Copycat, copycat

Our now-3-year-old, Ethan, loves emulating those he loves (for good or bad). I was recently giving Cora a bath in her tub, and Ethan decided he wanted to help and so sat in the larger bath tub, so he could help me wash her. After I got her out and was drying her off, etc., I hear Ethan calling for me to take off his shirt and pull-up (yes, we've regressed in the potty-training arena). I asked him why, and he replied, "I want to take a baph, like Cowa" (no, he still can't say his "th"s and his "r"s)...so he did.

Later that week, he asked Matt to help him get on the potty a new way...come to find out, he wanted to pee exactly like his cousin, Will, sitting backwards on the potty. Whatever works, right?

All of this has made me think about my own life and relationship with God...kids have a way of illustrating this relationship so perfectly. I've wondered if I am that enthusiastic about imitating the One I claim to love so much, as well as imitating those who follow Him closely. Yes, it often looks silly or seems illogical, but there's something inexplicably satisfying about knowing I'm copying (or trying to copy) the behavior of the only wise and good One who has ever lived. Thanks, Ethan, for always showing me myself and to God for showing me Him in this journey we call parenting.

It's ok, Cora...I'm coming!!!

These are the words of a loving big brother when he hears his sister crying. Yes, Ethan is a constant source of help and comfort to his "Baby Cora" (his title for her). If we're in the house and he hears her crying, he goes running to her, yelling his reassurance to her all the way and then ever-so-gently shoves her pacifier into her mouth. It's the heart that counts, right? And when she cries in the car, he serenades her with "Jesus loves me" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". He really is so sweet with her and always wants to be right by her side...at this rate, Matt and I are going to have it pretty easy!

It's ok, Cora...I

Cora Jane

Well, I'm blogging again (thanks to gentle prodding from my mother). Obviously, our most recent big news is the arrival of Cora Jane (Sept. 17th). She has already grown and changed so much, but remains so very sweet and has such a laid-back and somewhat serious disposition (guess whose genes she got?). Although, compared to our congenial, gregarious, never-has-a-dull-moment Ethan, any baby would seem a little serious and laid-back!

So here are some updated pictures of our dear Cora...I will do my best to keep this up (I can hear you all laughing right now).

Father's Day

On Father's Day, Ethan must have had some clue that it was a special day for his daddy...Matt was preaching that Sunday, so he had to leave early for church. Before leaving, he had changed his mind about which pair of pants he was going to wear. After Matt left, Ethan wandered into our room and saw the pair of pants that Matt had decided not to wear and quickly declared, "MY pants" (yes, the "mine" phase is still in full swing). He proceeded to put his father's pants on, holding them up by the belt and walking around the house, feeling quite proud. It was such a fitting Father's Day picture!

Our Trip South

Well, we have finally returned and settled in after our stint in the South. We started off with a week with Emily's family at Hilton Head Island (our yearly family vacation), then Matt unfortunately had to head back to work in Michigan. Ethan and Emily stayed around for some time with family and friends. You can see the fun Ethan had with his cousins, Poppy and Nana and his Aunt Kathleen. It was a great trip, but it's always nice to be home (and for the first time, I'm actually grateful for Michigan weather!

All in a day's work!

A few weeks ago, we were coming off of a long, cold weekend here in Michigan. Ethan had also been sick, so we hadn't been out in a few days. Needless to say, he got a little stir crazy by Monday, and as I was talking on the phone, I heard some splashing in the bathroom. I suddenly realized that I had not drained the water after his bath...yes, I know you've already figured out the rest of the story by now. I ran to the bathroom, and what you see here is what I found...we now drain the water immediately after his bath! And to make the day a little more fun for his mother, Ethan also filled 2 toilets, my water glass, and the fish bowl.