Photobooth Fun

We went over the mall for a little while this afternoon. Ethan wanted to do the photobooth after playing at the Play Space. Doesn't Colin look thrilled?

Three-year old logic

I wish I had a tape recorder for all my conversations with Ethan. Here are a few recent ones: Ethan (trying to figure out how to avoid bedtime): Mom, who's the boss tonight: Mom, Dad, or Ethan? Me (after the slightest pause): Mom and Dad are the boss together. Ethan: Well, when you're done, can I have a turn? A few days later (mad at me for some order or another I'd given): "Mom, I'm taking your boss away...for good." Last night, right before bathtime: Ethan: Do I have to wash my hair tonight? Me: Yes, honey, you do. Ethan: But it didn't touch the ground today! In addition to tackling concepts of authority and personal hygiene, he is trying to figure out how money works. Not so easy to explain in a world where mom just uses plastic to buy everything, including to get money out of the ATM. Today, during a "Dora Saves the Mermaids" commercial break: Ethan: Mom, can I buy that? Me: You don't have any money. Ethan: Well, I can go to the bank and get lots of money. Me: You don't have a bank card. Ethan: You're right, mom, you're right. I'll get a bank card. That's a good idea. I'm giving him about 48 hours to ponder how to get his hands on his own bank card before he brings it up again. I was going to explain how Daddy works to get money, and that's how we buy things, but I couldn't think of a good way to explain why Daddy shares his money with Mommy and not with him. One last story...like many boys his age, Ethan is obsessed with trains. He has been getting quite a few of them lately as incentives for potty training and staying in his bed all night. He sleeps with the Thomas catalog and brings it in to my bed in the morning so we can review it together. First he wanted the street cleaner/garbage truck set. Got it. Then he wanted the Chinese Dragon train. Got it. Both have arrived in the mail and absolutely made his day. For the last 3 weeks he has desperately wanted the recycling train, and thinks it will arrive any day, despite our attempts to explain how this program works. He's even taken it to a higher authority. Every night (for the past 3 weeks), after he finishes praying for all the "Thank yous", he finishes with: "...and we're a little sad the recycling train didn't come today, and we hope it will come tomorrow." If he can keep up such a combination of faith and persistence in his life, he'll be in good shape.

The Story of My Life

A rare shot:

Cute boys. Clean clothes. Clean faces. Smiling, even.

And it's out of focus. I need a new camera. Or a new photographer. If only I could have Rebecca over once a week...

Smiley

Sleeps all night, smiles all morning, and has to be held all afternoon and evening.

It could be worse.

P.S. His onesie says "Made in Massachusetts". I think it's so funny.

Halloween

Ethan had such a great time this year. It was the first year he really understood what it was all about, and he's decided it's the best holiday ever. We let him pick out his costume to avoid trauma over getting dressed. He chose Diego and loved it. On Halloween night he only made it to about 5 houses before he was done, but still got plenty of candy. Since he was dressed and begging to leave at 5:15, we finished very early. We spent the rest of the night on the front steps watching the other trick-or-treaters. Ethan would hand out the candy and yell, "Happy Halloween!" to everyone who went by. So cute. The celebration started Saturday night with the ward Halloween party. Diego wasn't feeling so hot.

And the lion cub slept through most of it, though he did open his eyes long enough for me to snap a photo.

Tuesday he had a parade at preschool. He was so excited.

Here he is ready to hit the neighborhood. I love the hip-hop look he's sporting with his low-riding pants.

Jason and Ethan carved pumpkins together. Ethan cried when we had to throw this away the other day, but I just couldn't take the mold anymore. Ethan's going to be so much fun to have around this holiday season. We leave a week from Friday for NY and Boston, and he can't stop talking about how excited he is to see Grammy, Papa, Geo, Toby, and Carter. We can't wait!

The week in review

I have been carrying my camera around with me but not taking pictures, so I don't have a lot of pics to post. A week ago today, we got to see Grammy, Papa, Granddad, and Grandma during their 3-hour layover at RDU en route to Europe. It was so great to have Grandma and Granddad meet Colin. I took my camera, of course, to document the meeting, and then let them escape to catch their flight and completely forgot to get a picture. Sad. On Friday, Jason headed for the coast to compete in a triathlon. I wasn't there so...no photos. The surf ended up being so rough that they cancelled the swim, so he technically did a modified duathlon. He still had fun. While he was gone, the boys and I hung out with my brother Mark (also spouseless for the evening) and his kids. We took them out to dinner, where it looked like we were a couple with 3-year-old twins, a 2-year-old, and a newborn. Wouldn't that be fun? Or something. When we got home, the kids and I made a spider cake. I didn't get a photo of that, either, but I made the same cake 2 years ago:

Ours looked just like this, except for the little artistic variation that only 3 helpful toddlers could add. We slept over at my parents' house Friday night, and Saturday morning my angel of a mother took both boys while I slept in. It was wonderful! Jason got back just in time for us all to go to a pig pickin' thrown by his boss. I took Morgan's apple pie, but didn't get any pictures of that, or the event. Hmmm...not doing so hot this week.

We finally got a break from the drought today and yesterday. (Hurricane season? What hurricane season?) Since we can't play outside, my friend and I took our boys to Pump It Up today. It's an indoor play space with all inflatable play areas...slides, basketball court, obstacle course, etc. Ethan had a great time. He must have gone down the slide 30 times. Here he is playing with Jack:

Finally, today Colin turned 8 weeks old! I cannot believe it...I feel like he was just born. He doesn't look like it, though. He is almost 13 pounds and way too long to be a 2 month old. He is becoming more and more interactive and fun. He's being a doll at night...sleeping from 9:30 pm to 4:00 am most nights. The only issue with that...I am not going to bed when he does, so when he thinks that 4:00 am is morning and time to play, I am perhaps a little less than enthusiastic...maybe even borderline grumpy (I know, hard to believe...since I'm such a morning person). I need to start going to bed earlier. Maybe after the World Series is over.

Here is the not-so-little guy:

In perhaps the most exciting news of the week, Ethan pooped in an actual toilet instead of his little plastic potty. I never thought it would happen. I was so excited I ran to the phone to share the happy news with Jason. Then I thought, "Has it really come to this??" I can just imagine the conversation: Me: Honey, guess what? Ethan pooped in a toilet! One that flushes! J: Um, that's great, sweetie. [In my imaginary conversations, he calls me by endearments of my choice.] Me: I know. I never thought it would happen!! Should we go out tonight to celebrate? J: Uh, sure. I have to go save people's lives now. Bye. Luckily, I came to my senses just as I was about to dial, but then I plunged into a severe depression. I changed the channel from "Backyardigans" to "Price Is Right" to make myself feel better, which is perhaps equally depressing, but let's not dwell on that for too long. On a side note, I miss Bob. Drew Carey giggles too much. Oh, and...GO SOX!

GO SOX!!