Through Ethan's Eyes

Every once in a while I have a moment of complete clarity and the most beautiful realizations hit me. Typically these clear moments come after a hard day of motherhood or when I feel particularly tired of being pregnant and need reminding why it is all worth it. The other day as I was outside on the lawn with Ethan as he was "collecting" rocks and handing them to me I just sat and watched him, and I mean REALLY watched him and it hit me how truly wonderful and magnificent the world is through the eyes of a child. Everything is "more" of what it seems to us as adults. I think children see the world more as it actually is, or at least how it is meant to be seen. It is more beautiful in every possible way, more fascinating to explore, every adventure a little more promising. They have a way of seeing everything at a maximum value, and as I try and look at the world through Ethan's eyes I find myself so very much more grateful for every little thing. For the beauty of a freshly blown bubble, the wonder of how nicely a ball can bounce off your foot, and how calming a nice cuddle in the earlier morning hours can be. I've always enjoyed when David gets home from work, but as Ethan spots that orange car coming down the driveway and takes off full-fledged awkward legged sprinting with his arms flapping in every direction I feel an excitement that makes me reminiscent of earlier on in married life when I couldn't bear being away from David for a second, much less a full day of work. And as I thought about being frustrated as Ethan handed me dirt-coated rock after rock, I took one look at the sparkle in his eyes as he examined each black pebble below his feet before selecting the next gem, I realized it's not really about everything we have around us being what we dreamed or imagined it to be but more about making everything we have become that dream we dreamed. Opening our eyes wide enough that a plain matte black rock becomes a shiny black gem that has been tumbled until it gleams. Children live with their eyes wide open to possibility, and why shouldn't we all. Though having children means that sometimes you will have more tears, you will also have more smiles, though frustration can become more intense, your successes have more meaning, and though I am sure there will also be many moments of more intense heartache there is also a deeper feeling of a more perfect love that you learn and grow from everyday. I love seeing the world through Ethan's eyes and thank my Father in Heaven every day that he has given me a little boy, and not just any little boy, but my little Ethan who so perfectly fits me. He may not look a smidge like me, but his hand sure fits nicely in mine and his sweet little smile speaks perfection to my soul. I love being his mom.

You may wonder why he is sitting on a diaper box, fly swatter in hand and head clad in underwear...well stop wondering, you'll never know and neither will I

Can we say spoiled?

Chasing a flock of birds...there was much giggling and awkward arm flapping

This is his best goose egg yet...and this is a few hours after the fact so the swelling had gone down significantly. After his head initially made contact with the cement floor it looked like the cap of a pop bottle was sticking out of his forehead. Yes it was pretty nasty, David's initial thought was that his brains must be oozing out of his skull...yes a little dramatic

Love this sweet smile, and it takes a lot of effort to get it on camera.

Loosiana Livin'

So Louisiana living has been quite the experience so far with flash floods, and then random days where it's 75 degrees outside and beautiful, IN JANUARY, but strangely enough you still get wet either way. 

It's also quite an adventure to be given "pet" names everywhere we go by the sweet older women...David and Ethan get "honey" and the one I've gotten is "babe" - and they also love to call me "Miss Daisy" with their sweet southern drawls- I am growing quite fond of it. 

It is also impossible to keep my hair straight most days...there's just too much water in the air. Now I don't really have curly hair, but down here it seems that is all I'm gonna get, so in order to be a southern belle I'm gonna have to get my groove on with the diffuser and a lot of gel, wish me luck.

Another fantastic thing about being in DeRidder is that it brought us within 3 hours of the Durfee's whom we hadn't seen in 2 years! Our first weekend here they made the drive up into the middle of nowhere Louisiana to pay us a visit and help break in our new home! It was a whole barrel of fun, at least for us (hope you guys had fun too!)

Two little pups in a gigantic tub with bath crayons...what could be cuter?!

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They loved it

Another highlight was Ethan's tent...it was a real winner, but apparently no one can play in it without him...

 This is our front door, which we never use as it is terribly intimidating because it is so huge and LOUD- it makes me feel as though I am Belle approaching the beasts castle...you know minus the gargoyles and creepy shadows (although the two lights on either side are lanterns...kind of interesting for a newer house to not have electricity running to the outdoor lights)

Ethan loves to run through the house pushing his treasures in my laundry baskets...unfortunately it makes it hard to put dirty laundry in contained spaces when my son confiscates my baskets

Chili anyone? Ethan has a very mature pallet and LOVES spicy chili...looks like it loves him too!

75 degrees last saturday made for a nice family walk...yes I was the third wheel

Ethan really loves his Daddy, if you couldn't tell

This is the forest right out in front of our house...ok not really a forest but that's what it looks like

I ask him to smile for me, and I get a belly button shot, thank goodness for his onesie to keep the picture appropriate lol

The sweetest view from "up here"

As we were walking back to our house and we saw this view of it, we decided it looks like we live on a large southern estate home...never pictured myself here, but it's kind of fun, so for the time being I guess I can be "Miss Daisy" out here on my southern estate

Christmas in Idaho

The last few weeks flew by in such a whirlwind I can't hardly even make sense of the fact we're already in the new year, and we're in a new state! Man time flies when you're having fun, and yes we had plenty of it being with family and friends, and just enjoying a good old Christmas season in Idaho.

Doing his part to help clean up to leave our Minnesota home...Idaho here we come!

Watching the cats outside the window...Ethan LOVED the cats!

This is while Ethan was still partially afraid of the Christmas tree...the texture of the needles freaked him out so he wouldn't touch it...unfortunately the fear only lasted a couple days and then he was all over that!

Trying to nuzzle the cats...the cat didn't enjoy it as much as Ethan did

Two preggo ladies in their Christmas Even shirts! The grinch's nose was almost perfectly placed on my poor protruding belly button...how embarassing lol!

After Andy and Elise's wedding...since it was one of the few times all three of us were dressed up I had to have it documented!

So I didn't have a huge selection of pictures from the holidays but we had a great time. It felt so good to be in Idaho, and it was best once David got there and we were able to celebrate the season as a whole family! We are so very blessed and grateful for everything we were able to experience this last year...and 2013 should be another extremely eventful year for us as we welcome the new baby in a few months here in Louisiana! Bring it on new year and new adventures...we're ready!