The Count

This is about our cat, Twiggy. Does the family pet really warrant a posting? In this case, yes. Twiggy is loved by all in the neighborhood. She is known to be the friendliest around and several neighbors have thought about adopting her, but she would just end back at our house, ya' know?

Ever since we arrived back from vacation, Twiggy, the-cat-the-neighborhood-adores, has been leaving us lots of gifts. The dead kind.

Yup, coming home from a walk, errand, or work will usually include tripping over an offering, whether of the feathered, rodent, or insect species.

Her favorite type of offering is the bird, like she's left this kind of gift well into the double digit numbers. Now, I don't flaunt her prowess with this animal group because, well, people in Reston are kind of sensitive about birds.

• There is a Reston bird watch list. Sort of like the endangered species list.
• There is a dedicated community group that goes out and counts the birds (different group than the one with the watch list).
• There is even another one that meets more than twice a month (they must have a full agenda).

Nonetheless, my kitty loves to catch them (and she is good at it). Those of you crying out about the injustice to the bird population . . . yeah. She is able to wiggle out of every belled collar we put on her. I feel sorry for your pain. And, well, she is just as great at killing the mice and rats around here.

That being said, we are trying to find a good home for her. If you know of someone who would like a charming, good-looking, great catcher cat, please let me know. I just bought a 20 pound bag of catfood that I'll send along with her. (BTW, she answers when you whistle.)

Any takers?

Evy at Work

Often, when Erik or I need to send a quick email or look up something online, we set up Everett with *his* keyboard as he loves the clicking and clacking of the keys and wants to do it himself.

But don't worry. He knows how to keep the pace just right. The rest of the overworked, overachieving employees of Washington, DC could learn a lesson or two, especially when he is temped to just drool and gnaw on the cord. (No, I don't let him do that.)

My Design Style-According to HGTV

So, I have had a long week infused with stress, spring cleaning (no, I know what you are thinking-I prefer to say that I am ahead), stress, lots of ambiguity (which I hate), and in an effort to do nothing while looking for some furniture rearrangement tips (my guilty pleasure), I came across the "What's Your Design Style? Quiz" . . .

So, I took the quiz.
What did it say?
Your style is HIP.

If it is new, it is you. No overstuffed chairs or anything that could be described a froufrou! You're drawn to clean lines and a minimalist palette (think black, white, neutrals and a few bold colors that "pop" against that background--like orange, red, or turquoise). You like your patterns graphic, and your buildings industrial. The older furnishings you enjoy are mid-century modern or stark Asian or African pieces without any embellishments.

And, evidently, HIP is a mix between Modern, Contemporary, and Asian.

The description was mostly right, just only a little wrong. But, a bit of fun and not stressful!

Dear Preston--From Auntie Sheila

Dear Preston,

I loved the voicemail that you left for me a bit ago. I wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten my offer to give you cheetohs when I visit if you can say, "Auntie Sheila, you are the greatest ever!" You sure have been working on getting that phrase right. You just need to let me know what kind of cheetohs you love best!

By the way, Everett can't wait to see you! He can't say your name, but he can clap for you.

Love you bunches,

Auntie Sheila

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Readers Who Are Not Preston-

Preston is one of my adorable nephews. This kid can talk like no other two year old I know. When he was about a year old, he came to visit (I was about eight weeks pregnant), and I gave him is first cheetoh. And, I feel totally shameless in bribing him to say things that are absolutely true.

Here are pictures of him taken last winter. For more recent photos check out his family's blog: Moore Fun Stories

Everett's Corner at 10 Months

Howdy Ya'll! I am going to write the entry this time. Mom says that I am starting to assert myself and that she'll help me, but I am in charge like I am at home. So, here is what my day is like-

I am an early riser. So, I get a good bit of playing in before breakfast. On days Mom doesn't work, she lets me roll around in bed while she pretends to sleep in. That lasts just a few minutes because I need to eat pretty quickly.

On Eating

Yeah, I am eating more and more big people food. In fact, I won't let Mom feed me anything but big people food. Dad and Michelle are still able to feed me that processed baby food stuff, but I make sure Mom only gives me the good stuff like bananas rolled in rice crispies, black beans, rice, bread, pears, and nectarines. Now, I prefer the bread, but she keeps offering me this other stuff, like cheese. I don't like the cheese.

play, Play, PLAY
Next, we go out and play. We try to get outside before I go down for a nap because Mom says it is cooler in the morning.

