July 4th Celebraton

Today we all packed up and went over to Michael's to swim and cook out. Do you have any idea how much gear and stuff you need to pack for a 2 year old and a 1 month old? I needed a wheelbarrow to get it all to the car.

Getting ready to go:

Susan met us there and we had a fabulous day. Jason pretty much slept through it and Ethan enjoyed the pool and the trains. Jeff said it felt like a resort as he floated on his raft and drank rum lemonade. We had cheeseburgers, chicken, and ice cream cake for desert. It had blue icing and Ethan wore most of it but had a great time.

Here is a lovely pic of Aunt Susan with the sleeping baby Jason:


Here is Ethan wearing Uncle Mikey's shoes.

Birthday week continues

Today we had the family over for "Happy Cake" (as Ethan calls it) and a nice lunch. Ethan received more presents and was so happy to see everyone and to have a party in his honor. Here are a few pics of the cake and the lunch spread. Some funny things.... I wouldn't let him drink out of the Elmo cups we had since they didn't have a lid so he put his sippy cup in the Elmo cup.

Ethan turns 2

So this b-day is all about Bob the Builder and Elmo. We have a book he insists we read at least 3 times every night to him. It is "one more time" he says when you get to the last page. And if you hesitate for just a second on any page, he can tell you what it says. So we got him some books, Barney and Elmo videos and a Bob the Builder remote bulldozer. We are having a very special cake on Saturday with construction equipment on it.

To celebrate the day, Mommy brought cupackes, cheese cubes and colored fish crackers to daycare. For each child, we made up great goodie bags with Sesame street characters, Cars stickers, playdoh, bubbles and more.







After the party at daycare, we went sandal shopping and for a haircut. Ethan had been saying all week that he wanted one. He is too funny how much he hates mess. For dinner, we went to Red Robin with Chad, Tracey and Nina. Ethan had a corn dog and melon and an ice cream sundae for desert. He loved his tractor and dump truck from Nina and I had the hardest time getting him to go to bed. We gave up and let him play until 9:30 after his bath.







He has started climbing the gate to his room so Daddy used his Bob the Builder tools to screw in plexigless panels to the wooden gate so he can no longer scale it. They are ingeneous at this age. And terrible for sure. He has some incredible temper tantrums and it was getting dangerous to even put him in time out in his room since he could climb out. Now Mommy and Daddy can get a time out. :-)

Bye-bye Tonsils

Ethan had his tonsils and adenoids removed today and got a new set of ear tubes while he was under as well. We are really hoping this puts an end to the constant antibiotic use, ear infections, and snoring/sleep apnia. You know it gets bad when your son walks into the house after his day at preschool and walks to the counter and says, "Med-cin". We could have stock in Motrin and Tylenol too.

The entire procedure took only an hour but we had to be there at 5:30 am and he needs to stay overnight. You have no idea how stressful it is to watch your little man walk down the hall in a hospital gown as he goes off for surgery. He so did not like the socks! We did treat him with some other drugs too to avoid the repeat of the terrors when he awakens in recovery.

When it was over, I got to ride up to the room with him on the stretcher and hold him. H really seems to be doing okay today but we were warned that the 4-7 day mark will be the hardest so we shall see. He really doesn't want to drink. I am so torn between the two kids. How could I stay overnight with E when breastfeeding Jason? It was so hard to leave him home during the day but they won't let newborns at the hospital and all Ethan kept asking for was "Baby Jason". Jeff stayed with Ethan overnight and brought him ice cream and popsicles and they really bonded. Ethan was very quiet and never even tried to get out of the hospital bed. Not at all like him. He will have to be home all week and hope we can keep him hydrated. Stay tuned.

Elvis has entered the building

May has been a pretty busy month getting ready for our new arrival and ensuring Ethan knows how important it is to be a Big Brother. He is very excited and has been a big help getting the nursery together. Ethan is also about to celebrate his 2nd b-day and has moved to a new class at daycare. He is now in the two year old room with new teachers, Miss Jackie and Miss Nicole. He is going to miss his old friends and teachers. I don't know how to thank Mrs. Namita and Miss Melissa for everythng they have done for him and us and his first experience away from home. He has become such an indepenent boy thanks to their guidance and nurturing.

