Leaps and Bounds

Ethan has accomplished so many new things this past week that I feel like my little baby has aged so much.  Earlier in the week (Tuesday 5/18), Ethan showed us his new skill of rolling around the room.  I had placed him in the center of his bedroom and ran to the restroom.  By the time I came back (it was a quick trip!) he had managed to roll to the opposite side of his room!  Unfortunately I didn't actually see this happen so I wasn't sure if he had rolled or scootched.  I found my answer the very next day when he rolled across our living room floor!  Chris and I are quickly learning how important baby proofing will be based on the fact that Ethan got a hold of the DVD player, Molly, and a filled laundry basket.  Let the games begin!

While driving home from the sitters on Tuesday, I could hear gum chewing like smacks accompanied with whispers coming from the back.  After adjusting the mirror, I noticed that Ethan was practicing talking by repeating the "dadadadada" syllable over and over.  I quickly texted Chris to inform him that his son was practicing saying his name the entire trip home.

After bath that night, Chris hovered over Ethan on the changing pad while repeating "dadadadada" himself many many times.  Lo and behold, Ethan began mocking Chris and continued to say "dadadadada."  Imagine Chris' excitement to know that Ethan's first word was his title!  How proud!

And lastly, our little one is growing into quite the piggy pie.  He wants to be fed constantly (every2 hours) as opposed to the typical 3-4 hours.  Last night while eating dinner, he finished off an entire 3 course meal:  sweet potatoes, avocado, and apples!  I bet the sitter's going to have a wonderful day today when that comes back at her :)

So This is What it's Like...

to have a baby that doesn't sleep.  Ethan got his 6 month shots this past Friday and it's been downhill ever since.  He ended up getting a fever of 101.5 Friday night as a reaction to the shots.  He would scream bloody murder whenever we laid him down.  Ultimately Ethan would fall asleep just to wake up again about an hour and a half later screaming.  He has also been waking up around 3-4 in the morning as well whining and/or screaming.  One positive aspect is having him sleep in until 9:00 this morning.  If I had to choose between sleeping in as a result of a sick baby or waking up at 7:00 with a healthy one, I'd choose option B.

Luckily Ethan's fever has broken so now we're just waiting for his sleep to get back to normal...hopefully soon!

Happy Half Birthday, Ethan!

6 months!!!!  Wow, the time has flown.  Just six short months ago I was laying in the hospital awaiting your arrival.  We wondered what you would look like, whose personality you would have, and what life would be like with you here.  I never could have imagined how you would change our lives and how our home feels that much more joyful with you in it.  In this short time we've watched you grow into such an independent little ball of energy that keeps us on our toes and our days filled with wonder.

You'll be going to the doctor for your six month visit this Friday and we'll know this how much you weigh and how tall you are.

Your bedtime continues to be around 7:00 but we have managed to occasionally push it back to around 7:30-8:00.  We put you in your crib after eating and you fall asleep fairly quickly most of the time.  There are times when Mommy and Daddy have to come back in your room because you've flipped over onto your belly and get so upset.  We just flip you back over, give you blankie to snuggle with, try the paci again and you fall to sleep.  I started to move back your "dreamfeeding" time in an attempt to wean you from it.  It was moved back as early as 8:45 before we took it out all together.  We've successfully accomplished two dreamfeedless nights at this point and you've done wonderfully.

Most mornings you are still sound asleep when I come in to wake you at 6:00.  On weekends you tend to sleep in anywhere from 7:00-8:00.

This month has brought many exciting changes in the food department.  Besides eating your typical 5 oz. bottles every 3-4 oz. you are also now on solids!!!!!  Your very first food was baby rice and since then you've tried baby oatmeal, carrots, butternut squash, apples, and sweet potatoes.  You  liked the rice and oatmeal the first few times you ate it but then suddenly, you refused to eat a single bite.  After just a bit of time you began eating the oatmeal again.  We're staying away from the rice because it made your belly hurt.  You really haven't liked any of the foods the first few times you eat them but within a few days you'll eat all of them.  Today you tried sweet potato for the first time and absolutely loved it!  This is the first food you've eaten and haven't made a single "yuck" face or faked gagging.  We're having so much fun trying all these new foods with you.

