A New Look

I tricked you didn't I? You probably thought I was referring to a new look for myself but alas I'm only referring to the blog! A blog that I have neglected for quite some time. Why, you might ask? Honestly, I have no idea. James and Ethan keep me busy but not so much that I can't write. :)

So I'll keep trying to keep up...

James had his first dentist appointment in January. Though he look terrified in this picture, I think I just caught him off guard. He was the BEST! The dentist looked, cleaned and polished his teeth. James sat quietly and very still through it all, never cried or appeared to be on the verge of crying. The dentist said she wished she could video him because she'd show it to those 8 year olds who still cry. He was excited about his new toothbrush and stickers and he's excited about going back!

James loves his little brother and since Ethan is becoming mobile and less frail/infant-like James is a little rougher (as is Ethan) and they roll, hug, and play. I love to watch it. (Until there is an injury and then we have to wipe tears and move on to something else.)

And James started a 3 day a week program at 74 Street Magic. It's a preschool alternative for just 2 and a half hours and I can't tell you how much he LOVES it. He's upset when I pick him up, not when I drop him off. He has made a new friend who he says he misses when we are a block away from school. It's been so good for him and when it works out that Ethan will nap during that time it's nice for me too.

January and February 2012 have been good to us so far!

I have no excuses

Don't get me wrong I like to blog, I like telling stories about what I do (or don't do, or do badly) and especially like posting adorable pictures of my boys. I can't make an excuse and say I've been too busy, I honestly just haven't had much to say.

We've been back in NYC for almost 4 months and it's so lovely to be home. WOW. I can't tell you how much better it feels to be here. Ethan is almost 6 months old! Another Wow moment! He's growing so fast. Already sporting 2 tiny teeth, developing a little personality and falling in love with that big brother of his.

James has shown us a side of him I didn't think I'd see. It was either the 3's kicking in, the addition of the baby or something I'm missing but that boy has been testing my patience, my nerves and everything else. Tantrums, defiance, outright misbehavior... geez. I think I need to do some reading on discipline or something! In any case he still has a sweet side, he loves his little brother and loves that he can make Ethan laugh harder than any of us!

The Big News

Maybe you've heard the news already... after 10 LONG months in State College, PA we are moving back to NYC! I can't tell you how excited we are and how ready we are to move.

Jay has been traveling back and forth to NY over the last 2 months for interviews and was finally offered the job as Director of Enrollment Services for the NYCDA (New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts). It's a great career move for him and although we originally never thought we'd want to live in NYC for any great length of time we found, after moving away, that it had really become home. So, Friday Sept. 9th we'll pack up our truck, make an out of the way pit stop in VA and head to NYC :)

So much to say...

Things have been so crazy this summer. It's been almost 3 months since Ethan joined us and we seem to have stayed very busy.

Ethan is growing like a weed. He went through a big growth spurt and in the last 2 weeks has slowed down a good bit. But we have affectionately called him "chunk, chunk" or "chunky monkey." He doesn't seem to mind. He's such a good baby, has been sleeping through the night for quite some time now and really tolerates his loving big brother!

I took both boys to VA to see family and friends. We went to visit Melanie and her 3 kiddos. Melanie and I have been friends since Kindergarden and we love that we both have 2 boys who are no more than 3 months apart! (I skipped having one in the middle though!)

Here we are trying to get a picture of all of us. Kaysen, Melanie holding Kooper, Kaden, James and me and Ethan!
Then we went to NY to visit my cousin and her wife, who have twins 2 weeks before Ethan was born. Actually, we pretty much switched due dates. Here is Ethan, Beatrice and Asher. Obviously Ethan is a little bigger than his older cousins.
Early August we all went to the beach, except Jay who couldn't take the time off. It was a long trip to Myrtle Beach but we had fun. I took my 2 nephews Jude and Alex, and James to a pirate adventure! It was very neat and I think they had fun.
James really loved the beach this year :)
This is the "treasure" he found. A huge thing of seaweed that he loved very much and wanted to bring home. Thankfully he was okay with burying the "treasure" and leaving it behind.
We also took James to ride Thomas the train. He thought it was awesome, even though mommy and daddy and 4 week old Ethan were very hot and thought it was a little bit lame. It made James smile and he talked about it for a long time, so it was worth it!

More updates to come...

Introducing Ethan

I'd like to introduce you to our newest addition... Ethan Warren Sholes. Born June 13 (yes, 10 days late and I was finally induced) weighing 8 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long.

Ist family photo. James loves his little brother and

wore his "I'm a big brother" t-shirt for 3 days!

You may remember that we took a picture like this with James' build-a-bear too.

Here Ethan is a week and a half old. He loves to lay on his side and he's such a good baby!

We're so blessed to have these 2 wonderful boys!

James and Mr. Man

I meant to post these pictures after James' 3rd birthday but I forgot. They are just so cute though! Mr. Man is the bear we built for James just before he was born (actually 2 days after his due date while we waited.) It's his buddy, not a security blanket but the one stuffed animal he likes to have with him.

Here is James with Mr. Man in the hospital when he was just a day or two old!

Mr. Man and James on his 1st birthday!

2nd Birthday

And the cheesy grin I couldn't get him to go without, on his 3rd birthday!

He's growing up so fast and now he's about to be a big brother!

Trying to be Creative!

We've chosen the name for our 2nd little boy, and I decided to do his name above the crib like so many others but it can be expensive so I decided to do it myself.

I started with blank canvas and painted them navy blue.

Then I drew on the little animals that go with the letters of his name.

Then I added detail to the animals and wrote his name... Ethan! His full name is Ethan Warren Sholes. Warren was my dad's name so it was really special to me to be able to use it for this little boy!

Here's the boys' room. James' name isn't nearly as creative, but maybe I'll do his next :)