We decided that we wanted a unique costume for Ethan, rather than one that we found online. We originally wanted to order him this adorable penguin costume I found. Ethan, however, is on the small side for his age and we were afraid that that it wouldn't fit him properly. So we decided to go with a simple, homemade costume.
My little Charlie Brown! :)
The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!! :)
More on how his first "trick-or-treating*" experience goes tomorrow, but for now, Happy Halloween!
*We're not really taking him trick-or-treating him. We're actually just dressing him up for pictures, and taking him to see our local relatives and a few family friends. Close enough.
I have one baby product that I HATE, but I don't know how to live without them. Unless we move to Hawaii or somewhere cool like that. Well, warm like that.
Baby socks.
It's not the washing machine that eats his socks that makes us not have matches anymore, it's the inability to keep them on his feet!
Dilemma one:
We often discover one bare foot and one sock foot, with no idea when the bare foot lost its sock. Sometimes we find them in our path, but often we do not.
Dilemma two:
The "half-on" problem. Sometimes, if we are very lucky, we find E's feet with his socks only half on instead of losing it completely. We are constantly pulling them back up, searching for a sock, etc.
Footie pajamas are great, but they aren't much help when we dress him for outings. Any ideas on how to keep his feet warm during this cold spell?
Today you are 4 months old! You weigh about 13.4 pounds and we *think* you are a little longer than 24 inches. We will know for sure at your check-up on Tuesday. You are definitely on the small side, but you are growing well so we aren't worried. People ask us all the time if you were a premature baby, and are shocked when they find out that you were later than the doctor's schedule. You are still a HUGE eater, to the point that we've even had to begin supplementing with formula. :( We have been less than thrilled about this, but you seem to be faring well with it, so as long as you are still taking a majority of breast milk, I won't complain too much. I'm so afraid for you to become a teenager, you are going to eat everything in sight!
You are still pretty content most of the time. On occasion though, you will throw a huge fit that I can't help but smile about. Your sad face is SO cute!
You got to help Mommy celebrate my 25th birthday this month! Although you came in June, you were still my greatest gift.
We get to spend a lot of days with Granny, and you LOVE hanging out with her. She's even the one who made you laugh for the very first time by smelling your stinky feet!
Other things you have done this month:
Sit up unassisted (briefly, but long enough for it to count!)...
Smile at anyone nearby when you wake up from a nap...
Took a trip to the pumpkin patch for the first time...
Snuggle your "friends"...
Attend your very first volleyball game to support Mommy and Daddy's Alma Mater...
Give lots of cuddles...
Especially when Daddy had a minor eye surgery...
Are learning to hold your own bottle! This is so bittersweet for me. You think holding it yourself will prevent me from taking it away to burp you once in a while, but it doesn't. I still try to help you hold it most of the time, but sometimes you even take my hand away so you can do it independently. Talk about breaking my heart!
You found your tongue, and like to show it to everyone...
...And are starting to look mischievous when I am out of your sight for a minute or two...
And are starting to reach for my phone when I attempt to take quick pictures or videos. It's making this "documenting your life" thing a little more difficult.
As I'm writing this, you are playing on a blanket with some toys, and have managed to roll from back to belly to your back again! This is another first for you, and I'm so proud!
I'm not quite sure if we are out of the woods yet, but we definitely went through part (hopefully all) of your 4 month sleep regression last week. You were up more times in the night than we have ever had to get up with you for a week. You seem to have switched back to your old ways these past couple of nights, and for that we are thrilled.
You are so much fun, and are a for sure Momma's boy. I'm ok with the whole "Momma's boy" thing until you are older and find the wonderful woman we are praying you find. Then I'll be ok with not being your #1 lady. ;) You are already such a little flirt with the women, I'm afraid you might be quite a heartbreaker. Be nice to those girls.
We love you so incredibly much, and life with you just seems to be getting better as you grow. We love watching you grow, discover, learn, try, smile, laugh, and snuggle. You are the greatest thing that has ever come into our lives. We will always do everything we can to protect you, help you, and support you in every endeavor that you want to try. You will always be our priority, and everything else will just have to take a backseat. We prefer it that way. We hope that when you are grown, you will understand the love we have for you and pass that love on to your own children. Hopefully that won't come too quickly so we can still enjoy your sweet, toothless, smiley face a little while longer.
-It has been forever since I've blogged! I've had a lot to say, but unfortunately a lot of it can't be discussed via Internet. We are currently in a battle with my previous employer, and it is a very emotional and stressful time for us. It's unfortunate that a job I loved so much has resulted in so many stressors over the past year. This is taking up quite a bit of our time, and while I want to vent about it to you all SO much, it's just not in our best interest.
-A previous co-worker of Jason's passed away the other night of a massive heart attack. Please pray for their family. While we were extremely sad to hear the news, she leaves behind a husband, a daughter that is Jason's age and a grandson that is almost a year old. Please pray that her memory will live on so that her sweet grandson will experience a lifetime of memories that will allow the grandchild to feel that he knows her.
-I have my first cardiology appointment since Ethan's delivery in a few weeks. While we feel that the condition we experience during my pregnancy is completely under control, we are anxious and nervous to hear what the cardiologists have to say. I still experience palpitations and a heavy feeling on occasion, and we are hoping that is nothing more than just healing.
