Magazines

Chris showed Ethan his Sports Illustrated while waiting for dinner one night. Ethan could hardly believe how many balls were in that thing. Each page turn got an excited "BAHHHH!!!" Now he thinks that every magazine should be like S.I. He's quite sad when he goes through my RealSimple...

Portland

I had a fabulous time in Portland visiting Kobie, Travis and new little Thatcher. Thatcher is absolutely beautiful, and it was so fun watching Kobie be a momma. She is a natural. While I was there, I was able to see downtown Portland, eat amazing food, shop and managed to hit a piercing shop. On Saturday, our friend Christi flew in with her yummy little guy, Chaz. (I loved playing with him, but it really made me miss Ethan.) On Sunday, we all went to couple local vineyards and it was so incredibly beautiful. I am in love with Portland...if it weren't so far away from family, I might try and convince Chris to move us there...

Separation Anxiety...

I am in Portland, OR right now visiting one of my favorite people, Kobie, and her fabulous little guy, Thatch. Ethan is home in Bentonville. This is the first time I have ever been away from my buddy for longer than a few hours. It was excruciating leaving him, but as I went through security at the airport and rushed between gates, I was glad to just have my carry-on. It sounds like he's having a blast with his Grandma Debbie and Dad, and he only seemed to miss me yesterday. (I think that's good...) It's been really nice to be completely free to help around here, but I think I am going to be really ready to be home on Monday.

My Artist

It was rainy last week, so we had to find things to do inside. I decided to see if Ethan would like coloring. (In the past he's just eaten the crayons.) He really seemed to enjoy making his mark - especially with the purple crayon. It ended up being somewhat of an aerobic exercise for me b/c after he was done with a crayon he'd throw it over his shoulder. Those things ended up everywhere. I tried to show him that placing the crayon the table would insure it would be there when he wanted to use it again. But he'd get in his zone and crayons went flying. Maybe we have a mini-Pollock on our hands...

The Chair

Our old favorite toy, the chair, has become a hit again. The function of it is different though. Ethan used to sit quietly on it and play with the light, book, and clock. Music would play and he'd clap his hands and bounce to the beat. For the past several months, the toy has virtually been ignored...until he realized he could stand on it and then jump off. He cracked himself up for several minutes doing just that. It was pretty entertaining for me too - until he noticed a basket of "no touches" on the cabinet that suddenly he could reach with his new acquired height. The camera quickly went away and the chair was moved to a better location. I am sure this is just the beginning of the climbing.

My Big Boy

We have a park across the street from our house that Ethan and I go to almost daily. Generally, out of habit, I just carry him over there. It's easier. But a few days ago I asked him if he wanted to walk - but he had to hold my hand. He grabbed my hand and we walked side-by-side over to the park. It was a seemingly simple, ordinary act, but it hit me on the way across the street that I was walking with my son! Just a year ago he was an infant and now he's my little buddy that I do everything with. I am amazed at how much he's grown and changed. And I don't think I could have ever imagined just how nuts I would be about him and motherhood.

Basketball

Ethan is obsessed with basketballs and basketball goals. Whenever we go on walks around the neighborhood, without fail he can spot a basketball goal. (I had never noticed how many there were around here!) Last week his Grandma Debbie bought him a mini-goal for inside the house and I think it's a little piece of heaven for him. Since then soccer balls, footballs, balls for the tub, shoes, mail, sticks, and many other things have ended up caught in the net of the goal. He still stands at the edge of our yard staring wistfully at the "real" goal next door, but for now his mini-goal is great. Thanks, Grandma!