Easter

(original post 4/3/10)

Easter was pretty fun this year because Carson could understand the concept of the easter bunny a bit better. He wanted to make sure that the easter bunny could get to our house, so we made him a sign.

(my sisters will probably cringe at the site of Carson's jeans. He ALWAYS looks like this after playing with "chalks"!)

After Ethan went to bed, we worked on coloring eggs. Carson loves crafts so this was right up his alley. This year we had tie die eggs. The ones we did with the kit turned out pretty cool!

The easter bunny didn't miss our house and brought the boys games, play dough stuff, books, movies, bubbles, and a bit of candy and baby friendly treats. He also hid some eggs for Carson to find. This was hilarious for Chris and I to watch because...well...Carson can miss things right in front of his face!

Example:

We were trying to give him hints for an egg sitting by the hot water knob on his play kitchen. So we said, “Hey why don’t you go wash your hands in your kitchen." Carson said, “No I don’t want to." So we encouraged him to go again. He goes and washes with the COLD water. We told him to go back and wash with the HOT and he says “No, that’ll burn me!” He totally didn’t get it and washed right next to it without seeing it. Eventually he went over there, found the egg and realized what we had been trying to get him to see! :)

Aside from the easter bunny activities, we tried to impress upon Carson why we actually celebrate Easter. I know his 2-year-old brain can't wrap itself around the idea, but he liked reading the books we had for him and talking about the Resurrection.

I don't have any pictures, but we had visitors over for Easter dinner. A friend Pat from basic training/tech school was in town so we had him over, as well as our good friend Brant who was bacheloring it up that weekend. We all had a good time.

National Kite Festival

(original 3/27/10)

Flying kites is fun, but there is just something really neat about hundreds, if not thousands, of people flying kites all in the same location. That's why I love the National Kite Festival. I was incredibly bummed out that Chris had drill the weekend of the event this year. There was no way I was going to take both kids into the district by myself. That's why Camille rocks! She's always up for an adventure and doesn't mind tagging along with an old married person with kids like myself!

We started out with the "little guy". An owl... so cute right? Carson was incredibly excited about the whole thing. He loved looking at all the kites and chasing after them, but wasn't too interested in flying one himself.

After awhile, Camille pulled out the "big guy". She even made it fly despite claiming she's never flown a kite before! But...eventually it got caught in another person's kite. Apparently she still needs a bit of practice and maybe a bigger, less crowded field.

I mostly hung back with Ethan and watched the excitement! Thanks for heading out with me Camille! Hope we can all go back again next year!

Foreshadowing?

(original 3/9/10)

Carson and I have been looking at a book of international temples that his lovely Aunt Michelle gave him recently. The other day he looked at it at nap time and throughout the day and then again before bed. Each time he'd look through the book he seemed particularly interested in the Tokyo Japan Temple. That night before bed he said "I'm going to get old soon mom and go here. (pointing to the Tokyo Temple) Go here when I get older like Daddy."

Think he knows something?

First Born

Original 3/21/10

Incase you thought I forgot about my first born son, I didn't. He just doesn't like me taking pictures of him these days. But, when I DO force some pictures out of him, this is what I get. One decent shot out of the bunch-but I DO love all his faces-they are all so classic Carson.

Stuff Carson has been in to lately:

-anything art related: color, paint, cut, glue. His papa would be proud of the way he holds his pens. (I know the pictures aren't the best)

-playing outside with chalk ("chalks")

-going to the park and "pumping" on the swing

-play pretend

-improving his vocabulary

-and of course-help me cook, clean, or as of late-do the laundry

A few recent "carsonisms":

I’m going to do x “soon”. J Are you going to finish your yogurt? Or dinner? “soon” he will say.

The other day we were making pancakes and he said, “We made pancakes when Grammy came to my house. Yea.. that make-a-me so happy when grammy came to my new house.”

