Friday, December 31, 2010

2010

In some ways I can't believe that 2010 is over, in other ways I can't believe it has taken this long to over. As I have been reflecting back, I think it is safe to say this has been the most difficult year of my/our lives. This has been a year of incredible highs and some of the lowest lows for Chris and I, in just about every aspect of our life, spiritually, emotionally, personally, financially, you name it. But it has also been the year I have so clearly seen God's hand in the trials. In what I consider to be the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with (sorry for the vagueness, but for the privacy of others it just isn't appropriate to divulge all info on this trial), I was amazed to see God's hand move in ways that I thought would never happen and frankly where not possible. But God continues to amazing me and show me that nothing is out of His reach and nothing is impossible for Him, which gives me continued hope for healing for others, and continued hope for this coming new year.
This has not been all valley's we have had some great things happen in our own life and are so looking forward to many things. One of which is the upcoming birth of our baby girl (more updates to come on that later). I am excited to see the wonderful things God will continue to do in 2011! Hope everyone has a great night.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Knowledge or Ignorance

About two weeks ago I found myself wondering "Is ignorance bliss, or is knowing half the battle." Kind of a weird question I guess, but at that moment I was seriously contemplating that. I am about 15 weeks pregnant with our second child (since I have not blogged much lately, I guess that was my official announcement about that). When I was pregnant with Ethan we found out I had an "incompetent cervix." I had to have emergency surgery to keep from giving birth in the second trimester and then the 15 weeks of bedrest. The doctors told me the second time would be different. Yes the medical issue is still there but the surgery would be preventative, would take place early on and I would have minimal bedrest, hopefully only as a recovery to the surgery. At that time I thought knowing is half the battle; next time around this will be manageable.
Well I had the surgery about two weeks ago. I was shocked at how much pain I was in. I didn't remember the pain from the surgery before, I just remember the annoying bedrest. Chris gently reminded me that I was in the hospital for days following the first surgery and had an IV that nurses where pumping meds into. I was in a state of shock by all that was going on that I must have missed that piece where the nurses where pumping me full of pain killers. Ignorance is bliss!?!?
This time I came home hours after the surgery. I thought bedrest would be nothing, for crying out loud I was on it for 15 weeks last time, this time it was only for two weeks. As long as everything recovered fine. After a day or two I found myself annoyed at bedrest and wondering how on earth I could handle this for another week or more. Really, "Hello Amanda, 15 weeks last time, two this time." What a baby I was being. So I started to wonder, why did this seem more challenging for me? I knew what to expect. I think for me, in this situation, I did much better with the ignorance. When I did not know what was going on, and the doctors were telling me if I got up my baby could be born right then and there, I just did what they said. Not that it wasn't hard (I really struggled emotionally with all of it) , but I was just in a state of shock with all this new info. This time I know the risk, I know that everything that can be done preventatively was and is being done and I know the surgery was done WAY before it became a problem so staying in bed was hard!
I still think that the majority of the time knowing is half the battle, but in this case, my type A personality took over yet again and had it all planned out, and it turned out to be harder than I expected. When will I learn that God is in control and I need to give it all to him and find joy in the moment and not expect things to go my way. As much as I love to know all, some times I do better when I am ignorant.
Does that make sense? Does anyone else feel that way?

Friday, October 29, 2010

Buzz Lightyear

I am usually not the one to get into the Halloween spirit (besides carving pumpkins). I just don't get into the whole dressing up thing. But this year I seem to be having more fun with it. Our church has decided to do a harvest festival tomorrow and we are taking Ethan and then also working a booth with our youth group kids.
Anyway back to my point...I think it is insane how much people will spend on costumes for this holiday. So a month or so ago, while at the mall, Ethan and made out way into the Disney store where they were having a sale on PJ's (for the record I also think PJ's are overpriced), so I let Ethan pick out one that he would like to dress up like. With a little creativity from dad add in, we have a cheap, and I think, cute halloween costume.

