Thirty-One & Six
When I found out I was pregnant with Ethan, my OB told me "you're going to be due around January 30th." I went home and told Jason how glad I was that the baby would probably be born at least a week before my birthday, so that way he won't feel left out every year. Then when we told our Moms that I was pregnant and what my due-date was, they both said {at different times} "I bet he'll be born ON your birthday!" and I thought they were so wrong. Turns out, having babies of your own typically teaches you that first borns {typically} don't come on or before their due-dates.
And so, as the Grandma's would know... Ethan arrived on the evening of my 25th birthday... one week late :)
I have to say, fast forward six years and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love sharing my birthday with my son. I love that in a cool way, my birthday has lived on, in childish, fun ways, even though I'm past all that. I love thinking about how I was celebrating the milestones he is celebrating, on the very same day.
We get to be all excited and full of anticipation for our day. Its so fun on the eve of our birthdays, to talk about our new ages; what will it feel like to be one year older. Ethan asks me that every year - "do you feel weird not being little anymore?" I love planning his parties, he loves planning where he's going to get me flowers and what card he'll pick out. Its just super fun every year. And I have a feeling it will just get better as we get older. So today we celebrate my 31st and Ethan's 6th year of life.
Thank You, Lord, for Your rich and good blessings to both of us!
Looking through all these pictures made me realize a few things.
1. kids grow up so fast. Blink-of-an-eye fast.
2. Ethan is a huge blessing to our family.
March 2010 - his first snow fall :)
{5 years}
Mercer Island park
April 2010 {5 years}
4th of July block party
{5 years}
September 2010 {5 1/2}
Happy Birthday, Ethan Darrel.
We love you so very much!
And so, as the Grandma's would know... Ethan arrived on the evening of my 25th birthday... one week late :)
I have to say, fast forward six years and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love sharing my birthday with my son. I love that in a cool way, my birthday has lived on, in childish, fun ways, even though I'm past all that. I love thinking about how I was celebrating the milestones he is celebrating, on the very same day.
We get to be all excited and full of anticipation for our day. Its so fun on the eve of our birthdays, to talk about our new ages; what will it feel like to be one year older. Ethan asks me that every year - "do you feel weird not being little anymore?" I love planning his parties, he loves planning where he's going to get me flowers and what card he'll pick out. Its just super fun every year. And I have a feeling it will just get better as we get older. So today we celebrate my 31st and Ethan's 6th year of life.
Thank You, Lord, for Your rich and good blessings to both of us!
I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane.
For some of you, you've never seen baby pictures of Ethan, but for most of you
it will throw you back 6 years :)
Sadly, we couldn't find the CD that has all his birth and infant pictures on it.
Maybe once we find them, I'll do another post of those.
For now, these pics start around 5 months.
Sadly, we couldn't find the CD that has all his birth and infant pictures on it.
Maybe once we find them, I'll do another post of those.
For now, these pics start around 5 months.
at the Oakland Zoo with Nana
{5 months old}
{5 months old}
at church with Great Gramma Nina
September 2005 {6 months old}
September 2005 {6 months old}
1st birthday party!
14 months old @ the Bliss' house, during his first trip to Washington
This is one of my favorite pictures of Ethan - he was SO into playing and was
making the funniest faces when Jason Bliss was taking his picture.
this is the last picture of Ethan and I before Rachel was born.
he was almost 17 months old.
meeting his new sister, Rachel Kathryn
July 2006 {17 months old}
2nd Birthday! {2007}
relaxing with Great Grandma
after a fun 2nd birthday party with his family/friends.
November 2007 {2 1/2 years}
December 2007 - {2 1/2 years}
how fast these chubby baby cheeks turn into such big kid faces.
With his very best friend Caedmon Rippee
Ethan tells us often that he will never have a buddy as special to him as Caedmon.
Even though they live 2 states away, he says he will always be his best friend.
Ethan tells us often that he will never have a buddy as special to him as Caedmon.
Even though they live 2 states away, he says he will always be his best friend.
{this one is out of order and was taken in February '09 when Ethan was 4}
July 2008 {3 years}
just before heading into surgery
meeting little sister Kara Joy for the first time.
February 2010 {5 years}
Looking through all these pictures made me realize a few things.
1. kids grow up so fast. Blink-of-an-eye fast.
2. Ethan is a huge blessing to our family.
Kids go through phases and it seems Ethan has been a mellow, easy going child, with difficult phases thrown in there. He struggles with thinking only of himself, but is also a very caring, loving, selfless boy.
Sometimes I'm in a awe of how giving he is with his sisters; thinking back when I was little and my younger siblings wanted to take my toys or mess up what I was playing with - he {most of the time} handles his role as big brother quite well and is learning to appreciate the joy of going without, in order to serve someone else.
He's reading quite well now. All 1st and 2nd reader books. He keeps going to his room and picking up the SugarCreek Gang books, trying to desperately to read more than just a few words before getting discouraged and announcing "I can't read!" - I have to remind him often that learning to read well and learning to read hard books, comes with a lot of practice :)
{5 years}
Mercer Island park
April 2010 {5 years}
He loves Math, Science and learning about outer space.
I think saying he has a passion for football would be an understatement.
What's a stronger word than "passion"?? Obsession. That's a better term for it.
He is over-the-top excited that the Super Bowl fell on his 6th birthday.
He likes puzzles
playing anything outside - he loves to be outside.
He is thoughtful.
He is genuine.
He's very open and communicative.
He cries during sad parts of movies and if he hears sad news {melts my heart}
He likes Star Wars, but thankfully isn't obsessed ;-)
He misses sharing a room with Rachel.
He is frequent in giving hugs and saying "I love you" to whoever he's hugging.
His favorite song in church is Gloria!
He says when he grows up he will be a Doctor or a Pastor... "or maybe both."
4th of July block party
{5 years}
Six seems like such a big boy age. Like five kind of felt big'ish, but six is like, no turning back,
this is it, he's getting so big. I look back at his baby pictures and only one thought runs through my head... I wish I had soaked it in and enjoyed it so much more than I did! I wish I had relaxed more, took in every single smile, and realized how fast especially that first year goes... It zooms by.
If any of you reading this are at home with your firstborn son or daughter, look over at them and take a mental picture right now... or take a picture! And remind yourself every time you see it, time is passing quickly. Make much of these early days/weeks/months/years. We only have our children as "children" for a little while. Even on the days when you feel like you're a total failure as a Mom and surely you're doing more damage than good - give a kiss & hug, tell them you love them, pray over them, be faithful to them, be consistent in your training and parenting and love. Never tell yourself you're loving them too much. I'm convinced its not possible. Remind them how special they are and how blessed you are to have them in your life. Don't wake up in 20+ years, wishing you had done it all.
September 2010 {5 1/2}
These past 6 years with Ethan in our lives has been amazing...
I can't wait to see what the next 6+ have in store!
December 2010 -- {5 1/2 years}
Happy Birthday, Ethan Darrel.
We love you so very much!
Comments
Love, Lynn
We love you SOOOOOOO MUCH! <3
Stef--I agree, you can't love your kids too much, and you do a great job with yours! Love your line about feeling like a failure mom and giving the kids a kiss--I really needed that this week. Thanks! And happy birthday to you too--miss you much!
I loved this post. What a wonderful boy you have. May God give you many, many more wonderful memories with him.
I was just thinking how my girls are growing so quickly before my eyes and even with all the trying times (like this past week while Lucas was gone) I just can't get enough time with them, even though I'm with them 24/7.
I hope you all had a great day!