Swimmin' Women

On Saturday Erik, Bob, Etta and I went swimming at the Clarkston Aquatic Center. (One lesson I learned - have the baby and myself in full swimming gear BEFORE getting to the center.) After Etta's initial "shyness" of the water, I think that she was just cold, she loved it. She likes to dip her face in the face and either blow bubbles or take a big drink. We are hoping to do some swimming lessons over there this spring.

Ready to get in (Thanks for the suit Kellie & Payton!)



Getting used to it



Blowing bubbles



Special moment



Post swim

Scratch that...

Three teeth.

8th Month Annibirthery

A couple of days late...From as close as I can figure from our scale, which gets harder and harder to use the bigger and more mobile she gets, she weighs just about 18 pounds. That would be TRIPLE the birth weight already. She has two teeth poking through, army crawls every where, likes to sit in the bathtub and bend way over, stick her face in and slurp up the water, is eating like a champ and enjoys the occasional Cheerio, makes raspberries with her lips and uses her tongue in the same way. Of course she discovered that sound at church last Sunday during Matt's opening prayer. (Sorry Matt.) We are truly enjoying our time with Etta and look forward to what is going to happen next.

8 Months



In action





Family shot on her 8th Month Annibirthery



One month annibirthery = two squares long // 8 months = 3 square.

Aunts and Uncles

We were so fortunate over this Christmas holiday to get to spend some time with people that we love very much but rarely get to see.

Bob's sister Molly and her husband Jim arrived home from Kuwait near the beginning of December and were able to be here for a week before driving to South Carolina starting Friday morning. (The 3,000 mile test of love!)

And my brother Erik is now in college and has, as he calls it, "three months off for Christmas break". Bob and I were talking about it and we think that this past week was the most time that we have spent with him over the last four years. He was one busy guy in high school!

Over the course of the week discussion included the question, "Who loves Baby Etta more, Aunt Molly or Uncle Erik?" Thankfully love is something that you can never have too much of. We love them both and are so glad that we got to spend time with them.

Meeting my [boy] friends



Play time



Getting some chow



I love you Aunt Molly!





And Uncle Jim too!

All I Want for Christmas...

...is my two front teeth.

Yes, we have teeth. Notice the plural. On Friday evening I was feeling around and noticed that the bottom right tooth had broken through. This tooth has been a very long time in coming. On Saturday morning it had been covered up again, but by the afternoon it was back through. This morning we had been "showing" off (you can't get her to let you see it really) to everyone at church. This one tooth that had come through. Well, tonight I was feeling around again (okay, I'm weird, I know) and it suddenly dawned on me that I wasn't feeling just one tooth but TWO! Pretty fitting since it is Christmas - and she is eight months old today. More to follow tomorrow...

Christmas Morning Fun

As everyone knows, babies don't really care all that much about opening presents. But it sure is fun to pretend that they are having a good time.

Montana Grandma! Pay attention to me!!



Monkeys galore



Do I hafta share with the little dogs?



Thanks for the MSU gear Uncle Erik. Go Cats Go!!



Montana Grandma sharing a story about "BOB".

Generations

Here are a couple of generation photos that we were able to get with being able to spend so much time with family over the course of the last week.

This one I have been trying to get since Mother's Day. It seems to be harder to get these group pictures when you see people "all the time". When you only see people a few times of year it seems to be easier to make time. But here it is finally. Great Grandpa Lynn, Great Grandma Barb, Etta, Grandma Cathy and Bob.



And this shot is courtesy of Montana Grandma. Matching shirts all around. Thanks!

Family, fun and festivities

It has been a very busy week so far at the Wicks house. I will probably try to divide the posts up and get one a day for a few days in a row instead of trying to do a bunch at once. I'm not all that coordinated with long and/or multiple posts.

Last Saturday Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim were able to drive over from Tacoma. We were very excited to see them again and Baby Etta had all sorts of new tricks that she has learned since August.

On Monday morning - I mean Sunday night - my mom, dad, and brother made the trek from Fort Benton to join us for Christmas. To quote Erik, "It was the longest afternoon of my life".

We have been doing many fun things and I will try to get tell the stories through pictures.

