Everett has hit 14 months in May so I thought I would just post a few pictures so you can see how he is doing. He loves doing all little boy things.
This is cowboy Everett in Daddy's hat.
Going out to play in the rain.
Getting muddy in the back yard and picking up treasures.
Climbing a tree.
I consider this a right of passage, much like having to shave a bare spot in his head when he will undoubtedly get gum in his hair. The funny think about this is we were only hours away from getting his professional 1 year portraits done. Luckily it washed off.
Everett and Clare look a lot alike.
Here they are playing.
Aunt Danielle reading a story.
Everett heading for the water.
Clare at Dinner.
Here is a video of Everett showing no fear as he heads straight for the water. He did this over and over again no matter where we put him down on the beach.
After we went sledding the other weekend we stopped in to what we thought was a kid's museum called KidCity. What it is is an old building that has been filled with nothing but playscapes. They range from space ships to kaleidescopes, model trains, to a big apple tree clubhouse. There is a Pirate Ship, a little person grocery store, and a whole under the sea area. The following are a few pictures from the last time we went. We actually bought a membership because Everett loved it so much and it is good for him to be able to socialize with others. Right now his social skills consist of kissing and showing off for the girls, and pushing the boys out of his way.
This blog, started as a Journey to Fatherhood, has now become a Journey IN Fatherhood. I have spent most of these pages dedicated to the milestones and growth of Everett but have not touched on what it feels like to be a dad, so to remedy that I offer this thought:
When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things." I Cor. xiii. 11.
When I was a child I used to laugh and sing and dance around. When I became a man these things ceased as I knew them. The best part about being a dad is that I get to experience them all over again. I can dance to ridiculously goofy songs (think "Whip it" by Devo); I can run around the house acting like a monster, bounce on the bed, make funny faces, go sledding, pretend the grocery cart (carriage for New Englanders) is a race car (complete with skidding rear wheels.) I can even screech out the sound effects. I don't have to care what the outside world thinks of that behavior, only that it makes my son smile, or laugh that laugh that makes me forget there is an outside world. Sure, there will be a time that comes way to soon when that type of behavior embarrasses him and I will have to cease once again. Hell, I will probably even embarrass him a few times before I stop, but until then, I sure am having fun. It is important to remember how much fun the world can be, and however wise I think I become the real wisdom is in viewing the world through a child's eyes. I hope this blog is entertaining but also reminds us of how wonderful the little things are. I thank my son for showing me this once again.
If you were watching the weather reports last week you would know that this past Friday we got a lot of snow in New England. 6-8 inches fell through the morning on Friday. Everett happened to discover it though the window while playing.
The other day we had the pleasure of watching Naomi for a few hours while her mom took care of some things she needed to take care of. Everett loved having another little person in the house. He touched her hair, tried to poke her eyes and nose and mouth, gave her big tackle hugs, and took every toy she was playing with. I guess we will have to work on the sharing. He is not used to other babies around. Naomi on the other hand attends daycare where she is often stepped on and tackled and crawled over, she just took it in stride. We loved having her and will gladly do it again anytime. Here are a few pictures of the two:
Everett has begun to take steps over the past few weeks. I was traveling this week and upon coming home I discovered that all he does now is walk around the house. He walks laps the whole day. Here is a video I shot this morning.
Amy and Everett on the rope bridge
A really lazy river
Amy taking a tube ride through the shark tank
Amy and Everett on a water slide
This past month my company sent me to the Bahamas for a sales conference. I decided to stay a little longer and fly Amy and the baby down to enjoy a little vacation. We stayed at Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas. It was a great time. We tried everything, the beaches, the waterslides, the aquariums. Here are a few pictures from the trip.
This grouper could have easily swallowed Everett whole.
Here we are in one of the tunnels with a ray swimming above us
I have so many more pictures I will do a follow up post shortly with a bunch more.
It took 9 months but Napolean has finally warmed up to Everett and accepted him as a member of the family. They now have their own ritual where they hug and wrestle and Napolean licks Everett. It is pretty funny to watch and they do it often enough that I got a video.
This was Everett's first Christmas. He might have been a little too young for presents but he really got the hang of the gift bags. He loves pulling the paper out of them. Here is a video of him unwrapping one from his Godparents, who are currently living in Puerto Rico. What a great idea, thanks guys. We already used it to show him where you are.
Also, thanks to everyone else who so generously made his first Christmas a great one, now to find a spot for everything.
Thank you all for the comments on what Everett should be for Halloween. We actually did not choose any of the costumes I had posted. Instead we found this at Old Navy and since it was 50% off and only $10 and he is only going to wear it once, we couldn't resist. Here it is, Everett the Magic Dragon, who lives by the sea.
