Conversations with Evan

Driving to/from school, I try to keep the radio off and talk with Evan about his day.  The conversations we have range from clouds to strangers, to bad kids at school, to why the Easter Bunny took his pizza truck (haha, actually now the conversation is why the Garbage Man took his robot....more to come on that). 

Conversations with Evan

• "Make good choices today, Evan."  This is what I say to Evan as I give him a kiss goodbye at school.  We are quickly seeing the impact that other kids have on Evan, good & bad.  We can't shelter him from this exposure, but it's hard when you see him doing something that the 'bad kid' at school does too.  All we can do is try our best to exhibit & reward good behaviors at home, and let him know what bad choices are.  Evan and I will often talk about what a good choice vs. a bad choice is.  "Momma, I didn't hit Ella. That was a good choice."  Or "Momma, Gavin took my truck.  That was a bad choice, he should share."  Evan's getting better at knowing what a good and bad choice is, but it's the exeuction of it that's hit or miss.  Even though he knows something is a bad choice, he will still do it......the joys of parenthood!  I have been spying on Evan in his classroom a lot more lately to see him 'in action' and over the course of 10 minutes I feel proud, disappointed, confused, and happy.  Yes, over the course of 10 minutes Evan can share a toy, take away a toy from someone else, strike a yoga pose in the middle of the classroom, and sit like a good boy during story time. The life of a toddler!
• Stranger Danger
• Discussions about strangers have already begun.  Last week was safety week at school and there was a lot of learning around 'stranger danger.'  We try to give Evan scenarios where a stranger may approach him and ask him what he would do.  The first conversation didn't go too well, but he's starting to understand.  I asked him "Evan, what would you do if a stranger gave you a piece of candy?"  Evan's response (with a huge smile on his face): "Thank you!"  Oh boy.....Anyway, now when we ask Evan what he would do if a stranger tried to a) give him candy, ice cream, etc.; b) ask him to pet their puppy or find their lost dog; or c) go with them because they're a friend of mommy or daddy's; he answers "NO.  I would run away with my fast shoes and find mommy or daddy."  Evan will often ask me now "Momma, what does a stranger do?"  And I tell him that a stranger would try to take him away from us and he says "I would run and scream with my fast shoes." It's a sick world we live in and I hate that we have to talk about this with him at such a young age, but we do!
• On the way home from school, we ask Evan about his day and he's really good at telling us what he did. Now, he's starting to ask us questions! Yesterday Evan asked ME what I had for lunch and what I did after nap time (ha!).
• Baby Brother: Evan is very curious about Baby Brother and what he does in my belly. He thinks BB lives in my entire body and that my boobs are where he keeps his toys (typical male brain, right?!). He recently asked "Momma, when BB comes out of your belly, will he go into mine?" It does concern me that Evan keeps taking the "little brother" onesie and throwing it over the railing at our house to the lower level.....we will definetely gate off BB's room!
• The Garbage Man: we're taking some heat off the Easter Bunny for awhile and focusing now on the Garbage Man. When Evan does something bad or says a potty word (the latest being 'poopy butt'), we throw away a toy and "the Garbage Man takes it." On garbage day last week, Evan looked at the garbage truck, his eyes got very big and he exclaimed "HE'S TAKING MY ROBOT!" Then we had to discuss WHY that was (because he said a potty word) and Evan said "I won't say a potty word, I'll be a good boy and get my toy back?" I really hope Evan never meets a garbage man or the Easter Bunny.....

Some of the latest pics:

Should be an ad for Lowe's.  Evan woke up and said "I want to go to Lowe's and build my race car with my Daddy today!"

 

Building a race car at Lowe's.  Daddy did such a good job!

 

Erik was so proud of his....I mean Evan's....race car.  Wearing Evan's apron around the store, someone asked if Erik worked there.

 

Picking blueberries with Great Grandpa.  Not many made it into the bucket when Evan helped....he LOVED the blueberries!

 

One for the bucket, 3 for Evan.

 

Bike safety at school last week.  Evan loves wearing his "cool helmet" now.  Even when he's not riding his bike.  On Sunday he was running around outside, in the rain, with his army boots and helmet on.

 

Not many pics with just Erik & I anymore!

