Time to Play Catch Up!

Ok, ok I'll spare you the whole 'we've been so busy' bit because the lack of posting is just sad. Instead I will attempt to fill you in on what has ended up being one of the most eventful summers to date for this happy little family.

First things first Daddy got a job! No longer a 'stay at home' he is back in the work force in a job that he is great at- Brian is now event planning and fund raising for the Indiana chapter of JDRF, an organization dedicated to curing type 1 diabetes.

On Father's Day Brian got quite the Daddy's day surprise- news of bambino #2! What a great day to find out huh? We are both thrilled about making this a party of four, and very excited about making Everett a big brother. Everyone keeps asking if we want a boy or girl and I can say honestly we don't have a preference. It would be wonderful for Ev to have a little brother but it would also be great to get a girl! We will see in a few weeks (yes I will post that before the baby actually arrives!) Interestingly enough I will add that we have asked Everett numerous times if he thinks we're getting a baby boy or a baby girl and he has only ever answered that we are getting a "baby girl." We'll see if he's right....

With Daddy back at work Everett spent the summer running around with his godmother, Emy, whom he absolutely adores. They had all kinds of adventures! She graduated college in May and relaxed (and job hunted like a mad woman) before landing her big girl job in August. Insert embarrassing graduation picture here:


To celebrate my brother's 18th birthday we decided to join he and my parents for a couple days in French Lick as a surprise for Uncle Dylan. We had gone their as kids and taken this great train ride which we decided to do with Everett. We all loved it.... for the first half hour, the hour and a half after that, not so much. It was a great experience though and Everett thought it was pretty cool to be on a train, because being the all American boy that he is, all forms of transportation are amazing to him.


We frequented the Indy Zoo quite a bit this summer, making the most of our family pass. Everett absolutely loves it. The Sting Rays, the Lions and the Seals are his favorite. Oh and the Meerkats! He thinks those guys are hilarious. He's really into animals right now. He is obsessed with his Little People Farm, especially the "baby cow" so we had to make a trip to the state fair so that he could see the cows in person. He and I were both over the moon when he got the chance to visit with and pet a real live calf!







And the story you've all been waiting for (at least Grama and Grampa!)
Everett's 2nd Birthday!

We went with a Thomas the Tank Engine theme mostly because Everett is obsessed with him, although Percy Thomas' best friend is his favorite. It was a very small family party, cake and ice cream and presents and visiting. It was nice and not too much for Ev to handle. He got really excited when we put out the Thomas table cloth and birthday banner, he actually started singing the Happy Birthday song, which I didn't realize he knew until that moment. He loved blowing out the candles on his cake and he actually opened presents this year. Here are some highlights:



blowing out candles like a big boy!

He leaned in to get a closer look and practically put his hand through the cake! The entire room gasped and he thought it was hilarious :-)


The hand print!


Showing off his Thomas shirt. I think we could have just gotten him these balloons for his birthday and he would have been happy.

Everett's Papaw (my dad) had gotten him this pillow Buzz a while back. Coincidentally his Great Aunt Suzie got him the pillow Woody for his birthday. He was thrilled when he opened it! He kept hugging them and saying, "Buddies! Buddies!"


Could they look anymore alike?
Busy playing with all his new toys!



Here are a few random pictures that I thought you might enjoy:

That's all from us for now. In a few weeks we have Daddy's biggest event of the year (The Walk to Cure Diabetes) we will be sure to have photos from that in then four days later its ultrasound day! We will keep you all in the loop as we start into our favorite season- Fall!!!

