Tale of Despereaux

Ethan was my New Year's Eve date this early afternoon. We went to see the Tale of Despereaux at the movie theatre. It is a very cute movie and Ethan loved it! He is so easily pleased. A simple movie, popcorn, and red icee really made his day. He even said he is now a gentleman like Despereaux...very cute!

Dinner with Uncle Potty & Aunt Christine

Yesterday evening my brother invited us over for dinner at his place. Christine made a yummy Italian dish and Ethan even ate the salad... go Christine. After dinner, Ethan was able to get a love for a new video system...Wii. He bowled, golfed, played tennis, and baseball. He bounced around until he was sweating and red in the face, but he refused to stop. He even beat Daddy at a few games of tennis and golf. We also enjoyed some delicious brownies before we left. Ethan was very sad to go, and would like to go back soon.

A Sunday Get-Together

On Sunday we we got together at Janell and Darin's home to see Jon's Dad and Grandmother. There was again exchanging of gifts, singing (except for Ethan and I...at least he got somethings from me). Jon every year seems to take photos with his siblings, so I thought it was important to document those pictures. A rare find when it comes to my brother and I. Jon may look short in the photos, but 6 feet tall is a perfect height. His family is just very tall.

32 weeks!

The day after Christmas I hit the 32 week mark, and I feel it. I now am larger than I was ever with Ethan, so who knows what I will look like by the end of this pregnancy. Reid is still moving moving moving day and night. I am still anemic and am rotating 2 to 3 vitamins a day for it. I had one dizzy spell a few weeks ago while at Disneyland, but none to report of lately. At my next appointment on the 5th, my doctor will have us decide on an induction day. He would like to induce me a week early, which would put me the week of Valentine's. We will see if I make it that far. I was 13 days early with Ethan and with this one I have already had a few contractions here and there, so we will see. Reid's room is coming along. Paint, baseboards, chair railing, and crown molding are up. When we take down Christmas, his crib and all other furniture will enter as well. It is going by so fast. When I return to work in a week, I will only have about 4 weeks left before I go on leave before having Reid. Time is flying by!

Day after Christmas with the Garcias'

The day after Christmas we drove down to Temecula to exchange gifts with Taylor and Brennan. Ethan gave Taylor a vintage Annie doll and a Tinker Bell doll and Brennan received from Ethan a remote control car...the boy loves cars! Ethan received from Taylor and Brennan a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse box of games, which Ethan and Taylor had to play with minutes of opening the present. We ate dinner and enjoyed each others company.

The kids opening their gifts

Before we headed out of Temecula that night we stop at a frozen yogurt place. Ethan loved the self serving yogurt and also the fact that they take your picture while you are there, and you get to see yourself on television! Ethan was very excited to see himself on the big screen! We had a great afternoon and evening with the Garcia family.

Ethan & Taylor enjoying their frozen yogurt

All of us on television!

Our Christmas Afternoon

Around noon on Christmas day we headed to Jon's Mom's home for Christmas dinner and more presents to give and receive. Ethan enjoyed seeing his cousins especially is best buddy Trey! He also enjoyed the Christmas dinner of more turkey, mashed potatoes, and a roll. When it was time to open the presents thank goodness Debbie knew that Ethan should be the first one to receive a gift. He was so excited to open it. He received a hot wheels trick track, some hot wheels cars, and the game perfection from Debbie and Russell. He was so excited about each gift and was as excited for Trey when Trey was opening his gifts. Ethan became the helper of passing out the gifts after his turn was over. He enjoyed giving the gifts to each person and it kept him occupied during all the gift exchanging. Ethan also received a book and car from Auntie Janell and Uncle Darin & a hooded towel from Auntie Jo and Uncle Kirk. Reid also received clothes, photo album, and baby book from Grandma and Grandpa Heaps and a cute onesie from Auntie Janell and Uncle Darin. Ethan enjoyed his Christmas and did not want to leave. He was asleep within 5 minutes of the car ride home. We had a wonderful Christmas!

Ethan with his trick tracks

Opening perfection

Ethan with Grandma Heaps helping to pass out the gifts

Christmas Morning!

On Christmas morning, Ethan woke up around 8 o'clock. He was very eager to see if Santa came and left presents under the Christmas tree. Santa did not let Ethan down. He got everything he asked for...Ethan was a very good boy this year! He kept saying, "What?" "What?" He was in shock to see all his gifts under the tree. He enjoyed opening and playing with each and every gift. It took him 2 hours to open all his gifts from Santa and us.

