Bubble Trubble...

So Evan and I make the short trek next door to my neighbor's house for a weekly play date. The very day we moved in Shelley came over to introduce herself. She noticed I was wearing an Air Force Academy shirt and asked if I attended...uh, no. Just then Scott walked out and we chatted about him graduating in '98. Her response? Her husband graduated from the Academy in '98! Sadly, Brandon is deployed so we've only met him on Skype! More talking led to learning that her two-year old is only one day older than our two-year old! What are the odds?

Shortly after that we were invited over for playgroup and have been going ever since. The entire group consists of three two-year olds (all with September birthdays!), two four-year-olds, and one newborn. Most days the mommies chat while Shelly spends an inordinate amount of time at the sink making bubbles and pouring them into the play sink outside for the kids to splash around. Watching Evan thoroughly enjoy this, I decided to do the same thing on those days when blocks and Sesame Street just aren't holding his attention anymore!

So, I bought some cheap (and completely awesome) bubble bath, poured it into his extra large bucket that should be used for holding his outside toys, added water and voila - Instant Happiness!

My thanks to you, Shelley, for making the ordinary extraodinary with your great idea!

Two

Sweet Evan,

Just two years ago in the wee hours on a cool September morning I woke to a little surprise. I gently nudged your dad and whispered, "I think we need to go to the hospital". This same thing had happened just 4 days before, so I'm not sure he really believed me!

We arrived at the hospital before 6am and called Granny to let her know you were on your way. The rest of the day Mommy and Daddy relaxed, watched movies and anticipated holding you for the first time. When Dr. Turner visited at 3:30 she told us that time had come...twenty minutes later we were counting your fingers and toes.

It sounds silly because I'm sure lots of mommies and daddies tell their babies the same thing; it was the best day of our lives. It was perfect and calm and relaxed. You were healthy and pink and screaming.

I could never have imagined where we would be two years later. Of course I knew you would grow but I had no idea how you would look as a little boy or what your little personality would be. You're one-of-a-kind...

I'll wake you up in a few minutes and you'll point to the light and fan and tell me, "on". We'll head downstairs and you'll find your chair in front of the TV and you'll point and say, "TT". I'll pour milk into your cup and bring it to you and you'll give me your first big grin of the day and maybe a little, "tanks"!

Today I'll ask you questions like, "Evan ,would you like to have waffles or toast?" and you'll say, "toes" or "Are you done eating?" to which you'll sign and say "ah duhn". When it's time to put on your shoes you'll run as far away from me as the room allows - usually into the corner of the kitchen - and exclaim, "NO!".

We might talk about colors and you'll name a few; boo, wed, puhpul and geen.

I'll ask you to find Daddy or Paw Paw and you'll walk through the house calling, "DA-DAAA" and "PAW PAWWW". For whatever reason we can't get you call for Mama or Granny...

If we play today you'll most enjoy filling your pail with "sand" in your new "sand box", coloring, or whipping up some burgers and fries at your McDonald's Drive Thru. We'll repeat the "letter game" at least a few times and you'll sing your "ABC's".

You'll run and climb and jump and flip...all your favorite activities.

You'll grin, and laugh and spin around happily in circles.

You'll also get upset today when you don't get your way. You'll run full-force away from mommy and dramatically throw yourself to the floor while screaming. You might even throw a toy or two! And that might get you a "time out"...

Tonight we'll have bath time and you'll stack your cups in order as I tell you what color comes next. Mommy will give you your gummy bear vitamin and you'll get upset because you want another one. I'll try to help you brush your teeth but you'll take the toothbrush from me to do it yourself. Only after I sweetly beg you will you turn it back over to mommy. When I ask you what book you would like to read you'll probably choose, The Brightest Star, a book about the story of Christmas. Just after we turn out the light to sing songs you'll point to your crib to signal that you want me to grab your pillow, stuffed frog, blanket and woobie for song time. There mommy will be in the rocker with you and all your favorite things. We'll sing our songs together and Daddy will come in to kiss you and tuck you in. Tomorrow we'll do it all again.

Little Evan, you truly are an amazing little guy. You make us laugh and - sometimes - want to take a time out ourselves! You have a sweet personality - you're outgoing and friendly, always saying hi and bye-bye to others you pass during the day. You're dramatic and independent and you know what you want. Mommy and Daddy love it all and don't know how we ever lived without you.

Happy Birthday, big boy. May you continue to grow and learn and be happy. We love you more than you could know...

I hear you calling from your crib now...

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Nine Years

We were 25...

We were starting out...

We were carefree...

We were apartment renters...

We were at Whiteman AFB, MO...

We were 27...

We were reassigned...

We were settling into married life...

We were still doing DITY moves...

We were home owners...

We were pet owners...

We were navigating through our fifth year...

We were at Lackland AFB, TX...

We were 30...

We were moved again...

We were neighbors and friends...

We were potluck party go-ers...

We were new parents...

We were at Ft. Meade, MD...

We were 33...

We were sent to familiar surroundings...

We traveled as three...

We found our new routine...

We are back at Lackland, AFB...

We are 9 years wiser than those young kids who were married 9 years ago today...

We are proud, proud parents of the cutest-ever 2-year-old...

We are still in love...

We are hoping for many more adventures together...

I love you.

