Ethan's Top Ten! (1-2.5 weeks old!)

We are loving being parents! And our little Ethan is loving a few things too! It has been fun to watch this little boy and all of his unique (or maybe just "baby") mannerisms! Our little guy loves the outside and going on walks in the Moby wrap is one of his favorite things to do (aka he falls asleep right away!). Anyway, here are OUR favorite Ethan-isms that we'd like to share with you!

1. Dinosaur noises: Ethan likes to squeak and make fun noises that remind us of baby dinosaurs on Jurassic Park!
2. Conductor pose: The startle reflex on our boy looks like he might be a conductor one day! It is brilliantly funny!

3. Sleep sucking: What else is there to dream about when you are a baby...except milk?!!

4. Piggy grunts for food: Yep, that is how we know its time to eat!
5. Sleep cuddles: irresistible! :) and frequent! :)

6. Erratic breathing: Have you ever heard a newborn breathe?! It is not normal!
7. Smiles: His are the best! They have been popping up since the day he was born!
8. Laughs (he he): They are also the best.. and funny! They seem slightly sarcastic!
9. Wide eyes:He is so interested in the world! 

10. Pursed lips

We did it!!!! (almost 40 weeks!)

We welcomed our sweet Ethan into the world on December 30th at 4:31am (3 days short of 40 weeks pregnant)!  He was born completely naturally (praise the Lord!) at 8 lbs and 3 oz and 20.75 inches long.  Here is our sweet baby!

Daddy admiring his son at his first weigh in.

 Mommy admiring her son.

Grandma Gwen

Grandma Janey

Unfortunately both Grandpas were sick so no holding the baby yet.

Ethan was our most special Christmas present ever!  It is hard to believe that in those pictures from the last blog post that this little boy was what was taking up all that space in my tummy!  We are So glad he is out!  He is the most delightful baby and has such wonderful health!   We are thanking Jesus for him every day!

Christmas with the Bursons (39 weeks)

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

The cookies were baked... but still no children were there!

We celebrated together...

...baking sweet goods...

...in cold(ish) weather...

While remembering Christ's birth, we also think of another...

Full Term... (37 Weeks)

Well... we have made it!  We are "full term!!"  Now, many of you may be thinking... but isn't pregnancy 40 weeks?  Right you are... but at 37 weeks, the baby is usually developed enough to have a normal delivery and survive without medical intervention! :)  We are SO happy to be here!  I still remember when we first got pregnant, that our doctor told us that she takes two sighs of relief in pregnancy: one at 12 weeks (because the risk of miscarriage is drastically reduced) and one again at 37 weeks when the baby has made it to a stage where they are independently viable and the lungs no longer need more maturation before they can breathe on their own.  So here we are!  I think it has flown by!  We can't meet to meet sweet little Ethan!  To hold you over until the big day, we have a few pictures from this weekend at one of our friends' annual gingerbread house making party.  Pictures courtesy of Kristen Olsen! :)

My creation: a candy/graham cracker nursery! :)

 My belly... Ethan tried to make an appearance! :) ... 

Josh and I at the party!

32.5 weeks...

Well, I am excited to say we have had an increasingly active little Ethan in my tummy!  I guess because I have an anterior placenta, it has prevented me from feeling some of his movement until he has gotten this big!  He likes to wiggle all the time now!  It is now only 4.5 weeks until I could deliver my baby boy safely.  Wow!  Only one month away!  However, I am not convinced he would come early (being my first baby and such).  It is hard to believe that I will have a little boy sleeping in my arms likely in about 8 weeks!  Right now I am trying to catch up on MY sleep (which comes at a minimum these days!).

Anyway, thanks for being faithful blog readers!  As far as upcoming events in the Burson house, we will be having Thanksgiving at our house with the Hoffman family!  It will be our first holiday here and we are SO excited.  We are going to cook the turkey ourselves on the barbecue and of course I will make my signature cranberry sauce!  My mouth is watering for the delightful memories that we will accrue! :)  Hope your holidays also go delightfully!

Maternity Shoot! (at 30 Weeks)

I have an amazingly talented friend: Meagan Ramirez, who graciously offered to take maternity pictures for me!  We are SOOOOO pleased with all of the pictures but here is a sampling of her art!  She is truly talented and a one of a kind friend that we know we will have for a lifetime.  You can also check out her blog to see all of the images she took of us and of all of her other beautiful photography!  http://www.meaganramirez.com/?page_id=11

Family Time

In preparation for Ethan's arrival, my family threw me a shower!  Although, its not a belly shot, I thought this picture was appropriate to include... my mom and I!  We had a great time with family: eating, decorating onsies, and just getting time to visit!  Both Josh's family and mine were in town for the weekend and we were blessed by lots of fun and anticipation together to meet our sweet little Ethan!

This picture got me thinking: I wish that I had some pregnant pictures of my mom!  It would be fun to put them side by side! :)