Ethan

I have been awful with my monthly updates on the growing boy. I have been awful updating in general. Times will change I hope...

Anyway, Ethan is still our little delight. Well he is not so little anymore (he is 19 months today actually) at his 18 month appointment he was 25lb 6oz (45th percentile) and 33 and 1/2 inches long (just over the curve of 75th percentile). He had to have 4 shots, thanks to missing his 15 month wellness visit. He was sore for about 2 days, didn't want to climb the stairs etc. Poor Ethan.
~ Developmentally Ethan is doing great. He can say quite a few words, thank you, yeah, no, bottle, paci, up, all finished-"Done, Done", down, puppy, bird, fish, cow, kitty, ouchie, better, tooth, breakfast, off, jelly beans, poo poo, tubba, and the regular, momma, daddad, Nannan (nanny), Al (Allison my sister who is also visiting. I have yet to hear him say Cades name clearly. He is so good at communicating. That little pointing finger lets you know his wants and needs and he will nod and shake his head to let you know if you are guessing right.
~ He has started to show a real interest in Cades toys (and this has caused some fights and tears to arise... arrrrggghhh) they for the most part play well together thankfully but there are times where it is not so pleasant and I threaten to put toys away if it doesn't stop. He seems to really have learnt to put sounds to cars, planes etc. Just this week he started to climb out of his crib so we put the bar up instead of leaving it down, we'll see how long it takes him to master the bigger climb!
~ Ethan LOVES dogs. He has about 6 stuffed toys that are puppies and he loves them. He is not often seen without one under his arm. It is cute. He gets so excited to see puppies (real or toy) anywhere, in public, at the store.
~ Ethan is teething... ALL.THE.TIME. He is getting 5 teeth at the moment, his canine eye teeth ALL.AT.ONCE and his top left molar. For this reason he is still our Jekyll and Hyde when it comes to night times. We have yet to have a full week of Ethan not waking at night.
~ He has shown signs of wanting to potty train and has been happy to come sit on the toilet but nothing has been left behind as yet.
~ Ethan is the smiliest little man. We often get comments that he is so happy and always smiling and that a smile is never far away and it is true. He is a spunk!
~ He loves to kiss. He gives smooches and is so affectionate. Sometimes he is a bit of a scrooge with them though, holding out. He also still loves to sit and snuggle which is so nice.
~ Ethan likes to sing, be sung to and be read to. He particularly likes anything with animals.
~ He loves shoes. Will run and get his shoes and socks if he thinks we are going anywhere or if I have asked Cade to get his own shoes.
~ Ethan loves to be out and about. Whether it be outside running around, where he is in his total element or shopping. He is a great little shopper and I hope he stays that way!

We got family photos this week and I got Ethans hair cut pretty short and I spiked the front and on my goodness, I lost my little baby. He is a total little boy. He still has that sweetness of a baby and it is good for me, makes me not want for another just yet :)

We just so love our Ethan. All my family that have visited have an affinity for Ethan, he snuggles, cuddles and listens! Cade just adores him and pacifies him throughout the day. They are quite the little buddies.

*photos to follow*

Meanie

I have two little boys crying at the moment. I have for the last 3 hours put up with said two little boys playing/fighting over an empty tote and I had enough!
I threatened, "Any more tears or growling at each other and I am taking the tote!"
Well follow through I did! Hence the crying and begging faces at the window in the door while I put the tote away!
I am so fed up today, not sure what's the go there, but the tote got it! Early night for little men tonight I am thinking! Yep, I'm a meanie!

P.S. Cade just immerged, "Mommy, I miss boxie! I miss the box!"
Me, care factor of zero~!

Tooting Cades Horn

An update on Ethan is coming...

Cade had his first primary program in sacrament meeting yesterday and did AWESOME! On Saturday I took him to his practise and he was so obnoxious but so were all the other kids, but yesterday, he said his line without prompting and knew it word for word. (He then sat on the stand pointing to his foot tapping away to the songs, rolling his tie or saying his line again and again) ARGH!

I just asked him, "Cade what was your special part in church?" and he states with a huge smile.... "Jesus Christ died for us, but he lives again!" What a spunk!

They had the sunbeams on a little bleacher type stand and I sat in the front row to help the teachers with the kids (mine especially). It was pretty cute though, they were all very proud of themselves and one of the little girls in his class would sway and dance to the songs. She said to me afterwards, "I sure did dance and move to those songs!" You sure did MaKadee!! So cute!

I didn't get a photo of the spunk in all his spunkiness, but I will next Sunday!

My Boy Cade

I have not done an update on my boys in a while so thought it was about time I did so!

Cade is just short of turning 4 years old and at this stage of life, he is a busy boy. He keeps me on my toes, can be sassy, challenging and bossy but is so helpful with his brother, so smart and affectionate. He always asks if he is a good boy, which I worried about at first thinking he thought that I thought he was naughty, but I have since come to realise he wants reassurance he is doing what is appropriate and 'choosing the right'. He wants to please and apologised for having a rough day or being cheeky, usually at the end of the day or when he is getting tired. He has a bit of a temper at times that I am trying to help him learn how to channel. He states, "That makes me mad! That makes me stomp!" and he will stomp his foot. I had to walk away and laugh the first couple of times but since then, it is not so funny. He wakes each morning with a "Good morning mommy, good morning daddy! Did you have good sleepys?" He gets Ethan out of his crib and they come toddling in and climb into bed with us. He loves educational shows and puppet shows. We once went to a puppet show at UW and he has since talked about it and asks me if I remember it and certain other things, like the tall house we use to live at, certain friends etc. He has had a harder time going to class at church since we moved and realises the change in friends. I am hoping we can get him into pre-school or because we might have missed the intake, to get him on a waiting list. He does not like me to try and teach him anything, he would rather teach me. At times it is a battle of wills and that drives me crazy.