A Birthday Letter

Dear Everett,

I cant believe it has been two years since I first saw your sweet chubby face. You are the center of my universe, you bring me sunshine on cloudy days and you make me laugh even when I feel like crying. Life can be challenging, but you are the one thing in Daddy and I's lives that is worth every moment.
There are so many things that I want to share with you today the most important is that your are my life's dream. Growing up some people knew they wanted to be a doctor or teacher- I wanted to be a mommy. Every time you request a hug or tell me you love me I think how lucky I am that you're mine. We have watched you grow into this curious, observant, funny boy and I know that in the next year you will continue to show Daddy and I exactly the kind of man you will one day be. For now I am happy to be a passenger along for the ride that will be your third year of life. This year you will be potty trained (and you don't even know it yet!) you will continue to express yourself in the most humorous and surprising of ways and perhaps most importantly, you will become a big brother. This year Daddy and I will bring someone into your life that I only hope to be one of your best friends and an ally against the world. I am very excited for you to take on this role, and I look forward to seeing you as my little helper and certainly as an affectionate sibling. This is one lucky baby!

I've also been imagining what it will be like 28 years from today. I picture us celebrating your 30th birthday- and myself looking at a man and seeing my baby in him. I imagine everything you will be and all the pride I will still feel when you call me 'mom.'

I love you in a way you may never understand.
Happy Birthday baby boy!
-Mommy

Happy Easter!

We hope everyone enjoyed a great Easter Sunday!
We had wonderful weather here so we spent the majority of the day playing outside. Earlier this week we had our annual egg dying party! Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dylan and Great Aunt Suzie came over to help! Everett only loved dying eggs when he was trying to put his fingers in the dye!



Everett was really excited to investigate his Easter basket this morning. All kinds of goodies from the bunny: books, play doh, twist up crayons, coloring books, sidewalk chalk and his favorite, rain boots! In the afternoon we headed to my parents so Everett could could dig into his Easter basket there. Then we all went to Mamaw and Papaw's for lunch with Aunt Suzie, CT, Jennifer and Charlotte. We played in the yard and visited all afternoon. Suzie hid eggs for Everett & Charlotte to find. Everett absolutely loved it! He was a natural except that he really wanted to carry his basket but it was so big that he kept accidentally dropping his eggs. All and all we had a wonderful day with family. It made me really anxious to get our flowerbeds done and purchase Ev a playhouse for the backyard. We have a lot of grilling out and hanging out to look forward to.

My camera was acting up this morning (of course!) but I had to post this one- the perfect reaction to a basket of goodies!!

trying on his boots!


on his way to see the family!


my favorite of the day!




the only picture I could get of Everett & Charlotte, man he loves her!

When we got home we had the chance to Skype with Brian's family in Texas! It's always so nice to see Everett interacting with them that way. Since we don't see them very often it is pretty amazing that they still have the chance to see Everett growing up. We also got to see Sydney open her birthday present, we can't believe she turned two this week. Time flies! After a day of adventures Everett, daddy and I spent the last couple of hours wrestling and playing so....

the little man had a great Easter!
(and was no where near ready for bed five minutes after this photo)

love to you all :-)

Adventures of Everett & Woobie

It dawned on me this week that we have never introduced our faithful readers to Everett's best friend. His buddy, his wingman, his pal. If Everett is Maverick then Woobie is Goose. Also referred to as Woobus or Woob, Everett's favorite blanket is extremely soft (even after about a million washes) and hand knit. A treasured gift from one of my best friends, Sara, she gave it to Everett when they met. He was about six months old and it was love at first sight. He hasn't slept a night without the poor guy since that day. He reaches out for him in his sleep, he goes and gets him the minute he gets home and he always knows exactly where he left him. Oh and he doesn't really share the Woobie. Kind of a 'get your own blankey' mentality. So I thought I would introduce him officially on the page and show you just a few of my favorite pictures of the two of them.


Charlotte, Everett & Woobie



Hanging out and reading together!

Always makes a bee line for Woobie the minute he gets out of the bath.



Woob traveled to West Virginia with us on vacation...


And kept Ev company on the long ride (this is when he discovered playing peekaboo with Woob was too funny!)

Trying out their big boy bed!

Everett, Woobie & Mommy on Christmas Eve

Shooting Hoops

Wagon Ride!

Woobie was even there for Everett's first movie!


I'd like to say a special thanks to Sara for giving us Woobie, the worlds best blankey and thank her for being the worlds best friend (and a darn good knitter!) Love you!