Happy Spring......in Kansas!

The weather here is insane! Two weeks ago, on St. Patrick's Day, it was 80 degrees. Ethan and I were outside in short sleeves. That weekend was the first day of spring and my flowers started popping out of the ground and blooming! It was so nice to see signs of warmer weather.



and then came THIS weekend.

Last night when we went to bed, they were saying we would get 8" - 10" of snow. Seriously?!?!? When we woke up, it was just barely wet outside from drizzle. No inches and inches of snow like we were told. Just when we thought we were getting out of this one, it started raining -- super cold freezing rain. And all that freezing rain started clinging to the tree branches and the deck outside. I would bet we probably got about 1/4" - 1/2" of ice accumulation. Then it started snowing. And it's still snowing. We're now hearing 2" - 4" but honestly, I'll believe what I see when all is said and done. I don't think any of those weather people have a CLUE what they are talking about!!

These pictures are from our back porch. I'll admit that I'm a big chicken and I refused to go out there. I took these through the glass on the door.





and my poor little flowers...........just shivering under that snow!




this one sortof shows how HUGE and CHUNKY the flakes are...



this is the big tree in our front yard. you can see how thick the ice is under the snow





this one is just pretty!!




the tree on the other side of our driveway



you can see how hard it is blowing in this one. one side of the little tree is covered, the other side is still green



and this is looking straight down our cul-de-sac. it really is gorgeous!




In other news! Thanks to the state of Kansas (and our CPA!!!!).......we have a new addition to our home



and just because....some pictures of my little bubba!!

crawling over to his ABC book


playing at the tabe with Daddy




Daddy gives Ethan funny moose-ears!

Uh OH!!!!!

Look what I can do!!!

I can ride a giraffe!!


I can stand up at my Leap Frog Table!





and I can scoot myself across the carpet and get a remote control!! I think my Mommy and Daddy are in BIG trouble!!!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I am on spring break and had big plans for us! I took Ethan to daycare Monday to get a haircut and run a few other quick errands. Then planned to have lots of fun for the rest of the days together. Well - until I got a phone call at 1pm that poor Ethan was running a fever and not feeling well. One quick trip to the pediatrician later, we have a double ear infection and a tooth breaking through on the top. Good times!

We still managed to enjoy our green clothing and a few minutes outside on a gorgeous day!





This head bobbles tickle!!




I can stand up with a little help!


Playing outside on a beautiful day!


Wow! Look at that big tree!


Toys!! I love toys!!


If I drop this toy off the side, Mommy will pick it up! What a fun game!


Sometimes toys are yummy! Especially when you are trying to cut a tooth!


OK Mommy - I think I'm done!


My happy leprechaun - first thing in the morning


Hi - my name is Ethan. I am addicted to my binkies. I sleep with one in my mouth and one in each hand!!

Grand Slam: A body fluids story!

Seriously, I can't make this stuff up!

Ethan was 8 months old on Wednesday, March 11th. I had a particularly stressful day at work (only one more day at that point with the kids until Spring Break and they were all fired up!!) and I decided to leave a little early. So I got to daycare at about 4:20 instead of my normal 4:45. As I walked in, Carrie (our daycare provider) and another daycare Mom were laughing and saying I didn't want to come in. Carrie said, "We are on the 3rd dirty diaper of the afternoon and it is pretty stinky in here." <>

I go over to where Ethan is sitting on a little blanket and banging his toys together and pick him up. Instantly, my hand is wet and I can small him. Yup - my kid is #4 for the afternoon.....and it's a bad one! Carrie is still changing kid #3 so I grab the wipes and go to work.

This is one of those diaper blowouts where - if you were at home - you would just head straight for the bathtub. But I wasn't home, so 25 Huggies wipes later we are just about cleaned up! Dirty clothes are in a bag. Dirty diaper and wipes in another.

Score: Ethan - 1, Mommy - 0

I turn him over to wipe his back just one last time and he pees on my left leg. It was my own fault. I had him out of a diaper for too long. But jeez kid! Cut me a break! We all have a good laugh, even me!

Score: Ethan - 2, Mommy - 0

I get him all dressed and use another few wipes to clean off my leg. All is good. I pick him up and head over to the couch to get his jacket on him. AAAAAAH CHOOOOOO. Poor kid has a cold again and sneezes all over my shoulder. 2 wipes later, I am clean of the snot that has found its way onto my shoulder. We are all cracking up!!

Score: Ethan - 3, Mommy - 0

Finally, jacket is one and baby is all clean. Mommy is a whole other story! We say goodbye to Carrie, Ethan's daycare girlfriend and her Mom and get ready to head out the door. Burp! And there it goes - he spit up all the way down my right leg. We are all laughing so hard we are in tears!! Yes, even me! Because when you have had the body fluid "grand slam" on you in less than 10 minutes - what else are you going to do?! You call your husband on the way home and say, "Are you coming straight home? I really need a shower!"

Final score: Ethan - 4, Mommy - 0

So ~ Happy 8 months of motherhood to me! And here's what you really want.......










And guess who is trying really hard to get up on all fours - and sometimes even up on just his feet - and get moving?!?!?! Yeah - we are NOT READY for him to crawl - let alone walk!!!

We are ready for warmer weather!!

So last weekend - it was snowing. On Thursday, it was about 72 degrees and we went for a walk to the park after work! I can't wait until he can really enjoy the park and it's playground!!











and another picture from this morning when we were playing on the floor! poor kid has another cold so his eyes are red from coughing/sneezing and his poor little nose is red from all the wiping.



and a video! this is our current favorite "game" in the morning before work/daycare.