Hans and Court Plus One

Back in June, I started taking pictures of me and Ethan on Photo Booth – mainly to send to Hans.  As I’ve looked back on them, the thing that sticks out (literally) the most is Ethan’s hair.  So I thought it would be fun to chronicle his fuzzy little head via the following pictures.  :)  You also may notice that he really likes to look at himself on the screen.  Don’t we all…

June 16

June 17

June 29

July 14

July 15

July 28

August 13

August 27

And this was yesterday.  Out of control!

Nine month stats.  Ethan weighs 19 lbs, 9 oz (25-50%); measures 28″ long (50%); and his head is 18″ around (50-75%).  Interesting.  According to this, he’s shrunk half an inch since his 8-month check-up.  In other words, the way he gets measured is not exactly…precise.  The nurse lays him on his back, grabs a pencil, and marks the paper at the bottom of his foot and the top of his head…and measures the distance between. Of course, he’s usually squirming around, so…um.  Yeah. Close enough.

We also discovered at this check-up that he’s developed his first ear infection.  He’s been enjoying his amoxicillin bubble gum goodness twice a day and seems to be doing fine.

Before we get too far, Ethan wanted to show off his two teeth.  He’s quite proud of them.

Last week, we had no less than three play dates.  Tuesday was with 10-month-old Leyson and Harper, who is 20 days older than he.  I tried not to act too surprised when my friend started feeding Harper whole blueberries.  And lasagna.  Ethan must feel so cheated.  He thought he was doing well with Puffs.  Then, on Wednesday, another friend gave her 6-month-old daughter a teething biscuit, and I thought, “Hmmmm…I guess it’s time to take it up a notch.”

“I think this is the part where I chew.”

Ethan really enjoyed getting to play with all of the different toys at my friends’ houses.  Here’s one toy with which he was especially enthralled.  I think he could’ve spun that thing all day.

“No whammies!  No whammies!”

“Put me in, coach.”

“So…come here often?”

“You think that was funny, wait’ll you hear this one.”

Leyson and Ethan

Now, some pics from the home front:

“No, I know what a phone is.  This definitely isn’t it.”

“Upside down papysan chair ottoman ride:  my favorite!”

“Mmmm…strap.”

“Uh oh.  I don’t think she knows I’m dry-clean only.”

Ethan wasn’t having it in this one.  At least I got a good pic of cousin Landen.  :)

This coming Monday, we take Ethan to the pediatrician for his nine month check-up and shots.  So I guess I’d better go ahead and get the long overdue eight month stats in now.  Weight:  18 lbs, 8.5 oz (25-50%)  Height:  28 1/2″ (75%)  Head: 18″ (75%)  In the past six weeks, it’s been a little crazy.  For three straight weekends, we were out of town.  We returned to Dallas for the first time since we left a year ago; there, I introduced Ethan to my old co-workers at the law firm.  He enjoyed it, but he isn’t sure he wants to be a lawyer.  We attended two weddings, including Hans’ brother’s in Houston.  Hans officiated the other one.  And if that weren’t enough, I had to take a lot of naps…the culprit more than once for why I haven’t done this.  :)

During the past six weeks, though, Ethan’s been rocking and rolling.  He’s had all kinds of firsts.  Such as…

First tooth.  (He’s since added another.)

“It’s there.  Look harder.”

First time in a high chair.  (Thanks to Aunt Melissa, Uncle Sam and cousin Landen)

“I hear you serve steak.”

First time swimming.

“Is this right?”

First time in a suit.  (for his Uncle Dale’s wedding…here, with Hans’ dad)

“Is it just me, or do I look gooood?”
I’m not sure what Ethan is thinking.

First time in his new car seat.  He was pretty tired of the old one, which didn’t have him sitting upright.  Putting him in often proved to be quite the challenge, as he would resolutely and determinedly straighten his back and legs.  We finally took the hint and pulled the bigger one out of the attic…

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

I’d say first time to crawl, but we’re not quite there yet.  He scoots, he rolls, he definitely can get from place to place.  No more leaving him on the bed without a fortress of pillows surrounding him. When he first started trying to crawl, it actually looked like he was doing yoga.

“I’m in plank. Now what?”

“Move, hand…MOVE.”

He’s continued to be a great baby – quite happy for the most part, on which people often comment.  Right after they comment on the hair that sticks up.  Besides his fruits and veggies, I’ve expanded his cereals (to include quinoa, pronounced “KEEN-wah,” apparently a nutritional powerhouse of a grain) and started him on Puffs (nutritional content…?).  So far, we (Ethan, Hans and I) have tried Cherry, Banana, Strawberry Apple and Cinnamon Apple.  He can grab them, but getting them into his mouth is another matter.  Gotta work on that pincer grasp.  :)  His favorite “toys” of the moment are straps of any kind, my watch, spatulas, and your dangling earrings.  He likes his real toys, too, especially his pop links.

Anyway!  Here are some more pics from the past few fortnights:

“On beach in Acapulco…sipping juice box…fruit punch, my favorite …”

“You want a piece of me?”

“Well, I see you’re a comb-sucker, too…”

“Could I be any more pale?”

“Sigh.”

Mommy Shot

“You DO make bath time lots of fun…”

“Mom!  I’ve got morning face!”

“Enough’s enough.  I’m out.”

It’s a good thing I take Ethan to the pediatrician every month for stats, or who knows when I’d blog?  Here’re the numbers for 7 months:  Ethan’s noggin is measuring 17 3/4″, which shoots him up to the 75th percentile.  Doesn’t look like he’ll ever have to worry about being called Pinhead.  His height (27″) and weight (18 lbs, 2.5 oz) are in the 50th percentile, a far cry from his 2 month stats, when his weight (8 lbs, 9 oz) was below the 5th percentile, and his height (21 1/2″) was in the 10th.  You’ve come a long way, baby…

“Dad, it’s going to take a lot of kisses for you to catch up with Mom.”

“Let go!  I can do this!”

“What the…?  I thought my name was Little Buddy.”

Ethan has really been enjoying his Johnny Jump-Up toy.  We just hang it on the doorframe, and away he goes.  A couple of times, I’ve been in the next room while he’s playing…and it’ll get really quiet.  And here’s what I find:

All jumped out

Here’s Ethan with a couple of good friends:

Gilbe

Corissa

“So.  Um…what’s Antarctica like?”

This past Saturday, Ethan got to hang out with Ryland, who was born six days after he was.  It was a lot of fun to see the two boys playing together.  Ethan always seems to enjoy kids.  In fact, when I put the Pampers box next to him (which has a smiling baby on it), he returns the smile and sometimes even laughs.  Here they are:

Caught!

“Where’s my pina colada already?”

“Why yes, I DO work out often.”

“Is it nap time yet?”

And a few more pics before I sign off…

“Ha!  Dad doesn’t know what I just did.”

“Man.  This would be so much more fun if I could read.”

“Oh no.  Dad’s allergic to peanuts!”

I have about 10 pages to go in my Lord of the Rings bet with Evan. I’ve taken up my “seminary reading” mode—where I no longer care about how well the story is told and need to simply finish.

I had a professor at seminary talk about one of our reading assignments, giving us the exhortation to simply “get it done.” That’s where I am right now. Getting it done.

I’ll say this: this book takes a VERY long time to end. This is the longest amount of falling action I’ve ever seen.