Merry Christmas

Here are some photos from our Christmas festivities. Hope all of your Christmases were merry and bright. We love you!
Christmas Cookies!

Grandpa and Grammy Hesson and Uncle Tony came down on Christmas morning to watch Ethan open his presents. Uncle Tony also opened his presents at our house. We had breakfast together and really enjoyed our relaxing Christmas morning at home. Thanks for traveling down to see us! We love you! Ethan's favorite toy was the .50 cent punch ball I put in his stocking.

Opening presents. I think this one is actually Uncle Tony's. Ethan loved the paper!

More presents! Ethan made out with clothes, movies, and toys! Now the task will be to find a place for everything.

Jared surrounded by presents. Grandma and Grandpa Krause were very generous.
Family Christmas photo.

My boys! Being silly as usual!

Ethan and Nathan playing with their loot at Grandma and Grandpa Krause's.

New Things

Ethan is learning so many things so quickly. Thought I should blog about them for those of you interested in what he's doing these days. In the last week he has learned the following, "bye bye" accompanied wtih a wave (for the longest time we couldn't seem to get him to wave, now he likes it a lot), if asked "Where's your belly?" he will point to his belly button and laugh, he can climb the stairs very quickly and with much coordination (any tips on teaching him how to get down would be much appreciated), with a little step (usually mom or dad fill in for the step) he can climb onto the couch, and today he figured out that the fork I always give him is for putting food into his mouth (he had trouble stabbing it himself, but with a little help figured that out too). Not much when you think about what you do everyday yourself as an adult, but for him these are major milestones. Every parent says this, but he's so smart!

Funny Motherhood Story

Yesterday in church, Ethan was taking his little cat nap. Jared had him, but had to pass him off to me in order to count how many people were in Sacrament meeting. Not his normal job, but he was filling in. During the pass off, I was so happy he stayed asleep that I sacrificed a little comfort for myself. Well, he began drooling and before I knew it, I could feel drool running down my chest and into my cleavage. Totally hilarious and awkward! I couldn't wipe it off because Ethan was in the way and still asleep and the people around me would probably be very concerned. It continued for about ten minutes until he finally woke up! I had to laugh, but contained myself to produce a silent, body shaking belly laugh. The joys of motherhood.

Okay, this is the last one for today, I promise

Just a couple other photos that were super cute (well, any pic of Ethan is super cute to me; I'm his biased mother). LOL!

Watching the Gator Game! SEC Champs 2008!

Playing in the leaves at Grandma and Grandpa Krause's Haus. He loved it!

Ethan loves to play in Sydney's beds. Last time we were at Grandpa and Grammy Hesson's house, he was hanging out in her kennel. This time, he found her daybed. When I tried to get him out, he threw a huge fit and got right back in the next chance he got. I guess it really wasn't hurting him, so I gave in. He loved it.

Baby Brooke

My cousin, Lauren, and her husband, Mickey, had their first child on November 30. Lauren was probably the cutest pregnant woman I've ever seen! Now she's a cute lil' mama. No pics of the proud parents, but here is little Brooke Riley Leth with her "Aunt" Andie. (I'm really her second cousin or is it first-cousin once removed?) She is soooooooo cute! Makes me even more excited for Stacey and Joe to have little Lyla; due in March 2009.

Naked Baby!

I just love my chubby baby. He is so cute, especially when he's naked and you can see all his little fat rolls. Here are some nude, but not inappropriate shots. Hahahahaha. Here's one in the tub the other night. Check out the mohawk!
Action shot! He kept running away (I wonder why) and hiding between the crib and the bookshelf.

Look at that cute little booty!

I'm so Proud! (Revised Edition--With Photo)

My Mama in her graduation garb. She's so cute. Look at that stylish mortarboard!

I just have to brag about my mama! After many years of going to school (part-time and full-time), working full-time, and raising a family, she is graduating with her Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration from Flagler College this weekend. I know it wasn't easy for her and there were other things as a mom and a grammy she'd rather have been doing, but she stuck to it and achieved her goal of graduating from college before she turns 50. (Her 50th b-day is in February 2009.) She has always been an example of perseverance and hard work. Both my parents have strived to teach us how to be honest, caring, kind, diligent people. I am so grateful to be a part of my family and so proud of my mama!

So cute I just had to share them ...

Ethan loves to snuggle with Phoebe. I got a picture of the two of them today. So cute!
Okay, so I left Ethan's booster seat in St. Augustine, tonight we improvised and sat him on two pillows (covered with a towel) and used one of my belts to hold him in position. He scooted up to the table and ate like a big boy with mom and dad. Totally ghetto, but it worked!

We had spaghetti and chicken parmesan. Do you think he liked it?