April Update

Here we are in April and heading quickly into May. Life moves along here in our household. I am back to work three days a week and am so thankful for those who are watching Ethan while I am at work! In March I took a trip back home with Ethan to attend my grandfather's funeral. Last month we also went to the Aurora spinning wheel showcase. I got to try my foot at a spinning wheel and TJ & Ethan got to watch a bunny escape!

April marks the end of the second year at our rental house. We have plans yet again this year for a garden, but have scaled back our plans. For 3/4 the garden we plan to plant rye as a cover crop, then use the other 1/4 for plants. We also hope to do some plants in containers, and to start some seeds here soon. Ethan also turned four months old this month! He's now almost 18 weeks post birth.

Following are some photo highlights of the last few months...also a reminder that I update our photo album and Ethan's album more than I post here, so be sure to check there for photo updates! :)

Donna taught us how to get the photos from our phone out and into the computer! Also how to download sermons for TJ to listen to at work...he loves it!

TJ texted me this photo while I was at work...that's our little fellow!

I texted TJ this one- Ethn likes to put his hands behind his head these days.

We don't have Captain D's here so whenever I'm home I like to eat there- thank you Phyllis!

The Amy's & their girls holding the new babies.

My parents & Ethan.

TJ's parents & Ethan

His first airplane ride...he did great! Slept & ate the whole time.

Helping me with laundry... :)

Yes, he does cry.

On Easter we drove out to the coast & stopped at this restaurant on the way home.

His first Easter egg hunt.

Doug & Rosalyn came out to visit Amanda & we all went out to eat Lebanese food (then home to sew) together.

Becoming mobile...I laid him down in the center of this & turned around several minutes later to find he had moved!

He's not quite rolling from his back to tummy yet but we do find him on his side with his head kicked back like this when he's going to sleep. I tried moving him onto his back the other night and he immediately rolled over again!

We are beginning the cloth diaper journey! This is his first diaper...

Both my fellows in their overalls...so cute!

Ethan in his bumbo and Sarah hanging out nearby...hopefully they will be friends later and he won't torture her too much! :)

Second Month

Well, time has flown by since the last time I posted. Ethan is now two months old and had his checkup and first round of shots. At two months he was 12 lbs 7 oz. Here are some photo highlights from the last month:

Ethan is sleeping here in his pack and play. When he is sound asleep he often can be found with his hands above his head like this...so cute!

A common scene...Ethan and the cat both wanting to cuddle with me. :)

Isn't he cute in his little reindeer outfit?

Ethan is becoming more alert and focusing on us more. He also likes his pacifier, which in pictures always looks almost as big as his face!

TJ holding Ethan on the left and Caleb (who is two weeks younger than Ethan) on the right.

Spring comes quickly to the northwest. At the beginning of February our bulbs began to sprout up. This bulb sprouting up is a new tulip we planted last fall! My heart is always happy to see this new life arrive at the end of our rainy winters.

I was at a birthday party and he fell asleep...cute little outfit!

TJ got a carseat base in his truck, but it has to be in the front seat, so we get to hold Ethan's hands while we go down the road...it's a treat!

He's smiling more and making faces.

We attended our friend's Brian & JoeAnn's wedding! It was very nice and fun to hang out with lots of friends.

Family photo at 2 months at the wedding.

My aunt came to visit! We had a nice time showing her around the area and introducing her to our little fellow. Also note in the picture...our cat, Sarah, who pretty much hisses and growls at any new person for the first two weeks made friends with my aunt in one day!

I have been attending a mom's group through our church. These are three of the babies in attendance...David, Ethan, Caleb (L-R).

I returned to work this past week. It is painful and torturous to have to leave Ethan, but for a while it is necessary. Fortunately I have amazing friends who are watching Ethan for a few hours while I am there. We will trade childcare with each other and hopefully it will work out to continue this as the months progress.

It is a beautiful day here in Oregon and I'm going to sign off and go plant some Valentine's flowers with my hubby and son.

First Month

Well, we have now officially made it through our first month as parents. Ethan is 4 weeks old now and doing well. TJ is back to work 6 to 7 days a week and I'm adjusting to life here at home- trying to find the balance of taking care of Ethan and getting chores done and food made. It's a whole new world and finding what our new normal is will take a while I think. I am off work through the end of January for sure. I hope to be off through the middle of February but we'll see. Here are some highlights of the last month:

Ethan has a had a lot of firsts: first car ride, first doctor's visit, first bath, and really anything else that he does is a first!

He also had his first Christmas!

My mom was able to come visit us when Ethan was born. It was great having her here to help in those first sleepy ouchy weeks home from the hospital.

This is our core family here- Craig & Donna w/Natalie in the middle and Bryan & Lisa w/Issac on the right. Each of the kids is spaced out about 2 - 3 months.

He has had several sets of visitors. I think this is a cute photo of Scott, Wes and Ethan. Wes was 6 months in the womb when I moved to Portland and is now six years old!!

This is my friend Katie with her new son Caleb. Ben & Katie had Caleb exactly two weeks after Ethan was born. We are excited to see our sons grow up together.

Ethan was introduced to our church family the first Sunday in January. At our church the baby is announced and then the father walks down with the child to pick up a rose from one of the pastors. This was our rose. It was great to see TJ go get our rose.

I'm learning different wraps (thanks Adele for this wrap!) to carry Ethan in. It's great to be able to wrap him up and get things done- we're both quite happy with the arrangement and from all the studies done on carrying I'm doing good things for him too!

I celebrated my 31st birthday this month. Lisa & Donna came over and treated me to supper and an ice cream cake!

Ethan is becoming more and more alert as the days pass. It's fun to see him grow and change.

I will continue to update photos of Ethan to our picasa web album here (scroll down to end for most current photos): http://picasaweb.google.com/tjandcheryl/EthanWillard?authkey=Gv1sRgCMCO7Yap87fjEg#

That's about it for the updates. I'll probably be updating this blog monthly for a while, but will update our photo sites weekly.

It's a Boy!

Ethan Willard, born at 12:55 am Wednesday, December 16th. 7 lbs, 4 oz; 19 1/2 in long. Ethan is very healthy and good natured. We are home now but I won't be on the computer much during these first weeks. As I'm able, I'll update photos to this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tjandcheryl/EthanWillard?authkey=Gv1sRgCMCO7Yap87fjEg#

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We're hanging in there as best we can for being new parents!

Odds & Ends Photos

No, no baby yet, but here are some photos from the last few days...

Cat is curled up on a new hand quilted baby blanket from one of my co-workers...it has flannel & between that and the sunshine she was a content kitty.

39 weeks- somewhat dorky photo but that belly does stick out! :)

Baby's room...l - r, guest bed & chest of drawers (w/quilts my grandma H quilted), crib, changing table, and fun floor mats (thank to Katie L)!

Our new three shelf bookshelf that I put together today (at 39 1/2 weeks)- TJ was home but I wanted to put it together myself. :) Thank you to everyone for these books (Katie L- thank you again!).

This is our "second" nursery...it's really our craft/laundry room, but now has the port-a-crib and a portable changing station. Hopefully when baby is crying in night I can come over here and not keep my hubby or mom awake as they sleep on the other side of the house where our bedroom and the guestroom are.

More Christmas decor photos!

The house is one of our favorite additions this year.

And here's what I normally look like...we were heading out of the house but really until the moment we leave my robe stays on. So here's 39 weeks with my robe. :D