Happy Birthday Evan

One year ago yesterday this sweet boy came into our lives

 I cannot even begin to describe how much we love this boy. He has been such a blessing to our family and we are so so so grateful for his sweet spirit in our family. He's learning so much so fast. He's just so wonderful. 

Happy Birthday Evan Michael!

At one
He peed in the potty on his birthday! I just sat him on it to see what he would do and he peed and I made a big deal about it and he thought it was hilarious.

He is very adventurous and isn't afraid of anything.

He can say "more" in sign language

He can say car (cah), down (dow), uh-oh, whoa, yay, boy, book (buh), blue (buh)

He shrugs his shoulders now...it's so adorable!

He helps me get him dressed by lifting his legs and feet for pants, shoes and socks. He lifts each arm to put shirts on and lifts both arms when I say, "arms up" to take off his shirts.

He understands when we tell him to go get things and bring them to us unless it's something that he isn't familiar with.
He likes to walk backwards and then laugh about it.

He LOVES being outside...I'm pretty sure he would sleep there if we let him.

He can stack blocks

He likes to drive his books, the TV remote, his cars, his cup, his diapers, and pretty much everything else all around the apartment.

He loves to scribble on paper

He thinks he's the funniest baby ever (he stands in the mirror and laughs at himself)

He twirls my hair in his fingers (he's been doing this for a while but now he does it every time I pick him up.

He loves to go down the slide by himself

He shakes his head no when he doesn't want something and is starting to nod yes...he usually uses more

He sleeps through the night!!

he points to everything he wants or wants to talk about...he'll point and gibber jabber forever to some things.

he loves to run down hills

he loves to play hide and seek...we hide and he seeks and laughs hysterically when he finds us.

He thinks "Amen" is so funny. When we say Amen he either smiles real big or laughs.

There is so much new stuff he does! I have been really good at getting it all in his baby book because I want to remember everything. I can't remember all of it right now.... I hope I do this all the time for him and his siblings.

I have some videos of his party but I can't get them to upload. I'll load them some other time.

I cannot believe my baby boy is one! 

Here we go go go on an adventure...

We are going here June 14th-17th with my brother and his wife (hopefully, if they can make it)

Moab Utah and some surrounding places!!

Chasing ducks and much more

First I have to show you a picture of Evan when Greg picked him up for the first time after we brought him home from the Airport. Evan touched his face and smiled real big and then gave him one of his hugs where he just lays against your chest....oh, it made my heart swell!!

Last Thursday was beautiful out and I got off work pretty early so we walked to the duck pond by BYU. Evan fed and chased the ducks! In one of the videos I'm pretty sure the duck was going to try and chase Evan :o)

There is a little duck in the bottom of the picture that I cut in half with the camera.

in a full on run to catch the duck

 



When my mom was here I came home from work one afternoon and and she said she couldn't find one of his pacifiers anywhere and she was so perplexed about it. I go to pick Evan up and he has this huge lump in his onesie...lo and behold he had stashed his pacifier in his onesie. I think he was hiding it so he could have it at all times and not just for naps and bedtime...

No my friends that is not a severe outie that it a pacifier

I found this picture of my mom and Evan on my camera recently

Grandma and Grandpa Barcus got him a toy box for his first birthday!

Rockin' Out


Just because he's "my handsome"

Evan doesn't like to eat Cheerios, he just likes to flip them


Greg taught Evan how to make Fish faces


Oh yeah and He loves to go down the slide by himself



Is there anything better than having kids? Because I'm pretty sure there's not.

Being a cheapster

Those who know me know that I am pretty frugal....borderline cheap. 
I decided to try this little homemade laundry detergent idea. I made it and I love it! It works so well and it's a big money saver. It has a nice clean smell to it too.
All you need is...

Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces (between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load).

1 cup of 20 Mule team Borax
1 cup of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 bar of shaved bar soap (I used Ivory)

Annndddd then.....Mix it together!

