"I don't wanta....."

Evan's famous words right now...even if it is something that he likes.  "Evan let's go eat lunch." E - "I don't want eat lunch."  "Evan, let's go pee pee." E - "I don't want go pee pee."  Evan apparently is exercising his will in enjoying letting us know what he "don't wanta" do.

Evan LOVES Woody from Toy Story.  He also like playing with the other characters, in particular Buzz Lightyear.  Buzz Lightyear's famous quote is "From infinity and beyond".  Evan has started saying that - this is his twist on it: "from insinitee an yon" with such enthusiasm and the best and brightest smile.

He now says EVERYTHING that we say, even if we do not understand it.  Some in particular tha I like and are noteworthy: "nuk" for milk (he uses this word for wanting any drink, even if he is drinking water; "belbum" (you're welcome); "baf" (bath); "backboes" (crackers); "Un wich" (Uncle Rich); "samsich" (sandwich); "ine cited" (I am excited); "an wait" (I can't wait)....love toddler-speak...so endearing : )

LOVE Evan such a sweet and cool kiddo!

Sweet Words

I sure do love when I receive unsolicited words of affirmation from my boys.  Thursday morning before heading out of our house, Brady climbed into my arms and said "I wish I could marry you, Mommy."  Very touched, I looked at him and said "Why do you say that, baby?"  "Because, Mommy, I love you."  Awww, thanks buddy!

After arriving in Atlanta for a visit, I asked Brady to help me with getting some things out of the van.  He followed me outside and I told him that I was glad he was my big boy helping me and that I had him as my big boy.  He said "I am happy that I have you as my mommy."  I said, "Yeah, why do you say that?"  "Because, mom, you are cool AND cute."  How sweet!

At MiMi & PopPop's house, Brady's boo boo was starting to bleed again so he needed a band aid.  We looked in the bathroom with MiMi and found one.  I said that is great MiMi has a band aid for you.  He said, "Yeah, I knew she would have a special one for me."  Love it!

After having a stomach bug through the night, Brady and I prayed for his belly to feel better.  He woke up and the stomach part of his illness was gone.  I said, "Oh, baby, we need to thank Jesus for your belly feeling better."  He said, "Yeah, mommy.  We asked Jesus to make it better and he said 'Well, alright'."  He said this all smiles.   Precious!

BIG BOY NEWS!!!

Evan is really taking to the idea of potty training (we introduced it over the past two weeks while Brady was in VBS) so I guess we are going to dive in now....full force : /  That is my mixed emotions face.  I have mixed emotions because, of course, I am so excited at the thought of getting Evan out of diapers....especially with another one in diapers.  I also am sad at the thought of my sweet lil' Evee growing up : (  I am also not looking forward to the work involved!  Let's face it...it is much easier to go out and about with 3 little kiddos when you don't have one trying hard to stay dry.  Since he seems so ready I need to move forward with it before I miss the "sweet spot" when he is so ready. 

Last night Evan moved out of his crib into his big boy bed.  He will be sleeping in the bottom bunk of Brady's bed.  This was quite emotional for me...he is only 2 - 25 months to be exact.  Brady was much older when he moved into his big boy bed.  Evan looked so tiny in that big, full size bed.  My baby not in his crib anymore...hard for Mommy.  With Brady's great bunk beds and large bedroom we had always planned for the boys to share the bedroom even if we had chosen to not have a third child.  With Maddox here we are going to use the nursery again for him.  With that in mind, we are moving Evan into his big boy bed a little sooner than we probably otherwise would have.  He was soooo excited about sleeping in his big boy bed.  One of my concerns definitely came to be...my fun-loving, loud, easily excitable little guy was very interested in the fact that his best buddy - his big brother, Brady was sleeping in the bed right above him.  We kept hearing: "Baydee" (Brady), "BAYDEE?".  We had to go in there several times and "threaten" him.  We had to tell Brady to ignore him, hoping the novelty would wear out and he would tire of calling for him.  Eventually it got quiet in there and he was out - so was Brady.  Daddy slept upstairs to make sure he was okay all night and so I could get a good, full night's sleep (what a sweet hubby).  At about 3 a.m. Evan called out because somehow in his sleep he got his arm caught in the slats of the bed above him.   He woke up at another time because he could not find his paci.  Then Chris said at 6:15 a.m. (he doesn't usually wake up until 7:30 or 8) he heard Evan again: "BAYDEE?"  Not a great night sleep, but a start.  Hopefully the novelty of sharing a room tires sooner rather than later.  We shall see.  

Hard for me to believe that my baby is potty training and sleeping in a big boy bed.

