Lets order up some praise today!

Many people in the blog world have been reading about Stellan and I have kept a "Pray for Stellan" button on my sidebar for the last month. Well today Stellan was discharged from the hospital in Boston!!! His mother "MckMama" and Stellan are resting comfortably in a hotel while they wait for a flight home. So many have prayed for Stellan as he went through this harrowing 5 week medical journey. Now we can join in praising God for the work has done on this sweet, 6 month old boy's heart for the second time in his short life.

New Hair

I cut my hair a little over a week ago but the only photos I had of the new do were on my phone. I just realized that I have a mini SD card in my new phone so here are the photos! I LOVE my new do, not my grays that I edited out,but I love my haircut. I am no longer shedding copious amounts of hair everywhere plus I just like the looks. I haven't successfully scheduled a color appointment yet but once I do, I'll be sure to post photos of that transformation.

The cuteness that is Ethan

In the last 2 days our sweet Ethan has gone from sitting with assistance to sitting all on his own! I think I sealed the deal by letting him fall:(...just a little tumble backwards without Mama catching him seemed to be all it took for him to decide balancing was much more attractive! Anyway, we are now in the process of adjusting life to a sitting/creeping/almost free-standing baby.

This evening we tried to strap Ethan into his bouncy seat, which he occasionally tolerates, while we ate dinner. This is what happened:

That's right, he decided he wanted to sit up like everyone else! Joel strapped him in while I brought the food over and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him and thought he wasn't strapped in, for how else could my baby be folded in half leaning toward me with a big grin on his face?!

He's growing up, that's how.

And just because I love you, here is a darling picture of Ethan from this past week before we went on a walk.

We've had some lovely, warm, sunny days and we decided to take full advantage...Well ok, I decided. Ethan still isn't sure what to make of the sun. My poor Tennessee baby. We are doing our best to bring out the Texan in him!

Ethan loves his Papa

Joel has had long days these past few weeks while his company is completing EIB (Expert Infantyman's Badge) training and testing. So this has mean leaving at 5:30 and getting home between 7-8 at night. I know, all of my Army friends are thinking 5:30, that's when PT (physical training) starts?! Ah yes my friends, but that is when the training is starting, not at 9. Plus, we are spoiled living on post and Joel usually gets to come home, shower, eat breakfast, and he gets to see us for a bit, before heading back to work.

So that long tangential statement was all to say that Ethan is really missing out on some of his usual Joel time so he is getting really excited if Joel gets home before he goes to sleep. Today Ethan was so giddy that he accomplished a new "trick" in the pursuit of staring at Joel!
Ethan stood all on his own with no (human) support. And what's more, he did this for 5-10 minutes while Joel told us all about his day! With so much of his physical feats, knowing mothers keep telling us, that he will be an early crawler/walker but man...Be still my beating heart:). Oh, did I mention that Joel was crawling by 6 months and walking before 9...yeah...

The work of contentment

This week has been one of those weeks when you wish your life was something other than it is...well at least in some ways at least.

My lists of wishes this week:

I wish I lived in Houston "right down the street" from my parents, all my sisters, my brother (in my wish world he has moved back from California), my in-laws, even my sister's in-laws!

I wish we had a second car I wish we had a second car that was paid for in cash. Then, I could leave the house even if Ethan and I don't get up and leave the house with Joel at 5am.

I wish I had real friends at Fort Campbell I wish I could have friends as wonderful and affirming as those I made at Fort Benning.

I wish I knew if what I'm wanting to wish away is God's refinement process for the work that lays ahead...it usually is...so I should probably stop complaining.

...everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-
-this is the gift of God. 
Ecclesiastes 3:13 
I have a lot to be thankful for, a lot, but this week I wish for a few changes.

Now of course if you want to do your part in granting my wishes you could come visit us at Fort Campbell. Come on...you know you want to! I have an historical aircraft tour with your name on it, plus LOTS of Ethan kisses/chewing on you ready whenever you say the word.

Happy Easter

Ethan and Joel dressed up for church-so handsome!

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Today marked a new milestone for us, we were back at church!

It definitely took us longer than we wanted but with the cold/flu season, adjusting to getting to places with Ethan, and my serious anxiety about leaving Ethan or being in service with our chatty angel:). But, today was the day that the Lord hath made for Ethan to go to church!

I absolutely basked in the corporate worship experience, it was wonderful and sorely missed. Ethan did beautifully in the nursery. He took a nap and otherwise handled it well. I may or may not have fared as well...I did ok but I was definitely itching to get to the nursery and get some Ethan cuddles! We really had not come set on our Sunday school before so we are going to work that out over the next few weeks and try our hand at leaving Ethan for Church and Sunday School...we'll see.

Toothy grins

Alright prepare yourself for some major cuteness ala Ethan:).

See, I told you so! It looks a little harder to see in this size but Ethan is showing some beautiful teeth on his bottom gums.