Highlights from Ethan's 4 year old photo shoot

Ethan is still not so sure about the big lights with "umbrellas" on them at professional photo places. So it took quite a while to get him in the room and comfortable sitting for his picture. The photographer was really sweet though, and was great with him, so eventually it all worked out. However, we still got quite a few pictures where he is looking very cautiously at the lights in the corners, waiting for them to flash. Here's a sampling of all the shots.

The Nursery

Here are some pictures of the not-yet-totally-completed nursery. Rick really did a great job on the polka dots! Basically, the painting is done and we put up the curtains and bedding just to see how it would all look together. Not sure yet what we're doing with the bed in the corner and a few other things. Also haven't hung her name tiles yet.

My Triumph over Texture (Or, Why I Will Be Blind by this Weekend)

So we painted a stripe in the baby's room. Really 3 stripes. Turns out this is pretty dang hard to do on textured walls; there's just no way to get the painters tape flush against the wall everywhere, so you get some seepage that you have to clean up. (Someone has since told me of a little trick with paintable caulk, but it's too late for that on this one.)

BEFORE



To clean up the edges, I've been sitting very close to the wall with a small, flat edged artist's brush to make the line straight. I'm actually pretty proud of how it is turning out, but there's still a lot to do (we're also adding polka dots to the stripe once it is done), so I may very well go blind before we're done.

AFTER

Fun in Houston

This past weekend we traveled to Houston to visit Rick's side of the family and celebrate the summer birthdays (of which Ethan is one). We all had fun and Ethan especially enjoyed playing with cousins Avery and Madi and swimming with MeMe. Check out how tired he looks in the cake pictures, we were wearing him out! Me too, as it was HOT and HUMID. This will be our last travel for a while, and my swollen ankles are thankful for that.

31 weeks

2 months to go and getting bigger by the day.

The Big Boy Room

Ethan is spending his first night in his "Big Boy Room" tonight. It took a long time settling down, and I had to lay with him until he fell asleep, but it is just the first night. The room is by no means done yet, but it is painted (with the exception of the mural) and the furniture is there and the bed is made.

Happy Tap Ethan

Ethan, who never dances, and frequently tells me to quit dancing, seems to have found an interest in it with "Happy Tap Elmo" on the Sesame Street 25th Anniversary video.

Big Helper

Ethan's been helping a little to paint his new "big boy" room. He really likes it, for a few minutes at least. We're hoping this will ease the transition to the new room and make him feel like he was involved in everything (instead of baby sister just booting him out of his own room).

Sleepy Head

I heard Ethan waking up yesterday morning and went in to get him. . .

M: "Good morning sweet boy. Are you waking up?"
E: "NO! Not yet I said!"

and he rolled over and slept another 45 minutes. :-)

27 Weeks

It's June. It's Texas. It's HOT. 'Nuff said.