Leaving public access behind... (going private)

Hello,

I'm going private soon. I've sent an email to those of you whom I have your email addresses. Otherwise, please send me an email to huntsnlove at hotmail dot com if you'd like to be added to my blog.

After reading this blog post: http://www.brookemartin.blogspot.com/ I feel that, if nothing else, I can do my part to stop the pervs from taking my own innocent photos and turning them into something gross!

Thanks all, for your cooperation!

Ashley

First of many firsts!

Okay so I know Ethan has already had several other firsts! The first time he walked, talked, ate solid foods, pooped on the potty, ect! BUT today seemed like one of those big time 'firsts'! One of the first 'firsts' of his journey to being a big boy!

We've been talking about it with him a lot. We even picked out the coolest backpack ever with Lightning McQueen on it! I've known it was time for a few months now since he's been so interested in learning his letters and numbers. We spent the morning getting 'dapper' for the big day. Then when I dropped him off, he had tears, and so did I. I didn't expect that for preschool.

He had a great day! When I went to pick him up he was learning a new song and I felt so much joy! He's a big boy now. I hope the moments don't pass too quickly!!

You've got to giggle!

These are a few things that Ethan's imagination has cooked up over the past few months. There's so many more of these little gems, so as I think I them I will try to record them. Some day, when Ethan is big boy, I hope we can get a kick out of thinking back on these days!

Kitty Shaver: This creature has long feet, long tail, long beak, long sharp teeth, it has dots on it, and it comes in your room and shaves your back when it gets hairy. Ethan came up with this one day, we have no idea where it came from, but even during his turn to say prayers he often whispers, 'bless the kitty shaver."

The Duck: One morning Ethan wakes up hysterically crying. I run in there and ask him what's wrong, once he composes himself he tells me there's a ducky in his room and it's making the sound, "raaaaaaaaar, reeeeeeeer, raaaaaaaaar, reeeeeeeeer." So I sat in there, comforting him, listening for the sound, nothing. I tried to calm him down telling him "there's no ducky." He just kept insisting that there was a ducky gonna get him. So I brought him in to see daddy and went back into his room. Finally I heard it. His fan that we have had in there since his birth was on it's last leg and randomly made the 'ducky' sound. I showed Ethan the fan and tried to explain to him that the fan is broken and that's where the sound was coming from. Ethan still had a hard time believing that there was no ducky. A few hours later Joe took him to Target to get a new fan, and we threw the old one in the garbage can and that seemed to help ease Ethan. Weeks later, he still loves to tell the story of the ducky in his room. He always starts with, "Once upon a time..."

Hows your 'birth'day goin? Well we're definately into the question stage at 2 1/2 years old. For a long time the broken record question that Ethan would ask is, "what are you doing?" Well that got old after a while so then one day he started asking, "how's you're birthday going?" For I while I went a long with it, but finally Joe and I had to tell him to ask, 'How's your day going?" because it wasn't anyone's birthday that day. So now the repeated question is, "How's your day going?" He asks all day long. He asks strangers while we're out and about too. It's so fun to know he cares!

Stomping Alligator: This one remains a mystery. I was having a shower while Ethan watched cartoons in our bedroom, and when I got out he insisted that there was an alligator in our house. I asked him where it was and he pointed outside of the closed door. I asked him if he saw the alligator and he proceeded to show me how he heard stomping on the floor, and it was an alligator stomping. He wanted me carry him around the house for the next hour or so...

Owl down the street: Our neighbors down the street have placed a plastic owl on their window's ledge to scare away the birds from pooping on their house. One day, while Ethan and I were on a walk, I pointed it out to Ethan and told him why that owl is that their house. He insists it's a real owl though. Well knowing Ethan's past, he has a real fear of owls ever since he saw one in a cave on his favorite show, "Go Diego Go". But as he's gotten older, he has more of an admiration for them. He's even perfected the sound they make by rolling his tongue. So now, when we drive by the owl, we have to slow to a stop and let Ethan tell us why the owl is there. He feels so proud of himself!

Monkey Brushes: One of Ethan's most memorable experiences was the first time he went to the carwash with daddy. He was absolutely terrified and talked about it for weeks. After freaking the child out many times following that, Joe decided to take Ethan to the "blue" car wash instead of the 'red' one. What a difference that made! Ethan came home and told me that there we're silly 'monkey brushes' at the 'blue' car wash, and that they go round and round, and he giggled while he talked about it. For weeks he couldn't resist telling everyone he ran into about the 'monkey brushes'. Now he likes to have deep conversations with Joe and I about how he likes the 'blue' car wash better than the 'red' carwash. He begs daddy to take him every day, and Joe looks forward to taking him on the weekends.

