8 weeks

Ethan is 8 weeks and growing and changing very quickly. He started smiling at us two weeks ago and shows so much excitement for things these days. He also started cooing and babbling and has long conversations with himself or us. Ethan is on the move all the time. He rolled over last week. At night and nap times he will move around so much, he ends up on the side of the crib or in a completely different spot than where we put him down. His legs and arms are always going a mile a minute. He also discovered this weekend that he can suck on his hand or fist and makes a slobbery mess. He is such a joy and fun little guy.

Here is the video of him rolling over.  

playing on daddy's putting green

ready for the golf course

 

happy baby

playing with daddy 

Memorial service and family reunion

This past weekend (labor day) we flew to California to celebrate grandma's life and passing into glory and a little family time. Ethan did super well on all four flights and was a great baby during the time there. He got to see Tito and Tita again along with Peter, Betsy and all three cousins. He also got to meet aunt Karen (yay), great grandpa Wuerth (oldest and youngest members of the family, 94 years old and 7 weeks old) and several great aunts and uncles and second cousins. He just started being more alert and smiling for people and he showed off for everyone. For me it was a blessing to be there to remember and celebrate grandma. We laughed and cried and enjoyed each others company. There were so many highlights. Seeing my entire immediate family, aunts, uncles and cousins I don't see often enough. We are so blessed by family and this was a great time. Meeting my cousin Nate's fiancé Kim was special. She is awesome. We are sad we are missing their wedding this weekend on Martha's Vineyard. Seeing grandpa. He is 94 and so sweet and dear to me. I am so glad he got to meet Ethan.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

family picture 

 

Grandpa, Aunt Vicku, Chris, Kristen, Liza and Ethan. Grandpa was holding Ethan, the youngest member of the family  

 

Rice/Johnson family with Grandpa

Family photo 

Ethan and Liza playing in the morning

 

blackmail pictures

 

Jonathan, my cousin scratched Ethan's head for like 20 minutes and he loved it. He was smiling and giggling and moving towards Jonathan for more 

sheer joy 

loving it, Jon thanks for holding him and I am so glad he met him before you move to India

1 month old

Ethan is one month old. This month flew by. It has been a fun month as we adjust to being parents . He is a really good baby. He sleeps well and has gifted us with good stretches at night. He loved to eat and is growing well as proof of his eating abilities. He loves being outside especially after dinner when he is fussy. We have enjoyed visits from friends here in Greensboro, Tito and Tita, grandma and grandpa Johnson, Uncle Ben and aunt Rebecca, uncle Peter and aunt Betsy and Sam, Marina and Liza, Carol and Emily and the Boyd family. We are so blessed to have so much support and love from family and friends.

Stats:
Weight: 10 pounds 13.5 ounces.
Length: 22.5 inches. He is tall. In the 87 percentile for height. Thank you to our extended family for tall genes. Our family is contacting Carolina and University of Washington basketball coaches already.
Fun facts: he loves tummy time when he is happy, is starting to interact more everyday and will stare at Chris or I when we hold him, he loves getting his hair washed at the end of bath time.

chilling with daddy 

talking with daddy after work 

mohawk on the baby 

with the Boyds

an athlete already...team USA

1 month old

Joan A Wuerth (March 23, 1924-August 10, 2013)

This month also had its sad moment, on Saturday August 10th grandma Wuerth passed away. We are sad but rejoicing in her being in heaven with her Savior. We all will miss her sweet personality and love. She loved her husband of 65 years, 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren so much and cared for all of us well. I  loved watching grandpa and grandma interact and their marriage. They loved each other and showed it and were still very much in love after 65 years. Chris and I were with them Valentines day 4 years ago and grandpa insisted on buying grandma 12 long stem roses just like he bought her when they first started dating. I want our marriage to model their marriage (along with our other grandparents and parents...the legacy is long). 

Here are some pictures of grandma.

Family dinners are always important

 

alwaus having fun and laughing

Thanksgiving Dinner

Sharing what we are thankful for

 

David, grandma, Michelle, Vicky, Daniel, Kirsten, Tom, Kelsey and grandpa. 

2 and 3 weeks

Our sweet little boy is three weeks old which is crazy. Last week we went two the doctor and he was up to 9 pounds  6 ounces and 21.5 inches long. This week we started tummy time and he "loves" exploring the world from his stomach. Here are recent pictures of the last few weeks.

hanging out on the couch

 

staring contest with daddy 

 

tummy time (Kaitlin thanks for the blanket)

I will eat my fist

wide awake

Since our blog has been covered by one topic the past few weeks I wanted to add a little bit outside of Ethan. The last few weeks have been a tough adjustment with everything new but I would say this has been a super sweet time in our marriage. From the moment I woke Chris up on July 12th at 4:30 to go to the hospital, he has been awesome ( not that he wasn't before). He embraced being a father fully and also has been a doting husband. He didn't sleep in the hospital or the last three weeks yet sends me to bed when Ethan is screaming and just wants to be held. He hugs me and assures me when I am loosing it and don't know if being mommy is all I though it would be.  He has sacrificed to give us so much. Chris, I have fallen more in love with you everyday and I know the days are hard but the fact of having you by my side makes it easier. You are a reflection of Christ and I am grateful for the man of God you are. I love you honey!

Number One daddy 

The Tica Tias visit

This past weekend two of my best friends from Costa Rica came to visit. I have known Carol and Emily for about 18 years as we calculated this weekend which makes them my longest and dearest friends. These girls know me inside and out and have been through the good, the bad and the ugly and what's best is we survived all of this and love each other and can laugh about most of our crazy teenage years.

A couple months ago Carol asked if they could come meet Ethan in August so on Friday afternoon after hours of waiting they arrived. We had an awesome time. We talked and talked and talked some more, we laughed and they held Ethan and loved on him like true aunts and went on a walks. We went to Chick-fil-A to give Carol the  full experience since they don't have it in Washington. It was sweet to have them here and we were all sad to see them leave.

waiting patiently for them to arrive 

Carol, Emily and Ethan

tia Mle

 

tia Carol

Carol, Ethan and mommy 

 

saying hasta luego is no fun

More pictures to come from Carol.