Christmas 2010

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree; how lovely are your branches!

Ethan woke up to Santa having brought him a bunch of Rescue Heroes, Planet heroes and some gear. As if this weren't good enough, there were presents to open!!
Even Milo got in on the action


After so many presents, he started getting a little overwhelmed (I don't blame him) there were so many new things to play with. He'd get a little distracted and start playing. The bad part about this was that we still had to hustle and get over to my parents' house for more celebrations. So we pushed on through runny nose and exhaustion and made it, only about an hour later then planned.
But it was worth it! Look at that excitement!
So many new things! We are so blessed to have friends and family that spoil us (always) but especially through the holidays. Good thing Ethan's only 3, he can't get too used to being spoiled, next year he will have to share.
We spent the rest of the day and evening at my parents' house. We played and relaxed and napped a little and ate, a lot.





That was our Christmas (well, a brief summary of it) hope yours was just as wonderful as ours.

Patience Please

I am so far behind! We have had a little computer trouble lately, as in we can't connect to the internet. As a Christmas present to ourselves, we just (this morning) invested in a new laptop computer! I'm so excited, we've talked about it a lot over the past year but it always felt unrealistic. Then, I found out the computer we were using is almost 8 years old and it just seems to be pooping out on us. With the help of my father we picked one out of the after Christmas ads and went and picked it up this morning. Let me figure out how to upload pictures on here and I'll get Christmas post up.
Speaking of Christmas, it was a fabulous day! I am so so happy that I get to look forward to having another 3 year old at Christmas, Ethan's attitude and perspective about everything Christmas just makes it so much more magical for us. Even my sister (yes, my sister) put up Christmas lights on her new townhouse!! She does love her nephew.
Until next time, please be patient with me.

3 years old is a blur

For some reason, my camera is taking blurry pictures (it could be because my 3 year old will not stand still for more the 1/2 a second)
We had a small, but wonderful birthday party for Ethan on Sunday.
He loved every minute! He is so appreciative of everything these days, and observant. He notices every Christmas light we pass in the car and thanks me for every decoration I put up.

He (and Daddy) wrote his first letter to Santa this year. He asked for Planet Heroes (a Fischer Price action figure line). Hopefully Santa's elves have a good contract with Fischer Price and can deliver.
He had his 3 year old check up on Monday. At 3 years old he is 3 feet, 3 inches and 32 pounds (one more pound and it would've all been 3's). He's still in the 90th % for height and is up to the 50th % for weight.
Otherwise, we're just keeping busy. He's asks every day if it's Christmas Eve, he has an advent calendar from Aunt Linda that he loves, but doesn't understand that while there's still doors, it's not Christmas. So, Daddy had to make an extra countdown of paper links so he has more of a visual. He still asks every day though.

Little Nugget seems to be doing well (about 5" long, the size of an orange). I have been feeling it squirming around for a few days now so I'm getting excited. We have a doctor's appointment on Monday, hopefully the one after that will be an ultrasound, but we (I) still don't want to find out the sex of the baby, we'll see if that changes once the information is actually available.

Happy 3rd Birthday Ethan!

3 years ago today...

We had suspicions that my water broke (yes suspicions, no, there was no "gush")
My husband took me in his work van to the doctor
The nurse confirmed that my water broke, time to go to the hospital
*Wait! He's not supposed to be here till January! We don't even have a bag packed!
Go home, get a bag
Call work (first time calling in during that pregnancy)-guess I was taking Christmas off
Drop off the work van at La Z Boy
Get some Taco Bell
Arrive at the hospital, get checked in, start all the weird drippy things
10:10pm we get the best, early Christmas present ever!!
Weighing in at only 5 pounds, 12 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long. He spent his first 2 days in the NICU and the next 1,093 with us!

Happy birthday Baby

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Every year, having Ethan with us at Christmas has made the holiday so much different then before. This year is no exception. On Thanksgiving we pulled out all of the Christmas decorations, when he came down from his nap he couldn't have been happier; "Our house looks so pretty!"
That night when we got home and he saw the lights it was the same enthusiasm, "Our house looks so cool!" We have spent the nights driving or walking around looking at the decorations and each house, whether it had a wreath or was fully lit up, was like the first one he'd ever seen. Its like magic. Last night we drove to my parents, I think my dad was trying to get away with no outdoor lights this year (they have new siding and you really don't want to punch holes in new siding) but as soon as we got there; "Papa, why you no put up lights?" Yeah, I think those lights will be up soon.
Today, despite the cold and wind and snow we went and got our tree. We always go to the Heidrich's Colorado Tree Farm Nursery, which is family owned by some very close friends of ours, and have always gotten wonderful trees.



Yes, he is in his robot costume. I love putting up the ornaments, it's my favorite part, looking at each one, remembering when you got it.
When E saw the tree all finished he was so happy, he told me "Thank you Mommy this is so pretty." I told him "Thank you for loving it" and he said "I didn't decorate our house, you did, thank you." I love this kid.
Then they bundled up and he and Daddy went sledding.

P.S. Nugget is doing great, we heard his/her heartbeat at our last appointment. Appetite has gone down, but that could be because I've had a nasty cold all week.

Toddler Talk

Yesterday I took Ethan to Target. When I was getting him out of the car, the sun hit him in the eye. This is what he said:

"Really sun? Really? You bright, go down so I can talk to moon now."

Yeah it really happened and I laughed. He is so funny, this is one of the many moments he makes me laugh.

Pictures, pictures

Photos by Samantha Kelly taken in Ute Valley Park.

Day Off

I love Mondays, they're the day that we get to spend together, the three of us. Today, per Ethan's request, we went fishing. The weather has been amazing so we took advantage of what could be the last nice weekend. I forgot my camera, couldn't remember where I put it. So, I'll just have to tell you about the fish Michael caught, and then released on my "orders." He really had to work for the little guy, he wouldn't bite and Michael wouldn't leave. Fortunately for our pal he was a little shy of the legal limit, and Mommy is not going to eat fish, so he was set free.

After fishing we hit the park for awhile and then I went grocery shopping, needless to say, I'm exhausted!! I get tired walking up the stairs and this was a full day. I think Ethan and I will share a bedtime tonight.

Speaking of feelings for "nugget," sometime last night Ethan grasped (for lack of better term) the concept that there's a baby in my belly. At first he got confused and tried to look in my mouth, then he put his hand and head on my belly and made Michael do the same. This morning he tried to share his Cheerios by putting one on my belly button. He keeps asking me if its a boy or a girl, and to get it out so he can play with it. I have to tell him it'll be a long time before that happens, it's only about an inch big right now. He's such a sweet boy, I know he'll be a great big brother.

Trick or Treat...

Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat
If you don't
I don't care
I'll pull down your underwear!

Ethan has been singing this song for the past few weeks, getting ever more excited for Halloween night. Who, you may ask, taught my sweet, loving almost 3 year old this song? I know most of you answered "Daddy" but think again, Grandma taught Ethan the festive chant that he loves. It's pretty funny though so its ok.

We trick or treated around Grandma's nieghborhood (and got a few full sized treats).
We made it up the street to the first intersection when Ethan decided it was time to go back.
"Ethan don't you want to keep trick or treating?"
"No, my bucket's full, go back to Mama's house."
So we did, we hit most of the houses on the way back. And here's his loot:
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!