Ethan - 1 year!

Wow! I know this phrase is overused, but this year has flown by. It seems like yesterday that we were welcoming our precious baby boy into the world.  I remember that day like it was yesterday, and here we are at your one year birthday!

Ethan,

  The last year has been a whirlwind of emotions.  You are such a sweetheart and your smile makes my heart so, so happy.  It's been so fun watching you grow from a 6 lb. 10 oz baby to a healthy 19 pound boy.  You live your days looking for trouble and aggravating your sister. 

Your beautiful eyes and your bald head gain you most of your attention.  I can't get enough of your sweet head on my cheek and your big, brown eyes staring back at me as I make you laugh. 

On May 19 a year ago I could have never imagined how life would be in a year.  I'm beyond grateful for what the Lord has blessed us with in you. The second I met you I felt a special connection with you.  It's so true that loving a little boy is so different than loving a  little girl.  You have stolen my heart in a whole new way and I'm afraid of what that might mean for me in the future - ha! I'm afraid you will pretty much get a way with everything! 

Who could resist this sweetness?!

This past year with you has strengthened my relationship with the Lord and with your daddy.  We've had many hard times and struggles with your health, but it's all been beyond worth it.   You still aren't the best sleeper at night, but I guess your day time sleep makes up for it.  You still take a morning nap and my guess is that you will continue to do that for several more months.  You sleep 2-3 hours in the afternoons and you are usually ready for bed by 7:30.  When you are awake you are moving, moving, moving.  You aren't walking yet, but you have taken a couple of baby steps and you are standing up on your own.

Milestones you've reached this year:

• Rolling from stomach to back and back to stomach
• Smiling
• Sitting up
• Sitting from laying
• Rolling across the floor
• Crawling
• Pulling up
• Standing alone 
• Climbing
• Self-feeding
• Clapping (you usually hit your knees instead of hitting your hands together)
• You just started "dancing"

You typically repeat ANY sound we make, but some of your regular words are:

• Hannah - You say her name so clearly 100 times a day!
• Milk
• Ball
• Diaper
• No, No, No
• Night-Night
• Daddy
• Mommy
• Bye

At one year you:

• Self feed yourself almost everything - been off baby food for about a month
• Wear size 3 diapers
• Wear mainly 3-6 month bottoms and 12 month tops
• Drink whole milk from a sippy cup 
• Nurse morning and night
• Still just have two bottom teeth
• Sleep 11-12 hours at night, waking once for a minute of cuddle time
• Love aggravating your sister.  You pull her hair and just giggle, giggle (she takes enough of your toys away for us to think this is funny - ha!)
• Cruising around furniture and acting more brave about walking soon
• Hiss like a snake
• "pop" your lips at us
• Getting interested in books
• Love playing with toys, sticks, brushes...anything within reach

Sweet Ethan, you steal this momma's heart all over again every day, with every breath you take.  I'm so thankful for you and the little boy you are becoming.  You are so curious and active and I just laugh at you the majority of the day.  I think you like to think you are 3 and can do everything sister does...you sure try, at least. As excited as I am to see you grow and interact, I'm sad to see my baby growing up so fast.  No matter what, you'll always be my sweet baby boy. 

Love, Mommy