Ethan's playhouse part two

Things are moving along...we have a fireplace insert, hardwood floors installed, a front door, a barn, window trim to die for and a screened in porch. It is getting very exciting and I can hardly sleep at night waiting to move my little family into the new homestead.


My favorite part of the house to date....the entrance with the wood front door and waterfall steps. And the lovely trim work they did around my windows. I plan to stain the door to match the beadboard ceilings on the porches.


A work in progress. This is the screened in porch overlooking the pastures. I love the detail on the knee wall. I picture eating many dinners out here while watching the horses graze.

The ceiling of the screened in porch....great height and half moon window!


The trex covered deck....no maintenance! I want adirondack chairs and a hammock. The deck goes along the family room and master bedroom.


The kitchen looking into the dining room...hardwood floors are common grade oak so I could get the texture and variation in color I wanted.


Here is a pic of the barn for Easy and her friends:

3 months old and out about town

Today, my little cherub slept...and slept. And I spent WAY too much money on furniture for the new house. That'll teach him to sleep so long that I can actually shop and write checks. His toy allowance for the next few months is shot. Not likely knowing the grandparents.

You can't tell from this picture but his hair is actually starting to grow in and he no longer looks like a walking advertisement for male pattern baldness. In all fairness, he reminded me of Andy Sipowitz from NYPD blue with the hair at the nape of his neck and nowhere else. I am sure in his teenage years, he will get revenge for these comments. Actually, most likely for the entire blog thing. :-)



Today was also his Grandpa's b-day so we went out to dinner with the family. Aside from having to get all dressed up, Ethan was not phased and slept through the entire event. Usually he waits to exercise his lungs until Mommy has dinner in front of her or when she just finishes making a long awaited cup of coffee. Tonight I ordered ahi tuna just in case it had to wait a few minutes and a cosmo in case I had to wait a few minutes. :-) It was a great time had by all.

First smile caught on film.....in our undies of course. 

Our first pair of overalls....thanks Darla! 

Playing with the inch worm (when not trying to eat it) 

AJ, Michael, and Ethan 

Cousins 

Our Weekend trip to DC

We came up to Ashburn Virginia last night with Ethan's grandparents and great-grandparents. We are visiting our cousins for the weekend and spent a lot of time with them at their house. We played poker and had some great family dinners. Ethan's cousins AJ and Michael even bought him some presents and helped babysit while we took a day trip into DC and walked the entire mall. I hadn't been in years and it was such a great day to walk around. We managed to cover the Lincoln memorial, the Capital building, the Smithsonian castle and air and space museum. We also went to the new Reagan center for lunch and took a quick tour of the aquarium while they fed the sharks. I think I liked the WWII memorial the best although the garden tour of the White House was nice. Here are some pics of our trip.


Sitting on the steps of the capital

Walking up to the capital building

WWII Memorial

Tummy time

So Ethan has been a bit of a handful the last few days. Could we be teething already or do we need to change formula yet again? I swear I thought the whole soy thing was going to fix it (although it makes for some interesting laundry and diaper changes).

Here we are trying some tummy play time to see if that will stop the crying. Did I mention he has found a voice? And it is shrill? And I look positively quiet and reserved in comparison?

Mostly what works to quiet him is motion. So we go walking...and walking...and then walking some more. Thanks goodness for the reserves who aid in the walking. We did have some fun this weekend too thought. We went to the tobacco trail to enjoy some fresh air and good stroller time.

Ethan's Playhouse

So we have a fireplace now, and insulation, siding (although it isn't painted) and the forms for the barn floor. My favorite part so far are the waterfall brick front stairs. I can't wait until we sheet rock and the rooms have real walls. Although, it seems so big and open now and the breeze from the back pasture goes right through the house even on the hottest of days.


Screened porch and covered deck:

View from the barn:

Front pasture from the house:

Here is the barn site....prep work done!

View from the covered rear porch:


I guess we need to move on planting some pasture for Easy and Ethan's pony (haven't bought him one yet so there is no name). Ethan thinks we need a pool and swing set but I told him he needs to get a job.

Labor Day Weekend

What a time! Ethan is only 2 months old and has now flown half way across the country and driven back through 5 states. We had a blast. We went to the midwest to visit family and flew there in a private plane. Ethan slept most of the way and only woke to eat. If it has an engine, he is in a coma. Since it was a prop plane, I put cotton in his ears and knit cap on his head to be safe from any noise. I was nervous for him until we got underway as the sky was like glass and our pilot was exceptional. The private terminal at RDU is lush and peaceful and it was a very nice experience for E's first flight. It took us only 3.5 hours to get there and it was a 12 hour drive back through beautiful farmland and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trip was fun, the views were great and we couldn't have had nicer weather.

While there we visited antique shops, drove by Amish farms, went out to eat and then headed to the fairgrounds for an incredible car auction. People came from all over the country to bid on antique cars, restored Mustangs, AC Cobras, Model T Fords, etc. There was even a Star Wars car and a few older Indy cars on display. The auctioneer was great and people were writing checks for 250k for some of the nicer models. I wanted a fastback Mustang but couldn't touch it with my checkbook. All I could picture though was E driving it when he was 18.



Here is a pic of Ethan in his knapsack enjoying the day. Of course you always forget something and this trip it was a hat to protect him from the sun. Luckily, one of our traveling buddies was nice enough to offer up a baseball cap. We are starting a new baby trend. The sideways hat.