October JCP pics

I just realized today that I could download the photos that JCP took of Ethan at 1 week old. I know you all received birth announcements but I thought some of these pictures were cute enough to post!!

Gearing up to go back to work...ugh!

Yes, unfortunately I have to think seriously about the topic of putting my brain to work again for a 40 hour work week. I of course have mixed emotions about the whole ordeal because I love my time with Ethan, but I do look forward to a bit of adult interaction besides the very few hours I see Dave at home. So, starting actually this morning, I woke up with Dave as if I'd be getting ready for work and I'm now trying to work Ethan onto a schedule so it won't be a total interruption when we start the whole daycare ordeal. I've been working on a night routine for about a week now, where Ethan gets his bath and then we read a book and then try to go to sleep. Everything I've read is that babies do better with routine, etc. So, I figure I better get it in gear. Here's a few pics of Daddy doing the bedtime story...Ethan looks fascinated with the "Big Red Barn" book!!

Exciting new toys

Over the holiday break Dave and I put together Ethan's jumparoo, which I had gotten as a shower gift from my co-workers. I wasn't sure if he'd be able to use it just yet since he's not sitting up by himself, but the seat actually fits snug enough for him to sit in it without any support around him. He's still a bit short to reach the floor, but Dave being a smart engineer put a pillow under Ethan's feet...ha ha. Soon enough he'll be going crazy in his jumparoo I can imagine. He was very smiley with all the sounds, lights and music to entertain him.

Ethan also got a cute little bug toy from Grandma and Grandpa Hughes, which he likes to hear the noises and see the little thing light up. He was quite smiley with the toy as well - although it's so hard to be quick enough on camera to get all the smiles. He's actually doing a lot better at grasping things to try to put them in his mouth. Oh boy, here we come with the "everything goes in my mouth" phase!

Merry "Flu" Christmas

Dave and I had planned on having one of the most memorable Christmas Days ever (being the first one with Ethan and all...), and we definitely got what we "planned" for as far as memorable goes. This year we headed to the Hickman side to spend Christmas Day. We were all dressed up in Christmas colors to be festive and Ethan was wearing a cute little outfit. About an hour after we arrived bearing gifts to celebrate, we were leaving with a car full of still wrapped gifts headed back home, as Dave came down with what was one of the most HORRIBLE cases of the flu! So, sorry to say that there are no exciting Christmas Day pictures to share. I almost took a picture of us in our pajamas, but I didn't figure Dave would've been too keen on the idea of posting a picture of him feeling miserable. I still plan to get a picture of Ethan surrounded by all his gifts once we finish all our Christmas celebrations (we have 2 more this weekend), and that will have to do for this year's Christmas. Luckily, Ethan won't even remember this first Christmas! I'm sure next year will be much more exciting!

Hosts with the Most

Dave and I hosted his family over on Sunday to watch the Bears v. Packers and just to hang out. BTW, what is up with the Packers losing to the bears twice in one year!!! Ugh!

Anyway, we had a nice time visiting with the whole family, as Dave's grandparents also came up from Urbana on Sunday and stayed overnight with us. Luckily for Rowan we've started a nice toy collection for her to play with.












In some of these shots, she almost looks like she wants to show Ethan how exciting the toys really are. Can't wait until next year when the two of them can interact a lot more.









A few shots of Ethan with Mommy and Daddy. He wasn't so keen on taking a nap, and since Dave and I kept taking turns with him upstairs to no avail, we opted for the pacifier and a nap with mommy on the rocking chair in front of the fire.











Finally, a good shot that Grandpa got of Ethan just hanging out in his chair

Meeting more Family

Dave's sister and family were in town for Christmas this year. We hadn't seen them since February when we went out to Philadelphia to meet our niece, so it was great to see them all again! These are photos of the first meeting of the family. I was amazed at how gentle Rowan was when meeting Ethan, she's only 14 months old and she was as gentle as can be when she tried to touch him! We went and got formal pictures taken of the cousins and families while they were in town also, which turned out GREAT! I don't have any proofs or anything, so you'll have to take my word for it. If I think about it, I will scan a few in once we get them back in a few weeks.

Grandma Hickman wore me out!

Grandma Hickman came thru for Mommy last week when she had a Christmas party with her work friends. I had such a good time that I had to nap on Grandma and slept for 2 hours in my carseat (on the way home and even after Mommy took me inside). Thanks Grandma!

Six years ago today..

Dave proposed to me! I just thought of that, so thought I'd share! What a great husband I have - I honestly can't believe we're coming up on our 4 year wedding anniversary! I'm lucky to have such a great guy to spend the rest of my life with and have a great family with!! Okay, I won't get too sappy - I'll save that for him personally. :)

Santa Sighting...and his little helper elf!

Last night Dave and I took Ethan to my Dad's karate school to see Santa. Ethan was the honorary first kid to sit on his lap. It was quite cute that Ethan and Santa were dressed alike!! Uncle Patrick also made sure that everyone knew Ethan was his nephew. Here's our family Christmas photo from a few weeks ago..

Bath Time Fun

So, I realized a few days ago that most parents take pictures of their kids in the bath tub to embarass them in the future. Plus, Ethan got a very cute robe that we haven't even put him in yet. So, we got a few pictures of him tonight while taking a bath and in his spiffy sea creature robe!!











