Ethan Runs for Fun

Every Friday night here in town they have a kids "Fun Run" where kids through age 12 can run against other kids their age. Last night, David and I took Ethan for his second run.

The first time Ethan ran, David said he felt so proud! He impressed his dad by weaving in and out of the crowd and eventually finishing before many others. I was sad to have missed the event! So last night, the whole family went so I myself could witness Ethan's running prowess, ha ha ha.

Here is a short video clip of the finish! There were lots more kids this time around, David said, and they were a lot faster, too! Ethan finished the half track in one minute and five seconds. Is that good? I don't know...

Afterwards, he was quite thirsty! They have cookies, water and juice for the runners. There were lots of our friends and their kids, too. It's quite the social event for parents! There are only two more weeks for the fun run, with the last one being trophy night. Every child will get a trophy. Isn't that cute? Too bad we didn't start going earlier this summer!

Expecting

As the weeks go by, the reality of another baby sets in. There is some fear and apprehension of the delivery, of juggling nursing with running after Ethan, of running on very little sleep!

But then the excitement and anticipation sets in, too. When I'm out running errands or shopping, I will often pass by the baby section of whatever store I'm in and look at the baby clothes. Such tiny shirts! Such tiny pants! Such tiny feet! And what an array of options for dressing a baby girl! The pinks and yellows and lavenders and green--they all tickle me with delight. It's hard to resist!

And then when I lay down to go sleep, or even just for a nap, I will feel this little baby squirm. She moves very differently than Ethan did. Ethan kicked me in between the ribs A LOT. This little one wiggles, depending on my position, and it actually tickles sometimes. Or when I watch TV, out of the corner of my eye I will see my belly wobble from one side to the other. Every move she makes reminds me that she is coming very soon and just makes me all the more excited for her arrival. I hope and pray that she continues to grow well and healthily.

28 Weeks

Baby and I are doing well! I am officially into the third trimester now, and so my doctors visits are now every two weeks.

It seems like time is going by VERY fast. Before we know it, our little girl will be here! We have lots to do before her arrival. Right now, the basement is being drywalled. When that's done, we have to paint, then move everything back into those rooms. Ethan's room needs to be finished. That means the closet needs to be cleaned out to make room for his stuff, and there's still some decorating to do :) Then the nursery closet needs to be cleaned out, girl clothes laundered and inventoried (I don't even know what I have or need!), and if I have time I would like to redecorate that room just a little bit. It could use some pink!

One thing at a time, huh? Can you tell the nesting instinct has gone into full swing?

Water Sliding

Ethan has finally started to enjoy some slides. I've been trying to convince him to try this water slide since last summer. It's the perfect size and incline for little toddlers, but he remained apprehensive for the longest time! See how fun it is?

Happy Fourth of July!

The Snyders took a brief camping trip last week with two other families to celebrate the Fourth. Ok, by brief we mean overnight! We had never been camping with Ethan before, so we weren't sure how long we could last! We had a great time! The Owens are on the left, and they joined us the day after we got there, essentially taking the overnight spot of the Snyders (we even left our tent and pack n play for them to use). The Alkires are in the center.

Setting camp the afternoon we got there was fun. We grilled chicken and garlic toast for dinner and served it with salad and baked beans, heated right in the can. After putting the kids to bed we all roasted marshmallows over the fire and had some s'mores.

The next morning we got up EARLY! One of the rv's next to us decided to rev up his generator which was so loud that the kids woke up.

This is me realizing that it's 5:45 in the morning after getting to bed at about midnight.

But this is one of my favorite parts of camping: open fire cooking. Katrina made us some french toast and eggs, while I prepared coffee and sausages. Doesn't this look yummy?


The kids couldn't really wait, so Kayela had some yogurt while Ethan had some instant oatmeal.

After breakfast the dads took the kids to the lake while Katrina and I cleaned up and had a rest.

Later that morning, David and I took the kids to the nearby playground while Katrina and Andrew (Kayela's parents) tried to catch some fish. We are so glad Ethan had a playmate with him. It made the trip so much more enjoyable for him!

Riding around in our van, the two kids goofed off a bit. We kept hearing them giggling and squealing.