-Ethan is doing well, but thank goodness for Brittany. She was telling us the story of Ella's 4 month sleep regression, and sure enough, about a week later-BOOM. If it weren't for her, I would have no idea why Ethan was waking up COMPLETELY elated at 2:30 am every single morning. Last night was the worst. I'd be happy to let him play/coo as long as he wanted to since he isn't upset, but he is SO stinking loud it is ridiculous. This 4 month sleep regression is worse than his newborn sleep. Ethan has always been such a good sleeper until about a week ago. He was sleeping 10-12 hours a night way sooner than we ever expected, but it seems that it is long gone now. I'm hoping this is just a phase and his good sleep habits return quickly. Any suggestions?
-Speaking of good sleep habits, I hate that question. It seems like everyone we run into wants to ask us how well Ethan sleeps. I always feel like we are being asked as a gauge of how well we are parenting Ethan. I also hate it when parents make the condescending comment "Well, we didn't let our baby cry it out, so that's why s/he didn't sleep through the night until ___ months." Ugh. For the record, we do NOT let Ethan cry it out. It's just not something either of us agree with or are comfortable with.
-I've asked several people we know in real life, but now I'm going to ask you. Settle an argument between my husband and I. Who knows what taco night is?
-Ethan laughed for the very first time yesterday and we were lucky enough to be recording at the same time! I had made the comment just the day before about how he hadn't really laughed yet, and I was looking forward to it. His laughter has been one milestone that I really couldn't wait for, and it was the CUTEST thing. I'll try to post the video soon.
-I am LOVING Pinterest. Does anyone else feel more crafty and domestic after playing on Pinterest? I have so many projects I want to try. Then I think about how silly I will feel if someone recognizes that I found it on Pinterest and I'm not really as crafty as I'm trying to appear to be.
-I can't wait to show you all Ethan's Halloween costume! We decided to keep it very simple this year, but I think what we have chosen is adorable, and I can't wait for you all to see.
Jason and Ethan started my birthday out with apple cinnamon muffins for breakfast and the sweetest card ever. Apparently the evening I left my son with his Daddy so that I could shop a huge consignment sale began some secret birthday planning. I was really disappointed that the hospital didn't give me a copy of Ethan's handprints and feetprints, so Jason decided "better late than never."
Best. Card. EVER.
After church, we met up with my sister, brother-in-law and Riley to take them to the local apple orchard. I have been so excited about taking Ethan for some fall pictures! There are SO many fall activities for the kids, Riley loves our trips.
Little diva in her sunglasses. She refused to take them off.
The wind was a little chilly, so we had to sport the hood for most of the afternoon.
The "Cider Slider." Riley is addicted. It's a HUGE slide and she thinks it's the greatest thing ever.
Look how she's grown!
We decided to give Ethan his "base" measurement for next year. :)
Watching Riley "drive a tractor" (no, not really, but play on a set that looks like a big tractor) and feeding E man.
Love these boys.
Sisters
With our sweet Momma.
Taking some pictures with Riley while she was still ok with a photo shoot.
With our Dad, and Riley/Ethan's Pappy
Miniature bench=a billion pictures
Riley wanted to sit next to him, but wasn't too into smiling for the camera anymore.
Cousin Love
Someone was getting tired of our photo shoot, but bless his heart, we were so far from done at this point.
Jason took my FAVORITE shots of the day when we decided to prop Ethan up in the middle of a bajillion (ok, maybe like 40) pumpkins.
Such sweet, innocent little eyes.
FAVORITE. I love his face!
We had such beautiful weather and such a fantastic, fall day!
I turned 25 on Sunday! My parents decided to grill out for lunch on Saturday to celebrate, and surprised me with everyone showing up! My sister and her husband with sweet Riley, and even my best friend of 10 years, Ally, came in! Ally's birthday is September 21, and her sister's birthday is October 3, so they had both come back into town to celebrate their own birthdays with her family. Even with a packed weekend of family, she was able to come by for a couple of hours. I was so thrilled! I love it when she's back in town!
Prepare for picture overload...
Riley picked out a princess crown for the both of us so we could be princesses this weekend. She even picked out some beautiful flowers for me. She helped read my birthday cards to me. According to her, they were all from "Jake" (I think she's referring to a D!sney Channel character) and they all said "I love you Paige and I love Riley too. From Jake." Ha!
Ethan, just chillin'
Love a good visit from her!
Ethan is pretty obsessed with her. She is his very first love. We just can't tell her boyfriend that there is a love affair going on. ;)
I'm biased, but really?! How cute is this face?
He's a little attached to his Momma.
Sisters
My sweet little family. I love my men!
I swear, I hope I look half as good as my Momma does.
Greatest Dad ever.
I had such a fun afternoon! I love it when my whole family gets together just to hang out, and birthdays are always a great excuse for that! I was lucky enough that they wanted to spend Saturday AND Sunday with me. I really wanted to take Ethan to the Apple Orchard for the first time on my birthday, so we all headed up there for lots of pictures after church on Sunday. But more on that tomorrow!