Ethan with his Super Sleuth Treehouse from Santa

Ethan with Bumblebee

Ethan taking a picture with his very own digital camera

Ethan shooting cannons from his pirate ship at Mommy

After presents, Jon made breakfast. French toast and bacon for himself and Ethan and Chorizo and potatoes for me. Ethan enjoyed the french toast. He was a little cautious about tasting it at first, but after the first bite he seemed to like it. I of course loved my chorizo and potatoes, a highlight to eat on Christmas morning! It is my favorite. We had an enjoyable morning as a family. Ethan played and played and played. That is what Christmas morning should be...seeing the joy on a child's face!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve day and evening we spent at my parents' home. We spent the day talking and eating yummy delicious food. I love turkey and my mother's gravy should be canned for me to enjoy year around because it truly is the best! We also ate mashed potatoes, cranberry jelly, stuffing (cooked inside the turkey), rolls, and green bean casserole (that I would never touch). Ethan loved Amma's turkey and mashed potatoes and loved the veggie tray before dinner. He practically ate the whole thing on his own.

Ethan and Amma snacking before dinner

Poppa carving the turkey

Amma & Ethan during dinner

Ethan in front of how many days 'til Christmas. Ethan would always change the number to 28 every time it said 1. He loves the number 8 and I don't know why he added a two, but I guess he really would like there to be 28 days 'til Christmas?!

After dinner, we opened presents. Amma and Poppa always seem to spoil everyone. Ethan received a Spongebob Tag book, a Spongebob movie, clothes, a hippo stuffed animal, two Curious George books, a Walle computer, a Walle ornament, a Doodle Pad, a Car game for his SmartCycle, a My First Cookbook, a transformers tent, the movie Horton Hears a Who, gift cards to McDonald's and Old Navy, and a Flying Turtle! Scott & I both had Flying Turtles when we were younger and I was just jazzed that Ethan now has one as well. He caught on very well on how to ride and move it around. I know that he will have many fond memories of that toy like my brother and I have. Ethan received "sharky" from Uncle Potty and Aunt Christine and he has slept will it every single night since Christmas Eve.

Ethan will his new tag book

Ethan with his Spongebob movie
Ethan with his hippo!

Ethan on his Flying Turtle!

Uncle Potty on the Flying Turtle!

Reid also got many gifts even though he has not made his appearance yet. Amma and Poppa got him his bedding set, bottles, an ornament, and clothes.
We had a wonderful time at my parents' house with them and my brother, Christine, and Cordie their dog. Ethan of course did not want to leave, but we had to make cookies for Santa and his reindeer, so we said good-bye and set off for home. We weren't in the car more than 5 minutes before Ethan was fast asleep.

Ethan after we left Amma's & Poppa's with Sharky on his lap!


When we got home, we had to wake Ethan to make his snowman cookies for Santa. Ethan loved making a mess with the flour, dough, and sprinkles. He left Santa and his reindeer 4 snowman cookies to enjoy. He was very eager to see them gone the next morning. Ethan then went off to bed to dream of Christmas.

Spreading the flour

Cutting out the snowmen

Frosting the snowmen

Sprinkles! Sprinkles! Sprinkles!


Leaving the cookies for Santa and all the Reindeer


We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. It truly is so special to see it through Ethan's eyes. The magic of Christmas filled our day.

Letter to Santa

Ethan dictated his very first Santa letter this year. He was very excited to see the end result and cannot wait for Santa to read the letter Christmas Eve! He at first was not very specific. When asked what do you want for Christmas, his response was "toys!" But now, he has gotten a little more specific...it is very cute.

He told me all the ideas in the letter, but I just made sure it was put into complete sentence form. Ethan is really looking forward to Christmas this year and cannot wait to make Santa and his reindeer Snowman cookies and hot cocoa on Christmas Eve evening!

Good-bye Dear Smackity-Smack!

On Thursday, December 4th, just one day after Ethan's collar bone accident my parents had to make another difficult decision regarding a much beloved pet/friend. Their dog/my dog (he was mine also) Blackjack a.k.a Smacksmack or Smackitysmack was unable to get up when my Father got home from work that day. He called my mother and they took him to the vet. They found that his organs were failing. They made the hard decision to put him down. They were with him the entire time, which eases my mind.

Blackjack was no ordinary dog. I truly think there is no other dog like him. He was found almost 13 years ago by my Dad and his friend Rich. There were 2 dogs. Rich took one and my Dad took Blackjack home. Blackjack has always been the most gentle dog. You could fall and land right on him and he would just lay there (Ethan did it just once I believe). He never would bark and had a favorite toy that was not a toy at all. Blackjack was very mellow, but when I would take out an old teacher apple made out of cloth and stuffing he would go crazy. He chased and chewed on that apple like it was the best thing in the world. Blackjack was very gentle to other animals as well. He loved the cats and even for a short period of time made friends with a stray dog that we named his "little buddy."

Some of Blackjack's favorites were food. His two favorites were a box of cheez-its and his sausage biscuit that my Mom would bring home for him, yes for him, every Sunday morning after church. He hated water and would never go near the pool. This was thanks to Roulette.

