Lights On

Well Ethan survived our first lengthy power outage yesterday. We went to the library and when we came home for lunch it was out. We went out for lunch and then came home, it was still out. So we called cl&p who said it would be fixed by 6:30. Given that the problem was on our street and there were no cl&p workers, not sure how they could give such an estimate. Ethan and I went to visit James at work. Of course when James and I tried calling again before we left there, we got the same story. We invited ourselves to Mandy & Jeff's and brought along dinner. Then we called again, new estimate of 8:30. So we went home to find five trucks on the street and my neighbor came over to say they told him 10:30. So we got Ethan's portable bed and went back. By 10:30 they changed the estimate to 12. Of course we could have stayed w/ Jeff and Mandy who were kind enough to invite us to, but the weather idiots claimed it was going to start snowing at 3am. We didn't want to have to drive home in it and get Ethan down the hill. So at 12:30 we called home again and finally got the answering machine. But of course when we got up this morning there was no snow. I wonder how many people are allowed to be this incompetent in their jobs. I told Ethan he can be what he wants when he grows up, so long as he's not a weather man or a CL&P employee. Sorry no pictures, the computer is still down.

Technical Difficulties

Ethan had a great visit with his Grandma and Pa and his cousins Amber and Jonathan and Auntie Holly and Uncle Tom (we won't mention the things Auntie Holly was trying to teach him). I have lots of great pictures to post, but our computer is not working right now so I have to use the laptop. I haven't had the ambition to yank the cable from the back of the computer and install the camera software on the laptop. If someone (not mentioning any names) doesn't get around to fixing it soon I'll have to resort to that and since the Jets play the Dolphins this afternoon and he's working tomorrow and Tuesday it doesn't seem likely. But the laptop is OLD and the pictures are huge, so storing them on this hard drive is not ideal, and laptop keyboards are a nightmare for those who know how to type. Anyway, I'll figure out a way to get some photos to Ethan's demanding public soon.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Here are a few shots of Ethan's day. He wasn't that interested in presents this morning. His favorite thing was a snack cup that was in his stocking. This afternoon he had a little more fun with tearing into packages, and I'm not sure whether he or his Dad enjoyed the blocks more. He also liked his pound a peg toy. He would like to thank everyone for the lovely cards and gifts. He got some books and movies and a neat set of animal magnets, and some contributions to his college fund. We hope you all enjoyed Christmas!

Thanks, Jeannie!

This most awesome apron was my birthday gift from my friend Jeannie. She made it. Can you believe that? Those of you who are Anne Taintor fans will appreciate it. Now Ethan can really hang onto my apron strings. Jeannie where did you find this fabric?? This picture doesn't do it justice.

Conquering the Hill

Ethan and I went out yesterday. He has been coughing and congested for two weeks so back to the doctor he went. He is now on the wonderful bubble gum amoxicillin. With a cold that lasts that long they treat it as a sinus infection. We'll see if it helps. Anyway our driveway is still covered with snow, which meant carrying Ethan up the hill. I took the sled up and put it in my trunk, and after the doctor we went to the grocery store. What a disaster. I've never seen so many people in Southbury on a Tuesday. I don't know where they all came from. The store we went to is in a plaza w/ a K-Mart and a Borders and a bunch of other little stores. It was a nightmare. We had to go drop off his prescription afterwords- literally giving a piece of paper to someone at a drive though window. We got in the car at 12:30, the CVS is probably less than a mile away and 5 minutes from home. We did not get home until 1:15. We may have conquered the hill, but not the crowds. I had no idea so many people had the day before Christmas eve off. When we got home, the groceries went in the sled and Ethan and I brought it down. He thought that was pretty funny, esp. when the sled got too fast at the bottom for me to stop (it weighed a lot) and sped past us. Fortunately it stopped without tipping over.

Let it snow...

 

Like we could stop it. I wish. Ethan and I were stuck home yesterday due to predictions that snow would start early (we did not see a flake until after 12), and it never really stopped snowing today, though they said it would this morning. According to the weather people (being that it's the holiday season I'll be charitable and call them people) we're in for another storm tomorrow that should make a nice mess, several inches of snow followed by sleet and freezing rain.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday cards and gifts. Granny I'd be happy to have you make a cake for you, me, and Ethan. Maybe I'll take you up on it when you're in the north again. Maxine card was lovely Aunt Linda, good job :)The good people I work with were planning a little party for yesterday but being that we live in this fantastic place the weather prevented my attendance. I hope they enjoyed whatever treats they were planning without me. Have no fear, we can use it as an excuse to have goodies in January sometime.

