dulce sky show

Brett's band had an outdoor show at the Gallivan Center last night, so Ethan and I were able to go. Christine, Jason, and Kyle all came as well. It was a lot of fun to see those guys and to listen to Brett's band too!
Ethan is in the grabbing-everyone's-nose phase.
Jason and Ethan having a moment.
He is such a cute boy! I've never seen a cuter one!!! Plus, he's started playing with the camera...he likes to laugh at me when I bring it out. That's always nice for photos.
I got a video of Ethan singing along with the music. I hope you can pick out his voice in all the noise. The camera microphone didn't pick up the music very well. The band really does sound good, not just noisy garble like it sounds!


The regular drummer is on vacation in Hawaii, so they had a substitute for this show. I had fun trying to cover his face in the pictures, since he wasn't really part of the band.
Playing with the zoom lens means getting a close picture of Brett rocking out, while still sitting far away in my chair.
Some "artistic" shots I was playing with. I love my camera!

6 months old

A fun day in the park with Erin and Laura.
Trying out the highchair at Su Casa.
Working at Amanda's new house
Chilling with Daddy and Elayna
Lizzy reading to Ethan
After his 6-month immunizations
Trying cereal again...
Andrew likes it, at least!
Spoons are too slow for Ethan--he prefers to drink his meals (like Mama and Daddy).
If the incentive is strong enough...

back in school

School has started again, and I haven't been good about taking more pictures. Here are a few, though.

Brett's working at Guitar Center now. He works Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It's pretty lame because now we can't do anything over the weekends. But it's good because his work doesn't conflict with mine at all.





Ethan started waking up in the night to eat again. So I thought he might be ready for solid foods. Guess not! We'll try again in a few weeks.

i am calm...i am calm...

I have been trying to pass this interpreting certification test for the past 3 (or so) years. I have taken the test some 10 (or so) times. I took it again about 2 weeks ago. There are 5 parts to this test and I have passed 4 of those 5. I have until the end of October to pass the final part, when my current certification lapses and I will no longer be able to work as a sign language interpreter.

Needless to say, I think about these facts at least one time every second of every day. I visualize joyous celebrations after receiving positive results. I imagine myself calling, or more likely texting everyone I know to tell them the great news (in all caps)! I daydream about a trip to Hawaii, graciously given to me by Brett's parents as a congratulatory gift. I think about the moment I read my results and it sinks in that I will never have to take that test again!

However, there are times when I begin to let myself think about what will happen if I don't pass. And I think about the feeling I have when I realize that I have failed and all the work I have done and all the time I have spent will be for nothing. But I can't think about that often, because it would paralyze me.

This test, honestly, is a bigger deal to me than my Masters degree. This is what I have been working toward since the time I took my first ASL class in 2001. I had a teacher ask me recently what I would be doing now if I weren't an interpreter. The question freaked me out. I love interpreting. I want to interpret for the rest of my career. This is what I do.

Okay, so my point is to ask everyone reading my blog to send their positive energies my way. I have a good friend who likes to ask those people important to her for prayers when she's feeling overwhelmed. I figure it can't hurt, right? So I'm asking for mental help right now. When I was preparing for this last test, I had 2 affirmations for myself: "I have many options available to me"; "I am prepared to accept whatever turn my life takes". Whatever happens, I will be fine. I will move on and keep doing whatever I need to do in order to live a fulfilling life. I can sit and think rationally about this situation and know that I will be happy no matter what happens. But I really super duper badly NEED to pass this test. So if you could please send me support in whatever form you feel--affirmations, prayers, thoughts, money, songs, etc, etc.

I will let you know as soon as I do how it all went. (suppress the panic induced hyperventilation) I am calm...I am calm...

we call him Barfan Pooperhans

My mom posted a few pictures of my oldest brother when he was Ethan's age. I thought Ethan looked so much like Brett, but he also looks like Dave so much. Of all my siblings, I think Dave and I look the most alike, so maybe a boy version of me looks like Dave. I don't know if you'll be able to see the resemblance as much as me, but my mom's photos really thrilled me. It was neat to see how much Ethan looks like his family!

A lot of the similarities are in the way Ethan moves and acts. These pictures don't really show the exact same facial expressions, but I've seen them so many times!


His mouth is shaped differently than Dave's, but you can see the similarities in their eyes.
We love our baby Ethan!

a new baby and a blessing

Brett's sister, Amanda, had her baby on Wednesday (August 12). She's a beautiful, tiny baby and they named her Elayna. (I think that's how they spell it.)
Amanda looks so great! This picture was taken on Friday, 2 days after the baby was born.
Ethan wasn't too interested in Elayna. I think it was because her eyes were always shut; he couldn't tell she was a little baby. This picture looks like he is looking at her, but he was just trying to get her blanket in his mouth. hee hee.
Grandpa Don and Grandma Laurie came by Amanda's while we were there. I don't have many pictures of them with Ethan. These are a couple nice ones.

Jackie, Joel, and Blythe are here visiting. We've been spending time in parks playing tennis (and laying on blankets).


We blessed Ethan on Sunday evening. It was very nice. Below is Brett's sister, Christine, and his Grandparents. Nanie is holding Amanda's new baby (notice the full head of hair on Elayna!).
My dad and Brett chatting.
Here is Amanda and Clark with their new Elayna. I can't believe that Amanda came to the blessing. I don't think I showered for several weeks after giving birth, let alone dress up and go out! She's a wonder woman.
Brett's grandpa was telling us about how he used to come to this chapel when he was a young man.
They look so much alike.
Johnathan and Colette, the most photogenic children in the world.
But Ethan is the most beautiful!


I really like this picture of Belle. She's getting to be so big! Normally for photos, she does a super-cheesy-awkward smile, but I think for this one she was caught with brownie in her mouth, so she looks more natural. She's a beautiful girl.
Joel came to the blessing and stood in the circle as Ethan's godfather. Brett kept insisting that we had to do a Christening for Ethan, so that he could have a godfather. But I told him we could just say that Joel was the godfather without any ceremony and it would be just as effective.

I love the happy look on Brett's face and the slightly uncomfortable look on Joel's face. hee hee.
Ryan and Megan came to the blessing as well. And Erin came and took all the beautiful pictures for us, but didn't get one of herself. Megan and Erin both looked beautiful and slender. Humph.Our fat faced family!
And sweet Andrew sitting in a box.