Evolution of a Toddler

I know the blog has been quiet for while.  Not because i haven't had anything to say or post, i just haven't had the chance to sit down and get it all out.

but today, I am making time for a milestone.  It blows my mind that Evan is two today.  Ryan's birth exists in mental snap shots and specific memories but with Evan's - the whole event still plays like a movie.  Lisa sitting near the edge of the bed telling me that i wasn't going to work that day, contractions in the kitchen, Lisa criticizing the route i took to the hospital :).  Even the hospital process - Evan's natural birth compared to the previous c-section had a completly different set of emotions surrounding it.  We really wanted to check out of the hospital sooner, and got him home just in time for two feet of snow to be dumped on us.

we know have an amazing little toddler.  Clearly he is two going on ten emulating everything that goes on around him.  He's never more than a couple steps behind his brother, but isn't afraid to step out on his own and take on the world.  Of course, that world includes scaling the OUTSIDE of the staircase, trying to make the biggest messes possible and repeating his favorite phrase over and over - "No Way!".

The kid continually melts my heart too.  I get the best welcomes when i get home from work, kisses before i leave in the morning and before bed.  He reaches out to lead you by the hand wherever he wants you to go.  He seems to have an innate love of music - singing and dancing at every opportunity.  I could go on and on, but suffice to say its been a blast watching him grow so far....

Happy Birthday, Buggy.

Farmville

It's always fun when the nearby farms open their gates and let us "city folk" visit.  Loudon County did that a few weeks ago and the kids had a blast....

The first place we stopped at had a cute miniature cow that both boys thought was fun - and just their size....

At the next farm, Ryan made quite an effort to catch us a chicken for dinner....

But in the end, it seemed that Evan was just a bit quicker....

Turning 21....

....months that is.  So i just noticed that my last post was 19/20.  That means I really haven't updated in a while.  Doesn't mean we haven't been running around like crazy, just means it hasn't made its way here.  sorry about that, but that's a post for another day.  Today we recap month 21 of my littlest buddy.

The kid absolutely cracks me up these days.  he brightens even the worst days after work, laughs, loves and sticks up for himself :)

He loves to bring everyone little presents or items he thinks you want.  He'll grab my phone, or the remote control and proudly stroll up to me and say "ee-go" his take on "here you go" - adorable.

Among his favorite games right now is ring around the rosey.  somehow its been called "gob gob" but he has he "all fall down" part licked.

Most animals these days are referred to by the sounds that they make.  All birds are "bock bock".  He'll tell you about the "keetteee" that is promptly followed by a huge meow.  Sheep, cows and goats are all better known by their sounds.

Evan will come up to you on the couch, grab your toes and start saying wee wee wee in an effort to play this little piggy with you.

He mimics my shaving, and deoderant application, wears my shoes and ties and is thoroughly confused when i wear a picture of my self on my work ID around my neck. oh, and he has his parts of the body down cold.

He sleeps solidly through the night (except at my parents' house) and still takes a solid nap.  His laugh is infectious and his curiosity amazing.




I can't believe this kid is approaching two....

I can't believe this kid is approaching two....

19 and 20

in the midst of all the business of summer i managed to skip the last to months of Evan updates. lots of travel, lots of visitors
and less time at the computer are part of it, but honestly its just much easier to be out having fun than it is to sit back and type about it.

If the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" had a dictionary entry, evan's picture would be next to it. We are so lucky that for the most part Ryan is a well behaved kid b/c E watches him like a hawk and emulates his every move - climbing, jumping, dancing. That's not to say that he doesn't have a unique personality - he is so different from his brother in a ton of ways - he just uses everyone around him as a springboard for new ideas.

In the past two months we saw him take the ocean by storm for the first time, make his first run at parts of the Billy Goat Trail and help celebrate his brother's birthday...so here we go with the Best of Evan, Parts XIX and XX....

Ryan's Birthday Weekend

Hard to believe that my little buddy is already 4. He had a pretty great weekend for a kid. His actual birthday was today and Lisa and I gave him his big kid bike. Even with the ridiculous humidity he insisted on multiple laps around the neighborhood.







I have to tell you, it is scary watching your son peddle down the street for the first time - even with training wheels. Not to mention he can get away much quicker.

Yesterday was "preschool in the yard" with the Alphabet crew and assorted others over to celebrate. Lisa did it again this year with another great cake. This one was an homage to our recent beach trip...



Thankfully, she was also able to talk the swing set folks into squeezing us into the installation schedule ahead the party...







To cool the kids off we went with the inflatable water "thing" that ensured every one was soaked, and covered in grass ;)



But the biggest hit of the day were definitely the water balloons that my mom so graciously filled up two batches of....




(don't mind the "grass" - that's next year's project)



I have no idea what the kid wished for, but i am pretty certain it came true....happy birthday, Ryan...

Water Works

It was all fun a games in the yard until my Dad decided to water the garden...then it turned into more fun with more games....

Back in NJ

I had been meaning to post these pictures for a while. They are from a long weekend spent in NJ a few weeks back. It is always interesting to see the boys playing in the same yard and parks that i spent so many years in.

Ryan found the broom in the garage, hooked it on to the tricycle and called it his "street sweeper"



and yes, he continues to wear the mismatched crocs.

Evan didn't want to feel left out so he tried to do some sweeping of his own.

A Year and a Half

Sometimes pictures speak for themselves. Now that he is getting older, so does Evan.

So here are some pictures of a boy who speaks for himeself speaking for themselves :)

When Ryan was this age i could never imagine having another one. Now I can't imagine live without this little guy too.