34 inches and 28lbs. He remains in the 90th % for height and head and is now 70th for weight. He has a great appetite, he just rarely stops moving these days. He loves to be outside and knows all of our neighbors and likes to go knock on their doors if I don't catch him first - and he usually gets invited in. He enjoys "playing" football with dad and the neighborhood boys and playing with Bruce the dog across the street. His vocabulary is growing by the day. For example, I went to get him from his nap on Saturday and he was standing in his crib with just a shirt on smiling at me - no diaper in site - saying "pee pee, pee pee" .... yes, Evan pee pee...the sheets are changed. So yes, he has learned to remove his diaper and he loves to be free.
Christmas time has brought quite a bit of fun as we are surrounded by lawns full of lights and blow-up decorations and music - it's Griswald Jr everywhere we look. We go back outside after dinner each evening so he can walk through all the lights and touch everything.
He loves to dance and sing and throw everything he can. He has experienced Timeout a few times and does not like it - so far it's effective. He is becoming more and more insistant in his independence wanting to do everything himself. He loves his daddy and says "daddy" throughout the day and gets so excited when he hears the garage door in the evening knowing it means daddy is home.
This month also brought about Jeff finishing seminary - Evan and I are so proud of the graduate and can't wait to go to Cali in June to celebrate. I have some more pictures to share and will get those up soon. That's all for now.

Thanksgiving in Mason

We spent Thanksgiving in Mason this year with Amy's family - we had a great time seeing everyone and Evan had many adventures.

Such a handsome boy!! If only I could fix the redeye on my camera!

Evan's first deer experience...Uncle Glenn and cousin Paige went deer hunting on Friday morning. We took Evan to see the deer to see what he would think - he thought the deer was great...we start 'em young in our family.
Evan exploring with Molly following behind at a "safe" distance.
The cold and rain were not going to deter Evan from learning how to use Grandaddy's riding mower.
Lela and Evan
Grandaddy and Evan playing ball which turned into full tackle

Helping Grandaddy with the deer feeder.

We also saw the cows and Evan had a great time mooing at them while they mooed back - he thought that was hilarious. It was a little hard to keep him from running at the cows he was so excited.
The cousins
Sparklers...a Mason tradition

...then smores - inside due to the burn ban.

Exploring outside
Apparently Evan and his cousin Samantha wear almost the same size shoe. Above you will see the pink kitty boots that he loved wearing...and carrying cousin Sarah's around too. Below you will see Samantha putting her tennis shoes on Evan.

Aunt Conny brought great crafts for the kids using food...check out the oreo based turkeys!
Evan and Samantha playing with flashlights

"I love you"

We have been working on "I love you" lately. This is not his best work because he had already done it a few times before I got the camera and it's also dark as it was evening....but still sweet.

Evan's choice of clothes

I was getting Evan dressed the other morning and he wouldn't let me take his pjs the rest of the way off...so he walked around like this for quite awhile, legs dragging behind.

Fall Fun Fest

Our church has a festival on Halloween, we had no idea what to expect and any expectations we did have were far exceeded. There was a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, multiple blow up slides and tons of games and some bands. It was great and Evan loved it.

Petting the deer

Petting the goats. The dog on two legs is Evan, he seems to blend into the animals. :)

Noticing that Mommy has the balloon...who needs a very pregnant pig?

Evan loved the Pony ride. He looked pretty zoned out so we weren't sure, but when it was over he kept signing for more.

Fishing for candy
Jumping in the bounce house - he had fun
He didn't stay on his feet for long though

ps - Sam, Christy and Katherine...we missed y'all and know that you missed tonight but we'll see y'all soon.

Halloween Playgroup at the Arboretum

We had our playgroup today at the Arboretum and all the kids dressed up, it was so cute to see them all and lots of fun to watch them interact with each other dressed up.

Evan getting a kiss from Alex

Woof Woof
Checking out the pink poodle
Walking with Dad

Pumpkins!

Posing for a picture

The Family in the Pumpkin House
Eating Cheezits with Grandma