Ethan went to Greenwood for three nights and spent time with both grandparents so I could have a few days "off" for my birthday! We appreciate both of our families so much for taking such good care of little man and giving us a little break. He LOVES his Grandma, Grandpa, Mimi, and RayRay.

Words

Ok so I know I have been terrible about updating the blog lately. We have been to the beach (Ethan HATED it)! He hated the water, he hated the sand. Hopefully by next year he will have grown out of this fear...b/c I LOVE the beach! Ethan started Mother's Morning Out at Highland's last week, and it has been SO nice for me. Ethan has not been a huge fan, but he is getting used to it. He always cries when I drop him off, but his teachers say he does great once he calms down.

It took a while for Ethan to start talking, and we were a little worried. We found out that he had fluid behind both ears so he couldn't hear! Once that cleared up he has really started saying a lot. I know many of you probably don't care what words he can say, but I am going to list them here, mainly because I would like to keep track!

Mama
Dada
Ball
Uh-Oh
Cracker
Apple
Dog
Bite
Up
Hot Dog
Football
Mimi
Thank You
Block
Eyes
Nose
Mouth
Bumpaw (grandpa)
Baby
Bat
Bath
Bye-Bye
Truck
"Go Dawgs!"

Hopefully I will be better about updating!

Carson Turns 1!

Last weekend we headed up to Arkansas to celebrate Carson's 1st Birthday. It was fun to see the boys together!

14 Months

Ethan is already 14 1/2 months old. Good grief, they grow up too fast!

Yes, he is screaming in this picture...he hates the sprinkler!

Scott's favorite outfit for Ethan--his State Jersey, and even though I went to Ole Miss, I don't mind =)

We went to our neighborhood pool last week. Ethan was less than thrilled. We are gonna have to work on the pool thing. He loves bath time, so we thought he would love it!

Ethan Dancing

Dallas Trip '10

We went to Dallas last weekend to visit family and have a little vacation. Ethan got to meet his great grandfather and his great aunt and uncle Brynne and Luis. We went to the Dallas Aquarium and a Ranger Game. We really had a great time, and Ethan was really good the whole time. Now that he is walking, he really hates to be held. We spent much of the weekend chasing him around! Here are a few pictures from the trip.

We can't believe Ethan is already one! AH! He started walking about a week before his birthday, and now he is everywhere and into everything! At his 12 month check up, he was 26.4 lbs and 32 1/2 inches long (90th percentile for weight and off the charts for height!) We are going to have one BIG boy!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Ethan Cole Archer! We love you very very much!

Walking

The zoo

Scott and I took Ethan to the Zoo on Saturday. We knew he wouldn't really know where we were, but it was nice to go anyway. He really enjoyed being outside, and he even saw some of the animals =)

Reflections

It is very late, and I am having trouble sleeping....which is nothing out of the ordinary for me =)
I've said that I want to get better at blogging, and now I am going to actually try and do better.

Scott and I have been attending Highlands Presbyterian for a little over a month now and actually met with the Elders yesterday evening in order to move forward in the process of joining the church. We know this is fast, but we both really feel this is where God is calling us to be.

We sat down with one of the elders, Mr. Farber, and our "interview" began. He asked us some "get-to-know-you" questions, told his story, then asked us to tell ours. I guess being rushed all day, with Ethan being sick and us trying to pack up our house to move, I hadn't really thought about the meeting or what I was going to say. Scott gave his testimony first, and as I was listening I realized that Scott and I don't talk much about our testimony and how God worked in our lives as young children and even young adults. Obviously, we both knew the other was a Christian when we married, and we talk about recent events and how we growing NOW. But it just makes you realize that "getting to know" your spouse is a lifetime event, and we learn new things about each other every day.

Scott and I both have very different stories, even though we both grew up hearing and knowing the Gospel. I joke with Scott about how easy his life has been, and how God has blessed him with a life relatively free of major trials. He is not a big blogger, but maybe he will add to this blog post =)

When I was giving my testimony, and even afterward, I was given a rare opportunity to reflect on my life and how God has really worked on my heart over the years. Throughout my life God has walked with me though trials-- everything from moving to a new city at 15, a broken engagement, and a major battle with depression. He has also been there with me during the many joyful times in my life like getting married and having a beautiful baby boy. I realize that I need to spend more time reflecting on my life and how God has brought me to the place that I am today. I am humbled even now as I think of the grace and mercy God has shown me throughout my journey, and I am thankful that He knows the plans he has for my life, my husband's life, and Ethan's life, and He will carry them out to completion.

Scott and I were both very fortunate to have grown up in Christian homes with two caring parents who loved us dearly. We hope and pray we are able to provide a safe, loving, and Christian home for our children.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8

Pictures of the House

Changes

There are some major changes going on in the Archer household! I haven't been very good at blogging lately, so I'm trying to get better.

First, Scott and I(and little man) have been visiting Highlands Presbyterian Church. It isn't that we don't like Pinelake, but we felt we needed a change. Pinelake is SUCH a large church, and both Scott and I are quiet-natured so sometimes we felt lost in the crowd. Another reason is that we both grew up Presbyterian, and would like to raise our children in a church in which we agree more with the theology and teaching. We love that the nursery is small, and Ethan sees the same workers and children in the class every week. He has started crying when we drop him off, but the nursery workers always say he did great when we pick him up.

Second, we are moving to a new home! We are set to close on both our house, and the new house on March 1st. Both contracts are signed, so hopefully everything will pan out! We really weren't planning on leaving our current house for a few more years, but the tax credit of 6,500 was just too tempting to pass up. I will post pictures of the new house as soon as we can go back!

Ethan is doing great! He will be one next month, which blows my mind. Sometimes Scott and I just look at him in amazement, at how much he has grown and changed over the past year. He is such a precious gift, and even though he was a complete surprise, we can't imagine life without him!

The classic "Ethan Look"

His amazing eyelashes!

crazy bedhead