Little fingers and GINORMOUS messes!

Well we are really pushing finger foods lately- mostly because when he is shoving stuff in his mouth, it gives both David and I the opportunity to use both of our hands to do the same for ourselves- oh the luxury- however we discovered quickly that a dropcloth( or a torn trash bag- since we're cheap) is absolutely necessary unless I'd like to be pulling crusted, unrecognizeable chunks out of the carpet for the next couple of months...so here's how the experience is going- we've turned the boy loose on chunks of mango and strawberry...

Overall not too messy- neither item could mush up too much so in the end everyone was smiling...GOOD experience...

Then we tried green beans...and I only had french cut...lets just say I think mostly Ethan was smiling...

I mean why wouldn't he smile- he got a bath out of it since we had no idea what else to do with him...

So overall an ACCEPTABLE experience- at least one of us was filled with pure bliss...

So after two decent experiences we just went CRAZY and decided to try spaghetti...and yes I already had an inkling that it would be bad...and sometimes I hate how I'm so frequently right! lol

this is a face filled with much trepidation
...and Ethan's filled with wonder and delight...if you couldn't tell by his serious expression- I know that is wonder and delight because his eyebrows aren't furrowed! lol yeah he's either a very serious baby or a complete crack-up

oh yes...someone was having a good time

there's his five o'clock spaghetti shadow...

and this is the picture we are going to show to any girl that he wants to take on a date, if we don't like her...although it is kind of cute in a primitive way...

So overall round three was a GREAT and TERRIBLE experience- he was having a hoot and we were sitting in horror wondering where to begin with the damage control, and then he was hollering when we started to clean him up, naturally it's much more fun to be messy, and so you may guess what happened next...yes a bath, when all else fails and the mess is too overwhelming it is much easier to watch your child delightedly splash as large chunks of food float around him, than to pick them out of the carpet, your shoes, your toes or anything else that picked them up by accident.

But don't worry the little guy cleans up well, and then slobbers himself silly! Man it's tough work to be a baby!

I sure love my baby boy...he's such a sweetheart when he wants to be :)- and he definitely likes his Mommy! we're pretty much attached at the hip, leg, arm, foot, or whatever he can get hold of!

 

30 years

I always wonder, will I still be as madly in love 10, 20, 30 years down the road as I was when we were engaged. Will my heart still flutter when he walks through the door. Will I feel giddy all over every time he holds my hand?...Well after 3.5 years I have to say the simple answer is no, but the full answer is that so far, in the 3 and a half years we've had together and after all of the changes we've been through, graduating from college, having a baby, and getting the first big job (to name a few) I haven't ever been more in love than I am now. So no I don't love him the same, I love him more, and its a deeper love. No my heart doesn't flutter every time he comes home but my heart sighs in relief because he's come back to me again, like he does every day and will every day for the rest of our lives. Man it feels good to have a love like that and to know that it doesn't have to feel like new love anymore because the comfort of the old is even better. You've worn into it and it fits just right.
This last weekend David's parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and came up to Boise to spend it with all of their kids (hence the mushiness thus far). It is just always such a comfort to know that love lasts and as I look at their family, my family, you see a great group of people, none perfect, but all woven together by love- the love that started with just two- two people once giddy in love and now so perfectly comfortable in love. Congratulations to them on what I'm sure was a great 30 years. Not lacking in its difficulties and trials I'm sure, but never lacking in love either. So to Rob and Katie, thank you for your example, and thank you for loving each other and your children enough to allow them to reach adulthood!

Here are a few pictures of the wonderful weekend!

30 Years of Marriage- Congratulations!

The Hegstrom Boys

The Whole crew

Among many of the fun adventures, Ethan got to have his first experience in a pool - I thought he'd love it since he loves the bath, but I'm not sure it was a winner...

please excuse the no makeup look!

So long story short, it was a great weekend, it was so good to see everyone, and from David, Ethan and myself a big thanks, without your love I wouldn't have my love, and my little love! I am eternally grateful!

And now, because I absolutely cannot help myself, here are a few pictures of Ethan!

Right before his first haircut- yes it was WILD and very SCARED hair

I'm cute and I know it

This face means trouble...

Just love his grins when he's crawling toward me!

And there you have it- so now I'll sign off yet again!

9 Whoppin Months Old!

Wow- can't believe it but the little cub is 9 months old as of yesterday! WHAT?! And it appears that even though he looks like a spitting image of his Pa, he seems to be just starting to get the first influx of Momma's side of the family genes in the size area. But he still has a big head...

