The baby bump is back!

That's right!  Baby #2 is due August 23!  Poor baby #2....I'm already a few blog posts behind announcing this.  Oops!  Baby is upset with me and currently kicking/punching me from inside. 

Evan sort of knows that he's about to have competition.  He will say "baby in mommy's belly."  When we ask him if it's a baby brother or sister, his answer varies.  He's also going though a big "I only want mommy" phase, so lately he says "there is NOT a baby in mommy's belly."  Oh boy....

Of course we will find out if it's a boy or girl and will let everyone know! 

Pregnancy the 2nd time around has been a little different.  Mainly different because I'm so much businer that I often forget I'm pregnant until the baby kicks or the end of the day.  My body definetely knows baby #2 is on the way and didn't waste any time getting back pregnancy ready. 

We're excited for the addition to our family late this summer and will continue to share updates as pregnancy progresses!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today Evan's school celebrates St. Patrick's Day.  As I tried to explain this to Evan, he said "NO, it's NOT Patrick's Day.  It's MY birthday."  That's Evan for ya! 

The terrible 2's have hit our house, bad.  And everytime I tell people that, all I get for a response is "Oh, just wait until he hits 3!"  Great.  I'll wait!  I guess karma is real, because I just know I was a total brat to my parents and threw tantrums as a kid.  No one parents love becoming grandparents.  It's pay back time, right?  (I say with love, of course!) 

Some of the recent statements heard in our house:
- Evan: "I don't want to say thank you!"
- Evan: "I don't want to say please!"
- Evan: "No Mom, don't turn on the light!  I do it" (as he switches off and on the light switch I had already turned on)
- Me: "Evan, get your head out of the toilet."
- Evan: "Wipe my butt MOM!"  And as I begin to, he throws a tantrum and says "No, I DO IT!"
- Me: "Evan, do you want milk on your cereal?"  Evan: "NO".  A few seconds later...."Mom, put milk on my cereal!" Me: "How do you ask me nicely?"  Evan: "I don't want to ask nicely!"
- Me: "Evan, do not drive your cars on the wall."  Evan: "I drive my cars on the wall!"
- Evan: "Clean up my mess!"
- Evan: "I wipe my nose on the couch/rug/carpet"  (Yes, snot everywhere). 

My favorite?  "I wipe my nose on Mommy."  Yep.....

Don't get me wrong, some of the stuff he says is truly funny, but trying to discipline him while laughing really doesn't work I've learned.  Like the other day when he clearly dropped the "F" bomb at the dinner table, I burst into laughing tears, trying to hide my face with a napkin.  Evan understands and repeats EVERYTHING now.  This morning he found my eye contact case, opened it, and said "I fix my eyes" as he looked in the mirror and tried to touch his eye.  He watches everything we do and wants to do it himself. 

Now that Evan is home with me two days a week, I notice he mimicks a lot of what I do.  I took him to a place called Tiny Town this week with a friend, and his favorite activities there were:
- Playing with the toy hair dryer
- Grocery shopping
- Pushing a baby stroller
- Cleaning the toy house

I do have to add that he also LOVED driving the toy police car.

 

 

 

Some more pics from the past few weeks:

Evan's new smile.  I keep telling him to open his eyes, but when he opens his eyes, the smile goes away.  I guess I get one or the other!



 

 Seriously, could he be any more handsome?!  Yes, his shirt says "Detroit Irish".  Lately wishing it said "Denver Irish" but.....

BFFs

 

Including the pics I snapped in the course of 5 seconds.  Notice Lucy does not seem amused, while Evan is very entertained (he thought it was hilarious that I put Lucy on the bench).

