A Is For Apple

The summer heat is starting to cool down just a tad down here in Las Cruces and the change has been wonderful!  We are able to go outside with Ethan before 8pm and not melt.  We can't stay out for very long but it is great for Ethan to be able to get more exercise in the fresh air:)  When we first had Liam, and I was at home by myself with the boys, it was too hot to go outside with him to watch Ethan play in the backyard.  Of course Ethan needed exercise, so we would watch a program called Monkey See- Monkey Do, which guides children through a series of steps on how to pretend to be different animals:)  In the process you dance around the room and get a little exercise.  We learned how to be a rooster, dog, seal and other animals pretty well this summer!  Ethan's new animal to imitate is an ant and it is real fun to see him translate what he has learned from the program into his own imaginative way.
Ethan picks up things very quickly and sees every new bit of information as something he should take hold of and tuck into his little mind.  He is so receptive to learning and we are trying to do our best to encourage it!  Some of the things that he has learned recently are his alphabet, what sounds the letters make, he is learning his states and where they are on a map, he memorizes parts of books, is a natural at soccer, loves to make independant pictures with crayons and so many other things!  He has memorized Proverbs 3:5 and is almost finished memorizing John 3:16.  We have learned about how God created everything on the Earth, including the first two people.  But they didn't obey God and hurt their relationship with Him.  As a bit of background information, Ethan knows what a stop sign is and it's shape (one of the first shapes he learned was an octagon- LOL) , so when we came upon this part of the story we drew a picture of what happened.  To explain that God didn't want Adam and Eve to eat the fruit from a special tree, I drew a stop sign at the base of the tree and said that God put that there for them to see. But they didn't listen.  If you ask Ethan about what happened with Adam and Eve, he will be sure to include that there was a stop sign in the Garden of Eden:)   We have been looking into getting Ethan a new Bible and I love what one of the Bible's says after Adam and Eve were told they had to leave the Garden, "He gently clothed them and then He sent them away on a long, long journey - - -out of the garden, out of their home.  Well, in another story, it would all be over and that would have been... The End.  But not in this Story.  God loved His children too much to let the story end there..."  We can't wait till he is able to fully understand what we mean when we tell him how much God loves him and how overwhelmingly wonderful it is to ask God if you can be a part of His family.

Liam is 2 months old now!  He is smiling, cooing, and loves attention:)  He started laughing this last Monday and Andrew was the first to draw the sweet sound from him.  He still has dark blond hair, blue eyes, and is starting to gain a nice little baby plumpness.  He is sliding right into a routine of sorts and is sleeping for longer periods of time at night (all right!).  He already seems like he is going to be more laid back than Ethan but boy can he scream! Haha.

Ethan and Liam are doing real well together as brothers.  Liam honestly favors watching Ethan do things through out the day and will randomly smile at him, even when he isn't doing anything to really elicit it.  Ethan seems to have a genuine tenderness towards Liam and asked me the other day if he could give him a kiss.  I told him yes and directed him towards the top of Liam's head, where he planted a little one for the first time.  Ethan alerts me to when Liam has started crying and reminds us to be quiet when Liam is sleeping.  Ethan knows things are different around the house and is more fussy and ornery than he used to be, but he doesn't appear to ever point the finger at anyone particular for these changes.  He is transitioning right along with the rest of us.

Andrew and I are doing well:)  Andrew is taking some time off from Seminary classes and I can't help but be a teensy weensy bit excited.  I'm selfish I know!  I like having him home on Saturdays!  But he is looking forward to studying the class's text book with a friend of his.  He is very ambitious!

