Its Been 5 Weeks: Pictures

Its Been 5 Weeks

I can't believe its been 5 weeks since my last post, I really enjoy blogging/facebook and staying in contact with friends and family. I just don't seem to have the time that I once had, but I'm still figuring out how to balance everything, something tells me I will always be balancing things, but that is being a mom right?
I find myself asking the same redundant questions everyday... is Ethan breathing (while he is sleeping)? Yes he always is. Will naps be a struggle everyday? Some days are better than others. Will I every get my "to do" list finished? It just takes much longer than it used to, but slowly, I can mark things off. When do I find time to workout and lose some of the baby weight? I still haven't been able to answer that one, if I get up at 5:30 and go to the gym, I can fit it in, but I'm still tired at 5:30, and I'm still really sore... don't know if that is usual, but my incision is very tender. I did an advanced step class and could barely laugh, sneeze, cough, lift a gallon of milk, or lift Ethan for about 2 weeks, major set back.
But all in all, things are very good at the Hacking household. We have a warm roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet, a reliable vehicle, good jobs, and most importantly we have the gospel in our home, a great marriage, and a beautiful and happy son that is the light of our lives.
We had a nice Thanksgiving in Vernal with the Nebekers and Hackings. We split the day with both families and two yummy meals. The day after Christmas we went up and got a perfect Christmas tree, and then spent a few more days just hanging out with family.
We came back home and 5 days later left for Vegas. Tys has a class/seminar on designing transmission lines, and I opted out of staying home alone for a week. Vegas isn't the most kid friendly place, I swear I'm the only person carting a stroller and baby around, but I am loving not being at work, spending some awesome one on one time with baby Ethan, and getting to go on a date each night with my dear hubby. Vacationing suits me ;)
I'm looking forward to the holidays, I have just about all of the shopping and wrapping done. We are going a little simple this year and are going to try and help some families in our area. No matter how bad I think it is, I can always look around and realize that I have a great life and I need to get my butt out there and help others.
Little baby Ethan is not so little, well, never has been. He is trying to crawl, and its adorable but he needs to slow it down, he is barely 5 months, and I'm not ready for a mobile baby :) He loves rice cereal with pears, prunes, squash, and especially peaches, they are his fave! He is sitting up on his own, but is much more interested in figuring this crawling thing out... he is really starting to have the most adorable little personality, he loves peek a boo, mirrors, vibrating toothbrushes, his high chair, tub time and Sesame Street! We don't have any TV channels at our home but I've put PBS on for him in our hotel room and he loves Sesame Street, doesn't care for any of the other shows, but Elmo and Big Bird are right up his alley!
I am going to try and be better about posting, I love reading your blogs and hearing from you, hope you enjoy the holiday season, it is a magical time of year!

Forgot How to Blog...

It would seem that I forgot how to blog, my last post was nearly a month ago... perhaps its not that I forgot, but that I haven't found time until today at this moment to type up a post and upload some pics :)

I can't honestly believe how fast the month of October flew by... we had some birthdays, some Halloween festivities, and we now have a four month old bouncing baby boy that has become the center of our world, and we wouldn't change a thing about it! Ethan fills in the missing part of our family that we didn't even know was missing... does that even make sense??? He is so happy, and so much fun, we just can't get enough of his little smiles, giggles, funny faces, just all of it!

We really are so blessed to have such a good little boy, he is so good with me at work for a few hours each day, he is finally taking three good naps during the day, and sleeping about 12-13 hours at night.

Here are a couple pictures from the last month:



Just woke up from a nap, cute little dark eyes...


Loves his changing table, but loves Daddy more!



Laughing at Mommy being goofy

Loves sitting up to the table in the high chair,
but instead of fists, he wants food!


Before the snow flew, we got a couple cute pics

with the leaves and punkins

And here's our little punkin, I bought his little costume 2 weeks before Halloween and it fit, but on Halloween, it was just too small (notice the sleeves up at his elbows) :) Look at those chunky little legs!

Every month, I take a picture of little Ethan next to his bear from Grandma Susan. He is growing so big and so fast!

We just got done with our 4 month doc appointment. Ethan is 26.75 Inches Long (94% Percentile), and 16 lbs. 12 oz. (86% Percentile). We got the green light from his pediatrician to start out on some rice cereal and go from there with introducing some fruits and veggies. Ethan got his second round of vaccinations, and he only cried for about 20 seconds. We got him dressed, and he was out as soon as we buckled him up in his little carseat. I am so grateful for a strong healthy little boy.

