Loooooong time

Well folks, it has been a long time since I posted last. Besides all that has been happening, Ethan is getting more active and I have been feeling tired. I have also been intimidated every time I think of posting because it has been so long. Ironic, no?

One thing that has been really difficult for me lately has been my energy level. I have been so tired, and now we know why. I have an extreme hypo thyroid. I kind of knew this already, since I was slightly so through my pregnancy, enough that I had been on a low dose of medication for it. After I had Ethan Medicaid ended and I couldn't afford to go to a doctor to continue with medication. I had thought that it was no big deal since I was on the lowest dose possible for this particular medication. Yet over time my thyroid has been getting worse without me realizing it. Lately my symptoms have worsened: I have been tired, yet unable to sleep well, experiencing mood swings, had very dry skin, been very sensitive to cold, and even gained some weight. Combine this with winter weather and yucky inversion air that keeps me indoors and I have been really down. I have struggled doing anything outside of keeping the three of us fed, in clean clothes and in a clean apartment. I sometimes even struggled with that.

Marc has been very patient with me through this, but has been getting more and more concerned about my moods. He finally convinced me to go to a doctor and have my blood tested. I am now taking 100 milligrams of synthroid instead of the 25 I was taking before. A BIG difference! I have only been taking it for a little more than a week, but I am already seeing results. The haze is beginning to lift and I feel like I'm becoming myself again.

This means so many things. I will be able to accomplish more and feel happier. I may even be able to keep up with this blog, but only time will tell.

Recent Shenangigans of Ethan and His First Christmas

Ethan, being the great son that he his, took it upon himself to personally inspect each and every light bulb for mommy's Christmas tree!

He says, "hmm....I'm not sure what to think about this spoon-feeding thing..."

Looks like he really likes it!

This is Ethan really enjoying his new bathtub ducky!

Here is Ethan with his cousin, Fallyn Fuentes, on Thanksgiving at grandpa and grandma Fuentes' home in Manti. So cute!

Cute Ethan and Halloween Ideas

Ethan is a cutie, with no choice but to wear what we put on him. Yet I think he was kind of having fun in this Hawaiian shirt. My dad added the ukulele because it fit the theme, but Marc also plays ukulele so it was that much cuter.

In this one, he even looks like he's singing. :)

I have been trying hard to come up with something for the three of us for the ward Halloween party, and it is hard! I have been thinking that maybe this Hawaiian thing can double as a Halloween costume idea. The three of us could be tourists with Hawaiian shirts and a camera. I'm not totally sold on it though. Another idea I had was to come as M&M's. We would all wear a solid color and stick M&M's on ourselves. My sister is going with her husband and child as bank robbers, with the baby either being the loot or a policeman.

If you have any grand ideas, please let me know!

Ethan's top 10

Hello all! In the world of blogging, I am definitely a top-notch procrastinator! I love reading everyone's blogs, but I don't post myself.

To catch everyone up, I will do my best to give a good picture of life the past nearly 4 months. I wake up in the morning and feed Ethan. I eat breakfast. I play with Ethan. I feed Ethan. I put Ethan down for a nap. I do housework while he is sleeping. I make dinner for Marc when Ethan has his second nap. I try to squeeze in time with Marc before I go to bed when he is done with homework. I get up with Ethan in the night. I repeat this every day. I keep everyone fed, clothed, and cleaned. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, even when it is routine and a little boring. It just isn't much to blog about.


Ethan of course, is growing so fast! He is becoming so smart and handsome.
Here is a list of the top 10 things that he likes to do:

1. Smile. He does this best for Marc. He loves his Daddy!
2. Play with his toes. They are his favorite toy.
3. Suck on his fingers.
4. Laugh. He really thinks that plastic baggies being crumpled is funny.
5. Listen. He likes all kinds of sounds and stops what he is doing and cocks his head.
6. Babble and gurgle. He makes so many sounds without opening his mouth!
7. Be carried on walks outside. He is completely quiet as he takes everything in.
8. Put things in his mouth. Blankets, toys, my clothes, my hands, etc.
9. Blow Bubbles.
10. Turn on his side. No rolling over yet, but it is only a matter of time.

Ethan's Persona

Ethan has a way cute smile he wants all his friends and family to see!

Ethan Marc Fuentes

Introducing Ethan Marc Fuentes!

We are so excited to have our little boy with us at last. He is such a joy in our family already. He was born June 20 at 12:54 am weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz. and measuring 20 inches long. I was in labor for 3 hours and only pushed 6 times. I also delivered without an epidural, I think mainly due to my preparation mentally, spiritually, and physically. I also was in mild labor for a week beforehand that wasn't painful at all and got him nice and low. He was just ready to come! He was very awake and aware from the moment he was born. He also is a very calm and happy baby, as everyone who meets him can tell. He is my sweetheart!

This is right after he was born. They wrapped him in a towel and put him right on my chest. The expression on my face captures exactly what I felt: "Oh. THIS is what the person that was inside of me looks like. THIS is what Marc and I's genes together make!"



Our little Family!

Two of the proud aunties, my sisters Rachel and April.

Uncle Willie, who thinks that Ethan is adorable.

His cute little feet! So tiny!

My adoring mother, Ethan's grandma Atkin.

The Fuentes grandparents.

His footprints. His big toes are trying to hitch a ride!

I know that this is long in coming, but I think that I can be forgiven with all of these pictures. :)

The Rasmussens: Reunification

On the 10th of June, Amy and I had the great privilege of having Annie and Neal, with their little Joseph, over at our house for a little party with many of Annie's old friends, who also happen to be Amy's friends. Corey Clawson, Nic Maughan, Emily and Marc Muir, Shelby Riggs, David Atkin, and Amy's sisters Rachel and April were in all in attendance! It was a fun get together as many of Annie's friends were able to catch up on each others lives. We played Apples to Apples with Nic as being funny and jovial as ever.

We all were just so excited and happy to see Annie and Neal make it out to Utah from North Carolina and especially so since they had a very booked 2 weekend reunion with family and friends. Little Joseph was certainly as cute and handsome as he was in the pictures sent from North Carolina over the internet and Skype. It was really good for Amy to get some sister-time in with Annie.

Amy and I were able to watch the much-anticipated Disney/Pixar movie UP with Annie, Neal, Willie, Rachel and April. We went to the 3-D version; it was an awesome movie but both Amy and I agreed that we'd like to see it someday in regular "2-D".

Amy here: I cried at the beginning of this movie. It is the best Pixar yet! Definitely one to buy when it comes out on DVD.

Yesterday we said our goodbyes to my beloved sister Annie and awesome brother-in-law Neal before they took off for the SLC airport to head back home to North Carolina. It was so good to see them the little that we did. I wish that they didn't live so far away! It was especially helpful to have support at the hardest waiting period of the pregnancy, when everything is ready to go but I still have to wait. I enjoyed holding sweet Joseph, living proof that pregnancy DOES end some day. Hopefully our next post will have pictures of our little Ethan in it.