Ethan's 1st Haircut

On October 5th, 2012, Ethan got his 1st haircut. We were trying to hold off as long as possible, cherishing his baby curls. But, the curls began to poke him in the eyes, and itch his ears leading us to the guilt ridden decision...he needs his hair cut.

Here are some "before" shots!

Looking at and talking to my cousin, Jackson!

I know I'm a little biased...but, aren't they the cutest?!?!

So, there you have it...the long curls!!

We called in my sister, "Aunt Sarah," to do the honor! And, what a lovely job she did. Ethan was a trooper, and didn't even fuss!! I guess it helped that we gave him his sippy cup and some raisins to distract him. :)

Whatcha doin' up there, Aunt Sarah?

I think I can reach that paper towel!

Yep, I love the camera!

...and my daddy, and climbing up a slide!

 

 

And, now that I have finally recorded the first haircut, I feel like it has grown out so much he is almost ready for another! :) 

Over the Speed Bump!

We survived! I mean, there IS a hurricaine on the way, but we survived (albeit a few more meltdowns, tears, and bumps on the head) without a funcional Daddy in the home the past 2 weeks. Greg had hernia surgery on Oct. 12th. And, per Dr's orders-  no lifting the kids...or anything heavier than 5-10 lbs. for at least 2 weeks. Even though he hasn't gone to his post-op visit yet (Tuesday! pending the weather!), he is definitely feeling better, and has even cheated a few times and lifted Ethan. I don't know who the past couple weeks were harder on- me, Greg, or the boys. I know they miss his involvement and rough housing. I missed his helping hands with the boys, and having the flexibility to leave him home with the kids while I got out of the house to run to the store or to go for a run. And, I know it killed Greg every time Ethan would stand by his bed and say DA DA DA!!! Or hang on his leg begging to be picked up. And the look I saw on his face everytime Landon just wanted to tackle hug Greg said it all. :( 

But, with a lot of help from family, we did it. I always knew how much of a hands on dad Greg was, but man, these past few weeks put it into true perspective and made me more appreciative. I don't know how any single parent survives.

Here are a few pictures of a few Fall fun activities we were able to get in before Hurricane Sandy hits!

Pumpkin Picking at Duffields Farm

Daddy had a big helper to lift the heavy pumpkins for him!

Such a loving big brother!!

Family photo op, thanks to the kind stranger! :)

Scarecrow museum had lots of fun things to look at!

2 Walking boys holding thier daddy's hands.

 

The Doggone Halloween Parade at Collingswood Manor  AKA Grammie's house!



Bella as Vader & Landon as Obi Wan Kenobi

Greg and his not so little  Yoda

My little padawon!

Grammie as a Princess with Landon & Ethan!

Mommom got to walk in the parade too! Sure takes talent to walk a dog while pushing a stroller and keeping tabs on an active jedi!

 

 

 

We've enjoyed a fun past few days now that Greg is feeling more mobile and active. Looking forward to painting pumpkins later today!!

How Do I Get To Heaven, Mom?

Boy was  I shocked when this question was asked on the way home today! After asking Landon a few questions to "test prior knowledge" (the teacher in me...I couldn't help it), I went into the whole explanation about how everyone makes mistakes and just like you ask mommy and daddy to forgive you, we need to pray and ask Jesus to forgive us from our sins, and ask him to take us to Heaven to live with him. I was trying my best to make the explanation as 3 year old friendly as possible (knowing Landon and most 3 year olds take everything literally...like not saying the words 'ask Jesus to come live into your heart.'), and felt like I had done a pretty okay job. Until...after I was all done, he blurts out in his ever so commanding, know-it-all voice, "No, no, no. That's not the way! You need to drive there! Go this way, mom!" I guess it didn't all sink in. Little by little... :)

Our conversation wasn't over. I couldn't let him think you could actually drive to Heaven, so I continued on.  Some subsequent hilarious questions were posed, like:  Does Jesus live in my house, mom? But, how can He see us, does he have a telescope?  Ah, the mind of a child.

This conversation makes me smile at the thought of all the amazing moments in my "mommy life" to come, and today made me really excited for the day I've been praying for to happen. I am so happy he has already started asking questions, and am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to share the Good News with him. Moments like this remind me of the awesome responsibility yet amazing opportunity we have been given.

Lasts...and Firsts!

Our summer went out with a bang- our family vacation to Sea Isle for the week. We had a lot of fun, and were able to have a whole slew of family join us for a night (or two) to share in our fun! I ended up taking a whopping 572 photos from the week...so here are just a few of my favorites!

On Sunday, Aunt Sue, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Dennis came down to join us for a few days. As you will see, they are really talented in the sand art category!

 

After our fun in the sun, we went Pirate Mini-Golfing!

where we tried to get a new family shot by a neat waterfall!

 

We also visited the Sea Isle rides a few times

The boats are someone's favorite!!!

 

We had some extra special visitors....who traveled all the way from Kentucky to see us!

(okay, so they traveled a long way to see not just us...) Aunt Jill, Uncle Andrew, and Jackson! We took this opportunity to get some updated cousin photos!

