March 8th, 2006

Hands down the best day of my life!! It seems impossible to think it's been 3 years today that my baby boy was handed to me. After years of wondering if I ever was going to be a mommy ended... Oh and boy did... Right away all kinds of tests started. Mainly, how to stop a screaming baby!?? We sorta failed miserably since he screamed for about 2 hours non stop, then a short nap in the car home and then some more screaming ALL night and for many nights after that... But, here we are 3 years later more in love, if that's at all possible, every single day.

We had a great day today. Ethan asked for his favorite breakfast. An onion, ham and cheese omelet, with friend potatoes. The only funny thing is he eats only the inside. He loves ham with cheese and onions and can do without the egg. I know the first time I don't make the egg part, he will want it.. It's the funniest thing. Then we took a ride to Princeton, and walked on the main street with the Princeton campus on the other side of the road. Ted mentioned that we were really just scouting out schools for Ethan. We found this cute little candy/ice cream shop, stopped had a snack and continued just walking around. We ended the day with dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, which was a bit disappointing since they didn't have Ethan's favorite dish, shrimp scampi. He had to settle for crab legs instead.

So, since I mentioned Princeton University, it gets thumbs up from me. Still close to home, a very diverse community, beautiful scenery, did I mention still close to home?!?!

Ethan really does amaze us everyday with what he says and what he does. His latest accomplishment is writing his name. He can also type his name on the computer. The best part is he LOVES to practice. He is constantly "doing paperwork" Today really was the first day he wrote all the letters in order without any help at all. He was playing at the table and then came to show me... Of course a picture to document this was in order...

I see a Princeton University application someday being filled out!!!

Merry Christmas

I have been wanting to blog for days now and just haven't had a minute to do so...

This had to have been some of the best weeks before Christmas ever!!! Ethan really got it this year. Yes, he knows we celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus. But, he also gets the whole Santa thing too. Ted and him spent all day yesterday tracking Santa and talking about the different countries Santa had to go to. It was kinda funny that when Ted went on the PC for the first time to see where Santa was he was in South Korea. We told him he was visiting Sam's new baby brother, Max. Ethan keeps saying he wants a baby brother too, but that's a whole other post....

A few days ago Ted was working late and it was just Ethan and I for dinner, I asked Ethan what he wanted and he asked for some Shrump Scampi. How many 3 year olds want that for dinner??

While opening gifts this morning he looked and Ted and I and said "isn't this wonderful?" What 3 year old says that??

We are off to NY tomm for a couple days and then back home to hopefully some company from PA.. Keeping our fingers crossed.....

I also want to say incase there is someone very special reading this, I am happy "she" is reading this and really can't wait to catch up... I have missed my oldest and dearest friends lots!!! I hear Florida isn't too hot this time of year, right?? I sure could use a vacation!!!! :)

Random Tag
Rules are: Anything you have done has to be in bold. How much have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a Band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland or World (the one in CA)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch ...love to crochet
15. Adopted a child...one of the best things ever
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plama
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (HAVE a Baby)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Finally......

A pic with Santa!!! Had my camera AND my memory card!!

Nice picture, huh?!?! It's a Black Hawk Helicopter! It just so happens that it was carry Santa this evening to the tree lighting ceremony on Base. Pretty cool, right?? It landed about 20 feet from us. Very cool! Then Santa jumped out and ran across the field to bring all the children toys and have his picture taken with each and everyone.. Did I mention this was also the first time Ethan actually sat on Santa's lap. He is always afraid in the mall to see Santa, which is fine with us since it seems SOOOOOO expensive... So all this is fabulous!!!! BUT I HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT!!! NOT ONE SINGLE PICTURE!!! Not even on a phone!!!!!!! When I realized I had my camera but no memory card, I literally thought I was going to puke!

Ethan will see Santa tomm. at the squadron children's Christmas party and I will have my camera, but not the same..

Ted keeps telling me I am fired and there is one specific person that should never talk to me again, but "she" would never have left her camera at home!!!

