Birthday Party!

Ethan's First Birthday party was held at our home yesterday. Grandpa & Grammy Hesson, Aunt Stacey & Uncle Joe, Grandpa & Grandma Krause, Aunt Valerie, Uncle Dana, & Kalia, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Melissa, & Nathan, Uncle Brandon, Barbara, Jacob, Ella, & Sam Anders, and Mommy and Daddy were there to celebrate with him. Mommy baked all day Friday and you can see the results below. We had a pumpkin cake and little cupcakes. Yummy!Here's Ethan blowing out his first birthday candle. Although he knows how to blow out a candle, he got stagefright and Mommy had to help. Here he is with his little birthday cupcake. He is a little unsure at first and was totally Ethan about the whole experience. He slowly poked the cupcake for awhile, took a bite finally, and then devoured the whole thing. I love my cautious little boy. So cute!
Before and After shots of the cupcake: )Opening birthday presents. Ethan really made out. He got a lot of fun toys, clothes, and a Liedherhousen (pardon my very incorrect spelling of this traditional German garb) outfit. I still can't believe Aunt Valerie found it. But then again, the Internet is a wonderful tool! His new ball! He loves balls because they are fun to throw. I'm glad Grandma Krause was smarter than me and bought him ones that are soft!

Ethan doesn't seem to like his Liedherhousen hat, but Daddy does. Doesn't Jared look like an elf?Are all thesepresents for me?

Overall, it was a fun day. Ethan was totally worn out, but was a very gracious little host. It is almost unbelievable that he is a year old (well, on Wednesday)! The year has flown by. My skinny little baby is a chubby little toddler. We love him so much and are amazed at how much he enriches our lives. Here's to a wonderful year full of wonderful milestones. I'm sure next year will be even more exciting, but hopefully it won't go as quickly.

Pumpkin Patch with the Dawson's

Ethan went to the Hagerty High Pumpkin Patch with the Dawson's this week. He wore his costume which made for some super cute pictures. Carol bought him his own little sugar pumpkin and he loves it. She also said he wasn't too sure about the way the grass felt. He is so funny.

Timing

Okay, so I've been having this subject on my mind for awhile now. I won't go into too many details because a girl has to have some secrets: ) But it involves wanting to do things with one's life and not knowing if you should. I came across this article called Timing by Elder Dallin H. Oaks (an apostle of the LDS Church). Actually, my friend and boss, Michelle Inkley, sent me a copy of it last year when I was trying to figure out whether or not to return to work full-time. I read it then and applied what I learned and made a hard decision, but it was the right decision. I came across my copy of the talk last night and started reading it. So many things jumped out at me. For example, it's not about doing the right thing, it's about doing the right thing at the right time. So, although I'd love to pursue a PhD and that is a good thing, it's not the right thing, right now, etc, etc.
I have several friends and acquaintances that I have observed to be struggling with similar concerns. My friend Carol said that if you say yes to one thing, you'll have to say no to another. This falls right in line with what I was reading. I really felt like I should share the link to the article for those of you struggling with what to do with yourselves, where to go, what to pursue, etc. Enjoy and post your thoughts. I would love to hear them; plus what you say may be just want I or someone else needs to hear: )
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=d02f74536cf0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Best Friends

Phoebe and Ethan are best friends. Here they are playing at home. They play tug of war, fetch, and Ethan likes to just give her his food. Ethan laughs when Phoebe comes close and she always runs to his crib when he wakes up from a nap. They love each other.

"A Walkin Man Walks..." Updated with Pics!

My mom wants new pics, but I don't have any to speak of. I do, however, have a walking man on my hands. He has discovered he enjoys it, no matter how many times he falls. All day is spent walking, falling, standing up again, and walking some more. He can get to most places he wants by walking now. I am so proud of him! I try to help him by letting him hold my hand, but he wants to do it himself. My mom bought him a shirt that reads "Mr. Independent" and it is definitely true!

Like his Aunt Stacey, Ethan likes to hold the remote at all times.

I'm so excited, I think I'll burst! Don't you love the dinosaur camo jammies?I love watching him. His little body is so cute!

Laundry!

