Halloween 2007--The Ducks

What Are Erik and Sheila Doing?

We are sure that many of you are starved to hear how we are doing as you get frequent updates on Everett.

Erik recently led a church event that over 300 people attended.

He has also been tutoring a teenager (in Algebra!) for several weeks now. That's what he'll be doing this Thursday evening.

Sheila went to Denver on a business trip last week where she saw prairie dogs just living in a vacant lot right off a major road. She was also promoted at work a couple of weeks ago.

Erik's sister, Lana, was here recently with her family. All of us had a great time. We made sure to get a picture of the cousins together. Hysterical!

We will be painting our house this weekend. So, if you get a free moment or two, come on over! We'll even let you wear the painting goggles.

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While Mom Is Away . . . .

Evy snags the keys, scoots out the door, and he gets his first driving lesson from Dad.

And he got to eat french fries with ketsup. Luck, lucky boy!

A Joy of Being One

Getting lessons from Dad on how to lick the bowl Mom used to make brownies.

Birthday Morning

Everett woke up this morning in a FANTASTIC mood. He was giggling, laughing, and dancing all the way until it was time for his morning nap.

Happy Birthday, Everett!

Evy Turns One!

Evy's First Birthday Party

Party set up---Turn the house into the Wild Thing Island

First---The basement becomes a vine covered Wild Thing Island


Second---
A room for the guests to transform into Wild Things

Here, Evy is helping to hang tails that will aid in the transformation.

All is set! Now it is Time to Party!

GASP! A Wild Thing!

Wild Things were ready for a reading of

Where the Wild Things Are!!!

NEXT, the cake! (cupcake, that is)

Happy Birthday, Everett!

YUMMY!

The Friends---

A Good Time!

Low Rider

This past weekend we turned Everett's car seat around so that he is facing the front of the car like the rest of us. Let me tell you, like everyone said he would, he loves it.

The most fascinated expression, though, came when we went through a DRIVE-THRU!! Everett was jabber, jabber, jabber all the way to the dining establishment. But, as soon as I pulled up to the window to get our drinks, the jabbering stopped. This boy was amazed almost to the point of concern when we pulled up and the lady handed me the drinks. He looked, even, stunned to see the interaction.

Everett loves the wind. If he were a puppy, he would be totally hanging out of the window putting his full face forward with his tongue hanging out as the air rushes in and around the car. When we roll down the windows, his arms and legs start winding up, he opens his mouth all the way and SQUUEEAALLSSS with delight as his hair blows in the wind. Hysterical.

The most surprising aspect to him facing forward is how LOUD he is. We always knew he was talkative and encouraged his "talking." Now that he is facing forward, no volume is lost in the translation. This boy can sing and talk at the top of his lungs with no effort at all and does freely all the time in the car. Erik has now stashed a pair of earplugs in the car. No joke.

Evy's First Birthday Invite

The HAIR Cut

This Saturday Everett had his first official haircut (with clippers and all) at Cartoon Cuts. He was a total champ putting up with all the kid chaos, the tvs, the video games, and din of the place. In fact, he didn't cry until some scared five year old kid came over to get his haircut and started crying.

No fear---we cheered him up quickly and he was "okay" with the experience.

See the moments caught by Erik's cell phone in the pictures below:

Personal Floor Cleaner/Cook/Exercise Trainer

Today marks Everett's first day in helping with the chores. He is now, instead of immediately putting everything in his mouth that he finds, passing along his discoveries to whomever is nearest. This means that he is passing along the thread, bug part, crumb, or otherwise unidentified small (minuscule) item to you and gets a big "Thank You!" for his part.

Sometimes, when he wants to get the "Thank You!" he'll give you something "fake" . . . like he just hands you air and thinks that it is hysterical when you say, "Thank You!"

He is actually passing a piece of thread to Erik in this picture.

Additionally, Everett can no longer tolerate not seeing what you are doing on the kitchen counter. So, this evening he had his first cooking class . . . blueberry pancakes. He was very excited about the batter, sad that he wasn't going to play in it, a bit concerned when I showed him what happens to the batter, and pleased with the resulting culinary delight . . . except the cooked blueberry. Not a fan of that one yet.

The Everett Weight Training Program now includes an aerobic component. This kid wants to walk everywhere, and he needs your help by holding each hand. I am amazed at how much speed he can pick up when he is crossing the room----especially when he sees a phone, remote, or camera. So, in addition to hefting this wiggly weight, we are also building endurance assisting him to walk. I can't wait until he feels he doesn't need an assistant and he runs (escapes) at will and without an escort.





