Steps?

Ethan is making milestones! He discovered his hand. I totally remember the first day Diella did this too, and it was the same thing with him…. Holding his hand up in front of his face, staring at it, so intently, and moving the hand slowly, like “ok, I think I get it, I’m making this thing move, and I can see it moving, ok, yea” So fun to watch them experience that discovery!

He sits up to play all the time now & is so good at it!... He can go from sitting to standing, if you hold his hands!... He’s still not really making any movements that indicate he’s trying to crawl, except that once in a while he’ll push off the floor with his hands and his feet, so he’s like a tent, but that’s all. Well, he goes from sitting position, down to his belly a lot… you can tell he really wants to move around!

He loves his jump up! But up until the other day, never really jumped, jus sort of moved his feet & laid back and enjoyed the ride. Now he jumps and Loves it!!

His hair is looking blonder & blonder! And its sure not cuz we’ve been out in the sun alot! And Ethan knows his name, yay! His attention can always be caught now, just by callin his name!

Last appointment, about a week ago, he was 18 lb 14 oz, woo! And she said no signs of teeth yet… a LITTLE swollen, but nothing comin yet (and I’m fine with that, hehe).

Ethan does this new thing, its kind of like trying to talk, sorta… he starts to blow air, but keeps his lips closed, then lets it out, but with a little voice, not just air… its hard to describe, but I just love it, its so cute, and I DO think its his little way of talking!

Ethan touches my face. All the Time! I. Love It!!!!

Ok, so it is official, he is Finally rolling tummy to back! Hehe! He has only done it once or twice Ever, and very spread out, not consistent…. Just this morning he did it FIVE times! (and not roll across the room, but roll from tummy to back, and then back to tummy, and over again… but he only rolls over one shoulder, his right one… so just in one spot, over then back). So I’ve decided that he cant nap on the couch anymore cuz he could roll off. Well today, I put him on the couch for a few, with a pillow on the edge in front of him, and I of course got distracted by Diella, and came back to him on the floor, jus happy as could be… the pillow must have fallen first & then he landed on it, cuz I never heard a thud or anything, hehehe. So his naps have now moved from the couch to up in his crib… but you could tell he was so confused today, like “uh, mom, I’m in my crib, and its daylight, am I supposed to sleep? What do I do?” hehe, he didn’t lay real long til he fell asleep, so we’ll get the hang of the new nap spot quickly I’m sure.

And Guess What!!! He’s already trying to take steps when you hold his hands! No joke! He did it one day, and I sort of thought nothing of it, figured it was a fluke, then another day my mom was playin with him & goes “Kat, did you see what he’s doing!!??” So its not consistent or steady forward steps, but he’ll like rock side to side on his feet, then take a little tiny step, and a few times before he finally falls to his butt. But you can totally tell he WANTS to walk! Cool! It’ll be a lil while still, he’s only 6 months, I’m not rushing anything… but if he’s anything like his big sister, its not TOO far down the road!

ET

I Finally Short Blogged!!! Yay!! (and yes, that's Diella in her panties in the background, hehe)

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Sometimes Jake calls Ethan "ET" as a nickname... those are his initials, hehe. We realized this the day he was born. ET, ha!

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He FINALLY rolled belly to back yesterday! Still dunno why he hasnt before yesterday... but he's movin more & more & More! You can tell he just wants to be everywhere! He's sittin up better (like in the pix above), and he kicks his legs all the time, whether he's on his belly or on his back. He can even almost get out of the Bumbo, uh oh!

Feet! and More!

One of these pix is Ethan’s first trip to the beach!

As I’m looking over all the things I need to blog, I realized that with a little one THIS young, I cant wait long between blogs, cuz some of theses things he did a while ago, and that’s significant for his age! Ethan has not only found his feet, but he Loves them! They’re the coolest toy, I don’t hafta wait for mommy to bring em to me!

He’s so into toys now, I love it! He’s easily entertained! His favorite thing is anything with buttons… we always catch him staring at and having his attention caught by things like remotes, the microwave, phones… he loves em! … also so very good at reaching for, grabbing his binky, and putting in his own mouth! He’s had this one mastered for a while now!

He still wont roll tummy to back, I have no clue why, but he wiggles around so much now, we turn our heads and he’s two feet from where he just was, ha! And he also still wont roll over his left shoulder (to tummy) only right side, weird…. BUT he’s doing something even better!!!... he’s sitting up on his own!!! It was just a day or two between when he could do it for a few seconds, to now, he’s doing it for minutes at a time, like up to 5 minutes, good boy! And he can also stand, propped up with his back against the couch for a little bit too!