So here is what we came up with:
Buzz Lightyear PJ's-$10

Daddy made and designed Buzz Lightyear wings- $4.50

A two and half year old pretending to be Buzz Lightyear-Priceless


Saturday, September 11, 2010

New House E's Room

I mentioned a while back that we moved. About the time we moved it seemed like the sky started falling and our lives got turned upside down. I have been wanting to post photos of our new house (mainly for my records, but some people have actually ask to see them. shocking!). I did a post a while back showing our backyard and grass we put in. Well today I am going to show you some photos of Ethan's room. Eventually I will show photos of the whole house, but like I said things got turned upside down so although we have been living here a while it only just now getting FULLY decorated.Ethan loves his sports themed bedding. He also has Lightning McQueen sheets that Gamma made for him. He LOVES those!

Daddy screen printed this poster a long time ago. When we moved we found it (funny how that happens) and thought it would look cool in Ethan's room.

Ethan's room with all his toys in their home. This is not always the case. This is just minutes after we finished cleaning his room.


N-Tee Sami and Mommy painted these mini canvases for Ethan's room of all things Ethan: a baseball, robot, football, car and a bug. He loves them all.

My Ethan looking up at the aforementioned paintings (I had just finished hanging them). Ethan we love you so much baby!!!

**As we continue to finish the rest of the house I will post more tours. We are getting close, we spent all day today cleaning out the remaining boxes in the garage and hanging things on the walls throughout the house.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Questions

I was recently tagged in a friends blog to answer some fun questions. Here are my answers.

1. What is your signature color?

I must say it is probably black, for clothing anyway. I am trying to branch out a bit more, but it looks good with everything, it usually looks more put together than other colors and it looks with the blonde hair.

For my house I have been into that brighter green that is popular right now. So the house we just moved into has a nice brighter feel to it. Maybe, hopefully one day soon I will get time to take some photos of parts of the house.

2. Your most embarrassing moment?

Okay one time in junior high I sat on a chair in my English class that had chocolate on it (unbeknown to me). I was wear white jeans (it was the early 90's, 'nough said) and when I got up from my seat to go talk to the teacher I had chocolate all over my bum and the class got a great kick out of it. I did not so much. Fun times (it took me awhile to remember this. I must have suppressed it pretty deep. haha).

3. Would you ever get anything pierced other than your ears? If yes, what?

I think I would get a teeny tiny piercing on my nose. But I don't even wear earrings anymore so I am not thinking that is likely.

4. Are you a social butterfly or a homebody?

I am a homebody, an introvert. Over the years I have learned to be more outgoing and when I am with people that I am very comfortable with and know well I can appear outgoing. But I prefer to not go to big group things, and I don't meet people well. It isn't that I don't want to be social or meet new people, it is that I am always so worried that I am not making a good impression that I might be annoying them. It is very anxiety producing for me. It is much easier for me to open up on the blog or on FB becuase it is not face to face. I know that seems a bit wierd but it is true.

Example: When I was a toddler I would only speak at home to my parents. Extended family thought I was mute for a long time. My parents put me in preschool to help me socialize more.

5. Are you done having babies or do you want more?

I would love to have more. I am not sure how many more though, we like to to take it one at a time. ;)

6. Are you loyal to your hairstylist or are do you tryout every salon in town?

I am very loyal to my hairstylist, "Little Patty." I love her and rumor has it she might be moving to a new salon and I will follow her there. I go to her, Chris and Ethan do, my sister Sam and even mom. Not to mention a handful of friends who all recommended her to me.

7. How many times have you moved in your life?

I have moved 9 times in my life. Of that 9, four of them were in college alone. I didn't think too much about moving as a kid (I only moved twice then) but as an adult I must say it is something I don't like.

8. If you could plan your dream vacation with just you and your love where would it be?

Probably Greece or Italy or some sort of European backpacking vacation.

here are my tags:

Two Little Monkeys

Samantha Michelle Photography

Adventures of the Matlocks

Friday, August 13, 2010

Legoland

Today Ethan and I had a chance to go to Legoland. I had never been. Ethan went one time when he was one with Chris, but I ended up with food poisoning so I missed out. Well today my good friend Stacey had a free pass and used it on me. That was nice of her. Thanks Stace.

The boys had such a wonderful time, they are such great friends.

Ethan giving N a hug. So cute.


The boys got to play on the cool Duplo playgrounds. There was even a train ride that they got to go on by themselves. Made me a little sad that he could ride a ride without me. But he LOVED it and had a fantastic time on it.