My mom got me some scentsy warmers and several smelly good wax  bars to go with them for a "new apt house warming gift" and I LOVE THEM! Greg had them all set up when I got home :o)

Did I mention my husband is home?! Did I also mention that he is the most romantic person on the planet and that he's my most favorite person on the planet and that I never ever want to be away from him ever again for any  longer than 12 hours at a time and that I feel like I'm going to just die when he's not with me because I just kind of stop functioning? Good thing I have Evan other wise I might as well have just dug a whole and lived in it for 2 weeks because I don't even care to cook when he's not around and me not cooking is very odd. 

That's all folks!

Food, Baby, and exciting stuff

Evan is saying some words here and there and only on rare occasion but my favorite so far is when he says, "down" when he knocks his blocks down.

little tiny baby airwalk moccasin type shoes

this boy loves blueberries

he loves to take his books off his shelves and read them

I found him like this the other day

Greg got a job offer with EY and we are so excited! We were looking at houses in Columbus before we left to get a good idea about what we want but now we can really start looking! I'm so excited about this! My only requirement is a big Kitchen with lots of counter space preferrably with a window in front of the sink, but just a large kitchen with lots of counter space is ok. I am so excited to buy a house and stop paying rent after this year!

I got to suction a tracheostomy tuesday at work for the first time since nursing school!

My husband comes home Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was pleasantly surprised by this recipe...

LOW FAT CHICKEN ALFREDO  

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast

1 white onion (medium size)
8 oz uncooked (1/2 box) vermicelli spaghetti
2 oz shredded low fat Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon basil
2 teaspoons garlic powder (at least)
1/2 jar Heinz fat-free chicken gravy (6 oz)
1 tablespoon flour
6 oz low-fat sour cream

Cut chicken breast into 3/4 inch squares. Sauté in small amount of vegetable oil over medium to medium-low heat. Dice onions and add to chicken.
Cook chicken thoroughly, testing by cutting largest piece - juices should no longer run pink and chicken will be tender.

Sprinkle liberally with garlic powder, basil and allspice; stir in.

Stir in chicken gravy, reducing heat to a simmer. Sprinkle with flour and stir in water to achieve desired thickening. Do not rely on sour cream for thickness.

Simmer for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring in 2 oz of Parmesan cheese. Fold in sour cream and remove from heat.

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cool water. Top individual portions of spaghetti with Chicken Alfredo combination and then sprinkle remaining Parmesan on top.

Serves 4

Emotions

I am back in Utah for one more year! My mom helped me move into our new apt and we are just getting settled. All my pictures are decorations are up and I'm starting to feel at home again.

I have been an emotional disaster. Greg is in Ohio until the 20th and then we will be able to have him home again. We miss him so much! I never realize how much I need him, want him, and depend on him until he isn't here. I'm feeling a little more together since everything is finished around here, but it was definitely a rough start. I don't handle change real well anyway.

ONE. MORE. YEAR.

Greg will finishe his masters and then we are done with school forever!

My two months away from Utah has been a real blessing for me. I've been able to get over the things that drive me crazy about this place and be grateful for the things I have and that in time I will be able to stay home with my little man (ONE MORE YEAR!!!!!) It was a real humbling experience in many different ways. I have decided that I do not miss Ohio. I just miss my family.

I absolutely do not miss the radio stations in Ohio- Rap plays on nearly every other radio station.



Evan's ONE.....almost

So my family insisted that we throw Evan a first birthday party while we are here. I'm super traditional so I kept going back and forth with it because I really wanted his first birthday to be on his birthday, but I got over it and threw one for him so the family could be there and I'm still going to throw one on hus birthday, but it will just be Greg and I and maybe Greg's Grandma

I made his cake which was titled Best Chocolate Cake Ever with chocolate butter cream frosting and then I Molded it into a dog. The body of the dog is just plain ole cake with the rear end built up but the head, legs, and tail re cake and icing mixed together and then molded.

Then I made A red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing and that cream cheese icing was amazing! I've never made such amazing. I'll give all the recipes I used for the cakes and icings at a later time. I also made a German cake with it's normal icing.

Easter Basket

I decided to make Evan an Easter basket.

I love Easter and I have been contemplating since last year what I wanted to do this year for him.

So far I have made this..

I feel like everything is cuter in person but these pictures will do I suppose...

 I got this idea from here. I think the next one I make I want to do the straps her way...