{ Ethingtons }

Friday, March 2, 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

*This post was written on February 11, 2012

The past few weeks have been about soaking up our life as it is, just the three of us. We don't do much on the weekends other than case Daddy around the house, have dance parties in our pajamas, and make pancakes, and it's been nice. While walking hand in hand with Elizabeth, I find I'm just amazed she's such a big girl now and I'm trying to relish in these moments before we are officially a family of four.

She's a sweetie. Just like any parent, I am glowing with pride every time she is friendly and charming, says please and thank you, eats her fruits and veggies without complaint, seeks me out to give a hug and kiss, sings adorable songs, and is kind to other children. I'm really liking this age, she's not too naughty yet, she makes us crack up over the funny things she says, she's able to play and explore and climb by herself, and she's developing an imagination.This is starting to come out as she plays with her toys differently or with random objects around the house.

I've heard she will go through a naughty faze with the arrival of baby boy, but oh well, we'll deal with that when it comes. Even though she points to my bulging stomach and says, "Baby brother," I don't think she knows what's coming. None of us really do. :) But it will be great! Right?

She continues to amaze with her communication. She will repeat something she hears one time, and then want to talk about it more. She is also a fan of whining, but luckily we are able to reason with her enough that she will stop and nicely ask for what she wants. She knows that a sweet tone and saying please are the way to getting what she's after. One of the best things is that she can tell me when she's hurt and where, if she's hungry, and other needs. So helpful!

Speaking of helpful, she has learned to do one chore. I ask if she'll take out the garbage and she says, "Ya!" I hand her a small bag of garbage and she takes it to the garbage in the hallway and then comes right back and closes the door to our apartment. She's also good about picking something up off the floor and putting it back if I ask her to. We're still working on cleaning up the toys. She loves to sing the clean up song, but a little too much because it distracts her from actually helping.

She loves to observe and talk about the things around her. Colors, people, bright sunshine, animals, anything. In the car, she like to have music playing or someone singing songs, and she's not shy about telling us she wants a different one, or the same one repeated. She's always loved to be tickled and climb around and Richard has been teaching her to wrestle and become a human airplane, he's the best at being her rough housing outlet since I am only able to do gentle things like cuddle in this stage of pregnancy. We go to the park literally every day and I'm so glad she's such an active little kid! It's great to see her able to explore and play so much on her own.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Keeping Busy

One of Elizabeth's best friends Liam, and his Dad Steve

Wanting endless turns on the swing :(

Walks along the Corniche

Lemon Cupcakes as party favors for the Baby Shower I helped host for Audrey

Did I ever mention that I really enjoy making events beautiful? I love arranging tables and gifts and all that crafty stuff for parties. I am kind of always thinking about starting my own business like Amy Atlas to do part time from home. Oh, that would be fun!

Me, Audrey, and Jaclyn (all of us pregnant)

I have so much fun wrapping gifts :)

Elizabeth in her swing at the park we go to every day

Ladies night out with Shoni, Bates, Sneha, Ngoc, and me

Making Valentine's for all of the Relief Society sisters

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Park

We went to the park as a family on Friday evening, it was crowded and so fun to see 19 month old Elizabeth running around with the other kids and learning how to balance on the big kid swing. Richard captured these darling shots of her with his new 50mm lens. When we got home he made a slide show of all the images set to Clair de lune that we may or may not have bawled our eyes out to. :)

Monday, January 30, 2012

Counting down, counting up

About 7 months pregnant here

I'm big and getting bigger, and I get a little rush when I tell someone I'm due in less than a month. Meanwhile, darling Elizabeth is turning into a little girl so fast I can hardly stand it. She reminds me of this in new ways every day. While driving around she was babbling and singing Happy Birthday to herself, then I overheard her count to 20 clear as a bell! What?! Who is this kid?

Other things she said today that I want to remember:

no preblem
mommy do it
come play Legos
down please
broccoli then pasta
I'm cold
teeth hurt
more olives please
oh man!
nice!

Last week the weather was abnormally cold, and I loved it. We wore long pants and sweatshirts outside and socks to bed, and I can't tell you how nice it was for me to have a taste of fall weather in a climate where that season doesn't exist. I also made the most of dressing Elizabeth in tights every chance I got, (we have quite the collection of Lily's hand-me-downs thanks to Kerry), little girls in tights are just cute.

Me (and baby boy), Elizabeth 18 months, Richard

Elizabeth got her first hair cut... I just couldn't take the below the ear mullet any more! So, I went for it. It was just a trim in the back really. It doesn't exactly look great, but I think it's better. :)