They a huge "splash pad playground complete with waterslides. N LOVED the water slides. Ethan on the other hand had a great time watching N, but never got any higher than the third step up. He is not a fan of water dropping on his face from above. :)




Stace and N riding the plane ride.
Look I was even there. :) A rare self portrait to prove my attendance.
It is such a great park for little kids. The boys had a great time and now both of them are fast asleep napping to their hearts content.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Our house-yard

Like I have mentioned previously, the last couple months have been busy and filled with LOTS of changes. One of the more positive changes is that we have moved. We had been wanting to move for quite some time, but there was lots of things in the way. But those things are no more and a couple months ago we moved into a cute little house in the neighboring city. We LOVE it. The neighborhood is quiet and safe, we have a garage and a yard and Auntie Sami has her own room instead of my couch. God has truly blessed us with being able to live here.

I don't have a whole ton of pictures of the house; we still have lots of things to do to finish decorating and "moving in." But I do have some pictures of our new backyard. When we moved in the "grass" was green but we quickly learned it was all weeds and then died pretty quick. So we decided to redo the backyard.

Our backyard before

The grass arrives!


Chatzski was so excited about the grass that she claimed the first piece that was laid down.

Our friends Jill and Chuck helped us out a TON.

Laying down the sod

My feet after laying the sod down on the dirt. Thought you all might like that one.

The finished product!


I will work on getting more photos of the rest of the house. But for now we are all just enjoying our backyard!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Art

Last week I decided to have Ethan do a little art project. I had bought a couple of actual art canvases last year. I had an idea in my head, but it was not going to work out after all. So I decided what could be cool than having an actual art piece of our son's hanging in our house.

So I got him all dressed up for painting!I got out all our paint supplies.

And I let him go at it.
I must admit it was a bit hard to sit back and let him do his thing and not help him with colors and placement. But I wanted it to be 100% him, so I did not say anything at all.
It got pretty messy out there; that is why we started this project in our yet to be finished backyard.
At the end he was so excited to show me his finished project! I absolutely love it!! And now it is hanging in the hallway outside his bedroom! We will always cherish this piece of art he did.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Prayer Request

***Updated- Tiffany's surgery was canceled today. Her tumor has doubled in size and began growing in other parts of the brain, in the last 30 days. Tiffany will be undergoing aggressive chemo-therapy. Please continue to pray for Tiffany, her parents and sister.

Tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 7:20am my best friend's ("Brown") sister Tiffany (my friend as well) is going into surgery. Tiffany has been battling brain cancer off and on for the past 10 years. Tiffany will be having brain surgery in an effort to remove portions of the tumor. Please pray for Tiffany. I can not begin to imagine the fear that one could feel leading into something like this. Pray that the Lord comforts her, is with the surgeons, and for complete healing if it is God's will. Also I ask that you please pray for the family, her parents and her sister. They are a very close family, who love God and I know this battle is exhausting for everyone. Pray for comfort for them. The whole family is very dear to my heart and I am praying for them all. Love to them all!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Praise Him in the Storm

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
-Casting Crowns

It has been quite a while since I have blogged, really blogged. I have had a decent case of writers block. My last real entry was about 4 months ago and so much has happened in my life, our lives. Some happy and some not so happy. Some things that have gone on I am sure I will blog about, others may never see the blog light. Somethings are just supposed to be private.

I will say this, my family, friends and church body have been in the middle of a trial. God's word promises there will be trials and tribulations (I have never understood the whole prosperity doctrine thing). It is not easy to follow God and His word never promised it would be; there is a reason they say the road is narrow. For the last few months I have played the above listed song lyrics over and over in my head. God's word says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance"- James 1:2-3.

This has probably been the rockiest few months that I have ever experienced, but I have also witnessed God's grace in the most amazing ways. There is still pain, the trial is not over, but I continue to pray for those around me, who may be closer to the epicenter of the trial. I pray he comforts them and can provide peace and closure.


Saturday, May 22, 2010

just because it has been too long

It has been a long time since I have updated the blog. Sorry about that. I did not intend to take a break from blogging, but I ended up taking a break and God has shown me some awesome things in this time that I hope to be able to share one day. Things in our live have been a bit insane, good, bad and ugly; but God is awesome and I am sure I will feel up to blogging in the near future. So for now, here are a couple pictures of my Ethan. We love him so much!!

my little artist-he is a messy one

enjoying his new backyard!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Medical Insurance

** This post is just my opinion based on my experiences and I know others have different view points based on their opinions. I just needed to get my thoughts out.