Lately, he sucks his bottom lip. Luckily it hasn’t gotten red yet…. He also hugs my neck! Sometimes when I pick him up, both arms just wrap right around my neck! Oh I LOVE being hugged by my little angel!!!

I think he sometimes whines when his diaper is full… I dunno why this surprises me as much as it does, I mean, I know that can be normal for babies/kids, but Diella NEVER did, so I guess I’m just not used to it… he doesn’t cry, but sometimes he gets wiggly and fusses just a lil when I cant figure out what it could be, cuz he’s not hungry or tired, so then I change him & he gets happy again… cool.

A few times at night I could hear him wigglin and grunting a little, and when I go up, he’s on his belly (and needs me to flip him to his back, cuz he’s still not doin that), so then I would & he falls back asleep… well a few times, I check on him in the morning (when he’s still sleepin) and he’s asleep on his belly! So he must have gotten used to it! So he sleeps all ways, belly, back, and side!... he sometimes likes to burry his face to sleep, whether its when he falls asleep on someone, or on the couch, covers it with a blanket… he’s just cute. Cute cute.

Ethan’s drinking water now! I think I tried it maybe once a while back, and he was like “whaaaa? The heck is this??” …. Now he likes it! And I give it to him everyday, yay! Very soon we will incorporate rice cereal into his diet as well! Movin on up, Ethan!

Speaking of his eating habits… Ethan’s never hungry first thing in the morning… I kinda like it! … he eats anywhere between 4:30 and 6:30am, (lately closer to 6, praise the Lord! but occasionally 4 something, yuk) … well whether he eats at 4 or 6, he wakes up for the day around 8:30 usually… and will sit, happily watching & talking to cartoons til about 9:30, its nice!

Ethan takes a few lil naps throughout the day, one in the morning, another shorter one in the afternoon, then one in the evening… but he’s awake ALOT during the evening! Its starting to get very consistent, exact times he sleeps & wakes… works for me!... oh, and a few times lately, he’s been fighting sleep, more at night than for nap, only once for nap, but about 3 nights in a row, I think he’s jus so tired from keeping himself up all evening… he’ll just squirm & quietly whine, and a lil whimpering… its not real long til he gives up, but I almost think its cute cuz he doesn’t get real upset, and I know its jus cuz he’s worn himself out, aw honey!

He flails one arm sometimes (usually right one, sometimes left I think)… usually during nursing, lol! Its not an upset thing… in fact, I’m not sure why he does it… jus trying to find something to grab onto maybe? But even then, I’ll hold his hand so his arm stays still, but he lets go & continues to flail it…. Its funny I think, jus dunno why?

He reaches for and grabs my face… I cant deny it, I love that!

And he loves his big sister! She’s the one who knows just how to make him laugh, better than the rest of us!

My FAVORITE thing that he does!... when I (or anyone) hold him on my hip, his hand is drawn immediately to my finger or thumb, every single time, he grips onto it… like he’s holding my hand… I just love it!!!

And last night, Jake had him laughing SO hard! Harder than we’ve ever heard him laugh before! All Jake was doing was touchin Ethan’s face with this pillow over & over and making this little sound to go with it…. Ethan was Belly Laughing every time & we were all in tears over it!!! I don’t know of any free video tape I have, I would have to look through to find anything blank, so I didn’t get it on tape, though I really wish I could have! We tried the same thing again today (in case we COULD get it on tape this time), but of course Ethan wasn’t half as entertained by it…. Anyway, that was enough laughs to last me all week, so I’m happy!

Oh yea, and the other night we were eating dinner on the deck and when the neighbors pulled in, we called em over to visit, so they did. Well we were talking about the kids n stuff, and Kathy (older lady) looks at Ethan (who was without a shirt) and says “so did you get him a bra yet?” LOL!!!! (cuz he’s so chunky, he’s got boobs, Hahahaha!!!)

link to Diella's blog www.diellamyangel.blogspot.com

Rolling Over!

I posted all the most recent pix in the last blog, so here is one of Ethan & his cousin Caleb from a while back!

Ethan is finally rolling over! He’s 4 and a half months & has been doing it consistently for a few days now. Ok, Diella went from tummy to back at 3 months old, and then back to tummy, not until 6 months old. Well, Ethan just still will not go from tummy to back, but he’s going back to tummy, which I thought was the more difficult one! (Although Ethan’s size a few weeks ago is how big Diella was when she was six months, so… ).. yea, He’s getting to be a little champ at it too! Especially today! Was doing it only maybe once a day, but today he has done it over & over!