 

 

 

"3 Little Monkeys sitting on a hill...."

 (okay, so Landon has been singing "3 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed one too many times!")

 

 

 

What a cutie patootie!!

 

Mommom, Poppop, and their 3 grandsons!!

 

 

Then, at the tail end of our trip, our good friends Lori, Darren, Caden and Nana Karen came down. We actually overlapped our vacations a few days so we could each extend our stay by an extra day! Can you tell how much our boys love each other? The belly laughs they share playing together puts a smile on my face that tends to make my cheeks hurt sometimes!

 

 BEST BUDS!!!

 

 

 

It seemed like Summer ended with squeaky breaks, and that Fall took off super fast. I don't know whether it was the cool temperatures that accompanied the first week of September or that I felt like I dove back into the classroom and rigorous 'work from sun up til way past sun down' routine. Fall may not officially be here yet, but...September is here...and almost over! AH!

 

On Tuesday, September 4th, Landon started a 3 year old Nursury school class at Erial Community Church Christian School. I also had my first in-service day, so I was not able to take him. Greg pulled off being super dad, and took him (his first day was also a parent day) after working his 12 hour 7P-7A shift. Here are some 1st day pictures!

 

 

 

Honestly, I had prepared myself for a big adjustment. Change of location, environment, and EVERY DAY.... the past year and a half, Landon has been at a friends' house for a few days a week, and home with Greg for a few days. Now, he goes to school every day from 8:15-3:15. But, so far, so good! He did cry one day, but as soon as his teacher walked in and started talking to him, he perked up pretty quickly. He really enjoys going, and we are hearing good reports so far! To top it off, each day I pick him up, and take him back to my classroom to get an extra 20-30 minutes of prep work done. There are some things I just can't take home. And, thankfully, Landon loves going back to my room, and has made quick friends with my co-workers who are just so sweet with him. He "helps" me by unloading and loading my top drawer...paper clips, rubber bands, bandaids- you name it!  It has been a good routine so far!

 

Ethan is adjusting to the September schedule too...he did have a few "off" days at my friend, Amy's house, but I think it also had to do with his molars coming in. He seems to have bounced back to his normal napping and eating habits. Speaking of Ethan, I can't believe how many steps he is taking now! He is really getting the hang of this walking thing! Just tonight, he walked all the way from the dishwasher in the kitchen to Greg standing in the kitchen doorway- accross the room! He is also climbing like crazy, and getting a ton of bumps and bruises with this new adventure he's on. But, that's par for the course!

 

I think it's about time to wrap up this post....if you only knew how many days ago I started it... 

 



 

 

 

Ethan's First Steps

Yesterday we had the chance to go down to see our friends, the Gibsons, at their Ocean City beach house. For those of you that don't know, they have the two boys that I babysat and tutored for 6 years before Landon and Ethan. Talk about preparation! ;) While we were there, we were able to get some of Ethan's first steps on video. Yes...as you will see, we were really trying here! The time he took a full 3 steps my camera didn't start recording unti the very end, right after he finished. But, I compiled a few other attmepts. :)  It was at their house, back in June, that Ethan first crawled! How neat that he crawled and took his first steps in the same place!

YAY, Ethan!!

September 1, 2012  ~~ 13 months and 8 days!

In fact...since I am currently having one of those moments, you know...where you are stuck in the "where have the years gone?" thoughts.  My moment has caused me to look back at earlier pictures with "my boys", as I used to still refer to them. Here are some then and now shots.

Phillies Game August 2006

Thom (7) and Ben (8)

 

Notice their height next to Greg... (sniff, sniff)

 

Thommy (now 13!) with Landon on the roller coaster!

 

 

Ethan on Ben's shoulders....notice how close he is to the top of the doorway!

 Ben (now 14, almost 15) is now at least 3 inches taller than me!!

 

I know as I write this, I am thinking, man...I sound like a mama bear sad her cubs are all grown up. And, that's exactly how I feel. I always felt like they were my boys. We spent years...literally! together. And, what I love the most is that no matter how tall, or how old, they still come and sit on my lap, or hug me like they are still 6 and 7 years old. I also love how great they are with the boys. When we hang out together, they are built in babysitters, playing with the boys the entire time! Love you boys!!

 

Summer Lovin' Had Me A Blast...

Summer Lovin' [Ending] Too Fast! :(

To say I've enjoyed being home with the boys this summer is an understatement! From the relaxed mornings to the time to get projects done around the house during their naps, to the time to just chill after they go to bed. I will miss it ALL. Since we are gearing up for our week at the shore next week, I will try to keep this post as a highlight reel. I mean, I could go on and on about how I've been at the Dr. every day this week for myself (when did I turn 70?), or how the boys got sick right when Dakota was sick, but who wants to hear all about that? ;) I certainly don't. So, here we go...getting caught up on our summer....SO FAR (it's not over yet!!!)

Fun at Mommom & Poppop's...

