My All Star

Evan is in summer camp for the entire month of July (thanktheLord). Not that I don't love spending every waking minute with my little man, but a bit of abscense does make the heart grow fonder, especially when it's time to grocery shop. Grocery shopping with two little active boys is not my favorite way to spend the morning. Especially now that Drew is growing out of his baby seat. I sit the boys next to each other in the front of the cart, and all is well until Drew starts touching or drooling on Evan.... then the ---- hits the fan. Evan freaks out, in turn freaking out Drew and it's a mad race to get my goods and get to the check out counter. Anyway... Evan LOVES his summer camp. He goes three days a week for three hours a day. Each week is a different topic. Last week was sports week. Here is Evan's first all star card... the first of many I am sure. If you read closely he enjoyed golf the most, and his favorite past time at camp is dancing!!! The best part of these cards is what Evan's buddy's card, James, said his favorite past time was....eating. Which any of you that know James, know that is NO lie.

Baby Claire

Here are a few pictures I took of Baby Claire (my friend's 4 month old daughter) in her Baptismal gown. It is an antique gown that has been in her father's family for many years and it's beautiful. I just snapped a few pictures, because now her Mama has a good camera and takes wonderful pictures herself! Isn't she adorable? She is identical, yet very girly of course, to her big brother.

Super Baby

Meet Drew. Super Baby. Brave (and not just because he isn't afraid to show a little of his side-boob out of the sleeve of his romper) and kind all rolled up into one sweet package, and now with a red cape to boot.

The Budding Photographer

Evan is definitely my budding photographer. I don't let him touch my DSLR, but he is allowed to play with my POS, with my close supervision of course! Here are some pictures he took over the weekend. Not bad if I do say so myself.

It's ALL about Batman

We are officially Batman Obsessed. But if you talk to Evan, don't ask much about Batman. Ask more about Robots and Astronauts. Cause that's what he liked last week and that's the theme I am planning for his birthday party in September. That's where planning ahead does not work to my advantage. Already spent a pretty penny on anything and everything space oriented... so we must change Evan's mind that an astronaut party is the bees knees... and batman is so yesterday. Please?

Keeping it Real in the 407

Damn it's hot here in the suburbs of Orlando. I mean, it's unreal. You walk outside and you are instantly drenched in sweat. It's almost bad enough to make one slightly cranky. Here you are, finally freshly showered, make up and hair done. And it's all erased in the blink of an eye as soon as you venture outside to entertain two little active boys. But no time to be cranky around here. Evan won't have it. Here is Evan just keeping it real, donned in stickers and temporary tattoos. If he can tough it out, well so can I.

Nothing Can Keep him Down!

He may not be his normal smiley self in these pictures, but trust me when I say, nothing can keep this little boy down. He has been sick since Tuesday, one of the worst colds between the two of my boys to date. But you wouldn't know it from looking at him. Well, that is unless you squint really hard and miss the boogies oozing out of his eyes and nose. What I mean is, even though I didn't capture all his smiles and giggles on film, he is one of the happiest sick boys I have ever seen. He can barely breathe, but by golly he can laugh!!! What a joyful little guy.

Humble Pie

OK, so I am one of those Moms. The one with the children with the disgusting runny noses. The one that you stare at and think evil thoughts about, and wonder why the heck she dragged sick kids outside of the house to share their germs with the world? Yup. That's me! When your husband works upwards of 70 hours a week and you have had peanut butter and jelly for the last 4 nights in a row, sometimes it's gotta be done! I am courteous enough to keep them confined to my stroller, even at the grocery store, when I have to shove a weeks worth of groceries in a tiny basket under Drew's infant carrier. Anyway, as I am running through the store, trying to be as discreet as possible, wiping both of their noses at every chance I get.... Evan totally rats me out. I am in line, paying for my goods, when Evan asks, "Mommy, what are you holding?" I replied, "my credit card, I am paying for our stuff." And on I go, about my business. Evan pauses, I suppose hoping I will in return ask him the same question, which I don't. So he asks, "what's Evan holding Mommy?" "I don't know buddy, what are you holding?" And then he replies with much gusto "A BOOGIE MOMMY!!" This statement is paired with his outstretched hand, and at the end of his index finger lies a large, green slimy booger, which is now only inches from my face and in plain view for the cashier to admire as well. Motherhood is so humbling.

