Late spring pictures

Well we are finally out of school and we have been busy! I am three days away from my due date and we have a major basement remodeling fully underway. Here are some pictures of Mr. Ethan taken over the past few weeks.

Ethan picking me a flower (chive) from our garden.

Ethan and Bailey hanging out.

Ethan and cousin Travis holding up their clam shells at Birch Bay.

Ethan helping Papa in the basement.

Us at the Deming Log Show. I'm about 38 weeks pregnant here.

Thanks to Steve, Gary, and especially my Dad for helping us out with our basement, and thanks to Mom for helping out pre-baby. Love you guys!

We'll keep you all posted on baby status!

Conversations with Ethan

The things Ethan says these days are just too precious. Every day we have new and funny conversations. Here's just a few over the past couple days.

We were at Whatcom Falls Park the other day standing next to the waterfall:
Ethan: "Mommy, you save my yife?"
Me: "What do you mean baby?"
Ethan: "You save my yife?"
Me: "Of course I would save your life. I will always love you and protect you and keep you from harm."
Ethan: "You'll keep me in a barn??"
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Again, at Whatcom Falls park:

Ethan: "Mommy, you're the best friend for me."
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We were at MVHS dropping Ethan off at work with Eric for a little while. There were high school students fawning all over him - "Oh, he's so cute......" etc. etc. So we continued on to find Eric and Ethan looks up at me and says, "Mommy........those kids love me sooooooooo much."
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Ethan is looking at my arms:
Ethan: "Mommy, what are those?"
Me: "Those are called moles and freckles."
Ethan: "No, they are chives." ?????

More to come I'm sure............

ABC's

Busy Months

Since I worked on Saturday, I actually have a day off so I thought I'd finally update the blog a little bit. It is really difficult to find more than a few minutes to sit at the computer. Well things have been busy around here! Most notably, we have decided to refinish our basement. This has meant many meetings with mortgage brokers, banks, appraisers, etc. The plan is to get the majority of it done this summer. Our task in May is to clean out our basement (a BIG task!), finish the french drain digging project and get started on the framing. This summer and Fall will bring the actual drywalling, electrical, finishing, etc. This could be very interesting seeing as how Eric will be going to school full-time in the summer (his last quarter, hopefully), and we will have a newborn. I'm stressed just thinking about it.

I'm 31 weeks along now, 9 to go. I'm feeling okay, except that I'm not sleeping well and I could do without all the excess flesh (I don't mind the belly - it's all the others places it has deposited). The hormones are in full gear - I cry at the drop of a hat - no kidding. Ethan got in trouble at church yesterday and I got in the car and cried for like 20 minutes. And I still tear up when I think about Marley and Me...which I watched like three weeks ago. I'm kind of freaked out about mothering two youngsters...but am also so glad that I will have a full summer to hopefully figure it out and to get into a routine. I am feeling a sense of loss about the changing relationship I will inevitably have with Ethan. Our bond feels so exclusive and singular sometimes, that it's hard to imagine giving another being the same kind of devotion. I'm sure I will struggle with guilt...wanting to give both kids equal amounts of love and attention. I've read that this is not uncommon...and that you just have to accept that things will be different with your second and subsequent children than they were with your first. The first is born into an adult's world, the second (and subsequent) are born into a child's world. There are advantages to both I'm sure. I take comfort in the fact that Ethan shows a good deal of empathy towards others, calls babies "so cute," and I think will be a fantastic big brother. I've decided to go for a VBAC, so the baby will come when it comes, and unlike with Ethan, I have absolutely no sense of whether it is a boy or girl. Bets, anyone?

Speaking of babies, welcome to this beautiful world and our loving family, Mr. Evan Alan Butts. My nephew arrived on Easter Sunday and we got to see him shortly thereafter. Pretty exciting to watch our family grow and change. We have so much to be thankful for.

Here are some pics taken this month. 1. Elmo has quickly been supplanted by Thomas the Train but there was a while where Elmo had to accompany him everywhere. 2. Ethan and Papa flying a kite. 3 and 4. Easter egg hunt

Spring Photo Shoot

Trains and Boys

What is it about trains and boys? For that matter, what is it with girls and princesses? Ethan's new obsession is trains - he can hear them from miles away and tries to chase them no matter their distance. This picture is him at the Bellingham Railway Museum last weekend. He had a great time! We just bought him a train set today and he couldn't be happier.

Funny anecdotes

Scene: Last night. I'm putting Ethan to bed and holding him.

Ethan: (in a high pitched, sweet voice) "I love you mom. I love you. I love you mom."

Eric walks over.

Ethan: (to Eric) "Go away, papa! Go sit on the couch. Watch a nufee (movie)."

Poor Eric.
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Scene: This morning. I turn on the light and am getting Ethan out of bed.

Ethan: "Oh! Hi mom. I hi you? (How are you?)

Me: "I'm good baby. How are you?"

Ethan: "Light hurts my eyes. Light hurts my contacts."
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Scene: Riding in the car home from work today.

Eric: "Oh, Ethan, you're such a goofball."

Ethan: "Yeah, I a goofdog."