Happy 8th Birthday, Ethan!!

It is 1:30 in the morning—really late—I need to get to bed. But I wanted to get Ethan’s birthday post done early, so I thought I would stay up until it was done. Since it is now April 25th, today is my nephew Ethan’s 8th birthday. What a special day!

Ethan was born on April 25th, 2001. That also happened to be Jan and my 30th birthday (is that correct grammar? I can't tell--it's way too late!), which was so special. It has been so fun to share a birthday with Ethan the last eight years.

Ethan was only the second grandchild, and was the first boy. He came at a time when I was really struggling with being single, and so was such a gift to me. I still remember when Seth called and told me they were having a boy, I started crying, because I wanted to have the first boy in the family. But one day when Ethan was only a few months old, Karla was over with him. I was having such a hard night—feeling like I would never get married and have my own kids. He turned and looked at me with such a sweet and wise look. I felt like that look was telling me to keep trusting that God had good things in store for me. And who would have guessed that he would become so precious to me, and that eight years later I would have 19 sweet nieces and nephews to love?

From the very beginning, Ethan and I have had a special bond. I don’t know if it is because he was born on our birthday, or if it’s because he was the first grandchild that was “mine” (since Holly was “Janice’s” baby). As I said above, he really did come at a time in my life when I needed him, and I’ve been so grateful for him every day since.

Since he is one of the older grandchildren, I had SO many pictures of him. I really did try to cut them down, but there are more than usual, so warning, this will be a LONG POST. But I just had to put in pictures of my cute Ethan!

This was the earliest picture I could find of him. He was crawling up the stairs toward me. I love the look on his face--so sweet and trusting! I think he was about this age when he came up with a sign for me. I was always trying to get him to say my name, and so would point to myself and say, "Say Jen!" His Mom's parents are deaf, so he made up a sign for me--he would take his hands, and point to himself. So precious!!

Here he is in the car with Grandma in June 2002--the day Mom and Dad moved from the family house in Orem. I love how he is helping to drive the car.

This is Halloween night, 2002. Logan had just been born a few days before. I'm wearing a dress because I had worked at the temple that night. But I had to see my little Ethan in his costume!

I LOVE this picture. He looks so darling!

This is he and I outside of our house in Pleasant Grove. He used to come visit all the time, and we had so much fun together. I love the sunglasses.

I had to put this one in. This is Ethan and I dancing to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" by Barry Manilow. He loved dancing to it with me!

This is one day when Ethan fell asleep cuddling with me. What a sweetie!

One thing I loved about working at BYU was that I was able to go to lunch so often with so many of my neices and nephews. This is me reading to Ethan and Logan on my lunch break in 2004.

Here is Ethan and I at our birthday party in 2004.

Here I am with Joshy and Ethan, Christmas 2004.

Here we are at our birthday party in 2005. It's so fun to sit with all the kids.

This was in June, 2005. Jan and I took the Three Musketeers to my summer work party. It was so fun! I love Ethan's look in this picture.

I had to put this one in. I think it's so cute how he is leaning in to me. This is at the Orem Summerfest, one of our favorite summer traditions.

And here we are in July, 2006 doing sparklers.

This was in January 2007 at Joshy's birthday party, playing with Logan and Brendan.

This is December 2007--showing Janice his missing teeth!

We really are getting close to being done. This is with his brothers on the 4th of July last year.

I had to put this picture in, even though it is the one I use for my blog. I just love it--this was last September when we were getting our family pictures taken. I asked if I could get one with Ethan, and I love how it turned out. One cute thing about Ethan--he always lists my name first if he is talking about Jan and I. A few times someone's been helping him with prayers, and will say, for example, "and thank thee that Janice and Jenny could come over," and he will say, "and thank thee the Jenny and Janice could come over." I just think it's so cute!

And finally, a picture from a few weeks ago, when we went to conference together.

I'm just so grateful for Ethan, and for the wonderful blessing he has been in my life. I can't believe he is already eight years old! I know that before I know it, I will be watching him get the Priesthood, then go on a mission...I know I will be crying. And watch for a blog post next Saturday about his baptism. But for now, I have to get to bed!!!

I love you, Ethan!

P.S. I realized that I really should also recognize Jan on our birthday. I came across this picture of her when I was looking for pictures of Ethan. It has been such a great blessing to have a twin! I don't know what I would do without her. We are best friends, and she has done so much for me! I'm so grateful for her. Happy Birthday, Jan!