At lunchtime, the Owens joined us for sandwiches, chips and homemade, camp ice cream! It was Dave O's birthday, so this was our special celebration. Here is the video clip of how we made vanilla ice cream in gallon freezer bags.

After lunch it was time for us to go. The Owens stayed one more night, while the Alkires stayed two more. We enjoyed our time, but boy were we worn out! Ethan fell asleep about two seconds after he got in the car!

Congratulations, Val and Narss!

Another Chicago wedding! This one was unique for us in that it was held at an art studio--West Loop Studios. It was a beautiful ceremony setting and chic reception site all rolled into one! Good job with the planning, you guys! It turned out beautifully!

While Mom and Dad were celebrating, Ethan had some fun playtime with his friend Lauren. Her parents, Liz and Jace were kind enough to watch Ethan that afternoon. Thank you for helping us out!

Peoria Zoo

It was a lovely Friday morning for the Snyder family last week...

Ethan finally likes slides, too! Most kids his age can't get enough of them, but not Ethan. So it's been fun seeing him warm up to this playground staple. There was a whale shaped slide at the zoo where he played for quite a while! We had to resort to all sorts of tricks to get him off the slide to see the other exhibits.

Check this out this video clip...this was a pond full of aggressive koi.

The first time we approached this pond, not only did the fish approach the edge of the water, but they were splashing and frenetic. I thought we had approached a pond full of piranahs!

24 Weeks

This post is two weeks overdue since I am now 26 weeks pregnant! Our last visit to the midwife was very good (yes, a midwife). We were able to do one more sonogram to check a few more things that were hard to see last time. But the best part was I got to see a "4D" sonogram for the first time. That whole term doesn't make much sense to me, but you get the idea. Not only do you see the form of your baby, but I guess there's more computer generation in this kind of sonogram. David thinks it looks a bit creepy, but I was fascinated!

The pregnancy is going well. Everything is checking out great! I think the hardest part has been getting used to the extra weight again! Some of you might remember my die hard efforts at losing weight last fall. Efforts that were well worth it I'm proud to say. But I'm afraid I'll be working hard again in a few months!

Differences this time around: First, a lot more round ligament pain. If I walk too long, sit too long or stand too long, I start to ache quite a bit. I stopped working out months ago because of this. Second, I feel baby's movement in a different place than last time. The sonographer determined she was breeched this time around, which might explain why I feel movement in my lower abdomen. The movement an expectant mom feels is usually due to her baby's kicking legs. So, if that's true, then this baby is head up. This is a big contrast to the sharp kicks I felt in between my ribs while pregnant with Ethan, who was head down at the time of delivery. As a result, I've been reading up on what to do to encourage this baby to "turn around". You wouldn't believe what you could find on the internet...

Monk or Punk?

A few days ago we took Ethan for a haircut. David thought we should just take some #3 clippers to his head and shave the hair to promote thicker growth. I said, "OK, but he's gonna look really silly with his big head!" I laughed the entire time as the stylist shaved off his brown locks. I'm used to it now, and in fact, it's actually endeared Ethan more to us. His bald head is reminiscent of his infant days. It's like he's a baby all over again (except one that talks and walks and gets into trouble!)

Aunt Gayle's Visit

Ethan became quite attached to Aunt Gayle as soon as she arrived. It was "Aunt Gayle this" and "Aunt Gayle that"! First thing in the morning: "Go see Aunt Gayle", first thing after his afternoon nap "Where's Aunt Gayle?" It was very cute. I try not to take it too personally that he rarely asked for me, though towards the end of her visit he did start to ask for me more. In fact, he became downright clingy at times. Strange for my little independent boy.

Early this morning Aunt Gayle was finally able to get a seat on a flight outta here (long story). This was the exchange between Ethan and I when he woke up this morning:

Ethan: "Go see Daddy?"
Me: "Daddy's not here."
Ethan: "Go see Aunt Gayle!"
Me: "Aunt Gayle's not here." (apologetic face included)

I was relieved to see that Ethan didn't pitch a fit (yesterday he woke up from his nap while Aunt Gayle and Daddy were out), though he did continue to ask for her a while longer. I think he had such fun spending so much time with his aunt. Thanks, Aunt Gayle!

