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Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!
We have been so blessed this year, and we are sooo thankful. We have a healthy, giggly, baby boy, who has become such a joy in our lives! And, in the nick of time, in the unfortunate economy that we are in, B earned not only a significant promotion, but also a raise. I am so blessed to be able to be home with our little boy!

We are so thankful for our family, all of our sweet friends, and Ethan's little buddies!

Hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Ethan's 1st Thanksgiving!

This is the pic you get when you have a teething baby :)

I love decorating the table!

We had seven people over- we had appetizers all afternoon long, and then wined and dined for three hours. Sooo much food!

Our niece and nephews made this adorable centerpiece for the table.

A turkey cut out of their little hands and decorated!

Had to sneak this one in! First pic of Ethan's little pearly whites.

Knock On Wood

Have you ever...Dr. Ferber... heard a baby cry?!?

I'm sooooo sorry, precious. I just listened to you cry yourself back to sleep for ten minutes. I think I cried more tears than you! I wanted so much just to scoop you up and rock you back to sleep.

He's had, no, make that us, a rough last month with sleeping. After midnight he's been waking up either every hour or every-other hour. No good. All of this is seemingly coinciding with his first two little teeth coming in. They have finally found their way out of the gum, and soon we'll see some pearly whites.

So after his 6month birthday, we decided he was old enough to start crying himself to sleep if need be. Not to mention, me, mom, is exhausted of not getting more than two hours of straight sleep! We've been sleep training the little one for about the past week. Knock on Wood. It seems to be working, at least for the last three nights; but, I don't want to jinx new-found fortune. Give it another week, and I'll pop the Perrier Jouet Fleur.

Eh, the whole time, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking, 'one day I'll be struggling to wake him up'.

All I want for Christmas...

...are my two front teeth!!!

I forgot to mention: on Ethan's 6th month checkup the pediatrician noticed that his bottom two front teeth are on their way. I had no idea, since I was seemingly looking in the wrong place for them (I guess the bumps start appearing from behind the gums, not in front). I keep checking their progress every day- can't wait!

Tooth Fairy- you'd better start a budget!!!!! (BTW- what is the going rate these days?? I only got a dime!! I've heard some pretty extreme amounts lately.)

Down Home...

On Tuesday I took Baby Ethan to visit his Great Grandparents and one of his Great-Great Aunts again. We had such a nice time seeing them again, and are so thankful that he gets to show them his new 'tricks', and laugh and smile for them. The little boy was so amazing and just slept and teethed on his toys during the trip. He's such a great traveling companion!

On our way out there we saw new wind-powered energy turbines scattered across several acres of farmland. It was an impressive sight, and with my camera in the console, I had to snap a couple of pics.

We stopped by the Great-Great Grandparents' old farmstead. Not sure how much longer the land will grow corn instead of houses, so I had to get a couple of pics in front of the home.

My little Farmer Boy

Happy 96th Birthday to Great-Great Auntie Stella- and many, many more!!!!!!!!!!!

My Birthday Boys

My other boy turned '15 x 2' today!!! It's been great enjoying the last 15+ years together, and now we get to celebrate all the ones to come. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

I threw him an awesome surprise party with his friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. I'm pretty sure he was surprised, but I guess I'll never know for sure ;) It was so good seeing everyone again, especially some of our old friends whom we've haven't seen in a long while. Here's a few pics of friends and family from the party.

Ethan's B-day message to Daddy.

Since he doesn't eat cake, I made cupcakes with his favorite sport.

Me with little Ethan.

Our adorable niece had to make a game for the party- Pin the Tail on the Poodle.
And, insisted on everyone playing it- it was a blast!

She's now in charge of all party games ;)

6month old Ethan and his 2year old cousin, Mason.

Most of Brian's family was able to enjoy the evening with us.

Twyla and Naya (1month old). She and her husband are coworkers.

Our high school friends, The Rileys
Meghan, Ed, Erin & a little one on the way.

Sarah Twenty, Ed, Chris

Playstation, why not?!

Once the baby was sleeping and the 'old folks' left, it was Guitar Hero till 1:00 in the morning.

Oh, the commentary on all the cards- hysterical.

You know there's a small selection on 30th b-day cards when grandmom and mom are giving you the same one!

1/2 a Year Old!

It's hard to believe that our little one is already 6months old. It seems like just the other day I was sitting outside on our patio, basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, just waiting(impatiently) for him to come, talking to him about how beautiful it was outside and that I wish he could share the day in my arms instead of napping away in the comfort of my tummy.

We feel so incredibly blessed that we have such a sweet, healthy, giggly, growing baby- a firstborn son!!! He is so precious and we are amazed at how he has both a little bit of daddy and mommy in him. We wished sooo hard for a little boy, stared at as much blue as possible, ate what is considered to be 'boy' food, and just hoped, and now he is here- and he is just the sweetest, happiest little boy. And, for me, I couldn't be more content than to stay home with a little one from the one whom I love the most.

Happy 6th month Birthday, Ethan!!! Keep growing as strong and as sweet as you have been!

Here are some smiles and giggles from the baby boy on his birthday! He must have thought he was getting some cake ;)