He’s also reaching for things, and even usually can grab onto what he’s reaching for! Like, I will hold his binky in front of his face, and sometimes he’ll jus grab my hands & pull them towards him with his mouth open, until binky is in, hehe… but other times he’ll go after the binky itself, then I let go & he’s got it in his hand, and then puts it in his mouth, cool! … He also reaches for the remote, which I have found is his favorite thing! He looks at it like it’s the coolest thing he’s ever seen! And he reaches for that too, in fact, that’s part of how he got good at rolling over, we put remote just out of his reach, so he would go after it & he does!

He is such a “simple things” baby! Just the littlest things amuse him, like gasping & smiling…. Or peek a boo… jus little things, its cute!

You can tell that he cannot wait to eat real food! He watches us eat like, “Mmmm, that. Looks. Goooood! Can I have some!!??” hehehe… Ahna said one day he watched her fork from the plate to her mouth, back & forth, over & over, hehehe

A few times when he’s laying on the floor & I’m talking to him, he shakes his head back & forth, smiling… and a few times, its like right after I asked him a question, and its almost like he’s shakin his head no, hehe, of course, not for real, but when it happens and it fits, its just so funny how coincidental it was!

We’ve discovered a few things. Ethan is just not hungry in the mornings. He’s up at around 4:30 in the morning to eat, every day. And wakes up for the day around 8 o’clock. Well, I’ve noticed that if I try to feed him right away, he just wont eat. So I usually wait til 9 to feed him, and he does eat then, but usually only a little bit, like on one side, and then a little on the other & be done. Then he waits a whole nother 3 full hours to eat again! Its crazy!
And Jake discovered that when Ethan is tired, and I have already put him down & he has a binky, Jake will lay a pillow on his belly & he falls right to sleep. He likes that, and now Jake does it to him all the time, I think its cute!

Apology

I cannot even look at Ethan sometimes... he is TOO cute & I cant even stand it! :) ...Anyone who actually reads these or follows these, I just want to apologize for taking so long between posts. I need to do it more often, so they are shorter. Thing is, lately, all my computer time is spent editing pictures (I've been getting lots of gigs!), so I just jot down my ideas to eventually blog... but the list is getting WAY Too long! So for the moment, I will just post some pictures for your enjoyment... and I will soon let you know all the little happenings around here!

4th of July!

This is a pic I forgot to post. I took these of each of the grandkids, and put them into a baseball album for my dad for a Father's Day gift. And the other one is of all 6 grandkids, who live in PA. We're going to add pix of the TX grandkids when we get them! :)

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For the 4th of July, Ethan Loved the fireworks! He just watched em with Huge eyes & talked to them & giggled! It was so cool!

Talky McTalkerson

Pix- Ethan felt left out, the kids jumping on Ahna’s bed, so he joined, hehe! I’ve said before how ‘hands-y’ he is, well he very often holds on to this bar on his chair when he sleeps in there, its cute! And the one with his fist up in his eye, sleepin, that’s how daddy sleeps, always!

Ethan has officially discovered his voice! I mean, he’s been using it for a while now, but he’s such a little Talky McTalkerson! He loves to chat it up & smile & even laughs! He’s such a happy boy! We praise the Lord for that!!

He loves to sit on laps. And like face outward. Its like he just gets so calm & content when he’s on someone’s lap. Like his little save haven, hehe

He is the most patient little baby! I like to wait the full 3 hours between feedings, so if its still 15 minutes away & he’s hungry, I usually try to make him wait (unless he just CANT wait any longer), and he’s just So patient! Or if he’s hungry and I’m in the middle of something, and I hafta have Jake or my mom hold him off… he just waits, hungry, but patient!

So he still wont roll over on the floor consistently. He did it again the other day, but I didn’t see it happen. Then wouldn’t do it again. I think that’s like 4 times total, but SO spread out, like barely once a week! The thing is, I heard him grunting the other day, kinda loud, but muffled… he was sitting in his chair, and when I checked on him, he was face Down in his chair! So he wiggled enough to flip over in that, just wont do it on the floor…. Strange…. Well, its ok, we’re still workin on it. And now I've learned I have to bluckle him in while he's in his chair now.

Ethan, when he’s outside, has like NO pupils! Just blue Blue BLUE eyes, so neat!

He was just weighed at 15 lbs. 13 oz. and was 25 ¼ inches. He’s grown 2 inches since May, they said! And three pounds! Woo! He’s in 76th & 79th percentiles, so he’s big, but proportionate! Yay!

Oh my gosh yesterday I was changing him, and he hasn’t peed during that in a long time, but this time when he did, it went straight up! Haha, so it got mostly on him, even his face! Haha, ew!