He is now rolling around, inching forward and backward, reaching for his favorite toys, and trying to get on his knees and push forward. I know its only a matter of time before we have a crawler... but I can wait for that ;) Hope you are all enjoying this last bit of beautiful fall weather, SL is going to hit 70 today! Yes!

A Hike, Pressing Apples & a Few New Pics

Two weekends ago, we decided that we HAD to get out and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL weather, before it got freezing cold! What better way to enjoy the great outdoors than hiking in the mountains? We hiked 4.2 miles, from Little Cottonwood Canyon over the top, and into Big Cottonwood canyon. Tyson carried Ethan in the Bjorn, and I carried a backpack full of diapers, burp cloths, snacks, and a camera... Ethan loves, loves, loves being outside, it is so stimulating and he didn't make a cranky peap the entire hike.

Over Conference Weekend, we went to Vernal with our friends, the Smarts. Tyson's parent's farm has pretty good sized apple orchard and our tradition is to go out and pick the apples, and then press them to make the best apple juice you'll ever taste in your life! Un-pasterized, no preservatives or wierd ingredients, just 100% apple juice, YUM! It's a lot of hard work, but the end result is totally worth it! We listened to conference while we picked and pressed, it was such a fun weekend!

Ethan did really well, he practically lived in the Bjorn or his carseat, but he was so good for us! He turned 3 months old while we were in Vernal... 3 months! I can't believe my little baby is getting so big... fastest 3 months of my life!

Couple of 3 Month Milestones/Favorites:

Rolling from his tummy to his back, left and right, before it was only right (at 6 weeks), inches forward when he is on his tummy, he likes to push with his toes, loves to eat his hand, tries to fit both fists in a the same time, becoming a true slobber king, sleeping 8-9 hours at night (hallelujah!) weighing in at close 17 pounds, my little chunck, always full of smiles, getting more ticklish each day, starting to giggle and laugh outloud, loves bath time, he is kind of a momma's boy, and he is sitting up to the table in his high chair, too cute!

Mr. Gigglesworth

Little Baby Ethan was 12 weeks old yesterday, and we got the cutest clip of his little giggles! He is getting to be so much fun, he loves it when we swing him in the air, and tickle his chest with his little feeties! Enjoy!

2 Month Appointment

Well, little Ethan is not so little these days, he is getting so big! He had his 2 Month appointment 2 weeks ago and he is in the 92 percentile for his height and weight: 14 lbs 8 oz, 24.5 inches long... he is such a little chunk! Then of course the shots... I think its harder on the parents to see their little baby cry so hard, but then its over, and he was all smiles again, such a sweet little boy. We got some cute pictures of Ethan with his looney toons band aids.

We have also hit some little milestones in the last week, Ethan has started rolling from his tummy to his back, I got him to giggle a couple times, my favorite thing in the world, when he is on his tummy, he is pushing with his toes and inching forward, he is sitting up in the bumbo and loves to be up where the action is, and his hair is really starting to grow in. We still don't know what color his little eyes are going to be, but they are really dark, such a handsome little guy! I also put away all of his 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes, he is now wearing 6-9 month stuff. I put the little jammie away that he wore in the hospital and it made me tear up to think he was that tiny... he is already so big, and only 11 weeks old!

He is still doing really great with me at work, takes his naps really well, and is such a happy little boy! We went to Vernal last weekend to see the family, and he slept the whole way going out and coming back home, we are just having so much fun!

Blessing Day

Well, we blessed our little baby boy on Sunday... it was one of the most special, emotional and spiritual experiences ever! While we were all getting ready for church (at 9:00 AM) Ethan was just being such a sweet little baby. He was so happy and smiling for everyone. He started to get a little overstimulated, and my mom just rocked him and he was so content and happy.

The blessing was really special. There is nothing like watching your little baby being blessed by his daddy. I did remember to bring tissues and we all used them... it was such a great day! I managed to get up and bear my testimony, very short and sweet. I was and am so grateful for this little miracle in our lives, we're blessed to have this little sweet boy in our family. He brings such a neat spirit into our home.

We had a little (well huge) lunch at our house after church with our family and friends. I was kind of stressed, but it went well, lots of yummy food and the weather was very agreeable, so we ate outside. The kids played in the yard, and the adults munched on yummy treats and visited. I had a lot of help from our family, so thanks so much everyone, couldn't have done it without you!

The Birth Announcement

Well, better later than never right? I'm hoping to get them in the mail today, they were so much fun to create. Ethan is going to be 2 months old on Wednesday... how the time just flies!!! We are blessing him this Sunday, better not forget the tissues ;) He is just starting to find his voice, he is making the cutest sounds, it's so fun! We love our little guy so much!

