Mama..

"Mama, Have you ever seen a red leaf?"

Water

Yesterday we went to our favorite park to play around on the splash pad. E was all ready with his cups in hand. We arrived to find the water going but within minutes it all shut off. Evan understood all of the conversation going on around him and knew he needed to find a button that would turn back on the water. He found this plate that said "Water" and was trying to push it to make the water come back on. It never did and poor E didn't get his water fix for the day.

Our Favorite Everyday Place

There is this park in SM that has everything an almost two year old could need. Evan loves being there so much. We do try to go at least every other day so he can play in water, sand and run in a wide field of green grass. They also have a great Toddler playground. He climbs up and does the slide all by himself. He just loves it. It is a fun day for us.

Classes

This summer Evan and I are taking another Music Together class. We have been taking them since he was 6 months old. It has been a year this summer in are participation with these classes. It is amazing to see how much Evan has learned and it learning doing this class each week. He loves the drums and the musical instruments the best. This week the teacher said it was time to bring out the drums and Evan shrieked in excitement as he ran over to get to the drum bins. He will take out the sticks and surround himself with drums and just drum! He walks over to the other kids and beats on their drums too. When the session is over and it is time to put the drums away he does it without a fuss. This is huge. He use to cry each time we had to clean up the instruments. He does it with pride too. He will lay the instrument back in the bin or offer it back to the teacher and clap with a smile.

We are also doing a gym class. It is amazing. Evan loves it and it is such a great class for his age. He gets to climb and jump and spread his wings physically in a safe environment of padding and cushion. The gym sets up different equipment each week for the kids to enjoy and explore. He gets to go on a trampoline and slides down slides and even gets to jump into a ball pit. He loves it. He has made a new friend there named "Vy". Vy is one of the teachers. Vy will greet Evan and Evan will run off with him to play. It is neat to see him enjoying himself so much and meeting new friends.

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!!

Backwards and Forward

Today Evan and I were outside playing. This seems to be our day now. If we aren't outside Evan is asking for us to go. I was in the kitchen and he came to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door, placing my hand on the door knob. I think he made is message to me pretty clear!

I have been teaching Evan to jump and run and to hop. I realized that I had not taught him to walk backwards. I was playing around and started to run backwards and laugh. Evan saw me do it and laughed to and before I knew it he was walking backwards too.

So Much To Say

I love it when Evan...

Wakes up and wants to play with the window shade.

Tries to bite our noses.

Points at everything and anything of interest.

Makes a panting sound everytime he sees a dog.

Makes a butterfly "sound" by gently waving his arm back and forth.

Looks up at me from his carseat by turning his neck all the way around.

Laughs while he is quietly reading books by himself.

Sees a cat and yells "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"!

Calls every bird he sees a duck. "duckduckduckduck"!

Pinches my neck for comfort.

Pats my chest while he is nursing.

Is completely fascinated by my face. I hope he stays this way forever!

Eats everything I give him. He is such a GREAT eater.

Is hungry he smacks his lips.

Loves to put everything on top of his own head.

Is tired he comes and gets me to take him to bed by laying on my shoulder.

Smart Guy

I am in love with my little guy. He is so smart and I often stand amazed by what he retains. He remembers things that we have spoken of maybe once. He is such a little sponge. He can now respond to you if you ask him how old he is. He will smile and hold up one finger proudly. If you ask him how big baby is he holds up his arms to tell you "SO BIG"! He can point to my individual facial features. "Where is Mommy's nose?" He will smile and point at it.

It is fun sharing life with our little guy.

So it Begins

Yesterday we had a playdate with Brandie and Sofia. We went for a "bench" lunch and then went to the bluff so the kiddos could play. It was a beautiful day. It has been a perfect week with the temperature in Santa Monica in the 80's.

Sofia has recently started to walk. It is crazy to see how fast these little ones grow. Evan and Sofia were playing with Evan's stroller. They love to try to push it in various directions. Sofia walked over to Evan and tried to take something from him only to walk away with it. Evan's mind was on what Sofia had taken from him. Without thinking he just followed her. Walking. There it was....his first three steps. So it begins...

Trees

Evan has an amazing comprehension for words. He understands so many now and can point to a variety of things when asked where something is. He does it alot when we are reading to him at night before bed. It is a fun activity to do with him during the day too. "Evan, Where's the dog?" Now not only does he point at a dog but he pants too! He has this book that I have been reading to him for months. It has a picture of a cartoon image of a dog. Whenever I get to that page I have always made a panting sound. I am amazed at how he is retains information as we haven't read that book in a while and all of the sudden now he pants when he sees a dog. It is so funny.

Today we were in the car going to Westwood. Traffic was horrible and there was a detour along Sepulveda. It is a tree-lined street. We have a sunroof in the backseat and keep the mesh open for Evan to view out. I stole a look at him from the rear view mirror to find him staring up at the trees. I said to him "Evan, where are the trees?" He quickly pointed up identifying the trees passing by. A few minutes later I heard him say "Trees". He was still pointing.

Such Joy

Evan you bring such joy to the world. You are so happy and interested in everything and everyone! Everytime we are out people comment on your joy and your expressive interest in the world around you. It make me so proud to be your Mom.