Picture Day

I have felt incredibly guilt for the past 5 months that I didn't take Ethan to get his pics done for his 3rd Birthday in July. It is something I could have done by myself so it's not even like I can blame it on ted not being here. I was just plain lazy!!! Well, today we went for Christmas pictures. Thinking it's been a year since any professional photo's have been taken and knowing HOW much Ethan LOVES to pose and preform I thought for sure this would be easy, and it really was. He had poses in mind and wasn't afraid to use them!

Here is a sneak peak!





















Nice, huh?!?! Don't worry though we did get a few amazing photos!!

Back on the Block

Ok, so that might have been to poke some fun at a dear friend that was going to see NKOTB. She couldn't go because she was sick, but for some reason I still think about a 30 something woman at a NKOTB concert and giggle to myself... She knows it's in good fun, so I can laugh...

Ethan and I had some early Christmas fun today. We decided while Ted was working we would start to bring in some Christmas decorations. I was sooo happy to have found an awesome advent calendar yesterday at my favorite store (Home Goods). Ethan also asked if he could have his own Christmas tree. While there is no way he could have one in his room, I thought it would be fun to buy some small ornaments for a small fake Christmas tree and have him take a new ornament out everyday from his Advent Calendar and let him decorate the tree however he wants. There also will be some special notes and maybe some chocolate in the pockets too. He kinda seemed to understand when we had a calendar for when Ted was coming home how long it would be. So I thought this would help with the million questions about when is Santa coming. Let's keep our fingers crossed. One funny from Ethan. I have a small Nativity set that is all one piece with the very important people in it. Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the 3 wise man, and angel or two and some animals. As Ethan helped me find the perfect spot for it he was referring to it as Baby Jesus' cage. We sat down and had a long talk that Baby Jesus was not in a cage!!!

Ted and I continue to have this on going debate about his new work schedule. He is on a 3-2-2-3 schedule. Which means, for example. He had to work Friday, Saturday and today, and then is off tomm and Tuesday and then works Wed and Thursday and is off Fri, Sat, and Sun. He thinks it's great. It's from 7am-7pm. I HATE it... As nice as it is having him home during the week sometimes to go shopping or to go to the movies while it is less crowded is nice, but 7-7?!?! He is convinced it's great because he ends up having more days off during the month, while working more hours. Call me old fashioned or just stuck in my ways, but I like having dinner at 5 with my husband and child and spending the evening together. Instead, Ted comes home about 8, when Ethan is beginning to get sleepy, Ted walks in the door and you would have though Ethan just drank a triple espresso. I am sure eventually I will get used to it, but not now..

I had a few conversations today with my dear friend, Karen, who is waiting, along with her husband and one of Ethan's favorite playmates Sam, ANY DAY (Yes Karen, ANYDAY!!!!!) to be matched with their new baby. During the conversation I find out there is a chance that when they should be getting "THE CALL" they might be getting a package in the mail instead!!! For some reason I am almost sick thinking about this. After the long process, the horrible wait, there isn't a person that can call and say "Congratulations, you have a -------"?!?! Now, we aren't 100% sure how they are going to find out the news, but I am sooo sad that when Ted and I do this again, we (ok, probably me) will have to stalk to the mailman, walk across and down the street to my mailbox, put in my key and hope to see a big envelope with some baby pics and info! I may have to insist that someone else gets my mail and then calls me.. I remember everything about the day Ted and I got the call. What I was wearing, what I was cooking for dinner, what cutting board and knife I was using... Ok, I maybe a bit more nuts than most, but we even have the voicemail our Social Worker left telling us to call her back. I guess in the end you make your own memories, but I want a call...

Tomorrow is a very exciting day. As I get to leave mid morning and be an adult for a few hours. A yummy lunch with Karen, some shopping and some scrapbooking time also. Yes, we will probably talk about our kids quite a bit and probably do some Christmas shopping for them, but knowing Ethan is home with Daddy and I am not, brings a small smile to my face.. I will miss them both dearly I am sure.. :)