The Potty Diaries

Potty training has been a success!  No more diapers!  Evan has had no accidents during the day for 5 days now, and only a few at night.  #2 has been a little more difficult but we'll keep working at it.  Now when we leave the house we tote a tiny potty seat with us, because the public toilets are so big that Evan falls in (or gets all nasty gross trying to hold himself up).  So until he's a little bigger, the potty seat tags along with us.  It's easier than cleaning up Evan!  :)

While Evan & I tackled potty training (it was a total team effort, let me tell you.....this momma is tired!), Erik was in Brazil for work meetings.  We sure are glad he's home!  While he was gone, Evan would say "Momma, I'm gonnna go to airport. Gonna go to Ba-Zil and see Dadda."  What a sweetheart!  Evan and I kept busy though and actually left the bathroom for a few hours.  I joined a mom's club a few weeks ago to meet some friends / people with kids in our area and Evan and I have kept busy with the activities they plan. 

Last week we visited the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum and a trampoline park (it's like the new roller skating rink for the year 2013).  It's nice to finally start to feel like we have a few friends here and that we have places to go / activities for Evan on the days that he's home with me.  Leaving the house is a MUST with an over-active toddler. 

At the museum, I learned the hard wasy that Evan has NO FEAR of being alone and is faster than the speed of lighting.  I will no longer judge parents who use leashes on their children (and you better not judge me when you see Evan wearing one next time!  haha).  The other moms with me said "oh, wow, you have your hands full."  Tell me about it.....anyway, big adventures like that will now include Daddy, a leash, neon colored clothing, bells on shoes, and a tracking device on him (I'm sure there's an iPhone app for that, right?!). 

 

Potty training in today's world requires a lot of entertainment

 

Smiling with his popsicle, celebrating a successful potty training day (PS: to my mom friends, I found mini kid popsicles that are the perfect size AND take a long time to melt!)

 

Bouncin' with his new buddy, Kellan.  Check out the air Evan got!

 

Nap time was AWESOME after this adventure!

 

Loving the water at the AA Children's Museum

 

"Kellan, don't sit on the silly chair.  It's better if you climb on the table to play with the toys."

It's Potty Time!

Evan has shown signs of using the potty for months now.  We tried potty training back in November with the 3 day, stay at home method and it didn't work.  So back to diapers we went.  Yesterday I decided that now is officially the time.  He knows when he goes, tells me to change his diaper, and even BRINGS me a clean diaper to put him in! 

It's been 36 hours and so far so good.  Sort of.  It's not going to be 3 days that he'll master the potty in, but it's a start.  We're going cold-turkey too.  No Pull-Ups.  Underwear only!  Today he went almost 10 hours without going potty.  10 hours!  After several beverages and a nap!  This doesn't surprise me though.  Evan is a very stubborn little man and knowing him, he thought "Ha!  I'll show you and I just won't go on the potty at all!"  Well, nature caught-up to him and he made it all the way TO the potty before going.  Yah Evan!  He still asks for his diaper and whines/cries to me to put it on him, but I know it's just because he has to go #2.  Yep, still waiting for that one to happen!

Anway, 1.5 days down.  Several to go I'm sure.  But we're in it for the long-haul!  Laundry, carpet cleaner, Skittles, bed pads & all! 

2012 - The Year of Change

As I continue to catch-up on my list of blog posts I've been meaning to make, recapping 2012 for our family is one that I for sure need to do.  2012 - The Year of Change.  Big Changes. 

Only 12 months ago, Evan was just learning to:
- Climb
- Eat with a fork & spoon
- Say Momma & Dadda
- Wave & blow kisses
- Say NO

I cannot believe that was only 12 months ago!!  Time flies with kids is clearly an understatement. 

Only 10 months ago, Evan was 18 months old.  We were going to the park almost every night (ouch, that one hurts a little to say given the weather changes we're dealing with from CO to MI....).  Evan had tubes put into his ears around this time too.  And I'm sooo happy to say that since then, NO ear infections! 

In 2012, Erik & I enjoyed the mountains of Colorado after not being in them much (pregnancy & baby seemed to have a way of interferring with that!).  A trip to Estes Park and hiking Mt. Bierdstat, a 14'er. 

In May, I left my job at Red Robin to pursue another food industry restaurant, Panera.  Working from home was a blessing for me - more time with Evan, less daycare days - it was perfect! 

