More Christmas Pictures!

I love Aunt Jenni and Uncle Chris!

The celebrations just keep coming as we had a fabulous day with Uncle Chris, Aunt Jenni, and cousins Kaden, Aderi, and Averi! We hadn't seen them in two years and it was their first time meeting sweet Ethan! It certainly didn't feel like it though - that's always a good feeling when a long span of time can go by, but you feel like you picked right back up where you left off the last time! Ethan loved watching his big cousin Kaden play with his Hot Wheels and even showed interest in playing with Addie's barbies until daddy exchanged them for a truck =) Of course we had to get a picture of all the cousins together and low and behold, guess who's crying?? It's honestly become a joke of ours now and we look forward to his complete emotional meltdowns every.single.time we try and get a posed picture...I've got quite the collection going! 


 

 

 

Earlier in the week, we were able to get together with our dear friends who were in town for Christmas. Jordan, Raechel, and Jackson (who is two months younger than Ethan) live in Rhode Island - Wendi, Todd, and Jacob (2 1/2 months old) live in Dallas so needless to say we don't get to see them as much as we would like! Ethan was very interested in Baby Jacob while I was holding him and came over to check him out and touch his hand. It was so much fun getting the kids together (big kids and little kids)! Here is the best picture we got of the three boys... 

Ethan (16 mo.), Jackson (14 mo.), Jacob (2 1/2 mo.)

 

I love this picture of the three daddies with their boys - we all have hopes they will be fraternity brothers just like their dads. Lifelong friendships indeed =)

Daddy Pic!
 

Mommy Pic!

 

It has been such a whirlwind the last couple weeks with celebrating Christmas and all our family in town. What a fun and blessed time it's been! Now it's time to ring in the new year (aka asleep by 10pm) and look forward to all that 2014 will bring!



Christmas Recap 2013!

It's been awhile since I've posted because we've been busy celebrating CHRISTMAS!! We are so lucky to have celebrated with ALL our family this year including all grandparents and all siblings (last celebration to take place next week with Eric's brother, Chris, and his family visiting from Texas)! We have packed in as much as we possibly could over the last ten days and I wouldn't change a thing. Ethan is still too young to understand Christmas, but it was certainly fun seeing him tear a piece of wrapping paper, put a bow on top of his head, and play with all his new toys. He's been battling a bad cough for about a week now and certainly hasn't felt his best, but he's done amazing considering all the family around and being out of his "normal" nap/bedtime routine.

Our first celebration was two weeks ago with Grandpa Joe, Uncle Jeffrey, Aunt Kristen, and cousins Jayden and Kaleb. We just watched the boys play (well basically just watched Jayden entertain us all!) and had lasagna for dinner. Then we opened presents and tried to get a cousin picture like we always do when we're together. Here's what we got...

Last weekend, Pa and Gigi came up from Tennessee for a quick visit which was a nice Christmas surprise. We spent Thanksgiving with them and celebrated Christmas at that time as well. It's always a treat when Ethan gets to see his grandparents! Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with Mamaw and Papaw Endris. We had a yummy dinner followed by lots of great presents! Ethan has needed a dresser for his room so Mary went on a search and found an awesome wood dresser that she painted to match his other furniture. It's perfect!! We are so excited because we will use the top of the dresser as his changing table and then move his current changing table into the new baby's room. We will see Mamaw and Papaw Endris again next week when we get together to celebrate Christmas with Uncle Chris, Aunt Jenni, and cousins Kaden, Aderi, and Averi - we can't wait to see them!!

