Where's the flood?

Yesterday we did some school shopping for Evan. He was very helpful--every item I held up for him, he said "put in cart". Yeah, thanks. But he did choose which colors of things he wanted, so I feel like we got some things he'll like to wear. He's actually getting picky about that stuff, which is so funny to me. For example, he rejected every pair of shoes I offered, so we'll have to look elsewhere for those.

The new clothes were purchased not a moment too soon--I had Ev put on a pair of last spring's jeans today and they fit fine in the waist but were over an inch too short. He looked so goofy. I can't believe he's grown so much in just a few months, but I guess it can happen right under your nose. I put a 3/6 month sleeper on Grady tonight and it's almost too short. These boys, they grow like weeds.

We also spent part of our day yesterday at Lisa's house. Evan played with Cole, and Grady cried at baby Evabelle. I had high hopes that they would fall in love at first sight, but I guess that's not quite what happened! It was a nice afternoon though, and Lisa and I actually got to chat a little bit while we nursed and rocked and policed the kids. Ev and Cole got on well, especially because Cole is more of a leader and Ev is more of a follower. It was good--Ev needs other kids to engage him, as he's still not confident initiating things himself.

One thing happened though that has really stuck in my head. At one point, Cole turned to me and said, "He doesn't talk right. He doesn't talk....normal". I was surprised that a 3 year old was able to point that out, and I explained to him that he was right, Evan can be hard to understand and he's had a hard time learning to talk. But that was the first time another child has noticed that Ev was different.

That was tough for me--I got a glimpse of how things might be for Ev once he starts going to school with "typical" kids. I wonder if he will be made fun of, or if he will be able to make friends. Cole was perfectly fine about it. He didn't stop playing with Evan, he didn't tease him, and I can only hope other kids will be so good along the way. But I wonder if Ev feels it too, if he's so aware that he's different and that's why he keeps to himself so much.

But all this is still some ways away. We've still got another year of preschool ahead of us (six more days until the first day of school!) and I know the Ev of today is not the Ev we'll be sending to kindergarten next year. He's changed so much just in the last six months, who knows what is ahead for him? Let's hope it's nothing but good things. Either way, he'll have some nice new shirts to wear when the good things come.