Early Celebration

Tyler turns 2 next Monday, but I have to be in California on a business trip, so we had a little early celebration today.

We kept it small, with just family. I made a lasagna, and this time I bought the cake because I knew I wouldn't have time to make one. We picked Sesame Street because that is Tyler's current obsession.

Tyler took a shine to his newest cousin, Charlotte, whom he hadn't seen since Christmas.

She's getting so big!!

After dinner it was time to open presents...

So many great presents!! Lot's of puzzles - another current obsession :)!! Also some awesome clothes/swim trunks, books, a beach towel and great gift cards!! What a lucky little guy!!

And then it was time for cake!!

It was a lovely evening and a great celebration for my special little guy. I can't believe he is already going to be 2 years old. Time certainly does fly!!

The time had come!

As evidenced in previous posts, Evan's hair (at least in front) was getting a little out of control. It was really obstructing his eyes and I kept meaning to do something about it. But when Bila mentioned it the other day, I knew it was time to get the scissors out!!

So the other evening, I served him his dinner in hopes of distracting him, and set to trimming those bangs!!


Just as with his brother before him, I didn't do a very good job. I'm no hairdresser!! They came out looking too straight, and a little dorky.


But the main thing is that he can see properly now! Hopefully they'll look a little better after a couple of days. He seemed a little mad at first...

But he got over it quickly!!

Eventually we'll take him in for a proper haircut - but the rest of his head isn't ready yet :)!!

For Mimi...

Poor Mimi has been dying to see Evan walking around! It's been difficult - usually by the time I get the camera he's sat down - but I managed to get a few little videos. Enjoy!!

These last two were taken on Thursday morning. Early Thursday morning. Evan had woken up around 3:00 a.m. and decided that he was done sleeping for the night. After fighting him for about an hour we finally came downstairs. He had a bottle and a full breakfast and then decided he wanted to play.

Of course, by 6:00 a.m., this is how we found him:

Passed out cold on the floor. I let him sleep there for a good while before I had to wake him up to get dressed. And of course, Mitchell can't resist a joke....

I'll be sure to include that shot with the preschool application....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! Our celebration started a couple of days ago when the boys received their cards from Mimi:

They were very excited and Tyler even knew who was on the cards "Elmo!!!" I tried to capture it on video....

Guess I should have turned the TV off first.... :)

Today was the normal Saturday of late - Mitch had class, so the boys and I hung out together. Here are a couple shots of my funny Valentines:

I think it may be getting time for Evan to get a haircut - he's getting pretty shaggy!!

Then Daddy came home and look what happened! Suddenly there were presents for Mommy!!

Some beautiful aromatic roses, and a lovely necklace (can you see the box between Evan's legs?). I tried to take a picture of the necklace, but I couldn't get the camera to focus so close up and it wasn't coming out. Someday I will read the manual and learn how to properly use our camera... Anyway, it is a lovely heart shaped necklace with diamond accents.

And then the mail was passed out and the boys enjoyed their card from Grammy and Grandad.

Yay. A fun day with lots of love going around (I'm purposely forgetting the many fights I had to break up between the boys today...). I remember a time when I hated Valentine's Day. And now??

Not so much.

Beware the NOROVIRUS!!!

As suspected, Mitch was stricken with the virus on Sunday evening. And Tyler was struck AGAIN!! So, as daddy had the night before, I took over full-time duty and had a slumber party in the living room with the boys while Mitch convalesced upstairs. By Monday morning, Mitch was fine. Tyler took a little longer to recover, but we think he's all better now! We all stayed home on Tuesday too, just to be safe. I truly lost count of how many loads of laundry I did over the five days at home!

But before all that Sunday sickness, Mitch and Tyler enjoyed some time at the playground - and the school grounds adjacent to the playground! Here are some little videos that Mitch took with is Blackberry.

Check him out on the big kid swing! He holds on really well!

The warm weather continues here, I think it reached nearly 70 degrees today. But it is going to be cold again by week's end.

Oh, and I celebrated my birthday yesterday (Mitch grilled some yummy filet mignon!!). I'm still in my 30's, and may choose to remain here for all eternity.... :)

Quarantine

I thought the Norovirus only existed on cruise ships, terrorizing those on the high seas. Well apparently it has made it's way to dry land and is wreaking havoc all over Fairfax County this season - in particular, this weekend, at our house!

Evan was first. It started Thursday night. Let's just say that between 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., the little guy had had 2 baths and gone through 4 sets of pajamas! Always fun to be doing laundry in the middle of the night too.... After dropping Tyler at daycare and Mitch at the metro, I took him to the walk-in clinic at the pediatrician (I believe we are in double digits now on visits to the pediatrician in 2009!). Dr. Hogan told me it was the Norovirus and to batten down the hatches - it was only a matter of time before it made it's way through all of us....

Evan seemed to be doing much better during the day Friday, and he and I just hung out and played, and took naps. Here are some pics - but for the little red cheeks, you would never know he was sick!


Such a little trooper!!

We had plans for Saturday - Mitch had class, so Tyler was going to spend the day with Grandad and I was going to take Evan to Cameron's first birthday party - but sadly, we had to cancel. Evan was symptom free, but still contagious, and there was no telling when it would strike the rest of us....

As Tyler was entering the third hour of his nap on Saturday, I began to get suspicious. He rarely sleeps like that. When he finally awoke, it was not pretty. Into the tub, sheets and clothes in the wash, etc. Shortly after that I started to feel a little quezy myself....

I emailed Mitch and he left class early. Good thing too - by 3:00 I was pretty much out of commission. So Tyler and I suffered for the rest of the day and Mitch was on full-time Daddy/Husband duty.

Luckily, this thing only lasts about 12 hours, so I was fine by this morning, as was Tyler. Now it's just a waiting game. When will it strike Mitchell?? Today is a beautiful day, sunny and quite warm, so he and Tyler are currently at the playground because Tyler had a lot of energy to burn off (as he usually does!). Let's go, Daddy!!

I keep asking Mitch - "how you feeling?" So far he's "fine". It's not that I want him to be sick, I just know it's inevitable and for his sake I want him to be able to get it over with!!

According to the CDC, we're contagious until 3 days after recovery, so I'll probably have to keep Tyler home from daycare tomorrow and myself home from work. I wouldn't wish this on anyone and don't want to be responsible for passing it on!! I suspect Mitchell will be staying home too.....

Super Sunday

Yes, yes, today is Super Bowl Sunday. Hurrah, hurrah. But, something far more exciting happened today! Evan got his first pair of shoes! He's walking pretty well now (though still crawling when he needs to get somewhere fast!), so we thought it was time. So we headed off to Stride Rite this afternoon. Here are some pics of the big event:

Time to measure the tootsies!!

He's a 4 1/2!!
Let's go pick out the ones we want...

and put them on!
Make sure they fit right!

And maybe take a few steps.....

Or maybe not!

Another amazing thing about today is that it was 60 degrees!! So after shoe shopping, we stopped by the playground.

Evan liked the slide.

And the swing.

Tyler was more interested in exploring the grounds by the school...

He was running all over the place and just having a blast. He did get a little wet and a little muddy, but oh well! He was having fun, getting fresh air, and burning off a lot of energy, so who cares!

Evan wanted to try out his new shoes on terra firma as well...

I think it will take a little while for him to get used to them, but that's ok. So far they aren't upsetting him, so we're ahead of the game!