Fancy Pants!!

Jennifer sent us a package that we received today. Of course, Cale got a gift, but so did Ella. And she is wearing it ALL!! And still is! She truly is my little princess!! And, she does surprisingly well in her high heels. She did get my height so I guess it's a good thing she's a natural!

(Click on collage to enlarge)

What's in a name?

Well, after much deliberation, thought and discussion-it has been decided. We have FINALLY chosen a name for our son. I thought that naming a boy would be easier than a girl, but I was sadly mistaken. This was especially a big deal for Matt. He spent a lot of time praying about this one. I was surprised at first that this was so important to him, but it didn't take me long to understand. A boy, unlike a girl, has his name forever-it doesn't change, get dropped or moved around. His name is his name for all time, not just until he gets married. The other major factor was that several times throughout the bible names have proved to be somewhat prophetic. So, if that is the case, naming a son is SERIOUS business! After months we had it narrowed to two and it is now official that his name will be...

Matthew Cale Euten, we will call him Cale.


Matthew, of course, is Matt's first name. It means, "gift from God." Cale, besides the fact that we just liked it, is a short form of Caleb and means, "faithful."

A faithful gift from God just seemed appropriate.

We had originally hoped that Ella would be somewhat of a help during this process. And, though she had some quality and very unique ideas we figured after Jesus and Santa she would need some assistance. Once we had assured her that there was only one Santa and Jesus she resorted to her next favorite things: animals and characters. She offered up Bolt, Shark, Wolf and Rabbit amongst many others equally as special. We finally got through to her that we had to give baby "brodda" a name for a little boy and not an animal so she became a profound supporter of Cale as well...as long as it is followed by rabbit!! SO, feel free, like Ella, to refer to him as Cale Rabbit!!


(Several new posts below)

Snip, Snip!

I broke down, I had to, it was time. My mom and I took Ella July 2nd for her first hair cut. It was a bit emotional for me, but what isn't lately? Anyway, I put on my big girl panties and with tear-filled eyes made the appointment. She did a wonderful job and sat completely still. It was an extremely fun day with the girls and afterward we had strawberry cake at Edgar's and did a little shopping-what more could you ask for! Here are some pics from the big event...

Here we go...

The first cut.

Stillness at its finest...this never happens!

My "sweet princess", she was excited!

Getting some layers...

And a little off of the top...

All finished!!

She had sparkles sprayed in her hair and a glitter star on her cheek...DIVA!!!

Ella and her ever-so-talented stylist, Camille! She did a FANTASTIC job and I no longer have to worry about who cuts Ella's hair-I just hope she doesn't leave anytime soon!!

View from the back...

...and the front!

I can't end this post without mentioning the rest of the weekend as well. That night Matt's family came in town for the 4th. Matt, PaPa and Uncle Josh laid hardwood floors throughout our house minus the kitchen and bathrooms. Needless to say I was completely A-MAZED at the rather large amount of work they completed in such a small amount of time! It made such a drastic and wonderful change to the house and we appreciate them sacrificing their 4th to come and help us with this project before the baby arrives! MeMe, Ella and I basically spent the weekend shopping and running errands in a grand effort to stay out of the way. It was an extremely productive weekend!

Tut, tut...it looks like a Sprinkle!!

Some of my sweet and precious friends threw a sprinkle for baby boy! It was such a wonderful and sweet event. Matt and I appreciated it SO very much and we are ready, prepared and stocked with blue for his arrival now!! It is extremely different seeing that color around the house...we've just grown so accustomed to pink! Thank you so much to Jenny, Jennifer and Shelly for throwing such a thoughtful shower!!

Delicious food and "diaper" cake

Yummy!

Some gifts and the "prayer" flowers!

The hostesses

Jenny (23 weeks) and Me (34 weeks)...we hope our sons will be as great of friends as we have been!!

The big sister!




Mommy and daughter...she racked up as well! (Even though she has already had a turn!)




Mommy and daughter, again...though technically she's been promoted from mommy to Honey.

