Pear Blossom Festival

Today I attended my first Pear Blossom Parade. Ethan was in the parade as part of his preschool at ABK. Of course since he is so young a parent had to stay with him and Matt volunteered to walk in the parade with him. I took Hudson to sit on the sidelines and wait for them to walk by. Hudson was having so much fun. He loved when the police motorcycles and all the fire trucks went by. He waved at all the people in the parade. He was in awe when a big group riding Harley’s went by. Last but not least he enjoyed all the snacks and candy he received during the three hours we were there. Ethan had fun riding on the float. Not so sure Matt thought it was fun on a float full of preschool kids. LOL! Either way it was a fun family afternoon…..


Hudson, Uncle Jake, and Kara waiting for the parade to start


Hudson waving at everyone in the parade


Chillin while waiting for Ethan and Daddy's float

Finally we see them!

More interested in his cheetos......

Both boys were wiped out after the parade!

Yellow Belt

Two months ago Ethan moved from the Little Dragons Karate Program to the Black Belt Club program. While in the Little Dragons he had the chance to test twice and moved up to his white-orange belt. Those tests were in a group setting and the instructors were standing in front helping the “Little Dragons” with their forms. On April 10th, Ethan had the opportunity to test for his yellow belt. This test was a lot different than the Little Dragons program. Every time he goes to class he must take out his card which has all the requirements for the next belt. During the class his instructors will mark what he has learned. Once all the requirements are met he is eligible for testing. We were given a paper with questions for Ethan to answer as well as a spot for his preschool teacher and parents to sign off saying that he has been respectful and demonstrating good behavior. I really like that part of the program because without the signatures he would have to postpone the test. I think it is great that he is learning that he has to be disciplined and respectful all the time and not just in the Karate studio. Back to testing day……this time the instructors all sat behind a table and the students were called up front in groups depending on what color of belt they were testing for. Ethan was one of three boys testing for yellow belt. He really did not seem nervous while they were watching him perform. Let me remind you he is the smallest one out there. During his front kick combination the instructor made a comment about how he should try to kick without sticking out his tongue. All of the other parents laughed. Ethan had to demonstrate the 22B, Front kick combination, One-Step #1, and the Self Defense Number 1: Choke Hold. Then it was time for the instructors to make their comments. Ethan was left standing alone because of his order in line the other two boys got their comments first and then were told to sit down. At this point I believe Ethan got a little nervous. His instructor had wonderful things to say about Ethan but when asked a question Ethan was speechless. He just shrugged his shoulders. Honestly that is the first time I have ever seen Ethan at a loss for words. But I think it was good for him. The important thing is he got his yellow belt! This is the first of many testing days for Ethan as he has committed to three years with this Black Belt Club and one day he will receive that black belt.


Roll Call (Ethan is the shortest one up front)


22B


Getting ready to receive their new belts

Mr. Breene tying on the yellow belt

He really is excited....

There is his smile!

28 weeks

I have reached the third trimester. I am feeling it. I swear my belly is growing everyday now! I constantly feel out of breath and I am outgrowing some of my maternity clothes. LOL! The morning sickness is still lingering around. Not all the time but it sneaks up on me every now and then. Yesterday I had another ultrasound. The doctor want to recheck the placenta since at 20 weeks it looked a little close to the cervix. Thankfully, everything checked out okay yesterday. The placenta is a little low but my doctor believes it will correct itself in the coming weeks. The good news is I don't have placenta previa. While at the ultrasound, the tech asked me if I knew the gender. Of course I replied that we did but I had to admit that in the past month I had several people tell me that they were told one gender at the ultrasound but delivered the opposite a few months later. I think this might have offended the tech because she was determined to give me all the proof I needed it was a boy. Funny, I was really only making conversation. But now I have several ultrasound pictures, some in 3D that clearly show it is a boy. According to the ultrasound the baby is weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces and my due date is still on track for June 29th. After the ultrasound it was time for the glucose test. I was very surprised that they let me take the sugar solution home at the last appointment so I was able to drink it before I left my house and by the time I got to the doctor's office it was time to draw the blood rather than waste an hour just sitting in the office. Oh but wait the best part is they didn't have to draw blood this time, they just pricked my finger. In case you had not figured it out I hate getting my blood drawn. I am such a wimp. Well, I needed a score of less than 136 for them to say I did not have gestational diabetes. I scored 133. Then they also checked my iron. I needed a score of 11.4 or higher. I scored 10.6. So that means my iron was low. They told me to take some iron supplements and then everything should be fine. I guess that might explain why I have been so tired all the time. Below are the latest belly pictures......

Not sure if this shirt will cover my belly in four weeks when I take the next picture. Ha ha!

Hudson stories

All of these photos were taken by JulieAnn Photography. She did a wonderful job capturing Hudson's mischievous personality. He refused to stay still long enough to get the perfect picture. But I think the pictures are great anyway, and they make me laugh because I know he can be so ornery.

It is official my house is full of comedians. In previous post I have shared some Ethan stories. Well, now Hudson has a few stories of his own. A year ago Hudson was quiet and more reserved. All he would do was stare at you with his big blue eyes. Fast forward a year and he is talking all the time, very mischievous, stubborn, has an expression for everything, testing his boundaries, very observant, and never stops eating.

So the other day I was drying my hair in the bathroom. Hudson follows me in there and grabs the brush off the counter and begins brushing his own hair. When he is done he pulls any loose hair off the brush and throws it in the trash! I couldn't believe it. This is one example of how observant he is. I guess he has watched me do that a few times. Now of course the trash can is right next to the toilet. I noticed that Hudson stuck his head over the toilet with his hands behind his head. Thank goodness he didn't make any barfing sounds but this is a sign that I have had a lot of morning sickness and unfortunately Hudson follows me into the bathroom when that happens. Of course I always have my hands behind my head to keep my hair back. Not really something I want him to observe but it was very funny.

