Karen

I received sad news from my sister today. My brother-in-law's sister, Karen, passed away this morning. She was 43 years old and has been battling breast cancer for the last 13 years.

Although I only met her a couple of times, I have some very vivid memories of her:

One is that she was always smiling.
- Another is from my sister's wedding. She was swing dancing with my sister's friend, Kalb. - She accidentally stepped on her skirt, ripped it, then had to hike it up and hold it for the rest of the dancing. It didn't stop her!
- Her wedding picture with Jim. They were married in a rain forest (I believe). He is dipping her in the photo and you can tell the love that they have for each other. He was with her every step of the way, even when she passed.

I pray for Jason and his family.

On Eagles Wings
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Molly

Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Molly!

my silly boy and his silly toys

What a silly boy I have.

First off, when you tell him "no", he looks right at you, takes in a deep breath, and huffs.

Secondly, he likes to be a show off to make us laugh.




Lastly, he has silly toys.

Nursing

Yes, Evan still nurses and this is how I know he wants to nurse -



When I get home from work, he'll run over to me. I pick him up and then he points me in the direction of the living room. I'll say, "Do you want to go into the living room? What's in there?"

When we finally get there, Evan will point to the couch and make a noise. I say, "Do you want to sit on the couch? Let's sit on the couch together."

The second we sit down, he attacks me! I love it.

Failed attempts

I want to continue taking Evan's "chair" picture past his first year of life. I've chose to photograph him at 18 months, 21 months, and 2 years, then every year after that. Well, I thought there were a few months within the first year that were quite difficult to have him hold still. However, we have encountered our most troubling one yet.

15 month well check

Evan had his doctor's appointment today. He weighs in at a lean 21 lbs, 11 oz. (14%), is 31.5" tall (62%), and still has a small head circumference of 45.5 cm (10%). He's a healthy "normal" 15 month old.

Not only was he measured, but the pediatrician looked at his chapped lips. The red spots are appearing on both sides of his mouth and his cheek. Doctor said it wasn't anytthing concerning and that he didn't see anything inside his mouth. Some possible cause that he mentioned would be licking lips and drooling from the corners of the mouth while sleeping. He suggested that we apply some hydracortisone on the edges of his mouth and keep applying Aquaphor on his lips for moisture. We'll see if that helps.

Evan also received two vaccines and a flu shot (mostly because he is now around more kids and that he is no longer nursing as much). He did all right, although he cried with each injection. My mom said he was starting to get a bit warm this morning, so he was given some Advil, which he loves! Unfortunately he will be going back to receive his flu booster in a month.

I also asked about Evan's speech development. I mentioned to the doctor that I'm an educator and my masters is in early childhood education. I'm currently studying children's developmental stages. With that, I know when speech is "supposed" to occur and the process for beginning Early Intervention. (Yes, its the paranoid teacher/mother in me.) Anyway, he said not to worry and that at his 18 month appointment we would take into consideration Evan's speech at that point. But you better believe that I'll be ready!

15 months

Today, Evan turns 15 months old. I hadn't realized it until later this afternoon while we were visiting my parents. We've been having such a great time with him lately - running, chasing, cuddling, screaming, pouting, shaking (not Evan, toys), eating, dancing, and on and on.

At 15 months, now:
- wears 18 month clothes (although he can fit into some 12 months shorts).
- can open the doors.
- has become more particular about his cuisine. He no longer wants carrots, squash, or zucchini
- still loves berries, bananas, yogurt, cheese, ham, applesauce, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, mac 'n cheese.
- will let you know that he has finished eating by throwing his food on the ground.
- no longer wants to use utensils (other than to play with the) and would rather eat with his hands (left hand especially).
- will smell new foods, bring them to his mouth, look at you with a smile, taste it, then spit it out.
- has begun to climb (and fall).
- has endured severe chapped lips. Although I know think it's more than that because it seems to be lasting a long time. He has these red spots on the left corner of his mouth and today it looked like it's now on the right (good thing he has an appointment on Monday morning).

- still loves to nurse first thing in the morning and before bedtimes. On the weekends he'll nurse more often.
- communicate what he wants/needs even though he still isn't speaking. Evan does make sounds, but no actual words. It's making me worry.
- identify his head, ears, belly button, and my nose.
- put his hands over his eyes to play peek-a-boo, over his mouth to go "ah-ah-ah-ah" (as in a "Native American" chant).
- carry my phone around while music on Pandora is streaming.
- dance all the time!
- walk around with his hand down his pants all the time. (I'm careful to check for wet diapers and wash/wipe his hands afterwords.)
- thinks he is the strongest person alive

- put his "lego" type blocks together, not just take them apart.
- makes connections from what he sees in books to the real world (points from book to actual object, e.g dog in book to Layne, our dog). He has been doing this for some time now, but I forgot to mention it.
- "brushed" his own teeth last night

Some of my favorite things about Evan include:
- that he still loves to nurse and he loves to touch my hair, nose, ears, cheek, or chest while he eats.
- his laugh when he is tired
- how excited he gets to see his dad (he LOVES his dad)
- his love of wanting to be outside ALL THE TIME
- that he mimics everything we do (e.g. put on chapstick)
- his little shoes that aren't so little anymore
- watching him sleep when I can

- his hugs
- how he burrows into my chest when he's tired/wants to nurse
- his sly smile when he does something and he's waiting to see if I will say no
- how excited he gets at the grocery store when he sees bananas - everyone in the produce department hears him
- how exploratory he is, yet how standoffish he can be when he sees someone/thing new and just stares
- that he still "sings" himself (to sleep) on car rides
- that he can put things back when you direct him (and even closes the door)
- bath time (although he now stands in the tub)

I could go on and on...he is just...

indescribable.

I am so thankful for these past 15 months.