No pictures to accompany this post, for obvious reasons.

Vivid Imagination

Evan loves to pretend, especially that he is a bus driver. He lines up his chairs, right in front of my kitchen island and plays "school bus". I love that he is pretending. I love that he puts his toys in the chairs behind him, and they are his "passengers". It would be nice if he did this some where else besides right in the middle of the kitchen when I am preparing dinner. But it's OK. I am just glad he doesn't ask me to be a passenger. I am sure that's coming though. I am sure my days of being just an onlooker are numbered. This boy is not an independent player. If he plays astronauts, I am an alien. If he plays superman, I am spider man. If he is Buzz Light year, I am Woody. You get the picture. It's lovely, it really is. I will look onto this time with such fondness when he grows up and won't give me the time of day. But sometimes, it would be nice to be able to pee by myself, without my number one sidekick/playmate by my side!!! Right now, his imagination is so vivid that he imagines scary things as well. He can't be by himself for one second because there are monsters, fire-breathing dragons, lions, dinosaurs...trying to get him. He often times has to be held/carried and he jumps from the couch, to the ottoman to the other couch because the lions are nipping at his toes?! I wouldn't want to walk around either if there were lions biting me, can't say I blame the guy.

Another update on my 2 year old (2 years and 5/6th's to be exact... per Evan... no he isn't brilliant, we told him that's how old he was when he asked and now that's what he tells people... he's smart, but not that smart, even I had to take a minute and think about that fraction).... he gained 3 lbs in the last month and now weighs over 30 lbs for the first time EVER!!! That's fully clothed with a diaper and shoes on, but hey, I will take it!!! Thank Goodness for heavy cream, cause that's what the boy now gets in his milk. Half cream, half milk (which now all the sudden I am wondering why I don't just buy Half N Half). He may have coronary artery disease by age 10. But he weighs 30 lbs. Gotta take the bad with the good, is what I always say?

Super Serious Starstrom

More Jammer Shots

No Glamour shots here, but rather a few of Drew in his Jammers, hence the title of my post.

The definition of jammers in Evan language= Pajamas, and we have all adopted the term and use it exclusively.

Festivities

On the 4th of July, I got crazy and let the boys stay up late. I have been ridiculed in the past about my strictness for bedtime. But I don't care what people think (at least about that!). My boys sleep better than just about any babies or kids that I know. I did sleep training with both of them at age 8-9 months, and I really am strict about their naps and about bed time. It means I can't run very many errands or do much at all during the day because of Drew's naps, and it means us missing out on a lot of night time activities. But whatever, that's the sacrifice I make to have my boys get into good sleeping habits. But I threw caution to the wind on Sunday so we could attend two 4th of July parties at our friend's houses. At the second party I even put Drew in a pack n' play and let him go to sleep in a back room, another thing I don't think I have ever done, just so we could stay and play longer. We definitely paid the price the next day, as Evan was as cranky as ever. But I think it was worth it. We enjoyed the fireworks immensely. And at the first party, the kids enjoyed playing in a ball pit that was floating in the pool! Sounds crazy dangerous, but it really wasn't.

And baby Kevin makes 3

Yawn... "It's hard work being this cute".

Dude, haven't you ever heard of "personal space"?

When all else fails, put on some Baby Einstein.

"Psssst, that's my giraffe you just put in your mouth.... just drop it slowly to the ground and no one will get hurt".

I baby sat my friend's 8 month old, baby Kevin yesterday, while she took her older son to see Toy Story 3. We had such a good time. It was a lot of work feeding, bathing and putting 3 little ones to bed simultaneously. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's truly a labor of love. She was so sweet to watch both boys for me the other day when I had my doctor's appointment. Anyway, Kevin is a joyful little boy. Can you tell Drew likes baby Kevin? And baby Kevin adores Drew in return.

Eva? Evelyn?

Here are some more pictures of Evan that I took the other day. Just look at the 2nd one from the bottom and tell me Evan wouldn't make a cute girl? Ok, maybe I should try for one more... a girl this time. Because I look at this picture and imagine a big red bow in his hair and think, Oh what a cute girl we could have!!!! Sorry Evan!!