Olympics and swimming round 2

We, meaning me, finally got the courage to leave Evan for more than 36 hours to head to Vancouver for the Olympics. Nick and I had been planning this for a couple of years, before we knew little Evan would be in our lives.  Luckily we have fabulous grandparents who could come and watch him while we were gone.

Grandma Kate came the night before we left and assured us all would be ok. We left and Evan was still sleeping in the morning. We got this photo and new he was going to be fine.

We had a great time in Vancouver and Seattle. The Olympics were amazing and the weather couldn't have been better - 60's and sunny! Luckily we were busy because it didn't allow for much time to wonder how Evan was doing, but that doesn't mean we didn't text and call daily.

Here are a few pictures from Vancouver:

Nick and the moscot Quatchi

USA vs Norway hockey

Nick and I at the torch

Nick and I at the hockey game

Here is a couple from Seattle:

I only cried once and that was when we were delayed getting home and my mom said Evan was already asleep when we got to Des Moines.  But I couldn't get up fast enough in the morning to go see him.  It is so hard to leave him, but from the stories from all the grandparents, yes all 4 were around to watch Evan, he was in good hands. One night the "weather" was a problem, so all 4 grandparents were on Evan duty. They ordered pizza and were totally captivated by one little boy. 

Grandma Lois and Evan

Nick took Evan swimming for his second lesson last week before we left and he loved it! I think he is teaching Nick a thing or two.

Evan has also learned that he can push anything around, ie the snowman, Frosty.

Lou is constantly on the run now too.  Evan got his tail and wouldn't let go, all Lou did was hiss. I was so scared he was going to bite, but he didn't.  The funny thing is he licked his tail for a minute and back to Evan's side he went. I tried to tell Lou to run, but I guess he hasn't learned that from Fiona yet.

love,
Amy, Nick and Evan

Water babies!

Evan loved his first water babies class. He splashed around, sang songs and drank a little bit of water. He laid on his back with his feet crossed, but didn't seem to mind being on his back.

His friend Drake on the other hand wasn't a huge fan of the class. Next time he will...well for Megan's sake I hope so:)

At home ready to go.

Waiting to go in the pool.

Getting read to go with mom.

Watching the fountain in front of him.
 Big boy standing in the pool.
 His other favorite thing to do is steal Lou's bowl.


We had a scary moment regarding Evan's puppy. Most of you remember him and know Evan loves his puppy. Last week Dad dropped Evan off at school. I called over to see how he was doing in the afternoon, not realizing puppy went missing. A kind soul found puppy, cold, dirty, and on the verge of hypothermia from laying in the parking lot of daycare all day.

 
We gave puppy a bath and got him under a warmer and it seems like he will make a full recovery. Unfortunetly he hasn't gotten enough courage to go back to school with Evan yet...aka I keep forgetting him!

Evan getting in mom's cuboards. Thank goodness Grandpa Dave put on latches.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,
Amy, Nick and Evan with puppy back home

Walking and Climbing

Here are a few videos of Evan walking, climbing and over all on the move!

10 months old today

We will start with the Elephante pictures. Only 2 more months of these and they are getting tougher to get a good picture:)

10 months - notice the top teefers are inOh you again?! You are mine...put 'em up.

Your turn sign...

Blah! Sit here, yeah right!

Last night I was rocking Evan to sleep and it dawned on me that he is as old as long as he was in my belly. Make sense??...anyway 10 months old today. I started to think about his birthday party already:) I love thinking about him eating his cake...he can be a little aggressive with food and his sippy cup.

As you can see he loves sticking out his tongue now. King of the Varcoe house
Uncle Eric is my buddy.
You are funny Uncle Eric - now come here let me bite you.Oops, I got caught attacking mommy's shoes.
Shake, shake, shakeWe've had a few milestones...

