I just want to make sure that I have all of the old events that I put on the website all in one place so I'm just copying and pasting them here. I promise new stuff to come...
Roly Poly
Tummy Time!!! He's using his arms a lot more to help keep his head up.
Ethan has been getting much better with his tummy time. He is getting stronger and can hold his head up much better. Over the last couple of weeks he's been making a good effort to roll from his tummy to his back (especially when he gets tired of being on his belly) but hasn't been able to figure it out. Last night (8-7-07) he finally made it from his tummy to his back all by himself. So far it's just been the one time. I don't think he can quite remember how he did it.
This is post roll (tummy to back)...too bad he can't tell us before he does cool stuff.
Besides that he has been loving his hands lately! He can spend hours just staring at them, hitting the toys on his activity gym, and his all time favorite, EATING THEM! When he's laying on his back he'll actually roll over to his side to get them and yesterday (it as a BIG DAY) he rolled all the way over to his tummy. Luckily, his arm gets stuck underneath him so he can get back to his back. It's so fun to watch him grow and see all the little things he learns every day!
Check these out! Who needs toys when I've got my hands?
Play 'Til You Drop
Today Ethan was having a great time playing! He played under his activity gym and watched the lights, rolled around on the mat, listened to Mom sing lots of silly songs, then finally played in his chair (Chris likes to call it the farm basket.) He is becoming a lot more accurate with his hands and was actually hitting the animals with his hands and making them rattle. He even grabbed onto the cow once. But, the funny part of the story is that he was just going crazy playing and playing in his chair and then it was quiet for a couple of minutes...I turned around and he was sound asleep in the chair. I knew it was bound to happen eventually that he would just play himself right to sleep. He was so cute that I just had to take a picture.
Zzzzzzzzzzz....
For all of you who are thinking...wow he still looks so small...check out this picture of him in the same outfit when he came home from the hospital. It's definitely snug on him now...today will probably be the last time he wears this one!
In Memory
Great Grandpa Markert & Ethan
On August 20, 2007 my grandpa, Ethan's great grandpa Markert passed away after living for a wonderful 88 years. We were so happy that we were able to spend his last birthday with him and enjoy his wonderful spirit of fun, smiles, and laughter! He always had a joke to tell and just loved seeing everyone around him smile. His spirit has now gone on to a better place and his body rests in a beautiful cemetery in New York that overlooks a pond filled with ducks. Grandpa always loved birds and faithfully kept his bird feeder full every day.
Nana Murrin & Ethan in front of the beautiful duck pond
Now that he has gone he will always be remembered for his positive outlook on all aspects of life. He worked every day of his life including the morning he passed away and loved every minute of it. I hope that we can all follow his example and live life to the fullest enjoying every day!
These beautiful flowers were placed at Grandpa's grave to show the love of his family.
Trip to New YorkWe took at quick trip to New York for my grandpa's funeral. Despite the occasion, we enjoyed spending time with family. For Chris, this was his first time to Syracuse and meeting the Markert family. I realized when I was out there that it has been over 10 years since I had last been, WAY TOO LONG!
Our big boy on his first plane ride!
We took a red eye flight to Boston, then after a long layover flew to Syracuse on a teeny tiny "tube of death"(19 seater) as Chris called it. It was a long tiring trip that included a MAJOR blowout diaper on the second flight, yep the small plane that had no bathroom and no room to change it! I really wanted to take a picture of the occasion, but Chris didn't think it would be as funny as I thought it would be. We stayed with my Aunt Paula and Uncle Brett and enjoyed that very much! Ethan put on a show rolling all over their living room and having a great time! He didn't have any problems with the trip at all and stayed on the same great schedule (except since he was still on AZ time, he was up until 11 each night.)
Cute as can be! (Look Carrie, I told you he would wear the hat!)
On the way home he did fantastic on the plane and was putting on a show for everyone in the back of the plane waiting for the bathroom. He just played and played and when he finally got tired he just went right to sleep in the Snugli and slept all the way until we got home (2 hours+) which meant that I was able to get some sleep too!
Ethan was very content eating the Snugli as we walked through the airport. He definitely soaked it with all that drool!
Mom & Ethan
Great Uncle Gary
Great Uncle Rick
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a chinese restaurant, but unfortunately it made for an...interesting afternoon, right Carrie and Tony? 
After hours and hours and hours of hard work sanding, staining, and sewing...we have a new chair
I just had to take a couple! This picture gives you a great look at his little patch of hair which continues to look pretty red. I guess we'll just have to wait and see as it continues to grow.
Lovin' his fingers, thumb, whole fist...whatever he can get in there!
Airplane w/ Mommy
The photographer herself, my sister Kendra 
Out of nowhere, Ethan has become a little tummy sleeper! Almost immediately after laying him in his bed, he rolls right to his tummy.
Ethan has taken rolling over to the next level...he started on the white blanket playing with his toy then before I knew it had rolled around the room and was practically underneath his crib! Who needs to crawl???
He started grabbing at things about a week ago. He was so excited to get this ring and hear a little "Old MacDonald had a farm..." He didn't really like this chair for the longest time, but now that he can play with the toys, he LOVES it!
