GEAUX TIGERS! Ethan had a beer on Mike Tkaslfkjlcvhxkjcvneurowiejfcmnxmnvcjsky last night. Yes we do take Ethan to places that serve beer and let him sit on the table. We're those people.
Sorry so long since the last post. We've been hairy busy, and my batteries were dead in my camera, and the thought of going somewhere JUST for camera batteries is crazy... and now I'm back up and running. We didn't miss any developmental milestones.
Lets see... accolades... Sunbridge Early Learning Center is GREAT. I'm sure the "shh shh he's my favorite, don't tell the other moms" psychology is used on everyone, but it sure is working on me. They claim that he loveable and huggable and cute and well behaved and everyone's favorite. I agree.
We just heard that Audrey Elizabeth has been through another rigmarole, but has come out, AGAIN, smiling on the other side. She's always in our thoughts and prayers, as are her amazing parents. We can't wait to see her again.
Ethan got a new carseat. Emily Claire is going to need to sit in Eli's hand-me-down pretty soon so we went ahead and stepped up to the big kahuna. Its HUGE, but can last him until he's 65 pounds, which seems ridiculous, but I'm goin' with it. He seems to like it, doesn't scream when he's in it, and the spit up rubs right into that cow print and doesn't show a bit!
Ethan has fat bracelets on both wrists and ankles now and can't move his neck when he smiles because of the fat roll under his chin. He's still touchy on sleeping through the night, but thats probobly because his parents keep him out until 10 oclock at restaurants. Rach is going to make him a fake ID so he can get into more places.
What else, what else. Ethan Muarray HATES tummy time, loves his taggie blanket and chewing on his entire fist. He has almost figured out the cause and effect between a pointer finger down the throat and that uncomfortable gagging feeling. He can fit his entire fist in his mouth, and prefers it to a pacifier. He still spits up buckets, but doesn't seem to mind.
My computer said that "saving and publishing may fail because of lost connection." That always happens to me. I'll try it. HAPPY FRIDAY!!!! Love, Ethan's mama

IMPORTANT CORRECTION

So even though they both lost, I've been informed that both the Razorbacks and the Tigers do indeed get to play... or dance... in the big dance. Pardon me, sports fans. Why even play the game if everybody gets to go??

I've been busted as an imposter for one who cares about basketball. It's my underlying envy of tall people.

Has everyone seen that picture of the new hairy crustacean they found? Mom is the finder of the find... and it is GAross. If you google "hairy crustacean" you can see a picture. The AP has a blocker on it that prevents me from showing it to you here. SUCKERS! Lets all ponder WHY a lobster would need hair..... Is it to keep him warm? Wet hair is usually colder than no hair at all. Is it to attract other crabs? He is blonde after all. MAYBE he's the spokeslobster for I can't believe its not oceanbutter. Ah ha ha ha. I'm only funny to me, but I don't care. Ethan thinks I'm funny. After our tornado warning last night, I need some zzzzzzzzs. Tootaloo.
Shaun's in Shrevport... I have to attach additional pics for his enjerment. Words are funnier when typed how you wanna sayem.

Let's hear it for amoxycillin!

We got kicked out of daycare on Monday (how ironic!) with a fever. Being the cool, laid back mama I am, I didn't take Ethan in until Wednesday... where we discovered two ear infections. Sorry kiddo. We got some amoxycillin, and he feels better now.
We got to go to Little Rock and FINALLY met our beloved Audrey Elizabeth. They slept through most of their first date, but it was fun.
Ethan and Shaun watched the LSU game, and even though we don't get to go to the big dance, we'll continue to root for them.
And... we finally found some shades for those sunny car rides. WATCH OUT!

One of my favorite games is notice whats behind the picture. In these you'll see... mismatching pillowcases and comforter with distasteful green sheets. Quite a digression from someone who's wanting monogrammed bed clothes. I have no explaination. They're just bad. Picture 2: A pitcher of Tang. Shaun loves Tang. I think this is actually Morning Suprise or Shiny Sun... some off-brand knock-off bev that leaves an equally gritty twang in your throat.
Ethan loves the butter chair... i prefer to pronounce it buddachair.

Off to bed. I changed the ugly sheets.