1. climbs steps

2. Loves to eat most anything - don't feed him mixed vegetable though

3. Got his two top teefers! (thank god, back to sleeping through the night)

4. walks with his walking toy - does laps around our house

Go buddy! Off I go! Seriously mom I am fine, geesh. (Yep my face says it all)The best part about him walking with the toy is watching him get stuck. He doesn't quite know how to backup and move the toy. I looked at Nick and told him Evan is more like him than we thought - frustrated = get mad. Evan will just grunt and yell until you help him move the toy. We are working on the patience thing.

Love,

Nick, Amy and Evan

Our little monkey

Evan changes each and every day in looks and activities. He has been a real trooper that last few weekends. We had birthday parties in Iowa City two weeks in a row so he got to visit his cousins Meg and Jack one weekend and Grandpa and Grandma the other weekend.

Evan waking up very happy at Grandpa and Grandma Varcoes.

He has been going through a phase of waking up in the middle of the night and not wanting to go back to sleep. This has lead to some tired parents letting him "cry it out". Let me tell you, he is one determined little boy.

Hard to resist this face, but it is possible at 2 a.m.

One of his top teeth popped through and the other is right there. So I am blaming that on the getting up in the middle of the night. I also gave him his second hair cut - again he looks so grown up and cute!

He has learned to go up stairs and likes to look out the window by hanging on the window ledge, oh and eat some of the paint off the ledge too. Fun times, fun times.

The countdown is on until the Grandmas come to stay with Evan while Nick and I go to the Olympics in Vancouver - I hope cell phones work up there!

love,
Amy, Nick and Evan

9 months old

Our little bug is over 9 months old now. He is turing into such a funny little boy. He knows how to capture a room that is for sure. He flashes he two (soon to be four) teefers and people melt. Well at least mom and dad do. Let the series of Elephante' pictures begin...

I love to eat the sign now - have fun mom and dad trying to a get a good photo. Ok Elephante' I'll get you too....grrrr, ha, ha, ha! ok, ok - cheese! Whew that was a work out.All done. I said I am done. Come here mommy, let me bite you!

He is now full on crawling. He had been army crawling since befor 6 months and decided it was time, but not more than a week later he decided that is just not enough excitement and pulls himself up on EVERYTHING!

As you can see this is how we wake up to him now.

At his 9 month appointment our doctor said he is the average size of a 12-15 month old. Surprised us it wasn't bigger:)

23lbs 10oz

29 1/2 in. tall

Hope this keeps up and we have our first round draft pick.

We all got struck with the stomach bug and let me tell you, being sick with a baby and husband that are also sick is NO fun. Thank goodness the grandparents came to help out, but I am afraid we sent them home with the bug too.

Love,

Nick, Amy and Evan

Evan's First Christmas

Evan's first Christmas was so much fun. The little bug got spoiled by family. We headed to Cedar Rapids Christmas Eve and Evan decided to take the longest nap of his life and slept through church at 4. So he got up and went to 7 p.m. church and had the entire place rolling. He sure knows how to capture an audience.

Aunt Lindsay and Ben got me a new wagon, but mom and dad said that I had to leave it behind because there was no room.

New car from Grandpa Dave and Grandma Lois


Cheese, I love my new car!

Hey Grandpa are you watchin'??

I was a good little boy this year.

Hey, excuse me are you paying attention to me?

I got to meet my Great-Grandpa Wieland for the first time! I am not sure, but I think he was giving the waitress a couple of specific orders.

Grandpa Dave cracks me up.

Really guys...a life-size Elmo...oh well I will eat his eyes.

Great Grandpa and Grandma Hilson with my third or something like that cousin Clayton. Look all by myself! Mom let go, I can do it. Turn up the "Wicked" tunes in the background on the computer. "I am popular..."

Slam dunk!

4 generations of Wielands

hmmm...Lou or Elmo...decisions, decisions.

Happy Holidays everyone and have a great 2010!

Love,

Nick, Amy and Evan