Me and My "Da!"

These days I am all about "Da!" I scream with happiness whenever I see him. I know that he is "Da!" and I call him that. My eyes follow him around this house. And today while he was getting ready for church (and I was supposed to be getting ready for a nap) I did my best to roll and creep along my room and the hall to find him. I LOVE it when he plays the clapping game with me and he always makes time to take me to the pool or on a walk or feed me (even when he is late). I love my "Da!"

Naps

I really don't have much to say on the subject except I'd rather play. Still taking two naps a day. I talk for at least 20 minutes to myself as I roll around in the bed before I decide to take a snooze.

Back to Playing

I love to read and I was showing my friend some cool things as I read to him this book. At this point, the front and the back of the book have the best parts. That is what I am reading to him in this picture.


Other Stuff I Do When I Am Playing

. . . . . . . . . . .ears, Ears, EARS

I love to play with my floppy ears. I have also been known to play with Mom and Dad's ears. But, right now, I especially enjoy bending my own.

I love to Swing and feel like each time I swing feels like the first time I've ever been on a swing!

My favorite position in the stroller is FEET UP! I try and do this at the table at home, but Mom isn't so much a fan of when I do it there.

Talking

Mom thinks that it is important that I mention that I am jabbering "momomomomom" these days. She thinks that it is fantastic! I am also making the sign for "milk" and when I play the clapping game I make the sing for "more." But, I only use that helpful "more" word with the clapping game.

Moving

I am moving better and better. I still don't have the crawling down, but I am getting better at rolling to toys that I want and scooting in reverse on my tummy seems to be still entertaining.

How Big Am I?

Mom and Dad say that I am really big. Then Mom says, "That is an understatement." I do know that I was about the size of the bear when I was born. And, for this month's photo, I wouldn't lay still. Mom marked with an X everywhere I went in the two minutes that they tried to get me lined up like last month. Here is where I went:

That is about it, Ya'll. (Mom is trying to get me ready for the trip to Texas. I am going to see my family and my auntie is getting married.) I still won't say, "yeehaw." That's okay, Mom does it well enough for me.

Big Day In Evy's World

Everett is on the move . . . sort of.

• Today he progressed by leaps and bounds in getting his locomotion going. For a couple of weeks he has been working on pushing with his arms. He now can go backward a good distance by laying on his belly and pushing with his arms and hands. (He is really trying to go forward but the legs are not working in tandem with his arms yet.) This creates some interesting maneuvers when he is trying to go forward but keeps moving backwards.
• Today he did start moving forward by laying on his back and shoving his legs in an altered crab walk so that he moves forward. Because he is laying on his back, he is driving blind. He got stuck against the couch and couldn't maneuver around because he couldn't see which way to go, poor kid.
• He now also rotates around on his bum. This is a great move for him since he can reach things now without toppling over.
• He can also easily rotate around on his belly to change positions.
• AND, he is rolling from belly to back and back to belly. This is very exciting to watch as Everett has figured out that tummy time can result in getting a toy or to a cabinet he wants rather than just drooling and reaching for toys.

Trying to get a toy out of reach becomes a combination of several different moves and takes several minutes, but he is getting there!




And, this kid can groove! He does the always adorable "bum bounce" when he is sitting up. When he is on his belly and he wants to dance, he looks like a little inchworm wiggling his booty back and forth. It is hysterical!




He also tries to hold the ball, ring the chimes, clap with excitement, and dance all at once. It kind of results in a new bazaar dance move similar in style to the "African Anteater Ritual" dance in the highly acclaimed 80's flick, Can't Buy Me Love. Don't worry, we are trying to teach him more classical moves like John Travolta's Saturday Night Fever routine. I know he'll thank us later.




I know everyone has told me to not wish that he was moving around, but I am so excited for him to be able to get the exact thing that he wants and to start moving around with other kids while they are playing together. He doesn't have any speed, but I am expecting that to change quickly.

Evy Is Getting Vocal

After a long day of work and play, all three of us went out for Chinese and a trip to Target.