Anniversary Tornado

On our way back from our anniversary trip we spotted a tornado probably about 2 or 3 miles away from us as we drive South on I-55. We submitted the below video clip to one of the local news stations, and it made it on TV! We had no idea that it did, but an acquaintance told me she heard my voice on the news two nights ago and saw my video clip and name. Bummer! Too bad we missed it!

Happy Anniversary!

This past weekend David and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary in Chicago. His sister, Gayle, flew in from Dallas to watch Ethan while we were out. Thanks, Gayle!

Our celebration began with dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Geja's Cafe, a romantic fondue restaurant in Lincoln Park. After checking in to our hotel, we parked the car for the night and hopped on the bus. We passed by all my old haunts along the way, which was so much fun! Probably more so for me than David! Our dinner began with a yummy cheese fondue appetizer, followed by salad, then a variety of meats and veggies that we were to cook in hot oil and dip in our choice of eight sauces! It was a bit messier than I remembered, but very yummy and fun.


Afterwards, dessert was served--chocolate fondue with a variety of fruits, pound cake and marshmallows. A perfect ending...

After dinner we hopped on the bus back towards the hotel and caught a movie. Iron Man! A very fun flick, and I was surprised that I actually liked Robert Downey Jr. in his newest role. Definitely a must see for the summer. The walk back to the hotel was pleasant, and felt like we were dating again! How long had it been since we'd walked down a busy city street after a great date? Years!

The next morning after breakfast we decided to spend some time at the nearby beach. A short walk from the hotel was Ohio Street Beach. Where else can you go sun yourself on the water and also see a cool city skyline? Only in Chicago! We then headed back to the hotel for a quick dip on their rooftop pool, then cleaned up to do some more sightseeing.

From the hotel we walked south to Millenium Park. This was Chicago's newest addition since I had left four years ago, so we really wanted to see it. They had several structures in the park, one of which was the great, big, "bean".

No Chicago trip would be complete without shopping, though! We managed to stop by Nordstrom so I could get a mini makeover. I love my makeup!

We left Chicago in the afternoon very full and satisfied from our overnight trip. My only regret is that we didn't have any time to say hi to our friends!

Jump! Jump!

One other toddler milestone...jumping. Ethan hasn't quite mastered it yet, though he keeps trying. Sometimes when we three are out walking around the block, he will stop and try to jump. It's very funny, actually! This video shows a little bit of his efforts, and he improves everyday. He also loves to run around the tree, chasing daddy in the backyard. It's so fun to hear him do his belly laugh.

Say cheese

During one of our many Memorial Day celebrations last month we were lucky to have our friend, Anthony, take some snap shots of Ethan. Anthony has been dabbling with photography for a while now and we are always so pleased with his pictures! Last year he also took a few photographs of Ethan at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival. Click here to see that post.

Memorial Day Feasting

This past weekend was full of holiday celebrations. We had a bbq every single day of the long weekend! The Snyders kicked off the weekend first with their annual bbq. Each year gets more and more complicated because all the kids keep increasing in size and number! We had about 8 kids there, all boys! Eventually our friends with their two daughters came.

Will here was the second youngest, and the least trouble of all. Cute and cuddly and still content to be on a blanket, he was a welcome addition to this year's bbq.


Now here is the youngest addition to the party. 3-month old Jude with his mommy, Amanda. Isn't he cute? Perhaps I should say HE was the least trouble of all. He slept a bunch of the time!



Here's Ethan with Grant taking a break on the kitchen floor. Ethan discovered chips this weekend, so he and Grant had fun crunching away. They were limited to a few chips a piece, but I know this is just the beginning!

No bbq would be complete without a game of wiffle ball. The kids loved to run around the field, but admittedly they didn't quite get the game. Dads played while their kids ran alongside them, got them the ball, and some of the older kids swung the bat.


Finally it was time for the men to really have at it. They played for quite a while. I'm always surprised at how much David's friends love to play wiffle ball. The ladies stayed on the deck and happily had our "gab" time.