We were walking outside today and he saw a little puppy and said, “I like the little doggies mom.” I told him that we used to have a little doggy and asked if he remembered him. He said “Yea, Chaco. He ate grammy’s house.” Then did a biting sound. When we lived with Grammy she had showed Carson where Chaco chewed on her wood trim on the stair landing. At least he remembers those things rather than him being bit. Today (3/9) is the 1 year anniversary of Chaco’s death L

Fingernails are “nail tuts”.

Playing with chalk is “we played chalks”.

“What’s dat soundlike?” instead of what is that sound?

He turns everything into either cooking or a train track. He’ll shower with us and has to bring his bowls in to cook because the drain looks like a stove element. Our blinds have holes running up them for the strings and he’ll call them train tracks. Or he makes tracks in the carpet.

A week or so ago he was taking a bath and “cooking stuff” when he said “dat prolby done?” I said sure. Then he thinks for a minute and goes “um.. na… quite done.” Then he’s playing for a minute and goes… “nope.. perrrfect!”

Sitting on the coach after a nap looking out the window he turns to me with huge eyes and says “I dust saw a HUGE bumble bee out in mine doorden! It’s eating all my flowers!”

Lately he has been pretending that he is going to college like a Steve does on Blue's Clues. He'll ride on his little tykes truck and can't remember the word college so he asks me "mom, where I doeing to?"

Hicksups (hiccups)

Hockdogs (hotdogs)

Chepup (ketchup)

Polks-a-docks (polk-a-dots)

He sure is fun!

Yummy Birthday

Original 3/19/10

Camille is trying to give me a few pointers on making cakes. When I gave her this cute cake stand, we immediately decided on how we would christen it. Seeing as how our birthdays are only 6 days apart, we figured that would be a perfect time. Camille has been a long time fan of this chocolate peanut butter cake by Smitten Kitchen and I HAD to try it. We (and by "we" I mean "I") devoured this cake in 2 days-it is THAT good.

Aside from making the cake, we hung out, played a little Band Hero, had Chipotle for dinner, and went out to a movie. It was a fun day!

Brotherly Love

original 3/18/10

Ethan 8 months

(original post 3/15/10)

Ethan's monthly photo sessions with his monkey are getting pretty entertaining.

Later that day I attempted to get some photos of him in an outfit I love and *wanted* professional photos taken in for his 6 months "birthday", but that never happened.

On to this month developments. The biggest development is mastering sitting up. (Love the curled over toes!) He's *almost* there with completely no support. But there are enough falls, that I usually put the boppy behind him. I believe the last time I posted about his sleep habits, it seemed like he was making progress towards a more firm routine/schedule, however, that quickly went out the window. Naps are all over the place-up 45 mins, down 45 mins, repeat all day long. As frustrating as it is, it's been nice to be able to run errands as we please because if he falls asleep in the car, he's not interrupting any set schedule we have going on. Nighttime sleep is no better. Most nights he's up 3x's or more. I'm exhausted! He's starting to babble a little bit and is gaining more of a little personality. He absolutely hates to be left alone in a room. He's quite content having me hold him everywhere I go. I'm NOT so in love with that one :) He loves to have his fingers in his mouth and is eating 2 meals and a snack a day. In other news, despite our best efforts to keep him clear of germs and others that are sick, he got his first cold this month. We're still waiting on insurance to approve his synagist shot (RSV). I still find myself cuddling him extra long at night just thanking our Heavenly Father that he is here with us.

How old are you again?

(original post 3/9/10)

I remembered Chris' birthday, but apparently not his age! I *think* I got the right amount of candles on there. Carson helped blow them out. (ha-now that I look at the picture better, I think we missed lighting a couple candles!) I made this version of a strawberry shortcake (usually Chris' birthday request). I've got some cake decorating skills to work on. Aside from all that, I believe Chris had a pretty good day and that's what matters. Happy Birthday Babe!!!