Evan's Alphabet

So for a while now Evan has been very interested in letters. Months ago I started to notice him pointing to various letters in books as we read, signs as we drove by, and even my t-shirts as I held him.

Then came the letter recognition explosion. We recently placed a snap-together mat of all the letters and numbers under his toy area in the corner of the living room. Little by little I started to realize he was actually recognizing and saying the letters...much to my amazement! So, this last week I wanted to see just how many he really knew; he's up to about 14! Of course now that I see his abilities we make a regular game of "playing letters". I am always amazed by how much they soak in and store in their little heads long before they verbalize it!

We're working on numbers, too, although he was bored with the "game" for us to get good video tonight...he's a two-year-old after all.

Enjoy!

Some of the Last Pieces

If our move to San Antonio were a 100-piece puzzle, we just placed 98 and 99. The picture is almost complete.

Yep, I'm back to work and Evan's in daycare for the very first time!

I was lucky enough to be invited back to Deacon Recruiting (I worked for them a short time just before we moved to MD three years ago) as a Recruiter/HR Coordinator on a part-time schedule. The 17th seemed so far away...and then there it was!

A few weeks ago I did some driving around and stopping in prospective daycare centers for Evan. I found one that was new and shiny with all the bells and whistles (and price tag to go with it) but was more content with the smaller, family owned, seem-to-love-them-like-their-own center just a few miles further. Last week I brought Evan in a couple of times to play for about an hour so that he was accustomed to the teachers and kids before leaving him for 9 hours on Monday.

We must've looked like newbies dropping off their 6 week old! Scott followed us to the daycare Monday morning, video camera in tow. I carried Evan's blanket, pillow and woobie along with a list of "tidbits" I thought of the night before when I could not sleep. You know, things like, "he's never drank from a real cup all by himself" - since they don't allow sippy cups - and "he's never slept on a mat on the floor". I, of course, got a little teary as I left him in the room and turned to leave. Scott was sure to get that on camera!

I called to check on him as soon as I got to work and was reassured he was doing fine. Later in the day his teacher called me to again let me know his morning went really well. I was really relieved.

And that big smile when I picked him up...it washed away all my apprehension. I know he's going to learn all sorts of new things, new words and meet new friends...it's so hard to let go, even just this tiny bit!

So, off to find that last puzzle piece...a new gym. The hardest part of all to fit back into place....

The night before our big day....cannot resist that sweet face!

Ms. Rachel's Comments on Evan's Morning

Too Close to Two

Little man of mine, you're growing way too fast. Everyone says this happens; in the blink of an eye your baby is all grown up. I knew better, though. With my impatient nature I figured I'd always be looking more forward to the next milestone, never minding leaving the past behind. I was wrong. I look at you everyday and want to just freeze-frame your little face, your smile, your sweet mannerisms, your chuckle...all of it.

Everyday you do something different and new. Just yesterday you said "keys". That may not sound like much but considering you've barely talked at all and, unprompted you repeated me when I said, "Where are Mommy's keys?"...I am here to tell you it was something!

As if that weren't enough, later that same afternoon I check in on you watching Sesame Street and hear you repeat Cookie Monster by saying, "cookie". Two words in one day?? I couldn't wait for your Daddy to get home so we could show him! We practiced over and over all day.

For a while now you've also been saying "peez" while signing it at the same time...honestly I could watch you do this all day because it's just that cute. You point to your eyes individually and say, "eye", "eye"...and then repeat it pointing to Mommy or Daddy's eyes.

You're inserting your little personality into everything you do. Lately when you've been playing and something drops to the floor or happens unexpectedly you exclaim, "Aw, man!". In some of those same situations you smack your hands to your face in annoyance. Ever the drama-seeker!

The boundless energy continues. Your new favorites are spinning in circles until you fall over, jumping from one rug to another with both feet, doing front rolls, and hopping on one foot. I won't say you've completely mastered that one but when we prompt you to do it and demonstrate it for you, you try your hardest to imitate us. It actually looks more like you kicking with one foot while adding a little bounce but you really think you're hopping and we're not telling you any different!

While I thought I would wait until your actual birthday to talk about all your newest adventures I decided today, on your 23-month birthday to record just a glimpse. At the rate you're growing and changing I can only imagine what new things you'll do in the next month that I'll be able to share.

You're almost there, big boy, an actual two year old...but you're forever my baby boy.

All my love to you...

New Do

We all know I prefer short hair. I've decided many times through the years to "grow it out" but the minute it gets stuck in the collar of my shirt I renege. So, when I came across a 30% off coupon from the salon I went to before I moved, I decided to go short again.

I knew my old stylist was no longer there so I asked for someone who was great with short hair, highlights and cut well with a razor. The next week I was sitting in Lorenzo's chair. I showed him a picture of a rather boring, been there-done that, short bob but then started talking about layers and texture and having something "fun and easy". This must be where the communication failed. Granted, what he described to me sounded great and I was super-excited. However, what I left with was some seriously short hair; probably the shortest I've ever had.

Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome cut. He knew what he was doing...too bad I didn't! I went back a week later for highlights and watched him style it again. To hear Lorenzo tell it, I was styling it to be "too clean" hence the cut was losing its "sheek". Uh, ok. That's stylist talk for, "you're styling it to be a mommy cut when it's SO much cuter than that!" So, I took his tips and my new cut is finally growing on me, no pun intended. Hey, at least it's cool in this god-forsaken heat!