Standings!

Go Monterrey! My brother Michael sent us fútbol jersey tops from his mission in Monterrey, Mexico. Everett got matching shorts as well. 

 Yesterday we took Everett out into "our backyard" and he loved it. He mysteriously got dirt around his mouth, and jealously watched his parents play catch. We played catch! In the winter! I loved it. I had to get my arm back into the swing of things, but Dallin pointed out something to help me be more on the ball about how I was throwing.

New celebration dance move

We had yet to catch Everett waving on camera; he doesn't do the wave very often.

So tonight, I turned around and saw Everett standing! I'm guessing he had been standing holding onto something and then wanted to drink with two hands. I ran and grabbed the camera, and he was still standing when I was ready to film, so I'd ballpark it at he was standing for 10 seconds before I started filming.

I have never seen him do this before tonight.

Everett walking will be a whole new ballgame up in the big leagues. Once he starts feeling more safe on his feet.

I took a rain check on finishing the Christmas part 2 post so as to touch base with you about recent events. Don't sweat, that post is on-deck.
I thought I had all my bases covered for Sunday morning. I had a lesson prepared for primary, was excited about my post-weaning opportunity to do a full fast, and even knew what outfits I planned on Everett and I wearing. But Everett woke up somewhat sick and Dallin wasn't feeling on top of his game either, so we kept them in the dugout. So with two strikes against me I went to church and taught the four-year-olds. I didn't have enough notice to get a pinch-hitter for Dallin as my teaching companion, so I was in a bit of a pickle, but my visiting teaching companion stepped up to the plate. Last season we taught the twelve-year-olds so we are rookies with the four-year-olds. It will take practice. The kids threw me a couple of curveballs from out of left-field but I managed to take a swing at them. My responses were more like bunts but hey, the kids are just four, no need to play hardball. They really were a bunch of adorable all-star students. It's kind of funny in Junior primary because the bases are loaded with Marrs: Devon and Whitney teach sunbeams, and Kristi teaches CTR 5. Too bad Kira moved up to senior primary or we'd have a grand slam.
So looking back on my opening day of teaching CTR 4, I wouldn't say I'm batting a thousand, but I went out swinging.

D: I can only apologize for the obscene number of baseball puns in this post. She won't let me erase them. Axel just got diagnosed with RSV and had to go on a nebulizer, so we're being very cautious with Everett's illness. So excited about the standing and waving. School starts Monday (tomorrow), so wish me luck!

A: But I was just warming up.

D: Stop it

A: I'm afraid you're off-base thinking I need to stop, but I'll take a short stop.

One more video from Fallon

We thought we had accidentally deleted this video, but it turns out it had just uploaded incorrectly the first time. It's a super cute video of Elise. Enjoy.

Christmas Break Part 1: Perazzoville

We had a wonderful Christmas break. We first got to celebrate with family here in Spokane, then with Alicia's family in Fallon, and then Dallin's family in San Jose. We flew everywhere, and Everett did great on his first plane rides. 

Before we even got to Fallon, we visited with three of Alicia's friends in Reno. One of the visits involved Indian food, which Everett was not particularly fond of. His facial reactions to the (very mild) spicy foods were, however, hilarious. He drank so much water and spilled so much of it on himself that we had to change his outfit before we left. 

In Fallon we got to meet our niece, Sadie, for the first time. She is/was three months old. Alicia wanted to hold her every second she could. She would go to both of us just fine, so long as we would feed her her bottle. She was a very hungry little girl.  A week or so before we arrived she started getting really wiggly and active.

Happy auntie!

We had a blast visiting with Daniel, Hanna, and the girls. Everett had a great time being tormented by playing with Elise. She would bring him toys, blankets, and bottles, rub his head, try to ride him like a horse, attempt to hold him like a baby, and take toys away from him. They really did play well together, and even high-fived. It was epic. He thought Laila was the funniest person in the world, and we think she liked the attention. We celebrated Brinley's birthday while we were there.  

Bringing him toys

and a blanket,

and patting and rubbing his head. Too cute.

Ev's a horse

This was just hilarious. Not sure what she was trying to do.

They look like twins!

It's even worse from the back.

Elise attempting to hold Everett, getting the hand to the face we normally get.

Retaliation!

Tea party?

She did this for a few minutes. Too funny.

David and Jackie got themselves a new entertainment center for Christmas, and Everett decided to assemble it.

We got a tour of the progress on the new barn. It's coming together very nicely.

Uncle Jim and Aunt Margaret.

She thought Everett was something else.

We opened presents early with David and Jackie

His favorite part about this car track is that it comes apart. He loves taking it apart and trying to put it back together.

Firetruck!

So proud of himself.

We also got to go caroling with the family to the neighbors, play lots of games, welcome Sarah and Becky back from college, and visit more family and friends. 

The 20th was our second wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe we've been married for two years. Well, Everett being one makes it a little easier. Jackie was nice enough to watch Everett while we went and saw Frozen and had a nice lunch. 

