Signs of Spring

One day while we were out playing in the yard we noticed that Caleb's "Butterfly Weed" plant had some caterpillars on it.  Upon closer look there were at least FOURTEEN caterpillars on it!  The plant really was aptly named!

When we mentioned to Grandma Jan that we were watching to see what the caterpillars would do, she suggested we bring one to watch.  What a great science experiment idea!

The caterpillar cleaned all the leaves and flowers off of the plant we put in and then did something very interesting...it formed a type of "web" across the top of the jar so that when it made its crysalis it could hang!  How interesting!!

Here's Caleb looking at the beautiful crysalis with tiny gold-looking spots on it.  Almost as if it had jewels!

Within a couple days of noticing the caterpillars they had stripped the plant clean.  There were no more flowers or leaves at all.  Then all the caterpillars disappeared and Caleb and Momma wondered where they had made their crysalis' since they weren't on the plant or even the bushes next to the plant.  How far will a caterpillar crawl????  Well, Mike found them hanging on the side of the house!!

Mike managed to get a picture of the butterfly coming out!  Amazing to watch!

Great picture!

We noticed our crysalis getting dark grayish black and thought it would soon hatch so we kept an eye on it.  Unfortunately, the butterfly was too fast for us!  We looked at it after breakfast, we went to feed Ethan and play a game for an hour and in that time the butterfly was already out!

Here we are trying to release it!

Poor butterfly was too big for our jar!  It kept scooting back into the jar as its wings touched the mouth of the jar.  Mike had to finally just gently shake it out!  What an awesome life cycle to watch!

Also in a tree in our yard we discovered a nest.  How did we discover this??  Well, while hunting for Easter eggs in the yard Caleb found half of a REAL eggshell!  Mike found the nest and if you look carefully you can see it in this picture.  Though we couldn't actually see the babies at all!  We'll have to keep our eyes out for them.

Ethan at One Month

It's crazy how relative something concrete like time can be!  One month with Ethan has felt like an "eternity" and the "blink-of-an-eye" all at the same time! 

There really aren't that many accomplishments a one-month old can do, but here are a few.  Ethan is living up to his name and is pretty strong for his age.  He likes to "stand" when being held upright and can put a bit of weight on his legs.  He also likes to hold his head up (especially when he's supposed to be burping!) and tries to look around. 

Ethan can recognize voices and will turn his head and his eyes to the voice he hears.  He really likes to follow Momma's, Dada's, and Caleb's voices.  He is in awe of his big brother and sits mesmerized when Caleb talks or "reads" to him.  Though he's not really a fan of the TON of kisses Caleb bestows on him all day! 

All in all life is moving along here as we are all living in a state of sleep deprivation!  Well, everyone except Ethan that is!  If any of you gets an inkling to hold a little one for a bit, come on over and we'll hand him off so we can get some naps in. 

Ethan's Baptism

Ethan was baptized into God's family on Sunday, March 11th! It was so special to have Grandpa Grothe here to do the baptism. What a blessing!   Uncle Rob and Aunt Aurea are Ethan's sponsors and it was great that they were able to be here as well. 

After the service we had all the family over to our house for lunch.  This included Kati's and Mike's extended families as well.  It was quite the housefull.  Mike had even grilled fajitas for everyone!  They were absolutely delicious!!  Mike is a fabulous cook and does a great job on the grill too.  Thanks honey, for making such a great meal for everyone.

Grandpa Grothe, Mike with Ethan, Kati with Caleb in front, Aurea, and Rob

Add Grandma Jan and it's the Grothe side of the family!

The Brandon side of the family. 

Tori, Eric, Mike with Ethan, Kati with Caleb in front, Kyle, Debbie, Kendall, and Amy in front

Grandpa and Grandma Brandon brought this beautiful cake!  It was very yummy too (especially the chocolate side!)

The Grothes Visit

Shortly after Ethan was born, Kati's family came for a visit to see our newest member.  The best was that Grandma Jan was able to stay almost three weeks!  What a "Super Grandma" she is too!  She fixed meals, helped clean the house, did countless loads of laundry every day, held Ethan so Kati could nap, played with Caleb so he wouldn't feel left out, and helped make those millions of decisions every day! ("Should I let him sleep?  Should I feed him now?  What do you think is wrong?....") 

She even went with Kati for both boys' doctor visit.  Caleb's four-year (Where he got four shots and I have never heard him scream that loud!  Though on a brighter note, he loved his hearing test and even sang the "beeps" for the nurse.)  And Ethan's two-week, where he also got a shot.  It was an exhausting morning for everyone. 

Grandma Jan and Ethan

 

Caleb and Grandma Jan playing Disney Sorry!

Sleeping baby again!

Playing playdough

Spray Bottle Duel

Drawing smiley faces together! 

I love this picture!  You can just hear Ethan saying, "No more kisses!  No more kisses!"

 

G.G. (Great-Grandma Mattson) came for a visit and we were able to get an

updated four-generations picture.

Grandpa Grothe, Uncle Rob, and Aunt Aurea came for Ethan's baptismal weekend.  It was great to see them again, but too short of a visit!  Here Grandpa and Ethan are getting acquainted.

Of course Caleb was in heaven!  He knew Uncle Rob and Aunt Aurea solely came to play with him!

Rob gets a chance to hold Ethan.

Playtime with Grandpa and Grandma Jan.





Ethan with his baptismal sponsors: Uncle Rob and Aunt Aurea!

What a cutie!  He's dancing!

More playtime!  This time with Uncle Rob.

One of Caleb's birthday gifts was this bubble blower from Uncle Rob and Aunt Aurea.  Doesn't it just look like so much fun??

We had a GREAT time with family and did not want to see them go! 

Home at Last!

After several days in the hospital we were home at last!  Here are some photos of that first week that we were home as a family.  Mike was able to take some vacation days and it was WONDERFUL having him around to help out.  Amazing how such a little person can be so much work!  We will definitely have to work at finding our "new normal".

Ethan being carried over the threshold!

Daddy, Caleb, and Ethan having playtime together.

What is this "tummy time" that you are making me do??

What a funny look!

Ethan's first walk.

Big Brother helping push!

Sweet baby!

Caleb LOVES to give Ethan kisses and will shower him all day long.  Ethan tolerates it, but he does love his big brother, because when he hears Caleb's voice his little head moves all over the place to try and find him!

Sporting their "Brother" shirts!  (Which are now too small for both boys!)

Ethan and Caleb are listening to the bedtime story Daddy is reading.

Family Photos!

Look at that...Caleb is already teaching Ethan bad habits!  This picture sure does make it look like our little newborn is watching and imitating his brother.  Incredible!  (Yes, we have VERY intelligent children...Hee-Hee!)

Ethan's first bath was not a hit.  He cried the entire time, though all his subsequent baths have been pleasant experiences as he's trying to figure out what's happening to him.

Ahhh, rescued and warm in Daddy's arms!

Ethan Matthew Has Arrived!

 I am finally going to start catching up on our blog (hopefully!) so I'll backtrack to get all of the pictures in that you may want to see for the last six weeks! :)  Ethan Matthew decided to arrive on February 15th at 5:15 in the morning.  He was a healthy 7 pounds 9 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long.  What a cutie!

Grandma and Grandpa Brandon brought Big Brother Caleb to meet his little brother for the first  time.  I think it was love at first sight!  Of course, when we called Caleb earlier that morning to let him be the first to hear the news, he told Grandma that his brother was named "Needle" to which Grandma replied, "What?  Let me have the phone!"

Grandpa Brandon holding Ethan for the first time.

Grandma Brandon getting her turn.

  Aunt Amy also gets to hold Ethan.