Baby's First Thanksgiving

As the bib says(not that you can see, though), this was Ethan's first Thanksgiving and we celebrated by introducing cereal. Over the last few weeks, we have been checking to see if he was ready by bringing our fork or spoon to his mouth as we were eating dinner just to see if he was interested and would open his mouth. He hasn't been the least bit interested and would sometimes even make funny faces or curl up his cute little nose.

Well, my Mom was here for Thanksgiving and she was holding the baby as we were eating dessert. She remarked that he looked interested in her plate. I told her what we had been doing, so she brought her fork close to his mouth and as she did he leaned forward, opened his mouth, and attempted a big bite of coconut cake! My mom quickly took her fork away from his mouth, but he did such a good job that there was a piece of coconut dangling from his lips. I certainly did not want coconut cake to be his first meal, so we quickly mixed up some cereal for him try. He was pretty interested in the first few bites and looked completely adorable with it all over him. So much for holding out until he was 6 months old!

Fall Fun

The weather outside has been perfect the last week or so. While I am at work, Ethan spends his days with Ms. Kristin who loves and adores him. She entertains him and plays with him all day long. Here lately, they have been spending some time enjoying the fresh air as you can tell by these cute pictures. Hopefully soon, I will be the one taking these pictures and not missing all of this precious time with my baby boy!

Having a Blast!

Ben snapped these pictures this morning---after I went to WORK! I totally missed out on the fun time and the giggles as he played in his exersaucer! Of course, the mornings are the most exciting times of Ethan's day and now I must miss them every day. This has been my first week to return to school after staying home with him for 4 months and it has MOST definitely not been an easy transition for me. It is so hard leaving him knowing that I am not going to see him until the end of the day when he is winding down.

Don't get me wrong, he is in fabulous hands while I am gone and Ben has just begun working from home every Thursday and Friday so he now has extra time to spend with him. While I am thrilled that his every want and need is being met and he is getting tons of love and attention, I am saddened by the fact that he is not getting it from me. I want to be the one showering him with attention every day. This is my first week back and I am so thankful that we only have one full week until Thanksgiving holidays!

5lbs 15 oz

I went to see baby Aubrey yesterday and she is absolutely beautiful! Looking back, the unbiased Mommy in me can say that my Ethan was born with a jaundiced little squished up face, but at that time I thought he was the most handsome and perfect baby God had ever put on this Earth. Now I know that he didn't become the most perfect and handsome baby until now. Little Aubrey does not have a squished up face and is not jaundiced. She weighs 5 lbs 15 oz and is so tiny. What is amazing about this is that this is the exact same weight Ethan was when he came home from the hospital and even though it was only 4 months ago, I can't remember him ever being that small. Aubrey fit in 1 arm and although I am sure that he did, too, it just seems like it was so long ago. I just can't believe that he has grown so much in such a short time. Isn't it funny that even though my last post had a picture of him in his carseat when he came home from the hospital at that same weight, it took holding little Aubrey for me to truly realize how much he has grown! Is it crazy that I am already thinking how sweet it would be to have another one that little again?!?! Way too soon, I know!

This Is It

Ethan arriving home from the hospital at 2 days old.

Ethan at 16 weeks getting dressed after bathtime.

My baby boy is 17 weeks old today and this is it. My final day of being a full-time Mommy. This has been the most wonderful almost four months that I have ever known. There is a joy and happiness like no other that comes with parenthood. Each day is a new adventure watching Ethan grow, laugh, and be fascinated by his surroundings. He is perfect in every way and now I completely understand the rude people that I have heard say, "Oh, if you don't have children then you can't understand." I couldn't imagine ever saying that to someone, but there is some truth to it. Before he came along, Ben and I were different people and I must admit that we allowed our jobs to create our identity. Now that Ethan is here my world has been forever changed and as much as I love being a teacher, that title no longer holds my identity. Ben and I both wake up every morning and our first thoughts are about our son.

I must admit that I have done a lot of growing up with Ethan over the last few months. When he first came home from the hospital, he was so tiny and I was a little afraid of how I would handle being a new Mommy. But in the weeks after he was born, a new confidence and pride developed knowing that I was the person he relied on more than anyone else in the world. Of course, being the sole provider of his nourishment might have a little to do with that. The love that Ben and I have for this precious baby that God has allowed us to care for and raise is indescribable.

Ethan and I spend our days playing together, talking to each other, reading books, and dancing together. It is so sad to think that Monday morning will come and someone else is now going to have all of the time that up to this point has been Mommytime.

Pumpkin Patch

I'm a little late getting these posted, but we ventured out to the Pumpkin Patch on Halloween morning with Leigh Ann and Alex. Trying to get the perfect timing between feedings and naptime is not easy, especially when the first Pumpkin Patch that you visit had NO pumpkins. So, we load back up and try another Pumpkin Patch. This one was much better! After trying to figure out how to prop up a baby that is too little to sit up by himself, Ethan finally got tired of giving smiles, but he was very interested in all of the little pumpkins.

I was really hoping that he would lean up against the big pumpkin behind him for just a few seconds so Daddy could snap a quick picture, but not so much. It's amazing how easy it is to get them to do things at home, but when it is showtime all is forgotten!

And this was the way our morning ended...a little tired of everyone messing with him. That's what we get for thinking that a picture with him and Alex would be just precious. He was asleep in my arms before we even got back to the car. Alas, no terrific Pumpkin Patch pictures but we will try again next year.

The Stare-down

The other day, I caught this picture. I was cracking up! It was hilarious watching Ethan and Lucy just stare at each other. You could just see their thinking. Ethan...Wow, I can't wait to get a hold of her! Lucy...So I guess he's not going anywhere and I have to get used to him taking up all of Mommy and Daddy's time.
It's great watching the two of them start to connect to each other. Lucy loves to come up and lick him and every time Lucy walks in front of him, Ethan just stares at her.

This is the most perfect age! Ethan is starting to reach for things and play with his toys(with help, of course). The other day, he was "playing" his piano all by himself! Everything is so engaging and he gets the giggles all of the time. His little face lights up and he is so excited at the littlest of things. He is talking all of the time and now he loves to grunt. I LOVE hearing him talk, it truly is the best sound that I have ever heard!