In every sonogram with Ethan, he would have his hands over his face, and the technician could do nothing to make him move them... well of course he still does that now, he rubs his lil hands up against his face all the time, including during nursing... its already a lil less than he did the first few days, but sometimes I have to hold his hands out of the way while he eats... I guess its his comfort thing :)

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Since I went from one kid, to Two, I've had to do kids laundry pretty much every single day! I used to do Diella's about once a week. Now its just never ending!

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It's been a while since we first tried, but back when we tried mommy's milk from a bottle for the first time, he did great! And has taken it well ever since, so no problems there, yay!

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Ethan's facial expressions are hilarious! He very often has his eye brows down, as though he's thinking or confused or something... its so funny!

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He also grunts all the time! When he's stretching, or right when he's waking up, or if Diella hugs his too hard, hehe... I hate to call it a grunt tho, its not like a pig, but sounds more like someone clearing their throat... but its gotten to the point where Jacob has asked me not to nurse in our room during the night anymore cuz his grunting wakes him up! Haha!

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Oh and another sound he makes that is hilarious... like when we need to wake him up... I'll describe it as though its like the sound of a cartoon chipmunk laughing, Ha!

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Speaking of trying to wake him up... its almost impossible! When this boy is sleeping, it is a DEAD sleep! My mom has lifted his arm & let it go over & over, to watch it flop back down... I've given him zerbets (or raspberries, you may call it) in his cheeks & neck... nothing works! I've finally figured out the only way he wakes up, you've gotta get him down to his diaper & lay him flat on the floor, cant jus get him naked & hold him, and not even lay him flat on anything soft like a couch or bed, its gotta be the hard floor... then he finally wakes up, its nuts!

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And this coming Sunday, April 5th, Ethan is being dedicated to God during an evening service at our church! We will share pictures of that night!

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And we are SOOOO anxious to meet the kids' new cousin, Chanson! Unfortunately it might not be unil Thanksgiving, but we are already counting down the days!

PIX

Just took these today... holdin his head up, two & half weeks old! My Boy!!!

My Boy

At his first week appointment, he was 75% in weight and 90% in height! He's gonna pass up Diella before we know it, hehe (well not TOO soon)...

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I set him on his belly yesterday & he held up his, looking directly forward, held his head way up for a little over a minute! I did it again today too, and same result, he's doing so well! I'm gonna do it again this afternoon & get a picture of it!

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Still no complaints with everything else. He's eating a lil more than he used to, so even tho its harder on me, at least he's growing! :) ... and he's still sleeping really well! I try to have about 3 times during the day where I keep him awake for about 90 mins each, thats workin. And for I think 4 nights in a row, he only got up once to eat, but then ever since then he's been getting up twice, so... small step backwards, but its ok, at least he goes right back down. And last night, he did really well, and then was awake first thing in the morning, which I think is great, cuz maybe he's catching on to when daytime is! :) and once in a while, he'll take a nice long 4 hour nap (like right now!) those are nice!

I Make Mommy Happy!

Ethan has been doing very well, all around! His first night home, we think he had day and night confused, but we've got the hang of it now. In fact, last night, he only woke up ONCE! Went to bed at 11, woke at 4 to eat, and then didnt wake up in the morning til 10:30! Woo Hoo! Let's pray for more nights like that! Yeah!

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Nursing is also going much better. Getting very normal for both of us! He WAS spitting up about every other feeding, but that already stopped! :)

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Sometimes he takes binky, other times spits it out?

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The doctor said he is perfect! He wighed 8 lb 8 oz at birth, then 8 lbs when we left hospital, then was back up to 8 lb 8 oz when he had his one week apt last Friday. Dr says it usually takes two weeks to gain that weight back, so he's doin great!

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We do a little but of tummy time once each day. And he likes to chill in his chair, which is good! It has a little vibrating thing, he likes that on when he's sleepin.

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He makes the FUNNIEST sounds! Like after he sneezes, or when he anxious to eat. They are really hard to explain in words & I can never get videos uploaded to here, so I guess you'll just hafta come over some time to see & Hear this lil guy!

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By the way, my recovery is going Very well! I'm walking & moving around totally normal, my belly has gone almost completely! But on Sunday, during worship, I jumped.... and almost peed myself, hehe... so I'm not 100% yet, but feeling great!

BABY ETHAN!!!!

Ethan Thaller Ritenour, after about 5 hours of labor, our beautiful boy was born at 5:35 pm on Friday, March 6th! He weighed in at 8 lbs. 8 oz. and is 21" long! He's got amazing dimples! He's already such a good baby! Sleeps LOTS! Will give some more details soon!

DUE Today!

Had an appointment yesterday. Still 1 cm, as I expected, (have been for the past 2 weeks now)... same as with Diella, 1 cm for 2 weeks before she was born, only she was a week late. The doc asked how big Diella was, 6 lb. 15 oz., she said this one is for sure bigger.... but there's really no evidence of that besides the tapemeasure on my belly... so she asked if I'd like to get induced this week, I said I guess so... so she scheduled me to go in Early thurs. morning... I went home, the more I thought about it, I'd like to try to have with baby without pitocin if I could... I'm not ruling it out 100% , incase the baby's getting too big, or if it NEEDS to come out, then I'll do that, and of course I dont wanna go really late again, but I decided to call & see what other options I had... so as of now, I'm going in Friday for whats called a bio-physical & a non-stress test. This will tell us how the baby is doing (being overdue) and how my body is handling it... so depending on how that goes, will determine how much closer we are & whether I go in to have the baby or continue to wait it out... Yes, I'm anxious, but there are so many things that factor into all these decisions, its hard to just casual make one, one way or the other... so, hopefully tonight! But if not, guess we gotta few more days. Either way, the end is in sight! :)

ok, so I havent actually written alot about this pregnancy. For one, I have absolutely no feeling whatsoever to whether its a boy or a girl... I have had small feelings for each, so I'm still just So unsure. Um, lately (i'm 39 weeks today) I am beyond uncomfortable, cant sleep most nights, but trying to make it through. I have craved oranges & Cheerios every day for more than half the pregnancy, hehe... and eat both every single day :) ... I cant really think of much to say, not that there is nothing to say... but I can post one more time after this maybe :)