The love of our lives, The "big girl" room and the event

The love of our lives: Obviously, Ella! I can no longer talk about what she can do, say or is learning...she can do it all, say it all and is learning faster than I could even begin to type. Her personality shines out of her ears and she keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing throughout the day. We are definitely at the stage where you never know what she'll say or when it will come out. I've never really been an impromptu fibber or explainer, sometimes all I can do is laugh, shrug and smile. I'm really trying to soak up these last weeks of just the two of us...it's bitter sweet to know I will have to divide my time-THOUGH extremely excited about the bundle of joy to come. She is constant company and it is safe to say that I don't think she has stopped talking (unless she's sleeping) since we got rid of the paci almost 6 months ago! I now know why they call it that! She LOVES the Disney Store, which she refers to as, the Mickey Mouse Club house, and so we visit as often as we can. She knows its exact location in the mall and takes off running and squealing as soon as it is within her vision. It's the sweetest thing to witness her joy as she nears the store, it makes my day! If only we all could get that sheer pleasure out of such simple things. The sweetest sound, to this day, is hearing her say, "I love you, mama," which she says randomly and often. And a couple days ago she said, "I love you the best." I melted and teared up! I often tell her those same words and if there was ever any doubt that she wasn't listening or understanding it would now be gone. From birth she's been like a sponge and she has moments when she just sits intently and listens to "grown-up" conversation and you can see the wheels turning. Then, there are also moments when she is in another room or complete other vicinity busy as can be and completely preoccupied with something else yet she STILL manages to hear and or repeat what you said. You have to be VERY careful. Children truly are the greatest accountability! I often hear her from the other room shout, "Don't say "stupid", Mama!" I didn't even know she was listening, much less could possibly hear me from where she was!



The "Big Girl" Room: We have switched Ella's room to what used to be the guest room. We painted it pink and she got all new furniture. Since the painting and assembly of the new bed she has spent every night in her room. Though I miss her in the middle, it was time. She loves her new room and now has no desire to be in our bed anyway. She says every night at bed time, " I want to go lay in my bed in my new room." I'm very thankful that it was an effortless and fun adjustment for her. She has slept in her room and through the night since she "moved in". We don't usually hear from her until around 5 or 6 am. At which time she quietly gets up, makes her way over to my side of the bed and stands there quietly with a grin on her face, as if she is getting away with something until I wake up and assist her into our bed. It's nice to have those next few hours to love on her and cuddle until we get up. However, one of the best parts for me was of course decorating the room, which made me quickly realize how very much we live vicariously through our children, but also giving her a place all her own that she loves. Her excitement is wonderful and it gave her just a tad more independence, as if she really needed it! Now, it is onto the nursery and giving baby boy a place all his own before he makes his debut! Ella has been a huge help in the painting process already. She leaned over my belly and told him last night, "Hey, little brotha, I painted your room, it's so pwetty!" She's really gonna love him!! I guess it is only fair that if I got a pink room that Matt now has the opportunity to decorate for his son (of course, with mild supervision.) We shall only see what the two of us come up with there. We are COMPLETELY opposite, so this should be interesting.


The Event: The other night baby boy was in rare form. He's always active...extremely active, and his movement is MUCH more aggressive than Ella's ever was. And Thursday night was no exception. The three of us were watching So You Think You Can Dance and without really knowing what I was doing began tapping on my belly as we watched and that's when it began. Baby boy decided to push his heel, foot, knee whatever body part it was out one side of my stomach and whatever part was opposite that came poking out the other side. I quickly beckoned for Matt and Ella to come look, because that was the type of movement it was, that which you could "see" from the outside as my stomach bounced and distorted into many different and abnormal shapes. Matt began talking to him, Ella was tickled and couldn't keep her hands off. When he would stop moving she would quickly press (and by "press" I mean mash and beat with much force) on my belly to "wake him up" as she called it. Of course, with any touch he would begin moving again and for a good 15 minutes we sat as a family enjoying our baby brother as he hoisted about in utero! Watching Matt and Ella's faces light up during this time made my heart glad. I think they are both truly in love already. This was the first time I actually felt like a family of four without him actually being here yet. It is a wonderful feeling watching our family grow!