Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
a case of the giggles
Our boy has got the sweetest laugh ever! He had the giggles for probably a good 5 minutes at lunch today. So sweet!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
15 months
Fall is here already and our toddler is now a big 15 month old! Our little man is slowly but surely gaining confidence in his walking skills and walks from one large object (couch, person, etc) to another large object all the time. When we walk together he prefers now to just hold on to one of our fingers. So, he can definitely walk, but loves the security of having us nearby.Ethan is also quite the babbler these days! At current count he can say 9 words: dog (da), duck (also da), mama (very seldom but when he says it I just melt!), dada/daddy (by far his favorite word), grandpa (da-da), grandma (na-na), nap (bamp), cracker, (something with a "ck" sound), and blankie. He can sign "more" and "all done" and wave "hi" and "bye." He has tried out a variety of other words as well - donkey, water, hi, and papa but those aren't too consistent yet. He can also tell us what a sheep, horse and lion all sound like (something that still never gets old!). Oh and he can "sneeze" too.
And of course he continues to keep on growing! When we took him to the pediatrician in Minnesota he weighed in at 31 pounds. Whoa. No wonder most of his clothes are either 2T or 24 month in size! So far he has 4 top teeth and 4 bottom teeth but he is definitely in the process of teething at least one (if not more) molars.
Our days are very active. He loves to cruise all over the house and our stairs have become a particular favorite. He giggles a lot, and loves to read his books out loud. He is a little scientist - testing out all sorts of new discoveries in our house and worms his way into the tiniest little spaces behind chairs and in our closets. We go for a long walk almost every day and try to get to the park where his favorite thing to do is still SWING! He likes to walk with us hand in hand, leading the way to check out whatever has currently peaked his curiosity.
He is starting to test his boundaries a little bit now and definitely makes his opinion known (i.e. a lot of "resistance" when leaving the park).
He is growing up. We sure love our boy!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
airplanes and airports, oh my!
I was a little nervous about flying with Ethan - my very curious toddler - all by myself and so packed up a ton of books, a toy train and lots of snacks to try and pass the 1.5 hour flight. On our way to Minnesota our flight left a little early and was fairly smooth.
Our journey home however, had a few minor bumps. Pete took a separate flight and airline home that left at 3:30 on Monday. Ethan and I were scheduled to fly out at 5 and so my dad and step mom dropped us off at the airport at 3. Enough time to check in, get through security and get the wiggles out before boarding the plane.
Ethan was already not having it while we waited in line to check in. (Understandable as we had just finished a 3 plus hour car ride and he has molars coming in). Once we got through security I checked the monitors to discover that our plane was delayed and expected to leave at 7:45!!! That left us with FOUR hours to kill at the airport before our flight left.
After a quick trip to the bathroom for a diaper change and a few tears (shed mainly by me) we set off and discovered the most wonderful blessing ever - a playland!
And so we broke up our 4 hour afternoon/evening by playing in the play land, walking laps around the terminal, getting a snack, walking around the chairs, diaper changes, etc.
Somehow, the time passed and it was time to board. Seeing as how it was 7:45 and already at least an hour past Ethan's usual bed time, he was one wired tired toddler. Ethan didn't sleep at all on the plane as there was just too much to do and see. He didn't cry but was one wild boy, and could hardly sit still. We got home at 9:45pm totally exhausted and finally got to go to sleep!
After the initial tears shed when I first learned we were stuck for 4 hours at the airport I got to thinking about all the blessings that God provided even though it was a crappy situation:
1. The lady who helped carry my luggage to the baggage drop off when she saw me struggling with a suitcase, pack n play, car seat and stroller with toddler who was starting to melt.
2. The lady who carried my stroller down to the airplane when she saw me trying to calm Ethan down.
3. The tray tables on the airplane. Seriously-this provided entertainment for at least a third of each of our flights.
4. The boy sitting in front of us on the airplane on our flight home who was playing his game boy. Ethan kept trying to peek through the seat to watch him and it helped to keep his attention even though he was so very tired.
5. The play land at the airport in Minneapolis!
6. Calm hearts. I prayed and prayed that especially on our flight home Ethan (and I) would be able to make it through without a meltdown and we made it! All a work of the Holy Spirit to be sure, considering that we both could have been a basket case after such a long day!
Our journey home however, had a few minor bumps. Pete took a separate flight and airline home that left at 3:30 on Monday. Ethan and I were scheduled to fly out at 5 and so my dad and step mom dropped us off at the airport at 3. Enough time to check in, get through security and get the wiggles out before boarding the plane.
Ethan was already not having it while we waited in line to check in. (Understandable as we had just finished a 3 plus hour car ride and he has molars coming in). Once we got through security I checked the monitors to discover that our plane was delayed and expected to leave at 7:45!!! That left us with FOUR hours to kill at the airport before our flight left.