Ethan 7 months

(original post 2/15/10)

With all the events involved with the move, I never got around to taking the monthly photos of Ethan at 7 months. However, my dad snapped a few before we took off for VA. Not much new stuff to report on him. He's just working on sitting up! Love this little boy's smile!

Choot Choots

(original date Jan 30, 2010)

Carson's obsession with trains has not died. Aside from cleaning & cooking, trains are his favorite. He'll turn anything into a train track. The side-walk, checkered store floors, any two lines that run somewhat parallel to each other. He'll ask me to tell him a story or 2 or 3 at night and he always wants them about various colored trains-usually named daddy. (we miss daddy!) One of his favorite activities he likes to play at grammy and papa's house is "big train". He'll persuade anyone who is willing to "tome on his [my] big train". He'll then grab some keys, and take you to the front set of stairs. Usually he'll take your ticket, punch it, then hand it back (he's always the "ca-duck-tore"). Then he'll direct you to where he wants you to sit (very bossy-you'll either sit right next to him or at the top of the stairs which is the caboose). He'll call out "awwwl abard" and proceed to make the chugga chugga sound over and over again. Sometimes you'll help. Then he'll slam on the breaks and yell out "Dop da train! Dop DA TRAAAIN! Draff (girraffe) (or a leaf, or a tree) is on da track!" Then he'll ask you to go get "x" off the track. You'll oblige. The train will take off again and the fun continues. During Christmas I think he convinced most of the cousins to participate. It's fun pretending with him, but when he wants you to play all day long, it gets a bit old... and loud!

Grammy had the great idea to hit up the Ogden Union Train Station before we headed out of town. She willingly offered to watch Ethan for me so Papa, Carson, and I could have some one on one time. (Plus it was still cold out.)

"You can't get anywhere without coming to Ogden" was what I learned. In 1869 Ogden became the junction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads which meant that all passengers, cargo, and baggage, changed trains in Ogden as they traveled east or west and then later north and south across the nation. The station is no longer functioning, but now houses a few museums, gift shop, and a restaurant. We enjoyed looking at the old retired trains outdoors as well as an indoor train museum complete with a huge toy train set, as well as a brief visit to the gun museum.

We walked up and down the outdoor trains, climbed on and in them, and heard real active trains honking in the distance. Carson wasn't too enthused while we were there, but couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. My dad took some great shots. Here are a few...

"Ah! Mine'd heard a train toming!"

Name and Blessing

(original date 12/25/09)

The day after Christmas we finally had the opportunity to gather as a family and officially give Ethan his name and a blessing. Both our families were able to join us for such a special event. Chris gave him a beautiful blessing which was followed by some catching up over a chocolate fountain spread. A wonderful evening to celebrate such a special life in our families around such a special time of year.

Yes, my eyes are totally blood-shot and the veins in my forehead look like they are about to burst-I totally cried at the end. It was so nice to have our families around and all together. Our families who each, in their own way, helped carry us through the past 5+ months.We are so thankful to have such supportive families that were willing to drop everything in their own lives to help ours. So although I said it that night, I'll say it again-thank you. Thank YOU. Thank you.

"He looks Surprised!"

Not sure it's a compliment-maybe more of a "matter of fact".

We've been getting it a lot lately as we've been out and about. I certainly think he's cute :)

**see how he doesn't really HAVE eyebrows, but he HAS eyebrows??**

Feeling Weird

Yup...I'm feeling weird. This is the first time in 4 years that I am NOT training right now for the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, UT. :( And is it weird that when I hear about my dad and sister's runs that I'm a bit jealous? But, when the time came to sign up for the race I had no idea when I would be moving or where. All I had was the hope that I would be back with my family by then-I had to forgo the opportunity of running in it again. So this year I'll be cheering for my family... again from the sidelines in another state :( GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

