My little chef!

Ethan is still enjoying school. His teacher sent a weekly report home last week with a note at the top that read as follows: "I complimented Ethan today on being so well behaved. He winked at me! I cracked up. His face turned red and he started laughing - He's too cute!" I love that he brings his teacher as much joy as he brings to us! Everyday he amazes me! Not only is he very smart but he also has an amazing capacity to love! He enjoys helping others and that is an amazing and rare quality. Yes, he is also so strong-willed that at times I just want to scream but the good outweighs the bad a million times over! We went camping with Jennifer & Ben last weekend and he really enjoyed it. He got to hang out with Ben's niece Erin. They watched a movie on the lawn there, drove pedal cars, played in the game room, swam, and rode on the boat! Ethan acted out while we were there but I think it was because (1) he didn't have enough sleep and (2) he wanted to be cool like Erin (she is 4 years older than him)! Once we got in the car to leave he took a nap and after he woke up he acted like his old self again.

Landen now has three teeth (the third one just came in this past couple of weeks)! He is working on his fourth one and it isn't making him very happy :( He is still trying to crawl and I have been trying continuously to get him to say "mama"! I know he will talk when he is ready but I don't want him to forget what he should say first, lol!! We had to go to the pediatrician last week due to a cold and Landen now weighs 25 pounds!!!! The other day a cashier called him a "juicy baby"! That's the first time I had ever heard that one. He now reaches his arms out when he wants to be held and it is the sweetest thing <3

This is Landen while watching his "Praise Baby" dvd. He usually doesn't take his eyes off of the tv but then when he saw that I had the camera out he just had to smile for me :)

I fall more and more in love with my boys every day!!!

A Change is Gonna' Come

Being able to watch these boys grow, change, and learn is such a blessing! If you aren't a parent yourself you just can't fully understand the pride, love, and joy your children bring you. Even though sometimes I crave a day out with the girl's or a little "me time", there is nothing more precious to me than my children.

In the past two and half weeks we have experienced a drastic change in our day to day life.....Ethan began kindergarten! For the past 5 years, 9 months, and 1 week I have dreaded the day that I would have to let my baby boy go to school and one week ago today that dread turned to pride as I watched my intelligent, independent, amazing, wonderful little man tackle the first day of kindergarten with no fear. He never ceases to amaze me! Ethan was so brave on his first day. He wouldn't hold my hand walking in but made sure to hug me bye :) He was a little unsure of his dad and I leaving but just kept coloring away! So, Landen and I came home to our awkwardly quiet house and counted down the hours until we could go pick Ethan up. As soon as he got into the vehicle he started telling me how "great" his day was and all of the details of his day. He wanted to know if I missed him and if I had cried! Ethan is a very observant little boy. So, I answered him honestly...."Yes, I missed you a ton!! And I cried a little because I was sad to leave you but then I thought of all of the fun you would have and I didn't cry anymore." He seemed satisfied with that answer. The highlights of Ethan's school days so far have been....winking at his teacher (he told me that he "cracks her up"), being bathroom monitor, playing outside (of course), and having Popsicles. His favorite time of the day is lunchtime but he also enjoys having books read to him in the library. Ethan has made several new friends in kindergarten but the one he talks about the most is Luke. They arrived at school this morning at the same time and he could barely wait for me to stop the car so he could go catch Luke so that they could walk into school together! I am so glad that he is enjoying school and I cannot wait to go eat lunch with him or visit his classroom soon.

Landen isn't making things any easier on me! He is growing and changing very quickly too. He is now outgrowing some 12 month clothes and he isn't even 8 months old yet!!! In addition to formula and baby food, he is now eating Gerber yogurt blends, Cheerios, Gerber puffs, biter cookies, bananas, and cantaloupe. We have also discovered that he doesn't like strawberries. It is almost impossible to hold him these days unless you are walking around with him. He constantly arches his back like he wants to get down. But then when you set him down he gets mad because he can't go anywhere! His favorite toy right now is his play mat but instead of laying under the toys he sits up and bats at them. Landen is suffering from separation anxiety (which I read is common at his age) so the only way I can get housework done is to put him in his stroller and roll him from room to room as I clean. Which has led me to discover that he is AMAZED by the vacuum. Those big, gorgeous brown eyes go back and forth as I push it and never do the lose sight of the vacuum as long as it is running! His sleep habits vary right now....some nights he will sleep 6 hours straight and some nights he is up every 2 hours! Oh well, he will only be a baby once.....sleep is overrated anyway. (Remind me that I said that on a morning after one of his "up every 2 hours" nights :) I love those little round cheeks and that sweet little grin with two little teeth shining <3>

"When you become a mother, you stop being the picture and become the frame."