Lervy dervy derve, E

My guys have started taking lazy Sunday naps together. I have a picture of them both sleeping, but its stuck in my camera, and I'd have to find the cord, and plug it in, and download, and resize, and I'm just too lazy to do it. Maybe next time. Open eyes are better than closed ones... atleast in pictures.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Crappy daycare. What does a mama have to do to find at very least DECENT?! daycare? The following offenses have been noted:

1. A trip to the DMV without permission. Aside from the horrible possibilities that could have occurred, I don't want to let Ethan in on the fact that miserable people work at the DMV. We're done with her.

2. Sleeping babysitter. Now on this one, I think I'm offended on behalf of the OTHER children that weren't being attended to. My little lump was asleep next to the big lump that was SUPPOSED to be caring for otherchildren within her "playhouse"... "my child's home away from home"... malarky. I have a better one: " you pay me lots of cash and i'll let your kids play alone while i sleep." Just tell the truth, ya lump.

3. 14 month old witnessed surfing on an office chair with wheels while, you guessed it, unattended. I'm done with her.

ENTER STAGE LEFT DOING THAT FUNNY TAP DANCE MOVE: Sunbridge Early Learning Center. They're gonna get me in on Monday. They have internet cams in all the rooms and have had to send a flyer out to parents to not stay on them all day long 'cause they're slowing down the system. They may have to ask me more than once. 4 babies per room, consistent teacher... and they don't feed them juice. OH! I forgot to mention offense number 4: " Oh! I forgot if we had talked about that this morning (we had)... I gave him some juice and he LOVED IT!" Gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. My friend Jill talks about her Mama Cat alter ego that comes out when people mess with her kids. I'm there. Hopefully Sunbridge will be our savior. AND, they are connected to a therapy joint that could use speech therapists. AND, if I work full time for them, they give away daycare at half price. Maybe this is our ticket.

THIS JUST IN: Dad, PawPaw, Rooster.. whatever you want to call him was JUST. INTERVIEWED. BY. THE. TOOLBELT. DIVA. ON. SIRIUS. RADIO !!!?? He's FAMOUS! And his tile recipes are going to be as sought after as the spices in KFC extra crispy!

Back to the star of our show... Ethan is, obviously, gaining weight. He's got fatroll bracelets on both wrists and a gobbler that catches milk, fuzz, lint, and much much more. He likes to keep his pacifier behind his right ear instead of in his mouth, which I suppose is fine.

I can't think of anything else to report, and my dinner just walked through the door. Love love! E, E, S

11 weeks

Hello everyone!
Ethan is starting to become a strange morphing of all his cousins. Some days he looks like Eli. Some days its Garrett. I caught a glimpse of Sarah's eyes the other day... and in the dining room light, he has Sue's red hair. He definately belongs to us.

We're making some changes in daycare. My mama instinct jumped in, and I had to listen.

Ethan will talk and talk and sing to anyone who will listen. He and Shaun have conversations, they sing along to the radio... its fun to watch.
His little legs are getting chubbier and chubbier... we're up another size in diapers. He's started to simply yell at us when we're not paying enough attention to him. And it seems to be workin for him. We jump up and run over when he does it... suckas!


The ultimate, amazing, super-duper new trick; however, is SLEEPING. THROUGH. THE. NIGHT. IN. HIS. OWN. BED. Yeah... amazing what a night of sleep can do for a weary mama. If I time it just right, I'll be asleep from 11-6 tonight. I'm so happy.

He's growing more orangatan?, orangatang? uh.rang.a.tang? big monkey hair on top. Its all whispy and blows in the breeze. I could cut it off, but I like it.

So... all is well in Fayetteville. We've packed up a box of outgrown clothes for our new cousin. I will not mention her sweet name in case it has not been cleared for public knowledge. We've got diapers and onesies and pjs galore that I thought he wouldn't grow into.

I met a 4-week old baby the other day and I did the thing that I said I would never do. I said the "Oh wow! I can't remember Ethan being that small." I said it. I did. What a dork. I said I'd never say it.

SURVIVOR COMES ON TONIGHT! Must prepare. Love love,
Ethan, Erin, and Shaun

SNOWED IN DAY 2

STILL SNOWING. You could hold a curling match on our street, so we're not going anywhere today either. I'm now down to experimenting with things in the fry-daddy. I've made oregano cheese-sticks, jalepeno-cheddar corn dogs, and now I'm on pecan funnel cakes. I talked to Mom and she's organizing her embroidry thread. YIKES! I've also sorted all the diapers in ascending order in the drawer according to size and probability of leakage. I'll try to enjoy myself while I can.