Cade loves to sing, loves to tell stories and is very creative with both. He loves showers and riding his new bike! He asks each day, "Where are we going today Mommy?" or "What are we doing today Mommy?" (So like his mother in this regard)

He insists on saying each and every prayer we give and is not shy to do it at others homes too. I love that. Confidence I hope he always has. Cade plays with the same toys each day. Still enjoys his trains and gets distressed if they are not coming together the way his mat goes. No matter how many times I tell him they don't match, he still tries his hardest to get them to. He loves to create with blocks and I will have to get a photo of the awesome little trains he makes from his wood blocks. He LOVES to watch Thomas and Fraggle Rock (Gobo the Rock as he calls it). He also likes Barney (much to Cory's dismay) but redeems himself by liking Phineas and Ferb. He goes through stages of things he likes to watch but I hate that he loves TV so much. I often hear him saying, "Curse you Perry The Platypus!" He has a liking for Astro Boy but when I heard him saying, "I shoot out my butt coz I have guns in my butt!" I have not offered that one since. He has picked up on words we say that I have had to eat my words about, "Crap" being one of them "Stupid" being another. Yep, it's started. I am surprised it too this long really.

Cade is sweet and gentle and loves to have his back tickled. He will tell you he loves you and gives lovely kisses and cuddles (huggles). He barters his kisses and huggles, saying, "mommy if you do such and such I will give you a kiss and a huggle!" He likes to go for drives and to get the mail each day. He insists on helping me clean, with a "Can I help you with that Mommy?" He makes his own sandwiches and knows exactly what is needed. He still loves to wrestle and enjoys most of his food. He is off chicken lately which is not like him to be picky. He will eat each and every piece of fruit in the house if I let him. He is liking to dress himself lately too.

We sure love our boy and he has truly showed us how to love and be loved. We are thankful everyday for our happy, healthy boy!

Surprise Visitors.... A Story

One Friday, after a frustrating and frazzling day, my house was a mess (which these days is VERY rare as our apartment is being shown constantly), I was a mess, I was depressed and feeling a bit defeated when Cory told me the weekend would be better as he had it off (little did I know he was in on the secret). Then as I was sitting at the computer someone poked their head between my blinds and said, "Yoohoo!" It freaked me out. I was thinking, "Did they even knock, I didn't hear it?" Then I open the door to MY SISTER AND BROTHER IN LAW!! I about died. I could not believe it. I cried instantly. What a great end to an otherwise hard day.

Cory was laughing, all my family were in on the secret of my surprise visitors! It was awesome. I had suspicions months ago when Annette called Cory's phone not mine... hmmm but I had since forgot about it so this was 100% a surprise.

We had almost 2 weeks of visiting with Netty and Ronnie and it was so nice. Thank you, thank you for taking time to come to us, for all you did while here and for your friendship and love! We love you and miss you!

7 Years

7 years ago today we made the move from the Hunter Valley, Australia to Wyoming, USA!

The last 7 years have been good to us (mostly) and I feel we have benefited immensely from being alone to start our lives together. That first year was hard, it was ALL new. Not just for me, for Cory, but for us together. We have felt the struggle and pull at times but have learnt from those things too.

I miss a lot about Australia, especially with my sister and brother in law being here (they just left on Wednesday), it reminds me once again of what I do miss. I know Cory misses things about Australia too, just not in the same way, which is understandable. My family always asks (and it has been more so lately), if there is a possibility we could move back to Australia, but I just don't know when and how that can happen any time soon. We really are happy with our little lives in the USA and are excited for what is in store, if that means one day we can be back in the land of Aus, then so be it, but we are not living in wait of that day. I can't. I would go insane. In a lot of ways I do wish that my 2 worlds could collide in a good way and I could have the best of both worlds! I would have loved for my children to grow up being close to my family and their cousins...

Along with this though, there are so many benefits for us living here. America truly is the land of opportunity and we are thankful for all the opportunities afforded us thus far and are excited for the prospects for the future!

YAY for 7 years!

Times Like These

I wish I didn't want for things, like a house, a yard, a patch to call home!

Don't you just want her.... I know I do!!

(this is not the EXACT puppy we visited today and played the possibilies game about {names and all}, but she is the same coloring, her nose is dark like this but she has a little more darkness on her eyes too, she is divine and I know she wanted to come home with us!)

Wellness Workshops

Wanted to extend an invitation to all those that would like to attend!

I am super excited about this and would LOVE to have you there! Just let me know what time slot and location you will attend.

It will be a great chance to catch up and have some fun and enjoy each others company and eat yummy foods too!

Hope to see you there!

This Time A Year Ago...

I was doing this... seeing this...

Yes, suffering from nostalgia...

Cade...

Cade just came out wearing my bra stating, "Look mommy, I'm wearing your boobies"
I laughed out loud.
Life has been pretty stressful, so a lighthearted little boy makes life good again!