Update:  about 2 weeks later....the "novelty" is wearing off - good and bad....it is wearing off for potty training (not good) and the big boy bed and sharing a room with Brady (good).  With VBS over and us out and about Evan needed to be in a diaper, then being out of town for an entire week - I feel like we lost some ground with potty training.  The novelty is gone so the "fun" of being a big boy and using the potty is over.   So now - yea me! - I am working on reviving the excitement of potty training now that we are back in town.  This is my second least favorite parenting responsibility to date (sleep trainig being my first)!

At least we can put both boys to bed in the same room at the same time and within 15 - 20 minutes they are quiet and asleep and we do not hear from them until - the earliest - 7 a.m.  That, at least, is some progress so that is what I will focus on.

WELL, WELL, WELL

We have had all three boys at the pediatrician recently for well check-ups.  Evan's 2 year check-up...sized up at 34.5 inches (60th percentile) and 27 lbs. (40th percentile) with a clean bill of health.  Brady's 5 year check-up.....sized up at 45.5 inches tall and 46.5 lbs. - 75th percentile for weight and OFF THE CHARTS for height!!  I have never had a child measure off the charts.  Dr. Anderson said he is the size of a 6 year old...wow!  I felt so bad for Brady.  The vaccinations end at the 2 year well check-up until 5 which is when they come back to prepare for school - 4 shots in the thighs...ouch!!! Chris came to this appt. with us.   I was proud of how he handled it.  He also received a clean bill of health.  Maddox had his 4 month well check-up yesterday....5 vaccinations in ONE day!  He did well and measured in at 26.5 inches tall and 13 lbs. 6.5 oz. - 95th percentile for height (my tallest boy at this age) and only 25th percentile for weight....LONG and LEAN!  He also received a clean bill of health.  I am a very THANKFUL Mommy - and Daughter of the KING - for having healthy, beautiful boys!

AMEN little love!

Evan has started praying before his meals.  He bows his head says: "Geejus"...speaks in tongues, then nods his head and says "Amen".  LOVE it!!! LOVE him!!

Firsts and Lasts

It seems much of my journaling regarding my kiddos and memories that I want to cherish is regarding firsts and lasts.  I feel like we have had so many firsts and lasts as of late....

• Brady had his last day of preschool...........FOREVER!

• Brady had his last (first) t-ball game!

• Evan turned two!

• Brady got fitted and wore a tuxedo (oh, I teared up...so grown and handsome)! He was the ring bearer in Uncle Rich's wedding.

• We celebrated Brady's 5th birthday with a fun fire station birthday party with his friends!

• Maddox has stopped "needing me" in the middle of the night.
• I registered my FIRST baby for the FIRST time for school (kindergarten is coming up).

• Evan has been sporadically going pee pee and poop in the potty (the FIRST step toward potty training)!  AND telling us when he needs to go poop.
• Instead of just calling him "beebee" (which he still does : )), Evan has started calling Maddox by his name - "mannex" - so sweet!

• Evan and Maddox had their first hotel stay (The Partridge Inn in Augusta for Uncle Rich's wedding) - this was also Maddox's first trip to Augusta.

• My boys and I shared two firsts together...playing in the creek with friends (what a BOY thing to do) and we went strawberry picking...so fun!

So much going on....so many memories...May was quite full, especially with two birthdays, a graduation (Nicholas) and a wedding (Rich) so I have jokingly dubbed May of 2011 - "MAYhem".

TWOriffic!!!!

My EvJ turned TWO today (5/12/11).  I can not believe it.  I clearly remember two years ago when I sat in the NICU rubbing your back while you were in the little plastic crib hooked up to all the monitors.  I sat there for hours trying to not pass out from exhaustion as I did not want to leave your side.  It did not seem right to leave your side.  Finally Daddy came back from taking Brady & MiMi & PopPop home and encouraged me to say good night to you and head back upstairs to sleep.  It is hard to believe that was only two years ago.   

You are such a BIG boy…BIG fun, BIG personality, BIG laughs, BIG love.  You fight fiercely and LOVE fiercely.  You are always running – and always falling down.  You always have a “boo boo” but are soooo tough!!  You are a joy to all of us….the perfect addition to our family.   

You have so many more words…your vocabulary is taking off!  There is not anything that you will not say or try to say : )  You are starting to use the potty.  Growing up so fast! 

In honor of turning two I thought I would decide my top two favorite Evan things (even though it is so hard to focus on just two): 

(1)   Your nurturing, maternal/paternal way….such a LOVER…you will grab my face and give me such a yummy, big kiss.

(2)   Your laugh…so sweet, so contagious…the best sound, the best medicine! 

Happy Birthday, Evan!  I love you!!!