Happy 5th Birthday Ethan

Wow...how the years do fly. Today (I guess yesterday now)was my baby's 5th birthday. I remember the day I “knew” I was pregnant. Daniel and I lived in Washington, and we were out to dinner. I was one week away from graduating from the University of Washington, and so ready to celebrate. I said to Daniel, "I think I need to go get a pregnancy test before I go out tomorrow after class." He was like "whatever," but I did it anyway. We got home, and it said to do it in the morning, but I couldn't wait. So, I think it took like 5 seconds for it to show up. I wish I was not the only one who saw Daniel's face. He was on cloud nine, and I think that is one of the happiest moments of his life. We both looked at each other and started crying, for joy of course. Daniel went to every, I mean every, doctor appointment with me. He loved to hear the heartbeat. We wanted the gender to be a surprise, so we waited the whole nine months to meet “snickle fritts”. I vaguely remember him coming into the world. I was in labor for several hours, and ended up having an emergency c-section. When the doctor was debating on what to do, I remember seeing the fear in Daniel's eyes, but at that point I think he was more worried about me than the baby. I don't remember hearing Ethan cry, I do remember the doctor saying "it's a boy" and looking over at Daniel. He had the biggest smile on his face with tears rolling down his cheeks. They brought Ethan over to me wrapped up like a baby burrito and my heart melted. I was in love with this little man who looked just like his daddy, (actually those were the first words can came out of my mouth when I saw him). I could not wait to hold him. It seemed like an eternity because I had to spend awhile in recovery. I will never forget the first time I held him, it was the most wonderful experience of my life, knowing that this little person depended on you for EVERYTHING. He was the best little baby (well, almost, his baby brother is giving him a run for his money!) He smiled all the time, and with his eyes too. He loved to feel skin. It was so funny because I remember Jaime holding him one day, and Ethan kept putting his hand down her shirt and she said, “I feel like I’m being violated by a 6 month old!” As he grew older him and Emma would sit next to each other on the couch, and when he would get tired he would suck his thumb and rub her neck, she would look at him like…what are you doing? Emma and Ethan were best friends, and I am sure they still are (they did not have much choice since Jaime and I spent everyday together). Unfortunately, I don’t remember all the cute things he did in his earlier years (you were right mom…I hate saying that!).
Ethan, These are my most memorable things about you this year…
1) You have learned to read!
2) You still want to snuggle every night
3) You still call me mama
4) Your are extremely talented in sports (I think this is daddy’s favorite)
5) You stopped sucking your thumb
6) Sometimes you start laughing at silly things and can’t stop
7) It took you 30 minutes to come downstairs at Emma’s house because you put on her ballet leotard, and only because she wanted you to so bad. You were so embarrassed but let Mommy and Jaime take pictures anyway. (Daddy was not happy about this at all, and only said it was okay because a girl wanted you to do it
8) You started big boy school, and never looked back when I dropped you off, I cried
9) You give me a kiss and hug every morning when you get out of the car
10) It cracks me up when you say “what the…”
11) You are a great big brother
12) You are not a morning person like Mommy, and stubborn just like Daddy!
Here is my wish for you (with tears pouring)...
Ethan,
I love you more than words can say. I love being your Mommy. My goal is for you to someday be just like your Daddy.
He is an amazing man, and well respected. You have a great role model and I am greatful for that (thank you mom and dad #2 for raising such a wonderful man). He works hard, and loves, and respects his family…that is what you should strive for. He makes the right decisions with his life and I pray that you will too (I know you don’t understand these words, but someday you will). Grammy, Grumpy, Papa and Nana love you too, and would do anything for you…always remember that. Your grandparents are very important people in your life. You are blessed to have so many people that love you so much in your life.
So, these last words to you… Godspeed little man…I love you, and can’t wait to see what you grow up to be (well I can, because it is going so fast. It will be here before we know it, and my grandpa always said “don’t wish your life away”)! I already am so proud of you!
With all my love,
Mommy (and Daddy)
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Loving My New Christmas Presents!!!

Daniel got me some photography books for Christmas, and I bought a new lens with some of my Christmas money, and I absolutely love them, I can't get enough picture taking! I took some pictures of our niece on her first birthday. I could not choose which ones I wanted to post so these are my favorites! It was so hard to decide....isn't she adorable!!!