Ok, and the other day he’s in the Jump Up (that thing that hangs in a doorway & has a little spring so they can jump)… which, by the way, he does like, but doesn’t do much jumpin yet, hehe… but today I bounced it for him when he was in it & he just laughed & loved it! Hehe, fun! (other times he just chills in there & as in that one pic, gets almost TOO comfortable, hehe)… ANYway, so one day he was in there & fell asleep, and I grabbed the camera cuz I thought it was cute, so I snapped a picture, and his little head raised up, eyes still closed, he smiled, and then the head slid back down & back to sleep, it was so funny!

NOW I got pix!

that bottom one, I dont think they look 2 years apart, do you?

And there were four good ones I took of them, so you'll hafta check Diella's blog to see the other 2 ;) diellamyangel.blogspot.com

Sleepin Good!

So it turns out I have taken any pix of Ethan in the past few days, then I noticed him in this shot & figured I’d count it, hehehe

Great News! Ethan has slept 8 hours straight! Two nights in a row!!! And he did 9 hours one night, while we were away in Virginia! Yay!!! This feels great! Let’s pray he keeps it up!

I’ve said before how Ethan loves TV. Well, Baby Einstein is no exception. He kicks his lil feets & talks to it the whole half hour, its great!

We were at my dad’s softball game last night, and this one woman was holding Ethan (sitting next to my aunt, who passed her to her), and she was playing with him & called me over. She said, I was trying to find his tickle spot, listen to this… and she found this spot where he is So ticklish! And he giggles… like this lil grunt giggle… its almost like he’s laughing cuz it tickles, but he’s grunting cuz its torture at the same time, it was hilarious! So now we know where his ‘tickle spot’ is, hehehe

Pix

That one pic, with the only 'not happy' expression, hilarious! looks like he's lookin atcha like 'ya dun now?' haha... and that top one of him & his sis! My Fave!

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Not much to say about Ethan... he's certainly doing well! He rolled over again today... just once tho, so I'm still not sure if he's trying to or not... he's at that age though, so maybe that DID count! And if not, I'm sure any day :) .... and just now I had him in his Bumbo, and right as I looked over at him, he smiled & giggled... and of course I smile & giggle back, and then I said "do it again" and he did again, and over & over we went, I would ask him to giggle again, and he would, many Many times over! Doesnt get old! His lil giggle is contagious!

My Ethan

I said in the last blog about how he holds everything… he also does this when I’m putting the binky in his mouth, he holds my hand, like he’s helping me get it in right, I think it’s cute! He also holds my hand while he’s nursing, holds my shirt alotta times, and sometimes holds my hand when he takes a nap on my lap… sometimes I need that hand for getting something & I jus don’t wanna let go of his lil hand, cuz its jus special to me, that he loves holding hands so much!

Ethan has been talking more, we love it! And another thing we found out makes him smile almost every time… when I hold him up in the air… he looks around, and then when he focuses on my face, he gets the biggest smile! So fun!

Ethan’s already in 3-6 months clothes! He’ll be 3 months old in just a few days, so I guess it’s normal… its just crazy to me, cuz Diella NEVER fit into the size clothes that was her age!... Its crazy how fast he’s growing, its like he never was a lil newborn baby! And diapers too, he’s already up to size 2! Big Boy!

Two cool things… his naps are getting more & more consistent… he USUALLY takes one short nap in the morning, after he’s been up an hour or two… then usually a LONG nap almost always the same time as Diella, from around 1-4, give or take… then usually another short nap in the evening… and then bedtime around 10… I like getting on a schedule, yay! … and another thing that I praise the Lord for, that I think is crazy… somehow I don’t hafta change his diaper in the middle of the night! I mean, I COULD, but its just not that full, and if I change him, he’s more awake than what he is if I just feed him while he’s half asleep… so cool! One diaper all night long, change in the morning!

Runnin Runnin

So Ethan has always eaten about every 2 and half hours... if I can hold him off til 3, I do, but its not too often... well, lately, he still eats just as frequently, but sometimes is satisfied after only eating on one side... AND he eats alot faster than he used to! (like Diella always nurse fast & efficiently) but Ethan used to take about 20-30 mins, and now he's done in 10, which I love! Its just crazy, cuz its all of a sudden... never used to be that way

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I have this fun thing that makes him get this huge smile almost every time.... ya take both this legs, hold em by his feet, and move em fast, like he's runnin... and I say 'runnin, runnin, runnin, runnin' and he jus thinks its the coolest thing!

