"Hieee Mommy"

What do you do with a toddler that has learned how to play hide and seek - both the hiding and the seeking, runs away with a stinky diaper and a grin, climbs on tables (that's an automatic timeout around here) and yet can walk up to you when you are crouched down getting something and lean on you and say "hieee mommy".....what do you do??? Love them!!! These are just a few of the things we are doing from day to day lately. It's always an adventure but what a great ride.

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.