Videos of Ethan

Until I have time to update you on all the going-ons of our family over the last two weeks I'm posting these videos...



There are also new pictures on the flikr account (just follow the link on the right).

Bye-bye!

So Ethan has begun to wave back at people who are waving at him. The first time he did this was at Carmen's house and I got really misty eyed. Sometimes you have to get him started but it is still really cute. It is also so neat to see him begin to communicate with us with his hands. He still does the sign for milk every once in a while but I can never tell if it is on accident or not. Anyway, tonight we were reading "Hand, hand, finger, thumb" (a classic dating back to my father's childhood) and we came to the lines: "Bye-bye, Jake. Bye-Bye, Jack." All of a sudden up shot Ethan's arm and he waved at the book. Adorable! That was the first time that he responded to just the words and not someone actually waving at him.

Also, he has been drooling like crazy the last couple of days and my finger has confirmed that the second top tooth is making it's way out. I'll try to take pictures at Easter of those top toofers.

Mawmaw, Pawpaw, Nanny, Nathan, and Matthew should be here tomorrow. Exciting!

Visit and diapers...

Ethan and Poppy

Ethan at Market Square

Well, my dad decided to SURPRISE me and he came along with my sister on her trip up here. We really did have fun while they were up here, even though the majority of our trips around town were classified by dad as "girly". We did make a trip out to Market Square with the dogs and that was really a blast. Sadly they had to leave this evening but we will see them all again in two months when Danielle graduates. While I am sad about them leaving, I can focus on our next count down for visitors: 3 days until my Mawmaw, Pawpaw, Nanny and cousins come to visit.

While Danielle was here I read an article in Parents magazine about the benefits/drawbacks of cloth diapers. It mentioned a new hybrid type of diaper that has a flushable or compost-able pad with reusable covers and liners. Now, whether these diapers are better for the environment than cloth is a hotly debatable topic but I'm intimidated by cloth and this seems like a good compromise for me right now. Besides, every diaper that does not go into a land fill makes me feel a little better. Anyway you can find more information about them on their website. They are really cute and you can buy everything you need at EarthFare in Turkey Creek (here in Knoxville). If you would like to know more specifics let me know....I'll share what I have experienced so far.

4 days till Danielle's visit!!

I'm so excited about my sister's upcoming visit!!!!! (I know that that is a ridiculous use of punctuation, but at least I didn't put the whole sentence in caps:)

I also wanted to say to be thinking of me as I travel to Nashville tomorrow and spend my first night away from Ethan. I'm really nervous about it...I know he will be in more than capable hands, but they aren't my hands and that is a strange feeling.

Also, an update on Carmen is that she is on perpetual bed rest. Her mom is in town this week so I know she will enjoy her company immensely. Her next ultrasound is on Thursday. Continue to pray for her and Justin's peace with whatever God's will is during this time. Thanks!!

New Things!

I feel like that could be the title for every new blog entry. First, I apologize for not having new pictures, but I don't want these two new things to go unrecorded. My Pawpaw called the other night and of course he asked me, "Is he walking yet?" Ha! I told him that he wasn't walking, but he has been pulling up on his knees. Well, I wasn't off the phone for more than 2 hours when I look over, and what is Ethan doing? You guessed it! He was standing in front of the fireplace. Well, that didn't take long! Oh well, time to lower the mattress again...

For the second new thing, Ethan has at least one top tooth that has broken through. What is funny is that I saw it on accident. I got him up from a nap and noticed that he was a little extra drooly. "Do you have a new tooth?", I asked. I didn't really expect to find one, but then there it was!! Tonight his little gums were red and the other tooth looks like it is breaking through as well. I think these top ones come in four at a time, so we'll be on the look out for the other two.

I promise to post more pictures soon!

First Hike at 8 months!

Well, Ethan officially turned 8 months today! I know he is not smiling in this picture, but it is hard to smile with the sun in your face (more on that later).
I can't believe it has been eight months already. We have enjoyed him crawling all over the house. He is really good at finding things we didn't even know were on the floor. "Look Mommy, I found this paper for you. Oh wait, first I need to see what it tastes like." If you noticed in the picture that he looks a little different, but you just can't put your finger on it.....I chopped all his hair off. This was not my first haircut but it has been my most extreme. I told Philip that there are several good things about me having this spoof at this time:

1. He doesn't have peers that will make fun of him.
2. I'll have plenty of time to perfect my skills before he does.
3. His next portraits at Sears are a month away.
4. It'll take a LONG time before his bangs are in his eyes again.

It took me a whole day to get used to this new look. It's crazy what little bangs do for a little face. For a couple of hours I just kept telling Ethan I was sorry and that he looked like a balding old man. I was successful on the neckline though, so that's good.

Okay, about the hiking. Today we went on Ethan's first hike at House Mountain. It is a state scenic area that is just 20 minutes away from here. Philip and I had not been there before so it was neat to take Ethan and the pups for a day out of the house. The weather over the last couple of months has not been good for playing outside with a baby, so today's sunny weather was the perfect excuse to go!

As we were getting ready to go I got out a hat for Ethan and his new pair of glasses from Blaise. He fussed a little as I was putting them on but then he was okay. Well, when we got the trail I decided he probably didn't need the glasses, he could just wear his hat. Oh, what a sad choice I made! Not a mile down the trail Ethan was hatless and we didn't notice where or when we had lost it. Worse yet the trail was sort of a loop so we never found the cute little hat and that is why Ethan is having trouble with the sun in his eyes at the top of the mountain!


Let me say that prepping to go on a hike with a baby and two dogs takes more effort than you might think. We actually left the house with no diapers or extra bottles for Ethan (I packed one in the dog pack but no extras)! What was I thinking? After a trip to Walgreens for sunscreen we had to circle back and pick up a diaper bag. The trail was hard for the first mile (as you climb UP the mountain), but the second mile was basically flat on the ridge and the last mile was downhill. You always think that downhill will be easier, and it might be for your lungs, but your ankles and knees are a different story. It especially becomes more difficult when an 80 pound dog is trying to show you how fast she can get down the mountain! Philip was also having problems at the end with the Snugli not really having enough padding (or any hip support) for a three mile trek. Well, here is a cute picture of Ethan about half way through the last mile:All in all the prep-work was worth it. The dogs get so excited the second they hear thier collars' distinctive jingle and Ethan didn't utter a single cry throughout the entire trip (even though at one point he hadn't eaten in over 3 hours). He was just so entranced by all of the nature it was cute to see. It especially reaffirmed Philip and I's believe that he should, and will, be out in nature as much as possible.

I guess that's it for now. We are looking forward to our upcoming visits from family!! Danielle (Auntie) is planning on coming up weekend after next and then my Mawmaw, Pawpaw, Nanny, and two cousins are coming up the weekend after that!! I don't know if I can prepare a meal that compares to all the crawfish they'll be missing for Easter at Aunt Eleanor's, but I'll try! Maybe Mawmaw will even bring up some tails and we can have crawfish fettuccine or étouffée!






Mmmmm, now I'm REALLY excited!!




An update on the Baba's: Carmen is still on bed rest and will go for her next ultrasound on Wednesday. If you know Justin and Carmen (or if you don't) please pray for the successful outcome of this pregnancy and that they will have the Lord's peace through these stressful times.