 

We babysat Baby Madelyn and Evan was SUPER helpful....he liked to tell her when she was done eating by taking the bottle out of her mouth ("You're all done  Baby Madelyn").  He wanted to throw toys and blankets in the crib while she slept (which is why we will be gating off Baby Brother's room!).  In the top left picture, he was showing Madelyn the right way to touch her toes.  He couldn't understand why she wouldn't stand up to do it.  The next morning, Evan went right from his room into Baby Brother's room (where Madelyn had been sleeping when Evan went to bed) and then ran right to our room to let us know she wasn't there.  He was so confused on where she went and how she got out!

My Aunt Jane recently commented that she enjoys reading my blog and the stories in it. I really love writing it but honestly it's Evan and his amazing personality that make the blog entertaining. I just have the privelege of documenting it all! :)

To my sweet boy Evan: Mommy loves you soooooo much. Yesterday we had a great day at the zoo and I cherished the 'only child' time I had with you! You won't remember these days when it was just the 3 of us, but hopefully the stories and pictures here will be fun for you to read. The memories we're about to make once BB joins our lives will only get better!

At the zoo with my little man

Summer heat is here!

It's mid-July and the summer heat is here!  Along with the humidity!  Holy humidity.....we grew up here so we should remember it, but 8 years in Denver really spoiled us!  The other day there was so much condensation on our back window that I thought it was raining.  We find every opportunity we can to go somewhere with water.  I've found 2 "splash parks" nearby that Evan loves.  It's great for him to run around and there is no fear of drowing since it's all just water toys. 

Splash Park!

 

 

My trick to teaching Evan how to like the water?  Dunking him under!  A few dunks and he was ready to jump on his own.

 

OK Daddy, maybe get a little closer.....Evan doesn't have great survival instints with the water yet.  He just sinks like a rock.  This fall he will do swim lessons with an instructor - no mommy or daddy in the water!

 

In just 2 months Evan will be 3 (*tear*).  And we'll have another little member of our family!  There are days that I think Evan is out of the "terrible 2's" phase, but then I'm quickly reminded that he is not.  I think "terrible 2's" is just something everyone says to define the first year of rebellious activity in a child.  I do not see light at the end of the tunnel for some of Evan's "terrible" moments and know that as he grows & learns, he will just continue to push the boundaries and not listen to his parents (hey, I was a teenager, so I know that is true!). 

While Evan has his terrible moments, he also can be the sweetest boy ever.....here's a little snapshot of the past few weeks:

• Evan is definetely the first child.  Very Type A & independent.  He's learning to put his own underwear on (although it's generally on backwards).  He can undress himself and we're trying to teach him to put his own clothes on too. 
• Evan repeats EVERYTHING...good and bad:
• The other day, someone in our family farted (I won't name names!).  Evan said "you tooted & booted!"  We're all adults here (well, by the time the boys read this blog, they will be adults).  Tooted & booted means a one night stand.  It's in a rap song that is popular and Evan may have heard Erik say it jokingly when Evan farted.  Despite it's meaning, it does sound funny when you say it.  I am waiting for the report from school that tells me Evan said this to another kid.....
• "Daddy, I have to mow the lawn today.  It makes mommy happy."  Erik is an amazing husband and always wants me to be happy.  When doing things around the house, he sometimes says "Evan, we do this because it makes mommy happy."  Well, Evan knows that now!  Yesterday Evan helped me clean the windows and when Erik got home, he said "Daddy, we cleaned the windows today.  It makes you happy."  I'm trying to teach Evan already that being a gentleman (and jewlery) also makes women happy.
• #2
   
• Evan is fully potty trained, but can't wipe himself yet.  Well it's hard to wipe a toddler that is running circles around you in the bathroom with his pants around his ankles. I do bathe him every night for that reason!  Anyway, the other night Evan exclaims "Momma, there's something in my butt!  MOMMA, THERE'S CRAP IN MY BUTT!"  I totally lost it.....couldn't stop laughing. 
• He likes to pee outside
• As I mentioned in a previous blog, Evan recently learned to pee outside, standing up (when he's indoors though, he has to sit down.  I'll make him sit as long as possible to avoid having to clean toilets after THREE boys!).  Anyway, the other day at the playground, Evan ran over to an area on the grass, pulled down his pants, and said "Momma, I just have to pee on the grass."  Again, I totally lost it.  We were at the park with my friend Katie who saw Evan's little white toushy, pants around his ankles, and me dying laughing.  Luckily I caught him before we were ticketed for indecent exposure.  Boys....
• And now, for the best moment EVER in my mommy experience:
• "You're the best mommy ever."  Yes, that's right.  Evan said this totally out of the blue the other weekend!  Driving home from the park, he just said it!  I almost died of happiness.  I was so sure that Erik told him to say it, but he didn't!  Those are the moments that make it all worth it.