19 lbs. 15 oz.  - 41st  percentile

27.5 in. long  - 25th  percentile

18 in. H.C.   - 63rd  percentile

Just glad he's healthy and happy and we love this boy so stinking much it's ridiculous! He's got so much personality and I am loving seeing his toothy grin as he smiles at me, then rears his head down in a speed crawl in my direction- so sweet!

Some of the most recent adventures...you may have seen these on facebook, but if not, well they are my absolute favorite...

Now you must click on this picture to see his face close up- hysterical!

His model look

just sweet

Grandma and Grandpa came for a quick visit and Ethan got his first chance behind the wheel- he may have found his true calling in life- yes indeed he is fast and furious

We also went on a beautiful Sunday afternoon stroll along the Greenbelt, and the Nature Observatory Park...then played at the playground...

Here, smell this...yeah right

We decided to crawl around in the red tube- hence the red faces

He quite enjoyed himself inside there

LOVED the slide

Every stage is so much fun- he is into so much TROUBLE all the time but so cute when he does it...everywhere he goes there is a trail of destruction

And he's already figured out how to remove the outlet covers I put in place- grrrrrrr....now I'll have to upgrade to another style- hopefully that'll take more than two weeks to figure out!

But I'm just glad he's active and healthy- couldn't have asked for a better little boy- he's exactly the one I wanted and he blesses my life every single day!

Tag You're It!

Just a little game of tag...

I'm gonna get you mom...

here I  come

getting closer

Reverse into bathroom for minor 'dangling curling iron cord' detour

back on track and ever so close...

ATTACK!!

P.S. What a stud with his gelled hair! It's so long now that it finally lays down with a bit of effort!

The ants go marching...

Well spring is in the air, a song is in my heart, a fever in my son, and a whole army of ants in my shower! What more could I ask for?! Oh wait, did I forget to mention that DAVID JUST GOT HIS FIRST 'REAL' JOB WITH HIS DEGREE!!!! Oh yeah we are feeling pretty blessed! Not sure where we're moving yet, but we know that we aren't going to starve and that's good! I'm just so proud of him because he has worked so hard this last little while- so come end of the summer he'll have his Masters Degree and a JOB! I just thought I would interject that little note before I whined about my ant infestation and Ethan running a fever the whole time the weather has finally decided to be beautiful!
So now on to the ants- these aren't your typical 'I want your food' ants, you know the kind that invade your kitchen and garbage cans scrounging around for dropped, leftover, tablescrap food, - I mean they'd find plety of that around with my now crawling baby. no no these are a whole new kind of heebie jeebie- these are creepy peeper ants- yeah- you heard right- they are only in my shower! What kind of ant likes to hang out in a shower- well apparently this whole hill has decided to try something new, and guess what I DON'T LIKE IT. We have tried caulking every part of the shower we can think of- and somehow they still keep coming. Well I guess it's their loss, I mean if they would like to join two very out of shape mid 20-year-olds in the shower- FINE- but don't expect that there won't be a mass ant genocide when I come in!
Now about the fever- who knows why- maybe he just likes to be cranky and hot- but Easter day and ever since he has been toasty! Fever+crankiness=extreme clinginess=exhausted mama! But you do a lot for love! I still can't help snapping pictures and obsessing over my roly poly little chunk. Which by the way is slowly tapering off in the growth charts- just had him weighed and he is now just shy of the 50th percentile. That's just crazy to me since he stayed in the 70th pretty much since he was born! Anyway enough jibber jabber from me, here's what we've been up to the last week...

Big boy carseat- so far a big hit!

A walk in the park

Give me the goose!

Yes we just downsized to a little umbrella stroller- ah the joy of hauling 3.5 pounds of stroller instead of like 15!

Also found this at the park- look closely...

                                                  
Visited the cousins on Easter sunday

And now- my biggest laughs over the last week, I was starting to think Ethan wouldn't figure out how to crawl forward because all week he was crawling backward! This is what happens when you can only crawl backward...

                                            

Wait can we see that again... ok here you go

Ah the joys of being a baby- I hope it isn't cruel to laugh at him when this happens! It's just that it's funny to see him get backed up to a corner!

And finally, Ethan finally decided that grass is maybe ok...

Yes indeed spring IS in the air and we are excited to get out into it- we're thinking the zoo is next on the list...