The pics are Ethan's Elvis impersonation using Daddy's sunglasses, nap time, and a lovely expression you can get on demand by asking Ethan simjply to say "cheese" to the camera. It ain't pretty.

Easter Weekend

We have had a busy few days. Jeff's mom came over Friday to help us with Ethan since daycare was closed. She took him all over the yard and played with his wagon and ball and they had a blast. She also read him all 5 of his favorite hard-bound board books again and again and again. It amazes me how much he loves to read and how careful he is with his books. He never even holds one upside down. Ethan really enjoyed Grandmother's visit and now cries when she goes to leave. We cooked out and made some chicken for dinner and enjoyed the spring-like weather on the deck. I love it when it is still sweater weather and crisp at night. It smells so good and the sky is so blue! Reminds me more of NY springs than the 80s we had last week.

As for me, I am feeling pretty good and have had a good pregnancy thus far. We are thinking I am going to go a bit early so are taking precautions, but so far, so good!







Saturday, we took Ethan to the Butterfly House in Durham. Dad and Joyce came up to visit and we all spent Saturday together at the museum and then went out for dinner. Ethan had a great time playing on the train (he is obsessed with trucks, buses and trains - especially Thomas the steam engine). We also walked around the barnyard and played with the outdoor drums and bells. It was a crisp day but the Butterfly House was nice and toasty. For dinner, we went to Ruby Tuesday's and then took Ethan on the Carousel at the mall in Durham and bought new sneakers. The best part? They have a dump truck and bull dozer on them and he can velcro them open and closed. :-) Susan took him on the Carousel since I would probably fall over at 8 months pregnant and managed to score a butterfly on her finger to show him up close and personal. It was a really great day!

Easter Sunday we spent at Aunt Marie's and Uncle Teo's. We dressed in our finest little outfit and Michael helped us plan an Easter Egg Hunt. It was so cold in the morning we brought our eggs over so we could do it when it was warmer. Ethan loved finding the eggs and once he learned Mommy even put an M&M or two in them, he loved opening them even more! :-) We had a really nice dinner with Grandpa there as well and Ethan behaved very well and ate lots of applesauce and Canoli's. He wouldn't try the lamb but he had no idea what he was missing. Aunt Marie is a wonderful cook.

Christmas

Some pics of our escapades with Christopher during his visit and a montage of Christmas images. While he was here, he and I went riding on Pearl (and I am way too pregnant and out of shape for this) while Susan, Jim, Joyce, and Ethan watched.



Jim and Joyce brought Ethan a "Clifford the Big Red Dog" stuffed animal and hand made book which he adored. Christopher was nice enough to help him unwrap his first Xmas present.


We also went outdoors and played ball and went to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Jean and Russ came for Christmas this year...I can't remember the last time Jean and I got to spend a holiday together. We still felt the loss with our beloved Grandma missing but went ahead and tried to make it a very special holiday for the kids. Here is Uncle Russ playing with Ethan at Grandma's. Russ is a huge hit with both boys and we love having him come visit! The holidays passed in a blur with the house just brimming with activity and family. We had a beautiful tree that Ethan just adored and couldn't get enough of. And he would dance and play all the Christmas decorations and noticed when they got put up and when they would move. He was totally fascinated with it all.





And here are a few pics from Christmas Day.








And after all was said and done, Ethan got his "babas" and his "babies" and made Grandmother push him around for hours on his new tricycle in the house.

Christopher enters the teenage era

And I would never have believed it. He is still as sweet and wonderful as ever and we had a really great b-day party for him. We went out for lunch with the extended family and then Jeff took him to RushHour Karting for a class and some runs. The place is awesome fun for both of them (http://www.rushhourkarting.com) and they plan to go back later in the week with Jordan.