7 months

Ethan is 7 months old. This month was full of changes for Ethan. He is a baby on the move. After crawling around the living room for a couple weeks, he ventured out and discovered the rest of the house. He also started pulling himself up on the couch and anything else he can find. Ethan is enjoying eating more foods. Unfortunately we also had colds and croup but are on the mend.

Weight: 20lbs 14 ounces
Height: about 28 inches
Clothes: He wears mostly 6-9 months and 9 month clothes
Diapers: size 3 diapers but mostly cloth during the day
Naps: We aim for 2 naps, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Night sleep. Ethan goes to bed between 8:30 and 9 and wakes up between 6:45 and 7:45. He wakes up sometimes in the middle of the night.
Nursing: He nurses 4 times a day: around 7:30 am, 12 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm. He is getting faster mostly because he is a little distracted and wants to play.
Eating: we introduced solids and Ethan is a fan most of the time. He hated rice cereal but has enjoyed most other foods. He loves banana, apple and avocado the most. He also eats (tolerates): pear, sweet potato, squash and carrots. I have mango in the freezer to try soon.

Crawling in full force

Dinner. I think it was avocado and sweet potato

And lego as a garnish!

Post dinner musical fun. 

You know it was a good meal when you are wearing most of it!

Best place to play...under the exersaucer

Helping daddy organize his tackle box

If it tastes good...its good!

Chris's Birthday

Chris's birthday is on January 14th and he came to me in December with an idea for something he wanted to do: an Olympic weightlifting class. I said sure and he signed up as my gift to him. About six months after we got married in 2009, Chris got stung by the workout bug and he has been hardcore since then. He really takes care of himself and watches what he eats and works out (hard) every morning. Since mid-July he has been getting up around 6 am to workout before work so he can hang out with Ethan and I in the evening. I am so proud of him for the time and energy he has put into this.

For his birthday we decided to go out for dinner and have a family date at McAlisters and then Ethan helped Chris unwrap his presents.

Chris, I love you so much. You are the best husband and daddy in the world. Excited for the next year and getting to spend it with you!

Chris and Ethan unwrapping (or eating the paper) 

Christmas 2: with the Johnsons

We enjoyed celebrating Christmas #2 with the Johnsons the second weekend in January. Everyone was healthy and we were able to enjoy some family time with them. Family is such a blessing!

Uncle Ben and Aunt Rebecca

Hanging out with grandma and the hot pad (what was the hot pad doing there???)

Getting some help from Ben to unwrap his present

Enjoying his table just like Liza's.

Ben showing of the men shirts

Johnson's Bait & Tackle....ready to go fishing?

pulling himself up on the table!

Love this sweet boy!

6 months

Ethan is 6 months old. We can't believe a whole half a year has gone by since he arrived. For his half birthday Ethan decided to make some leaps and bounds developmentally. Last week he started crawling. We wouldn't call it a normal crawl but in his own unique fashion he is crawling. He also started sitting up unassisted. We bought a nice rug for our living room which helped both of these. He goes from his belly to sitting up fairly well and if he wants to get to something he will get it. Along with this extra output of energy came extra overnight feedings. We are introducing solids (yay) and hoping this will help to curb his hunger overnight.

Weight: 18 pounds 11.5 ounces (69th percentile)

Height: 27.75 inches (88th percentile - he is tall)

Head circumference: 43.4 (52nd percentile)

Clothes: he mostly wears 6 months and 6 to 9 month clothes. 

Diapers: size 3 diapers, after a couple week hiatus with a diaper rash, traveling and cold we are back to cloth diapers during the day except for naps and nighttime sleep.

Naps: these are still a work in progress but we aim for 2 naps a day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. 

Night sleep: He goes to sleep around 9 and wakes up around 7 - 8 and what happens in between is still a mystery to us. Some nights he sleeps through, some nights he wakes up once, some nights he wakes up twice. 

Eating: We introduced solids last week. So far he has tried rice cereal and bananas. He is not a fan of rice cereal and seems to really like the bananas. He still would prefer nursing over either of the other options but is getting there. Next we are going to try some sweet potato.

Playing with his ball

Starting the workouts early

See mommy I can sit up all by myself!

A table just like Liza's 

Sweet boy

Happy Birthday Daddy! I will help you open your presents

Mostly just eat the paper

Playing with Turner.

Two videos

These are two videos from Christmas with family.

Ethan and Liza playing on the floor together. They did this a lot since they were 7 and 5 months old and that is what they do.

Ethan giggling for Betsy. She sure can make him laugh.

Christmas 2013

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

We spent Christmas 2013 at Peter and Betsy's house in Virginia with all the Rices. We drove up on Sunday and thankfully had an uneventful trip up. It was wonderful to spend time together as a family since it doesn't happen frequently. We had decided there were a couple things we wanted to do other than relax and enjoy each others company. We went to the National Arboretum and saw the train display, went on a couple walks, went to a Christmas Eve Service as a family, read the Christmas story as a family, worked on a puzzle, went on a hike and had an amazing Christmas dinner with friends and family. We also enjoyed seeing our dear friends, Andrew, Adrienne, Ryan, Mary and William Boyd.

With 4 kids under the age of 5 Christmas day was very eventful and fun. For the youngest two it was there first Christmas and they really were only interested in eating the paper. I don't have many pictures but here are some. (Need to get some from Betsy!)

My First Christmas!! YAY!!

Playing with Liza.

Sweet Liza. She is two months older. Can't wait for them to play together more!

Daddy sitting behind Ethan to avoid falling backwards

Karen...love my sister

The amazing rope swing in the backyard.

Peter kept reassuring me I would not hit the tree and I never did

Chris on the swing

Christmas Eve Family Picture

Karen and Ethan talking...funny story: she was holding him during church and he made the pooping face and sure enough 10 seconds later he pooped for the entire church to hear. We were all laughing for a couple minutes!

All four kiddos!

Happy baby!

Playing with Liza on the floor

With Adrienne Boyd!

Checking out the gifts still under our tree for Johnson family Christmas this weekend