Evan turned 2 months old this past week, so hard to believe! I am still enjoying my time at home with him so much. He continues to be a great little napper, which gives me some time to work and do things around the house and we are getting out and about a good bit. We had his 2 month photo shoot mid-week and I caught him in a good awake moment. His eyes are so big and blue and alert when he is awake. He is getting much more expressive too and cooing ad talking to us more and more and smiling, which Graham just LOVES!

Evan and I picked up Graham and dropped him off several times again this week and we have gotten pretty good at that. Graham had a good week and got to got the treasure box at the end of the week. He learned a couple new hymns and even learned the sign language for them. And, we learned that he even knows sign language for Jesus Loves Me, which he loves to sing to Evan.

Evan had his 2 month appt on Friday, he weighed in at 12 pounds and 15 ounces and was 23 and a half inches long, 75th percentile for both! The doctor checked him over and said he looked great! She put him on his tummy and was pleased with how much he lifted his head. She was also very happy to hear how well he is eating and how wonderfully he is sleeping. Last night, he slept from about 10pm to 530am. Then, it was shot time, he got one shot in each leg, both containing multiple vaccines and then also had to drink one. He screamed of course as she injected him and then I picked him and he stopped crying right away. He was very cooperative with the drinking one, she said it was a little sweet and then I dressed him and we left the office and he never fussed another peep! So, we went to lunch and did some shopping and he did his usual eating and sleeping routine the rest of the day. So, the shots didn't seem to affect him. The doctor (who is also Graham's doctor) wanted an update on how he was adjusting to little brother, so that was nice. Coincidently, she is 7 months pregnant with her 3rd little one, so we will see another doctor in the practice for his 4 month appt since she will be on maternity leave. They let me pick who I wanted it with and since we know most every doctor in the group (by way of sick appointments), I gave the nurse a couple names and they got us scheduled. She will be back for his 6 month appointment hopefully.

Evan has also gradually increased the amount of time he sleeps each night and Friday night and Saturday night, he slept 10 hours straight, from about 9pm - 7am! He has also started sucking his thumb off and on and to sooth himself, so not sure if that is gonna be a constant thing or not yet. He still takes a pacifier as well. Now, we just need to convince Graham to sleep past 6am on the weekends and we will be all set, ha!

On Saturday, Graham and Evan and I set off on what I told Graham was a "big adventure." First, we went to Portrait Innovations and had Graham and Evan's Easter pictures made and some of them individually as well. It went about as well as it could with a 3 and half year old and a 2 month old, ha! I had to wake Evan up so he was not terribly cooperative at first. Graham was wanting to love all over Evan and not look at us, but we did manage to get a quite a few good ones and even managed an outfit change. First, they wore their coordinating Easter outfits and then matching polo shirts and jeans. We left there and went in to the mall next door and headed to the Easter Bunny. I was dressed to match them as I totally expected to be in the photo too, (like last year and with Santa), but Graham was surprisingly excited to see the Easter Bunny and even said that he was not going to sit with Santa though. So, sure enough, he went right up and sat down and talked to him about bringing him eggs. Evan was sound asleep after being awake for way too long at the photo store, so he slept through the entire Easter Bunny visit. The picture blew me away! I couldn't believe it! Then, Graham rode the train twice, once in the caboose and once in the front. It is just a couple minute loop, but he was super excited. I was so proud of him that then we went to Barnes and Noble and played on the train table (all the while Evan was still asleep in the stroller). Graham did great wearing his monkey leash and holding my hand and walking right beside the stroller. We left the mall and met up with Dean after his choir rehearsal and had lunch at Red Lobster! It was quite the successful outing!!!! And, I was exhausted the rest of the day, ha!

We took it easy the rest of the day and the weekend, other than going to church on Sunday. Evan slept pretty much all through church again. It reminds me so much of carrying a sleeping Graham up to the alter rail for communion in those early weeks and months when I am carrying Evan up. We are very excited for Easter weekend next week. Dean is off for Good Friday and we are going to color Easter Eggs and then go to the Good Friday service at 6pm, where Dean has his traditional solo. On Saturday, we are going to spend the day with my parents and HOPE it will be nice enough to play outside and that Graham and Lillian can find eggs. Dean's parents will join us as well. Then, of course, church on Sunday, so a full weekend!

We had another busy and relaxing week all wrapped in to one. Evan and I took Graham to school the first couple mornings. Graham has been very god walking in with me and being patient while I get Evan out of the jeep, so that has been good. Evan and I went to the bank and officially opened his savings account since we got his social security card last week and he even had some money in his piggy bank already to deposit! Evan continues to be a sleepy little boy and sleeps any time we are in the car and then for some good long stretches at home too, which gives me some time to work as well. On Wednesday, he went with me to get my haircut and he fluttered his eyes open just a couple times, but that was it! When his eyes are open, he is so wide eyed alert and looking all around and following voices. He is starting to coo more and more and is becoming quite the smiler as well!