I am doing well and still enjoy being all crafty when I find extra minutes in the day. I treasure being a Mom and getting to be home with my boys.  I am pulling my hair out less and less with stressful situations and laughing more and more:)  Just the other day I got Ethan an ice cream to eat on the way home from running errands (why I had to choose an ice cream of all treats I don't know) and I couldn't stop chuckling at how funny we must have looked.  It was an ice cream sandwich from Dairy Queen that was made up of two cookies and a massive amount of ice cream in between the two.  I gave Ethan half and I took the other... and it is the middle of the summer... in Las Cruces.  Needless to say we had ice cream running through our fingers and down our arms all the way home- - - oh, and all the while my coke was over flowing onto the floor of the car.  I just had to laugh as I pictured how we might have looked as we enjoyed our treat.

Thanks for keeping up with us and we hope you each are well:)

Pictures for all:

All the Dyes together with Liam for the first time since he was born

Aunt Leigh

Super Ethan

Super Ethan going fast!

Our family of 4, Liam is fist pumping with excitement

Aunt Amanda with Liam

Aunt Kimmy and Great Grandma Shirley with Liam

Ethan yelling (a all too normal occurrence)


So there are more pictures that we wanted to post but are having problems uploading them to the Blog.  We will post them as soon as it starts working right again:)

We have now been a family of four for 3 weeks :)  Yea!

Andrew stayed home for a little over 2 weeks after Liam was born and went back to work on the 5th of July.  I started to feel real nervous about being home by myself with the 2 boys during the last week that Andrew was home.  I would look at stressful situations that would come up when Andrew and I were both home and think, "This is very stressful with both parents being home, how can I do it by myself?"  I was allowing myself to be convinced that it was going to be too much for me to handle, and the anxiety began to get the better of me.  I started asking God to provide me with what I needed for those stressful times when I would be by myself... and He has totally met those needs.  I also started reading blogs by other Moms who had 2+ kiddos at home to read their victory stories and started telling myself that this WAS possible.  That I don't have 19 kids like the Duggards but 2 little boys.  This all put it into perspective and we are doing just fine- - -only three weeks into it but fine just the same:)  I think one of the hardest factors in this is the lack of sleep.  :/

We feel Ethan is adjusting well to the new baby and he tries to be gentle with him.  He has become more fussy though and gets frustrated right along with us when Liam cries for long periods of time.  Today he had a dentist appointment and sat in the examination chair all by himself:)  I was very proud of how well he did.  The dentist did emphasize that he needed to stop using a pacifier because it was causing his top teeth to stick out.  A friend of ours suggested that we have an exchange made for his paci and then have him throw the paci away himself.  Ethan willingly traded in his paci for a wooden Henry train toy and then threw the paci into the trash.  Way to go kiddo! Andrew and I both cringed as we saw that paci get tossed... in a lot of ways I counted on that paci to calm my own nerves and clear my thoughts.  For a second I almost told Andrew to not let him throw it away but to hide it just in case we needed to call on this old friend for a future melt down.  But then just as quickly, I put on my big girl head band and said good bye.  Now I don't really care for wooden toy trains, but I think Andrew and I should get something in exchange for that pacifier.


Liam had his 2 weeks appointment on Thursday and is now 20 and 1/2 inches long and weighing in at 8 lbs 8 oz.  He had a cold/allergies for about a week that made him have a lot of congestion, sneezing and coughing but he is doing a lot better now.  His hair is still a golden brown and eyes still blue.  He has a high pitched cry for everything and breaks your heart when he is sad and sticks out his bottom lip.  Yesterday he started cooing and it feels like a song to my heart- like a spark of communication between him and us.

This was taken yesterday morning. - Liam is crying for unknown reasons. Dad is at work:)

Welcome Baby Liam!

Hi all!
    We are very happy to introduce Liam Tobias Dye to our family and to all of you!
    Liam was born on Monday June 20th at 7:35pm weighing in at 8 pounds 2 ounces and 18 and 1/2 inches long.  All of us are adjusting to having a new member of the family and asking God for peace and clarity of mind through the process (especially when your mind is all fuzzy and your nerves on end from the lack of sleep!)
    Here are some pictures to get you started in meeting Ethan's little brother:

Liam Tobias means "Resolute Defender" and "God is Good!"

Cameron with Liam soon after he was born- what a ride for both of them!

