Sweet Maggie, the first "baby"

Margaret Ann is not well...seems her aging spine is very tired. She is on kennel rest, when we arent holding her (her bed makes a supportive sling) and many medicines. In honor of Ms. Maggie here are a few moments of her waking hours today

Sparky checks on his pal regularly. She stood to eat on Thursday. Her only real meal in a few days. Her spine and lower legs are the issue and you can tell from her posturing here that she's doing her best to stand. She gave out shortly after this photo and she took food from our hands for a few more bites.

Sleep is coming soon...

Resting at last

Seeing Momma

These laminated pictures of you two go everywhere with him. This photo was made in early July. We put these near the door to the porch and he would crawl right over to them, pick them up and proceed to eat them! I think it may have been a really vigorous smooch!

His chubby little hand is holding on so tight. He really studies these.

Back to his roots

Ethan is in TX for a few weeks visiting his Grandma Nanny, Great Nana and Pop, uncles, cousins and all of Crosby! Since recent pictures of him can only be found on FB now, let's reminicse...

Uncle Elliot doing his thing leading the Fightin'Texas Aggie Band! (Uncle EJ, please send my some pics so I can add you! and Great Nana too)

NC cousins Sam and Jake, Nanny and Great Papa in Oct 2008 at Midnight Yell in College Station, TX. Oct 2008

Tami and Tabitha and Ethan gestating at 6 mos. Isn't she a cute pregnant? Oct 2008.

Ethan at 6 mos outside the womb with his Nanny and Momma before leaving TX to come to NC. June 2009.

There's nothing like Nanny-love! June 2009.

HANDling disaster

Until now, I've been hiding these pictures.....about 3 weeks ago, Jake and I attempted the impossible...and we found out it really WAS impossible! So on this 7 month birthday, I've finally found the nerve to show you...the REST of the story.... And...AWAY we go....actually, Jake and I carefully spread out his hand to place it ever so perfectly in the plaster and *SPLAT*...down and up his palm went and deep into the plaster his fingers did go! UGH!!!! We tried it again to no avail....

Waiting for the plaster to harden ( the first time!)

He likes playing with the tin top

all stirred up and ready to go! The good news is I found a very cool set that has a clay product we can carefully place each finger in and its suppose to be 'fool-proof'....hmmmm, we'll see! ....

He's a climber

Go Ethan! Determination in those eyes! He REALLY want to press that button. Holding firm for a minute...

Check out his foot action....he tries to get all the way up the thing but has figure out he topples too easily if he goes much past the first rung.

These pics dont really do his efforts justice....as I said before, this is one determined little man! This boy loves to climb!

Stroller love

Have I got a story for you! Your beautiful Eddie Bauer stroller/carseat combo wheels are taking it pretty hard when take walks on our long rocky driveway. Neal and I had started entertaining the idea of getting a jogger stroller for our walks w/Little Man a few weeks ago. So...we started looking online, exhaustively... and we are sure when we had the boys 13 and 18 years ago, jog strollers were much more affordable. The cheapest we saw that were sturdy were over $200. Geezz...you know we are thrifty nerds so we decided to wait...for what, I'm not sure.

Side story: I've been thinking alot lately about how God is our Provider, not just for material goods but all the emotional, spiritual needs, etc. we have...in general, everything. I've been listening to a great CD lately, Kari Jobe, and she sings an amazing song about just that on there...its one of those I just cant get outta my mind or heart.

So I prayed and waited...last week I took Ethan to get his 6 mos pics at Sears and there's this great thrift shop near by. So I had some time to kill ( another long story that involves me forgetting a bottle 45 minutes from my house at feeding time) and had to keep him moving to keep his mind off his hungry 'at-any-moment' belly, so we stopped in. I wandered all around that big place that was chocked full of things you couldnt even see unless you tripped over them...then I tripped! Over a baby jogger!!!!! This one!!!! I almost screamed out loud!!! It is very worn, rusted on the spokes but the tires are awesome, its very bouncy and still has a seat harness. We removed all the velcro and washed the seat up, put air in the tires, scrubbed her down and viola! Good to Go!~But are you ready for the price?.....$35.88 hahahaha!!! I laughed out loud! And got to the front as fast as I could with him strapped in and we were off to Sears. Thanks, God!

Pen pals at VBS

This is Jodie Gray with Ethan. She babysits in her home and may help us out some during the next few months. He has his Elvis look on, lower left lip dropped.

This is Susan, Justin's mom. She talked me into going down a huge inflatable slide that night but luckily, no pictures were taken! He has his hands in his mouth almost constantly now. I guess the upper teeth will be next.

A smile and a wink!

Justin! Ethan really was happy just before this pic! Doesnt Justin remind you of Elliot at 13?

Justin holding his buddy!

Baby quarantine

We found him staring at the gate, as if he was trying to figure out how to scale it. Maggie had been outside and was on the other side.
Discovering Maggie

Moving closer...

Resigned to just looking through it.( i missed the shotof him with his fingers all over it, attempting to stand)

A picture with his girl...sort of! ;)