Medically Ethan has been doing really well, and we had not had a bleed in about 3 months. We have been so fortunate to have a wonderful team of physician’s that KNOWS hemophilia, they specialize in it and that knowledge helps him to lead a more normal healthy life. Some days it is so easy to forget he has hemophilia, others not so much. It only takes one little, minor thing to remind us. What was it this time? Honestly we don’t know (the ER doctor loved that one). It was just a small series of bumps that would have not even left a mark on you and I. Hemophilia is really a manageable medical condition. By the time most children with hemophilia are Ethan’s age they either have a port (a permanent IV line on their chest) or their parents have been trained and can administer the drug intravenously to the child. Ethan is not like that at all. He is what his nurses call an “Anesthesia start,” basically 9 out of 10 times it takes an anesthesiologist to start his IV line, I have watched many nurses become humbled by my toddler. As much as one can get used to seeing their kid get a hematoma I have, my real struggle is making the doctors and nurses understand why I come in to the ER with him. During the week 9-5 we can take him to his team of specialist, but nights and weekends we trek into the ER. It is always a struggle; doctors always want to over treat him (give him Ct scans and things that are not necessary and I understand they are just doing what they need to do to cover themselves in a very litigious society). ER doctor’s don’t understand his hemophilia in it’s entirety (and that is not their fault, again they are just doing there job) They don’t get why us, his parents, and his hematologist have not gotten him a port and why I don’t give him shots at home and they like to give their 2 cents on the matter after seeing Ethan for about 5 minutes over his hematologist who has been with him since he was one. Again not their fault, hemophilia is so rare that most doctors don’t know the standard of care for a hemophiliac and as Ethan’s parents it is our job to inform them and sometimes it can be quite the battle to get them to understand.
This brings me to the main thing that has been running through my mind since the hospital visit last Sunday, the healthcare reform bill. It has been on my mind so much lately. Last summer I even download some of the draft versions and started reading them. While it presents some appealing things (like getting rid of “the preexisting condition” and so far it looks like there is no lifetime caps) there are so many things that scare me about it. Chris and I work so hard to provide insurance for our son and are so grateful that we can do that. I don’t want my fellow taxpayers to pay for his medical needs. Do we really want to government in our medical records? Do we really want public/socialized medicine? Can we afford more taxes? And the bill is even looking at getting rid of special funding for specific disabilities and taking a public health care approach. Meaning the Hemophilia treatment center, at San Diego Children’s Hospital would not get full funding since they are specializing in certain disabilities (blood disorders, not just hemophilia). Instead of E being able to see a hematologist who specializes in blood clotting disorders and knows him, he would go to whatever public health care hematologist was out there. I have met lots of them and again I go back to my experience at the hospital, they just don’t have the experience with hemophiliacs to given them the proper and most efficient medical treatment. So our ER experience would be our ever experience with him and hemophilia.
It is just my opinion, but I don’t think a one-size fits all healthcare plan will work for my family and me and feel like we had no say. I hope that I am wrong about how some it will play out but I really do want to know, where has democracy gone?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Happiness is...(March 21st)

Recently my sister started a weekly blog posting called Happiness is...so I thought I would join in and post what it is that makes me happy this Sunday night.

Ethan has recently found a deep love for stickers. When given a sheet of stickers he must take every sticker and put the stickers ALL over his clothes. It makes me laugh; he get so excited.


This photo was taken last Sunday. We had an a minor injury that required a trip to the good old ER (totally routine for us, I actually knew two of his nurses from previous trips. A blog for another day). Getting his IV started (that's the thing on his right arm) is difficult so his sweet nurse promised him stickers. She brought him three sheets of stickers and he put them all over, on his shirt and down each leg of his pants. So funny. It make me happy to see how something so simple he can make so much fun. Love this little guy!

Monday, March 15, 2010

What's new Friends

It has been a bit since I have blogged. I have been busy, life ran away from me so to speak. So for those who are curious, or not, this is what we have been up to (really more for my own recording keeping).

** Ethan has been in preschool for about a month. He is adjusting very well and his language is really taking off! He is saying all sorts of things. The attention span on the other hand could be a bit longer.