I think this is my favorite!

This is Daniel's favorite!

Pictures and the joys of "single" parenting

So, I am going to take the time to post some pictures of our California trip. I am doing this because I don't feel like doing anything else, and I am stuck in the apartment, due to the fact that I was up all night with a puking 7-month old, and then after three hours of sleep I was woken up by a puking 5-year old (well almost 5 he will let you know he is still 4 when he is getting into trouble, and I say you are 5-years old Ethan, you should know better. I know he gets his stubbornness from you Daniel!) You would think that an "almost" 5-year old could make it to the bathroom, but that is simply not the case when they are woken up from a sound sleep with an upset tummy. Not only was there a trail of puke from his bed to the bathroom, it was bright red because he had red pop with his dinner...so much for getting our deposit back on the apartment! Did I mention Daniel left for Chicago yesterday, so I was taking care of sick babies by myself...not fun. Thank goodness he is coming home tonight, because I am sure it is only a matter of time before I get it!

The walk down to the beach!

Grammy, Noah and Owen

Owen and Grammy Making sandcastles

Feeding the Seals

Doesn't he look so cute in those Uggs...Daniel hates them, I LOVE them!

Evy looking for crabs

Ryan and Erin with Eli...they are so sweet with him! Not sure who wins aunt of the year award...Erin went to Disneyland with us while have tonsillitis, but Lisa took Eli for two nights when we went. I think I am going to have to call it a tie!

Aren't they the cutest couple... ha ha...if I had to see any more PDA between them I was going to throw up!!! Would you propose all ready Ryan? But, seriously...I think you are going to make a great addition to our family and I am glad she found you!

A little beach football with the boys!

The Burkhart Family! What can I say...they are a beautiful family and I just love them all to pieces. They would do anything for us...Darren has offered to help us move when the house is done. He is the best and Lisa you are the best "big sister", I am so blessed to have the four of you in my life! I wish we were closer!

Running from the waves under the pier

Owie lost his "quab" (aka crab)

And that was our first trip to the beach since we've had kids, and they loved it! Pictures of Christmas are coming soon!

Tis the season for the sickies :(

I feel like I have been going non-stop since we got home. It has been crazy! We still have a lot of things to pick out for the house, and adding sick kids, a sick husband and me in a boot up to my knee that my foot doctor put me in, has been a little overwhelming!!! The week we got home I had to take Eli to the doctor because he was running a fever and not sleeping...well guess what another ear infection. He will probably have to have tubes just like his brothers. He had fluid yesterday when I took him for his recheck :( On Saturday we went to soccer and then light shopping, and it was absolutely horrible with the boys. Yes we had all three of them, and we were there for 3 hours...won't ever do that again! The store was going out of business, so the prices were good, you just had to dig around in the warehouse for what you wanted...so imagine that with our three boys who are 4, 2, and six months. That night we went over to our cousins house to have pizza and watch a movie. Well, halfway into our night Owen is sitting next to me and all of a sudden he starts puking (Kandace I know you are laughing right now because you know how fast I jumped out of that chair). He would not stop, I was yelling at Daniel to get a towel and he just sits on the couch and stares... and poor Owie puking all over David and Kandace's chair. We gave him a bath and changed his clothes. He was just laying around, and then Kandace says "ummm I think Owen pooped his pants" she was right. Daniel took him into the bathroom and yelled to Kandace, "how much did you like these pink pants and how much did they cost because I am going to throw them away?" It was so funny. Then we were finally able to leave because the puking had subsided some. We get home and we had no keys to the apartment. Daniel left them in David's truck. So, we are yelling at each other because he doesn't have his keys, and my house keys are not on the car keys, and somehow it all turned into my fault. We then had to get back into the car and drive to get the keys with Owen puking, Eli screaming, and Ethan crying because he was cold. It was a lovely day. Thank you for meeting us half way David, and Kandace sorry for the five loads of laundry you had do, oh yes and the puke all over your chair. Then there is Daniel...who was supposed to be at the airport today at 6 am to go to Chicago. Well, needless to say he did not make it. After dinner last night his stomach was not feeling so good. He must have gotten Owen's stomach virus. He was feeling pretty bad, because sometime after 1 am I heard him (along with everyone else in the apartment complex, "yelling" (aka puking) in the bathroom. I think I'm a bad wife because I was laughing. I have only witnessed Daniel puking like that one other time in the 13 years that we have been together. I just don't understand why he is so loud? I asked him if he was okay when he came back to bed and I was still laughing. He asked if he could get a little sympathy... I said "did I get any the first six months that I was pregnant with Eli and puked 10 times a day?" He didn't say anything after that! I know he must be feeling really bad because he didn't go with me to meet the drywaller's out at the new house this morning even though he was in town. So, all of this is why I still have yet to post pictures of our trip to Cali. I was going to work on it while Daniel was gone to Chicago, but since he is home sick, I'm not sure when I will. Hopefully by the end of the week!