In their pool (I have to add that this pool was used by Greg when he was little...things are just not made to last these days... )

 

In mid-July, wWe spent a week with my family at Sandy Cove. The boys and I had a blast and we love having so much time with our family!

Nana and Ethan in the pool

 

Grandpop and Landon in the pool

Me and the boys at the nighttime Cannonball Competition

Horray for Uncle Dennis who won!

Ethan and his Aunt WaWa = <3 p="p">

This next video was taken while Landon and Uncle Bobby were playing Ping Pong. Ethan thought the sound of the ping pong ball hitting the table and the floor was hilarious! ...so much so that he started choking he was laughing so hard!

Landon and I had the chance to go on a "date" - mini golf! We had a great time!

 

The boys loved going on a pony ride too!

Ethan's 1st pony ride!

 

 

Next up....Beach trip pictures! Stay tuned! 

Difficult Day

Wednesday was a really difficult day for us. We had to make the hard decision to put our dog, Dakota down. She had been our family pet, our first baby, for 9 years. Those years were filled with wonderful memories. She will always be remembered for her gentle, loving personality. Last year, right before Ethan was born, Dakota tore her ACL and needed it repaired. About 6 months later, she had a spinal blockage which caused her to have an immobile hip joint in her "good" back leg. Looking even further back, she has survived 2 surgeries to remove cancerous tumors (right before we went to Russia in December to bring Landon home), and even further back, survived being hit by a car, and an attack from another dog who had rabies. What a tough girl we had.

About a month ago, I noticed Dakota was less and less herself. She was laying around even more, and just didn't seem herself. I knew in my heart of hearts we were in our last days. I didn't know it would be so soon, but I'm glad she is no longer suffering. About 2 weeks ago, she got sick a few times in the middle of the night. We took her to the vet, who took x-rays (ruled out bone cancer), and did bloodwork. The bloodwork came back that her potassium levels were really off, so they wanted to do another test a few days later to see if she had Addison's or Cushings disease. If this was the case, a daily dose of medicine would hopefully restore her to her happy, mobile self again.

The night after her test for that, this past Tuesday night, she had a REALLY bad night. She cried all night long, pawing at our bed wanting us to be up with her. She was also drooling really bad. She kept leading us to the back door to go out. She also laid down in both boys rooms during her last night. She even pushed Ethan's door open to lay by his crib at one point. Looking back, I wonder if she knew, and she was saying her good-byes. :(   Everytime we let her out, she would go to the side of the back yard and start digging (I didn't even think she could dig...she could barely get up and down!). I said to Greg, I really think she is trying to dig a place for her to lay down to die. I know it sounds bad, but I knew it. It was awful. We laid with her in the living room for a little, but she just wanted to be outside. By 4 a.m., we ended up letting her sleep in the sunroom and left the door to the house open in case she wanted to come back in. By 8 I called the vet, and told them she was really not doing well. I coaxed her back into the house, but she laid in the hall and didn't get up at all. Did I mention she turned down my offer of food in the middle of the night? That never has happened before. The vet offered to take her for observation for a few hours (we had dentist apts scheduled for ourselves and Landon that had taken months to get a date for...) while we went to the dentist. They called about an hour into our visit to let us know they couldn't get a blood pressure read, and that her paws were getting cold. We were losing our girl. We went as soon as we could back to the vet, having made the difficult decision to end her suffering. I didn't know how much longer she would take to go on her own, and couldn't bare to see her like this.

To say it was an emotional parting is an understatement. Dakota was my first real pet, and she was like a child to us. I remember laying with her in our bed, upset after receiving bad news, thinking she may be the only baby we would have. She was there...always there. So snuggly, so loving, so loyal. When we first got her, I was so afraid of dogs. I had never had one, and I had gotten bit when I was a chlid, so when Greg started looking at boxer/pit bull mixes I was scared. But, what a gentle giant she was. We spent Wednesday night together going through old pictures on the computer and smiling at all the memories. It felt really good to do that. Landon asks for her every now and again, and has said he "wants his doggie back" and "he misses Dakota." Which is so hard. She was SO good with the boys. She tolerated Landon's crazy saber fights that sometimes she got caught in the middle of, and let Ethan literally crawl over her and play in her food bowl while she was trying to eat. Talk about a good girl! We miss her so much, but are so grateful for the 9 years that we got to share in her love, and thankful she didn't have any drawn out suffering. One long, bad night was long enough. We love you, Dakota!

Taken in early 2004

(we got her in July 2003, and she was approx 3 months old at the time we adopted her)

2007

2010

January 2011 -right after Landon came home

4 weeks after Landon came home

Last summer

February 2012

July 2012

The boys and Dakota just a few weeks ago...

I should have NEVER googled Dog Loss Poems. But, I did. Ugh! And, I came across this one. I hope she understood that our decision was made out of love. 

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic, that will
Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To now grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
...a young dog once again.


Sorry for the emotional post. I know sometimes journaling our thoughts and emotions can help heal our hearts. Thanks for bearing with me.... I promise, my next post will not be so sad. We have lots of summer fun to catch up on...