The Great Outdoors 2010, Take 1

Is it really that bad?

Ethan was literally running away from home. Don't worry Daddy caught him and brought him back.

The suitcase is a new addition, in preparation for our trip which is less than 2 weeks away!!! It is currently being used as a stand in diaper bag, figure the kid can start hauling his own baggage.

Its not even close to spring time here in CO but we took a small hiking adventure to enjoy a decent day of weather. I can't wait till we can really get out there, Ethan and Milo were both great!!

This is the "No! I don't want to go home yet!"

Boo!

Birthday

Thank you to my wonderful family, all over the country, for the wonderful birthday I have been having this year. The partying started last night with a dinner at Old Chicago's, then cake and ice cream at Grandma's.
Ethan really, really wanted some cake. He is a big fan of birthdays, his, mommy's anyone's that involves cake and presents
Papa, need I say more?
Michael got so mad, he kept trying to take candid pictures and I wasn't having it. Hey, it's my birthday!
This is what I woke up to this morning: (actually I almost missed it, that's what no coffee can do to you)
Inside the present was a membership to the YMCA, we had been going for awhile until I got laid off last December and that was the first luxury to go. This t-shirt was in the box too
So of course we decided to go swimming this morning, Ethan DID NOT want to go:
(I know I'm mean) but once we got in he was fine, and then we rounded up all the ducks
Thank you again for all the birthday wishes and gifts, I'm looking forward to the rest of my day. Including some shopping, dinner and probably a few glasses of wine.

Whirlwind

I don't know where to begin this post. I was hoping to slap together a quick update on how we're doing, things Ethan is learning, and the like; but there's just so much! I swear everyday the boy does something to amaze me. Whether its telling me a story, using his imagination in ways he never has, or just how he interacts with other kids, our world is constantly changing.

Some pretty important things in our world are:

• Superman
• Robots
• Guitars and drums (so far a lefty at guitar)
  
• Yo Gabba, Gabba (never seen it? You probably shouldn't unless you have a small child)
• Thomas, or any trains
• Watching videos of ourselves
• Running (proceeded by say "Mark, set, go!")
• Tools
• Singing and dancing (he sings to me "I love Daddy" or a rock version of "Mickey Mouse")
  
• Eating, all the time (I don't know how I'm going to afford him and his daddy when he's a teenager)
• Cars, the movie
• Jumping
• Grandma's house (any time we get in the car he asks to go to "Mama's house")
• Cousin Madi (any time I get a picture he runs over yelling "Me look!")
• Rock n' Roll
• Hiding

And I know there are so many more things that are going on that you all would love to know about but the list could just go on forever and ever. This stage of parenthood has definitely been trying for us. But on that scale it has also been the best, the interaction, understanding that Ethan shows is astonishing. I'm always excited to see what tomorrow brings but am trying to stay in the present, we won't have this for too long and I know I'll miss it when its gone. When I look back in two years, I won't be bogged down by the tantrums or stubbornness, I'm an optimist and will remember the happy days and the funny little things he does.

Clean Shaven

If we're going to let Ethan draw on a goatee: you better believe we're going to teach him how to shave:

Story Time, by Ethan

During a lunch of grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup, I was entertained by Ethan's first story.

Ethan, pointing to his sandwich: "Pop out, pop out."
Mommy: "You want me to pop the cheese out?"
Ethan: "Pop out"
Mommy, as I am prying open the two pieces of bread so we can see the cheese: "Is this what you want?"
Ethan: "No" but seems content with looking at the cheese
Mommy and Ethan go back to eating lunch. A few bites later...
Ethan, while looking at his cheese again "Man in, man in"
Mommy does not understand and keeps eating
Ethan: "Man in, man in"
Mommy: "There's a man in your sandwich?"
Ethan: "Yes"
Mommy: "What is the man doing in there?"
Ethan: "Eatin"
Mommy: "He's eating?"
Ethan: "No no eating"
Mommy: "He's not eating? What's he doing"
Ethan: "Seat"
Mommy: "He's sitting down? What's he sitting on"
Ethan: "Cheese"
Mommy: "There's a man in your sandwich, sitting on the cheese and not eating?"
Ethan: "Yes"
Lunch continues but Ethan does not eat his sandwich.

Belly Button

Baby Madalyn's little belly button nubbin fell off today and I am reminded of what happened to Ethan after his fell off.
Oh yeah, gross I know. It's called an umbilical hernia, the inside didn't close all the way so the fluid would leak into his bee-bo. Fortunately it healed up on its own and no surgery was needed.And a little something for the newest addition to our family:

Happy 2010!!!

What do you do when your son sees a picture of his father with a goatee and wants one too? Easy, you break out the eyeliner and draw one on!!

Zoo Lights

With Ethan's enthusiasm for Christmas lights this year we thought it would be fun to bundle up and head over to the zoo before they took all the lights down. It was a lot of fun, looking at lights, he didn't want anything to do with the animals, which is consistent with the last trip he took with his grandparents. He didn't even want to go in the giraffe or mountain lion houses.

"I'll take the lighted ones over the real tonight"

Very tall baby giraffe, E was reaching up to pet it

We had to point out every color

This elephant was much more fascinating then the 5 lions behind us

We got hot chocolate and Ethan earned the new nickname of "Choco-chin"

In the belly of a tiger

Boxing kangaroos, he said the one on the left is mommy and the right is daddy

For Auntie

The best part of visiting the zoo, a tractor!!

and then we just let him drive home

Coming to a Town Near You

Super Ethan!!! Defender of the innocent, fighter of crime and all around good guy.



Evil doers beware