Now I could write all day with Hudson food stories. The boy really never stops eating. Taking him to the grocery store is horrible. He cries the entire time because he wants to eat whatever I put in the basket. Really it is like when you take most kids the toy store! If you offer Hudson his favorite snacks he starts screaming, dancing, and jumping all around. I really need a lock on the kitchen. I catch him in the pantry more times than I can count. He has even learned to hide inside the cupboard so it takes me longer to find him and when I finally figure it out he is eating out of the cereal boxes. One day there was a ziplock bag full of cheez-its on the table. Hudson could not open the bag so he literally chewed through the ziplock bag so he could get the cheez-its out! So the other day it came as no surprise that Hudson shirt(which happened to be Superbowl t-shirt with two football helmets on it) was covered with yogurt, milk and anything else he had eaten at his last meal. Matt made a comment like is that food on Hudson's shirt. Before I could answer Hudson yelled at us NO FOOTBALL. Funny but I think that football might be the only thing he likes more than food.

Wish I was a little bit taller.......

Yesterday was Ethan's five year well visit with Dr. Jones. I had been telling Ethan that he would have to go to the doctor for a few days. He was a little nervous and kept telling me that the didn't want any shots. But when the day finally arrived he was totally cool about it. Our biggest challenge was actually Hudson who even though it was not his appointment freaked out the moment we walked into the Kids Clinic. Hudson just kept saying "Mommy, Bye Bye." When the nurse called Ethan's name, Hudson immediately started crying. I had to reassure him that it was Ethan's turn and that he did not need to see the doctor. Half way through the exam Hudson started telling everyone that it was Ethan's turn. Too Cute! During the well visit Ethan was asked to do an eye exam. I found this rather funny because he wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do. Instead of letters there was different pictures and a couple of the pictures Ethan didn't know what to call them. The nurse and I both chuckled at his creative responses. His vision was 20/3o in one eye and 20/50 in the other. But the doctor figured that this happened because it was the first eye exam Ethan had ever taken so he really just didn't understand what he was supposed to do. Once he begins Kindergarten in the fall they will check his eyes again. In order to be ready for Kindergarten Ethan needed three shots(really it was four but thankfully the last vaccine was a combo). Ethan was a trooper during the shots. Dr. Jones actually said I could let him get one now and then do the rest later in the summer. But I realize that Ethan has a good memory and once he remembered what it felt like to have shots there was no way I could convince him to go back. I thought the best decision was to get them over with all at once. As soon as the needle hit his thigh Ethan was ready to punch, so I had to hold his hands down. By the third shot he was laughing. To make him feel better we went to Sonic afterwards for a slushy. This past year at Karate, Matt and I have noticed that Ethan was the shortest kid in class. At first we just thought it was because he was one of the youngest kids since his birthday falls in March. Well, yesterday at the doctor's appointment I learned that Ethan is 41 3/8 inches tall which puts him in the 25th percentile. His weight was 41.4 lbs which is in the 5oth percentile. I am sure he will hit his growth spurt eventually and then my grocery bill will triple!

Many thanks to JulieAnn Photography! Julie captured Ethan's personality so well in all of these photos.

Week 24

The seven days between week 23 and week 24 were tough! Ethan got sick first with a fever. Then the next day I felt horrible. No fever but I had a runny nose, sore throat, body aches, heartburn and of course morning sickness. Then I developed a terrible cough that was making everyone's life miserable. Not to mention the whole issue of trying to have bladder control as I am coughing every 30 seconds at six months pregnant. Yes, it was an eventful week! On Monday I had another doctor's appointment. We listened to the heartbeat which sounded great. Measured my belly which was right on target. Nothing out of the ordinary. I still haven't gained much weight. Guess that is not surprising considering I am still having morning sickness. But at least I am not losing. Next month I will have another ultrasound to recheck the placenta. At the last ultrasound there was some concern that the placenta was too close to the cervix. So as a precaution the doctor wants to do another ultrasound. I am started to feel really pregnant. You know that stage where you just feel huge and always out of breath. I can't wait for the weather to warm up a little more so I can bring out some new maternity clothes. I am bored with all my long sleeve clothes. In case you were wondering the baby is kicking all the time. I am beginning to think he is playing soccer or doing gymnastics in there. Ha ha! Below are the latest belly pics, but keep in mind I have felt sick all week so it was rather hard for me to smile and look chipper.


still growing.....


Yes, I still need a haircut!

Not sure what I am laughing at......

24 weeks!

FIVE!

It is really hard for me to believe that Ethan is 5! Although he has been counting down the days and is so excited. It seems like just a short time ago we were awaiting his arrival. Five seems like a milestone to me so we even let Ethan have two parties this year. Over the weekend we traveled up to Eugene, Oregon to visit with some friends. While we were up there we took Ethan to Chuck E. Cheese. He was so excited. All the kids were having so much fun that we ended up spending three hours at Chuck E. Cheese!!!!! I think it is safe to say that all the adults were ready to leave.

Today was Ethan's actual birthday. We had all the family over for pizza, cake and ice cream. Below are a couple of pictures. I couldn't get him to pose for many because he was too worried about playing with all his new gifts.


My lame attempt at decorating the cake. Ethan was very happy with it so I guess that is what counts!


Waiting as eveyone is singing Happy Birthday

Blowing out the candles

Tearing into the presents

Stars Wars figures.....he is so excited

Most of the kids that were at the party(Isa looks thrilled)