Our Favorite New Things

Evan is in love with this book called "The Icky Sticky Frog". Nena sent it to him as it was one of the books she use to read to Everitt and Morgan when they were little. Evan loves it. We always have to read it 4-5 times in a row. I think he likes all of the expressions used in the book. There is a "Whoop" sound and a "Shhhhh". Evan places his finger over his mouth and way up next to the side of his nose and says "Shhhhh". He sticks out his tongue when the frogs does and he uses big arm gestures when the "Whoop" happens. He loves to smell all of the flowers next to the big blue lake. It is adorable.

Today we were playing at home when I said to Evan let's spin. I turned round and round and stopped suddenly to see what Evan would do. He did a spin of his own and laughed. So I did another. Before you know it we are both spinning. Evan learned quickly that spinning leads to dizzy. He was giggling and spinning and making himself dizzy. He would run to the sofa and crash into it to make the dizziness stop. It was so fun to see him learn this new thing. This week we have also started jumping. He will jump in place and smile up at you waiting for you to jump too.

Evan loves to drive his cars and trucks. He is good now at rolling them to you and waits for you to return them. In the car, he will drive them on the window edge and up the wall all the times making "Vrrrrummm"..."Vroooooom" noises.

Evan understands everything. I have come to realize that he really gets it. He knows what we say and I think at times he is frustrated that he can't yet verbally communicate fully the way he wants. He loves to take us by the hand and lead us to where he wants us to go. It may be to just walk down the street or it may be to a toy he needs help getting it unstuck or he wants a snack and will take us to the pantry or refrigerator. It is so much fun to see what a little boy he is now. He has needs and wants and clearly communicates those to us in ways that he knows best. I love it and I am fascinated in watching my little boy grow and discover things on his own.

We make forts weekly. He loves them. He will start to giggle before my fort creation is even completed. He will run in and giggle and then go and get toys to bring into the fort with him. One thing is certain he loves to have me inside with him. He will get it all settled and soon come and take my hand and gesture to get me inside the fort with him. I have learned that I have to make these places big enough for both of us or it will be difficult for me to enter. I love these times with him. They are and will be embedded in my memories forever. I can't imagine missing out on these times and I am so thankful I have them with him. It is so nice to just "be" with him.

He says so many words now. I wanted to write an updated list: mama, dada, hot (hota!), hota tea, dada (ball), up, down, books, truck (his absolute favorite word right now), keys, banana, crackers, snack, juice, socks, shoes, knee, eyes, Grandma, rocks, stick. I am sure there are more I am missing. He makes all sorts of noises to represent things. "Whoosh" for the water in his bath or the ocean waves, moo, meow, baaa, maaaa, quack, he makes a flutter movement with his hands to represent a butterfly. He is so much fun. I just can't get enough of him!!