How Sweet it is....

     I have come to the conclusion that having people to love, and them loving you in return gives life its savor. Growing up in a loving family you sort of naturally fall into this love and it's wonderful and beautiful, but the love you experience in the family that you and your spouse create together is something entirely different. The love David and I share is something that we try to work at every day and I can honestly say that MAN we are in love and it only gets better and better, and as we have enjoyed this little boy, this perfect little creation our love has deepened and expanded in a way I could never have understood before. I honestly didn't know I could love my husband any more and had no idea what it was to love a child. It takes everything out of you but gives you everything in return- it makes you work so hard for the simplest little achievements but leaves you completely fulfilled once they are reached. I feel so complete and so at home wherever I am with my husband and my little boy and I never knew I would feel that way especially since we move around so much, but it's true.
     As David and I were coming back to our little apartment here in Boise after having visited family we were discussing how nice it was to have visited but how nice it was to be "just us" again and how complete we felt as a family- just the three of us. In the car on that drive home, it hit me exactly why it is that having this little boy makes us our own separate unit- this little Ethan is the first and only thing that we are not combining from his family or mine- but from just David and I. He has no prior traditions, experiences or memories outside of what we will create together. This little boy, our very own little boy- is just that- OURS, and though I know that he is only on loan from our Father in Heaven- and has divine parts from Him, he also has parts of his daddy and mommy- he is a product of our love and devotion to each other, and he completes us. I know why I can't get enough of him and why I am completely in utter adoration of his sweet little face and his double chin and every single chunky roll on his thighs and arms and that absolutely adorable gummy toothless smile- when I look at him, I see David's love for me, and God's love for me. You can't beat that feeling- so you just soak it up and thank Him every day for it. You live your life in such a way that you show your gratitude, and when you have kept it enough between you and your Heavenly Father- then you post it all over like I'm about to do so that everyone else knows. I LOVE love LOVE my husband and sweet baby boy...

I LOVE him when he's naked because I can count every little fat roll...

               I love him when he's only mostly naked because I can still count almost every fat roll without the fear of a sneak attack from the super soaker- if you know what I mean

I love love love these chubby cheeks, just look at them!

I love how content he is in the shower!

I love how much he loves his Daddy...

And talks to his daddy

And plays with his daddy

And goofs around with his daddy- my two favorite boys!

I love his first morning stretch when he sticks out his little booty!

And last but not least, I love all the silly faces he makes because I know that in his own way he is showing his love for me

Such a pitiful pouter!

His eyes say..."Mommy I've been waiting patiently for you..."

Hello my name is Ethan...

So for those who have never seen our little guy or for those who have seen him and just can't get enough of him...like myself, David, grandparents, and friend stalkers (for those friends -it's totally ok if you think my baby is absolutely adorable- I know I do) here is a little get to know you session with him at 13 weeks old...

Likes...

Being naked (as naked as my parents will allow)

being mostly naked and looking at my favorite person in the whole world...MOM!

BUMBO!!!!!!

My sweet new musical toy...now that I can sit up in my bumbo and actually SEE it!

Naps with my Pa

My middle finger....(sorry guys but it's funny right?) (he does this all the time...Anger issues?)

SMILING...especially since my smile makes my mom smile!

My giraffe and being in my swing looking at my giraffe!

DISLIKES....

GAS TROUBLES!!! (and yes I have them!)

But then my mom does "Gassersizes" and life is good again!

So I guess at 3 months old you could say we have a pretty good...no a GREAT little guy. Our little "bean" He finally seems to be through the super fussy stage, he still has his moments and he still has some tummy troubles- but he sure is a smiley little guy- sadly we have trouble catching his smile on camera because there is always too much movement when he's smiling to actually catch a picture, but we love his energy and I love how much he adores me...this kid loves his momma! I could post a million pictures of him, but I guess I'll leave it at this for now...enjoy and feel free to boost my ego by telling me how adorable this little kid is!

My little boy is all grown up...

Ok so maybe he's not all grown up by this last weekend David said it was time for him to move out...of our room...so in the grand scheme of things I suppose that isn't a big deal, but for my first baby it was a HUGE deal- I am now waking up every hour or so to go into the next room to make sure he's breathing. Before all I had to do was lean over to the left a little in bed and catch a glimpse of him. So if I was losing sleep before I don't think I even know what sleep is now, resulting in headaches, late & cranky mornings, and ultimately no change in the little boy- it's as if he doesn't even realize he's sleeping alone now- the nerve of the little guy! lolOn another note- it is always fascinating to me how frequently people tell you who your child looks like- we've had some say that he looks exactly like David and others say that they see so much of me in him...soooo I guess here you can decide for yourself...
                                                                                                                                              

Daisy(obviously)

David

Ethan

So you tell me what you think- and while I'm at it with old photos....a tribute to our childhoods...

