mikey as yellow-hat-wearing superhero

Yesterday, Mr. Merry Mike grocery shopped, went to Lowe's and got a new sprayer for the kitchen since I got ours totally stuck and soaked myself on a regular basis turning on the water which was pretty awesome, FIXED said sprayer during naptime (Ev cooperated by napping for... one whole hour. oops.), made me dinner in the crockpot (and it was delicious), picked up my prescription (because I hate going to the Walgreens drivethru in my car because the window doesn't roll down and I look like a fool), and did 2 loads of laundry. I got to come home and just hang out with my Evster all night. It was beyond fantastic.

He also (mostly willingly) wore the above costume on Halloween.

He is a good, good man and I love him.

In other news, Ev willingly ate a vegetable yesterday for the first time in about 3 months. I'd just given up on even putting them anywhere near his plate as they just met the floor. What did he go for yesterday? Broccoli, of all things. And lots of it. I'm sort of frightened to see the results of that today.

xoxox.

tick-teeeeeeeeet

He looks so serious in all of his photos lately. It's a ruse to try to convince me to put the camera away, I'm telling you.

We went to Whole Foods for lunch last week, and after Ev very carefully placed his banana (yes, it's an obsession) and his mac & cheese on the counter for the checkout man, he looked at Ev and said, "would you like a trick or treat bag?" You would've thought he gave Mr. Ev the single greatest gift of all time with how my child has carried this paper bag with a pumpkin on it around since receiving it. We've been working on the-- what do you say when you have your bag? And getting a funny little "tick-teeeeeeeeeeeeeet" (which, yes, needs to be on video). Last night, I was cleaning up the car a bit and Mike handed me a paper sack. From the backseat, all we heard was a panicked "TICK-TEEEEEEEEEET! TICK-TEEEEEEEEEEET!" until we realized he thought I was using his beloved trick or treat bag for garbage disposal. All was calm when I showed him-- look, no punkin here.

He cracks me up, I tell you. He really does.
xoxoxoxox.

too fast

I love this kiddo and refuse to believe how quickly it's going to be that he is the one going to homecoming. I swear Jared was just this small a matter of weeks ago.

banana.

Just an example of where my brain is lately (missing, in case that's not clear from the following).

The other day, Ev and I went to the grocery to get bananas-- just a few, as he is clearly part monkey. We had three bananas, he wanted to carry one, so I let him. So we're leaving the store, and I carried on an entire conversation with him about said banana. As in, "OK, Ev, hold on tight to your banana, we don't want to drop it!" "Do you still have your banana?" "Don't lose your banana!"

When I got to the car, I realized what I'd been saying and just cracked up. I pity anyone who walked by us during the VERY serious and yet completely ridiculous banana discussion.

So remember: hold on tight to your banana-- we don't want to drop it!
Yeesh.
xoxoxox.

this...

... is a hug. This is only a hug. I swear to it, even if it doesn't QUITE look like one. Proof positive of Max's patience, which I don't think I realized existed in such great quantities. And further grainy proof of just how happy the furry baby makes the baby....This is what I will point to when people say-- oh, you feel totally differently about your dog when you have a baby, blah blah blah. While Max might get less of our time, fewer treats, and no new collars for each season-- I love him even more than I did before for his tolerance, for his ability to walk away when it all gets to be too much, for letting Ev play with his toys and throw them in his face (repeatedly), and for making the boy smile THIS big just by being there. They've had their moments-- as I'm guessing all siblings do-- but then Ev wakes up in the morning and after a bit of talking to mama or dada-- remembers he hasn't seen his Max yet and calls for him urgently and I melt just a little bit more when that beaming smile fills his face when that dog of ours enters the room. Love.

our bat-ball busy boy

Baseball (aka bat-ball), you see, is very serious business in this house. I fully confess that he didn't get this from me-- mama has absolutely zero hand-eye coordination. Clearly, these are all Mike's genes at work. You can typically interest Ev in any given toy/activity for about 10 minutes, tops. Being stuck at home with him in the rain? Not the most fun ever as he is bizzzzzzzy to the nth degree and really not amused by any of his toys. At all. Ever. Bat-ball, on the other hand? Hours of enjoyment. I take the tee and bat and ball to Mike's softball games and Ev will hit for the entire game. And watch a little. But mostly hit.

... in fact, he can even hit a ball Mike pitches to him?!?! Again... not my genes at work here. I can't even catch the balls Ev hits directly to me. But despite my inabilities-- seeing Ev's face, his focus, his LOVE of playing bat-ball-- makes me so happy. I love that taking him to the park on a drizzly holiday Monday and putting him on the actual bat-ball field-- where the BIG boys play-- just made his weekend. Running the bases (while saying runrunrunrunrun to himself), hitting, covering himself in good ol' NC red clay, hitting, throwing, hitting (he's big on the hitting part), clapping... it's the best...

... until we have to leave, that is. This face would break my heart if it hadn't come after 1.5 HOURS of bat-ball. HOURS, child. Love you, Ev, and your bat-ball-loving ways. xoxoxox.

crazy beautiful.

It's an upstairs-air-conditioner breaks, kitchen sink leaking for no aparent reason, needing to change pants too many times sort of day-- but it's a wonderful one anyway. Took Ev on his first true hike this morning with HIM walking next to me in his little Keen shoes, chattering and excited and climbing up and down the 50-some-odd stairs and walking the whole of the one mile trek (halfway through all I could think was... I'm definitely going to end up carrying this boy... he amazes me, that one). Looking down at his crazy curls in the sun, holding his tiny chubby hand in mine, pointing out blue-tailed skinks and monarchs. It was sort of completely perfect. Makes everything else not matter. I love these boys of mine. Life is good, even when it is frantic and messy and expensive and things break and don't go quite how you'd like. There's always a reason, and when it comes down to it-- all that matters is this love, this family, this life-- the silly snuggly busy boy sitting on my lap, the panting dog sleeping behind us in our 80+ degree upstairs while we wait for the AC guy to call back and Mike finds us all snacks. So thankful for this.

xoxoxoxo.

random snaps.

Two "technically" imperfect photos. I love them so. The first? Ev tormenting Max's stuffed sheep. It "baaaaaaaaaaas" when you squeeze it. He thinks it should be his and you often hear random baaaaaaaas throughout the day when he remembers it's in Max's toybox. The second? Dada love. Melts my heart each time I see it. Enjoy your long weekends, friends. I plan to hang out with these boylies every minute of it. xoxoxo.