Mississippi Shields Family

Happy Birthday Aiden

2007-09-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Aiden's birthday -- I will have birthday pictures soon, but here is a little tribute to the big ONE YEAR OLD. We love you!

In Canada Again

2007-07-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have been a total slacker since I went to Canada a couple months ago and now I am back up here for Claire's and Melissa's weddings. Claire's was on Friday the 14th and it was wonderful. She looks so happy and I am so happy for her. Only Aiden is with me this time -- we miss big brother and daddy tons! I took a few pictures of Aiden at Spackman's cabin it was so beautiful -- maybe one day I can have one. I love Montana. I hate that Nick and Ethan were not here to share it with us.

Beth Spackman and I (& Aiden) had just taken a little cruise in the kayaks, but Aiden was a little too tempted to leap in the water so we had to cut it short. We had to get the picture after because he was also not so happy in the lide jacket.
The rocks by the lake Aiden found very tasty.

Aiden enjoying the shade at the wedding reception.

Logan's Pass -- from a moving vehicle. We had no time to spare and stop and enjoy the view; we had a border crossing to make, and memorably at 11:02 pm the gate was shut and the guard had no sympathy for us at all. We ended up going through Shelby as there were no vacancies any where along the extra three hours added to the trip home. I was the lucky one though; the Spackman's had another two hours after they dropped me off in Lethbridge. I know it wasn't ideal, but I sure enjoyed my time with them.

Happy Birthday to You!

2007-06-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Ethan one day old

Ethan first week home

Ethan's first birthday

Ethan's 2nd birthday

Ethan is three years old. I can't believe it. Three years ago today I was having some pretty intense contractions about a minute and a half apart. They wore me out -- so much so that I was falling asleep during the few seconds of relief that I had. At 3:16 p.m. Ethan Jack Shields came into our lives in the flesh. We are so happy to have him in our family. He is very excited to be three and has been practicing holding up three fingers. His Spiderman birthday party is tomorrow, but he has already enjoyed phone calls, a personal DVD card, and presents! This morning he got to open his presents from Paw Paw & G'ma Terri -- he loved it! Happy birthday to my 'Sweet Pea.' I love you so much.

Back Online

2007-05-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

We are back and have been for a few weeks, but I had to wait on our computer to come back from the 'geek squad' and then it has been difficult for me to get back in the swing of things (like using the computer). My house is still a little chaotic from coming home -- Ethan's room will be cleaned today and my closet, well maybe that will have to happen tomorrow. My office was clean when I left, but is has quickly become a disaster once again. I came home to a finished playset (Daddy and Pawpaw worked on it while we were gone) -- it looks awesome Ethan and Aiden love it. Our garden is not as beautiful as last year - we didn't plant corn this year. For some reason corn stalks are just really pretty to me. As a kid I always thought corn fields looked so fun to just fall back and let the stalks cradle you. My grandparents often had large corn fields next to their home and I knew that not to be the case as my scrawny little body would have plopped to the ground between the wide rows of corn. Anyway, we hope to have gobs of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, egg plant, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, snap peas, purple hull peas, okra, and green beans. I have mom and dad to thank for those treacherous Saturday's of weeding the garden -- they have definitely paid off ;). Pictures to come soon.

Still in Canada

2007-04-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ethan and Uncle Lee

Mom and Ethan at the wave pool

Backyard pinanta action

I know Ethan looks nude, but he does have on underwear!!

Uncle Lee flew in yesterday, and Aunt Christina drove down and we are all having a ball at G & G Brewerton's house. Uncle Lee took the boys to the Ramada water park and they had so much fun. Last night the kids enjoyed jumping the the basketball moon walk (courtesy of Aunt Christina) and Grandma surprised all the grandkids with a pinata filled with 'treasure.' It was a lot of fun. We have really enjoyed the time we have had to spend with family. We will miss them terribly when we return home -- but are very excited to get home to daddy.

