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Sunday, January 18, 2009

What's so funny?

We have heard Ethan laugh a few times out loud -- but just isolated short laughs. This afternoon he started laughing while he was in his swing, for no apparent reason. I had the camera right next to me so I was able to capture it. I hope the swinging motion doesn't make anyone sick. I just wish I knew what he was thinking about!

Four Months

Ethan is now almost five months old (January 29th) but I have once again fallen behind in the blog, so I thought I would do a four month post. Here is how he has grown:

Birth -- Height: 19 1/2", Weight: 7 lbs., 5 oz.
1 week -- Height: 20 1/4", Weight: 6 lbs., 12 oz.
2 weeks -- Weight: 7 lbs., 6 oz.
1 month -- Height: 23" (95th percentile), Weight: 9 lbs., 7 oz. (50th percentile)
2 months -- Height: 24" (90th percentile), Weight: 11 lbs., 7 oz. (60th percentile)
4 months -- Height: 26 1/2" (95th percentile), Weight: 13 lbs., 13 oz. (25th percentile)

The pediatrician said Ethan is "perfect and healthy." That is good news! His low weight percentile is just due to the fact that he is stretching out instead of filling out.

He should start filling out more because he is now eating real food. The same day as his appointment, he had his first taste of cereal. We had been warned that babies generally don't like the taste or texture of cereal so they will spit it out but to keep trying it for a few days. Ethan gobbled it up from the first bite. I think he has been hungry! He had his mouth hanging open like a baby bird, waiting for more!Yesterday, he tried green beans for the first time. He loved them!

Here are a few other of my favorite pictures from the last month:

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Only in Texas...

As most of you know, Texans are very proud of their state and this pride is displayed everywhere -- flags, attire, bumper stickers, key chains, star decorations, you name it! Christmas is no exception. Instead of traditional Christmas lights, a house near us proudly displayed the Texas flag made out of red, white and blue lights across the roof. This is a bad picture but the best one I have.
I must admit, I have made fun of this pride in the past but now as a Texas resident--
Our Christmas tree.
The front of the house.The living room.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"

Thursday, January 01, 2009

This time last year...

New Year’s Day 2008 started off in the emergency room of a Guatemalan hospital. What I thought was a reoccurrence of pneumonia turned out to be bronchitis… and Ethan! It was a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year – finding out that a new little life was forming and that we would meet him in September (he surprised us by coming in August).

I look back and can see God’s hand that day already protecting Ethan. The ER doctor wanted to do a lung x-ray and asked if I could be pregnant. I said that I guessed I could be but didn’t know and did not think that I was. He said that it would be too early to tell (only about 2-3 weeks) and the x-ray wouldn’t hurt the baby anyway. My ob-gyn just happened to be on-call that day passed by in the hallway as I was waiting for the x-ray. He came in and told the other doctor that there would be no x-ray until I had a blood test and that we most definitely would be able to tell if I was pregnant. He came back into the room about a half hour later, called down to the lab and when he hung up, said, “Congratulations!” and gave me a hug. Daniel and I just stared at each other. We wanted a child so badly but did not expect to receive that news that day. I kept thinking that maybe the lab got the results wrong and didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Through many, many rounds of illness while in Guatemala and five weeks of bed rest, Ethan proved to be a fighter and I am amazed when I look at him and overwhelmingly thankful. Our God is great!

Happy New Year!!

Christmas Pictures

Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church. Christmas Eve candlelight service with our nephew and niece (Ben and Sarah), and Daniel's parents.Probably the only year when Ethan will be able to do this.Ethan with his cousins (Hannah, Jack, Sarah, Brooklin and Ben)Three generations of "D.E."s (Daniel Ethan, David Ethan, and David Edwin) and also Dallas Cowboys' fans. Ethan was pretty excited about all of his presents!