Utah Times & Post-Utah Times

Well, Ethan and I have been back for almost a week now and life is back to normal in Rochester. We really enjoyed our time with my family in Utah and all the relaxing we got to do. We got out of there before it started snowing, which is good for us since we get to experience that a lot here anyway (though nothing has stuck to the ground for at least a month... knock on wood). We didn't get a picture of all the Bruford family like I had hoped, but we had a great time with all of my extended family for Tyler's birthday. I'm sure it was everything he had hoped for for a 32nd birthday. My sister flew in just a few days before we left, so our time with her was short, though we'll get to see her in just a couple weeks down in Virginia for Easter.

Things are going well here in our home. Ben and I have both been busy with work, and yesterday was the first day that nothing was really on our agenda other than work for me at 6pm. We spent the majority of the day doing yard work. We bought a leaf blower the other day, but we mostly raked and bagged about 6 large bags of old leaves from the fall. Yeah, we won't make that mistake again next fall. Ben had already bagged about 8 bags prior to our trip to Utah, and I think we've still got about 8 or so bags worth of junk in the yard. It'll be nice to finally be able to plant some things in our little garden patch and herb garden, though I should check a farmer's almanac since I don't have the greenest of thumbs. While raking up some leaves we were able to spot some green sprouts coming out of the dirt. Not sure as to what everything is, but it definitely means that Spring is on it's way! The weather has been nice for the most part, though I shouldn't have washed the cars yesterday since it rained today, but that's just my luck.

Anyway, enough of my boring home life. Here are some pictures while we were in Utah and one from back home.

I tried to get a photo shoot with Ethan in my parent's yard, but this is what he thought of the idea.


Ethan was kind of a punk to all my family members at first, but he eventually warmed up... I think.


Ethan got to spend a little time with his cousin Stella and they got into all sorts of shenanigans.


This bookshelf in my parents house is a hot spot for babies.


Ethan has discovered the stairs in our home, so we have finally baby-proofed the stairs both top and bottom. We have a video of him climbing them for the first time that maybe we'll post. It's a little long though.

Pre-Utah Times and Utah Times

It's been over a week since our last post, so I guess it's up to me to update even though I'm in Utah. Since my brother Tyler eloped last month and my sister Natalie is coming out to Utah for her spring break, the Bruford family thought it fitting that I should join in on the family fun and come out to Utah. We'll be celebrating Tyler and Summer's recent nuptials as well as his Birthday (on Sunday) as a whole family. Well, minus Ben... original Brufords only I guess. He stayed back in Rochester for work. We're missing him here, but at least he doesn't have to feel guilty for working late and watching basketball.

Here are some pictures from back in Rochester as well as out here in Utah. I'll have to post more when the whole Bruford clan is together since Natalie is flying in tomorrow and we're not all together yet. Until next time...

Ethan has learned how to slide down the slide by himself.

Ethan's first time in a pool!


Grandpa teaching Ethan to swim.





Stylin' little dude.


Cousin Lance and Ethan.


Playing MarioKart


Fake lemons are Ethan's favorite toys here.

It's Not How Many Times You Get Knocked Down...

It's how many times you get up.

That's the quote right?

Anyway, over the last week or so Ethan has grown up a lot. He has officially gotten down crawling on his hands and knees (no longer doing the Omaha Beach crawl), and tonight he learned how to pull himself up and stand while holding onto something. Luckily, we got his second and third times on video.

The sad thing is, he was motivated to pull himself up because he wanted to play with the Wii controller. It looks like we already need to set limits on video game times.

Also, thanks to Grandma Mudrick for the Ugly Doll. Not only does Ethan still love playing with it, it also may have saved his life.

Friends & Family... Again?!?!

The dates are this upcoming weekend, March 12-15.

Yes, again!!! It hasn't even been 6 months, but once again it's time to go shopping with a lovely discount. Now even YOU can look as good as baby Ethan with my sweet discount.

So here's the deal... the invitation is good for all 4 Gap Inc. stores (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy & Piperlime). You get 30% off at ALL 4 stores with this one invitation AND you can reuse the invitation so you can use it at all 4 locations.

Now if you'd like one, let me know. If you live far away (outside of Rochester) I'd rather email you an invitation, but you'll have to print it out to bring in to the store. If you live in the area, leave a comment so I can set aside a postcard coupon for you. Oh, and if I email you one, you can print multiple copies and give them to your friends. Sweet, huh?

So short of the story is, leave me a comment if you'd like one and if I don't have your email address leave it for me. You're welcome.

Oh, and of course it wouldn't be a post without a picture of the cutest kid on the block. Once again, you're welcome.

Nude Little Dude

Someday Ethan will be so embarrassed by the fact that nude-y pics of him were posted all over the internet. I can't help it though... check out that bum! If you prop Ethan up against anything he will stand there for a while. Usually when it's at the bathtub he'll stand on his tip-toes and squeal. Totally adorable. We decided not to be so wasteful as to fill up our whole tub, plus it takes about 10 minutes to get just a few inches of water in the tub, so we bought a bigger one for Ethan. He loves it. I can't wait to see what he'll be like when he swims. Hopefully this spring or summer he'll get the chance. He's officially crawling like a normal baby these days, though if he wants to get somewhere in a hurry, he'll drop to his tummy and do the commando crawl.

Things are going well here at the Mudrick house. We always seem to be busy with something which is better than being bored of doing nothing. I have to go in on Thursday to get an EMG done (some test where they stick needles in me to test the response of my nerves and muscles) and then I'll speak to a surgeon to see if I would even need surgery. Hopefully I won't. Ben has been keeping busy with work, his calling, and the law explorers group that he helps out with weekly. We're happy to report that we got no snow with the big Noreaster that swept the east coast. In fact, I think this is the most we've seen of our front lawn in over 3 months. That's not to say that it isn't freezing here, but at least it's not mixed with snow.

Following are some more pictures that we took of Ethan during bath time. Enjoy!