***First I must start by giving credit to Aubrie for taking the picture of Sophia, eating her first sucker (see previous blog entry). Aubrie and Boston are always fighting over the camera, and Aubrie loves to go around the house taking pictures w/ an old digital camera we gave her. We might have a professional in our midst! With that said... 
There are stages my children go through where I wish I could literally push a fast forward button to rush them through to the next scene, i.e. teething, conquering stairs, potty training. Then there are those times where I wish I could hit the pause button and continually enjoy every second of those sweet and tender moments that make it all worth it. Ethan is giving me those moments! I have to give a little background to understand why this new phase is more sweet and precious to me, than it typically would be. Ethan has been a Daddy's boy FOREVER. From the time he was about 15 month, he hasn't been one to show me or anyone else, but DAD, much affection. That was very hard for me, him always running to Dad for everything, and treating me like I didn't exist! No matter how hard I tried, he didn't want much to do with me. Because of that, I didn't' feel very connected to him. Sounds so bad,huh? I remember praying to Heavenly Father that I could have my sweet cuddling boy back (he was the sweetest, cuddly baby!). Since Boston has gone off to Kindergarten, I have noticed a huge change in Ethan. It has been gradual, but it has come. It started w/ him not wanting to leave me, to go to preschool. Then it migrated to him letting me hold him and give him affection. The past few weeks Ethan will randomly, and quite often, come up to me and say "I love you". (He also is sure to tell family he loves them as the leave to go somewhere.) He is always so thankful, too! Whenever he asks me a question and I give him an answer, or I offer him any help he is quick to say "thanks, Mom!" He is also quick to say sorry, and he says it with meaning! He is my new "buddy"! With this I have realized that whenever I see something in my kids that I believe is slipping away or has slipped away, not to give up hope. The continuance of love and prayers will bring them back! This realization will probably give me strength in the teenage years!!