Proud Dad Andrew

Aunt Leigh with Liam

Grandpa Rudy

Uncle Stephen

When Ethan and Nana came to visit Baby Liam. Ethan brought Mama a pine cone:)

Nana

Ethan showing Liam the game he was playing on the IPOD

Cameron made Liam's "going home" outfit as well as his little hat

He has dimples!

Grandpa and Grandmother came down from Santa Fe to see their new grand baby!

We are back!

Hi to all our friends and family!  We apologize that it has been over a year since we last posted on our blog and would like to get it going again.  We thought we were too busy to keep it up but I think if we keep it short and sweet you will enjoy it more too! So let's get started!


To bring you up to speed:
Ethan
    He is now 2 and a half years old!  He has a ton of energy, loves to play, and is a real joy to have be a part of the family. His interests include: CARS...well anything that you can ride (cars, bikes, boats, trains, airplanes... he just can't get enough of them), playing in the water, making art projects, being read to, watching Caillou, playing with other kids, Peter Piper Pizza, dancing, story time at the library, playing games on the computer and learning new things.
    He is a momma's boy at the moment but loves to play hard and loud with Andrew:)  They wear each other out!

    We have been trying to potty train him since last October (LONG story or course) and are making progress, which is all we can ask for;) He no long throws a tantrum every time we take him and is staying drier for longer and longer periods of time.  This lesson that he is learning may not be looked back upon as a favorite of ours, but we are all growing through the experience.

Andrew
    Andrew has now been working for Harris Corp for 5 years as a Systems Administrator and we are so grateful for his job.  He is taking one seminary class a semester through a branch of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in El Paso, TX and really enjoys it!  This Fall will be his third class through this branch and it is Systematic Theology.  We are unsure what direction he ought to take with obtaining these credits with the seminary but he loves the way the classes challenge his understanding of the Bible and pushes him to know with more clarity why he believes what he believes.  He has also been super busy lately working on home improvements and is very ambitious;)

Cameron
    I have been growing a baby boy for the past 9 months and we are all ready to see him!  At 32 weeks I began to have premature contractions that were coming about every 4 minutes without letting up and was put on medications and a modified bed rest to help keep me from going into labor.  I was also given steroid injections at 34 weeks to help baby's lungs mature. Medications and bed rest were stopped at 36 weeks and we are all just waiting for him to come!  It has been a big lesson in patience and trust in God's timing.  Only He knows when this little man will come:) His due date is June 17th.

    I was only working PRN as a nurse during the pregnancy (about once a week) but then stopped when the premature contractions started.  I really like being home with Ethan full time and we will see how things go after the second little one comes.
    I have been on a big craft making kick lately and made the "going home" outfit for the baby, burp cloths, an owl pillow, baby sling, and odds and ends in the past couple months.  It is unusually satisfying right now to make things!


Here are some recent pictures of our fam:

5 year anniversary in Santa Fe.

Watch it Mr. Twain.  She's taken.

Family/Pregnancy Photo shoot

ONE YEAR OLD!

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen!"

When I used to hear people singing the "Doxology" in church I used to think it sounded kind of corny and impersonal, but Andrew and I sing it a lot since we have been married and think it is very appropriate to start this blog off with!

Ethan raiding the recycle bin

Ethan turned one year old on November 15th and boy was it a celebration! The Dye family came down from Santa Fe Thursday night and stayed with us until Monday morning. Cameron got sick with an awful stomach bug late Thursday night (the 12th of November) and stayed home from work that Friday and Saturday. With the Dyes at our home they not only took care of Ethan but Cameron as well! Cameron's fever went away Saturday and we started to prepare for Ethan's birthday:) Talk about a lot of work! The party would not have gone as smoothly as it did if it weren't for Cameron's Mom and the Dye's help. At least 40 people joined us at our home to celebrate over lunch! It was fun to plan the menu for kids and adults, decorate the house and prepare little goody bags for the kiddos. The kids that came also got to decorate little foam vizors with bright foam stickers. I know I would have liked it if I were a kid! Ethan got to eat his first cake and tolerated all the action and people real well:) It was a lot of fun and very memorable.

