Happy 10th Birthday, Ethan

Today ten years ago we were all excited to have a new baby in the family! Ethan Chandler Sutherland was born loving the Florida Gators.

And he also came into the world with the strongest lungs you've ever heard in all your life. That little baby could scream. Oh, my heaven. He could scream and scream and scream. You may believe it or not, but the sweet little fella has a small flat spot on the back of his head and Crystal says it's from sleeping in that Boppy pillow and leaning against her chest. Those were the only two positions he would sleep in. He was a little darling. He didn't really want anyone except his mama holding him. I'll always remember Ethan as a "Tunch" crawling and toddling around with his bottle nipple hanging out of his mouth.


The big blue eyes he has made you want to love on him so much, but he was always busy. Here he is at his second birthday party. You can just see what a rounder he was. He was a Blues Clues baby. And Hulk. But I especially remember the Blues Clues.



He takes after his mama in every possible way; such a pretty face, smart as a whip and wears his emotions on his shirt sleeve. He's never more than one good argument from crying. Of course, with a big brother and three older boy cousins, he had more than his fair share of trouble.

But he also has one sweet girl cousin. And they've grown up to be good friends, sending each other text messages all the time.

Here's a picture of him and Alayna on the day he was born. Alayna, was about three-and-a-half months older than him. The beginning of what will be a lifetime friendship. And the first of many, many pictures of the two of them together.


Same two precious-to-me-kids at Ethan's party Sunday night.

Here's Ethan with his birthday cookie. You can't see it in the picture, but the cake said "Happy Double Digits". He is so proud to be ten, a double digit.

Such a good-looking boy with such devilish charm. Thoughtful and sweet, but yet fiercely competitive and will beat the pants off of you in any board game you dare play with him.He's played football since he was four. Put him on the field and he'll give you everything he's got. He's a coach's dream.

He's also his mama's dream. He may be ten, but he's got at least a couple good years of little boy left in him. She hopes.

Happy Double Digit Birthday, Ethan. I'm a Gator Hater, but I love the heck out of you!