Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone enjoyed Halloween! We had our fair share of kiddos running around getting as much candy as possible. Seems like we had fewer visitors this year than in previous years.

Also wanted to let you know that we have updated our picture page with the October 2008 album.
Some great stuff in there -- look for a visit from my brother & his family from Colorado. They came out & Ethan got to spend time with his Uncles Rob & Randy, Aunt Jess & all of his cousins! Also in October was Ethan's first camping excursion as well as a fun class that he & mom went to! There are a few pix of "nakey baby time" which is what we call his bath time. Also there is his first bites of "cereal" & of course, Halloween.

Please check them out!

Goodbye October -- HELLO NOVEMBER!!!!

To be continued....

5 months old!!!!

Ethan,
Its been 5 fast months since we welcomed you to this world. Ever since you were able, you were letting Mom know that you were on your way. You squirmed & kicked all the way until you couldn't take it anymore. You wanted the world to change a month earlier than planned. So it was.
Mom & I have loved every single minute of every single day of your existence. Yes, there have been challenges:

1. Your jaundice called for the billi blanket -- for your first 10 days. This also meant you needed the billi test EACH morning of those 10 days.
2. Being premature, you didn't quite know how to eat. So we had to use unconventional methods.
3. You then let us know, in your way, that you had reflux. This was the biggest challenge yet.

But there have also been amazing memories:

1. You used to hate bath time but now....I don't think you can get enough of it!
2. You recognize your Mom & I when we walk into a room & the smile you flash is priceless.
3. Your laugh is contagious. Its progressed from "hmms" & "hoos" to actual cackles. Amazing

These first 5 months have been wonderful & in the future the challenges will toughen. But the memories will overshadow those challenges tenfold.

We love you buddy,

Mom & Dad

Fall Cleaning

So I'm on vacation from work this week & we took the opportunity yesterday to do a li'l spring cleaning! We never got around to it in the spring, so now we can.

We really made an effort to get Ethan's room decorated. Many of you know the great ordeal we went through to get his furniture. Luckily we got it before he graduated from high school. That whole travesty pretty much delayed everything until now. We have his room pretty much done but we're really up-in-the-air about some dots that we were gonna put on the wall. Stay tuned, I'm gonna try to get some pix up so we can get some of everyone's thoughts.

We also cleaned & dusted our guest bedroom, did the same in the living room & also made strides in our bedroom.

We're like many people & sometimes, you just sit down & look at your house & say, "Geez, we need to clean!" So, we did!

I honestly don't think it can be put into words, the feeling of having a clean home. I would say its relieving for one!

To be continued....

Carbon Motors E7

I have no idea why, but this new car is fascinating to me. Carbon Motors is building what they call a "Purpose-Built" car for law enforcement. Apparently, that means that they are building this car to adhere to basically
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G a cop would need in a transportation vehicle.

This thing is pretty cool -- the looks, eh...for me the jury is still out. But last time I checked the cops dont need to be driving a vehicle to look cool. I mean they're gonna get out wearing that goofy hat regardless of what they're rolling in...whether its this thing or a skateboard.

The specs of this car are amazing:

SELECTED FEATURES AND OPTIONS

- All-new purpose-built vehicle platform exclusively for law enforcement
- Meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements
- Designed for 250,000 mile durability specification
- Turn-key built-to-direct-order
- 24/7/365 call center support
- Improved end-of-vehicle-life process
- Comprehensive warranty
- Aluminum spaceframe body structure
- 75 mile per hour rear crash capability
- Cockpit with fully-integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
- Integrated emergency lights, spot lights, take down lights, directional stick
- Segment exclusive coach (suicide) rear doors (safer suspect insertion / removal)
- Vehicle dynamic control
- Anti-lock brakes
- Optimized approach / departure angles and ground clearance
- NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors / dash panel)
- Purpose-designed seat for use with on-body equipment
- Heated and ventilated seats
- Heads up display
- Reverse backup camera
- Driver specific intelligent key
- 360 degree exterior surveillance capability
- Automatic license plate recognition system
- Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment
- 130hz - 350hz bass siren
- Nightvision compliant interior illumination
- Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR)
- Integrated shotgun mounts
- Optimized storage capability (compartment and cargo)
- Integrated front and rear passenger compartment partition
- Hoseable rear passenger compartment
- Integrated push bumpers and PIT capability

So yeah - this thing comes loaded.

Anyhoo, if your interested to see what this thing looks like, head to these two sites:

Carbon Motors

Intro Story by Autoblog.com

This is awesome.....

Im not able to embed this video, but do yourself a favor-- click the link & watch the video. You'll feel all warm & snuggly inside.

Welcome home

October 2008

Wow, where has this year gone? So time flies as your raisin' babies? HAHA. It really has been a whirlwind but everyday is great. Each time I look at Ethan, I see a little boy growing so fast. Its really weird to see him in Mel's arms when he's sleeping or feeding because he is just such a little boy now. The picture above is a pretty weird picture considering he looks identical to my baby picture. ....at least I think so.

So October has some pretty good times lined up:

- Camping(less) trip for us. Meeting up with a ton of buds on their 2 night camp excursion. We obviously can't camp overnight so we're gonna meet up at some point!
- I'm announcing Cavalcade of Champions @ Center Grove High School. I think this is my 7th or 8th year doing the marching band show & its usually pretty fun
- My oldest brother Rob & his family are taking Indiana by storm! Totally can't wait to see them as this is their first time back to Indy with the girls. I haven't seen any of them in a while so this is definitely an exciting time for me. Also, they get to meet Ethan for the first time.

Lots going on this month -- I'm sure I'll be in the thick of November before I can sort everything out....just in time for the holidays.

Here's to nippy weather & great times with family!