Evan's Tree House

Hi everyone--this is Evan. Come see the play house my daddy has been building for me. It's the best!

This is what it looks like from the outside. The swings have been up since last summer. The house and steps are new. Since this picture was taken, windows have been added.


I can climb up the steps all by myself (getting down is another story...)


Since I love things that spin, daddy put up a captain's wheel. I can make it go. I don't have a roof yet, but that's coming next.


The windows are not quite finished--daddy's going to put some cross-pieces in so I don't fall through (I like to use them as steps to climb higher!)


I wasn't too sure about this tire swing last summer, but I've got the hang of it now. There's some great spinning potential here.


My only complaint is we have a little bit of a dandylion problem. Other than that, it's everything a boy could ask for!

March for Babies 2010

Yesterday was March for Babies at the Yakima Greenway. It was sunny, but windy. At least it did not rain--or snow--on us.

Team Evan's CHARGErs 2010 included Auntie Jen, Grandma Key, Sarah, Evan,& Jeremy. Our neighbor & friend Renee is not in the picture. Our sign has pictures from the previous four years we've walked--time sure has flown.


All registered and ready to go.


There were a lot of participants this year (Jeremy is three heads in from the right).


What a character! Evan was really excited about the people dressed up in costume. Ronald McDonald was really great--we saw him at several points during the day and he remembered Evan each time. Evan gave Ronald "five"--it was so cute! I think Evan remembers Red Robin (from previous March for Babies, and possibly because I like to eat there)--he ran right up to the Robin and grabbed his leg. Evan tried to avoid the [Domino's Pizza] Noid--can't say I blame him there.



Walking along...




Heading home!

Three months in a nutshell...

Jeremy told me this morning Evan's preschool teachers mentioned how much they liked the "Naked Baby" post. It reminded me that Evan does have a following who are anxious for updates on his progress. So here goes, Top 10-style, is what he (and we) have been up to lately.

#10: Loves to Spin


Some things will never change. The Sit-n-Spin is still Evan's favorite toy--it's got to be a sensory-seeking thing. Evan mixes it up by modifying his spinning enviornment. He likes to spin in the dark (our closet or laundry room with the door shut is his favorite), but in a pinch a bucket over the head will do.

Evan's balance is much better these days, but far from perfect, and it still amazes me to see him pick up that bulky Sit-n-Spin and tote it around the house. He would spin for hours on end if we'd let him, so we do have to hide the Sit-n-Spin from him after a while. Evan remembers our favorite hiding places, and when he wants to spin he'll take you by the hand and lead you to the room he thinks it's in (he will even go so far as to put your hand on the doorknob or push your finger down on the latch of the baby gates...)

He also likes to vary the surface he's spinning on--he loves to be up on top of the coffee table. Anything that will tip the Sit-n-Spin at an angle for him is also good--he will put a ball or a shoe or some other toy underneath one side to get some tilt. The other day Jeremy had to tip the coffee table up on two legs for some reason. Evan grabbed his Sit-n-Spin and ran right over--the thought of spinning up on the coffee table AND at an angle was almost too much for him! Unfortunately Evan, there are some limits for your safety!

#9: Bosley Loses a Toe

Not sure how this happened, but one of our cats came home with a claw pulled completely out. Because of infection, the vet had to amputate part of his toe. Bosley spend the night at the clinic and came home to some serious pampering by me (Jeremy is not a fan of Bosley--his act of kindness was loading him up in the cat crate and taking him to the vet). Now Bosley has gotten used to being an "inside" cat and think's he's entitled to being in the house. Bosley thinks he should be the center of attention and doesn't understand why Evan could care less about him. He will rub up against Evan, who pushes him away.

#8: Potty-Training--the Saga Continues...

Still working on this. If Jeremy or I (or Grandma) takes him, if he has to go he will. He gets to put a sticker on his chart every time he does it, and has a chart full of stickers right now. Evan still can't or won't tell us if he needs to go, so it's very hit or miss.

He can strip off all his clothes in a matter of seconds. About a month ago at preschool, his aid Sherri didn't catch him until Evan had his pants and diaper off and peed on the purple circle on the Circle Time rug. I'm just glad it was a #1 accident...

#7: Valentine's Dance

Our local Parent-2-Parent group held a fundraiser/family night Valentine's Dance. We took Evan, and he had a great time. He got to play with his good friend from pre-school. There were all kinds of lights for decoration. He danced and was danced around. I wouldn't have thought a 4 1/2 year old would enjoy a dance so much, but he sure had fun.

Our Valentine :)

Evan and his friend C. from preschool (C. really likes Evan--he even mimics the noises Evan makes and is very convincing. He will also come up and hold Evan's hand--and Evan lets him. For two kiddos with sensory issues, that's a big deal.)

