12 Months

November 18th 2011

Eithan Owen is ONE!

I cannot believe that my little baby is one year old!

He is just growing up way too fast.

{don't we all say that?}

Says 'Mama' and 'Dada'.

{and he actually says it to each of us correctly}

Is walking everywhere!

{Though he still falls a lot and crawls around still.}

Really starting to experiment with different sounds he can make.

{He likes to smack his lips.}

Interacts with other children when they are around.

{He loves to watch what they do and follow them around.}

Has started doing a crazy nap schedule.

{Sometimes 1 nap, sometimes 2, and they are never for the same amount of time each day.}

Is very curious.

{If there is ever anything new around, he will promptly go investigate.}

If I'm not giving him enough attention, 

he will go back to the office and knock on Collin's door.

{I think it's his way of tattle-telling on me.}

Is climbing up on his new jungle gym, climbing on the couch, climbing on the futon.

{getting the idea?}

Starting to feed himself more.

{I gave him some frozen veggies the other day, and he started shoveling them in his mouth.}

(I'm starting to work with him on holding his spoon. He likes holding it a lot.)

Hands us what he is holding when we hold our hands out to him.

{Whatever he has, he will give it to us.}

Hates to have his diaper changed.

{No matter what we do, the boy still fights and fights us on having his bum changed.}

Has a personality the size of Texas.

Baby E,

This has been one amazing year.

You have taught Collin and I so much.

We can't wait to keep growing and learning with you.

We can't wait to see where your life will take you.

We are so glad that you came to be a part of our family.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mom and Dad

P.S. We call him Baby E, because we are friends with the Schmidts. 

And their little girl Macy couldn't say Eithan when he was first born, but she could say 'E'. 

Thus, the nickname 'Baby E'.

Staying Up Late

November 17th 2011

I am publicly admitting this. 

My friends and I went to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn Part 1.

I had a wonderful time!

I loved staying up late.

Waiting in a line that went almost around the whole theater.

{who knew such a small town would have such a big reaction to this?}

Having girl talk.

Drinking delicious McDonald's Hot Cocoa.

Then eating junk food in the theater because we had an hour and twenty minutes before the movie started.

All in all, the movie was better than expected. 

If you girls need a girls night out.

I would say go see it.

It was fun.

Megan Lang, Brittany Schmidt, Joy Winks and Diane Schmidt.

{My friend Aubrey Asay was here too, but we missed her in this shot!}

Birthday Party # One

November 16th 2011

We celebrated Eithan's first birthday a few days early!

We wanted to be able to share this day with some of our friends here in our 'lil town. 

{We'll be having a family party this weekend.}

Everything went beautifully.

There were wonderful people.

Lovely Presents.

Good Junk Food. 

Happy Children.

It was simply delightful.

Eithan loved having all our friends over.

We had the Schmidts, the Christensens, the Asays, and the other Asays over.

He especially loved getting his first cupcake all to himself.

He didn't really know at first if he could truly have it.

Once he figured out that it was all his. And that he could eat it....

You gotta love the frosting face.

It is probably one of the most precious pictures we all get as children. 

We then opened presents.

And, I have to admit, I was hoping that Eithan would get crazy with it.

But he didn't.

I guess all those times of telling him not to rip something finally paid off. {smile}

It went mostly like this...

With a little bit of this...

And a whole lot of cuteness!

But sorry.. no ripping, excited, squealing with delight pictures for this little boy.

And I forgot to take pictures of all the company. There were only these two.

Mike Asay, Marsha Asay, and Kevin Asay

{With Eithan on Marsha's lap}

Lane Christensen, Will Christensen, Anika Christensen, Brittany Schmidt and Macy Schmidt

If you look behind the castle jungle gym.. you'll see Sydney Schmidt too.

So.. who are we missing? 

Aubrey Asay, Tim Schmidt and Cy Christensen.

They were there too!

All in all, simply wonderful!

I think everyone had a good time, and we LOVED having people over.

Now, I get to do this one more time with family.

Wish me luck!

P.S. To all those who may be reading this and feeling slightly left out because you weren't invited. Please know that we thought of you... but our tiny apartment cannot accommodate that many people... so know that we thought of you... wished you were there... and hope you enjoy experiencing his first birthday through pictures. 

Climbing

November 12th 2011

Eithan just climbed onto the couch.

By himself. 

I feel our world changing again as I write this. 

Almost There

November 6th 2011 

Eithan has been trying really hard lately to figure out this whole walking deal.

He'll stand up on his own from the floor, wobbling, and then try to take a few steps.

For the most part he is successful, for a short time, and then he falls to his bum.

I have been really impressed with his balance, and his determination.

He will simply keep trying and trying.

It has been so much fun to watch him pick up a toy, and then stand with it in his hand in 'victory'.

Then wobble step towards something else.

Watching him learn this new skill has been exciting.

I love to learn, and I love his determination to learn.

He loves figuring things out.

Thus, life around here has involved a bit more of this...

and this.

Don't you just love the t-shirt and diaper combo?

I do.

It makes him still seem like a baby to me...

even though he's turning into a toddler.

Easy Wedding Present

Collin and I are going to a wedding reception on the 19th of this month.

I am really excited to go, because we haven't been to one in quite some time. 

So, I was also excited about creating a unique but useful gift for the couple.

This is what I came up with.

I found this adorable Crate and Barrel platter online.

And because I wanted one too... I bought two.

It is part of the Rectangular Rims Collection at Crate and Barrel.

Then I found this adorable ornament idea here.

And created one similar to it.

I simply cut their wedding invitation into strips,

then wrapped those strips around a pencil,

and finally stuck those strips into the clear glass ornament.

Attach some cute ribbon, and you're done!

All in all, a cute, yet functional wedding present.

And because I was so proud of my present... I simply couldn't wrap it all up in a box... 

attach some extra wide sparkly ribbon and the present becomes it's own wrapping!

Baby Steps

October 31st 2011

Eithan took his first 'baby' step today.

It was his first slightly wobbly, unsure of foot placement tiny step.

And we couldn't be prouder.

November 1st 2011

He did two of the aforementioned steps today.

My baby is starting to become a toddler!

I am so excited for this change to come in his life.
{and yet at the same time... absolutely terrified of all the new things this will bring.}