Slobber and Love

I got to babysit my favorite Phoenix Nephew yesterday. Evan came to spend a few hours with his Aunt Micah while his parents attended some religious facilities in Mesa. I was really looking forward to it, and he certainly didn't disappoint. I am rather partial to Evan, after all. And not just because he has the most beautiful blue eyes and longest eyelashes, though those things don't hurt one bit.

We had a blast during his stay. I showed him around our new house and got some decorating tips by way of him growling. Such a boy...he growls! Soon, however, Evan was rubbing his eyes and yawning (I guess no tough guys are really that interested in home decor). I laid him down in a quiet, dark room at the end of the hall (with a properly-functioning ceiling fan, thank you very much). I soon realized that he was being too quiet for sleep to be happening! I peeked my head in the door to take a look and cracked up laughing as a result. He was repeatedly kicking both legs high up in the air, then down at the same time against the soft mattress of his Pack-N-Play (Judo Chop!). Because of such rigorous movement, the blanket had ended up covering his chubby little face. I went into the room to put the blanket back in its rightful place around his body and found a huge grin underneath the blanket! He was having the time of his life kicking up his heels...literally! It melts my heart when that boy smiles. He repeated it all again five minutes later, so I decided he wasn't tired enough and got him out to snuggle (or, more accurately, to play with manly electronics). His Uncle John was setting up the theater room and found an Oldies station on Pandora via the Blu-Ray player. Apparently, Evan likes rocking out to the Oldies. Who doesn't? It tuckered him out to enjoy such good music, however, and he was soon ready for nap time.

His parents were able to enjoy a lunch out as well and arrived while Evan was still fast asleep. I didn't want him to leave and even invited him to spend the night (from the back of the house, I heard my husband say, "Oh no he doesn't..."). Evan will be back tomorrow when we are hosting a family dinner to welcome back into town his cousin and aunt after their summer out of the heat. I refuse to let cute related babies leave town for a summer again. She leaves for two months and starts CRAWLING? Never again, I tell you.