Loving the lights.

#6: Drawing

The goal on his IEP is for Evan to be able to copy two straight lines. I don't know if he'll make that goal but he is making progress on making marks on paper with a writing utensil. He is also learning to use some adaptive scissors at school. Evan came home with a snowman last month that he helped cut out--it was very impressive.

#5: I Know How I Like Things, and I Want them that Way Only

Flexibility has never really been a strong point for Evan, and he is getting more and more opinionated and set in his ways. He will only wear jeans now for pants--cords, sweats, forget it. He is also very particular about shirt colors--red, orange, and navy blue are good. He insists on having the cap screwed back down on his feeding bottle between pours.

#4: Cars and Their Troubles

Last month, we found out Jeremy's truck was sick (engine had a cracked head). Jeremy was able to buy a used engine, and as we speak is putting the finishing touches on the install into his truck. Thankfully, we have neighbors with all the necessary equipment for Jeremy to borrow.

While his truck has been out of comission, Jeremy and I have been sharing my car. A few times, he has had to resort to driving his Mustang. When he takes Evan out for a drive in the Mustang, he always gets looks...we're not sure if it's the general condition of the car (work in progress), the new vanity plates, or if people just aren't used to seeing car seats in the front seat.



#3: Drinking Foutain, Home Edition?

Evan loves the drinking foutain at both his schools. In two hours of class, he will go get a drink 8 times (Jeremy counted one day). He actually is swallowing the water, too. Because he likes it so much, and is more safely able to control how much he's getting as opposed to a cup, Jeremy was thinking about putting a drinking foutain in our bathroom at home. We looked online last night--drinking foutains are not cheap, so this will have to be a project for down the road.

#2: Christmas in the Bay Area

We spent Christmas with Jeremy's family this year. Evan got to ride in a plane for the first time, and he did fantastic. Jeremy got to have a burrito at Gordo's (he misses them all the time up here). Thank you Grandma Anna :)

The holiday was extra special because the whole family got together to make a memorial area for Jeremy's Grandpa and Grandma (both of them passed away in 2009). Jeremy's Uncle Richard cleared off an area in the El Cerrito hills to scatter both sets of ashes, then we spread seeds of native grasses and flowers. It was a beautiful afternoon.

First airplane ride

Jeremy, his sister Jessica, and mom Anna

Evan and Aunt Barbara

Spreading out seeds at the memorial

Evan loves daddy

#1: Evan Gets a New Aid at Developmental Preschool

Evan was lucky to have Sherri as his aid for a year, but life pulled her in a different direction. After a long search, Kelsey was hired to be Evan's new aid and she started last week. Kelsey has worked with Evan at Kidtivity lots before (and her mom is one of the preschool class teachers). We're excited to have her through the rest of the school year.

Naked Baby

For obvious reasons, this will be a text-only post.

One of the new skills Evan has learned in the past month is how to take his shirt and pants off all by himself (he is getting close to being able to put them on also, but still needs our help).

Unfortunately, starting to take off one article of clothing (like a shoe) seems to initiate a strip-down sequence for him that doesn't stop until he's taken off everything--yes, everything. This is particularly alarming because although we're working on potty-training again, Evan is not potty-trained. Usually we find pee somewhere in the house following one of the naked episodes.

Evan has figured out nothing gets mommy or daddy's attention quicker than taking off all his clothes. So if we aren't paying enough attention to him, off comes his pants and pull-ups (and sometimes the shirt). This happened during Thanksgiving dinner...luckily all our guests were family!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are our photos from the day. Grandma & Grandpa Key and Auntie Jen came over to our house. My dad's 60th Birthday also happened to fall on Turkey Day this year (in case you were wondering why there are candles on the pumpkin roll).

Drinking Fountain

Evan loves the drinking fountain at preschool. Jeremy says you can even hear him slurping up the water (background noise is too loud in the video).

Great Grandma Wilkins

Evan's Great Grandmother Miriam Wilkins (Jeremy's mom's mom) passed away on Thursday. She was an active, very sharp 91 years old. The week before, she had fallen and broken her femur. She lost a lot of blood during the 6 hour surgical repair, and that caused her kidneys to fail. Thankfully, Jeremy got to visit with Grandma Wilkins on his trip down to the bay area earlier this month. This picture of her with Evan is from July 2007.


One of the things Grandma Wilkins was passionate about was roses. She had been President of the Rose Society and had organized many rose shows. There is even a Miriam Wilkins rose--this is the picture of it I found on the internet!





Grandma Wilkins, you will be missed! XOXO