Having some fun

Earlier this week Hannah and I decorated some cookies.  I spread the icing and Hannah did the sprinkles.

Daddy and Hannah enjoyed the cookies, but mommy passed this time.  That's a little too much sugar for me! And as for Ethan, he doesn't need any help staying awake at night, so he passed, too. 

Here, Hannah is on facetime with Marley showing her cookies off. 

Ethan sure wanted in on the action, but he stayed occupied helping himself to a snack.

I remember having pictures of Hannah standing in the fridge like this.  I guess I can't leave the fridge open while I pour a drink anymore! 

Ethan has been having his own fun on this little walker/rider toy. I got it out while Hannah was at school this week and Ethan loved it!  He was actually able to scoot backwards on it....just a little and he only moved about 3 inches total, but I'm sure he will get the hang of it soon enough and he'll take off.

Speaking of school, Hannah LOVES school.  She only goes once a week, but it's definitely the hilight of her week.....

And mommy loves it too because I get to get some errands done and things taken care of a little easier, and I get to spend some time with my sweet boy.  Don't tell Hannah, but when she's at school we destroy her room....

Ethan and Hannah are starting to interact so much more these days.  Ethan cracks up at her all day long and I think Hannah thrives on his reaction.  It's so fun seeing them roll on the floor together, both standing at her kitchen and just sitting and playing together.  I hope they are close forever!

First Haircut

In my previous blog I mentioned that it was time for a haircut for Ethan. Shocking, I know.  But we got rid of the patch behind his ears and although he still looks like a little old man, the fuzzy patch is gone.

The buzzers were pretty loud.  He didn't love it, but it wasn't terrible either. 

And if you zoom in, you can see the  little bit of hair that was cut.

I have a feeling he won't need a second hair cut for quite some time! 

Ethan - 9 Months! Wesley - 30 years!

Today Ethan is 9 months old. I can't believe Ethan has been on this earth as long as he was in my tummy!  Pregnancy sure went slower than the past 9 months have gone. 

Ethan, you are learning so many things every day.  You have started waving (at yourself)  and you have your own version of clapping. You reach for me to pick you up most of the time and you have started pulling up on everything.  You do this thing that I call a "victory wave." Basically, when you get a shoe or sock off or you get something you are crawling towards you swing it around with a huge smile on your face

You have one tooth and you have the sweetest smile.  Only having one tooth doesn't slow you down from eating.  You've had crackers, cheese, pizza, bread, tortillas, green beans, puffs, cheerios, yogurt bites and anything else that you can get in your mouth...including leaves, dust and crumbs. 

Believe it or not you are probably going to have your first haircut this week.  You are still so bald, but just under your ears you have a fuzzy patch that we have to get rid of. I sure thought you would have some noticeable hair by now, but every time we are out someone comments about your bald head.

At 9 months Ethan :

• Wears  6-9 month clothes
• Wears size 2 diaper,  a size 3 at night
• Weighs 17.6 pounds (8%) and are 27 inches long (47%) 
• Wears size 2 shoe
• Nurses 4 times a day
• Eats breakfast, lunch and dinner and a snack here and there most days
• Is crawling
• Is pulling up
• Has slept through the night 1 time - hoping this changes soon
• Is extremely ticklish, especially when sleepy
• Says mommy & daddy and other babbling noises
• Blows raspberries all the time - my favorite
• Naps twice a day, with an occasional cat nap in the evening still 
• Lights up when people talk to him
• Does really well with a sippy cup
• Bathing with sister in the bathtub - loving the water

Ethan, you bring so much joy to our lives. I seriously can't believe you are mine.  You are perfect for our little family. You are so different in so many ways from your sister and I've enjoyed so very much watching you be a BOY. You have a "go-getter" personality and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses that in your life. 

This month you have to share your post with daddy - who is 30 today!!!  You have the best daddy in the world, Ethan, and he's so anxious to start teaching you everything he knows about building things, fixing things and working on cars. Friday night we celebrated his big day and we spent the weekend reflecting on how blessed we are to be where we are at a young age. 

Happy Birthday, Wesley! I love you more today than the day we got married! You'll have to let me know how 30 is..I still have a while - ha! 

Valentines

As you know, Tuesday was Valentine's day.  Our day started with cute valentines outfits for the kids, then it was off to school for Hannah and to the doctor with Ethan.  If you've read my blog for about 4 months, you know that we have struggled with MANY ear infections for our sweet guy. I'm not usually a Negative Nancy, and I don't usually throw myself pity parties, but I'm sure if you've been reading or talked to me in person, you get the gist that I'm struggling...BIG TIME.  In the midst of our ear infections we took Hannah's pacifier away (also mentioned on this blog before) and between that and sickness, we just haven't slept much.  So, all that is to preface the fact that our Valentines festivities basically did not exist.  Wes and I have never been huge celebrators of this holiday, but we thought we would start celebrating with the kids. I think it's important that Wes make Hannah feel extra special on this day in particular. 