First - Thanks Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim for my new clothes, shoes and Learn & Groove Table! I have already received many compliments on my new outfit and shoes and am already enjoying the table. It rules! We will miss you so much but know that you are only a phone call away.

Love,
Etta the Red

Our last run for ???

So this is now about a week and a half late but wanted to get it in. On the 10th we went on our last outside run for I don't know how long. Etta was cuddled in pretty cozy and was almost sweating by the time I took her out. I think that she will love spring runs when she doesn't have to be mummified!

They can't all be deep

Well, they can dig deep though!

The reason for the season

Last Christmas my mother-in-law gave me the entire Nativity set that I had been pining for for years. Bob and I were trying to figure out how we could get it a piece at a time so that it could actually be affordable for us. (It would have taken about five years I think.) And then last year we sat down to open gifts - and there it was. In its entirety. What an incredible blessing. I went right home and set it up on our mantle. And then left it up all of January because we had gotten it just before Christmas.

This year it was the very first thing that I put up. Last weekend I came into the living room and noticed that the sun was shining through the windows giving the whole scene such an ethereal glow. If I had better photography skills you could probably "feel" it a bit better - but I tried.

We are in a new place this year as a family. Etta Grace has joined us and I am no longer working. Unlike previous years we cannot say, "Put it on the card, we can cover it in January". I have been looking for creative ways to make personal gifts for friends and family. Gift giving is one of my favorite things. It always has been. I don't care if I receive anything, but I love seeing a person's face when I have found just the right gift for them. I am hoping that this year, even though I don't have the same amount of money to spend, I can still see that look.

But I am also holding close the fact that it isn't about gifts. Well, not about the gifts that we give each other. It is about the gift that God gave us so long ago. Every day I try to take Etta to a Nativity scene and say to her, "Dear Jesus, thank you for being born. Amen".

Professional Pics...

...why?

The Wonder Years...

...or, um...days.

Christine was right. This is the best time. Etta can sit with toys laid out around her and be completely content. She can army crawl by pulling herself along with her arms, if she is on a mission, but shows no real desire for that if she has toys close at hand. I know that this stage is going to be over almost before it begins, but for right now - I love it!

Bathing is always more fun with friends

C'mon Lena. Get in the tub with me. I know that you'll love it.



Oh, hi mom. Didn't see you there. I wasn't doing anything wrong.

'Tis the season

Thanksgiving Turkey

Okay, so she's not really a turkey. Pretty cute though.





And all of that holiday food can really wear you out.

Baby Etta goes swimming

While in Missoula we were able to enjoy the pool at the hotel. Etta really seems to love being in water. Even tries to dunk her own face in every once in a while. I have to make sure that I am paying close attention to her every second! But even after a face dunk she still comes up with her great smile. We are hoping to get swimming lessons for Christmas.

7th Month Annibirthery

Happy 7 months Baby Etta!

Today you weighed in at 16 lbs. 11oz.

Some of your very favorite things include jumping in the Johnny Jump Up, growling, screaming, cooing at and teasing the little dogs, rolling all around and playing peek-a-boo before bed.

You are getting ready to crawl and you are finally back to eating a little bit of solid food.

But you are getting to be such a big girl. We love you so much and are enjoying watching you grow!

Month 7 on the rug



First ride in the shopping cart



First bath in the big tub all by yourself!



Family shot at Festival of the Trees

Giving Thanks for the little things...

...like that I waited to change Etta into her brand new Thanksgiving/Christmas dress until after she pooped so much that it went half way up her back!

Quick Trip

Last weekend we traveled to Missoula, MT for the big CAT/GRIZ showdown. I won't mention the game but...we had a great time seeing my parents and brother. Erik marched in the Cat band. They did a great job. At one point the whole band, minus the low brass - lucky Erik - did the Thriller Dance. Oh yeah, only marching band! Over all it was a quick but very fun trip!

Gramps



Montana Grandma



Uncle Erik

Nothing like Gramp's lap

Etta travels fairly well in the car. At least compared to other stories that I have heard. Surprisingly enough, since Erik (and um, I) can be in full coma in less than two miles, she really doesn't sleep that much when we are traveling. So when we get some where she can be a bit tired. Even at a football game where there are over 26,000 screaming fans...

...she can sleep sitting up and...


...for not-a-belly-sleeper, sleep where ever she is laid!