** After a lot of thought and prayer we have decided to rent a house in a nearby city. We will be moving in about 3 weeks. So excited to move. The house is near our church, has a backyard for Ethan and Chatzski, a garage to store all of our stuff and we will have a washer and dryer (no more coin operated laundry). The story about finding this house is pretty cool. Maybe I will blog about that in a future blog.

** The dreaded March 15th deadline has now past (or will in a just a few hours) and I am relieved to know I have not gotten a "pink slip." Which means I will have a job for next year. Although I am deeply saddened as some of my closest friends and co-workers received "pink-slips."

** After months of searching and applying, my youngest sister found a job and it is in the San Diego area. So "N-Tee Sam" (Ethan's name for her) will be moving into our new house with us.

**Our youth group trip was a great success and the kids had a great time playing in the snow! Thanks for all the prayers.

** My mom and I celebrated our birthdays recently. It was really more of a surprise to celebrate her birthday. It was such a fun day. My mom had been wanting an updated family photo for a few years now. So we finally got around to it for her party.


That's about it for now. So what have you all been up to lately?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

30 before I turn 30!

A while back a good friend posted a list of 30 things she wanted to do before she turned 30. I became inspired and now that I have just under a year left until I turn 30, I have made my own.

30 Before 30
1. Weekend vacation with husband
2. Go to France
3. Move to a new house
4. Get our debt snowball rolling
5. Get on a regular devotional schedule
6. Finish Christmas scrapbook
7. Have a mommy and Ethan Day 'O Fun
8. Go to Hawaii
9. Take a cake decorating class
10. Get a new family portrait
11. Scrapbook night with friends
12. Walk on the beach and collect seashells
13. Go on a Missions Trip
14. Work on wedding scrapbook
15. Have a girls night out (or in)
16. Get on a regular workout schedule
17. Have an Auntie and Madison day
18. Get on a cleaning schedule
19. Fishing with Ethan and Chris
20. Everyday remember that life is precious and not guaranteed
21. Get more involved in Hemophilia Association
22. Go to Disneyland
23. Go see a taping of a live TV show
24. Get new larger coffee mugs (current ones are too small for my caffeine needs)
25. Go snowboarding
26. Go to a spa
27. Update my passport (maiden name probably won't cut it anymore)
28. Clean out closet and donate clothes
29. Swimming lessons with Ethan
30. Put music on my iphone (finally)

**Those in red are ones that I have accomplished. :)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Prayer Request

In just about a week and a half we will be taking our youth group to a winter retreat. This will be the third trip we have done with this group and it is such a great time everytime. The kids love it, they go snowboarding , sledding, hear God's word, and generally just enjoying being a teen.
When we started our group was very young and they are slowly getting older. We have been seeing God do so great things in the group and He is raising some of them up in His name.

Being raised in the church, I experienced a time in my life where this religion became my faith. I was raised in it, I always believed in God. But one day I realized it was more than hanging out with friends, more than my parents religion, more than my pastors speakings, it was MY relationship with Christ. I was around their age when I realized this.

It has been on my heart to pray for these kids that they will begin to have this experience. If you feel lead please pray for this up coming trip for our kids, that God's will would be done and that he would continue to raise up these kids and they would answer the call and make this religion, a personal relationship with God.

Thanks

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Success

For those who were curious and don't check out our family-photo blog, the blue football cake was a huge success. The one draw back is now whenever Ethan hears the phrase happy birthday or just birthday he comes up to me inquiring "Cake." he has been disappointed a few times, that there is no more cake.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Changes

Big changes have been occurring here in the DuFour house. The most noteable change is that Ethan is now attending preschool. For the past two years, when I am working, he has been going to a friends house. After a lot of thought and prayer, Chris and I felt that with me working and not able to stay home with him full time, the next best thing would be to put him in a structured learning environment. We were so excited.

He started last week and boy was it a week. The preschool does not allow pacifiers and Ethan was still using a pacifier to sleep with. I had been wanting to kick that habit, but I am sometimes hesitant to change things when I am working (I think it is a working mom things, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it). I am always so afraid that something will go wrong with the change and it will be hard to deal with when working, so I usually wait until a weekend or a break in work to make a change. I know that is bad, and everytime we have made a change he has proven to cope fantastic with it (it is me that does not do so great with change I guess). So a week ago, this past Sunday night, was Ethan's last encounter with a pacifier. We decided that if he had to nap at school without it than he would have to do it at home also (plus we did not want to have it confusing him). Ethan was off Monday morning, not knowing that while he was gone all the pacifiers would disappear from the house. He has done great! The first two nights were pretty rough, but now he is back to sleeping in his big boy bed like a champ and he only occasionally asks for his "baby" (a while back I tried to break the paci habit by telling him it was for babies, not big boys. That only resulted in him tell us he was a baby when asked if he was a big boy and then calling the paci a baby. Smart kid) and does not question when I say we don't have any here anymore.