Preggers and other things

These next few months are going to be bitter-sweet for me, mostly because I have the best little 2 year old a mom could ask for and spending time with him has been such a joy for me. Just the two of us, while daddy is at work, and then when daddy comes home, we have even more fun. It's really starting to feel like a family unit. I keep feeling like I'll be a little sad to add another addition to the mix. I feel like the family dynamic will change. Ethan's roll will change from being the only child, and sole receiver of all attention, to being big brother. He's already so helpful, he wants to do everything he can to gain more independence, so I know he'll be a big help. It's just going to be difficult for me not to look at him as my little baby boy anymore! I'm sure I'll immediately snap out of it when the new baby comes because of the joy and love I'll feel with both. I'm sure I won't be able to picture my life any other way. So I really can't wait for that day. :)

I'm so happy to finally feel less sick these last few weeks! Besides a little bout of the flu I had this week, things are getting back to normal! It's such a blessing that the things of pain in the life are for but a moment when you look back on them.

In the meantime, we've had lots to do and time marches on!

Joe has been spending lots of one on one time with Ethan lately since I've been laying around the house with nausea. He took him to a Dbacks game recently and Ethan had such a fun time dancing to the music and watching the game.

Joe and Ethan had a blast at father and sons together. Funny story, the two of them were sleeping in the tent together and of a sudden Joe gets woken up by Ethan saying, 'Daddy, stop making the trimmer noise!" Joe realizes he's been snoring and Ethan thought it sounded like a trimmer so that's the only way he could describe it! They did all of the fin camping things like roast marshmellows and throw rocks in the river. Too fun! Oh I failed to mention I had a fun girl's night that evening!

We spent some time at Lehi Days with the Allen family after a LONG dry spell of missing them. They are so fun and so easy going to be with. Crew and Ethan enjoyed each other's company too! I'm always sad when the Allen's leave town because I know it will be a long time until we see eachother again!

The greatest performer!

Well I'm very sad know that Michael Jackson passed away this past Thursday. What an amazing man and performer. I remember watching this superbowl performance when I was 10 years old. There's never been a better half-time show since! I think this is the way I want to always remember him. :)

Baby on the way...

Sadly, I've said goodbye to my Michael Jackson blog facelift. ::sheds a tear:: But on to bigger and better things! We have been blessed recently to find out we're expecting again! I would do a happy dance but then the nausea would kick in stronger and make me do things I don't want to do. Despite the all of the fun pregnancy symtoms (nausea, heightened sense of smell, weird cravings, sleepiness, lazyness, gas??) we are all very happy! Ethan can't wait for a little brother or sister. I would love to find out the baby is a girl, but I know I'll be happy either way!

I've got plenty of other things to share, but seeing as how sitting at the computer makes me feel sick, we'll see how well I do at posting over the next few weeks.

If I had to...

If I had to choose one artist that I could only listen to their music for the rest of my life, it would be easy for me! The King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. I used to go to my room, close the door, flip on 'They don't care about us' and rock out!

Last night, American Idol had 'Michael Jackson' night and it seemed to stir up all my memories of dancing in the living room to 'Thriller' and 'Man in the Mirror' with my sisters.

You can say what you want about his personal life, but when it comes to performing, he's number one! Dance, song beat, energy, he has it all! He always does something crazy when he performs live on stage. One of my favs was when he came together with Britney Spears in '02 for 'the way you make me feel'. Two of my favorite artists!

And who can forget Captain EO the 3d movie at disney land for all those years! So awesome! I hope he never stops making music and performing. I would die to go to one of his live concerts! Anyone hear about one coming anywhere near AZ, you must inform me!

Thanks MJ!

I hear wedding bells!

Yay! My little brother just got back from his mission is Novemember and his sweet peach girlfriend Brittany waited for him. When he came home, they started off right where they left off, and now they're getting married in March. Jordan and Brit are such a perfect couple. You can't be in the same room with them without feelin' the love! She's amazing and we'll be so happy to call her sister!

Yay!

So I recently designed some ads for one of my favorite clients. Lora Jenson, little did I know, she's a genius, so here's what one of the ads looks like:

Well I designed the ads, and chose the slogan "Easy, fun, you're done." and went about my daily life again putting Ethan in diapers just fine. Well then Lora so graceously sent me the Ebook. So I thought I would try it! WOW! A week later Ethan has gone a whole day without having any accidents! Was it easy or fun? No! Did it happen in just three days? No! But am I done potty training Ethan, YES! I am so happy that I did it. And I'm so grateful for my husband who didn't let me quit when I tried like 10 times! He just kept telling me it would be worth it. And the relief I feel right now is amazing!

I'm a busy mom, like most, and I think in the beginning I did not put as much focus into my child as he needed in order to complete the task in 3 days. Now I know for my next child what needs to be done. I wish I could send the Ebook to all of you out there, but I need to give credit where credit is due, so go to here site and purchase the Ebook: http://www.3daypottytraining.com/. You'll be happy you did!

