I need coffee.

AHHH...I LOVE coffee! Not sure if I should be proud of it? It makes the day feel manageable. Don't get me wrong. I have a good life and a VERY enjoyable boy to spend my days with. But lets face it. He wakes up WAY to early for me! He is a early bird. Always has been. No fighting it now. I used to try. Now I just except it and wake up and try to be chipper. That's where coffee comes in. Its magic. Instant happiness. It helps jump-start my day. And gives "EASY" a happy mommy until I truly wake up. Nothing wrong with that. Right? I especially needed my cup of Joe this morning. Had a long and busy weekend and I'm exhausted! I'll blog about it later...

oh yes. I love cuddly baby's in PJ's, watching cartoons, snuggling with his Bubbas!

Runners high.

When I go for a run my whole day feels better. Or if I've had a hard day it helps...alot! Being outdoors and pushing my body seems to help with all the bundled-up stress my brain has been storing up. My mind goes a mile a minute when I run and that's when I seem to think the clearest. Me...by myself...to think. I love that I got back into running. I've come to the conclusion that I NEED it in my life! There's nothing like it. For that brief period after Ethan was born and I didn't do much exercise I didn't feel like myself. I felt sluggish and unmotivated. Running makes me feel alive. Gets my blood moving, color in my skin, heart racing. Nothing like it! Its my crack. Everyone should have some!

The Ingalls told us about this new gadget that they knew we would love. The Nike Plus system. Of course Joel and I invested into it and LOVE it! It has been a real motivation! I wish it was around back in our track days!!! You need the sensor kit, an ipod nano, a good pair of running shoes, and I recommend the arm band.

How it works:The sensor detects every step a runner takes and broadcasts this information to the receiver. The receiver routes the information to the iPod Nano, which relays it to the runner, either on the screen or through the headphones.The software tracks the usual data like time and distance, and includes a voice over, much like the nav system in your car, which communicates the details. The training and inspiration mixes offer advice as well.Sync your iPod and your data is uploaded to the nikeplus.com site, which tracks your workouts, progress, goals and offers community and inspirational content. More information is also available from theNike plus site

It would be sooo awesome if more people we know got it so we can have bigger challenges! Game on...

park playdate

My friend Erin posted a blog with some really cute pictures of her son Parker and Ethan playing! These guys are freaking adorable! They play really good together. Its great fun. I get such a kick out of watching Ethan play with his friends. They're such lil' dudes! Check them out...HERE!

CHILAXIN'

So I've noticed that Ethan understands the art of chilling! I think he's got it down...

Boys and their Trucks.

What is it? Ethan's obsessed over trucks now. All sorts of them. Garbage trucks are amazing! Those guys might as well be super hero's. That's the way Ethan looks at them. In amazement. He waves and oohhhs and awwws and says "bye bye gig guck" (big truck). Our garbage man indulges us. He waves back and puts on a show. What a guy! He notices every truck now. In books, on his sippy cups, on his clothes, his toy trucks, every truck passing by. He makes a point to show us. Its crazy how boys are so boy. You know? Its so natural and unlearned. Seriously. I didn't teach him how to play with trucks. Its innate. Its neat. He all of a sudden is infatuated with all his trucks and cars and pretty much anything with wheels around the house and plays with them like he is suppose to now. He makes them drive with sound effects. Its very serious business! I love to watch him play.
Another thing he started to do is line up his trucks and toys. He has a few friends (ha...I still think its so cute that Ethan has friends) that do this too. Not sure if he learned it from them or its the age? 

weekend plans

We are finally staying at home this weekend for a change and getting stuff done. We are gone every weekend and things are piling up. The biggie...we NEED to find a house! Its a good thing, but man, its stressful. I hate this stuff. I'm not good at these things. It stresses me out and I freeze. Seriously, when I have alot to do I do the complete opposite...I do nothing. Not a good thing. I'm working on it. I'm actually really excited! We need to get out of apartments. ETHAN needs to get out of an apartment! He is WAY to rambunctious! He needs more space. He needs a yard. He needs to dig in the dirt and run. He's ALL boy! We love that about him. Its forcing us to get out of our comfort zone. We are feeling encouraged because we are finding houses that we want to rent for another year, while we work on some stuff and get ourselves in a better place to purchase our own (which we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel). Its going to be so awesome for Joel's commute to only be about 10 minutes away! And to have more of a home. Its hard to explain but apartments just aren't homey? Joel and I were talking about the silly stuff we will appreciate about having a house. Like owning a hose...silly right? you get it. Soooo, this weekend consists of house hunting, much needed errands to do, and good ole family time!

arsenal of words...

