4 weeks old

Hey Ethan, you're 4 weeks old today!!

He looks so grown up!

Weight Lifting and the Color Yellow

Ethan has taken up weight lifting. He is working on his bulging biceps and tricep strength with the help of his trusty companion, Mr. Frog. We tried to tell him that he is just a baby, but it only made him more mad! Here is the proof...

He's also embarrassed to wear yellow. He is always looking around to see if anyone is laughing at him. We tell him yellow is a perfectly acceptable color, he doesn't agree.

3 Weeks Old

Ethan is now 3 weeks old and growing oh so fast! He is sleeping a little longer the last few days. He will usually sleep for 5 hours, eat, and then sleep another 4 hours. It's so great!! He is also trying to hold his head up. He is getting stronger each day.
He is getting so long now that he can't fit into his newborn sleepers anymore! It was pretty obvious when his legs were all scrunched up in those cute little jammies! I guess I could cut the feet off of the sleepers, but I decided to just let him graduate to 0-3 month sleepers!

Our 3 week old couch potato!

:)

Starting to smile!

We went to Fall Fun Fest in Blue Springs this past weekend. It is a tradition Chris and I started before we were even dating. We went with Ryland and Lauren Friday night and again Sunday afternoon with Jen and Clifton. Our number 1 attraction is the burger stand operated by Timothy Lutheran Church. It's one mean cheeseburger!

Family Pic...Lutheran burger featured front and center! :)

Ethan's His Name...Sleeping's His Game

It's no surprise that Ethan sleeps most of the day. It is surprising how many pictures I feel I need to take of this phenomenon! He isn't a big fan of the swaddle wrap anymore. He likes having his arms free and he usually kicks his legs out of the wrap as soon as he can. He can sleep anywhere though. He sleeps in his bouncy seat, swing, crib, on the ottoman, and in his car seat. Here are a few of my favorite sleeping and almost sleeping pictures!

This is his "I should have stopped at 3 oz!" look

BIG Yawn!

He sleeps just like Daddy!

Sweet dreams little guy!

More Firsts...

Ethan went to his first Rock Brook worship service Saturday night. We went an hour early because Chris was playing drums and had to do a sound check with the band. Ethan slept through sound check, but he was awake and very interested during service. He loved all of the attention he got too.

Today we went to a recording studio in Kansas City, KS north of the river. On the way, Ryland, Chris, Ethan, and I all experienced a first. Two things you will probably never see together...motorcycle & diapers!

At Ethan's first studio visit, Chris laid down some lead guitar parts on one song and I sang some background vocal parts on two other songs. Ethan stayed in the control room and listened with Ryland and Bill. He did such a great job!!

Ethan was impressed with the studio!

Our view of Chris recording from the control room.

Ethan straining to hear Dad's sweet guitar licks!

I'm singing a few background vocal parts.

Family Picture at the Studio

Family Date Night

We had our first official outing tonight. We went to Lee's Summit to meet Grandma and Grandpa Brown and Aunt Brooke. They enjoyed holding him and talking to him. After we left their house, we went to The Olive Garden and enjoyed a great dinner together. He slept through most of dinner until the pumpkin cheesecake came out and he suddenly decided he wanted to eat. So while I fed him a bottle, Chris kindly fed me the cheesecake we shared! It was a great night with my boys!

Grandpa and Grandma Brown and Aunt Brooke

Family Date Night

Sleeping right through dinner

Such a cutie!

Love this shirt..."dirt makes me happy!"

THE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE!!

We're Home!

Sleeping in his bouncy seat.

Bright Eyes!

He thinks this is his bed!

Making funny faces at Grandma Moots

Snuggling with Mr. Frog

Getting loved on by Uncle Scott, Aunt Laura, and Cousins- David, Jaron, Kyle, and Landan Moots

Uncle Nathan and Ethan

He fell asleep at the Doctor's office...with the pacifier hanging out of his mouth!

Yep!

First Days at the Hospital

Sleeping Soundly in the "Super Swaddle"

Taking everything in

"Where's your tongue, Ethan?"

He instantly turned into one ticked off baby!

He looks good in green!

Making friends already!

Seat belt fastened, and ready to go home!!

Just Getting Started

Chris and I thought it would be nice to start a blog to post pictures and stories about our family now that we have a new member. Ethan Merritt Brown was born at 5:18am on August 31st. He was 8 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long.
Grandma and Grandpa Moots came up and spent several days with us to help us adjust to our big life change. They were such a big help! He's met lots of people in his first few days: Grandma Janet and Grandpa Greg, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Tommy and his cousin Tegan, Uncle Matt and Aunt Rebekah, Great Aunt Kathy and Great Uncle Jerry, Uncle Scott and Aunt Laura and his cousins David, Jaron, Kyle and Landan, Uncle Nathan and Aunt Shannon, Great Uncle Ray and Great Aunt Carolyn, Eric and Yvonne Springer, Ryland and Lauren Walter, Kathryn Lenox and Amy Whitehead and there are still many more to come!
He loves his bouncy seat and laying on his side after eating. He makes some of the most interesting faces...they are mostly angry faces!! He perfected his scream our first night home around 3:00am. Most nights now he sleeps 3-4 hours at a time and then I usually have to wake him up to eat.
Chris and I had several opportunities to have some "us" time while Grandma and Grandpa were here. We went to Starbucks one morning and walked to Dairy Queen one evening. We will definately keep that tradition up, it was so nice to get out and about.
We'll do the best we can to keep you updated...I'm sure we will have plenty to report as the days go by.