Side notes: I've trained for the race the past four years, but have only raced in it twice. The first year I trained I got what I believed to be a stress fracture in my foot after I did the 12 mile training run while visiting Chris in San Angelo, Tx when he was there the FIRST time ;). I probably could have run despite it, but I worried about doing more damage and it was forecasted to rain. I'm such a wuss. The second year I "ran" it at 6.5 months pregnant. The third year I wasn't pregnant and didn't get hurt. I got to run it with Chris (as well as my family) and it was a blast! The fourth year... well... I trained the best I could (and was doing pretty well might I add) until my body started to fail me and the pregnancy. So I decided it was best to keep Ethan tight and not run. The events of this past year have made it so that I have hardly been able to run. I can't wait to start back up again!!! I hear song on my ipod from all my training runs and it instantly brings me back to a happy place. Who would have thunk that running could make me happy ? :)

BUT... I'm excited to FINALLY spend some time with this guy. To actually be together for our birthdays and anniversary without illness, surgeries, or anything of the like hanging over our heads. I've missed him! (look how young we were)

And to spend some time with these 2 little guys...WITH their dad! (ok... I admit.. Ethan looks a bit funny in this pic, but Carson looks so handsome I had to post it!)

And I can't believe that THIS is just around the corner. Sooo many fun things to do!!!

I'm a big kid now!

this was back in Oct when he was on a good streak. We got him a "little" potty

in hopes that it would help him want to go more. It worked for awhile. **ok...that thing on the floor.. is his SOCK... get your mind out of the gutter!

don't you just love kiddos in their skivies? I just want to pinch

his little hiney all the time!

I think we can say that Carson is officially DAY potty trained! It's been an on and off thing since about Feb/Mar of '09. At that point he frequently asked to go potty and would willingly go whenever asked. Then we travelled to UT and that blew it for awhile-he'd only go here and there. Then Ethan came. Since we've been a bit more settled though, he's had a few promising streaks and then regress again.

About a month ago I decided that he really was ready to do it, but he just didn't have any motivation. So I kept telling him that when everyone left after Christmas we were going to work on becoming a big kid so that we could move to our new house. He'd talk about it off and on. Right before my sister Megan left (the last person to leave) she had a FABULOUS idea to give him more incentive. He is SOOO into trains right now. So this was the plan. Make multiple "train ticket potty charts" on 3x5 cards. Call them "Carson's potty train tickets". Get a bunch of star stickers to fill in the chart with. Start with just a few squares on a ticket and build up from there. When a ticket was filled with stars he could turn them in to me to "pay" for some sort of prize. I got a loot of train/transportation related prizes to choose from (Thomas coloring book, cup, plate, placemat, and silverware with trains on it from the $1 section in target, set of play keys, small playdough set, etc). I also got a thomas book-one of those annoying ones with the noisy buttons on the side. I have never purchased one before, but we figured we'd make this a book that he could ONLY look at while on the potty. I can handle the noise if it means he's working on going potty. The rules were: sticker for every #1 in the potty, #2 in the potty, and waking up from naps dry. A prize for going #2 for the first time (this go around).

Late the next morning (not having shown ANY of this to Carson yet) I was changing Carson's diaper and when I went to put a new one on, he told me "no diapers. Underwear. Move to new house.". Ok, I probably gave him some sort of lasting complex with that one (bad mom!!!). Anyway, we jumped right on it. He sat on the potty and went both #1 AND #2! So we quickly made a "train ticket" and showed him the loot that he could choose from for going #2. Then he got to put his stickers on the chart. He was SOOO excited! It's been over 3 weeks now and aside from a few accidents here and there, he's going potty like a champ! #2.. no problem! Going in public... no problem! Staying dry during naps... no problem! (they're only 1-1.5 hours though-not too hard!) Telling me when he has to go potty... MOSTLY no problem Not needing stickers or prizes for over a week now... no problem! Now if we could only get him to undress/dress himself......

I'm so proud of him! Now let's just cross our fingers that he doesn't regress when we move!