Ethan gave me a preservation hall jazz band cd and thanked me for taking him there (how many 1 year olds can say they've experienced the best jazz in the world?). He's still sick and neither James nor I feel particularly great, but hopefully this cold will go away soon. We managed to go to Yvonne's for lunch. I was hoping for some of their chicken and dumplings but they didn't have it today, so I had chicken gumbo instead and shared a grilled cheese with Ethan. It's not exactly the best birthday I've ever had, but it tops last year so that's good.

Lunch Time!

Ethan likes to pick up his Daddy's lunch box and walk around with it. Not sure where he thinks he's going, but it isn't to work with James. Today he actually came with me to Litchfield. Not to work, but for the staff Christmas party. He did pretty well, and had a lot of fun running around the reading room. He enjoyed macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, and broccoli for lunch and he even like some of the shortbread Lynn made for dessert. I thought it was too soon to try Charlene's pecan pie but I enjoyed that. He fell asleep in the car just before we got home and of course then he woke up (it was nap time) and when I put him down for his nap he laid in his crib babbling for half an hour. Then I had to wake him up because he went to sleep late so he wanted to sleep longer, but I didn't want him to not go to bed.

Blast from the Past

This was Ethan last year. Can you believe it?

Ethan wanted me to make some belated and early birthday wishes. Belated happy birthdays to JW, Gramps, and Teddy, and an early happy birthday to Jeannie! We hope you all had or have a great day with lots of cake! Though Ethan says he's sorry that it can't possibly be as good as HIS birthday cake was (right Aunt Linda?)

Big Day

Today Ethan was busy. He helped make breakfast by sitting in his high chair and reading this great new book that Clara gave him. He loves it. I'll get a picture of that one of these days. We had french toast (Pa's favorite) and Ethan's had cinnamon and vanilla. He seemed to like it. He also had some pear. He's been eating that a lot lately. Then we played for a little while and it was Nap time. But after that, the fun began. We went to Stew Leonard's to get a Christmas tree. Being lazy and not in the mood to cut one down, or pay a lot for it, we decided to go there since we'd gotten decent trees there in the past. We were going to take Ethan in to see all of the fun little characters, but about ten steps in the door was enough- we will do that another day. It was a zoo. Then we went to get our tree, and after wandering through the maze of Christmas decor, we finally got to the trees. We chose one quickly and then had to go through another maze with the car to pick it up. They used to just take it to your car but now you have to bring your car to them, and cross all the traffic turning into the drive to do it. What a nightmare. Then we came home and put the tree up, had lunch, and went to get Ethan haircut #2. You could probably tell by the last set of pictures that he needed it. He was a little angel, quiet through the whole thing, didn't cry at all. We did not go back to the place w/ the firetrucks because, despite the fun for the first haircut picture, it was ridiculously expensive for a baby haircut. I got a recommendation from someone in the parents group for another place, and that worked out fine. Then we got home just in the nick of time for nap #2, more playtime, dinner, a bath and bed. Poor little Ethan is still working on the molars, and his gums are red. He's also got another cold, so he's been taking fairly long naps and still sleeping at night. It's hard work to be little.

My boy!

James went to BJs so we could get some baking supplies for the season. He found this gigantic bag of chocolate chips. Ethan thought it was so much fun. He already knows how good chocolate is. Think toll house would pay money for this one?

Winter Art

Ethan has been busy again. We thought this one was pretty funny. If you can't tell, the red nose is a pom pom and the flurries are pieces of tissue. I think his teachers are pretty clever.

The Coconut Game

Ethan wanted me to hold him while I was attempting to put away groceries. So I couldn't climb on the counter to put things on high shelves. Not that I normally do that, but I didn't really think climbing up the step stool with him was a great idea either. I had a bag of coconut that had to go up a few shelves. I tried throwing it up there and it kept falling back down. Ethan thought that was the funniest thing ever. Eventually I put him down so I could get it where it goes. He was having such fun that I kept throwing it up there and letting it fall. You can see why.