Our Growing Boy

Soooooo... we just had Ethan's 2 month checkup- yes he is just over 2 months, but hey who's keeping track? It was pretty eventful for us as first time parents because it was his first round of immunizations, as well as another chance for us to see how he measures up in size! So Fun!!! So here are the stats and it looks like he is definitely not taking after the Heiner side...

Weight - 12 lb. 8 oz       55th percentile

Height - 23 1/2 in.          75th percentile

Head Circ. - 15 1/2 in.   75th percentile

So it looks like we've got a tall boy with a large brain- perfect!!! I just knew he'd be smart- he gets that from his mother!

As far as the shots went, well I think he had a sense of his impending doom all the way to the doctors because I couldn't get a smile out of him- see for yourself!...

 

Some of our other adventures of the past week.....

We played frisbee golf at the park... I think he enjoyed himself

Ethan's first trip to the mall- probably one of very few experiences at the mall if he's like his Dad

Dave and Ethan tuckered out after following the girls around the mall

His little fohawk (sp.?)

Can you tell his father picked out the outfit

What a cute boy!

 What can I say- we have the cutest little boy I've ever seen- I am absolutely obsessed with him- We just love making him smile, cuddling, playing with toys and just spending time together as a little family! David is such a great Dad and just dotes on his little boy- we can't get enough of him and are enjoying this time we have together- what a blessing he has been for us!

Updates

So just a few more updates on our little man-cub...
 His most recent stats as of Friday...

9 lbs 15 oz

21 3/4 inches long

overall 25-50th percentile (not exactly sure how that works)

So he's not huge but I feel pretty good about it- especially since he is steadily growing- that's the most important right!? He's also starting to smile while he's awake and not just when he has gas- it is amazing the ridiculous things that David and I will do to get him to smile but it is totally worth it! He is so adorable and we love him to death!
David is in his third week of his masters program and from what I can tell it is going pretty well so far- I am in my fourth week of living in Boise and have managed to find my way to Albertsons, WalMart, Boise State, and the Distribution Center. I have driven on the freeway once and I didn't get lost so I feel highly accomplished. As for little Ethan, here's what he is really up to...

Sooo....my son gave me an arm hicky- (sp.?) I don't think he feels very sorry!

Somehow his thumbs always seem to escape the sleeve covers

his first swimsuit and first experience at the pool- very eventful for him!

like father like son...such handsome boys!

 

 

 So here are a few pictures from a photo shoot I gave him since he hadn't finished messing his britches...it's just a bad idea to change him when he's still working on it!!! But seriously he was so happy to be working on his bowels I just couldn't resist snapping a million photos of his adorable face!

not sure what's going on here but I like it

What a smirky little smile! Don't worry it's just a pooping smile not an "I love my mommy smile"

OK SERIOUSLY he is just a handsome little guy...

Whoever says that boys are harder to dress up just hasn't had the opportunity!

Second swimming adventure...post swim and he is still out!

he loves his hands- or hates them but has no idea he can control them!

 Now here's the thing- I don't appear in hardly any pictures but I promise Ethan does have a mother and David, a wife- I just have nothing to wear that fits and frankly never have time to get ready for the day- plus how many guys just sit and take pictures- not many so that leaves the photos to me...but I love my role- it is just a whole new adventure fitting into it-I'm no pro yet at organizing my time- in fact I'm far from it, but as long as everyone eats and no one has died I figure I've accomplished something in my day!

Free Time- ha ha ha ha!!!

You know- I thought that I would have so much more time to blog, and that I would have the time to keep a very updated slew of pictures of this little boy of mine, but alas that is not the case. He prefers to have all my daytime hours spent cuddling him- (now I'm more than willing to do it as he is so stinking cute and cuddly) which of course is how I am able to get all the 200+ pictures of him that I currently have (lol) but at this point I am the only one who will really get to see them since this leaves little time for anything else including blogging, cleaning, cooking, and yes sometimes bathing. But I absolutely love being a mom- I love my little boy, and since we have compromised, meaning I currently have him snuggled up to me in the snugli carrier- I have two hands free to put in a few updates!!!! yay- I am really excited to show him off some more!

First of all... August 7 I got one of the greatest birthday gifts- to have my worthy priesthood holding husband bless my newborn baby boy....so here's some pics. of that beautiful day!

had to zoom on that one- look at that face!!!

Hegstroms

Heiner clan

he is absolutely a doll!!!

The cutest little boy EVER!!! Yes I am biased...but that doesn't mean I'm not right!

I should have had those up sooner, but we moved right after and then went to the Oregon coast and now we are just barely getting settled in here in Boise...Ethan already looks so different from these pictures and he is 2 pounds and 2 inches bigger as well!!!

Ethans contribution to the move...it only lasted about an hour!!! lol

Our little family

David's crab pot full 'o crabs (I think they're called pots)

we love our little boy- so fun to take him on his first trip with the family