Happy Birthday Evan!

LOVED the frosting!

So did Maddux...

Excited about his Fisher Price parking garage!

Evan turned a year old yesterday...I can't believe it! It is amazing to me when I think about how much life has changed for us this year. I can hardly remember what life was like before our sweet little boy was in it. I cried when he was born...I was so overwhelmed with excitement, joy, and feelings of love for this little one that I hardly knew. It seems so long ago that I was spending his first 8 days with him in the NICU, just waiting to take him home. I could hardly stand to go home at night and leave him there. When we did bring him home, I thought I would never be able to sleep, between feedings and creeping into his room at night to make sure he was still breathing! (A common new mom thing I think!) All the nights that he wouldn't sleep unless he was curled up in our bed, and my fear that he would never sleep in his crib. He would fuss if I put him down and just wanted to be held all of the time. I thought I would never get anything done, let alone be able to shower or brush my teeth! Now I long for those lazy days of him sleeping while I was holding him or him letting me cuddle him. My little boy is growing up...

He is standing by himself more and more, is walking holding onto furniture, has 7 teeth, wants to hold his own spoon when he eats, just got his first pair of big boy shoes, makes lots of sounds, and gets into everything! He doesn't want to be rocked or cuddled much, is always on the go, and is starting to look more like a boy than a baby. I look at him and wonder where this year went...do they all go by this quickly?!

We are having so much fun with Evan and love him more everyday. Parenthood really is an amazing thing.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Our Little Monkey

Always full of smiles...

Our sweet boy...

His "Stevie Wonder" look...

Loves to eat...notice the cheerio on his chin!

Cleaning out mommy's purse...

Playing with Maddux's water dish...

Fun with the pumpkins...

My little baby is almost a year old!!! Where has the time gone?! Evan is definitely turning into a "little boy"! He is pulling himself up on everything, starting to take steps holding onto furniture, and has mastered climbing the steps (but not quite how to go back down them). He is eating lots of different foods and LOVES blueberries, squash, bananas, cheese, yogurt, and grilled cheese. He is not a picky eater, but squeals with delight when his favorites are brought out! He holds his own sippy cup and is all about feeding himself. He also likes to rub his sticky hands through his hair...mom doesn't love that as much!

Evan is very vocal. He says "mama", "dada", "nana", "baba", and enjoys his high pitch squealing! He is also quite the comedian. His new thing is to squint his eyes shut and laugh...very cute!

He is standing for periods of time on his own and is starting to walk around holding onto furniture. I'm sure he'll be walking (and running) in no time.

We have been busy visiting both grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Evan had a great time with his first visit to the apple orchard a couple of weekends ago. He crawled around in the pumpkins, went for a tractor ride, and sampled some little bites of apple. We're hoping to make it to the orchard again before it gets too cold!

Other than that, we are just enjoying everyday with him. He is so funny, sweet, and full of life!