ethan's 2 year stats

ethan had his 2 year well-baby visit today and he is doing great! the doctor was impressed with his vocabulary and everything else checked out fine with him. his chest was cleared up and he didn't have any lingering effects of the croup from a few weeks ago. he is still on the low side of the growth chart - but no surprise there as he has been since he was born. the doctor did suggest we could give him pediasure or carnation instant breakfast shakes if we wanted to get some more calories in him on the days when he doesn't seem to eat. we are also supposed to keep him on whole milk (rather than 2%) for the extra calories as well. but he wasn't really concerned about his growth based on the fact that lance nor i are really that big. he was 24 pounds (between 5th & 10th percentile) and 34" tall (around 25th percentile). he did very well with his one shot (hep A) and barely cried. all the tears were over with as soon as he saw the bucket of lollipops to choose from. yay for lollipops and brightening up the day! oh we also talked about potty training and the doctor said not to rush it, just do it when he starts to show interest. it was a very good appointment and miles was great the whole time considering it was right around his naptime and he had to spend the whole visit awake in his carseat. we go back somewhere between 30 months and 3 years to get another hep A booster and for his next visit.

the adventures of a boy and his blanket

i had a bonus afternoon with the boys today since one of the kids at the babysitter's house had strep throat and i didn't want to my now well boys to get sick again. it had warmed up earlier in the day so i thought it would be fun to go to the park...of course by the time we actually made it out there it had cooled considerably, but i had already talked it up and we were on our way. luckily i had some extra things to bundle miles up in, ethan could have cared less about the cold. he did have to have his blanket there with him though, he was very insistent about it. he even took it on the slide. though i was going crazy because it was collecting all sorts of grass, mulch and other dirt and dust, it was so cute to see him carrying it along.

road trip: entertaining a toddler and a 5-month old in the car for hours = FUN!

DAY ONE

saturday, january 3, 2009: we started our first long road trip with the boys this today. we loaded up the "van-truck" as ethan calls it or and headed on our way to colorado for a week of skiing and winter fun. let me just say, it is a L O N G drive from oklahoma to crested butte, colorado. we split up the drive into two days. day one we went to pueblo, co (about an 11 hour day through mostly flat, windy, tumbleweed-y terrain) and then day two we finished up the drive to crested butte (about 6 hours thanks to a snow storm along the way!) the boys actually did amazingly well and it helped that we had grandmother along in our car for the ride. she was a huge help with driving and also with entertaining the kids. the dvd player and lots of thomas and the wiggles did wonders too. thanks especially to dawn (and zach!) who leant us the good thomas dvds since i had purchased the cheap knock-offs that just weren't cutting it.

ahhh naptime! somewhere around dumas or dalhart, tx.

DAY TWO (note the ever present thomas and sir topham hat on the DVD player)friday, january 9, 2009: our trip back began at 5AM on friday morning since we had to get laura and jeff to the airport. we had packed the night before and actually made it out of the condo by 5:45. that has to be a record for getting 12 bodies (5 of them being under 5!) and way too much luggage into the cars and onto the road. we had to do the trip back in one day because lance had to be at drill late that night. i was dreading the day, but all in all doing it at once is so much better than splitting it up. at least you can push through and know you get to sleep in your own bed by the end of the night. we ended up taking alex grace in our car and she was a huge help! she entertained ethan, helped out with miles and was even doing some dance moves to the thomas dvds by the end of the night. i think we were all overtired and had cabin (van) fever by that time. we made it though and i can't say enough times how great the van was, especially thanks to the dvd player and built-in bottle warmers. oh, in case you want to know, it took 17 hours to drive home...i think it will be a long time before we drive anywhere farther than oklahoma city or dallas with the two kids!

and yes, the novelty of documenting the trip had worn off by this point in time, so unfortunately no pictures of our skittle ridden, jam packed van, but you can imagine it was much worse off than in the traveling out pictures. the novelty of keeping it neat and tidy had also worn off.

happy 5 months, miles!

another month has gone by...

5 month stats: he was 15lbs, 3oz at his doctor visit on december 31st - he did have clothes and a diaper on, so not completely accurate, but it will work for now!

some of the things he is doing:

1. he found his new favorite toys - his hands and feet! he absolutely loves to chew on his hands (or anyone else's for that matter!) and he will grab his feet when he is laying down. he just looks so cute grabbing at his chubby little toes.

2. "talking" like crazy! he loves to make noises all the time. he chats to his toys, the ceiling fan, his brother...anyone who will listen. he makes screechy sounds and also this one that almost sounds like a bird call.

3. we are getting ready to start him on rice cereal. we got the okay from the pediatrician at his 4 month visit, so in the next few weeks, we'll give it a try. he is most definitely interested in food when we are eating, so i think he is more than ready for it.

4. is in love with his big brother! he gets so excited when ethan comes around. he watches him and just plain thinks he is great. ethan can do just about anything and it will make him smile. for now, at least, ethan is just as excited about his younger brother.

5. he's still working on rolling over. he is so, so close. it is just that one arm that gets in the way. i bet he'll have it down soon though.

wordless wednesday: ethan's first time in the snow!

ethan's second birthday: part two

ethan's actual birthday fell on a day on which we were traveling, so i decided to hold off for a day before we did his second party. i brought the banner my mom and i had made and decorated some more cookie monster cupcakes and we gathered all the family for the celebration. ethan had a great time once again - you can't beat those cupcakes! and we loved getting to celebrate with all of his cousins! he did get a little scared when we sang him happy birthday though, i think there were just so many people looking at him he didn't quite know what was going on.

happy 2nd birthday, ethan!

my first little guy is two years old! it is hard to believe that i am a mom to a two year old. it has been a wonderful two years! ethan has grown into such a little person now with his own very independent personality. he has his 2 year well-baby visit on january 14th, so i'll update with his stats then.

some of my favorite things ethan is doing right now:
1. loves to "rock a bye" before bed with a book. he has become quite the little snuggle bug.
2. talking up a storm. he loves to repeat things and will pretty much try to say everything you ask him to.
3. sitting at the table with us for meals and just in general. i know he doesn't stay there very long and sometimes it can get messy, but it is such a nice change from the high chair and it really feels like he is part of the meal now.
4. is a little helper. he loves to help carry the groceries in and is especially helpful with miles and getting diapers, binkies and burp clothes when asked.
5. just the fact that he is becoming his own little person with this huge personality. he can definitely be frustrating and trying at times, but he is also just such a loveable little guy and with a smile and laugh or a "love you, mama" can help you forget all of the craziness and tough times.

some of ethan's favorite things right now:
1. the top item on this list is definitely jammies! he HATES taking off his jammies in the morning. throws the biggest tantrum. he has certain pairs he likes more than others, but generally is ecstatic to put on any pair of jammies.
2. he ADORES thomas the train - the tv show and any and all trains and tracks.
3. he loves to play with coins and i made him a little bank to keep it in. he even knows pennies now, but thinks that all silver money is a dime. we're working on it.
4. books - he will sit and read entire books with me now. some of his favorites are perfect picnic with bert and ernie, the very hungry caterpillar and the fire engine book.
5. counting. he can count up to 10 (though he starts at 2 most of the time) without any prompting. his favorite number is 6. he loves to say it and also for me to write it out for him.

we were on our road trip to colorado on ethan's birthday, so here he is celebrating that morning at the hotel in pueblo, co.