On a side note, Joe and I played twister last sunday while Joe's brother Jeff called out the next move for us, I think he had it in for us, however because look at this horrendous pose we were forced in to:

We laughed until we cried, and then fell down. (I love how one of Ethan's cars is in any photo I take inside my house anymore, they're everywhere!)

Christmas Through your eyes

I had fun designing this year's Christmas Card. Here's the final front.

Inside Spread.

Back. The paper was a glossy cardstock. So cute!

This year, Joe and I decided to take the lights off of our old pre-lit tree so we could put new ones on. Hours and several severs to the hands later, we vowed never to do that again. I think we'll try a 'real' tree next year. It was a great bonding experience though. :)

We did the luminaries down our street and through part of the neighborhood this year. It's such a fun activity for Christmas eve! All of the neighborhood kids look forward to helping me fold the sacks and put the sand and candle in.

This is the beautiful Christmas lights Joe put on the house this year. I just love them! Ethan took one look at Daddy's Christmas light extravaganza and said, "It's so beautiful!" He could have stared at them all day long.

This is our Christmas lights on drugs! Much cooler!

Ethan on Christmas morning! When we went to visit Santa at the mall, he told him he wanted toys for Christmas, but I don't think he really expected to wake up one random morning and see all sorts of fun toys and gifts. I woke up Chistmas morning feeling SO SICK! So I got to be the photographer. :)

Ethan and his Christmas spoil of sorts!Barbie apparently has something against Santa Claus.

What's left of Santa!!

Ethan turns two!

Yes I've got a two year old on my hands. It's seems the day he turned two, I started noticing that two year old mentality come out! Picky eater, fits, loves to say 'no', doesn't like naps...so lets celebrate this new stage of life shall we?

This was one of the funnest parties I've been to in a long time! It required all of us to become two years old again, because Mommy (me) made sure that we did all of Ethan's favorite activities!

Agenda:

-play with clay

-snacks

-bubbles

-open presents

-cake time

-dance party!!!

Ethan turns into a crazy nut when we we blow bubbles! Angie made a comment about eating the bubbles, so Ethan started crawling all over the grass in search tasty bubble treats!

We did the HOKEY POKEY! I purchased a cd from the party store with all kinds of fun party songs, Ethan ran around in circles while all of the rest of us made fools of ourselfs doing the hokey pokey and the chicken dance! It reminded me of those fun days at Skateland!

That's what it's all about...yeehaw!

My Favorite Twilight Quote

I FINALLY read these books in like a couple of weeks. It took me like a whole year to read a Harry Potter book so I thought I was a slow reader, but APARENTLY I was reading the wrong books!

              

I hate it to jump on any bandwagon, but I have to admit, I have created my own little obsession with this story and the fact that there's a movie opening this week, is just too much to handle!

              



Here's one of my favorite quotes from the story:

              



“Bella, I’ve already expended a great deal of personal effort to keep you alive. I’m not about to let you behind the wheel of a vehicle when you can’t even walk straight. Besides, friends don’t let friends drive drunk,”“Drunk?”“You’re intoxicated by my very presence.”

              



Edward is so confident, and as I was reading the books I had to snicker every time he made a remark like this to Bella. :)

              



(I'm going to this movie Friday, if you'd like to come, call me!!)

Our last few weeks:

We had such a great Halloween party at Grandma and Grandpa's house! We showed off our costumes, bobbed for apples, pinned the nose on the pumpkin (which was very dizziying I must say) and ate so many fun foods! Lots of fun and scares for everyone!

Barbie Dress up like a cheerleader. She was a little immodest in her short skirt, but as long as she kept her tail down, she looked great! Also, you can see Joe tried his luck at bobbing for apples, he got a little but wet! That dissoriented looking woman spinning around on the bat is me. I was the laughing stalk of the family as I hobbled around trying to pin the nose on the pumpkin.

My neighbor Tonya let me borrow this adorable Yoda costume for Ethan and it looked perfect on him. Joe and I taught him how to say, "Yoda, I am" in a low scratchy voice.

Trick or treating was SO MUCH FUN! I had way more fun that Ethan did, and that says a lot because he couldn't contain himself, he was having so much fun! He ran into someone's home because he saw their pet kitty cat and he chased after it yelling, 'meeeeeeeeooooowww!' There were several cat chasing experiences. Now he wants to Trick or treat every day. I taught him the 'funny' trick or treat song. "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat."

We went to an air show/ all things boy this Saturday. There were planes, tranes, fire trucks, helicopters, blimps and automobiles up close and personal. He and daddy were in wonderland, and I had the camera rolling.

We all got to ride in the fire truck together. It had a bell on it that went, 'ding ding ding' and that's all Ethan can talk about anymore is how he road on the fire truck, and daddy was holding him, and it went 'ding ding ding!'
It was such a fun day, and the admission was free!