And, one side note, thanks to Everett's discovery of Erik's 400 golf balls, Everett's toy of choice of the moment:

Rant: The New Label

Some of you may have noticed the labels at the end of each post. I am going to have to add a new one . . . RANT. I don't find that I need to RANT-write very often. I could just write this particular rant down and keep them in my private folder without inflicting you with my irritations through this blog, but I guess I want to share them with someone, and you are it.

I've done my share of going to the doctor recently. Lots of different ones with varying degrees of quality in medical expertise and bedside manner. I'll be keeping some of the stupid things they've said to myself, but here are some that I think are ridiculous.

Reader FYI: Not all of these have happened recently. One is a little graphic. But if you read the recent post on "poop" and didn't hork, then you'll be fine.

Additionally, I feel extremely blessed to have doctors that have saved my life, helped my family with our ills and injuries, and helped us bring Everett into our family. I in no way want to minimize the great contribution that doctors and nurses and those that study diseases and afflictions have in all of our lives. I thank God, at least weekly, for the good medical care that we have.

But, I still need to rant:

Today's RANT: The Things Doctors Say

Idiot Doctor Remark #1

"You know a pill won't fix this." Yes, and the reason I came to see the doctor was to find out what WON'T work. BTW, he didn't have any suggestions on how to make it better only to say that a pill wouldn't.

Idiot Doctor Remark #2

(left on a voice message) "Yes, we received your MRIs today, and it looks like you have disk disease. You can call me to discuss the results. I will be out of the office for the next three days"----Okay, I totally laughed at this one because it was left by the "bad" doctor in the office and not the "good" doctor. So, I expected nothing less than what a lab rat would say because that is where this doctor belongs . . . working in a lab--not with people.

But, the following thoughts were--What is "disk disease?" Is that a formal medical term that can be fixed with a pill found in the Physician's Desk Reference? Is it osteoporosis, is it cancer, is it gangrene of the spine, can someone else catch it?

Idiot Doctor Remark #3

When I was concerned that Evy hadn't started doing any moving---this is a selfish concern because he is/was heavy and I needed him to start going places on his own. Genius doctor says, "You should never compare your baby's development to other babies' development."

He then picked up Everett and an audible "UUMmmpphhh" escaped him because Everett is a big boy. The doctor then said, "Yeah, he is heavy."

Idiot Doctor Remark #4

"If it hurts when you move, then don't move." And, he meant don't move at all while trying to live my life, doing my daily chores, and going to work. Think, brain, think, and don't minimize my concerns.

Idiot Doctor Remark #5

AND, my ALL TIME favorite . . . I was very sick, vomiting everything up and was prescribed suppositories to help since I couldn't keep anything down including medications. After a day or so, I told the doctor that the suppositories were not working for me, I was still vomiting.

He says, "Did you take the foil off the suppository before you inserted it?"-----Oh, that pretty green foil that is hard and sharp isn't the candy coating on the medication?

Parenting Dilemna #254

Setting: 9:oo pm, Everett is sound asleep, snoozing peacefully. Sheila sneaks into his room to put aways clothes and comes out quietly.


Sheila: It really smells in there. I am afraid he pooped.

Erik: Are you sure, it could just be gas. Everybody can have gas. I get gassy you know.

Erik goes in and checks out the level of rankiness.

Erik: Yeah, he pooped.

Sheila: That means he'll sit in it for 10 more hours. He's had such a problem with diaper rash recently. But they say "don't wake a sleeping baby."

Erik: Well, if it really bothers him he'll wake up.

Sheila: Okay.

One hour later--

Sheila: It really stinks. The whole floor smells now.

Erik: Should we try and change his diaper.

Sheila: I'll see how bad it is.

Erik: Okay, I'll be ready to prep a bottle in case we need one to get him to go back to sleep.

Sheila quietly checks the diaper like only a mom and dad can check a diaper.

Sheila: Yeah, it is poopy. It will be a quick change . . . not a messy poop. (Read between the lines here people.)

Erik: Okay.

Sheila quietly goes in, lines the changing table with a warm blanket, gently moves Everett to the changing table, changes the diaper with the speed that only moms who want their babies to go back to sleep can. She then places him back in his bed . . . ASLEEP!!!

Will we ever do that again? I don't know. Am I very, very grateful for disposable diapers that make changing a diaper quick and easy? YES.