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!