One memory that I keep thinking about was when my brother took photos of him for either my Father's birthday or Father's Day years ago. Scott dressed Blackjack up in a white t-shirt and sunglasses and posed him on a couch with a golf club. Blackjack just went with the flow and the pictures to this day are on my father's dresser.

I will miss you Blackjack. Who will I ask were the lady is? or Where's Poppy? You were a great dog, companion, and friend. Thank you for being such a wonderful beloved dog. I will miss seeing your smiling face and wagging tail every Thursday afternoon at my parents'. Good-bye Blackjack. You made it almost to your 13th birthday. You are the best! Love ya!

My Poor Baby Love!

Just before my lunch break was over today I got a text from Jon saying that Ethan had fallen from a wagon in the backyard at daycare. He had stopped crying, but was not really moving his shoulder. I immediately called Jon and asked him to go over there and pick him up and take him to see Dr. Metsch his doctor. Jon was able to leave pretty quickly and take him over to get looked at. I called back after school at 2:15 and they had just finished being looked at by Dr. Metsch. Ethan was able to move his arm well, but there was some swelling and when he extended his arms out it really hurt and he began to cry. Dr. Metsch then sent Jon & E to get an x-ray. I waited nervously at work wondering what the outcome would be. Jon called me about an hour later and let me know, that in fact, Ethan had a fractured collar bone. My poor baby! I have never broken a bone before, so I don't even know what type of pain he is in. He was given a sling that he has to wear for at least a week. Dr. Metsch said when he begins to move it without pain that he does not have to wear the sling anymore; however his collar bone will not fully heal for 6 weeks! I am taking off work tomorrow to be with him and Jon is taking off Friday. I feel so bad for my little boy. He has been sitting on the couch watching Snoopy Come Home since I've been home. My concerns are that he is very active and will want to do more than what he can do. Also, getting him into his shirts, a car seat, or him going to the restroom are going to be hard for him. So it has been a very eventful afternoon for our little guy. He is such a trooper though, and I know will be okay.
A side note: Ethan was very happy when the doctor gave him his sling because it had Snoopy on it! One of his new favorite characters. He was happy to put it on.

Setting up Christmas!

Yesterday and today our family decorated for Christmas. Yesterday I did the inside except for the tree, and when the boys came home from the hockey game Jon and Ethan decorated the tree. Ethan loved to put up the tree topper and hand Daddy the ornaments.

Today Jon put up the Christmas lights outside, the candy cane lights, the blow up snowmen, and the Ferris Wheel. Ethan enjoyed watching his Daddy on the roof and waiting for Daddy to inflate the snowmen. I know it seems a little early to decorate for Christmas, but since we have a fake tree (since Ethan's first winter) we can decorate as soon as possible. Since Ethan loves Christmas so much, why not celebrate it and enjoy the decor for a month or so!

28 weeks!

Yesterday I hit the 28 week mark. The time is going by very quickly. Reid is measuring a week ahead, but so far my due date has not changed. I still feel very good...just big. Jon began to take down some of Ethan's baby items to see if we just needed to wash it or trash it. So far everything looks pretty good. The bassinet is in beautiful shape, the swing, and car seat. The only thing that looks a little too loved is the bouncer so far, which is funny because out of all the other items it was the least used. Ethan seems to be getting excited to meet his little brother. He is talking about him more and more. I know that he is going to be a wonderful big brother. Well, only 12 more weeks to go!

Go Ducks!

Today Ethan & Jon were able to go to an afternoon Ducks' game. Thanks so much Amma & Poppa for the tickets. Ethan had a wonderful time. He liked how there were so many people wearing the same jersey as he was. He also enjoyed the hot dog, popcorn, and diet coke that Daddy bought him for lunch. He also was intrigued by the fact that there were two players wearing his favorite number 8! And one of the number 8's actually broke their stick. Jon said that Ethan enjoyed watching the entire game and never tired of it. I am glad the two of them were able to have a wonderful afternoon together!

Thanksgiving: Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. You get to spend a whole entire day with family and get to eat the most amazing food ever! Ethan loved the turkey. Mommy loved the mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing, and Daddy loved the sweet potato casserole. I am so lucky I have amazing Aunts and a Mother that know how to make the most delicious Thanksgiving meals. They really are a highlight of my taste buds' year! The morning began with the three of us making some cheesecake cupcake desserts to bring to my Aunt's house in Lakewood. Ethan liked to add the ingredients to the mixing bowl. His favorites were adding the egg and vanilla extract.

We had a wonderful time at my Aunt's house. It took Ethan awhile to warm up to everyone, but by the end of the evening he did not want to leave. It was a great Thanksgiving, or what Ethan called, Turkey Day!

Poppa showing how to make different letters with the noodle!

The wonderful cooks in the kitchen!

Ethan playing the piano with his face!Ethan watching a tractor video with Aunt Louise and Brandon!