Happy Birthday to Me!!

It's my first birthday! I'm going to celebrate with mama in the morning, Grandma Mary, Great Grandma Lue, and Great Grandpa Glenn (it's his birthday too!) during the day, and daddy in the evening (mom has parent-teacher conferences). It's been an amazing year of learning and growing. Mom and Dad can't wait for year number 2!

Feeling Nostalgic

With the approach of Ethan's first birthday, I am feeling remarkably nostalgic lately. Of course I am remembering how uncomfortable I was these last few days, being overdue (my due date was the 18th and I had him on the 24th). And then I think about being in labor, and how even though it was super painful, it was also amazing. I have been looking at pictures from the day Ethan was born and I still can't believe he came out of me!!!! He looks so incredibly huge! The whole thing is such a miracle.

And I get to celebrate Ethan's first birthday by being at Parent-Teacher's Conferences this Thursday. Kind of a bummer.

Anyway, I also wanted to update you on all the fun things Ethan has been doing now that he is approaching a year. He is so fun to play with and loves to laugh at mommy and daddy. Sometimes we have contests to see which of us he thinks is funnier. He really gets a kick out of mom's karate impression when Ethan supplies the "HI-YA" for me. Daddy also cracks him up, especially when he arm wrestles with him.

Ethan's language is starting to take off. Of course, no one but mom and dad knows what he's saying, but we are sure he is understanding what things are, and that they have names. Here is a adult-to-toddler language index in case you visit in the near future.

Orange = "Ooooo"
Banana= "Ba"
Cracker = "Cacka"
Cockadoodledoo = "Cocka" (similar to cracker, but we know the difference :)
Duck = "A-duh"
Roar! = "Wooow"
Hi, Mama, and Dada are also in his vocab.

He loves to play in the kitchen. There is a cupboard filled with plastic items just for him and he takes them out and plays whenever mom is working in the kitchen. Finally, one very funny game he just discovered this morning was putting the animals from one of his toys in mama's mouth. (Luckily I have kind of a big mouth!) He brings it to me and inserts it in my mouth like he is feeding me, and then laughs when it disappears and magically reappears. Oh, we know how to have fun around here!

Birthday Fun!

We've got balloons . . . .

And a cake made by mommy . . . .
And 2 birthday boys! . . . . It must be a party! Since daddy turned 41 yesterday, and Ethan will be turning 1 on Thursday, we decided to celebrate with daddy's side of the family today. It was so much fun!
Ethan got his first taste of cake, and was pretty excited about it.
He even got presents! He loved this sprinkler from Aunt Shelley, Uncle Jason, Andrew and Camryn that he can use this summer! He also loved all of his other presents, including the inchworm he can push or ride on from Grandma and Grandpa.
Here is Ethan with his party guests . . .

Family Fun . . .

On Sunday, mom, dad, and Ethan spent a fun family afternoon at the mall! Here we are eating at TGI Fridays - Ethan decided to try on Daddy's "Rookie Dad" hat.

On Monday, Grandma and Ethan spent some time playing at the Family Resource Center. Thank you, Grandma, for taking these cute pictures!! Ethan loved all the new toys he got to play with!

Cozy at home

Mom and Ethan are home together today. Last night mom took Ethan's temp. and it was 104.5! I pretty much freaked out . . . . but then I called and talked to a Dr. who was surprisingly calm about the matter and just told me to give him Tylenol. At about 10:00 last night I decided I would stay home from work today to be with him, which was a good choice since we were up with him a few times in the night.

Today, he is doing fine. His temp. goes up and down between doses of Tylenol, but he doesn't seem to be acting too fussy or sick - although I think he looks pretty pale. Anyway, I am happy to be home with him to make sure he's OK.

Here is a picture from this morning depicting Ethan's new found hobby - watching the neighbor's dog "do his business" outside. He LOVES that dog, and can only get a good view from standing on the kitchen counter and looking out the window. Mama stands by and narrates . . ."The doggie is digging in the snow! The doggie has black ears! Look at the doggie wag his tail!" I have yet to inform E. of what the doggie is actually doing out there!

Here are some pics from Sunday of mom, Grandma Mary, and Ethan out on a walk in the snow. Ethan decided after about 20 minutes that he did NOT want to be in his stroller anymore and threw a fit! So, grandma and mom took turns carrying him . . . not a fun job with a baby who's at about 30 pounds!

Mama's Girl's Weekend

Mom had a little Girl's Weekend get-away in the cities this weekend. It was a wonderful, relaxing evening with her close friends. We went to a comedy club, out to a couple fun restaurants, and stayed in a hotel. We also got in some good shopping!

While mom was away, Daddy and Ethan had some fun boy time together. I couldn't believe how BIG and OLD Ethan looked when I walked in after just one night away. He is looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby these days.

Happy New Year!

Ethan wishes you a happy, healthy 2008! He, mom, and dad hope you are "feelin' great in '08!" That is our motto around here.

Ethan just has one New Year's resolution . . . .to listen when mom and dad say "no". I know, looking at this picture you'd never believe it, but our little 11 month old can be a stinker!! He definitely has a mind of his own! (but that's what makes him soooo lovable as well!)