15 Months

Ethan had his 15 month doctor's appointment today. He is 31 1/2" long and weighs 22 lbs 1 oz. He had three shots and did very well. He cried a little but was ok by the time we got him dressed. They were pleased that he gained weight from the last visit as a lot of toddlers start losing weight at this age because they aren't interested in eating and are more active. I don't have a picture but I'm going to try to upload a movie.

Ethan's Weekend

Thursday Ethan went to see the doctor because he was yanking at his ears and had a cold for over a week. We were worried about an ear infection. We found out that he is getting two molars so he was in pain from that, and did not have an ear infection. So that was good news and explained the uncharacteristic crankies. The poor kid was miserable all day. He must be feeling a lot better this weekend. He spent a lot of time with his Daddy yesterday. They played and went to the mall and then played some more. We had snow today so James had to shovel and he wanted to stand in the window watching him and waving. Today they went to visit Ethan's great grandma Jean in New Rochelle and so Ethan decided to dress things up with this lovely little sweater vest. (Wait till you see the one Uncle Andrew got him for his birthday- we're hoping the fit will coincide with Christmas.) Can you tell he got new shoes? The others were getting hard to put on so now he's up a whole size from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2. He grows like a weed. Oh, in the top right picture he was clapping and saying "yeah" which we do a lot when he does something good or helpful. He's also learning how to throw tantrums and slap me in the face which isn't exactly fun but I suppose they have to test their limits.

Cleaning up

I forgot to post this before. Ethan helped us out on Thanksgiving morning by swiffering the floor. He really likes to help with whatever we are doing, whether it be cleaning the floor or wiping off the table (ie pushing all the food he hasn't eaten onto the floor) but I don't want to discourage him because someday he WILL be helpful and it would be nice if he still wants to be :)

Wow!

Ethan says "wow" a lot these days. It's pretty cute. He also says "Hi" and "Bye" but not necessarily at the right times. He tries to say "thank you" which is really cute, and he says "boom" when he falls. He can also hiss like a snake when he looks at the animal flash cards he has from Jeannie and Kurt. His new favorite things to do include pulling the chain on the ceiling fan lights, having me open the cupboard so he can "shop" in it and pull things off the shelves and put them back. Fortunately he still likes his books too.

Ethan got a fabulous birthday present from his Great Aunt Phyllis. She showed us on his birthday and delivered it on Thanksgiving. Isn't it a beautiful quilt? It has stars like on his walls and lots of the colors that are in his room. It's the best kind of present- handmade with love and actually useful! I put it on his carpet for the picture but it spiffs up his big-boy bed for now. The doctors say he shouldn't have blankets till he's two. I think that's a little ridiculous but for some reason I'm listening to them. He still uses sleepy sacks which he outgrows very quickly. The kid is LONG!

Take Babies to Work

I had to work on Friday and James didn't. So he spent the day w/ Ethan and they came to visit me. Ethan enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the card catalog. Yes we still have one of those. Believe it or not there IS still some information not on the computer. Though we just got a big grant to put more of it on (hooray!!).

Yesterday we went to Uncle Fred's funeral and the little guy did pretty well. It was a nice service and he sat sort of quietly through it. Of course by the end he was exhausted since he wouldn't nap in the car, and he was also hungry, so we had to head home.

Today we're hanging out inside as it's miserable out and the driveway is slush. But my brilliant husband is at Giant's stadium to watch the jets on the jumbo tron. I hear someone calling me.

Decorating

This morning Ethan and I decorated cookies and watched some of the parade before nap time. You can see that he enjoyed it.

Uncle Fred

Ethan's great-great uncle Fred passed away this week. We'll all miss him. He was a really lovely person. I thought those of you who knew him would like this picture of him riding the trike with Gramps at the reunion this summer. For those of you who don't know, he was married to my grandfather's sister Helen. I'm sad that Ethan won't get to know him.

MORE Giggles?

I thought you might like to see how Ethan still giggles. This is about the only laughter we got today. He seems to be teething again and has been tired and grouchy most of the day.