Recently we decided that it's time for you to start taking naps in your own crib.  You're getting too big for the swing at Miss Dawn's house and we don't want you to get hurt.  Mommy tested you out one morning by having you take your first nap of the day in the crib and you ended up sleeping for about 1.5-2 hours.  I initially wanted you to gradually move to the crib for all your naps but Miss Dawn decided to do an "all in" approach and had you sleeping in a crib within two days.  Some days you are only taking 2 long naps and one shorter one.  Other days you've been skipping that short nap all together and that is not a good time at all for any of us!

You are still wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  At night you wear Pampers Cruisers and haven't had a single leak since switching over.

You've been working so hard on rolling over this month and have learned to do it so quickly.  You did manage to roll from belly to back one day but, again, we haven't seen it since.  Most of the time you don't have a problem being on your belly but you definitely make it very clear when you want someone to flip you back over.  The only problem is that as soon as we flip you to your back, you just flip back over again and continue to get mad!

Lately we've been practicing sitting up a lot.  Most of the time you teeter back and forth, side to side, and eventually fall forward onto your belly.  Yesterday you were finally able to sit up for an extended period of time!  I'm so proud of you for your new skills!

Your favorite toy right now is a toss up between My Pal Scout and the VTech Farm.  Scout loves to sing your name and you have the same favorite foods, colors, and animals!  Miss Dawn recommended the VTech Farm to us and you especially love playing with this while on your belly.  The hilariously repetitious songs and flashy lights keep your attention for such a long time...at least until even you get sick of hearing the dark bark and cow moo!

This month we celebrated Mommy's very first Mother's Day.  We went out to brunch with Grandpa Craig and Grandma Linda, hung out with Grandma Connie on Skype, then spent the following day with Grandma and Grandpa Becker.  You gave me the most adorable card, wooden Mommy figurine, book, and my "Ethan" tree in the front yard.  I've been wanting a tree out front for such a long time and now I have one to watch grow just like we do with you.  Thank you for making my very first Mother's Day so wonderful.  Life is so amazing with you in it and we love how you make each and every day special.  We love you Little Man.

Birth Stats
7 lbs 11 oz. (50th percentile)
21.5 inches long (95th percentile)

1 Month Stats8 lbs 15 oz. (25th percentile)
22.5 inches long (80th percentile)

2 Month Stats11 lbs 11 oz. (50th percentile)
24.5 inches (75th percentile)
Head Circumference........... 16 inches ( 50th percentile)

4 Month Stats15 lbs 4 oz. (50th percentile)
26.25 inches (90th percentile)
Head Circumference.......17 inches (60th percentile)

6 Month Stats
17 lbs 7 oz. (45th percentile)
28 inches (87th percentile)

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

In Honor of Mother's Day

I miss you when we're not together
I'm growing up so fast
See how big I've gotten
Since you saw me last?
As I grow, I'll change a lot,
The years will fly right by.
You'll wonder how I grew so quick
When and where and why?
So look upon this handprint
That's hanging on your wall
And memories will come back of me,
When I was very small.

How Cool is Ethan?

Apparently he's #2.  The Social Security Administration just released the top baby names for 2009 and "Ethan" was 2nd in popularity on the boys' name list .  It was only to be outdone by "Jacob."  Darn you Twilight!  Of course that's in name only!  MY Ethan is #1 of course!  Here's the rest of the list just in case you're curious:

Boys:	1) Jacob	Girls:	1) Isabella
	2) Ethan		2) Emma
	3) Michael		3) Olivia
	4) Alexander		4) Sophia
	5) William		5) Ava
	6) Joshua		6) Emily
	7) Daniel		7) Madison
	8) Jayden		8) Abigail
	9) Noah		9) Chloe
	10)Anthony		10)Mia