Evan – 1 year old

We bought him his first pair of shoes. White sneakers. They’re too big for him, and he looks funny, all short and chubby with these big white feet. He walks in them pretty well, but he lifts his feet up extra high. He still walks with his arms up in the air, with the right arm slightly forward, like mighty mouse.
 
He got 2 new teeth! Teeth #5 and 6 just broke through the surface at the top of his mouth, confirming my suspicion that his recent food strike and sleep avoidance were due to new teeth! When does it stop? I mean, he's got like 20 teeth to go.
 
Yesterday Jerry pointed at his hat and said, “That’s daddy’s hat.” Evan said, “daeee hat,” or something similar. Hmmm… first time stringing together two words?
 
He’s still not really talking though. Every now and then we think we hear a word, or something that almost sounds a little bit like a word, but then we doubt ourselves. He’s more focused on getting away from us quickly.
 
He has been saying “da da” whenever he sees Jerry.

Happy 1st Birthday to Evan!

His 1st birthday party was last Sunday at McKinley Park. We had BBQ (BBQ’d by Safeway and brought in by us), had wonderful visitors (many of my mommy friends came with their young babes, as well as family and friends), opened gifts (lots of clothes – thanks!) and ate cake. Evan started by picking up his piece and taking delicate bites, then put it down and planted his face in it. Smart kid.
 
On his actual Birthday, we went to Donner Lake with Bob, Katie, Ben, Jilli, Sophia, and my mom and dad. We ate a picnic of sandwiches, watermelon, cookies and brownies. Evan loved the lake, even though the water was freezing. Instead of crying, as I wanted to do, he wanted to be taken farther out. Then he wanted to chase the geese, and play in the sand. Then we chased him everywhere, and finally relaxed when he napped, gorging ourselves on strawberries and cookies. (I suppose it’s become obvious at this point that we never vacation.) At night we went out to eat, where we sang Happy Birthday to him once again, and ate vanilla birthday ice cream. He couldn’t have been more loved.

July Birthdays

Just wanted to let everyone know that my dad celebrated his 28th and some change birthday on July 6th. My brother Donald celebrated his 23rd birthday on July 11th. Evan celebrated his first birthday on July 13th and my other brother Thomas celebrates his 24th birthday tomorrow the 16th. Happiness and love to all of you.

We really should try to finagle a single July Party for everyone. Maybe a weeklong StogzFest of camping, bonfires, jam bands, and watercrafts. Lets start planning next years event! I'm serious. I'm tired of letting everyones birthday pass without being with them. I love you all and hope the following year is the best ever.

5 days and he's no longer a baby...

Evan's almost 1... I'm excited and sad. Last month I was really sad, almost like I was grieving just a tad... my baby is almost a toddler.

Now I feel quite happy, and Jerry feels the same way. Evan needs us less and less. At the park, I try to hold his hand as we walk toward geese or a dirty green pond or the swings or the sandbox, and he pulls his hand away from me (even jerking his whole shoulder away from me) to walk ahead. I laugh... I'm glad he has a spark of independence in him.

He wants to eat by himself. Since his fine motor skills are still developing, he can't quite feed himself with a spoon. But I put my hand over his as he clutches a baby spoon, and I guide his spoon into the food and help him bring it to his mouth. He looks at his hand and the food very intently... happy to do such a big-boy thing.

He does things he shouldn't do... eats bark, lifts the toilet lid when I'm filling the bath, climbs onto the dishwasher door when it's open, chases the cat and pulls his ear hair, eats the cat's food, tries to pull down the floor lamps... and each time we say "no," he gets a look of stubborn independence on his face, but then stops and walks away, sometimes returning a minute later...

He's a good boy. He loves to cuddle. This morning we went to the park and all the baby swings were being used, so I sat on a big kid swing and put him on my lap so that he was facing me... when we first started swinging he laughed with glee, wind blowing his red hair straight up, and then he rested his head on my chest and smiled. He's getting older but he's still my baby.

Happy 4th of July!

Eleven months
We had so much fun on the fourth. We went to Mary and Drew's, ate BBQ, and had our own little fireworks display. I was afriad Evan would either try to run toward the fireworks, or would be afraid of the loud noises, but he was content to be held. His eyes were popping out of his head as he leaned forward. He was happier than ever.

swim lessons
Evan's enrolled in the Starfish swim class -- a class meant for ages 6 months - 3 years. On the first day of class, some of the kids were fearful, but Evan loved it... Maybe he's too young to realize that water could be dangerous. I let him rest his head on my chest and pulled him around on his back, so that he learns to float. Instinctively he started kicking his baby legs.

By the end of class, he was leaning comfortably back onto my chest with his legs out straight in front of him, had his head tipped toward the sky, and was sucking his thumb. Very relaxed. The class is right before his nap time.

Yesterday he got dunked under water. The teacher told us to tell the babies they were going under water, count to three, and blow on their faces (so that they close their mouths). The first time I dunked him, he just looked shocked and confused. By the fourth time, he still wasn't crazy about it, but seemed OK with it.

That little pointy finger
Evan's really into pointing at everything. He sees an interesting person at the store, he points at them. I put food in my mouth, he points at it (and tries to stick his finger all the way in). The water comes out of the faucet for his bath, and he sticks that chubby little finger under the drips. I was trying to teach him how to blow bubbles in the pool, and he stuck his finger in my lips.