More Pics From the Summer

It Got Awfully Quiet

I wonder why...

Problem or Addiction?

Ok, so it may not be a problem now.

As parents, we probably feed the need for pacifiers. At night, we throw all the pacifiers into his crib. Every time we (well, actually just I) check on him, he is in a different position with a different pacifier in his mouth. So if this is the temporary fix to him sleeping through the night, we are all for it.

We eventually will transition away from the pacifier. For now, it makes us all happy!

Speaking of checking on him, am I the only freak of a mom who STILL checks on him at least once before I go to bed and when I wake up before him? Habits are hard to break.

But if I hadn't checked on him this morning, I wouldn't have gotten this adorable picture. And yes, he slept right through the flash.

Speaking of Water

1. 2. 3.

This is how many steps Ethan took without falling all by himself yesterday! Look out world!

Have I mentioned how much he loves water? Maybe once or twice.

You should hear him attempt to say "uh-oh." It is quite an effort. We must get video of it!

The next adventure...Ethan needs a hair cut. Standby.

Friends!

Meet Payson Holmes. He is 8 days younger than Ethan. The boys had the same due date, but Ethan beat him to the finish line in that department.

We are good friends with Payson's parents, Nick and Leah, and we use to be neighbors in Phoenix. But they insisted on moving away because of the military. And we wish we could be neighbors forever. They moved back to Phoenix since then (they are using the military excuse again), but will be moving to Las Vegas so Nick can be a Thunderbird...#4 to be exact. We keep telling them there is an air force base here. I guess flying jets is more exciting than flying bombers.

Payson and Leah were able to make a quick trip to Rapid City because they have family here. It was so nice to see them. And I think the boys had fun playing. As usual, Ethan was busy cheesing for the camera.


Nice to Meet You!

Attempting to Share

Umm, Let Go of My Hand Ethan

Getting Ready to Go

Nick and Leah, New Years Eve 2004

9 Months Old

Yes, 9 months old. We can hardly believe it. He is becoming a little man. He had his 9 month baby checkup yesterday. His head circumference remains at the 25%. Length is now 60% (woohoo) at 28.5 inches long. And his weight has dropped to the low end at 20% or 18 lb, 6 oz. But, the pediatrician was not worried. Because he is above average for his motor skills, she thinks he is just more active at an earlier age so he's losing his so-called baby fat to burn off sooner. His milestones in chronological order...

-- inchworm crawling at 7.5 months (drug himself on his belly everywhere)
-- pulling up on furniture just 3 days after inchworm crawling
-- opening cupboards and drawers at 7.5 months
-- clapping at 8 months
-- actual crawling at 8.5 months
-- pulling himself into the bathtub head first at 8.5 months
-- walks with push toys on his own
-- says woh woh when he is mad something got taken away
-- going up a whole flight of stairs at 8.5 months
-- waves buh-bye a week ago
-- now says no no instead of woh woh
-- standing on his own 5 days ago at almost 9 months

Ethan is a high energy child who knows no such thing as sitting still unless he is sleeping. Cars are so bad, they are worth screaming in while in them. The new backpack carrier is awesome. Toys continue to get louder and more exciting. People say that he gets all that energy from me. I don't know what they are talking about because I can't wait to crawl into bed every night.

He now gets to eat almost whatever table food he wants, excluding the high allergen foods. He loves that food over baby food any day. In fact, he ate mac and cheese, 3/4 of a hot dog, and a half an avocado for lunch. For any ideas on how to put a little extra weight on our kid, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We love out little E-Man , a.k.a Etan (at the babysitter's), a.k.a Efan (cousin Sadie).