Swimming Lessons

Fresh out of the pool. First day!
He LOVES the ping-pong balls! The only way to get him to kick is to put one in the water, and he'll try to go after it!
My stud muffins

Back to the pool... Yes, I signed up my 10-month-old for swimming lessons. He really likes the water (as we already knew), but he really DOESN'T like being told what to DO in the water! Back floating is not his favorite-- unless he gets to chew on the big water noodle the teacher gives him. When we try the monkey walk on the wall, he tries to climb out, instead (little turkey). He does love the silly songs we sing, while bobbing around in a circle. I think he probably just likes to watch us all make fools of ourselves...

A Quarter of a Century... So Old!

My "Best Wife Ever" certificate, along with coupons for a night out on the town, flowers, etc. 
Us at The Sandbar
      Yah, we like taking our 9-month-old to bars... see the liquor in the background?? 

Very fashionable tabletop... bottle caps... from bottles of beer... Someone must be pretty drunk...

I've turned 25. It's official. Man, do I feel old! I had a pretty average morning, with the exception of some phone calls with birthday wishes. In the afternoon, my friend Korrena took me out to a birthday lunch at Garcia's. They even brought me some yummy fried ice cream! This evening, Joe, Ethan, and I went to try out The Sandbar.  All we knew about it was that it was Mexican food. Yah, so it was pretty much a bar (though they had high chairs and kids menus!), with female waitresses in small amounts of clothing. The theme was beer... definitely beer (note the tabletop in the photo). It was an interesting experience, but the food was pretty good, so it was good overall. It was just funny that they seated the couple with the baby right next to the actual bar, but oh well. We only gave him small sips...

Fun in the Sun

Little Dare Devil!
All by myself...
    Jairen & Haylee 

Joe decided to take Ethan swimming today at my little brother Jairen's home, while I went to my Young Women Presidency meeting. Jairen said he hadn't been swimming in years, so I guess it was about time! His cute daughter (my niece!), Haylee, was a bit timid of the water at first, but did better the longer they tried. Ethan, of course, LOVED being in the pool and didn't want Joe buggin' him, tryin' to hold him. As you can see, my husband decided it was okay to let him hang out on the steps, unassisted. I think if I were there, I would have had a heart attack! Apparently, he kept pushing Joe away from him, trying to be a big boy at the good 'old age of 9 months, and jumped off the step, falling straight down into the water! Joe, of course, was right there and brought him quickly back up.  Ethan just looked around for a second then started laughing! What a crazy child I have!!

Here he is, in action (little stinker!). He thinks he's so cool...

Family Vacation Time

        Seager family reunion group photo. Little Ethan was sleeping upstairs. Good timing, kid!

The boys at the swimming pool at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort
Ethan LOVED swimming, but it exhausted him. He's still in his little swimming diaper here (yah, and it's an Ariel-- Little Mermaid-- diaper, too-- an oops from Mom:)
         Baby hiking backpacks are soooo nice...
    We stopped for a visit in Pleasant View, Utah to see Mrs. Kristy Moore (the little newlywed!)

Here's Ethan and his cousin, Caleb, who just turned one! Look at the green grass in Idaho. This is when we visited Joe's family, after my reunion.

Here's the gang-- Joe's brother, Dan, and wife Sarah and 3 kids-- Adam, Braiden, and Caleb; Joe's sister-in-law, Angie, and 2 kids Chiara and Sean; and us
We had the HARDEST time getting a cousin photo. Six cousins 5 and under, with half under the age of 1!
Still trying..

      And trying some more... 
           So much for trying to contain my son! We strap him in, and he takes it with him!
                                  Me trying to help. (Nice bum shot, I know:)
Chaos is the word, I believe.
The neighbor lady, Launa, tried to help.
Dang kids, anyway...

         Joe had fun taking Ethan to the Snake River, and Ethan just wanted to stay in the water.
                                         Of course, we had to take him to the park, too.
My niece, Chiara, loved pushing Ethan in the stroller. It was funny to watch, since she's two  years older, and only 2 pounds heavier! 

         Riding a horse at the park...

Ethan and I flew home, while Joe drove the rest of the way back. He was so good on both plane rides, and he made lots of friends. He'd crawl up to anyone, and they loved him. Definitely not a shy child, for sure!
Here he is, exploring the airport. 

We had a fun time on our vacation to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, near Mt. Carmel, UT for my family reunion, then on to Idaho to visit Joe's family for a week. We stayed at my aunt's house a night, too, on the way up. Poor Ethan did not enjoy sleeping in the portable cribs-- he wanted his own bed and room! So, I was pretty sleep-deprived the entire week and a half! I guess that's what I get for trying to be a consistent parent! The weather was so nice in Idaho, and Ethan had a lot of fun with his 5 cousins who came. He definitely is a little fish, who loved the swimming pool and the river. I don't think he'll have a hard time at swimming lessons! 

9 months!

Ethan is officially 9 months-- as of Friday, the 13th (yah, both are kinda scary...). I took him to his check-up on Wednesday, and here are the stats:

Height: 31 1/2 inches (97th percentile)

Weight: 24 1/2 pounds (95th percentile)

Okay, so not quite the 25 lbs we thought he was, but close enough! He wouldn't sit still much for the doctor, and he just kept grabbing at his ear-gadget-thing, and wouldn't let up. The doctor called him "daring," and said he could see I'd have to be constantly on my toes with this one! And, he's definitely right. Some days, I feel run ragged just getting him out of things and away from things that could hurt him. When people warned me motherhood was a 24/7 job, they weren't joking!

Bruiser

 Bruiser normally refers to:

A big husky man. Often implies they frequently fight.

Says grocer lady: "Awwww... What a beautiful boy. Let me guess.... uh... 17 months??" 

Says me: "Well, actually,... 8 months."

Says grocer lady: "Really??? I'm usually really good at guessing babies ages. Wow! He's a bruiser!!"

 

Time after time, my little baby is thought to be at least twice his age.  But, he's still a baby. He's perfectly on schedule with all of his baby milestones, and some he's ahead of schedule.  People expect him to be walking, talking, eating all the "big people foods." I've come to accept the fact that my little baby-- as big as he is-- is absolutely perfect and smart, and even though his older-- yet smaller-- friends are walking, some talking, I never have to worry about my son wasting away or crying over any little fall-- extra cushion has it's advantages, too. 

Ethan:

Age in months: 8

Clothing size: 18 months to 2T

Weight: 25 plus lbs

Fact that I don't have to pay for a gym membership: Priceless

Sunny days...

Ethan became extremely fascinated with his stroller, while relaxing in the grass... Like he  couldn't do THAT at home...
      The "wind-blown" look
Eatin' toast and sittin' in the grass... Does it get any better?
    Well... I guess it does... Mmmmmm... Leaves....
Chillin' like a villain on the baby swing
     Posing for the camera...
Baby and his Mama
      Hair in my face...
  He would NOT stay on the blanket for anything!

Ethan and I had a wonderful hour at the neighborhood park today. We had a nice walk, totaling a little over a mile there and back. It was so windy, so the heat didn't really bother us. He was comPLETely relaxed his first time in the baby swing. I thought he was falling asleep! The grass was his favorite part. Too bad the grass in our backyard is yellow and crunchy... We'll definitely have to take the trek more often, 'cause he LOVED it. (And, so did I!)