Mommy and Me

Evan Pictorial Update-16 Months

Dear Evan-16 Months Old

Dearest E!
It is so much fun to be with you. You are all over the place! All you want to do is be outside. As soon as you get up in the morning you go to the door and stretch to reach that door knob.

You love to run and play at the bluff. We spend hours each day there. It is our own "backyard". We like to kick the ball and throw it to one another. You are getting really good at kicking and throwing. You even throw over handed now. We are working on learning how to jump, skip and hop.

Your favorite thing in the world is trucks. You point and yell at each truck we see.

You shake your head yes in answer to our questions. You respond to so many requests and questions. One day I was just talking to you and asked you to do something not expecting that you would and you went right over and did it!

You love books (especially one that has a truck!). You can point and identify so many things when asked. You have started singing to yourself. You will hear Mommy or Daddy singing and after a few minutes you can hear you try to sing a song.

Yesterday we were in the grocery store and as we were walking down an aisle a baby and his Mother were walking past us. In a perfect voice you pointed and said "Baby!". I had only recently heard you say that word and it was so fun to see you identify something new so clearly.

You love water. Anything water. We will walk past a gardener watering plants and we will stop and watch. You love fountains and we visit all of them in the neighborhood. We have 4-5 close by. We went to Kids Space in Pasadena this week. There were all sorts of water activities. You were so happy. I can't wait to take you to swim this summer. There is a new beach club open to the public here in the neighborhood. It should be perfect for us to go all summer long!

You seem more into sharing now and understand the concept. I see you offering a drink to Sofia or giving a ball to a new friend at the park. You love people and seek them out when someone interests you. You have a few favorite people in your life (that is besides M + D!) Gianni-you love her and give her kisses when we leave her; Monica-Our neighbor, you always respond so well to her and give her many smiles; Dave-our old neighbor(now friend), you love him and will reach out for him to pick you up. He is the first person outside of M + D that you have done this for. It is neat to see you open your circle of trust. You are such a people person and like to watch faces. We started a new music class this past week. We are taking it with Sofia. You like the instruments and the activity but always get a little overwhelmed by the end. I think it is too close to nap time and groups always make you a little overwhelmed. I think you are all ready showing a preference to one-to-one.

You are taking one nap a day. You usually go to bed between 8-9 and sleep until 7-8am. You are getting longer by the minute!

We love you so much. It is so wonderful to watch you grow.

Love-
M

Kids Space Museum

The first turtle you have ever seen. You kept wanting to touch his head but it would go into its shell!

You love baby sized chairs. Mommy needs to get you your own chair!

There was a "river" that the museum had made to play with buckets. You and your buddies Elijah and Audrey had a ball!

Pure Delight

Evan is a delight. I am amazed at how he sees the world. It is like he is trying to catch everything in at the same time. He get so excited and loves to share it with me. Now that he is walking, I sit back and lean against a tree so he can explore on his own. He will wander away from me and explore to come running back to reveal the new rock or flower he discovered in his travels. It is a precious time we are living right now. I hardly have a moment to write as I am trying to take each day in and truly experience the days with my son. I cannot tell you how much my heart swells at the sight of him and delights in the smiles and laughter that he shares with me each day.

Childhood

Yes Mommy

Tonight Evan was struggling with teeth pain. He didn't want to leave my sight. Steven was playing with him in the bedroom so I ran out front to get a little work done. I could hear him calling my name "meh meh". He walked into the kitchen and caught my eye. He walked faster and said my name louder "MEH MEH". I said, "Hi! Are you looking for me?" He nodded his head yes. He started nodding in the last week or so. It makes him such a kid. I am amazed at how he picked it up. I just love how he learns things. My little guy.

Easter 2009

Outside!

Evan and I got home from being outside all day. When we got home he did not want to be inside. Daddy was home and quickly took him to the bluff so he could get his fill of the outdoors before dinner. He is so funny. He can be grumpy or slightly out of sorts and as soon as we take him outside all of the sadness or frustration goes away.

Here is a picture of Evan tonight at the bluff.

It's Spring

We met some friends at the beach tonight for dinner and the sunset. We had the best time. It was relaxing and so easy. The kids played in the sand and had the best time. I just got Evan a pair of sunglasses. I bought the because he loves my glasses so much I thought he might like a pair of his own. He has started to wear them more and more. Tonight we got to the beach around 5pm. He was sporting his sun hat and glasses. He looked like such a California boy.

E's New Things

It is so much fun to see him do new things. We are working on colors now.

Evan has started to nod "yes".

I remember when I first started explaining and using color as a description I was thinking to myself, "Wow. So much my little guy needs to know". I didn't want to overwhelm him as he might not even know the name of the object let alone the color of it. It is so much fun now because he know the name of so many objects that if I say, "an orange balloon" I know he understand that the word "orange" is not the name of the object itself but a description of that object. He is such a little sponge. He amazes me daily with his new understanding or words and concepts.

When E walks, he now will walk with his hands and arms pulled towards his back. I love seeing his small hands and feet do such adult or big people gestures like crossing you legs or folding your hands.

We have a dinner plate for for E. It has separate compartments for items on it. Evan will eat out of each one as I separate the different foods for him. At lunch today I give him one raspberry at a time as he got choked for eating too many at a time. I placed one berry in a compartment and then he would ask me for more right away. So I placed one berry where I had been placing them and another in the larger department. He took the one from the larger compartment and put it with the other one where we always put the berries!

Evan has velcro straps for his shoes. I can ask him to do the straps and he will pull them to close them.

He will go to his highchair when I ask him too and start to get into it ant dinner.