Ethan's growing!

his favorite "exercise" mat (with cousin Liam)

It has been amazing to watch Ethan grow physically, as well as to see his personality shine. He loves to flirt (he especially likes women, seriously!) and has a killer smile. Dennis is already saying how difficult it will be to discipline him. :) He can hold his head up pretty well now and is definitely trying to roll over. He spends a lot of time kicking and giggling, and makes the most adorable sounds.

At his four month appointment yesterday, Ethan performed very well! Dr. Satterfield said he's just "perfect" and absolutely growing. Ethan (as of yesterday) is 14 lb 4 oz (50%), 15 1/2 inches (75%--who would have guessed that Dennis and I would have a "tall" 4 month old?), and his head circumference is 17 1/4 inches (90%--yes, big head means big brains!).

Visits with Family and Friends

Auntie MargaretGreat Grand-Martha McClure
Uncle Marcus and Auntie Anna
Cousin Larry

Sorry for the delay...it's been a busy month!! Ethan has attracted many friends and family to our new home, and we've had a great time!! Ethan and I have also made several trips to Augusta to prepare for Uncle Chad's wedding. We saw the great grandparents in the mountains--Catie, the kids, and I put up 209 ears of corn from the farm! After some major traveling weeks, we are ready to settle in Charlotte for a bit.

Adventures in traveling

Last week was full of traveling and "firsts" for us as a family. Ethan's first 4+ hour car ride alone with mommy, Ethan's first time at the beach, our first pair of flights as a family, and Ethan's first wedding! The first half of the week was spent at Hilton Head with Liz's parents and brother Matthew. The second half took us to Denver for Dennis' brother Albert's wedding. Ethan was an amazing little guy and is a natural traveler! He really enjoyed seeing both sides of the family, and meeting many of Dennis' relatives for the first time. (including the bride and groom--Uncle Albert and Aunt Abby!)

Ethan is FULL of smiles these days...it's such a joy to play with him and just watch him giggle at himself.

Daddy moments...

Ethan loves it when Daddy is home to hold him, bathe him, and take care of him. (Mommy likes it, too! :)) Dennis is a fabulous father and it is so fun to watch him and his son together. For a special treat, we spent Father's Day on the golf course!

Getting bigger...

April 14, 2007
a few days later...only oxygen and feeding tube
Ethan's very own "spaceship"
Ethan's first day home!

For those of you who don't know, Ethan was about one month early! I had an absolutely normal pregnancy with no problems (what a blessing), so when I went in for my 36 week appointment I wasn't expecting anything crazy. I left that appointment with a scheduled c-section for the next morning. After discovering Ethan was breech at the start of the appointment, I proceeded to spend the next four hours on machines--sonograms and fetal monitoring. It was a tad scary, and Dennis was in and out. (he was on a conference call in another room when she told me Ethan was breech and getting his computer when she told me I needed a c-section, but thankfully we found out before his flight that evening to Buffalo!) Turns out that my placenta was no longer functioning properly and Ethan wasn't getting what he needed in the womb. They said he would be better "out than in" even though they suspected he would have to spend some time in the special care nursery.

So...we left the appointment reeling with things to do (we didn't even have any diapers yet, and I hadn't had my baby shower!) before 5am the following morning. I will never forget that night of contacting our workplaces to let them know we'd be out the next day, running to Target to buy baby gear, and having our final meal at Steak and Shake about 10:30pm. We hardly slept...

The c-section went smoothly and we thought Ethan would be fine at first. I got to hold him in recovery until he started grunting. That was a sign that his lungs weren't quite ready, so they whisked him off to the NICU. For the rest of my stay in the hospital, and the next 2 1/2 weeks, I had to go to the hospital nursery to see my son. I couldn't hold him again for days because he was attached to too many machines. It was hard, but it's one of those things that you can handle in the moment. The Lord was very gracious in giving us a neonatologist who was a believer and prayed with us for Ethan. Many things happened in those weeks, but Ethan grew and we got to bring him home on May 3.

The great news is that at Ethan's 2 month appointment last week he was on the normal charts for growth! He is chunking up, as you can see if you compare the photos from the hospital with the more recent ones.

More pictures!!!

Froggie towel!
Thinking deep thoughts...
What can I do next...?

Zonked in the cradle made for Elizabeth by her maternal grandfather!

Grandparents!

It has been so fun for us to have family around to help us move and figure out how to be parents. I now have a profound appreciation for my parents that was not there before having Ethan. First of all, thank you to my mom for having her third c-section to bring me into the world--whew! Not sure I want to do that again anytime soon. :) Becoming a parent requires so much energy, time, and love. I am so thankful that Dennis and I both have parents that took such great care of us!