Momma's World

In a recent trip to Lawrence I had the pleasure of showing Ethan a few of my favorite hometown spots!

Ethan and I in front of the Chi Omega Fountain and beautiful Tulips

I always loved to walk on campus when the Tulips were in bloom!

Spending time at this fountain has been very important in my life!

Chi Omega my college home!

 

The University of Kansas such a beautiful Campus!

Ethan with Gran by Potter's lake on Campus

Time for a bottle!

Potter's lake

 This is a popular place to hang out in between classes on beautiful spring days!

As kids we used to come here to get our pictures taken on the bridge :-)

Ethan overlooking Memorial Stadium from "The Hill"

This hill brings back many memories of Dog Days in the summer before basketball-YUCK!

The Oread is a new hotel on campus.  It is beautiful but very strange as it was built over Yellow Sub and The Crossing where I spent time in college.  I'll have to make new memories here-there are apparently some very fun restaurants and bars in this Hotel!

Ethan and I in front of the Student Union with Jay!

It was so much fun to walk on campus with Ethan! I have spent so much time on this campus as a kid all the way through my senior year and now as an alum.  Mom and I also got a great workout pushing Ethan's stroller up and down all of those hills!  No wonder I was thinner in college!!

Ethan also experienced Momma's World at Gran & Papa's  house in his crib.  My mom found my old mobile and he absolutely LOVED it!  He could be screaming and if we put him in his crib he would immediately start to smile!  The "Love Bugs" do the trick!

The only problem with the mobile is that it turns to the tune of "It's a Small World"

 which John and I have been humming now for 2 weeks!

Ethan also got to have a chat with Papa!  They were talking about important things like fishing.  When Ethan got a little fussy my dad got his attention with "The Look".  "The Look" is a trademarked experience that only Jenny, Kyle, and possibly his employees can relate to.  A smart person never messes with my Dad but when he gets "The Look" you know he means business! Papa didn't break out "The Look" with Ethan yet but Ethan was still totally mesmerized by him.  It cracked me up :-)  I guess Papa hasn't lost the touch!

Simple Pleasures

One aspect of Motherhood that has surprised me is my love for simple pleasures.  To view life through the eyes of a child again is such a gift!  This became glaringly evident when John and I had a simple weekend at home just a few weeks ago.  We played with our puppies, went to the mall and Babies R Us with no agenda, and strolled down pathfinder and unlike usual we stopped to look at the trees, river, and little boards with the types of wildlife to look for along the walk-AMAZING!  I know this gift will continue as Ethan grows and is excited by the simple things in life that I have grown to take for granted.

Ethan lights up around Mateo...I think he is cute but imagine if you were a child! 

He loves when Mateo kisses his toes!

I just happened to capture this face and it cracks me up!  I imagine a similar face in 18 years when I am snapping Ethan's photos before Prom.  I think most boys get sick and tired of photos and that is what this expression reminded me of after a morning full of Mommy snapping his picture!

John feeding Ethan in the middle of Babies R Us.  He was hungry so we stopped everything we were doing-pulled out the bottle and fed, burped and changed our little man!  It was refreshing not to be on any timeline other than little Ethan's! What a pleasure!

Sitting with Ethan at the Mall in Tulsa.  I have NEVER sat at the mall before (okay maybe at the food court).  I am always on a mission to get something done.  Ethan wanted out of his stroller and so we took a few minutes to breath and relax!

Ethan's first Carousel!!  He is a little young to ride but he loved all the lights and music!

As I watched Ethan look at the Carousel in amazement I thought about all the times that I have walked blindly by it on my way to Dillard's or Macy's.  I never even paused for a second.  Having Ethan in my life has been a great lesson for me to slow down, not plan out every minute, and enjoy the simple things in life!

The 8 Week Dr Appointment

So the Dr's appointment went as expected...a lot of tears from both Ethan and his Momma.  Thank goodness for John's strength!  One thing that I have noticed as a new mother is that I have quickly learned Ethan's cries for his different needs; one for tired-the traditional Maaaaa Yaaa Yaaaa, one for hungry-includes hands in mouth, one for bored-sounds similar to a sheep and not very serious or loud, etc.  Well the shot cry was SERIOUS! This one was a high pitched-"How could you let them do that to me Momma?" scream that included a red face and body, sweating, and real tears flowing from the eyes. Fortunately he calmed down after about 5 minutes, so I am told-it seemed like 30 to me, and other than the 4 shots his appointment went really well!  He is in the 75th percentile in weight and 80th percentile in height.  Dr Bumpus said he is really strong and is progressing just as he should.  What a great gift from the Lord!  As a new mother, I thought things were going well but it is so nice to be reassured from the Doctor.  We will go back for a 4 month check up in June-Wow-He is growing up so fast!!!

Ethan Mathew 2 Month Check Up

April 9, 2010

12 lbs 11 oz

23 3/4 inches long

John holding Ethan (pre-shots)

8 Weeks Oh My!

As every new mother will tell you, my time at home with Ethan is absolutely flying by and I was fortunate and took 12 weeks off for maternity leave. He turned 8 weeks Monday and I have only 3 1/2 short weeks left until I return to work :-( Part of me is really excited to go back and "Inspire the World to Fitness" but part (I must admit the bigger part) is dreading leaving my little guy all day. Once again I hear from my friends that they dreaded going back, that it gets better after a few weeks, and that they are glad that they did go back after they are settled in. I am going to try to live by that theory but it scares me a little bit! Until then I am soaking up every second with Ethan and trying to document as much as possible so that I can relive these moments as needed when I am away from him in the coming months.

