Happy (ALMOST) Birthday!

WHAT? I am in complete denial. It has not been a year. But, that didn't stop me from going through a bunch of pictures and trying to reminisce with Bret about the very beginning of our little man's life! Here are some pics from his bday party today. It was a balloon theme since Evan is obsessed with balloons. He was introduced to the giant punching balloon today which he actually figured out how to use!

Evan's Wall O' Pictures

His smash cake. I made two other cakes that were bigger than this one for the guests to eat. Those cakes were red and green Bret got 20 balloons blown up at Marsh for decorations. Evan was really excited about this!Getting ready for the first cake moment!
Hmm...what is this? It was pretty cute, after I put it on the tray, he looked at me and at the crowd around him as if to say "really? i'm allowed to touch this? what's the catch?".
He thought the cake was ok! He might have enjoyed rinsing his hands of in the sink afterwards more though..

LOVING the weather!

3 days, 3 different strollers. Monday-Tillie, Evan and I busted out the jogging stroller. We probably went 2 miles, but it felt like 12, so that is what we are going to count it as. Tuesday-the three of us to a short stroll (right before the downpour) in the new lightweight/umbrella stroller. Today-we brought back the beast (the stroller part of the travel system)

Evan looks very thoughtful...or mad, but I PROMISE he really liked the run

This is quickly becoming Evan AND Tillie's favorite spot in the house!

Today the weather is AWESOME! So, yes, we felt the need to bust out the swim trunks, and after searching for the baby pool with no luck, we did the best we could with bowls filled with water. Evan LOVED it and had a ball. What is not caught on camera was the meltdown after I made him come inside for his nap. This little man has more than a little Wayne-del-Sol in him...he can't get enough of being outside!

Elizabeth--can you please teach Evan where his sunglasses go? I have been letting Evan give himself his bottle which he does a great job at, but I do miss holding him : (. But, I decided this is something I needed to do for the weaning process (for me not E) since in a few short weeks, Evan will gradually stop taking bottles all together!

Tillie also enjoys these moments...not nearly as much as bfast, lunch and dinner though! Evan thoroughly enjoys tossing Tillie bits and pieces of his dinner. Today, she feasted on chicken nuggets and broccoli

Congrats to Dr (almost) Phil

Bret, Evan, Grammy, Grandpa and I went to Bloomington, IN to support Phil as he got "cloaked" with his white coat for optometry school. It is a special program put together to celebrate the students as they make their transition from practicing eye exams on each other and their willing family members to practicing on the general public...

Evan looks scared. We decided it was because Phil looks creepy : ) The moment we waited for...it happens about 20 seconds into the clip b/c I didn't want to miss Phil's name being announced

Reciting his oath to be a good Dr. My favorite part was the one were he said, and I promise to give my favorite sister, Natalie, her husband, Bret, and any of their children free eye care and eye accessories including but not limited to contacts and glasses...

this is evan saying, can we go yet??? i'm tired

So happy to sit through 20 minutes of 400 amateurs and 1 professional taking pictures

Class of 2012..or at least the ones I could get in the picture. Need an eye doc? This would be a great place to start : ). I recommend the one that managed to put himself front and center in the 2nd row.

Outside? and Inside

With a hopefully not random burst of warm weather this week, Evan, Tillie and I went for a little bit of a walk to check out the neighborhoodWe are making a solid attempt to keep Tillie off the new furniture, so we bought her a new dog bed. Evan really likes to be near Tillie when she is on her dog bed. Most of the time he goes up and lays his head right next to her. This is the 2nd time that I have found Evan in this spot. He is in his nursery, behind his glider, either sitting or lying on his boppy.

Grandpa Govert

This weekend the Govert family said good-bye to Grandpa Jerry Govert. It was a special event because all of the siblings (Bret's dad and his 7 brothers and sisters) descended upon the Region which has been a rare occurrence with them spread from Ohio to Arizona. Grandpa Govert was definitely one of a kind, and I know he will be missed dearly by all those who knew him, it was nice to spend time with family and hear all of the great memories and stories! This pic is one of the many ways that Evan cheered Daddy up over the weekend : ). He LOVES wrestling with Daddy!!

The many faces of Evan eating

Evan has decided that he would like to feed himself lately...with his own fork. He is actually doing a great job with it even if it takes a few attempts to get the fork at the right angle : ). He also is quickly learning how to "stab" the food with the fork. Pretty soon feeding time is going to be a hands free event for Mommy!! Here are some pics from the many faces and attempts of eating with a fork....

i think he might be thirsty. either that or saying "forget it. i'll master this fork thing tomorrow. i'm too hungry."