Momo- this pic is for you... 'cause I'll want one of Ethan holding his sleeping baby someday too.

A whole week of pictures!

Happy Valentines Day Ladies! My valentines are abundant.... of course my Mama cause she feeds me whenever I want. Then there's my Momo and and my Nana. They both sent me valentines. Then there's my Aunt Ray Ray who is strikingly gorgeous. Then there's my Sarah Max who's about to turn one! And my Audrey... I hear I have a little competition from some cat named Martin. I'm not afraid... she will be mine in the end.
Love, Ethan





Here's a whole week of life in the Oliver abode. Ethan wins the valentine count. He got three?! from Whitney who stays with Gayla... she's an older woman at 2, but we like her.



Ethan has become part of the countertop appliances. He watches us cook. We made tirimisu for Shaun for valenties day... from scratch! It was delicious and nutritious. Shaun has been dying to go hiking this year... he's been crazy busy at work... has been looking for the perfect backpack... and now that he's gotten the perfect pack, he's ready to go (looks like a commando doesn't he?) it snows and is 19 degrees. So he's postponed his trip once again.




I don't know why this picture posted three times, but when I erase one, my entire post disappears. Enjoy it three times.




Ethan still loves bath time.... and his Rach... he's already wrapping her up tight to get him out of trouble in the future.









SNOW DAY! We actually tried to put him in that bunting number on our way home from the hospital 10 weeks ago, and we lost him in the leg holes... it fits now. And isn't everything a little cuter with a set of ears attached to it??
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Don't worry Momo... he's got socks on. :)

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I made it through a whole real week of work. That's plenty for me.

That's an LSU hat he's got on. We were so sure it was going to fit when we got it. Again suprised at how small noggins start out!

Blue is definately his color.

Shaun and I are going on a .... gasp!..... DATE! tonight. We're going to Boi de Oro which is apparently some Brazilian steakhouse with sundry meats. I am feeling a bit anemic lately, so a little meat sounds nice. All I ate today was smarties in preparation. Where is Ethan going you ask? He's going to Parent's Night Out at FAC (Athletic Club) wehre they will play with him from 6 to 11 for $20! I don't think we'll stay out until 11... I can't imagine what we'd do for that long. We have to get Valentines ready for our girlfriends this weekend... Audrey, Sarah Max, and Mary Margaret get READY! lervy dervy, E

This Bumbo seat is cool. If I could afford it, I would buy one for every baby I know.. just Audrey really, cause all the other babies I know can sit up...
Ethan and I visited the Washington County Health Unit this morning to get some shots. It was a traumatic day. I'll recap:
1. We arrive at out appointment time of 9:15
2. We are met by no less than 17 FREAKS in the waiting room
3. I fill out paperwork one handed with a sleeping baby
4. We get called at 10:30.
5. Poop rockets to the back of Ethan's neck as the first needle punctures his perfectly plump thigh.
6. I realize I am COMPLETELY UNPREPARED for a costume change. I have one diaper and three wipes.
7. I strip him naked, clean him up the best I can and rush him back to the car in a blanket and a diaper.
8. He screams the whole way home for lots of reasons.
9. Shaun gave him a bath.
10. I drop him at Gayla's house
11. I get halfway to work, decide I'm hungry.
12. I DON'T drive through for a burger, and instead eat my Zone Bar. Its dry. Very dry.
13. I reach for my cup of water. It slips and pours ALL. OVER. MY. LAP.
14. I walk into work with a soaking wet crotch at 11:30 AM.
15. I learn that Old Navy Polyester pants dry suprisingly fast.
16. Ethan was just fine when I picked him up. I'm still not OK.

Check this out! Our friend Dylan lent us his cool chair during the Super Bowl, and we're going to buy one tomorrow!
The Rolling Stones ROCK.

I love this picture.



Nana and PawPaw came for a visit. Ethan saved plenty of smiles for them. Nana continues to have a sedative effect on the boy... and when she doesn't work the dryer still does!



I'm a member of society again. My boys stay in bed while I get ready for work... then Shaun drops Ehtan off at Gayla's house. I pick him up when I'm finished and we come home and catch up on his day. He seems to be doing well. Shaun says he's happy when he drops him off, and he's always happy when I pick him up. I'm good so far.