On Thursday, my parents came to visit for a couple days. Graham stayed home from school on Thursday and the weather was gorgeous. We got to play on the playset, fly a kite and walked the whole neighborhood. Graham did really well walking along side us and of course Evan slept in his stroller the whole time. On Friday, I took Graham to school and then came back home and got Mama and Evan and we went out to lunch and shopping. I got Graham and Evan the cutest matching turtle swim sets, trunks, shirt and hat! They will be so cute! Evan was again our good little shopping buddy and then we picked up Graham early from school and went home and had more outside fun. Graham even helped Pawpaw wash the jeep!

Saturday was another gorgeous day and we were out and about all day. On Saturday morning, we went with Dean to Hollins University and dropped him off at a choir rehearsal for a classical music performance that he is going to be singing in this May. Graham, Evan and I went to the outdoors store up the street and I had my first successful solo shopping trip with BOTH boys! Luckily they had one of the "Car" shopping carts, so Graham was happy to ride in that and Evan rode on top in his carrier in the cart part. We got Graham and Dean new life vests for the lake and a few other things and we even parked the cart and went to the restrooms for a potty break. I was very proud of all three of us! Then, we went to McDonalds and got breakfast. Again, very successful and Graham was the perfect listener! We went back to pick up Dean and chased squirels while we were waiting on him to finish.

We ran home, ate lunch and then headed to the lake, it was in the 70s and just gorgeous, so I just had an itch to go walk around at the lake! Graham was all for it and wanted to take the kayak and his buckets and shovels.....but we told him we couldn't take those this trip. We walked around all the grounds, the pool, the docks, the beach and Dean and Graham even cleaned leaves off the boat. And, guess what Evan did! We put him in the stroller and pushed him all over asleep! It was lots of fun and of course Graham had a blast. We did take a few toys for him to play with at the beach and he went right down the water and played and threw sticks and had a ball! Now, we can't wait to get back for real!!!!

We headed back to church on Sunday. Dean went back to choir this week, so I just left Graham in the nursery at communion time and just took Evan up with me. Similar to last week, he was asleep when we got there and slept all through service. I carried him up for communion asleep in my arms. He did manage to wake up after service and everyone loved seeing his big blue eyes. Graham gets asked lots of questions about being a big brother, so that is neat. We had a quiet day at home the rest of Sunday, so that was very nice.

Evan will be 2 months old on Thursday, so hard to believe!!! I will be working on his 2 month photos this week and also he has his 2 month appt on Friday. So, a big week! He weighed in on Sunday at 12 pounds and 8 ounces! He is a great eater and clearly his milk is agreeing with him!

We kicked off the week with heading to the doctor for my 6 week check-up, it seemed like just yesterday, I was there at 40 weeks pregnant and she was sending me to the hospital to have Evan! Evan was a doll and slept through the whole appointment and while I ran some errands. It is pretty much a set thing that if I feed him right before we leave the house, he will sleep a good couple hours in the carseat carrier, even with me getting him and out multiple times. The weather from the weekend continued and even got nicer, so Evan and I were able to walk the neighborhood Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, so that was wonderful. Again, he slept the whole time in the stroller and some neighbors got to see him. I also started doing some part time work from home to ease back in for these last six weeks of my leave. It worked out pretty good and luckily since Evan takes several naps during the day, I had some good stretches where I could work.

Evan and I took Graham to school two mornings and picked him up on Friday evening to help Dean get back to working more regular days. All three times went very smoothly and Graham is very helpful wanting to help me carry Evan and then he gives us both kisses to tell us bye. He had a better week at school and even got to pick a treat from the treasure box on Friday afternoon, so he was very excited.

On Saturday, Dean's parents came for a visit and brought us lunch from Red Lobster. They had not been to visit in a few weeks so it was nice to see them. We had a nice visit, even though Evan slept through most it! He really sleeps hard when visitors are there holding him, I guess he likes be snuggled up in someone's arms, similar to the carseat.