Ethan amazes me every day because I think each day that the face he made or the sound he made could never be topped and then the next day he does something even better! He has such an adorable personality. It is like he genuinely loves to be around John and I and he wants to make us happy by being a good baby!

I would  challenge any Non-Believer to deny God after becoming a mother or a father. Ethan is such a miracle that I would be an absolute FOOL to think that John and I could have created something so wonderful without our Lord Jesus. I have heard babies are miracles before, and I believed it, but trust me when you have your own baby the word miracle takes on an entirely new meaning. I sit here and type while I look down at his angelic face and I know that we have been blessed beyond comprehension! I get excited thinking about all the fun we will have as he grows and then I feel silly because I want to freeze time and keep him exactly the way he is! Having Ethan has definitely caused a mixture of emotions in me and I am glad for each and every one of them :-)

Over the past two weeks we have tried to create more of a schedule for our little man. We never want to be bound by the clock or our rules but we both agree that babies crave routine. We have been trying to put him to sleep between 7-8:00PM and it seems to be working well. He typically cries for about 10 minutes (not a serious cry but still not fun for Mommy & Daddy to hear) and then he is out! Sunday night was his first night in his crib in his nursery. He had been sleeping in his Pack N Play Bassinet right next to our bed. His first night home we put him in his crib and his startle reflex would wake him up every 2 minutes. His crib was just TOO big for the little guy. We knew we wanted him in his nursery as soon as possible so that we would all sleep better but that was definitely easier said than done. Having him more than an arms distance away was harder on me than Ethan but we both survived. He did wake up WAY more than usual but that was understandable considering his new sleep surroundings. He loves his musical mobile and I think he really enjoys his own room and space-He smiles a lot there!  He has been in his crib every night since Sunday but after his 5:30AM feeding I put him in his swing in our room so that we can wake up together and get ready for our day :-) He has typically been getting up 2-3 times during the night. I am looking forward to stretching his night time sleep out as he continues to get bigger and esp. after I have to function back at work!

Ethan has his 2 month Dr appointment this Friday so I will be able to update his current stats then. I am not looking forward to his shots. I have asked John to go with us so that I can comfort Ethan and John can comfort me. I just hate when I hear my little guy cry. Maybe he will surprise me and not shed a tear! I sure hope so!

As I said, 8 weeks has flown by and Ethan has changed so much in such a short amount of time.  Here is a picture glimpse of what has happened in the 8 weeks of my son's beautiful life!

Birth Feb 8, 2010

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

So much more to come in the following days.  Ethan is up from a nap so I gotta run!

A Few Firsts

Last week Ethan had several first time experiences!!  Some were better than others...

He started his 7th week of life by coming down with a nasty cold.  My little man had a stuffy nose, puffy eyes, and a terrible cough.  He was pretty pitiful but still managed to smile a few times a day to show his Momma his incredible strength.  By Thursday he was starting the up hill climb and  pretty much kicked his first cold to the curb after a long hard week!

Sick Little E still looking pretty darn cute!

He had to breath through his mouth since his nose was so stufffy.

Ethan's first time at McCormick & Schmick on the Plaza for Daddy's 29th Birthday!

John got a special suprise from our waiter.

We celebrated John's birthday with his sister Carrie, brother in law Mike, & Mom and Dad O'Hara in KC.

Ethan's first time to sleep in a King Size bed!  He loved it...We better not get him used to this!!

So sweet!!!

After the birthday celebrations Ethan had his first Easter at Gran & Papa Gwaltney's

Ethan in his bunny outfit!

I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any cuter than this little Easter Bunny!

Little Cotton Tale

Getting his Vitamin D in the beautiful spring weather!

Celebrating Easter outside with a fire in the beautiful weather with my brother Kyle and his friends Kurt and Tyler, as well as Selina (UK Exchange Student) and her friend Johanna.  They are our extended family!!

Gran Gwaltney decided to bring back the Easter Egg Hunt since she now has her first grandchild.  Unfortunately, Ethan slept through the hunt but the "big kids" had a great time running around the yard!  To make it more interesting she hid eggs with money instead of candy!

Kurt tackling Kyle to get the egg!  They took this seriously!

Kyle Won!

Tyler trying to get information out of Gran to find the last few eggs!

John on the Hunt!

When Ethan woke up Gran gave him his first Easter basket!

So cute!

Gran and Ethan cozy up to read his Easter story!

He watched her read the entire time...he didn't make a peep!  Ethan loves his Story Time!

Ethan in his Easter Sunday outfit from Gran.

Bathed, dressed, fed, and ready to go to church...Oh NO...so much work...just so tired!

Ethan was so great during Easter Church service.

 He slept for most of the service but even when he woke up he just looked around.  I was so proud!

 This was his first time in the Church that John and I were married in!

Quick Family Pic! 

Ethan & Daddy

Ahhh...finally getting his bottle from Gran!

Spending quality time at home after a fun-filled Easter weekend with family & friends.

First time in his Bumpo seat from Annie & Travis

First time wearing his rattle socks!

It was hilarious when he figured out that he was making the noise when he kicked his feet. 

 He kicked and kicked!!

Ethan's world is full of First's but this week he had more than usual! 

Bring on Week 8-Ethan is ready!