While eating dinner, Erik went back up to the counter twice, and each time Evy started talking at the TOP of his voice (so loud that everyone in the restaurant turned to look at what was going on). As soon as Erik sat back down in his seat, Everett went back to quietly placing rice in his mouth.

While shopping, if Sheila was driving the cart, Everett would talk at the TOP of his voice. Not crying or whining, just yelling about something.

While shopping, if Erik was driving the cart, Everett would sit serenely, looking all the while like a perfect little baby boy.

Talking Trees

A note from Sheila:

There are miles and miles of trails that weave through Reston. Some end at parks, some at grocery stores, some at the golf course, and some at schools. Along the way you get to observe chipmunks, squirrels, streams, graffiti, and lots of foliage. For me right now, what strikes me most are the trees.


I pause by this one every time we stroll by it. It was half killed, dead, laying on the ground to rot. Not only did the other half live, but there are offshoots from the section that was supposed to decay into the soil.





















And, even though Erik thinks I'm barmy for talking about trees, this one strikes me as well. The center of the tree seems to have died, but the tree lives on, and the dead section even holds up the "Golf Course, DANGER, No Trespassing" sign.

So, what would the trees say? And what would I say back?

Anyone Need a Pumpkin Costume

Sheila's masterful plan to buy clothing for Everett on sale, predicting what size he will be for what season, has officially come to an end.

The evidence: a very cute pumpkin costume that was meant to be worn in October. The occasion for the apparel won't occur for another 2 months, and Evy is already way to big for it.

He couldn't even stand up because he is too tall and too chunky for the orange couture. (Yeah, we couldn't even zip up the costume all the way.)

First Hair Cut

Officially, Sheila is not allowed to cut Erik's hair no matter how dire the financial situation might be . . . something about the last time she cut his hair, she let the word "whoops" slip out while trimming with electric trimmers, and it might also have to do with the fact that he was trying to look good for an interview and didn't think a bald spot on the back qualified for "looking good."

BUT, she was given the green light to give Evy his first hair trim. We want him to look good for his auntie's wedding that is coming up.

Lookin' Good

Everett was more impressed with the comb than he was with his mother's talent in cutting hair off the head of a wiggly, wobbly baby.

Look Who's Talking

No, we aren't saying words yet.

Everett tries to get the attention of every kid he sees so that he can chat. He doesn't care how old, boy or girl. He wants to talk to them . . . at the mall, at the grocery store, at church, and . . .

in the car . . . Evy had a full on conversation with the kid on the diaper box as we were driving home from Costco today . . . I mean a full-on conversation with squeals, laughter, smiles, grunts, and jabbering. He didn't seem to mind that the kid on the diaper box wasn't talking back.

This Is the Kid On the Diaper Box

Later, he was mad at this button on his playsaucer, chastising it severely. Don't know what it did wrong, but I am sure glad *I* wasn't the one that messed up.

Pass the Remote, Please

There are things that all babies do:

1. Cry

2. Smile

3. Poop

4. Throw-up

5. Poop and throw-up on you when you are wearing your best duds and you are already late.

6. Spot and demand the remote whenever it is in the room.

Here is a shot with a toy he likes.

I can't wait until he gets it completely in and it gets stuck.

Then, he spotted the camera. . .

and instead of being shy . . .

he went for it:

Cool Slideshows!

Aunt Megan Comes to DC

This weekend we were so LUCKY because we got to hang out with Aunt Megan. Aunt Megan is a student at Northwestern; so, she is really busy and really far away right now. Having her come over was a special treat for all of us!

For this special occasion, we introduced Everett to every child's dance song, "Who Let the Dogs Out?" And, Everett had his first taste of black beans for dinner.

"Auntie Megan, You are SO pretty."

People, you won't believe how crazy adults act when dancing to this dog song.

(And, they say it is for the babies.)

Saying Goodbye to Aunt Megan.

Interview with Evy at 9 Months

STATS
Weight: 23 pounds, 11 ounces (95th percentile)

Height: 30 inches long (95th percentile)

Head Circumference: Off the charts

Moderator: Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks for joining us for this live interview with Everett. Everett, thanks for being with us; we've been trying to interview you for months and are thrilled that you are with us today.

