Month 7

Dear Evan,

Buddy, I can barely even remember your seventh month. Time is going by so fast! You're becoming such a big boy.

You're an awesome eater. You gobble up all your fruits and veggies and cereal and, of course, milk. We've started giving you some other things-- a little mushed up pot roast, some dissolvable puffs, mandarin oranges, eggs. You're still a little squicked out by the new textures but you're starting to get the hang of them. The three of us sit at the table and eat dinner together every night. Your dad and I enjoy just watching to see what faces you make or what sounds come out of your mouth. I enjoy our time together and have no desire to return to the coffee table dinners of the past. Although, we could use more comfortable kitchen chairs.

You're rolling like a champ but still no crawling. That doesn't mean you're not trying because, hoo boy!, are you trying. Getting your belly off the ground is proving to be pretty tough though. It's okay, I'm in no hurry for you to be mobile. Your dad and I are such procrastinators that the day you do learn to crawl, it's going to be a mad dash to baby proof the house.

You got two teeth this month! The two middle teeth on the bottom. (This is apparently the natural order of things and baby teeth always arrive in a predictable order. Who knew?) And, as I'm typing this you're working on tooth #3. I really wish that sucker would just break through already! You're perfectly pleasant during the day when you're distracted but when nighttime rolls around and you're winding down and have a minute to think about, you quickly remember, "Holy Crap! My mouth HUUUUURTS!!"

My favorite development of the month is your babbling and laughing. You've been saying "dadada" like crazy, but I won't let your dad claim first word because you don't actually assign it to him. Just recently, you've started saying "mmmommm", but again, it's pretty random. And the laughing. I mean, really laughing. It's so great. Nothing makes me happier than hearing your belly laughs.

You became a super sitter this month and we no longer have to put pillows behind you when you're sitting. I admit, it still makes me a bit nervous to see you sitting in the middle of the living room floor. Yes, there's carpet but I worry about your noggin. And, it's so stinkin' cute when we show up to daycare and you and your gf are sitting on the mat sharing a toy. Well, usually she's trying to steal it from you but we're trying to teach you to stand up for yourself.

I'm too lazy and behind to make a photo slide show this month, but there are a few pics and videos below.

I love you, Buddy.

Mom

Always so happy!

This is the one I'll show your future wife. 

Evan Loves Sophie <3

Big boy rides in the grocery cart now! 

Your first bike ride. 

Eyes closed because it's sunny? No, eyes closed because you passed
out within seconds after starting the bike ride. 

Love this: 

Mac n cheese... is your favorite? ...makes you angry?

Three Day Weekend

Babysitter
Evan had his first non-family, non-friend, non-daycare babysitter last weekend. She is one of my bosses' 17 year old daughter, so not a complete stranger, but pretty close because we had never met her. She did a fine job. She seemed very comfortable with a strange kid in a strange house and was far less stressed than I was for her.

David and I are so lame though. We told her we'd be gone for about three hours. We went to (a very disappointing) lunch at Texas Roadhouse and then couldn't think of anything else to do. We ended up buying a new bed for Laika, some crafts at the craft store, some brewing supplies at the beer store and, our all time favorite, Meijer. Meijer was the first place I ever went alone without Evan. Did I mention how lame we are?

Anyway, the babysitter did fine and we've asked her back next weekend so we can go out for our anniversary. Hopefully we can think of something more exciting to do then.

Who needs a ball pit when you can spread the balls all over the floor?

Mellow Fellow
On Monday, we took Evan out and about on an unintended six hour trip. First we had lunch and he sat, like a big boy, in a high chair at the table with us. He flirted with all the ladies as they walked by and they all flirted back. Several people stopped to chat with him. He was perfectly cute.

After lunch, we visited the go-cart track so David could get in a race. We were there for quite a while and Evan sat on my lap watching the carts the whole time. Not a peep, not a squirm.

Then, we went to IKEA-- the real purpose of the trip. We shopped for kitchens, chatted with kitchen associates, browsed the funkiness that is IKEA and Evan just hung in the stroller or in our arms looking at things and chattering at people. For being so good, he got a worm rattle. IKEA baby toys are all so weird.

This is why we don't have a whole lot to do when we have a babysitter. He's very easy to take along. We feel so lucky that we got such a mellow kid-- especially since we're not exactly high strung people ourselves.

Worm rattle with an apple hat... of course.

Daddy's Boy

Evan: "da da da da da"
Me: "Buddy, can you say mama? mmmmmama...maaaaa maaaaa..."
Evan: (huge smile) "DADA!"

This and That

I've said a million times how crazy daycare is. And, you've seen Evan dressed up as the newest member of the Blue Man Group to prove it. Here's a little more.

Ms. Betty made headdresses (if this qualifies) for Evan and Violet and built a tee pee where they all played Indians.

And then the dress up continued.

Perhaps we instigated this by sending him in his Super Evan shirt this morning.

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Me: "What are we going to do about his hair? It keeps getting longer, but it's still standing straight up!" (I'm not actually concerned, I just keep imaging Evan with really long hair and it still standing on end like he's some sort of frightened Scooby Doo character.)

David: "We're not doing anything. It's his best feature."

Well, okay then.
-------

And then there's this:

And this:

Happy Valentine's Day!

:)

Two for One

Grandparents Visit
Evan's Grandma Barbi and Grandpa Ed visited last weekend. David and I wanted to volunteer for the FIRST Lego League state tournament like we had for the past 5 years. We suggested that the grandparents come for a conveniently timed visit so a) they could get some Evan time and b) we could have a trusted babysitter.

David got out of some of his duties but I still had a packed weekend (that's what happens when you're a loyal volunteer.) I have to admit, it was a super rough weekend and I was not happy about it. I received several comments along the lines of, "Oh, how nice! You get out of baby duty this weekend." No one even considered that I might want "baby duty." (I don't like that term. He's my kid, not a duty.) All week long, I look forward to hanging out with David and Evan all weekend. They're my two favorite people, after all. Having a booked up weekend does not make me a happy camper.

So anyway, even though I chose to volunteer, I was moody and grumpy. I guess this was good practice for two work trips that I have coming up. And one of them is over a weekend. Ugh.

But never mind my sob story. Evan got some good grandma and grandpa time and that makes me happy.

Grandma has way too much hair for Mr. Grabby Hands

A Tooth! And then another!
Yesterday we got to daycare and Ms. Betty said that Evan had been cranky, slobbery and that she bets he's getting a tooth. When we got home, we washed hands and investigated. Yup! One little ridgey tooth on his left side.

Also, I know Ms. Betty had her fingers in his mouth and was just hinting for us to check. We'd basically quit checking because he's been slobbering and showing all the signs of teething for so long. He's like the little boy crying wolf...but of teeth.

And then today, I just wanted to feel that jagged little tooth again before he got into the bath and what do I find? Another one! Our big boy has two bottom teeth!

He doesn't have teeth in these pictures. They're just cute.

Peek-a-Boo!

A Tiny Big Boy

He has a few shirts with huge necks like this.
I always tell him he's showing his chest hairs.