  We need to work with Evan on his smile....this is his latest "Cheeesssee" face.  That's his little Toy Story Pizza Planet Truck that he built at the Lowe's kids event.  I was sure that it meant the Easter Bunny had redeemed himself, but after we built it, Evan said "Momma, is the Easter Bunny going to take my little pizza truck?"  Oh Easter Bunny.....there's no hope, we've scarred Evan forever.

 

Smile getting a little better here

 

Evan's FIRST movie on the big screen!  We went to a little "ma & pop" theater in the area which was perfect.  He made it through the movie (thanks to musical chairs, a small popcorn, Reese's Pieces, and a lot of stimulation from the movie itself).  At the end of the movie, Evan said "That was a good movie!"  He loved the movie on the "big TV."

 

That cup of popcorn is the size of Evan and he ate the entire thing!  Well, he shared a little bit with Momma/Baby Brother.

OK Evan, time for me to document a few pregnancy happenings for Baby Brother (hey, you have almost 2 whole blog books that are just your own, so I need to write something to him!). 

5.5 weeks to go until "Baby Brother" arrives.  No, we do not have a name picked out yet (ah!).  Someday when the boys ask how we figured out there name, is it ok to say that we found them on Google? 

Pregnancy really has been much easier this time around.  I think it's because God knows I have to keep up with Evan and figures "hey, this lady has a lot to deal with. I'll cut her some slack growing this other kid."  I'm thankful that I haven't swollen up like the whale I was when I was prego with Evan.  I also think the elevation difference between MI & CO has something to do with that. 

We are 90% done with the baby's room!  Erik did an AWESOME job with the paint/chair rail.  He just LOVES painting!  ;) 

Evan is soooo helpful with home projects (I say sarcastically)

 

Baby Brother's Room (Evan keeps climbing in the crib....)

 

Enjoying my belly...and some caramel corn!

 

 A few days old, but the latest belly pic.

Our Summer "Vacation" in MI

Summer vacation this year was at my parents house, up north MI.  It was great for the family and Evan loved being outdoors.  Probably because we weren't too concerned with him roaming away since there weren't any other houses or cars for miles!  Here in our non-fenced house, we have to chase him around when he's outdoors and he doesn't get a lot of freedom (that will always be a down-side to living in MI.....a majority of houses do not have fences.  Very frustrating for parents of young kids!). 

The weekend up north was a lot of fun - bonfires, roasting marshmallows, canoe trip, a day on the lake, tractor rides, and lots of nature!  The canoe trip was also Evan's first experience peeing outdoors.  It took some coaching and all of his clothes coming off to make it successful. 



House up north

 Evan & Grandpa relaxing on the deck

Yep, that's Evan!

 Tractor time with Grandpa!  Evan loved the big tractor.

 Waiting for our canoe trip to start

 

Family pic.  Just the three of us plus baby in the belly!

 

 

 I didn't realize how funny I looked until I saw this pic!  Also, why am I paddling and Erik & Evan are just chillin'?

Evan was freaked out at first but by the end of the trip he was leaning over and splashing us.

 

Trying to skip rocks in the water (we all had to watch-out; Evan has bad aim when throwing!). 

My little nature man

 Off on his own little hike

 Roasting marshmallows & hot dogs

 Evan says he likes s'mores, but he usually ended up just eating the chocolate bar.

 The only time he actually listened to me - when I told him to stay far away from the fire (that marshmallow didn't cook well).

 Patiently waiting for Daddy to start the bonfire on night 2.

 We rented a boat on our second day.  The day started off pretty cool/overcast, but ended up hot & sunny!

 Captain Evan

 It's rare that Erik & I have pics just the two of us

 

 

Evan loves his sunglasses, even if they aren't on the right way.

 

Evan really wanted to see a fish.  Daddy & Grandpa tried hard but no luck!

 Swimming at the sand bar.  Getting back into the boat without a ladder was interesting for me!

 

Such a sweet Daddy/son moment.  Evan was so scared of the water at first until he realized he could touch the bottom and throw sand.

 

So tired after the day on the lake.  Passed out with his hand still in the snack bag!

 

We brought home a little tree from my parents property and call it "Evan's tree."  He helped plant it and we really, really hope it grows.  Erik & I are HORRIBLE at planting things...



After our weekend up north, we realized that we need more quiet weekends with no plans, and that some day we need a place of our own to get away to.  And I think Erik wants to take-up hunting.  Isn't that what you do when you move to MI?