The structure has been another big change for E and has, again, proven to a huge hit. Previously E's day varied from day to day. Naptime, lunchtime, snacktime, was different everyday. Now he has a set time for everything. We have even noticed that he is eating more at dinner (dinner has always been a huge struggle for us, with E sometimes eating only one bite).

It has only been a week, but already we have seen growth in Ethan. He is talking so much more and starting to make two to three word sentences to us. He has always been content to sit back and let others do stuff and speak for him. It has been so neat to see him open up more and be a bit more vocal and show us how much he knows.

The bummer about him starting school last week, was that I have this week off. I usually love our weeks off together, but we decided that since he has only been in school a week, it would probably confuse him to take him out this week and then go back again. He is afterall still getting used to all the changes. I love to watch him learning so much, but I will miss him this week. What will I do to fill my time while he is at school?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

CAKE

Ethan has become obsessed with cake since his birthday last Wednesday. He has only had one other small (very small) piece since then, but everytime you mention food or eating he ask for "my cake?" I think not.
Until tomorrow. Tomorrow we will be celebrating Ethan's birthday with family and friends. Ethan loves sports and all things "ball" so the theme is sports. Since he was born during the superbowl and tomorrow is the superbowl, I decided to make a football cake! I love baking and decorating cakes and I hope to one day have time to take a cake decorating class. I think he is going to love it when he see his "ft-ball" cake tomorrow. He will be so excited.

The batter-I decided it would be fun if I made it blue. Don't know why, I just did.

Fresh out of the oven.

A teeny bit got stuck in the pan.

Frosting
Laces
The finished product
Thanks to Samantha Michelle Photography for the lovely photoshoot of my cake! I can't wait to see E's face when he sees it. I let you all know how it goes over.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Ethan is 2


February 3, 2008. Superbowl Sunday was the day Ethan arrived. It was such a fantastic day and we love Ethan more and more everyday!

Happy Birthday Ethan.

_________________________________________________________________
A letter to my son:

Ethan,

On this night 2 years ago, about this time (at the exact moment that the New York Giants won the superbowl) you were born. Maybe being born on superbowl is the reason for your love of all things sports. That night was the great moment in my life. You were a month early. We had no idea how long you would hold on, I was so excited that we made it that far. You were born healthy with no complications. You were so tiny and precious. The last two years mommy and daddy have been so blessed by you and your life.
You have really grown into your personality. You have a fantastic sense of humor and love to laugh and make us laugh. You love exploring and being outdoors. You love playing with your hot wheels track and have recently tried to bring it into bed with you at nap time. You are talking so much more now, although you are very shy and don't like to talk in front of people you are not familiar with or in large groups. You are learning more of your colors and letters as well as animals. You learned how to say your dogs name, Chatzski (Cha-hee). You crave adventure and can often be found trying to climb or fall (on purpose) on the couch or pillows. Needless to say your second year of life has brought a few medical/hemophilia related injuries. You amaze mom and dad with how strong you are and the high pain tolerance you have. God does miracles in your life everyday. You love to give hugs and kisses and often ask and sign for "more" kisses. You are not the biggest fan of food, unless it is a fruit or a carb. Meat is not your thing, but you LOVE oranges. You have a favorite blanket and are not so happy when I try to get you to sleep with a new one. You like your routines and the order in which you learned things. You love to throw and still think it is funny to throw in the house. You would sit and watch golf, if we let you. You love our nightly reading of your children's bible and point out all the pictures on each page. You have the sweetest disposition. I love you so much and thank God for the miracle of your life everyday. Your life has taught me so much, how to be a better person, how to love God more and how to trust and depend on Him, among others.
Happy birthday my Ethan. Mommy and Daddy love you more than words could ever attempt to express.

Love mommy
Ethan at Birth

Ethan at one
Ethan at two