Ethan is 6 months old!

**I've decided to just blog. I've been held up with blogging about the days leading up to Ethan's birth and all of the happenings thereafter. I still want to blog about them for MY sake, but it may take awhile to do it all. In the mean time, I'm only getting further and further behind. **

I find myself quite reflective of all the events surrounding Ethan's birth when we approach his monthly "birthdays". It's hard to believe that 6 months ago our lives were turned completely upside down and inside out. This little baby entered our lives and has forever changed us. He's sweet and precious to us in every way. I've enjoyed holding Ethan a little longer over these past few nights-squeezing him tight and just thanking our Heavenly Father that he is here with us. That he survived the pregnancy. That he survived those first few days of life. That he not only survived, but is perfectly healthy and thriving in every way. Things could have been completely the opposite-we have truly been blessed.

I haven't taken Ethan in for his 6 month apt yet, so I'm not exactly positive of his stats. But we did have a weigh in recently and he weighed 14lbs! Where that is on the scale, I'm not exactly sure. It's off of the preemie charts, but less than 5th percentile on the "big boy" charts.

-Ethan is always full of smiles

-He can say a lot with his eyebrows-especially for not really having any eyebrows

-He sucks on his fingers quite a bit. I'm pushing the binky. I don't want him to be a finger sucker like I was!

-He holds onto toys and brings them to his mouth easily

-He still rolls from tummy to back (he started this at 7 weeks old!!!!)

-He starting to roll from back to tummy-gets to his side and then is stuck

-He likes to squeal and laugh when his fingers aren't in his mouth

-He is working on finding his feet more

-He still loves the bath

-He loves to be nakey-he can be in a full out cry and you start stripping him down and he immediately smiles. Start putting his clothes back on and the crying starts again.

-He has started to consolidate his morning nap. He generally takes 4-5 naps a day still. Short morning, 2-2.5 hour late morning, 2 shorter naps in afternoon and evening sometimes another if he wakes early or something. Bed is usually at 7:30pm and he will sleep until 2-4am sometime, eat, eat again around 6:30 and sleep until 7:30-9am. Not completely impressive compared to some of my friend's babies, but still much much better than Carson ever was!!! (thank you Ethan!!) Although, any mom knows this all changes as soon as you announce it. So I'm sure in a few days he'll start waking up all night long ;)

Sean, our early intervention specialist, only gives good reports for Ethan. Just last week he said that it looks like he is starting to bridge the gap between his adjusted age and birth age! Yea. He's starting to sit-although very wobbly at this point and has become more social and aware of what's around him. Both of which are developmentally closer to the 5 month old range then 3.5-4.

Another example of him bridging the gap is that he is eating cereal! I hadn't planned on starting solids with him until at least 8 months (adjusted 6 month old age-which is the AAP's recommended starting age), especially because of all of his tummy/digestive issues he's had, but I figured it might help fill in a little where I can't quite meet his needs. (My supply has taken a major nose dive over the past month-most likely due to pumping so long at the beginning.) He seems to really like it and to my surprise has done quite well with it-no major tongue reflux. Yea!! We'll likely take it slow-do rice cereal/oatmeal for a couple of weeks then move on to the homemade stuff.

Happy half year littlest dude. We're sure glad you are around!

December was a rough month for us. So I didn't take very many pictures. But here are a few to satisfy you for a bit.

1/2 a year old!

(see those eyebrows?)

and for comparison...

1/4 year old!!!

I like food!

ba da da da....

(again.. the eyebrows)

Happy New Year!

I realize I should have done this BEFORE I sent Christmas cards out, but... well... life happened... as always!

I've had to take a break from catching up blogging, but haven't forgotten about it. Just too busy with everything else going on to gather my thoughts and get it all done. So for now, hang tight. Our family is doing well and plans are underway to be together soon!!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! We're hoping for a very low key, un-eventful year!