5 Months Old!

The boys are both growing fast. Parker’s in hard core potty training right now, with some success I’m happy to report. He likes having a little brother. Ethan watches hin intently and giggles whenever Parker makes funny sounds or jumps around.

Ethan is 5 months old this weekend and already doing the wounded soldier crawl. He’s pretty quick with it so you can’t leave him on the floor and look away at all. He’ll be across the room before you know it.

The dogs are still good with the baby just like they were with Parker.

Parker loves the water! That's all he thinks about.

He can’t really swim just yet but he’ll jump in without a flotation device. He comes right back to the surface; he just can’t stay up yet. We’re working with him and maybe he’ll be swimming a little by the end of the summer.

I guess coloring on the wall is a rite of passage for kids. We had our first taste of it recently when we walked in to find Parker’s room covered in black Sharpie. The art work was all the way around the room, from the floor up to about the height of a 2-yr old. Parker had guilt written all over his face.


Here’s Ethan in front of some of the art work for scale.

We took a little vacation on Memorial Day. The SD/Seattle crew came to NC and we rented a house in Emerald Isle.

A good time was had by all!

We left Parker with the Grandparents for this trip. But Ethan tagged along. I love it when we dress alike.

Last weekend we went up to the mountains to visit Brooke's Grandpa Arlo on his 95th birthday.

Parker had a blast and Ethan did well on the 5 hr car ride!

We took the boys to Cherokee while up there. Parker saw Tigers and Bears at the petting zoo.

And he danced with one of the road-side Native American dancers.

I'm pretty sure I saw this guy wrestle Hulk Hogan back in '86.

Parker played in a little water park they had in the town square.

That's it for now. Until next time...

1 Week Old

We made it through the first week. We're all doing great even if we don't really get a full nights sleep. Ethan got a great bill of health from the baby doctor on Tuesday. His next appointment will be at two weeks. Parker is a little needy with Brooke but we're making sure we take special time with him. Overall, he's adjusting well. So really there's no news. Which, of course, is good news.

Here's a few pictures from this morning. Parker wanted to lay on the play mat with Ethan.




Baby and Mommy


Jill and Tori have been over a few times to visit. Tori is doing great. She's growing so fast. Ethan looks so little next to her.


I'll try to keep the pictures coming. and videos!

We're Home!

Baby Ethan came home today. As most of you know, a big (for around here) snow storm hit the night he was born. We got five inches of snow followed by freezing rain throughout the night. Roads were a little treacherous but we made it home safe.

We’re so glad to be home. Brooke and Ethan are both doing really well. He’s doing what babies do best; eating, sleeping, and pooping! Parker did great with Uncle Chad and Grammy & Big Poppa while we were in the hospital. But he was certainly glad to see us drive up today. He’s interested in Ethan but only in short bursts. Mostly he just ignores the baby. We’ll see over the next weeks how he adjusts. Here are some of our pictures from the last two days…

Ethan’s first photos.





When they laid him under the heat lamp he stretched out and loved it.
He’s shaped a lot like Parker.


Then someone told him the Chargers were out of the playoffs…


Ethan and Mommy


Ethan and Daddy



They always hate the first bath!


Grammy and Big Poppa were happy.



They brought Parker by to visit his new baby brother on Saturday.
Here’s the first kiss from big brother Parker.


Johnathan and Jessie live close by and were able to make it through the snow.


Finally on Sunday, we bundled up and headed home. This is the same car seat we brought Parker home in. Get used to hand-me-downs kid!



We made it home in time for me to take Parker out and play in the snow. It was a nice afternoon and some neighborhood kids were sledding down a hill behind the house. So Parker got his first taste of winter sports. We went down about a half dozen times and he just wanted to go faster.



Not to leave the dogs out, Roxy and Mr. Willis love the snow.
Here’s Roxy patrolling the fence.


The snow is fun but unfortunately it has kept most of our family from seeing the new baby. Hopefully, it will continue to melt and Ethan looks forward to seeing everyone real soon!