Archive for 2016

Dear Etrain,

Oh son. You are so much fun. This is why is was a funky, funky Christmas this year...

Dear Etrain,

Happy birthday my sweet boy! Not sure how you are two years old already. You're growing up way too fast. The weekly emails I get about you and your growth/development each week changed this time from "your toddler" to "your preschooler". Oh my. Preschool. That's just crazy - school?! Not yet. Stay my baby forever.

Dear Etrain,

We held your birthday party the weekend before your birthday and boy did you party. Mama and Dada invited all of our friends (and their kids) along with your grandparents - even Grammy flew down to be at your party - and we all had so much fun.

Dear Etrain,

How did it happen? How is it you're one month away from turning two years old? This went by way too fast. It seems like not that long ago you just learned to walk and only knew a few words. Now you're a running and talking machine. I'm amazed everyday how you're growing and learning, but also can't believe that my baby is getting to be a big boy. An actual walking, talking human. It's so cool.

Dear Etrain,

Sooo, I'm unsure on this whole Halloween thing. I have to admit I've been a bit of a grouch myself about Halloween. I always liked the candy (duh), and the decorations can be fun, but I've never really liked dressing up. I have hopes that as you get older, we'll have fun enjoying it together, but so far Halloween has been a tough holiday for you.

Dear Etrain,

Last weekend we took you to Tanaka Farms for our (now) annual trip to the pumpkin patch. This year I think it was much more of a success than last year. Let's go back to when you were ten months old.

Dear Etrain,

Sick. This is the sick month. You and I have literally been sick for about a month. I'm better, but this past Sunday you started up with another cold. Full snots all over again. You weren't as upset about it this round, so I'm hoping this is a lighter cold and will clear up soon. So, this past month has been a little boring...at least I feel that way. We've been inside doing a lot of things like this.

Dear Etrain,

I don't have a ton to say here. I really just wanted to share these photos with you.

Dear Etrain,

I was watching some old videos the other night and your dad was making fun of me because of my comments in the video of your first word (sort of). I promise you I heard you say "mama" first. The problem is, I have no proof. But let's go back a little more...

Dear Etrain,

This has been another pretty mellow month for us. Your dad and I did take a short trip up near San Francisco for a friend's wedding, so you stayed with Nana and Papa. They sent me these photos...looks like you guys had a lot of fun at the beach and park.

Dear Etrain,

No. Still no "Yes". Just "No". Alllll the time. Pretty much any question we ask is followed up by No. Unless we ask if you want to go outside - then you run for the door and say "side". We try to get you to say Yes. But, no. I'll even take "Yeah". Every once in a while when eating, I'll ask you if you want a particular thing, and when you do you'll say "dat". Which is super cute. And helpful.

Dear Ethan,

Your Papa and I were delighted to have you for the day as Mommy and Daddy went out shopping for appliances for your new home.

Dear Etrain,

First let's talk about your hair. It was turning into a mullet again and needed a trim. This time we tried taking you to Super Cuts (because the barber shop we went to first had an hour and a half wait. No reservations.). In her defense, the hair cutting lady (because I can't call her a hair stylist) had to deal with a wiggly, non-compliant customer (you), but OMG. I'm kinda sad. I want your shaggy hair back. I mean you have a cute little boy haircut and it's fine, but I should have spoken up when she started on the sides. The back I like. It needed to be trimmed. But the sides look hacked. She was trying to use a buzzer (whatever its called) which you didn't like, and it turned out to be a huge fail...in my opinion. And frankly I just didn't want the sides cut. I'm hoping that in a month it'll be back to longer hair and we can have some shag again.

Dear Etrain,

Not only did we move from our house, but your dad also got a new job. Before he starts his new job, he gave himself a little break to make room for some relaxation and a vacation. So we packed up the car and headed back to Las Gaviotas in Mexico. We were only there for 4 days, but it was a nice little get away. We lucked out in getting our favorite unit. Everything is upgraded and it has it's own jacuzzi, which we just use as a pool.

Dear Etrain,

Today we moved out of our home. Our first home we shared as a family. The first home your dad and I lived in together. The home we brought you to from the hospital as a newborn. The home you learned to lift your head, roll over, crawl, and walk in. The home you and I have spent almost everyday in together playing, laughing, crying, learning and exploring. The home in a great neighborhood with amazing neighbors. The home Ginger had her puppies in (bad idea, but more on that another time). The home our family shared so many wonderful memories in. Needless to say I'm a little sad. No, I'm really sad.

Dear Etrain,

You're a year and a half old! Oh my, how did this happen? You're growing up so fast. And this past week is a perfect example. Just in the last week you have learned to say "all done" while wiping your hands to the sides when you are done eating. You've also picked up baby (you lost that one for a while), ball, and duck. When I count 1, 2, 3, you have two and three down pretty well. You'll say them in a row, but you're still not sure what a 2 is (you'll call any number or letter "two", but it's super cute). Then there's "ba". We were trying to teach you "up", and it came out ba. At first ba was only up. Now it's up, down, and come with me as I drag you where I want to go by hand.