Fun with Family

2007-04-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Playing soccer with Uncle John

Sam, Ethan and R2-D2

Ethan on top of the barricade (the band-aid is just cosmetic)

In the middle of our trip to beautiful Alberta weather has been a little crazy. We had snow, sun, then more snow and the past few days have really felt like spring. We had been in Calgary with Christina and her kids for the week and been having fun playing with cousins. Ethan really enjoyed the zoo the other day, but unfortunately I forgot my camera (which I found out later has dead batteries) so we have no pictures to show for it. We had a delicious dinner at Aunt Val's on Sunday -- We got to see Ben, Caroline, Camden and Grandma Frodsham too (poor Uncle Orin was at church all evening). Aunt Val took some great pictures that she is going to send to me. There are getting to be so many cousins -- it is so fun. Kristy picked us up yesterday and drove us back down to Grandma and Grandpa Brewerton's house for this week. Ethan and Sam had so much fun watching Return of the Jedi together. They talked about it the whole way down and are in fact watching it together as I type. Aiden is now quite an accomplished mover. He crawls, pulls up on furniture and just figured out how to climb up stairs yesterday. I am a little worried at his progress because he has now sense of danger. The twins and Aiden remain barricaded at all times for fear of going up stairs or falling down the stairs in the basement. Kristy has her hands full with to movers -- I don't know how she does it; I have a hard time with one.

Snow Days

2007-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

We are up in Canada for a few weeks visiting friends and family and a lot has happened since the last post. Aiden has two teeth on the bottom (the first one broke the day before we flew up here (April 6th), and the second one broke several days ago. they are so cute (I have yet to get a picture where you can really see them. Also Aiden started crawling about four days ago. He is really starting to get the hang of it.

Ethan really enjoyed the snow for the first few days that we were here. He wanted to get out and in it every day. Thanks to his cousins he was able to borrow boots and mitts.

The cousins had fun dying and hunting for Easter eggs. Ethan got to hunt eggs and have a visit from the Easter bunny at both Aunt Christina's and Grandma & Grandpa Brewerton's. Easter was quite an event this year with cousin's, baby Joseph's blessing and dinner on Easter Monday.

Dance Power just ended and Ethan and Aiden were the best audience for all three days of performances they attended. One evening Ethan was a bit of the show himself between numbers. Ethan was very proud of his Aunt Annie and Aunt Melissa. Dad has been busy at home putting on the finishing touches to the playset with Pawpaw Shields -so that it will be done when we get home - thank you!! We love and miss Daddy very much.

Spring Swingin'

2007-04-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

We have really been enjoying our playset this spring (thank you Paw Paw Shields). Ethan loves the slide and 'motorcycle' swing' and Aiden tried out his swing for the first time a few days ago since he has been sitting up by himself for about a month now. He loves it. Ethan loves to draw and color, particularly on himself -- I never like to hinder artist expression, unless it is on the walls ;). He reminds me of a baby sister that loved to draw Tigger stripes all the way down her legs at the age of three.

Babies

2007-04-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since the last post -- I have just been busy with kids and passports and every time I would sit at the computer was very limited or I was checking passport status'. We are waiting on one more which should come today. Hooray! As you can see our baby birds have arrived as of a few days ago. I lifted Ethan up to the nest to check because we hadn't in a few days and he said the eggs were gone. I was a little confused and asked if they were gone or if the birds had hatched. He clarified with 'hatched,' but still a little unsure I had to check myself and there they were -- three baby birds (two eggs have not hatched so far) they are so cute. Their eyes are still not open and when I was up looking at the nest the noise made them think I was their mama back with food because their little beaks were open and ready. The miracle of life is so remarkable even in its smallest forms. Ethan and Aiden love their frog and duck towels (thanks Grandma Brewerton in Canada). Aiden was going for a Episode III Darth Vader 'look'. Kids are so cute right out of the tub -- maybe that's because we know that bedtime is shortly to follow. I felt a little guilty for the thought I had as my boys napped (together, yeah) other day -- I was thinking about how much I seem to love my children when they are asleep, but upon pondering my thoughts a little more it is not that I feel so much more love for them because they are asleep, but it is always I time I find myself reflecting on how wonderful they are, how blessed God allowed me to be their mother and how I need to do better as a parent so I can have them forever. My kids are so awesome (even when they whine/cry for three days straight - with Tylenol - when their gums are itching to break teeth). We still have no teeth for Aiden.

