Tunnel vision

Evelyn and I have what you can call a very close relationship right now. To put it simply, she's obsessed with me. And I think it's safe to say that the feeling is mutual. When she's cuddling with me (which is often), it feels like we are the only ones around.


We joke that Evelyn is a Little John, but really, she's my Mini-Me -- she goes everywhere I go.

Evelyn was never really cuddly until she was about maybe 11 months old. Right around the time she started sucking her thumb, she started to have these long marathon cuddling sessions with me. I'd come home from work and she'd just settle in on my lap and lean against me, completely still but for the thumbsucking, for a very long time.

Now she's 15 months old, and the love affair (singular obsession) continues. And it's not just limited to the time after I get home. It's basically limited only to her waking hours and when I'm not in the bathroom or brushing my teeth or eating. But come to think of it, she's usually hovering, if not clambering, nearby during those times too.

When she forgets that I'm around, or somehow has had her fill of me, she's content playing and interacting with other people... that is, until I carelessly come back into view!

While I absolutely love being her favorite person in the world, sometimes I feel like we're in that episode of The Family Guy, and I'm the mom and Evelyn is Stewie:



Of course, I exaggerate just a bit here. It's not quite that bad, and most of the time it doesn't bother me one bit. She's been letting go a lot more during parties and gatherings, and wandering around and playing without me. And yet somehow she's probably the cuddliest and most Mama-crazy that she's ever been. But I'm not complaining -- I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

Water baby

Evelyn had her third swim class this week, and with each class she is having more and more fun in the water.

• Class 1: She stuck close to Mama and kept her thumb in her mouth half the time.
• Class 2: Less thumb sucking, less clinging.
• Class 3: She was clapping and yelling at the end of each song.
• (Class 100: Doing butterfly laps up and down the pool?)
  

Here are some pictures from the first class (can you spot Rhea and Paula?).


The class mostly consists of lots of singing with coordinated lifting, dunking, jumping, twisting, rolling, wiggling, jiggling, and even running. Sadly, this is my biggest cardio workout of the week. Even more sadly, it's exhausting!

Here's a video of us running around doing "motor boat" in the pool (as in "Motor boat, motor boat, go so slow. Motor boat, motor boat, go so fast. Motor boat, motor boat, STEP ON THE GAS!!). You can see Charlotte/Nicolas, Paula/Rhea, me/Evelyn, and Mary/Annie zipping by, then some random other people, then the big guy at the end, one of the instructors.



At one point during each class, Big Guy (sorry, I forget his name!) tries to take each little one on a "zoom zoom" with him around the pool. I think Rhea, Annie, and Evelyn are all a bit scared of him. This week, he approached Annie and the look of terror on her face said it all. Wisely, he moved on... to Evelyn. He asked her if she wanted to zoom zoom, and she just calmly but emphatically shook her head. Smart girl, I think.

Hello, holidays!

But before we officially say hello to the Holiday Season, let's say goodbye to Halloween. Evelyn went to her very first Halloween party in her very first Halloween costume on Wednesday. She went as a little schoolgirl, complete with Sue Mills blouse, jumper, and navy blue tights. I still find it rather disturbing that they even make school uniforms for toddlers!

The party was a success for Evelyn. Though it was in the early evening, encroaching on Evelyn's dinnertime, she did really well! Almost right away she was out of my arms and walking around, trying to hand things to various people and wandering around the house on her own. For once, I don't think she got into any toy power struggles with any other kids, and seemed to be just having a good time.

Case in point -- what exactly is she doing in this photo?


Here's a close-up -- it doesn't shed any light:


I had a chance to catch up with friends from my old mom's group, who I don't get to see much now that I'm back at work full time. We even finally got to see Sonia and Greyson -- we haven't seen him since he was about 6 months old!


Evelyn and Greyson have shared some pretty memorable moments early in their lives. Greyson, who is about a month older, holds the distinction of being the only baby near Evelyn's age who is actually bigger than her. I remember one of our first meetings when Evelyn was about 3 months old, and both babies just seemed so incongruously large compared to the other babies (and to their own moms!).



Maybe they recognized that in each other, because they seemed to have a camaraderie right from the beginning and even shared a mutual kiss during their last meeting! (Evelyn kissed first - so bold - and I was so shocked, I couldn't capture the moment when Greyson turned to her and returned the gesture.)


And now look at them, so grown up already... they grow too quickly!