This is How We Work

Evan has been going on appointments with me. It's been fun to have him by my side. The vendors and clients have all responded so well to him. He is so good at my meetings. He listens and entertains himself by looking at the new surroundings.

Real Words

Evan is saying words. He can say: duck, truck, mama and dada. He has so many words now that he understands that he surprises us daily with his knowledge and comprehension. You can ask him "Where is..?" to so many things and he will look and point to that exact thing. Latley, I have just started to ask him multiple things that I have never asked before and he always surprises me and finds that exact thing and points. I don't even think we ever taught him that particular word. He has just heard us refer to it or talk to him about it. He is such a sponge. It blows us away what he is absorbing.

A favorite example was the other day when we were at the park, I ask him where the moon was. It was still daylight but the moon was all ready out. He immediately scanned the sky and pointed right up at that full moon. He looked at me and smiled and then glanced back up to the moon. He then gave a large "Oooooo" sigh.

Last Summer

I just added this new header photo. I love this picture. It reminds me of all of the time Evan and I spent at the park this summer. It also reminds me of how small he was when I thought he was getting so big. This was during the time he would nap in the stroller and I would walk him around for hours.

Evan doesn't nap in the stroller anymore. I miss it. The last two days Evan has only been taking one nap. I am wondering if he is going to one. They say around 12 months babies usually will start taking only one nap a day.

I love all of the photographs we have of Evan's first year. I have so many great memories. I tried so hard to stay present in each day and enjoy every second of his first year. The photos are such a wonderful reminder of this year and I love how they can take me back to moments like this one.

Shake Shake Shake

Evan is doing all sorts of things now. I can give him a musical toy and then say "Shake shake shake!" and he will immediately smile and shake the toy. He is all about dancing and swaying back and forth. As soon as music is playing goes to the radio and then looks up at me and starts to sway back and forth awaiting for me to sway too.

Evan has a new word "Duck". We know he knows Mama, Dada, Balloon, Baby, Dog and now Duck!

Days Are Moving Too Fast

I am finding in the past month or so I haven't had much time to write. My little boy is moving so much now that I hardly have a moment to pause. I don't want that to stop me from documenting our life together.

I had my fortieth birthday this week. It was fun. Steven had a surprise party for me at my boba place. We had babies crawling all over the place. My friend Rachel is having a tea for me on Saturday with the girls. It is my first birthday being a Mother. Between my birthday and Disneyland this week we have been super busy. Evan seems to love all of the activity and is doing great. His sleep schedule got interrupted since we have been home from Portland but I think we are back on track now.

We are having Evan's birthday party next Saturday. Evan and I are going to the party store today to pick up some things and I need to start cooking this weekend in preparation for next week's celebration. This time of year always goes by so fast but now that we have another birthday it is even moving faster! I hope that as each year goes by I can really celebrate E's birthday without the holidays getting in the way. I promised him before leaving the hospital that we would always give his day a special meaning. It is crazy to me now when I think back a year ago what my life held. I was a busy designer running jobs and very pregnant! I saw a pregnant woman standing on the corner the other day with two pizza boxes in hand and thought that was me! It is hard to remember what that large belly felt like.

Being A Boy

New shoes. New Pants. New shirt. A day outside playing in the dirt. Priceless.

Inside/Outside

Evan has learned to place things inside of other things and then take them out again. It is fun to watch him as he takes something out and then puts it right back inside where it came from. His stacking cups have been a great tool in helping learn this new skill. Although now, Evan will use this skill in all sorts of ways. Today we were trying to get ready to leave. I had given Evan his new stainless steel sippy cup(it is so cool!). He was sitting on the kitchen floor taking a drink when I ran to the back room to get our jackets. I returned to grab him and the sippy cup and head out the door. There was Evan sitting on the floor where I left him but no sippy cup. I looked and I looked. It was no where to be found. I happened to peak inside Evan's new found spot the recycle bin. There he had placed his new sippy.

He also does this game with us now. He will have something in his hand and reach out to hand it to us. I reach back to take the object from him. Sometimes he will give it to me but expect to receive it right back and sometimes he won't give it to you at all but take it right back and hold it close to him.It is so interesting to watch my little boy relating to the world around him.

Life with E.

Evan has found out how to turn the TV on. It cracks me up as I am so anti-TV. We never have it on with Evan. I think we have turned it on in front of him once and it was for the election. Yesterday he walked up to the TV and started playing with all of the buttons. He found the right one when I heard a HUGE "OOOOoooooooooooo" coming from the living room. I thought I would be smart and switch on the video button which deverts the TV signal to the DVD player and the screen turns black. Evan played with the TV a few times and then gave up as he kept seeing the black screen. Today-he found the right sequence of button to push and I heard a GIANT "OOOOOOOoooooo" coming from the living room again.

Our Songs

We have a couple of songs that seem to follow our life right now:

"Twist and Shout"
Evan does not like to have his diaper changed at the moment. He will twist and shout. I refuse to wrestle with him and will instead start singing this song and laugh. This will usually calm him down long enough for me to get the job done.

"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
Evan does not want to sit still for most of the day. He wants to be up and on the move. I am his "wheels" so he and I walk the apartment for most of the day. Around and around we go holding hands the entire time as Evan is perfecting his walking skills.