Bubbles and Bird Eggs

2007-03-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Ethan and I had a great time while Aiden napped the other day. We went outside in the backyard. Ethan is wearing one of his favorite things (I'm sure you can guess what it is). He loves to pretend and has no inhibition when it come to characters he chooses to be. He'll go from being Luke Skywalker battling Darth Vader to Cinderella helping me around the house (guess who he was this day). Dad kind of freaks out, but when Ethan tells me to be Nacho Libre one minute and then Queen Amidalla the next -- what's the worry ;). Yesterday we discovered a bird nest on the top of one of the columns on our porch. We just had to check it out -- and what a surprise. I think I was as excited as Ethan. Ethan has decided that we will have to check it every day. No baby birds as of today.

Museum Day

2007-03-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I took Ethan and Aiden to our Museum of Natural Science. Ethan had a ball with his friend Mandy and Aiden loved looking in the giant tanks of fish. Ethan already asked to go back again today. Good thing I got a year membership. Aiden is getting up on his hands and knees simultaneously more and more, unfortunately it sometimes ends up in a face plant.

Matching for Church

2007-03-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Mimi was at our house on Saturday and brought matching shirts for the boys. I know I don't have twins, but it is fun when they are matching sometimes, even if picture taking is a little challenging (and keeping 'tucked').

Sunny Weather

2007-03-09T18:38:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent photos, the last two are from today at the park. It is has been so beautiful this week. Ethan has turned into a little social butterfly. He loves to tag-along with other kids at the park and join in to any group especially if they have really cool sand toys or are looking like they are working on a 'project'. Aiden is getting so frustrated that he can't quite crawl it is really funny, but I feel bad for the little guy because he is trying so hard. We have had a little sickness in our house and it is finally letting up. Aiden some how caught conjunctivitis and then of course Ethan had it two days later. Being a newer mom and not having experienced this with my children before (and I hope I don't find out who gave it to us -- nursery is notorious) I took them to the doctor to make sure it was only viral. He said it probably was, but after a week of oozing eyes, and lids locked with green crud upon waking and Ethan's eye really red (and after calling Dad for conformation because it is really hard not having a doctor in the house -- Kristy it's nice eh?) we went back to the doctor and got the needed medication. Ethan absolutely hates taking medicine and dislikes even more having it put in his eye (just like his dad). Anyway, we are on the mend and I will be so glad when I can quit going through about ten washcloths a day.

We have arrived

2007-03-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have finally done it! I have set up my blog. I am officially a blogger thanks to the encouragement from Kristy. Nick was hesitant, but I need to start journaling and I am so much faster at typing and my thoughts seem to flow better when I type, plus I need to share what is going on with us since we are so far away from just about everyone! Nick is really enjoying learning the art of floor laying (tile, wood, carpet etc.), counters, cabinetry list just keeps getting longer every week. Aiden is so big; he was 6 mos. yesterday. He is just at 15 lbs. He rolls over both ways for about two months now, is almost sitting and is on the verge of crawling, although he scoots pretty quickly even though he plows his face into the floor. Ethan is growing too. Last week he decided he liked spaghetti (which he refers to as baghetti) with sauce, homemade hamburgers, shrimp and vegetable soup. Nick and I are very excited, but are wondering where our little Ethan has gone. While I would love to keep rambling, the laundry will not fold itself and the wee ones are asleep -- a little time for me -- yeah right :).