(The cute Valentine's outfit picture should be inserted here, but that picture does not exist - sad face) 

After spending some time with my sweet Ethan boy while Hannah was at school we picked Hannah up from school and headed to TCBY for a Valentine's treat (as if Hannah didn't have enough sugar at her party at school).

(Fun times eating ice cream picture here - again, that picture doesn't exist)

At 3:00 I got a call from Wes that he was having a CT scan at 3:30 that afternoon due to some stomach pain he was having.  I took the kids to my sister's house and went to the hospital to be with Wes.  So much for our fun Valentine's date!  I enjoyed a bag of cheetos for dinner, while Wes drank some nasty water stuff.

(Picture of us dressed up for our fun date here - non existent)

After a long night at the hospital, we headed to my sisters house to pick up our kids and head home.  Luckily, Wesley's CT showed no major problems and he does not need surgery - yay, because I really can't handle another person to take care of right now!

My plan was for us to pick up some fun treats for our kiddos while we were out for dinner. Obviously, that didn't happen. Wesley did, however, think a little ahead and was able to get me and Hannah some of our favorite chocolate candy. On Wednesday Hannah and I made some heart cookies and Hannah made one especially for daddy.  Ethan, we do love you, but you aren't quite ready for Valentine's candy and cookies yet. 

So, there you have it.  Just pretend there are all kinds of cute pictures of us doing fun Valentine's things on this post.  Quite honestly, I've been in survival mode for quite sometime now and even if all of these fun things would have happened, chances are that I would not have remembered my camera anyway! 

One last little bonus to our Wednesday is that I got to spend some time with my sweet, sweet new nephew, Andrew. He's an absolute angel and I was so thankful to have him here for a few hours. And guess what - there is actually evidence to his visit...

We have an appointment on next Thursday with the ENT to finally discuss tubes for Ethan.  Hopefully I'll come out of my fog soon an return to the "normal" world of sippy cups and spit up. I'm sooo looking forward to that!!

Big Girl Room

As mentioned in a previous post, we re-did Hannah's room into a big girl room.  It was all to help in our effort to get rid of her paci. Extreme measures, right? Well, she loves her big girl room and is starting to fall asleep a lot better without her beloved pacifier. 

(anyone need this chandelier? It doesn't match anymore)

I'm thinking of hanging a cute little bird cage that I saw at hobby lobby in place of the chandelier. I found this cute little bird wall art that matched the colors in her bed so well, so it made me think of the little bird cage.  I also fell in love with that little owl picture that I found at Target. It's also a perfect match.

There were a couple of left over birds, so I made this for her door.

There really isn't a theme to her room, just bright and girly.  There are more birds than anything, but then there are the owls, so I guess just things that fly - ha!

And this is a little wall that her dresser is on.

Wes still has to finish making the headboard and we are going to paint all her furniture a lighter color...something like a creamy white.  I'm not really sure when we will get around to that, so I figured I'd better post pictures now before the room isnt' so new anymore!  I need to put some finishing decorating touches onto the room. I've had fun making this room for my sweet girl. She loves it! 

What's been going on

The Tyler's have been trying to survive over the past week.  We FINALLY (and successfully this time) took Hannah's pacifier away.  It has been the most difficult week of my motherhood.  That little girl was ATTACHED to that thing, to say the least.  I had heard from other moms that the first few sleep times are really difficult and then things start looking up.  That certainly has not been the case with us.  Each night and nap we battle with a screaming session for close to an hour.  Fortunately, our pediatrician (who totally rocks) gave us some tips and THEY WORKED. I can't even begin to show my appreciation to him. What a blessing!  We are only on day 2 of our new method, but so far, she has slept 4 times with no problems. Praise the LORD!  Yesterday right before nap Hannah said: "I want to take my paci out of the trash now." UH OH!....luckily she was OK for nap. 

On another note, Ethan currently has a double ear infection.  This is his umm...5th one in a matter of weeks, so our next step is tubes.  I'm currently anxiously awaiting a phone call from the  ENT to see when we can go see him.  Even though I'm dreading the surgery, I'm dying to have some relief for him....and for me! 

You couldn't tell this little boy isn't feeling well by looking at him, though...

 (Sorry for the no pants picture - most afternoons Hannah and Ethan both don't have pants on)

On a happier note, Ethan is crawling everywhere...FAST!  Unfortunately with more mobility comes bumps and bruises.  I'm not sure if you can tell, but he has a little bruise on his left cheek here...

Poor guy. I think since this picture he now has a bump on his forehead, too. He's also starting to pull up on his knees, and once he has pulled up to his feet on the fireplace....let the fun times begin!

We've also been introducing more table food to him. 

He's loving all the new things and can't get them in his mouth fast enough.  I think he really likes being able to eat what we eat. 

So once again, I'm hoping we are on the mend of difficult times at the Tyler house. Sure would be nice to return to a normal life with kids that sleep! 

And my sweet Hannah hasn't really been up for taking pictures this week...maybe she will make the next blog entry - ha! 

Finger Painting

Can't turn my back for a second...