The next day the Snyder's attended a b-day celebration bbq. Ethan was glad to find his friends Abby and Macy whom he saw just the day before!

The plane ride home...

...was a little choppy! Sorry the footage is so dark in this clip...

Life after vacation

You know you've had a good vacation when you're sad to come home!

We were blessed to find some incredibly low airfare through Allegiant, and very affordable accomodations at Summerland Suites. The owner of the property, Angela, actually owns the two adjoining properties, so we were free to use any of the pools on three grounds. Our one bedroom apartment was indeed BUDGET, but it had everything we needed and was very clean. Angela was even able to get us a crib for Ethan at no charge, and lent us her own beach towels and beach chairs and umbrella for free. This was a great place for a family! And with the very cheap rental car we had for two days, the whole vacation costs were way under what anyone would expect. What a blessing! Central Illinois has had some very cool and wet weather this entire spring. I've been aching for sun and something to lift my spirits. This was exactly what I needed!
Below is a slide show of our pictures. As I look outside at the Illinois rain and gray, I have the fond memories of a tropical vacation to look back on!

Here is a little video clip of our stay...

Water Baby

Thursday was our last morning in Florida so we hit the beach for the last time. But it was the first time that Ethan really finally took to the ocean. For the past few days he has stayed near the edge, sat on the sand, walked along the water, but never really wanted to go in without mommy or daddy, but even then he would say "all done". Today, he ran into the water, wanted to jump and splash, and didn't want to leave, not even for a snack! It was so fun to see him enjoy himself. But mom and dad got tired! Playing in the ocean means constant supervision!

Museum of Discovery and Science

Not many of you ventured any guesses! Ok, so here's where I give in and say we were in Fort Lauderdale for our last-minute, impromptu, budget vacation for 4 days. It was just what the doctor ordered! Hot weather, bright sun, and a beach two blocks away...



One of the highlights of Fort Lauderdale's downtown area is their Museum of Discovery and Science. There we got to walk through an exhibit showcasing Florida's aquatic life, play in the toddler area, and introduce Ethan to advanced scientific concepts! Magnetism, for one. Ethan knows full well how magnets work--but only on the refrigerator in our kitchen! Here we are at a table where you can see how magnetism can "rub off" on other pieces so that they stick together.



Another really fun part of the museum was their aerospace center. We got to try out flight simulators, take a look at certain parts of an airplane, and even sit in a real cockpit! David and Ethan got to fly together as you can see here, while I tried my hand at flying a cessna. I crashed. Twice. Looks like my career as pilot is shot!

David had a lot of fun being Ethan's co-pilot!

Where in the World are David, Vicky and Ethan?

Today we went to the Flamingo Gardens to check out their wildlife sanctuary, aviary and botanical gardens (location hint!) Here I am standing next to something called a champion tree. It was huge! One of the neat things about this place were all the birds. For one thing, they had peacocks everywhere. I will forever be traumatized by this one little guy who apparently felt rather threatened by Ethan. Ethan stood several feet away but was looking right at it, and before I knew it, this peacock spread his feathers in all his glory. It was spectacular, but also frightening.

Of course, I wanted a picture. The peacock walked around in a circle, so we crouched low and waited for him to turn around again. Snap! The picture went. Then before I knew it, I heard a strange sound behind me and this peacock started charging with that magnificent plumage. I grabbed Ethan and started running, but he fell, and the peacock was still coming! I turned around and swung my bag at it. How stupid. Ethan was on the ground crying from a scratch, and here I was swinging my bag at a bird. David was stunned that he saw what looked like me dragging my own son away from a harmless bird. I don't know, but I had flashbacks of Jurassic Park and raptors in my mind. That SOUND... I admit, I was a bit shook up for the rest of the visit.

After lunch and a long nap, we headed back to the beach for some playtime. This, by the way, is the ATLANTIC ocean. Have you figured out where we are yet?

By dinnertime we were well recovered, especially after some deep-fried seafood! Ethan has a big smile on his face, doesn't he? He should...after his favorite food: pepperoni pizza. And it wasn't bad pizza, either. We are, after all, in the Venice of the US (location hint AGAIN!).

Do you know where we are? Post a comment!