Then comes July.....oh July, you were the month I didn't see coming!  A trip home to Michigan and a few job interviews for Erik.  He had some opportunities in MI come up and since we were already there, well, why not see what happens?  We left MI and headed home after 9 days and didn't really think anything would come of the jobs.  So much so that we actually put an offer on a new house to stay in CO!  Then came the job offer, and the moving package, and the thought that raising Evan near our families in MI is where we were meant to be.  We weren't totally sold on the vision though, and decided to wait and see if there were any "signs" telling us what to do.  Then, two big signs happened - personally & professionally.  Signs that said moving to MI was the right decision for our family.  So we pulled the trigger, accepted Erik's job, backed out of our CO house contract, packed up and moved home to MI.  Phew! 

We continued 2012 buying a home in MI, Erik started his job, and I started working from home for Red Robin again.  I'm in CO 1-2 times a month for the job, but overall it's working out well for our family and nice to have the extra income (especially as we furnish and make our home more "homey"). 

We're in to 2013 now and look forward to finding ways to make MI our home, keeping up with Evan and the joys of watching him grow and learn, and keeping our family happy, healthy, safe and supported.  I'm excited to become an Aunt this year as my sister & her husband prepare for the arrival of their daughther in March - and super excited that I'll be nearby to see the baby a lot!  Erik & I both REALLY look forward to warmer weather coming to MI and getting outside more with Evan, meeting more of our neighbors, and landscaping our house.  And maybe by the end of 2013, having Uncle Danny & Aunt Katie teach Evan how to ski! 

Happy 2013 everyone! 

Christmas 2012

Our first Christmas living in Michigan!  It was nice not having to travel, and also to be able to decorate the house and put up a Christmas tree.  Being the only grandchild, Evan had what seemed like a month-long Christmas.  Every day he would wake up and ask for presents.  He thought every present under the tree was for him, and opened several that weren't (when no one was watching!).  Evan was OBSESSED with The Grinch (both the cartoon & Jim Carrey version) over the holiday season....and beyond.  To this day he still asks to watch "new Grinch" or "old Grinch."  He also still asks me to sing Jingle Bells every night before bed.  In "Grinch" terms, Evan could be the "Cheer-meister" for Christmas! 

 



Smiling for Santa!  The photographer just happened to snap this pic at the right time and it turned out perfect!

 

Not so happy here.  Also, why are we all leaning one-way?

 

Christmas Eve at the Ellis house - opening "Unka E and Aunt Kissie's" gift (a tool bench!)

 

"Helping" Grandpa open his presents (because Evan secretly thinks they are for him)

 

Playing in his new tunnel!

 

And the matching tent.  Evan set-up shop here with all of his toys from the day, and a snack.

 

Homemade aprons for the Ellis girls!

 

Our Christmas tree and Evan's gifts all ready for Christmas morning

 

A toy drill, just like Daddy's!

All of Evan's gifts from Christmas Day.  Half way through opening, Evan leaned back on the couch and said "hard work"! 

Christmas 2012 - part 2

The last of the Christmas decorations were put away weeks ago and now the last of the Christmas pictures are uploaded too!  We had a wonderful holiday season, especially not having to travel!  

 

Christmas Day with the Anderson's - watching Erik & David's old videos from when they were little!

 

 I got a fancy new camera for Christmas so I was testing it out all Christmas Day.  Poor Lucy has few pictures since Evan came along.

 

Being resourceful, using his toy drill to open gifts.

 

"Santa" and Evan

Merry Christmas!

 

Playing with the wands David made (still find it hilarious that David didn't have time to finish Kent's so his is just a stick of wood!)

 

Evan says he's being helpful, but secretly he hopes this gift is for him.

 

Not too sure what he thinks of all the gear he has to wear to play outside in the winter (lots more gear in MI than we needed in CO!)

Sledding!  Evan did NOT like when we sent him cruising down the hill... 

 

Nia & Guh came to visit!  Love this picture :)

 

*Love*

 

BFF's!

 

 Best Godparents ever.  We love you guys!