After a quick trip to the bathroom for a diaper change and a few tears (shed mainly by me) we set off and discovered the most wonderful blessing ever - a playland!
And so we broke up our 4 hour afternoon/evening by playing in the play land, walking laps around the terminal, getting a snack, walking around the chairs, diaper changes, etc.
Somehow, the time passed and it was time to board. Seeing as how it was 7:45 and already at least an hour past Ethan's usual bed time, he was one wired tired toddler. Ethan didn't sleep at all on the plane as there was just too much to do and see. He didn't cry but was one wild boy, and could hardly sit still. We got home at 9:45pm totally exhausted and finally got to go to sleep!After the initial tears shed when I first learned we were stuck for 4 hours at the airport I got to thinking about all the blessings that God provided even though it was a crappy situation:
1. The lady who helped carry my luggage to the baggage drop off when she saw me struggling with a suitcase, pack n play, car seat and stroller with toddler who was starting to melt.
2. The lady who carried my stroller down to the airplane when she saw me trying to calm Ethan down.
3. The tray tables on the airplane. Seriously-this provided entertainment for at least a third of each of our flights.
4. The boy sitting in front of us on the airplane on our flight home who was playing his game boy. Ethan kept trying to peek through the seat to watch him and it helped to keep his attention even though he was so very tired.
5. The play land at the airport in Minneapolis!
6. Calm hearts. I prayed and prayed that especially on our flight home Ethan (and I) would be able to make it through without a meltdown and we made it! All a work of the Holy Spirit to be sure, considering that we both could have been a basket case after such a long day!
end of summer vacation
We were pretty excited to see that Southwest had some great deals on flights to Minnesota and so took advantage and booked a trip to Minnesota for the last week of August through Labor Day Monday. Pete likes to say that I was "working remotely" from Dewey Lake (my dad's house).
So, Ethan and I packed up our bags and flew on the big blue airplane to Minneapolis where my dad and step mom came to pick us up and drive us 3 hours in their blue van to grand old Dewey Lake. Ethan did GREAT on the flight-although he was much more interested in trying to explore the airplane than look at all of the books that I packed him. More on that later.
So, rundown of what we did.
Lots of meals at the kitchen table in the "restaurant" high chair.
Lots of swinging on the porch swing outside.
A whole lot of walking hand in hand to explore outside. Ethan was very clear on where he wanted to go, and often led us to the lake.
Lots of walking around the house to explore every nook and cranny.
We went on a walk in the stroller almost every day with Grandma Bonnie. One day we got stuck in the middle of a rain storm almost 2 miles from home. We were soaked!
Pete flew in for Labor Day weekend and so the boys were both pretty happy to have some quality Dad/Son time.
Labor Day weekend was a fun family weekend and we got to spend time with my aunt and uncle and several cousins. My five year old cousin Lexi told me that "she really likes being with Ethan." So sweet!
What is not pictured are the 2 (yes 2!) trips we took to the pediatrician while we were there - diagnoses were a cold, yeast infection and then a second rash that turned out to be something viral from his cold. So, considering all of THAT Ethan was a major trooper and we really had a great, great time! We left, as always, wishing we lived a little closer so that we could spend more time - but so happy that we got to take a last minute trip to enjoy the end of summer!
So, Ethan and I packed up our bags and flew on the big blue airplane to Minneapolis where my dad and step mom came to pick us up and drive us 3 hours in their blue van to grand old Dewey Lake. Ethan did GREAT on the flight-although he was much more interested in trying to explore the airplane than look at all of the books that I packed him. More on that later.
So, rundown of what we did.
Lots of meals at the kitchen table in the "restaurant" high chair.
Lots of swinging on the porch swing outside.
A whole lot of walking hand in hand to explore outside. Ethan was very clear on where he wanted to go, and often led us to the lake.
Lots of walking around the house to explore every nook and cranny.
We went on a walk in the stroller almost every day with Grandma Bonnie. One day we got stuck in the middle of a rain storm almost 2 miles from home. We were soaked!
Pete flew in for Labor Day weekend and so the boys were both pretty happy to have some quality Dad/Son time.
Labor Day weekend was a fun family weekend and we got to spend time with my aunt and uncle and several cousins. My five year old cousin Lexi told me that "she really likes being with Ethan." So sweet!
What is not pictured are the 2 (yes 2!) trips we took to the pediatrician while we were there - diagnoses were a cold, yeast infection and then a second rash that turned out to be something viral from his cold. So, considering all of THAT Ethan was a major trooper and we really had a great, great time! We left, as always, wishing we lived a little closer so that we could spend more time - but so happy that we got to take a last minute trip to enjoy the end of summer!
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