8 Weeks

Little Baby Ethan is 8 weeks old!!! I took some video clips last night of our little guy. We were supposed to go to V-town this weed so Grandma Susan could get some kisses, but I woke up with a bit of a cold and we have stuff to work on at our house before the blessing next week... so hope you enjoy the video clips grandma and grandpa! Love, Dani

Whats Not to Love???

I can't believe my baby will be 8 weeks old this Thursday!!! Its been the quickest 8 weeks of my life!!! And I also can't believe how much I love this little guy, he is so sweet and such a good little boy.

When I was much younger, I made a list of the things I wanted to do, goals to accomplish, places I wanted to go. Things like go to college, get married in the temple, travel as much as possible, have a good job, own a house, become a mother and have a family... Well, its something I've waited for for a very very long time, and now that I have this sweet little angel, I can't help but feel so grateful and blessed. I absolutely love being a mother, especially to such a sweet little boy that just melts my heart with each little smile, gurgle, and coo.

Of course, not every moment is pure bliss, but each day just keeps getting better and better as we get to know Ethan's little personality.

He is so patient with me, because I am definitely learning each day. He is so good at my work, he sleeps during the morning, and then is just a doll the rest of the time. I can look down at him laying in his little pack and play bassinet and he is just staring up at the lights smiling, so precious!!!

What has been really neat as well, is that Tyson is so gentle and loving with him, will hold him and rock him, talk to him, just like little Ethan is his best little buddy. It is so sweet!!!

We love you little baby Ethan! Hope you are all enjoying your summer, its gone by so fast! Love, Dani

Ethan's New Born Pics

We had Ethan's new born pics taken a few weeks ago, and just got the disc last week, they turned out so cute! This little boy is growing and changing so much! We've made it to church 3 weeks in a row, so good the whole time. I'm back to work today, but I'm already blogging and emailing, so nothing to stressful ;) Ethan slept most of the time and is now wiggling around on my desk. He is also starting to sleep about 6 or so hours at a time during the night, so I think we just might survive!!! We love our little angel!

Life's Little Changes & A Much Needed Update

Did I say little??? Well, life has changed a lot, in many little ways I guess you could say... :)

Its been a few weeks, but things are going really well. July was one busy little month, birth of a new child, healing, attending to such child, healing, becoming parents, healing, 5 Year Anniversary, healing, husband's 28th Birthday, healing, 24th of July Weekend in Vernal, healing, niece's blessing in Vernal, healing... you get the picture, lots going on, lots of change in the Hacking household, and lots of healing ;)

Baby Ethan has changed our life in the most wonderful of little ways imaginable though, we love him so much, and although it isn't always easy, Ethan is our little bundle of joy!

Just of couple of updates, Ethan's 2 week appointment was great, he grew an inch and a half, bringing him to 22 inches, and he weighed in at 9 pounds 5 ounces, at his 4 day appointment, he was down to 7 pounds 6 ounces, so he gained just an ounce short of 2 pounds in 2 weeks. He is now up to 11 pounds 4 ounces as of Sunday, the 2nd of August, one month old... he is such a little chunk, his favorite thing to do is eat ;)

My parent's 30th Anniversary is this month and they went up to Montana for a golf tournament for the weekend of the 24th, so we surprised them and took a bunch of pictures of all of us, some of just us sisters, and the cute grand kiddies, and put together a huge collage of the pictures in a frame and gave it to them, they turned out pretty cute:

Last week, we took Ethan's new born pictures at Wheeler Farm, I haven't seen them yet, we are getting the disc soon, but can't wait!!!

We went to Vernal this last weekend for my sister's baby's blessing. Little girls are so sweet, she is so beautiful, such a sweetie!!! We took an updated family picture with the parents and new grand kids, pictures are hard work with kids, but we got a couple cute ones:

I must say that becoming a mommy is the most challenging, but rewarding venture-we've been taking things one day at a time, and Ethan is such a sweet little boy, and has been patient with me as I'm learning more and more each day how to be the best mommy I can for my little guy. Tyson is the cutest little daddy, he loves coming home from work and holding his little boy. It is so sweet!

When I was home from the hospital a whole 10 days, my boss called and wanted to know when I'm coming back to work... well, I'm still not ready, like I wasn't then, but each day we getting closer to something of a routine, and I'm going back the 17th PART TIME, very, very part time, I've been working from home since the first of June, and I wish I could continue that, because its worked out pretty good (for me atleast), but my boss wants me in the office, so I'm going to give it my best effort, but my whole world has changed, and my family will always be #1, so we'll see how it goes... I'll try to update more often than monthly, no promises ;) Hope you are all enjoying your summer!