Ethan loves to help do laundry. He helps Carol out regularly and decided to show me his skills yesterday. I would fold the items and he would pick them up and put them in the basket. Once they were all folded and placed in the basket, it was time to take them out and roll around in them! We had a blast doing our laundry yesterday. Here are some pics I snapped. Also, for about a week and a half Ethan has been practicing his walking. He will do between 2 and 8 steps in a row. He's getting pretty good at it, but I haven't been able to get it on film yet. I'll keep you posted on his progress (no pun intended).

Before and After

It's been awhile, but I'm finally posting pics. Jared started a minor bathroom project (improving some grout in the upstairs shower) and it turned into a major bathroom project. The backing (sheetrock) was rotten and crumbling, so tiles were breaking. He pulled them all down and started over. He and our brother-in-law, Dana, retiled the shower. It is so beautiful. I think they did a marvelous job. Here are the pics to prove it.

Gator Game and Haircuts

My cousins, Lauren and Mickey, took us to the Gator Game on Saturday, 9/27! We had a blast visiting with them and watching the Gators. Too bad that they lost the game to Ole Miss.

Ethan came along and had a lot of fun clapping and watching the action. He was extremely tired, so we left early with Lauren (who is 7 months pregnant and soooooooo cute).

For weeks we have been saying that Ethan needed a haircut. It hangs in his face and the top was so long. Jared gave Ethan his first hair cut yesterday. We distracted Ethan with Goldfish crackers.

This shot says, "Why are you defiling my beautiful locks? Now the girls aren't going to notice me!"

Here's an after picture, in his PJ's. I hesitated to cut his hair because I didn't want him to stop looking like a baby. He still looks like a baby, but so much more grown up.

Tag, You're It!

Naomi officially tagged me and I added one I saw on Jeni's blog. I really do love these things. I think they're fun: )

8 Favorite MOVIES:
1. Singin in the Rain
2. The Sound of Music
3. Mulan
4. Mission Impossible 3 (JJ Abrams and Tom Cruise--a match made in heaven)
5. The Princess Bride
6. Raising Arizona
7. About a Boy
8. 13 Going on 30

8 Favorite TV shows: (I'm adding this because I love TV)
1. Alias
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
3. Friends
4. Heroes
5. Lost
6. How I Met Your Mother
7. Psych
8. Bones

8 Favorite RESTAURANTS:
1. The Cheese Wheel (in St. Augustine and owned/operated by my aunt; I would eat there even if it weren't free: )
2. O'Steen's (also in St. Augustine and owned/operated by my uncle)
3. Carrabba's
4. Panera Bread
5. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
6. PF Changs
7. TooJay's
8. Longhorn Steakhouse

8 Things that HAPPENED YESTERDAY:
1. I went to the Wheel of Fortune tryouts with Patti, but we didn't get to audition (it was a raffle type thing and we didn't get picked; however, we solved all the puzzles from the audience)
2. Slept in (7:02 AM, but still I slept in)
3. Did several chores
4. Watched Ethan take Jared out with a hairbrush
5. Watched General Conference
6. Finally bought a baby gate for our stairs
7. Read the book I am currently engrossed in (Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann)
8. Watched two episodes from the X-Files Season 1

8 Things I'm LOOKING FORWARD TO:
1. Reading more from my book
2. Blog surfing
3. Reconnecting with more of my buddies on Facebook
4. Snuggling with Jared
5. Feeling 100% (I've been sick today: (
6. Going to the gym
7. Losing 5 more pounds
8. Shopping at Costco

8 Things on my WISH LIST:
1. Having more children (SOON, If I can convince Jared)
2. Reading more wonderful books
3. Traveling abroad
4. Buying a bigger house with a yard
5. Going back to school for my PhD
6. Seeing my children become happy and successful
7. Seeing my family join the LDS Church
8. Not having to work, but doing so if I choose to

8 People I'm TAGGING:
I can't bring myself to tag anyone, but please do this is you want!

I saw this on Jeni's blog.
3 Joys
1. My husband
2. Ethan
3. Seeing clients at work fulfill their dreams

3 Fears
1. The Dark, Seriously!
2. Regret
3. Not being a good mama

3 Goals
1. Raising a good and happy family
2. Learn how to slow down and "Enjoy the Journey"
3. Get in shape

3 current obsessions/collections
1. Blogging and Facebook
2. Reading
3. Going to the gym

3 Random Surprising Things
1. I was previously married for three years
2. I love to do domestic things (bake bread, sew (although poorly and not very often), and if I could can, I would)
3. I used to rock climb and was actually pretty good at it