conversations with Evan

Evan has become a great story teller about his day. I love hearing him tell about his day and learn how the world was in his mind and what was important. Yesterday we picked tony up for work and once in the car Evan rambled on… Dad, I saw two people smoking today.  Eww.  They are going to have black lungs and black teeth.  One was in a truck.  And one was in front of Munson.  She threw it in the trash, so that was good at least.  She didn't litter.  I saw two police vehicles, one police SUV it wasnt the K9 unit. it was turning from a Gas station then mom could see in her mirror, then i Saw another a pllice car. it wasnt going To an emergency or anything, maybe it was just going to pick up speeders. We saw the robots at the library and one had teeth and things that went up and down and I got to drive them but one girl was driving one then it needed to be charged and the robots had balls they can scoop up. We had donuts today. Don't worry you didn't miss out. I got chocolate and you got chocolate and mom got one that smelled like pumpkin. We shared ours.... And it kept going. 

Wish I had recorded this. The excitement in his voice is just precious. 

Officer Evan

A rainy time trick or treating doesn't bother a 4 year old police officer.  I loved seeing his excitement at running up and getting candy, and best of all running down the driveway to show me what kind he got.  I love that it wanted me and share in the excitement too!

Evan loves police!  He knows he is going to be a policeman when he grows up!  He points out police cars all over and loves to collect police toys, stickers, or other goodies.  Him and Tony have played countless hours of crooks over the past year.  Lego crooks.  Searching for crooks in the neighborhood.  More Lego crooks.  With me he wants to play speeders.  I pretend that some Lego figures are speeding and he pulls them over.  Hours of enjoyment for him.

Choosing a toy

We made a deal with Evan about 6 months ago.  We bought a book to help him practice writing his letters, and said that when it was done he could pick out a LEGO truck.  Well, it took awhile to actually finish the book.  Today we did it.  Well when got to the toy store he walked right past the LEGOs with a determination to see that trucks that he saw the last time he was in the store.  And there he found it.  A truck that seems almost identical to the rest of the toys we have.  It was a Police Helicopter and Transporter.  So I guess we don't have that exact toy.  But, we have so MANY trucks!  And this one was $50.  I told that he really didn't need that one and that he had police cars and trucks and helicopters.  And I told him that it was expensive.  Well, the look on his face was so sad.  And then then tears started.  He really wanted it!  He started begging and crying more and trying to convince me to change my mind.  Now, as a parent I have tried not to give in to this behavior.  Its kinda like Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmes.  But… we did promise him a prize and I really don't buy him toys very often.  I was starting to give in.  And then he said that he would give me some of his money when we got home; a dollar and a coin, a dollar and a coin, and a dollar and a coin.  My mama heart gave in!

And it was so cute when we got home and he ran to his room, with his coat and shoes still on and got me 3 dollars and 3 coins.

Arizona

11 months!

Yes, Colin likes toothbrushes!  One of his many loves at this age.  A few of his other interests include mushing his face into soft things, giving love bites to us or stuffed animals, walking with holding onto our fingers, and trying to get into just about everything that Evan has.  He usually only gets angry when he can't put something in his mouth or when we are trying to prepare dinner and he knows its coming and is impatient.  He has preferences for story time and will squirm until you pick up the book he wants and then he relaxes in your lap and listens.  His favorite book is DOG.  And he is showing off some fangs right now because the two upper front teeth are slower to come in.

camping night

scrunched face

Sometimes Colin does this smile where he scrunches his nose.  Cutest face ever!

little kid in a big window

About a year ago, Evan and I started waving and blowing kisses to each other as I drove away from his school.  This is always so sweet and innocent and I am reminded of how little he still is as I look up at him in the big windows on the second floor.  A few times I have even had a few tears.  During the average day, it can be hard to really LOOK at him.  We are always busy running around the house, or I am trying to get him to do wash his hands or brush his teeth, or I am trying to keep him safe from cars as we cruises in his jeep, or I am trying to convince him to eat some veggies for dinner.  Waving to him up there and seeing that sweet smile allows me to see the smallness of him and his life, and how special our time is together.

surprisingly brave

A few days ago Evan had 4 immunizations, 4 pokes!  We talked about it for about a month before.  And would sometimes remind how brave Sister Bear was.  I still expected this event to not go well.  So, I surprised when he sat on my child and let me know hold his legs in mine and give him a tight hug and he had the shots without a flinch or tear.  I even told him a minute or two after that it was ok to cry if he wanted to.  But, he didn't.  He did almost have a little meltdown when trying to chose between 3 stickers.  In order to avoid tears at this point, I told him to take them all and we left.  The rest of the weekend he was proud to tell everyone how brave he was!

chilly and wet in the U.P.

We went on a weekend trip to the U.P.  where the weather was in the 50s and rainy.  Not what we hoped for at the end of July.  Of course, we made some fun memories though.

Evan went fishing for the first time.  He was a trooper in the 3-4 hours in the rain and caught some Gobi fish!  

Evan has been fascinated with shipwrecks for a few months after we talked and read books about the Titanic.  So when he found there was a shipwreck glass bottom boat tour he was so excited.  He was into it and even asked the tour guide "what happened to the sails of the Bermuda?"  And he got to drive for a few minutes.  

Of course we love getting pictures with this smiley baby!  Love his gummy grin and way his face lights up.  