Thanksgiving Mail

Ethan's trying to add to this post but I'm not sure anyone would understand his typing. We got Thanksgiving
cards yesterday from Granny and Gramps and Grandma and Pa and Ethan enjoyed opening them. He really liked the Maxine one Granny :0) Ethan won't get to spend the day with them but we'll be thinking of you all. Ethan and I made the dough for our cookies this afternoon so we can decorate them Thurs. morning while we watch the parade just like I'm sure you'll be doing Ma.

If You Feel Like Dancing

Here's a new movie of Ethan's dancing ability. Don't make fun of my baby for dancing like his father. And yes Jeannie that IS Don Henley. Ethan loves him ;)

Little Turkey

This morning Ethan went to playgroup and one of the moms worked up this turkey hat project for the kids to decorate. Can you believe I got a smile AND the hat on his head? He had a good time playing with the other kids and with their toys. One of them had a music kit and he loved that. Guess that's going on the wish list. It wasn't too noisy.

More Art

Ethan came home today with some more artwork. These are all cutouts of feet that he pasted to the page. The scanner isn't quite big enough for the whole thing but you get the idea. They told me that he's started dancing for them now. It's pretty funny I'll have to try taking a few new movies.

Stay Puffed!

This is Ethan's new winter coat. Doesn't he look like a giant orange marshmallow? I think he could wear this to practice walking and it would protect him from all bumps and bruises. As well as the drafts in our house :) The pants are the Levis Grandma and Pa sent to Ethan a while back. They finally don't fall off.

Holy Guacamole!

 
 
Ethan is really loving the dips. He now dips his fingers in the hummus and licks it off. Tonight I was eating some of the guacamole I tried feeding him before which he had refused. Of course because I had it, he wanted it. Thus the mess you see here.

Ethan and I tried to visit a neighbor but they weren't home. For those of you who think the world is full of bad people, here's a tale to change your mind. Last week, someone ran over our mailbox. We were muttering about the loser who would do that, and our neighbor's mailbox that was also taken down. Then, a few days later, we got a note in our mailbox from the husband of the woman who did it. She apparently swerved to avoid hitting a cat. He enclosed a check and his phone number in case we needed more money to fix it. Luckily we only needed to bolt it back on, so Ethan and I tried to go return the check since it was actually from a neighbor. No one was home so we'll put it in their mailbox, but we thought it was really nice of them to be honest and to try paying for it.

For Aunt Linda and Uncle Louis

 
 
 
So the Jets was for Uncle Teddy so he might not like this one. Ethan got this outfit last year from Aunt Linda and Uncle Louis. The pants are still a little big but I figured it won't fit next year. And it was good luck, the Dolphins won! Of course we didn't get to see it, they weren't playing a local team and I don't have direct tv. But it's good that they won.

Visiting

 

Ethan went to visit his cousins today and meet his new cousin Colin in MA. He had fun playing with them. Of course he refused to nap on the way there and only napped like 45 min. on the way home so he was a nightmare this evening. He used to sleep well in the car but doesn't really anymore. I think it's because we are not supposed to turn his car seat around but his legs are so long that he's just cramped up with his feet against the back seat. I tried putting him down when we got home but he just complained for half an hour, finally fell asleep and didn't want to wake up. I guess I should have just kept him up but he was miserable from being so tired. James is putting him to bed now.

Dips

 

While we're having more fun with food, we tried dip today. Hummus to be precise. Ethan enjoyed eating it with his cheesy poofs. He tried guacamole yesterday but I think he was a little overwhelmed by the garlic. He wouldn't eat it.

Tonight we had some fun with groceries. I have a bag of cans and a few other things that we put downstairs on shelves. I hadn't taken it down yet, and Ethan discovered it. He spent quite some time packing and unpacking the bag, stacking the cans like they were blocks, knocking them over, and watching them roll across the floor. He also got just about all the way in the bag to get something out of it. Of course by the time I had the camera he was out and wouldn't do it again. At least now I have another way to keep him busy when I need to cook!

Spoons!

 

Ethan is having more luck with utensils lately. It helps if he's eating something kinda thick that sticks to the spoon, like applesauce. He seems very proud of his ability. Sometimes it's just too much trouble for him and he lets us feed him. Right now dinner time is a messy affair.