3 months

My little Ethan was 3 months old on the 23rd and he has to be the smiliest boy ever! He is now a definite mummy's boy and if I walk by while he is with dad he watches my every move and if I stop and talk to him he gets so excited and kicks about and gives me the biggest open mouthed smiles. He really is a delightful little one. This month Ethan has

- Discovered his hands and sucks on them when a pacifier is not near or mummy is taking to long to feed him

- Drools, oh my goodness does he drool. This goes along with the hand sucking but it is like he is teething* there is so much drool

- Kicks about like crazy when he is talking to you and bulks out his chest trying to lean toward me to pick him up or when he is with daddy and wants to come to mummy

- Talks and squeals. I got the funniest squeal the other day, he was laying down and I held his hands and he pulled himself up and he squealed in delight, it was SO cute.

- Pulls himself straight up. At first I would lay him down and count, 1,2,3 and pull him slowly to a sitting position and now I count and he pulls straight to standing. He is so strong. People at church today were asking me how old he was he just looked so strong. Little stud!

- Laughs! FINALLY he has started to laugh, chuckle laugh. Cade was always chuckling, really fun belly laughs and now Ethan has started to do the same. Ethan is very reserved in sharing such chuckles but is ALWAYS smiling when he likes something. Lately I have been bouncing and swaying him on my knee and he smiles and gives a giggle in delight. He also loves to be pushed in to the air above my head. He really tenses and laughs at that. Just tonight I was blowing raspberries on his neck and he gave me THE BEST laughs to date! Oh how I love this chuckly stage!

- Been LOVING walks with Cade and mummy. On nice days we get out about twice a day for a walk around the block and Ethan really enjoys it. Sometimes he jabbers away and other times he is perfectly silent and I think he is alseep but not so when I hear Cade telling him, "No Ethan! Momma, Ethan is kicking me, Cade!" It is pretty hilarious.

- Gone swimming for the first time. This last week the weather was nice enough to get to the pool. Cory had 2 vacation days at the end of the week so we used these to get out as a family and went to the pool both days. The first day Ethan absolutely loved it, fell asleep in the pool even. The second day he didn't like it so much but had a bit of a paddle none the less. He is just like his big brother, total water baby

- Flirts! Ethan was totally flirting today with my friend, Hollys little girls. They love Ethan and were sitting behind us in church and Madison her 2 year old talks to him so he totally turned it on and wanted out of his seat so I stood him up and he was LEANING toward both her girls while they fussed over him. What a flirt he is!

I really do enjoy this stage, when your little one can respond with smiles, giggles and jabber. I have always found so much to love about each stage but if I could keep this stage a little longer, I would be a happy girl! I love the recognition that comes with this stage to, when they favor mummy or daddy over strangers. I love that feeding is so much more rhythmic and predictable too (for the most part).

I never will take for granted the blessings of a healthy happy child and I am so very thankful for this and all else that the Lord has blessed me with in what my boys bring to my life and all that they are and hope to be. I am so grateful to be able to be home with them to nurture and love them as no one else can, to see those little things each day that I wish I could freeze in time or have a camera handy for.

*Cade teethed from 12 weeks on... didn't get his first tooth until he was 10 1/2 months old, lets hope it's not the same for Ethan!

23 September 2008 to 11 June 2009

My wonderful, courageous, charmer of a nephew, Kallan, completed his chemo this last week and returned home! We are just so in awe at his strength and ability and shouted a big, "woohoo!" for him once we knew he was able to go home.

His dad, my brother-in-law, Darren has been there with him every step of the way. He has stayed literally by his side these last 9 months and I bet they are just all so glad to be home all together. My sister has had to play runabout between Sydney and home trying to manage home, work and beautiful Shaylie. Shaylie has been a little bit of a star at the house in Sydney and I am sure the whole family will be missed. Life will be so sweet for them to be together and this whole experience has changed them (and all the extended family). I don't think you can go through something like this and it not change you. We are just so proud of our boy and I bet there are some lovely celebrations happening in the land of Aus right now... can you tell I am a little jealous....

I wrote on my last entry on Kal's blog the following,
"Only when nanny had her accident and you were first diagnosed have I ever felt such a strong pull to be with you all! I SOOOO wish we were there for some lovely 'welcome home, you kicked cancers butt' celebrations and more so to give you the biggest, fatest cuddle and kiss ever!! I so love, love, love you Kal, Shay, Karina and Darren!
Kathryn.xx."

I think this was my biggest fear when leaving Australia, was not being there for major events, whether good or bad but life goes on, no matter what side of the world you are on.

I just wanted to write a little something to the wonderful little family that has gone through so much from September 23rd - June 11th!!

Kallan.... I love you more than I can express, I am so, so proud of you. You have shown me how much one person can make such a difference not just in my life and everyone elses lives but in their own life too. Keep strong and always be that fun, sweet, spunky little man you are!

Shaylie.... you really are a delight. Nanny, Netty and Ronnie and everyone have loved having you around all the more when life was busy for Mummy and Daddy with Kallan. You are a star sweet girl!

Darren.... What a man you are! Karina, Kal and Shay are so blessed to have you. You have been an absolute champ with handling all you have. Breathe a huge sigh of relief and enjoy your own bed Dash!! I love you.

Karina.... I so, so love you. You have been pulled in every direction and what a stress for you. I could not imagine having to be away from Kal through much of this and I know it must have been the most difficult thing to go through. Your husband and children absolutely ADORE you. Hug them, hold them close and love them as they have never been loved before.

Aunty Netty and Uncle Ronnie

My sister Annette and my new brother-in-law Ronnie, came for a visit during their honeymoon and it was such a lovely visit. They were able unwind a little from being on the go and Annette and I were able to have some sister time too. This was the first time I had met Ronnie and he just fits in our family so well, he is really easy to get to know, a lot of fun and loves my sister to bits! It really was a great time. I really appreciated that they took time out from their honeymoon to come stay with us as I am sure there were a ton of things they could have used their time seeing but we were oh so grateful to see them and they were able to get a 'bubba fix' until they have a little one of their own.

They were great with Cade and Ethan and we commented on how easy it is to love your siblings children, instant attachment.

Here are some pics of them lovin' my Ethan.