Dear Etrain,

It was sometime in January and you and I were doing our usual thing in the morning. You finished play and breakfast with Dada, then you guys came to wake me up in bed. You and I hang out in the bathroom while Dada gets ready for work. You love to open the cabinets and pull everything out. It's not my favorite thing, but it keeps you entertained and happy so I let you do it. You hair was extra fluffy that morning, so of course I whipped out my phone to take a photo. You love to grab at the phone, and you must have hit the record button because we took a video instead of a selfie.

Dear Etrain,

This past month was a pretty exciting one. Not because we went out and did a bunch of exciting things, but because you started walking! You're not 100% on your feet, but each day you keep testing it out more and more. You like to hold our finger while walking around. One day Nana came over and you took her all around the house and backyard all afternoon. You walking is just the cutest thing ever. I think you still need a little more confidence, but you're working on it. In the mean time, you're having fun cruising around while pushing your toys. Your favorite is the Y Bike in the backyard.

Dearest Ethan,

Watch out world here he comes. 16 months old and on the move. So much to explore and discover.

Dear Etrain,

Today is Mother's Day. Your Dada had you help him make me breakfast this morning, which I just enjoyed while eating in bed. It was so delicious. I guess Dada recorded the whole process on video, which he continued to record when you guys brought it up to me. Sleepy face and crazy hair...Oh my I can only imagine what I look like right now. I'm scared to get up and look. Ha.

Dear Etrain,

You did it baby boy! Today you decided you wanted to walk. You've been teasing us for months now. You'd push yourself up to a standing position, and even take a few steps here and there. You'd let go of whatever was giving you balance and stand on your own for a few seconds. But everytime you'd eventually plop back down on the ground.

Dear Etrain,

Boy oh boy did we have a busy month! It started with a visit from Grammy. She and I played with you a bunch at home and took you everywhere we went while she was here. One day we went to Laguna Beach and played on the swings and in the sand. We also went to see the Easter Bunny. You loved playing with Grammy's iPad, and we managed to all take a selfie together with it. We also tried a photo shoot again with you two, but you were quite wiggly per usual.

Dear Etrain,

Easter hasn't really been a huge holiday for your dad and I. Growing up I remember doing fun things like dying eggs and having Easter egg hunts. And of course I always loved getting an Easter basket from the Easter bunny. Now that we have you, I have a feeling we'll be getting more into the festivities again.

Dear Etrain,

Your Grammy is coming to visit on Thursday, and you're probably going to seem pretty different from the last time she saw you (you had just turned a year old). Now that you're 15 months old you're a different kid.

Dear Etrain,

Today is the day your dad and I have been married for 4 years. It's also the seven year anniversary of our first date.

Dear Etrain,

Dada and I had so much fun with you this past Sunday. We went to a late lunch in Laguna, then decided to stop at Aliso Creek Beach on our way back home. We weren't dressed for the beach, but you didn't care one bit.

Dearest Grandson Ethan,

Is it possible that you are really 14 months old?..Papa and I love you to the moon and back. We love your visits to our house..always a joyful time!

Dear Etrain,

This past weekend was Valentine's Day. As I mentioned earlier, your dad and I were out of town this weekend, so we didn't get to spend it with you. But while we were gone, I was looking at old photos of you and came across the ones from last Valentine's Day.

Dear Etrain,

Your toddler-hood is in full effect. Oh my. At 13 months old, it was starting. Well, now you're in it. Full force.

Dear Etrain,

Anyone who knows me well knows I love to snuggle. You? You don't love to snuggle. You are a mover like your dad. Always wanting to play and explore. Only when you're really tired and I'm putting you to bed, you'll rest your head on my shoulder and let me hold you close as we sway before laying you down. Sometimes I hold you a little longer just to soak up the snuggles.

Dear E-Train,

Hey handsome! This is my first blog entry and I’m excited to tell you a fun story about this cake, but first let’s go back a little bit.

Dear Etrain,

Oh son. Can we talk about how you're totally becoming a toddler?! You still do plenty of baby stuff, but then there's things like the tantrums. At your 12 month check up at the pediatrician's office, Dr. Ball said we're supposed to stop giving you a bottle and formula. Now it should be sippy cups and milk. Guess who doesn't like either. I can get you to drink milk if I only give you half, then the other half formula - and it must be in bottle. You'll sip from the cup, but only sip, and only if it's water. This morning I thought I'd try the milk/formula combo in the cup you like. This is how you felt about it - it gets fun around 40 seconds.

Dear Etrain,

I have this program called Google Photos on my phone. Everytime I take a photo, Google Photos automatically backs up my pics to the cloud so they are saved. I love this because I take so many photos I'd be crushed if I lost them. Another great feature of the program is that it shares reminders from past events called Rediscover This Day. Well, today I got a reminder from the afternoon Dada and I took you to Laguna Beach a year ago today.

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