8 months

sleeping baby

It's after 7:00 and Colin is still in bed.  Actually this will be the first morning that he has woken up in his own crib.  We have spent the last 7 months sleeping together.  Partly because he woke up to nurse so often and it was easier to have him right there, and partly because I loved having him right there.  So, this morning I miss them.  Of course I did see him twice in the middle of night (but TWICE).  Better than those nights 1-2 months ago where he woke up every 45 minutes-2 hours.  Yes, its been an exhausting 7 months.  And I think we are finally on the path to mom sleeping through the night again.

I remember laying in bed cuddling next to him when he was a couple days old and thinking, its going to sad to have him one day sleep through the night.  If I didn't need sleep, I would hold him all night.  Still would.  7 months later.  I love watching him grow up.  I just want to hold onto the babyness though.  Despite the demands, our time with Colin as a baby will always be too short for this mom.  Love this 7 month, smily, chubby, can't quite crawl, funny face eater, face grabber, gotta touch everything, age!

love smiles

The favorite parts of my day are when these two boys are smiling at the same time!  

Katy and Paul

A fun weekend was had celebrating Katy and Paul's wedding!  Road trip to Madison, hotel pool, fruit loops for breakfast, fancy cupcakes at the reception, late nights, Evan showing off on the dance floor (including during their first dance)! 

4 months

Sweet 4 month old!  Colin still wakes up 2-6 times a night, but at least he is a happy baby!  He grabs for things, puts things in his mouth, loves to be naked, and can be calmed to "where is thumbkin?" when the usual tricks don't work. 

Evan is 4

 

This kid has been so excited for his birthday (ever since Christmas).  He kept thinking of presents he wanted and plans for a party.  Of course we got him what he wanted - mom got him a recycler (and just to be different than his other recycler... a LEGO one), dad got him a train that plugs in to charge, and Colin got him a stuffed Elmo.  His favorite surprise was a Care Bear from Grandma and Grandpa Steeno.  He actually cuddled that the first night instead of Froggy!  He had all his good friends over for dinner and cupcakes.  He had got a little excited at the party store and had a hard time narrowing the plate selection down to three (Elmo, Curious George, and Tinker Bell).  The kids at the party loved running with the balloons and jumping off the couch into a "pool".

 

 

 Part of Evan's 4 year old world:

 

-loves "jumping on the dad" and wrestling and climbing and sitting on his dad's head as Tony tried to find him

- collects his dirty clothes in a bin in his room and brings them to the washer by dump truck or wheelbarrow

-starting chewing gum a couple weeks ago... a quick little story... the first day of gum chewing brought tears.  We were at a restaurant in GR when he started crying and said "don't look at me".  I knew that he must have swallowed his gum and was scared and embarassed because all he knew about gum was that you weren't supposed to swallow it.

- Berenstain Bears, Care Bears, Elmo, Clifford...

- PB&J and grapes for lunch

- snowplowing (shoveling)

- "did the dryer beep twice?", cause that means he stops what he is doing and goes to "let the clothes air out"

- wants to save everything... receipts, boxes, bags

- loves building things out of cushions - fire trucks, trains, mail trucks, ice cream trucks, UPS trucks, garbage trucks... and 2 level forts with dad's help

- coloring pages from the internet... the first day he discovered we could print coloring pages of anything he wanted was quite the exciting day... he kept running to the printer and getting the newest one he picked out, and once I happen to add an extra to his selection and he runs back and in his most excited voice, "There's a Harold (from Thomas) one too!"

 

 

 

snuggle snuggle

There is never enough time for snuggling with a sleeping baby.  Enjoying these moments... 

downtown winter adventure

 

 

We had a fun winter adventure downtown today!  As part of the Winter Comedy Festival, downtown TC was filled with winter fun!  The biggest excitement was the ferris wheel.  I never thought I would want to go on a ferris wheel on a 22 degree day, especially with a baby and 3 year old.  And Evan can be a little hesitant with new things, and this did look a little scary... high and fast.  But we waited in line for 20 minutes to try it.  And we all loved it!  Well, I mostly loved it because Evan was thrilled.  It's so fun to see him try something new, and laugh, and really enjoy it! 

Then, he had to tubing run!  And loved that too!  Over and over!  And again he amazed me by not being scared and by wanting to wait line by himself.  I just looked in awe at him standing in line, then climbing in the tube and sliding down by himself.  Love those precious moments where I see him growing up.  Not that I'm wishing he grows up fast, but it is amazing to watch the changes and share more and more of life's adventures with him!  And Colin just got to watch it all in the Baby Bjorn. 

GR getaway

 

The gray, cold days of February can make us all a little stir-crazy, especially with baby Colin this year.  So we took a spontaneous trip to Grand Rapids to avoid feeling couped up.  We had a yummy lunch, playtime at the Children's Museum, warm drinks at a coffee shop, Evan did some pool jumping, and we ordered pizza in the hotel room.  All on a beautiful sunny day, where we were thankful for the time to spend with each other. 

 

snowy days

 

Evan has loved playing in the snow this winter.  He is Tony assistant driveway "snowplower".  They have also made snowmen, snow angels, and cakes and banana bread in the snow. 

 

We had one day that it was 50 degrees and thought it would be the best opportunity to get Colin in the famous Steeno sled.  That lasted about a minute! 

Here is Colin on his 2-month birthday!  Everyone comments on his hair.  The top is long and sticks straight up, and the sides are balding.  Such a cute look... at this age!  He now requires less bounching and deep-knee bends, and is becoming more interested in his surroundings, especially Evan, ceiling fans, and music.  He lights up if someone talks to him.