To back track a little, Ethan dressed up as a Turtle for Halloween this October:) We had seen the costume at Babies R Us over a month before and couldn't resist! Cameron was able to work half a day at work and then go with Andrew, Uncle Daniel and Nana to the Trunk or Treat they were having at First Baptist Church Halloween night. Cameron went as a 70's Mom and Andrew was Bono. Random we know! Of course we didn't get a family picture:( but we have some cute ones of Ethan:)

Ethan is walking very well and even running when we chase him around the house. He is very curious and likes to crunch the fall leaves with his hands and feet. We have been trying to get him to use a sippy cup (all different kinds) for a while now but he isn't very big on them. This week is dedicated to mastering the sippy cup and weaning off the bottles- - -at least starting too;) He is eating fairly well, but doesn't enjoy vegetables as much as he used. We have also been trying to get him to drink plain old water (trying for a while!), but he will throw the bottle when it is offered (even though you know he is thirsty). Very picky, but he comes by it honestly:) It will be nice when he can understand the concept: No more juice until you drink a cup of water. I think he understands more than we know.

He can say Dad real well and just started saying Mom. He kind of mumbles the word Mom but we are counting it! He has five teeth and is needing a second hair cut;) He will have his one year MD appointment at the start of December and at that time will will give you his stats:) He is growing, that's for sure!

Thanks for thinking of us. Here is a bunch of random photos.

Walking in Old Mesilla

Ethan taking his first bubble bath

The pumpkins we carved! Stephen carved the little one and gave him two teeth because at the time Ethan only had two teeth (we called him our snaggle tooth)

The four of us and my sister Leigh got together to carve pumpkins

(Leigh had to leave earlier and didn't make this picture)

Beginning to carve the pumpkins- there is Leigh!

Ethan in his turtle costume:)

Our snaggle tooth

Ethan is always trying to sneak a rock into his mouth when we are outside!

When Ethan wants a piggy-back ride he will walk up behind you if you are sitting on the ground and then hold onto your shoulders until you pick him up.

Eating cake with Great Aunt Terri

Ethan's favorite animal!

Almost a year!

It's hard to believe that Ethan is almost a year old! On November 15th last year, Ethan took his first breath in this world and now he is practically running around the house. He's learned how to crawl, walk, roll a ball, pick things up and bang them on the coffee table, drive his parent's crazy, grab things that he is not supposed to, and baby cuss. In case you don't know what baby cussing is, it sounds like gibberish, but it is usually when he is upset at us or really tired. It sounds something like "Bwa, raga, raga, ma, pffff" He frowns and sticks out his bottom lip and sometime kicks his legs and swings his arms. He can be a monster sometimes. He's a terribly cute little monster, though! :) (We've decided that we have said how cute Ethan is several times a day, every day, ever since he was born) I guess we love him or something. ;)

On a side note, we have officially been moved in our house for a full year!! Time has gone by so fast. It's absolutely crazy! It is great to own a home and feel so comfortable here. To be cliche, "There's no place like home!"

Ethan and Cameron have had the flu. On Tuesday, they both started feeling ill. Wednesday night was miserable because Ethan was waking up every 2 hours. Andrew decided to stay home from work to take care of Cameron and Ethan. Ethan was not himself at all! He was super lethargic and would just rest his head on our chests when we held him. Cam and Ethan both had temperatures of 101-102, all Thursday, so we took him to an urgent care. They said that he had the flu (and Cameron as well) and put him on Tamiflu. Thankfully, there has been a huge turnaround for both Cam and Ethan. Ethan is in much better spirits and is smiling and walking again. We can see the energy once again in him. It was a little scary for a little while, but thanks to the Lord for his healing!!!

Well, on a lighter note, here are some pics from the last month or so of our adorable, sick, monster! Enjoy!