I brought Ethan to my work today to show him off. I have to say, I was a little nervous that he'd cry at some point, but he did very well. He only got a little grumpy when we first got to work, but after a little food, he was back to his charming self. Some of the guys on my team were pretty impressed by his toots he let off as well...hilarious!

Winnie the Pooh

Ethan wore his Winnie the Pooh outfit today...a gift from my friend, Sara. He looks so cute in it!!

On Saturday, Dave and I took him out to get some Christmas shopping done, and even ate at Chili's for lunch - overall he was pretty good being that we were out and about for almost 5 hours. We were proud of ourselves for venturing out with him thru all the crazy shopping traffic.

2 Months Old!

Ehtan's "unofficial" 2 month picture (it was actually taken yesterday but he had an awful cute outfit on!) vs. his 1 month photo!













Ethan turned 2 months old today and I can't believe how much he's grown! We have his doctor's appointment tomorrow to officially get his weight gain and growth. Silly mommy has been taking the tape measure out to try to get his height, but he's a Mr. Figit sometimes, so I can't usually get an accurate measurement. The poor little guy has to get 4 shots tomorrow, which I'm not looking forward to (and I'm sure he wouldn't be either if he knew what was coming). But, I have to look at it as something that will be beneficial for him.

Ethan has had his first babysitting experiences in the last week. Grandma Hickman helped me with him last week while the workers were coming in and out of our house to fix all of our 1-year warranty work in the house. Grandma Hughes came yesterday to watch him while mommy had a doctor's appointment and then we went Christmas shopping in the mall for a little bit. Then, Grandpa Rochford came over today to watch him while mommy went to her Christmas lunch with her work team. Overall, he had rave reviews at being a good boy.

This past weekend Ethan was able to meet some of our neighbors when one of them hosted a Christmas get together with the block. He also was able to meet some of our friends from college and had his first dining experience in a restaurant - where he was also a good boy! Next week I plan to venture to my work and possibly Dave's work to show him off a bit. It's always a juggling game as to when he'll be napping and eating, but we'll figure something out. Everyone is ready to meet him.

Cute Morning Pictures

To have a scheduled...or not to

Up until 2 days ago, Ethan and I had worked out somewhat of a "schedule" on his nap times, bedtime etc. I was pretty excited!! But, suddenly 2 days ago he decided that he wanted to only nap for 45 minutes at a time (at most) vs. his normal 1.5-2 hrs and he also decided that his bedtime should now be somewhere between 10:30 and midnight versus 6:30-7:30p.m. Luckily he decided to pull this little trick out on a Friday night so Dave could help me tag-team the craziness. Just as we'd set him down after rocking him to "sleep"...we'd turn the monitor on and hear little squeaking from Ethan (yes, he squeaks!!) Anyway, as Dave's parents can vouch for on Saturday night....he did this again and finally I decided to bring him downstairs with all the Christmas lights and fire going and see if he'd fall asleep gazing at the pretty surroundings...he he. Well, the little stinker is the sweetest thing sometimes just smiling at you when you really want him to go to sleep, but how can you really resist the big grins....even if it's at 11:30p.m. and you just want to go to sleep!! We did finally fall asleep downstairs in the rocking chair with my finger as a pacifier (oh yes, Ethan is also a baby that isn't crazy about pacifiers...he'd rather a finger - hey, at 11:30....I'll do whatever it takes!)

Thanksgiving #3

This weekend we were pretty busy both getting ready for Christmas (finishing the inside decorating) and celebrating our final Thanksgiving with the Hickman side. It definitely felt like winter yesterday with the snow and freezing rain that created sheets of ice over everything!! But, we had a fire on Saturday night and turned on all the Christmas lights, so it was nice and cozy inside. We even got a nice family photo in front of the fireplace.










Just the three of us...










The whole family..

First Snow Sighting

Being in the holiday spirit, Dave and I started decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving!! He decided to put up the outside lights yesterday and it started snowing in the middle of the effort, so we decided to take Ethan outside for like 2 minutes to capture pictures. I love his little bear jacket!!

New Toy

We purchased one of those bouncy seats with toys in the front before Ethan was even born and he can finally use it, so we got it out this weekend. He still leans to one side or the other sometimes, because he obviously isn't sitting up yet, but he really likes the seat and will sit in it for at least 20 minutes smiling quite frequently. Daddy captured the moments as best you can on a regular camera.

Plenty to be thankful for

Well, Ethan survived his first Turkey Day and he definitely was a trooper, being that we traveled to Wisconsin (an almost 2 hour drive one-way!!). I was a bit bummed to start out the day because I had bought a really cute outfit for him to wear with a turkey on it etc. and it was too big. I guess you never know how infant clothes are going to fit! So, we resorted to the frog theme instead of a turkey. Dave and I timed it perfectly so Ethan would eat and have his tummy full before we left for my Grandma's and Ethan slept the whole way there! On the way back, he was a bit fussy, but mommy sat in back to keep him company. Overall, Dave and I were amazed at how good he was the whole day.






The day after Thanksgiving was spent with my side of the family at my Dad's. I was again bummed when I had put Ethan in a cute little outfit my coworker had bought me and right as Dave changed his diaper before we left, he of course peed on the outfit...ugh! So, we again went to "plan B", but I at least captured photos before he dirtied the outfit! Now, there should be a third Turkey Day celebration with Dave's side, but unfortunately his parents were getting over colds, so we'll be celebrating this next weekend. I'm sure he'll be just as well behaved for Grandma and Grandpa next weekend.