The two week move to California for Christmas!

Grammy, Grumpy, and the boys!

Ok so I've been asked several times when a new blog entry will be posted...well here it is. I'm in a hurry so I hope I don't forget to many details, and I am sure I will miss a few words here and there but I'm not writing a paper to be graded...so bare with me. Ok, so we will get started with the long, I mean long drive. The first day we left at 4:30 am with the car packed full. I mean full there was not room for one more thing. Jake had the smallest spot in the very back of the suburban. Everyone asked how he did, and we said pretty good...we think...we couldn't see him the whole drive! I did not go to bed at all the night before because I was trying to get everything done, so for those of you who know me well I MUST have sleep. I did get a few hours when we got in the car, but it was not enough, and felt awful and I'm sure Daniel and the boys wished I would have slept a little more! The last few hours of the first day in the car the boys started to fight. Daniel said if one more person cried he was pulling over and giving them both a spanking well of course one more person cried, so he pulled over and gave spankings. Well as soon as he started to drive away Owen called him "a poopie" so needless to say, Daniel pulled over at the next exit gave Owen another spanking and then started driving. Once Daniel got on the freeway Owen calls him a "zobo" which translates to bozo. Daniel was so mad he wanted to pull over again. I told him he was not going to pull over every mile until we got to flagstaff (which was our stop for the night). All the chaos finally subsided and we got to our destination. I do have to give our 2 year-old a little credit though...he was smart enough to wait for the name calling until Daddy got back on the road!

Our trip was very eventful this time. We went to the beach, Disneyland and of course Christmas time is just time consuming. Some of the highlights from the trip...fresh squeezed orange juice and game night, oh yes and Daniel's seal impression.

Everyday from Grumpy's orange trees orange juice was made. I'm not a fan, but Daniel is. The reason it is a highlight is because bless my Dads heart, he is obsessed with people getting citrus on their granite counter tops. My brother in-law and sister go to my parents on a regular basis, and still to this day my dads tells Darren to make sure and not get the oranges on the counter top because it will ruin it. It really is quite funny when Darren just says "oh okay" like he doesn't know already because he eats oranges every time he goes over there. So, making the OJ is an ordeal in a half. I'm not kidding you when I say that. They literally line the counter top with a plastic trash bag. Dad jut for the record...we ALL know not to get citrus on the counter tops I PROMISE. He did seal the granite when we went to Disneyland because I think it was really stressing him out!

So onto game night. One night we are all playing games which is quite amusing at the Albrecht household. Darren hates game night. He never has been a game player, but over the years he has come around...a little. So one night we are playing a game and I'm not sure what brought up the discussion, but Darren makes the comment and he says "because I am a cabinero" he was trying to say "caballero" which is cowboy in spanish. I think it was the funniest thing that happened the whole trip. We are going to get shirts made for his 40th birthday that have a picture of a cabin + a habanero pepper = a cowboy it is going to be great. You go Cabinero!

Then we have Daniel acting like the seals we fed while we were in Moro Bay. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen him do, and I did not even get a picture if it. He was laying on his stomach barking like a seal and slapping his side. My mom did get a video of it, but I think he would kill me if I posted it. Maybe we could make a deal...Erin you let me post the video of you singing "single ladies" and "all by myself "and maybe Daniel will let me post the seal video. What do you say?!?! Yikes....that is what I have to say.

So that was our trip. I do have tons of pictures that I will be posting and a few more stories but for now this is what I got! Mom...hopefully I did not share too much information, sorry Dad I had to talk about the oranges, just couldn't resist! We had a great time. I always love going "home"!