11 Months

Evan is transforming from a baby to a toddler before my very eyes. He says Mama and Dada regularly and is starting to say Bye Bye and wave. He jabbers most of the day and is learning to listen when I give him instructions. He also has been showing me when he's displeased or doesn't want to do what I say...uh huh...so it starts here. Compared to other babies we're around, he seems to have a calm nature. He's a watcher, but then he's not afraid to dive in. He absolutely loves tickle time, for us to play with him in the floor, to be upside down, to make stuffed animals talk, etc. He laughs all the time and is always trying to get me to laugh. Oh and he finally started crawling on all fours instead of scooting himself. We thought that'd never happen, but once he discovered he could do it, he was like lightening!

My favorite milestone is that he learned to clap his hands. I don't know why I'm so enamered when he does that. It's just SO cute! He's also getting his top teeth in. One of the big ones and one to the side of it. He's been really fussy and whiney lately, no doubt why. He got his first real sickness too...a 102 fever...had to get antibiotics and everything. It was so sad...I felt so helpless as he laid his head on my shoulder all day long, whimpering. Now I completely understand when parents say they'd be sick for their kids in a heartbeat if they could.

Only one more month until his first birthday! I can't believe it. Sometimes it seems like he was just born, but then again, it seems like the longest year of my life. lol Steve and I agree that while 2008 was a great year in a lot of ways, we're really looking forward to 2009. For me, Evan's just a LOT easier now that he's older. That first 6 months was challenging and I'm much more comfortable with where he is now. Maybe that's why all my friends say they started wanting another baby around this stage? Nah! Why ruin what we've got going? :)

Blissness

Gosh December has been a busy month (as for everybody)...preparing for Christmas, Christmas parties, planning Evster's birthday, catching up with friends, cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning.


Anyways so I've got almost all my Christmas shopping done...just one more thing for Steve and I'll be done. We blew it out at Toys R Us a few weeks ago for Evan, so we're done with his Christmas and birthday. The moment we walked in the doors and we started looking at all the stocking stuffers, I started tearing up. I'm such an emo these days! (emo=emotional) I get choked up over evvvvvvvvverything. But I felt somewhat justified in this moment. All the years I waited for a husband, and ultimately a family, came to this....buying presents for my baby boy for his first Christmas. I just couldn't stand it. I was so incredibly happy getting to pick out things for him, anticipating Christmas morning with my little family. I lay in bed at night so excited about Christmas...and not about what I'm getting for once, but for what I'm GIVING, it's all I can do to go to sleep. Life certainly has changed from my lonely existence a few years ago. God kept His word and came through for me.


Before I start crying again, let's move on. Steve continues to be busy at work, but not as busy as a month or so ago. We're both thankful for that. He's a lot happier when he comes home too, which is nice to see. God's given him a lot of favor at work lately and we're believing for great things next year. Also, he's been getting up at 5 am every morning and going to the gym before work. I'm so proud of him for that...lots of discipline! We're both ready to get healthy again and shed some poundage. It's a yo-yo thing that we do, but in a way, we're ready for January to come so all the temptations of December will be over. Ah, not really. :)