I want to wish Meredith a very happy birthday. She is turning 25 again this year. Isn't it amazing how when we got married she was the same age. That is one great thing about her she never gets any older :). So everyone wish Meredith a happy birthday. Love you baby

Summer Fun

The weather here has been great so we have finally been able to enjoy the outdoors again. We took Ethan out for the first time in our canoe and we all had such a fun time. Ethan just needed a fishing pole to complete his look. For such a little guy he was great in the boat. He loved looking at all the birds and trees as we paddled through this lake at the state park near our house. I just wish I could have gotten some pictures of him in the boat but I wasn't brave enough to bring the camera out on the water just yet. Maybe next time.

On Friday I took Ethan to a park at a nearby river and as soon as Ethan saw it he kept saying "wa wa" which means water to him. He didn't stop saying it over and over again until I let him get out of the stroller to put his feet in the water. I think he has inherited his father's persistence. It's fun that he can finally get his point across for most things he wants. It makes life so much easier when we know why he is crying. Though when he is repeating the same phrase over and over again because you aren't giving him what he wants I think it was quite nice when he couldn't say anything at all. ~Meredith

Our Spotted Leopard

So the other day we were getting ready to leave for a trip to North Carolina and I noticed a few spots on Ethan's legs. I didn't think much of it because we had been playing outside a lot lately and I just assumed he had gotten bitten by a bug or something. Right before we left I went to change his diaper and took off his pants and he was covered in spots. I took him to the doctor and they said it was an allergic reaction to penicillin. Thankfully he wasn't miserable but they looked awful. The pictures here are from Saturday and they looked even worse on Sunday when we went to church. We went back to our old ward and everyone just starred at his poor spots. Of course Sunday was the day that it spread to his face so there was no way to hide them. I assumed that everyone who looked at us was thinking what kind of a stupid mother would bring her child with chicken pox to church. Needless to say the other moms kept their children very far away. Of course Monday morning most of the spots were gone, just in time to finish our trip.

By the way, I added a picture of Ethan and his nightlight to the post below.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABE!

Would everyone like to guess how old Abe is today? Yes Abe has hit the big 30! Since he gets to celebrate his birthday today with a big test we let him have his cake last night. Ethan and I still love him even if he is old. So everyone wish him a happy birthday. Love you Abe.

Night lights

Last Saturday (the 5th) one of the clubs at school sponsored a 5K race to raise money for the American Cancer Society. So I decided it would be fun to run in it. I have been running on a regular basis because there is a pretty flat running/walking path between our building and Tech's football stadium. I have never been a fast runner but I do ok. There are however several really fast runners in my class that decided to run it also. In an attempt to keep my pride I thought it would be good idea to run and push Ethan. I know that you are looking at the picture thinking that it doesn't look to bad. Well only the beginning and end were paved (it started and ended in the same spot) the rest of the course was running through fields. The best part about it was that it was also full of hills. They weren't long hills but they were very steep. Oh and did I mention that it had been raining the week leading up to the race so it was also slick and muddy. Ethan did great until we got to the 2 1/2 mile mark and he wanted out of the stroller. At that point I am sure his teeth had almost rattled out of his head from the bumpy ride. All of that being said I finished in 30 minutes.

Now onto another story. I wish that I had a picture of this and maybe we can take one and add it later. Lately when Ethan is asked what mommy or daddy says he replies "no no no" which is very cute and funny. I am pretty sure that most kids go through this phase. The best part of this is that he has a night light in his room that he loves to pull out of the socket and play with. We however don't like him pulling it out and playing with it and tell him not to. Meredith was in our bedroom getting ready yesterday morning while Ethan played. Then she hears Ethan say "no no no" and then giggle. So she walks out of our room and there is Ethan standing with the night light. He then giggles and again runs into the guest room. What a character.

Our caged animal

So I had to post these pictures. Meredith took them while I was at school one day. I guess Ethan decided that he didn't want to go up the stairs and pulled the gate closed on himself and preceded to play like a caged animal. In the first picture he looks as if he has been drinking soap and that he is completely hammered. In the second it is like he is monkey. Meredith took him to the Zoo the other day. When they got to the first exhibit Ethan thought that was the point of the entire trip and didn't want to leave. He did have a fun time going around and seeing all the animals. He even got to pet a few of them. Again he thought that was the point of the trip and didn't want to leave the petting area. I don't think that it is a great Zoo but he is only 15 months old and he doesn't know any better.

On to another note. Our house in Sanford is going back on the market in April. We are praying that it will sell quickly so we don't have to carry two morgages. I guess the renters decided to move out. So if everyone could also pray that it sells we would really appreciate it.

Funny story. During lunch the other day one of the guys had a package of M&M's. I think that it is the mini's that come in a little tube. This reminded me of one of Meredith's old roomates (who will remain nameless) who had a funny experience. Keep in mind that this is a good little mormon girl. Her and her fiance used to enjoy these mini M&M's and he would keep them in his pocket. Well one day she saw that he had some in his pocket and asked for them. He said that he didn't have any. She persisted that he did have them and preceded to reach into his pocket and get them. As it turns out he didn't have any in his pocket, and she got quite the suprise. I think that you can imagine what it was. Enjoy

Ethan's animal sounds

We have been wanting to upload this video and share it with everyone. Ethan has learned how to make animal sounds and it is so cute. He is a very smart boy and can usually pick up a sound after hearing it only a couple of times. We hope that you enjoy.

On to another note. Meredith had her surgery and it went great. For those who didn't know after having Ethan, Meredith noticed a small lump in her neck, after having the doctor look at it and running some tests it turns out that because of this lump she had hyperthyroidism. She has been on medication to control it for the last year. We found out that the lump was a benign tumor which we are thankful for. She is an amazing woman. She has been so great about it. I haven't been able to help to much so her mother came and stayed with us for the surgery and then took Meredith and Ethan to Richmond to take care of both of them there. This has allowed me to study for a midterm which is going to be a beast and I am very greatful for her mom to do that for us. With them being gone I have realized how much I need and miss them. I love watching Ethan and seeing him play and laugh. I have really missed Meredith and all that she does for our family. I am a lucky man.