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He's still very 'handsy' ... holds his face, holds on tight to my shirt when he's eating, and now he holds his own shirt all the time, I think it is so cute! ... he holds his hands together, and he has finally gotten a hold of the little handle on the cow on the arch on the chair that he sits in... ya pull it to play the song & he's done it quite a few times now!

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Oh my gosh one night, I heard him over the monitor, jus make a lil sound... so my ears perk up & I'm listening to see if I need to go get him... then I hear.... *toooot* lol, he farted! I dunno why it was funny, but to hear a fart over the monitor just cracked me up!
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So, he's still not doing much, I mean, he sits up great, (not on his own on the floor, but like in a chair, or holding him or whatever)... and he's smiling & laughing more... and havent worked with him enough on his belly, so we'll pick that up some more... and he's sleeping ok... so not a whole lot to say, but things are going well! He's a blessing!

Own Room

I cant believe I forgot to mention this last post.... Ethan , about once a day, is the host of story time! He'll tell us a story! He's tryin to talk, and the baby sounds are just so priceless! I got some on video, but I'm never able to upload them to here for some reason... so I guess you'll just hafta come visit us for story time one of these days!

And... Ethan is SO boy! I mean in every way... he's gassy, he spits up, etc... but he also already likes TV! Uh oh! Doesnt matter whats on, he's always turning his head toward it & watching it, sigh* ... guess they're just wired that way.

First night in his new room, he didnt wake up At All, not Once til 7am!!! I dont think it was cuz of the room change though... he was just awake alot that day, so he was really tired. Then his second night, was much more normal, got up once to eat. So, its going well!

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In some of his babbling, once in a while it sounds like hi! :) I'm sure its not on purpose, but its so fun to think it is!!!

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And Ethan has never really loved the binky (which I guess is probly good), and he does take it better than he used to.... but uh oh, he's discovered how yummy his fingers taste, No! hehe

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Oh, and he still, since the womb, has his lil fists up on the sides of his head, I think it's his comfort thing... its so cute!

More Smiles!

Jake & his sis Caty, holding each others' sons!

First 3 pix by Heather Neckers, Rachel Lusky, and Amanda Bunnel Kifer

Every other day or so I do a workout with the TV, well Diella & Ethan join me, and its cute to see him watchin me… all that movement, I’m sure he loves it!

He’s been smiling so much more! Even if he’s sitting for a lil while without me right there, when I come back, Oh that smile is So big! I Love the feeling that he knows my face & is glad that I’m there with him!!!

He’s been sleeping better! Usually about 6 hours, then wake to eat, then right back to sleep for another 3-4 hours! Sometimes that first stretch is only 5 hours, but once or twice he went 7 hours! Including the trip down to VA, didn’t wake up once! J

Poor Ethan… the kid is a mess… about 3 weeks back, he’s diagnosed with a lil bit of thrush (doc says we caught it early, so he cant give it to anyone else, and its only a lil big)… but so he’s taking medicine for that … and he had Sebborhea (sp?) on his face, which we got rid of with only 3 applications of the cream the doc gave us.. but now he’s got it all over his belly & arms… luckily we know it’ll be gone in 3 days… but Then last week he goes in for shots, poor guy, which he actually did Really well with… screamed as they shot them in, but calmed very quickly after! The doc also gave him and iron supplement to take once a day, I dunno why… and THEN last Friday, we were in VA, and I noticed some yellow on his foot, so I wiped it away, thinking it was poop, and he yelled! So I looked at it, and it wasn’t poop, it was yellow crusty puss from an infection! His 4th toe was swollen, red, and the under side was cute & very open and raw looking, so we had no clue what or how, so we took him to the ER. Turns out one of my long blonde hairs had gotten wrapped around his lil toe, 2 toes actually, jus worse on one toe than the other, and wrapped so tight til it was cutting of circulation! I think they called it a hair tourniquet? So, what I thought was totally a freak accident, turns out they said it’s actually quite common! The nurse said it was the 3rd one she’s seen! Crazy! So they just took it off (took a long time, cuz the hair is blonde & thin, so hard to see & kept breaking… and on a tiny toe, and wrapped around so many times, sigh*) … and gave him an antibiotic for it… what a day! So he’s now taking antibiotic 3 times a day for a week, is still on the medicine for thrush for a few more days, FOUR times a day, then the iron thing once a day… poor guy! None of that medicine can taste very good, ew! But he’s dealing fine! Doesn’t cry about it, takes his medicine like a champ! Soon it will all be over!


Ok, and we found this thing that Ethan loves! Makes him smile (almost) every time! All I do is take his hands & clap them together & say “doot dee doot dee doot” over & over, and he just lights up! He thinks it’s the funnest game! (yes, funnest) Ah, the simple things J Babies are awesome!