Everett: Thanks, I am glad to be here, too.

Moderator: First off, I need you to clear up a rumor. Are you the next Gerber Baby?

Everett: [hahahaha] No, no, no. I do get that from lots of people. But, Mommy says that she doesn't even maintain that high level of maintenance for herself--so, she doesn't think that she'll be turning me into a show baby anytime soon.

Moderator: Thanks for clearing that up for us. So, are you walking yet?

Everett: Not yet . . . I am pretty content with the sitting option. I have started scooting backwards on my tummy, but not often. I do roll from belly to back, but not often.

Moderator: Your mom and dad always talk about how you enjoy music. The fans want to know what tunes you are currently listening to now?

Everett: Well, Mommy and Daddy have me hooked onto James Brown. I can get my booty bouncing to those tunes---oh, Mom just nudged me to remind me to tell you that I am clapping to music these days. She brought along some pictures to share. When I am particularly cranky in the car, they play, "Killing Me Softly." I also enjoy a couple of songs on some CD that Dad bought. Mom is especially good at interpreting the tunes into dance moves. Cracks me UP!

Dad's CD that Everett Likes

Moderator: So, what are these other pictures that I see over there.

Everett: When I see something new or interesting, I tilt my head in a quizzical manner. It took Mom tons of shots to get these. You have to move pretty quickly to get the moment. I guess I should mention that you might notice the jaw dropping in the middle picture. Mom says that when I am amazed with something, I do that, too.

Moderator: That bear looks really familiar.

Everett: Yeah, I got in on vacation. At the time it had one eye. The second one fell off when Mom washed it. That's okay. It absorbs drool really well.

[pause]

Everett: This is the picture Mom and Dad take every month to show how much I've grown. I was about the size of the bear when I was born.


Moderator: Nice! What have you been doing with your hot summer days?

Everett: I love to go on walks and go to the pool with Dad. At this one pool by my house that has a waterslide that I can't go on yet, there are water spouts that shoot straight up. They shoot up as high as I am when I sit down. I love to sit beside them and try and catch the water.

Moderator: Really! How is that going?

Everett: I really haven't been able to catch the water. It just seems to constantly flow through my fingers which I don't get yet. But I do get myself splashed in the face trying to contain it.

Moderator: I think one of your fans said that you have the voice of Barry White. What does that mean?

Everett: Well, people keep telling Mom and Dad that I have a really deep babyvoice. I do like to sing. I think that my deeper babyvoice surprises people and that's why I have been called that by a couple of their friends. And, you know, all the ladies love Barry White's voice. And, I am pretty good with my singing.

[pause]


Everett: And I am getting some teeth right now and that will help me learn to say words. I almost have eight teeth. Right now I have five teeth that I brush everyday. But, Mom and Dad say I have three more coming in quick.

Moderator: This isn't a question of what products you endorse, but what are your favorite toys right now?

Everett: Here. I came with a picture of the toys I play with the most. I like things that roll.



Everett: Oh, and here is a picture of a picture that I always have to be facing when I am playing in the living room. I really like to look at it.



Moderator: Interesting. Well, Everett, we are about out of time. I can see your Mom signalling that it is time for a nap. Before you go, share with us what happens next in Everett's World.

Everett: Yeah, (yawn), I do need to go. I plan on just playing, playing, playing like I do all the time from morning until night. I have a few other pictures we didn't talk about. I'll just leave them to look through on your own. Thanks and Bye!

Moderator: That is about all folks. Thanks, Everett, for dropping in. Until next time . . .

Summer Vacation: Getting Home

THE END

Cool Slideshows!

We bid adieu to our good friends the Hughes, sighed at the fact that we must return to our lives, our jobs, and our cat--but we keep with us all that we learned and experienced.

Getting home took two days. Macedonia to Prague . . . Prague to Paris . . . Paris to JFK in New York City . . then the flight HOME!

This was the hardest part of the whole experience in that the hotel didn't have a crib, both Erik and Sheila were sick during the travels home, lines at the airport were long-long-long and difficult to navigate (HUGE American Ambassador student group traveling back to the States), Sheila felt personally assaulted by the security at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, Evy had a terrible poopy diaper that leaked on the airplane seat (don't worry, they have a whole process for getting that cleaned--we didn't leave it for someone else to sit on), but the BEST was our last flight.

The Last Flight
We arrived at the JFK airport tired and looking forward to completing our last 45 minute flight home. When entering back into the US, you go through customs and security in the city you first arrive . . . not your destination city. This means that you collect ALL your luggage and go through security again before continuing on to your transfer flight.

We were sitting at the carousel waiting for our luggage, car seat, and stroller and we waited and waited and waited. By this point, traveling with all our pieces and Everett is down to a science. Sheila was slightly tilting on the edge of insanity, ready to put Everett down (holding him for 12 hours was pretty tiring), anxious that everything was lost (at this point she only really cared about the stroller so she could put Everett down), and concerned that they were going to miss the connection to DC. During the weakest moment when she thought she might lose it, she sat Everett down on the only piece of luggage that they had been able to recover and then was amazed.

Everett, who was hungry and tired, sat on the luggage squealing with delight and smiled and giggled at everyone who passed. Sheila should have set an empty cup beside him to take up a collection for his college fund because he entertained everyone around us. So many comments of "what a cute baby"--"what a happy baby"--"those blue eyes, ooohhh"--"look he is smiling at me"--"I think he likes me!"

Yeah, a better traveler than his mom.

Once we collected all of our belongings, made it through the overcrowded security points (we are still among that student group), ran for our connection, and made it to the gate, Sheila thought they had it made. . . mmmuuuaaahhhh, nope not the case.

Imagine one gate for departures and 15 flights that will leave from it all within a 10 minute time period. Yeah, no joke. We were back in third world land where they didn't have enough flight attendants, hundreds of people were sitting on top of one another, delays were happening all over the place . . . and now all Sheila wanted was to change Everett's diaper.

Once our flight was called, we were relieved. One short flight and then back at home. At this point, both Sheila and Erik had been up for 24 hours . . . the jetlag was settling in.

We boarded the plane and were immediately yelled at by the flight attendant. Can't tell you why because we didn't understand why either. Nonetheless, she bullies all of us into our seats. We ended up waiting for some late person. No worries. We'll be home soon.

Only we didn't. Didn't take off that is. We sat on the runway for three more hours. Three hours. Three hours with a tired baby. Three hours without AC and a tired baby. Three hours without food, without water, without AC, and a tired baby. Oh, all that and it was a puddle-jumper plane. (Planes dedicated to small flights really have no water or food because they don't expect to be stuck on the runway for THREE hours before taking off.)

Flight Attendant: Sir, if you are in the bathroom when we are ready to enter the runway since the pilot has said that we will be moving any moment now, we will not be held responsible for any injury that occurs.

Flight Attendant: Ma'am if you are in the bathroom when we need to move since the pilot has said that we will be moving any moment now, it will be your fault we lose our place in line since you were not in your seat.

Flight Attendant: Sir, I am sure that there aren't any planes jumping ahead of us in line. The pilot *just* told me that we are next to get in line for the runway. Why would he lie?

Flight Attendant: Sir, if we go back to the gate now, it is just going to take so much longer to get going than where we are in the process now.

THEN the pilot got on the overhead speaker-

Pilot: The reason why we are constantly being skipped in line is that we are told there is weather in DC. You can be sure I will be investigating why it has taken this long. The control tower knows that we are ready to go. We will be getting in line for the runway shortly. (lies, lies, lies)

Then the angel with the folded fan appeared. No, she couldn't fan fast enough to get us in the air, but she let us borrow the fan to cool Evy down. And that we did. We fanned for about an hour and a half before we just gave in . . . she saw how tired we were and took over. This sweet woman fanned Everett for almost two hours. Now, we all know that a repetitive stress injury from fanning a baby for two hours is a bit irritating, but not as irritating as a screaming baby on a small plane with nowhere to go.

(BTW, there was no weather in DC)

Instead of arriving back at home at 5:00 pm, we arrived at 11:00 pm. But, all of us were safe, the Evy Fan Club was official, and we had a marvelous time. (BTW, Everett recovered from jetlag with amazing speed. His mom was sluggish and bleary-eyed for a week.)