Need to Update

I got the hint Netty....

I'll give you this to tide you over...

Ethan 13 Months

I have a lot to catch up on with blogging...

Ethan is now 13 months old. He has really grown in the last month. He is walking and trying to run from me. He has become playful and independent in a lot of ways. He finally cut a tooth and it is still a lonesome one... you can see about 4 or 5 more wanting to peek through, just no show at this stage. I think the only reason he even cut this one tooth, which is his top right, is that he bumped his mouth twice in one week and I think it cut his gum which allowed the tooth to come on through.

He bit me with that little toothy today and all the boys (Cory included) got a good laugh out of that. Ethan likes me to look for teeth now and giggles with delight when I do. Good thing, I check as I check it almost daily.

Here are a few news worthy things about our Ethan boy...

~ Yep, he's walking and does fantastic at it
~ One toothy peg, top right
~ He gives kisses by tipping his head toward you. Initially it was a 'lazy' kiss as he didn't want to take out his pacifier, but now I say, "Kiss, Kiss?" and he leans toward me for kisses on the forehead usually. I love it! Very sweet.
~ He still loves his bottles and still wakes once in the night for one
~ Ethan is a talker. He responds really well to questions, with a "Yes!" "this" etc. He also lets you know when he wants something, usually food that Cade has with a protesting yell out that I have forgot him.
~ He is a smiler. He gives the cutest of smiles and I was looking at him in the rear view mirror today and he was so sweet with his smiles. What a happy little soul.
~ Ethan loves his tongue. He clicks with it and blows raspberries. Just today I caught him checking himself out in the mirror moving his tongue about and he got all embarrassed and mad at me when I spotted him.
~ He loves stuffed toys. He cuddles and loves on them. When he wakes from a nap, he points toward a hidden paci he wants and then his love that he took to bed or that Cade made sure Ethan had for bed. It is super cute.
~ My boy is happiest in a routine it seems which I am totally fine with. He likes his own bed and takes 2 naps a day. Just lately he has woken early and we have brought him in bed with us and he will sleep for another hour or so. BLISS. Cade did this all the time as a little bub and it was lovely. Ethan is an early bird and we had hoped for some sleep in time like this. Not sure it will last as he hasn't done it in the last 2 days...
~ Ethan's favorite foods are fruits. He loves oranges, grapes and watermelon. He loves pasta and peanut butter sandwiches. Ethan is such a messy eater, but so enjoys to feed himself and he will not eat without a fork.
~ He still loves cuddles and snuggle and loves to be read to.
~ Ethan is quite the little dancer. He LOVES music, if I sing to him in the shower or something, he hums along with me. If I have music playing he will bop up and down and hunt me down to pick him up and dance with him too. If he doesn't like the song, he stops, if he likes the song he will bop along. If I stop and he does not want me to he wriggles and shakes himself until I do it again.



Ethan boy with baby cousin Kinley

Settling In

On Monday we bid farewell to our little home. I truly loved that place and it was our home away from home. It was the longest Cory has lived in one place, ever. I am a person that needs to 'unpack my bags' and although saying goodbye to friends who are like family and familiarity is difficult, I find it just as difficult not to allow myself to embrace the new and move on not just in the literal sense. To move somewhere I somewhat knew has been easier on me. I know with the 'big' move it won't be so easy but I am hopeful and have faith all will work for our good.

By Wednesday we were pretty much settled in. Cory is going to be doing up our place while we are living here so we don't have anything hung on the walls in anticipation of the caulking and painting that will be happening shortly, but other than that, we are feeling at home. The boys seem to be enjoying the change. Cade was a bit distressed at first until he saw his new room and realised there was all his belongings, funny boy!

Cory started work on Wednesday and seems to be really enjoying it. He really likes the people he works with. In the evenings he does some study for work so that during the days he can be utilized. He is seriously a champ. I just love him.

The boys and I have kept busy. We have tried to get out each day. We went to the library yesterday which was fun, Cade was in hysterics, cracking up laughing at the puppet t-Rex that burped the alphabet during story time, it was pretty funny. Ethan is just as happy as ever. He just potters around the house exploring and enjoys the cart at shopping. We are all happy and healthy and couldn't ask for much more.

Graduation

Well, he did it! Cory graduated! 7 years, a change of majors 2 years into it and calculus that kicked butt and he is done!

He looked SOOO good up there and it was a proud moment for us all.

Graduation was great. The speeches were great and it was a fun and personal atmosphere.

Cory made some great friends who he graduated with and I sure hope those friendships continue.

He started work today and should be home any time now. I am not sure of his schedule as yet so any time now could be in 2 hours... I am excited to see how he enjoyed his first day.

Much To Do

Well, I have been slack... again...

Things have been hectic and I have a lot to update and blog about, but life has called and we are busy getting things sorted and cleared for the move on Wednesday. Then it is knuckling down and getting the final cleaning done before family arrives this weekend for graduation. We are excited... nervous... stressed.... but thankful and healthy.

In The Know...

Just so you are 'in the know' we are pleased to announce that our little family will be moving on.

Cory was offered and accepted a job and gave his notice yesterday. We had been keeping this private and remained in limbo for some time as we wanted to do right by his current employer and now that they are in the know....

We are excited for a new adventure but are nervous in the same respect. We will make a smaller move for 6-8 weeks training and then we will be placed anywhere in the region covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. We would be happy with any of these places but would be up for a change.

Cade is super excited and keeps asking if today is the day we move to our new house. That day will not be until Mothers Day! Mothers Day? Really? Such is life!

Needless to say, graduation weekend will be super busy with family here and us madly packing last minute things and doing final cleaning and then a baby blessing on Mothers Day... busy, busy.

We are happy and healthy and thankful for these blessings and for having a good job and a place to live. I personally am so thankful for a husband that worked his butt off not just in school but out of school to support our family and for his honestly and integrity. I truly admire him.

Mama Career - Sunny Mummy

I often read this blog and I so enjoy it. I love that she is upbeat and oh so sunny! I love that she has a Thankful Thursday, something I would love to try my hand at, not just having a day to be thankful for all that I have (usually that is my Sunday), but to document it too. I love that she is a fellow Aussie! I have subscribed to her feed and enjoy her thoughts so much.

She has a great post today and I just personally loved it.

How True....

I found this story and it just so rings true and speaks to my heart....

Sometimes we wonder, "why are things so difficult?" or "why/how long do I have to struggle with this particular trial?" Here is a wonderful explanation...

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong. She feels inadequate as a mother to her young children and wife to her sweet husband; she can't seem to stretch their income; and she doesn't feel like she connects very well with her friends.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a piece.
"Absolutely, Mom! I love your cake!"
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple of raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the Mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are put together in the right way, and in the right time, they make a wonderful cake!"

Our Heavenly Father works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. He know that when we go through these thing all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will make something wonderful!!

Twins

I have been busy organizing photos and folders etc and found some similar photos and thought I would share them.
Me

Ethan

Me

Cade

Happy 7th

Today is Cory and my 7th wedding anniversary. I sure love this man and am so glad he is all mine!


Daddy and Cade

Daddy and Ethan