Bout time for an update...

This little boy is.....

...ROLLING!!!




...EATING!!!




and having a great time being spoilt with cuddles and loves and constant play with cousins!!

Ethan seems to have grown in leaps and bounds the last 2 weeks. It just amazes me. He is trying so hard to pull his legs under himself in order to crawl. My goodness, do things happen quickly! He is a noisy little one and squeals and growls and chatters. His new thing is to wake in the night and make this growler noise which to me sounds like Chewbacca (good thing he is not as hairy, good thing he is so stinkin' cute as he wakes more here than at home.

He gets very excited to see me and loves then attention from his ever doting cousins and Aunties! He is one spoilt boy.

Cade has been a treasure. The poor boy is exhausted at the end of the day especially when a nap has been missed during the day. He has been in the wars and has been getting hurt easily when tired but he is a tough little mite so soldiers on. He just loves his cousins and it is hilarious, when he forgets their name he calls them honey. He says, "Hey, honey, honey... what's wrong?" when they are done playing with him. It is a crack up. We all get a laugh out of it.
He had a sleep over at my sisters last night, which wasn't planned but he wanted to stay when we went for a visit in the evening and he was a good boy apparently so I am glad for that. He is really comfortable here which I am so grateful for. He has been asking the last 2 to 3 days for Daddy and to 'go to Cade's house' but other than that, there haven't been any melt downs as yet in that regard. Daddy is very, very missed, not just by the boys but me. Oh how I miss him.

The flight over was... L.O.N.G!! 27 hours of travel all up and by the time I got some sleep, it had been about 37 hours or something since I had slept. CRAZY!! I was feeling it. I got a whole hour and a half the whole flight (15 hrs). It was not fun. But we did it. I was so exhausted when I got off the plane and when I saw mum I just about cried. I swore I was never doing it again! Too bad I have a flight home right!! It is amazing how your perspective changes with a good shower and some one to take a baby from your sore, tired arms and that a cooped up toddler can run outside to his little hearts content.

I have been busy shopping and chatting and catching up with my sisters and their families. I was particularly teary when I got to see Kallan. I held him like I never have before and just couldn't take my eyes off him. He is a dead set champ and I am thankful he has a clean bill of health and got through his cancer treatment! What a blessing to ALL of us! Here's to continued health for him.

Wow, this was way longer than I thought... more to come!!

Surprise Visitors...

...all the way from Tasmania!!!

Thursday mum had me thinking was our 'quiet, stay at home day'. The sneak had been tipped off that my good friends Tim and Helene and their cute kids were flying in and driving up to see me.



TALK ABOUT SURPRISED!!

I could not believe it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TIM AND HELENE. I just loved, loved, loved seeing you. Time has not changed us at all I think!! Just a few kids in the mix now, you know how it is!! hehe

Cade...

...has a concussion! BOYS... what do ya do with 'em?

*He was climbing trying to get to his candy that daddy had put at the top of the stove and we hear a huge BANG followed by some little boy crying. Cory even heard it in the shower with the fan going. He was super lethargic and his eyes were dilated so off to the doctor... again... sure enough, a concussion. He walked in the door after going to the doctor with daddy and lay down by my feet and fell asleep on my foot, poor little boys I have!!

ARGH... control I do not have

Well... Ethan and Cade both came down with runny noses yesterday and I simply thought it was allergies seeing as we have been in and out of the house, between hot and cold etc but last night was AWFUL. Ethan was miserable with his sinuses and couldn't seem to breath properly. I got up to him twice an hour until 4am and then I was just exhausted and Cory took over. I took them to the doctor this afternoon and Cade simply has a bit of a cold but poor Ethan has a double ear infection! Right in time for a HUGE flight too. My poor baby. He is choking all the time on his drainage, has a runny nose and weepy eyes, a fever and all this with a double ear infection! Poor darling boy.
We have him on antibiotics and will have a quick follow up on Thursday to see how he is doing and if the doctor isn't happy with how he is doing, will give him a stronger antibiotic. He was due for his 4 month shots but we are delaying them until he is healthier, but the doctor wants these before we fly out so we'll see how quickly he heals.
I am a huge worrier, and I try to control as much as I can but this is something I obviously could not predict or control so now the worrying has set in. I worry about his little ears on the plane, the fact that we are travelling for 24 hours and 17 of these are in flight. I just hope and pray that he will be so much better before then and that we can get both our boys healthy and well and that they stay that way!!

Things Happening...

Big things have been happening this last month. We had a great 4th with Cory's family in Colorado. Jesse (Cory's brother in law) went through the Temple. We have spent the last few days in Utah. The 24th we spent at the Hinckley parade and visiting with the extended family.... and yesterday Jesse and Alisa were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple! YAY!!
We are so proud of them and it was a beautiful ceremony. We then made our way back to Taryn's where we were staying, for a luncheon for Jesse and Alisa. It was so nice to visit with all the extended family there. We are home safe and sound after some sleepless nights, a kidney stone attack ala Cory and me feeling 'not so hot' last night and part of the day today. Ethan and Cade were fantastic travellers. Ethan was an AWFUL sleeper the first 2 nights but did great last night. Cade didn't get naps both days so slept like an absolute champ each night. They are both sound alseep and I have pretty much unpacked everything.... now for the MOUNDS of washing.

This week I am busy packing, packing, packing and preparing frozen meals for a lovely hubby that is home bound while I am lucky enough to be holidaying in Australia. I am stressed to say the least, about the flight and travel with 2 little ones on my own but I hope the stress is undue and that all goes oh so smoothly!!

Something spunky for the boys...

For your chance to win the pattern to make this oh so cute and spunky "Downtown Boy" jacket just click on the link and post a comment.

Toni is AMAZING! I have no clue how she finds the time to do all she does. She did this little beauty while in labour I believe. What a woman, so efficient! She has so many wonderful creative patterns out and I just love this jacket.

Here's to a big shout out to Make It Perfect

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.

Growing, Growing

My little Ethan is one growing boy! Today we had his 2 month appointment and he is 13lb 4oz and 24 inches long (80th percentile for both) and has a head circumference of 40.5cm (50th percentile). He is still my chubby bubby and I just love it. He still has a head of dark hair and I hope he keeps this as I love it. His Dr thinks he will be more olive toned too, lucky boy!

Ethan has started to really talk and jabber and smiles all the time. He really is a happy little man and we are so blessed to have such a happy baby join our family. He has shown some signs of favoring me this weekend and I just loved that! Cory would be holding him and if he could see me he would want me... nice once in a while but the novelty will wear off quick if it continues I think!! He has started to suck his fist this week particularly and he follows you with his eyes when you walk past him and really enjoys cuddles. He is such a lovely little boy.

Cade is still wonderful to him and ever so helpful. He really is a good big brother to Ethan and you can tell he loves him. I can't say I have really seen jealousy in him, just a frustration with having to share attention and this is always directed at us not Ethan thankfully. He has dealt with the change really well considering and I am just so glad to have both my boys!

Here are some pics
I love, love this photo!!

Sucking his new found fist

Tried to catch some smiles...