Sunday was the highlight of our week, we headed to church as a family of four for the first time! We got ready extra early so that we could take some family pics, which Evan and Graham mostly cooperated for and then we headed out. It definitely takes us awhile to get us all loaded up and out the door!!!! Everyone was very excited to see Evan. Graham was excited to get back to the toys in the nursery, so he headed straight there. Dean stayed out of choir so that he could be with us. Evan was asleep when we got there and we carried him right in to service and he slept (and snored) through service. Dean went to get Graham for communion and I slipped Evan in to my arms still sleeping and we headed up for communion. Graham was all smiles and held both our hands. It was a very sweet and touching moment and I was also so relieved that Graham was being so good!!!! He did great at the altar as well and we headed back to our seat and stayed through the last few minutes of service, so that was wonderful. After service, Evan was still asleep in my arms, so I changed him and got him awake enough to eat and finally he showed everyone his eyes. Graham was very proud to tell everyone who he was, so that was cute. We headed out and both boys fell asleep on the ride home!!!!! SO, it was a very succesful and touching service for us all!

Evan weighed in on Sunday at 11 pounds and 10 ounces. He has pretty much moved out of the newborn clothes and is settled in the 0-3 months outfits. He even wore the same outfit to church that Graham wore on his first Sunday!!!! I pulled out two big totes of 3 - 6 months clothes of Graham's this week and sorted them out and washed most of them up. There was some really heavy winter stuff that is probably not gonna work, but hopefully most of it will work. He will probably have to have some new things as the weather gets warmer if he isn't ready for the 6 - 9 month stuff yet. It will be interesting to see how the whole clothing / season thing is going to work out.

Graham continues to love to sit with Evan and hold him and talk to him and love on him, so it is usually pretty easy to get them to pose for pics together. Of course, then it is hit or miss if they both look at the camera at the same time, smile, sit up straight, etc etc, but I did get a pretty good shot on Saturday night. I think it will be a framer for sure! Evan has started smiling at us a lot and cooing and "talking" to us more and more and I have caught some good smiles on camera as well, so that is exciting! Time is definitely flying by!!!!

We had a pretty busy week this week. We kicked it off with Evan's one month doctor's appointment. Evan and I dropped Graham off at school and then headed to the doctor. The drop off went very smooth, so that was good. Evan weighed in at 10 pounds and 5 ounces, 57th percentile and 22 inches long, 85th percentile. She said everything else looked great. She asked about his eating and sleeping schedule and said they sounded perfect. He was awake just long enough for her to do her exam and then fell back asleep while we were waiting for the nurse to come give him his shot. He only had to get one today, the second half of his Hep-B that he got in the hospital. He screamed initially but settled down really fast and I strapped him back in his carrier and he went right back to sleep! So, a good quick appointment! We go back at the end of the month for his two month and he is scheduled for four shots at that one.

We ran a couple errands and then met Elaine for lunch, which Evan slept and slept through it all. On Tuesday, Evan and I headed out again and went to Lowes and the grocery store. I needed to get some final supplies to put the finishing touches on Graham and Evan's bathroom. We still have the fishy decor that we put in it when Graham was about six months old, but the walls were still the original beige. Dean did a rag technique with a pale green and allowed some of the beige to still show through and then we put a clear high gloss coat on top. It looks really neat and Graham seemed to like it.

On Wednesday, Evan and I were out and about all day long. We met Tammy for lunch and made several other stops including a few hours at the mall. Evan is clearly very comfy in his carrier and sleeps and sleeps and I have to get him out and wake him to eat at various points during the day. We picked up Graham from school and headed home.

On Thursday, Evan and I went to my office for him to meet everyone......of course, he was only awake for a few brief moments here and there. Some of us went to lunch and then we visited a little more in the afternoon and then headed out and picked up Graham again. It was fun seeing everyone at work and of course, Evan was a huge hit! So, we seem to be getting a bit of a rhythm with getting two boys in and out of the jeep. Graham likes to help carry the carrier, so that works out good.

On Friday, we decided to stay home! So, that was a nice catch up day and Dean dropped off and picked up Graham. On Saturday, my parents came to visit and to watch the boys while we went out on Saturday night to the Addys awards program with Dean's work. We were gone about 4 hours and had a nice date night, our first since Evan arrived! It was actually warm enough on Saturday and Sunday that we were able to get outside and play some. Graham played on his playset and rode his tricycle and the whole gang of us went for a nice neighborhood walk on Sunday afternoon! We have spring fever in a big way!!!!!

Graham is continuing to be helpful and loving to Evan, but also continuing some of his tantrums and defiant behaviors as well. Not sure if he is acting up because of Evan's arrival and trying to get attention OR if this is just more of the terrible threes. He is spending lots of time in time out these days and really testing us. It seems like he is either really good or really bad.......hopefully, things will improve sooner than later!

Evan has started to smile and be much more expressive. He LOVES to lay in his crib and watch his mobile. So, I caught him smiling and even laughing this week and grabbed the camera! He weighed in at 10 pounds and 10 ounces this weekend, so he is steadily gaining!