I started writing down a list of words that Ethan says and knows so I won't forget this SUPER cute age of learning to talk and I didn't realize how many he actually knew!?! It seems like a new word everyday. He at least attempts to say something new everyday. Some of the words stick with him and is added to his growing vocabulary! AMAZING. He definitely has his own little language. I love baby gibberish! He will speak full sentences and I have no idea what he says? Its so adorable! Here's a list so far:

milk= gilk or gik
truck=guck
tree=tee
Whoa!
Noo!
baby=bay-bay
cat=meow,meow
dog=doggie or bubba
bath=baf
that=tha-thh
blanket=bo bo or ba ba (we just figured this one out after lots of frustration!)
pacifer=touches his mouth
toby=bubba
car=garr
go=go
duck=ak ak (trying to say quack)
bird=birr
bye-bye=bye-bye
He tries to say shoe
mommy=mama or ma-me
dada=dada
bubbles=ba-bules (probably the cutest word EVER!)

The pediatrician asked that he knew about 5 words by this age! HA! We don't have a problem here. I guess boys are slower verbalizing then girls? He's starting to put words together. My favorite "NOOO MA-ME!" and he says "GO GARR (car) GO!" He also knows the signs for bubbles, please, and up. He pretty much over uses the please sign. He walks around signing please to almost everything! We are working on more sign language. Even though he uses his words pretty well for a baby his age, I think its fun :)

...and a wicked cute picture! He's back to growling at us ...Again.

Disneyland!!!

Now that we are proud owners of season passes to Disneyland (BIG Thank You again to the Kriwinski's and Delmores) we took Ethan this weekend! Oh what a blast! We went last Christmas with the family, but Ethan was young. I was curious to see how he would do this time now that he understands WAY more. I was a little worried now that he's mobile. He's everywhere and boy does he run. I was concerned about the crowds with a crazy toddler. So I did what I never thought I would do. I bought him a leash! HA...really people...its not that bad. They make them cute and they're more like a harness backpack. He loves his monkey on his back and honestly...its pretty darn cute! It helps when we are standing in line when he is over being carried or sick of the stroller. 
My worries subsided pretty quickly though. He was a GREAT kid! So well behaved and we had a fun time! He was taking it all in. The park wasn't crowded at all! perfect. Seriously, barely any... if any lines at all! My Mom (Grandma) and Brother (Uncle Donny) came and we had a blast! They even got season passes. Our secret plan is to talk everyone we know into getting them so we can go all the time! Wow! wouldn't that be fun? We had a thrilling day of rides, site seeing, and indulging in the must have theme park junk food. Candy apples, popcorn, burgers, slushees, cotton candy...the works! Lots of firsts for Ethan. I'm usually a little weird about sweets for "Easy" so it was fun to let loose.
Ethan's favorite ride by far was Winnie the Pooh! He clapped and laughed and was amazed! The icing on the cake was that after the ride he got to meet Pooh Bear and he was very happy with that! He signed please when we left so we went back and stood in line again. CUTE! Grandma had to buy him a Pooh Bear stuffed animal and he has been sleeping with it ever since! Ethan's face on the Winnie the Pooh ride was classic! I love it!
We had such an AWESOME time! The perfect way to end the day was to watch the parade. Ethan was Amazed! We can't wait to go back! 

Labor Day Weekend Extravaganza!

I love long weekends! Who doesn't? We decided to take advantage of the extended weekend and last minute Friday night we packed up the family and went to Pismo beach and San Luis Obispo. We go there alot. Most of Joel's family lives there. This time we stayed with the Ingalls. They're the most awesome hosts! Anna loves to entertain. Saturday we spent the day at the beach. So much fun! In the shallow calm part of the water Ethan took a head dive and went all the way under. Hilarious to us...not so much for him. The babies were good sports and did amazing for skipping their naps. I tried to put Ethan down in his pack 'n' play with the hope that he would fall asleep. He was exhausted. He relaxed for a bit, but there was just to much going on. He was happy as usual to have his cousins to play with (loves the Delmore clan.)

Cutest thing. I caught Kate actually telling Ethan to "come to your princess! We call her his princess so this was pretty adorable! He thinks she is the best!


It was a super swell weekend! The boys got to surf quite a bit. Had bonfires and smores. Ethan's Nana and Opa babysat the boy and we got to go on wonderful date night. First tried to ride the bikes to downtown SLO. We got flat tires, so we went back and took the Ingalls Vespas instead. TOO MUCH FUN!

Scrumptious dinner...Way cool atmosphere...The best company (always have a blast with these guys)... and creepy, fun blind folded surprise hike up to the cliffs over looking pirates cove. At night mind you. scary! What great guys!

Arm band boy didn't let us down. He rocked it all day Sunday and even wore it to church. HARDCORE!