Sleep is good

D: I am so close to being done with this quarter! I have one more assignment to turn in, then we can enjoy Christmas break.

The real reason I wanted to write this post is because Everett has been doing something odd lately. He's been going to bed at night without a fuss. In the 12 and a half months of his life this has never happened. Bedtime was a battle, and the nights he only screamed for 5 minutes we said to each other, "He must have been really tired!" Lately he'll cuddle up to us as we're reading and singing to him, and I've found myself often just sitting there...

A: Not wanting to move and end the cuteness?

D: Exactly. What's been even weirder about all of this is that his going to bed better at night has coincided with him being weaned. Alicia's down to nursing him only once per day. We don't dare try to completely stop knowing that we're going on a two and a half week vacation starting on Monday.

So, altogether he sleeps about 11-12 hours at night, and he takes at least two one hour naps during the day.

We recently had his 12 month doctor appointment and first dentist appointment for his eight teeth! Here are his stats:
21 pounds, 14 ounces    30th percentile
30 1/4 inches     62nd percentile
head circumference: 18 1/2 inches     66th percentile

The nurse was pretty sure the nurse who measured him last time, who was in training, messed up on his head measurement. She's pretty sure his head did not grow an inch in circumference in a month.

A: He's healthy!

I found a neurologist that's in the same building as Everett's pediatrician, so we can coordinate appointments. Makes life a lot easier. I had a nasty wave of migraines over Thanksgiving. The neurologist is increasing one of my preventative medications. He warned that one of the side effects I may experience is difficulty thinking of the right word. Aside from being a random side effect, I have enough issues thinking of the right word to express what I mean! Ugh. At least now I can blame it on the medicine.

We are very excited about Christmas. If we don't get to see you sometime this December, have a merry Christmas!

Into Drawer, Helping Mommy, Trombonist

Everett has discovered step stools. Be it me, Dallin's book bag, the printer, or his recent favorite - the trombone case, he uses them to climb up onto and into things or just to have a better reach. 

Today I moved the trombone case away from the desk so that this couldn't happen again. Though I'm sure he could find a way.

 

Everett pushing the broom forwards and backwards- what a helper

 (An improvement upon his usual attempts to eat from the swept-up pile, gross)

So he actually did okay at blowing into the mouth piece, before I started filming. Oh well, it is still pretty cute, even if only because I just love watching Dallin and Everett play together.

smiles, haven, stripping, tractor

 Because you can never have too many baby smiles. And look at all his teeth!

He stacked three jars and they stayed!

Okay, so I know I said last post that we've put limits on his cupboard interaction, but this morning he got in another cupboard too quickly for me to intervene. It appears to be a peaceful place for him to go and reflect.

Somehow Everett came out of his pants on his own. This is after taking off his socks.

While I was trying to quickly finish up this post, I was sitting next to the couch. Everett climbed up me and onto the couch! Next thing I know, the computer I am using has pulled up a new window and letters are being typed onto the screen without me doing anything. It took me a second to realize that he had our bluetooth keyboard. And I thought I had put such devices out of his reach!

Everett is one!, 1st Haircut, etc.

His current favorites: 

eating- especially apples, grapes, bananas, crackers, and cheese

 (He pulled the Triscuit box off the shelf and pulled out the bag and dumped out the crackers.)

Scribbling. 

He drew all over this box from the day it arrived until he was allowed to open it on his birthday. (I helped a tiny bit so if you see a heart or face, those were me, the rest was him) 

Speaking of scribbling, he likes pens. He carries them around with him. He is actually really good at only drawing on allotted surfaces. And he is quite good at holding the pen semi-properly.  

This picture also shows an example of how he likes to get into small spaces behind and between furniture.

 He likes to babble, explore, drum on surfaces, and laugh. He wants any electronic device he sees us using or that is in reach. He loves to play with toys and whatever else he decides is a toy. He likes to stack, pretend to eat, push buttons, push objects around the floor, play catch, take off his socks, hit things with sticks, open/close/turn/lift/slide/twist and otherwise manipulate objects often using other objects. 

He is close to being weaned, close to standing on his own, making progress towards walking.

I just love him and am so grateful to be his momma.

He got this adorable outfit from Great Grandma and Grandpa Marr and Aunt Julie.

 Everett and I joined the Joel and Staci Marr family for a trip to the mall and Spokane falls. Everett sat on Santa's lap at the mall. He reached out for me but didn't cry. So he wasn't quite traumatized.

He succumbed. 

 First Haircut!

Everett's hair was getting too long around the ears and in the back so we had Staci trim it up. Joel would attempt to hold his attention in the direction she needed him to face, and she somehow managed to only snip hair.  Thank you Staci!

He made this face for the camera! I don't remember him ever smiling on cue like this.

You know that cat that Everett wasn't a huge fan of. It likes us, and our car.

We have since put more limits on where Everett is allowed to roam and what he is allowed to get out of cupboards. But isn't he too cute! He looks like Winnie the Pooh.

Oh, and he's a model