Ezra: Age Three

A look back at the past year of Ezra’s life.

Ezra’s First Birthday

It’s hard to believe, but Ezra turned one last week. We celebrated his birthday with family this past weekend. It was fun to have others with us to be able to celebrate together. Here are some pics of the little guy on his big day.

Ezra’s First Haircut

It seems like just yesterday that Micah was getting his first haircut. But today Ezra got his first (and long overdue) haircut in preparation for his first birthday on the 23rd!

Haircut for Micah — Micah was also getting his haircut. He could see Ezra getting his haircut in the mirror.

Midwest landscapes, Family, and Wedding Bells

This past weekend Sarah, the boys, and I all traveled out to the Omaha, Nebraska area. We went primarily to go to my cousin’s wedding, but also to see family. My mother just recently moved out there with my brother, so it was also an opportunity to spend some time with them and see their new place. Here are some various pictures from our time there this weekend.

Mum's the word. — Here are some wonderfully bright mums outside my grandmother’s new assisted living facility.

Mama and Micah — My grandma (my mom’s mom) was able to see the boys. This was the first time she had met Ezra and the last time she had seen Micah was last year at Thanksgiving.

Boys on the floor — Micah investigates my Aunt’s cell phone as Ezra watches.

Backyard tree — The trees seemed to be right at their peak while we were visiting.

Tortoise and the Hare — Micah and Ezra got to preview their halloween costumes at my grandma’s facility. There was a trick-or-treating event at my Grandma’s facility. So the boys got to preview their new halloween costumes. They are the tortoise and the hare.

Mommy and the costume boys — It was towards the end of the evening and the boys were a bit tired, so getting a good picture was hard to do. Rabbits move quickly!

Daddy and the costume boys — Here’s one with the boys and me.

Halloween family shot — And all four of us!

Mama and Ezra — Ezra the Tortoise liked great-grandma’s necklace.

Micah at the porch — While at my mom’s new house Micah really enjoyed going in and out onto the deck, opening and closing the screen door.

Neighbor pond — My mom’s neighbors have a nice little pond with some pumpkins and big fish.

Fall colors — One of my mom’s trees was rapidly dropping it’s orange leaves throughout the time we were there.

Ezra playing — Ezra is able to keep himself entertained pretty well.

Matthew feeding Ezra — Uncle Matt feeding Ezra some lunch.

Ezra after eating — Don’t mess with a man while he’s eating.

Sunset colors — Bright orange sunsets make for dramatic pictures.

Colors through the branches — Sunset with trees that have already given up their leaves for the year.

Fountain — This is the fountain in Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa where my mom and my grandmothers live.

Micah and the Squirrel — The lighting was bad, but here’s Micah riding a squirrel at Bayliss Park.

Mommy and Micah at the Fountain — Mommy and Micah standing at the fountain.

Micah climbing the Fountain — As Micah climbed up on the fountain the air all around seemed to glow orange from the beautiful sunset.

Fountain in Council Bluffs — Here’s a shot f the fountain before the sun had gone below the horizon.

Hanging out at my mom's new house in Iowa. The weather was perfect today. Here's a rare shot of me and Micah. — Here’s a rare shot of Micah and me in front of a beautiful tree in my mom’s backyard.

I have the privilege of calling these lovely people my family. #ofkorth — My cousin Becky and her immediate family. Such a lovely group!

Korth Wedding — Becky and Luke exchanging their vows.

#latergram from last night at #slowdown. — This is outside at Slowdown – the venue where they were married.

Grandma and Micah and the pumpkin — Grandma and Micah make a Mr. Pumpkin Head jack-o-lantern together.

Post-Wedding get together — A post-wedding family get together.

Morning brother snuggles. — Micah and Ezra sharing some snuggles in grandma’s chair.

Birds — Some birds on a grey day in Nebraska.

Micah and Grandma — We stopped for a bit at my grandparents’ lake house. Here’s grandma and Micah walking down the hill to the water.

Sarah at Beaver Lake — Sarah looking out the window towards the lake. She spotted a bald eagle!

Ezra on the Floor — Ezra sitting around like a boss.

Hanging out at Beaver Lake — Ezra snuggles with Grandma while Micah gets consoled by mommy.

Micah and Great Grandma — Micah’s sitting with his other great-grandmother.

Ezra and Great-Grandma — Ezra and great-grandma Seaman met for the first time on this trip. They are over 94 years apart in age!

Mommy and Ezra Book Time — Mommy and Ezra reading together.

Some More of the Boys

The summer is going to be gone before I know it. Time really is flying by. Ezra’s getting bigger, Micah is definitely getting older. Life is good.

Here are some recent pictures of the boys:

Ezra in the jumper

Ezra toes

Ezra jumping

Micah sitting

Micah Drinking

Micah drinking

Micah building blocks

Micah and blocks

Micah blocks

Micah stare

Ezra toes

Ezra

Emperor Ezra, wearing his new clothes and sitting on his throne, will only be approached if one first bows down, if not already prostrate on the floor, and kisses his feet. {#vscocam #vsco #lincolnsquareliving #vscofam #vscokids #stayathomedad #dadlife #k

Out in mid jump

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Micah and the window

Micah Sweeping Up

Watching TV

Bookshelf

The birth of Ezra

The birth of our second son all started with a little castor oil. With the suggestion of her midwife and with a burning desire to see our second son as soon as possible, Sarah mixed some castor oil into some chocolate milk and hoped for the best.

When you want a baby to be here

It was a desperate moment to kickstart her contractions. Facebook pleas from women who had tried this method before her cried out, “Oh no! NO! Don’t do it!”

But it worked. The contractions started out subtlety. But just a few hours later and we were rapidly running out the door, with Sarah having strong contractions only a couple minutes apart. We were in such a rush I even forgot my coat. After swerving Chicago’s pothole filled roads to the hospital we made it to our destination at about 12:30 AM. The midwife arrived soon after us and told us that we would be having this baby very soon.

After rushing to set up the tools and equipment needed for the delivery, Sarah’s water was broken. Ten minutes, a handful of contractions, three pushes, and a few moans later Ezra Yuuto Seaman entered healthily into this world. (For those who don’t know, my wife is one strong woman. And I’m a proud husband.)

The birth process is amazing. For those who haven’t experienced or witnessed it, it might sound gross or super intense. And it kind of is those things. But, it also is truly awesome – it is a miracle.

I will spare you the “family only” pictures from the birth, but here are some of my favorite pictures from the delivery and the hours following: