The REAL Game of Life: 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.

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)