Christmas Eve was a busy, busy day! It was the last day for Williams Jewelry so the family met down at the store for a final celebration. Aunt Laura, Uncle John, cousins Aidan and Sydney, Uncle David, Aunt Arynn, and cousin Hutch were all in town to help celebrate Mark's retirement. We had fun hanging out for awhile, visiting with customers who stopped by, taking pictures in front of the Williams sign, and topping it off with a champagne toast! After Mark closed the doors for the final time, we headed out to Papaw and Ginka's house for dinner and our family Christmas celebration. We were joined by Great Aunt Terri and Great Uncle John who finally made it in from Colorado after a disastrous series of flight cancellations! Ethan got his first personalized sleeping bag that matches the one his cousin Jayden got!! Kristen and I are giddy just thinking about when they are at the age where we can start having cousin sleepovers!! He also got some new bath toys, a peek-a-boo puzzle, a pretend CD player since he loves music so much, and a big train table that he can use for his growing collection of trains, cars, and blocks! We got all the cousins together for a picture and you can only imagine who the crying kid was...

I'm sure it'll get better with time (and I'll give him that fact that he didn't feel 100%), but seriously...look at some of these Christmas meltdown pictures. They make me laugh every time! Eric said he looks like a character from Peanuts with his little open mouth frown when he cries!

I was excited to wake Ethan up on Christmas morning in his cute little Christmas jammies! Grandpa Joe joined us for breakfast and we exchanged our presents to each other. Ethan got a toy fire station complete with firefighter figurines and a dalmatian dog! He also got a stuffed animal dog which made him smile after opening it. We headed back out to Papaw and Ginka's the rest of the afternoon to spend time with family and enjoy some relaxation time! Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better way to spend Christmas. Like I said before, we were so happy Ethan got to see his entire family over the last two weeks...such a blessing! We are very fortunate to be surrounded by our families and watch our son grow up feeling so loved. There were plenty of times throughout this Christmas season I found myself reflecting back on last year when he was only four months old and how much he has changed in a year. I also found myself fast forwarding to next Christmas when we have TWO babies!! Ethan will definitely be more into the "spirit" of Christmas and we will have a sweet six-month old to celebrate with as well!

15 Month Stats and First Time Being Sick!

We've had one sick baby on our hands! We still can't believe it took him 15 months to get sick for the first time. It started last Wednesday after he had his doctor's appointment (maybe he picked up something there?) We had just strapped him in his highchair for dinner and he took one look at us and started throwing up! Thankfully it was an easy cleanup since he just leaned forward on the tray! But, that pretty much started a series during the next couple days of throwing up at least once during the day and then overnight in his crib.  Let's just say lots of laundry was done =) He was absolutely pitiful though - wouldn't do anything but lay on our chest and was certainly more fussy and needy than normal. It's definitely taken him a couple days to get back to his usual self, but I think we're finally there. He's certainly not losing any sleep - he has been one tired boy! It's probably in part because of all his teeth popping through too! He officially has three that have cut through and are currently in the process of coming all the way down. What a trooper!

He had a fantastic check up at the doctor last week. I'm telling you what, those nurses swoon over Ethan every time he comes in. Even the receptionist remarked at how much he had grown since his one-year appointment! He likes all the nurses until they come in to give him his shots - ouch! He got his flu shot and one for measles and chicken pox as well. He officially weighed in at 19.2 lbs. which keeps him in the < 3% (where he's been since birth). But, he definitely hit a growth spurt and is now 32 1/4" which bumps him up to the 75-90%!! Dr. Newby thinks he will be tall and skinny =)

This is my last week at work since my babysitters will be taking their finals and heading home for Christmas break. I am so happy the last couple months have worked out with them and I know they look forward to visiting him next semester. We've got family Christmas #1 this weekend with Grandpa Joe, Uncle Jeffrey, Aunt Kristen, and cousins Jayden and Kaleb. Can't wait to kick off the Christmas celebrations!

I don't want to be merry!!

15 Months Old!

Hi Family and Friends!
It may have been awhile since some of you have visited my blog. I wanted to send out a special 15-month post so I can update you on everything I've mastered in the last couple months:

• You're probably wondering if I'm walking yet...well, not yet! Maybe by Christmas. I love to cruise along the furniture and am slowly starting to let go and get more adventurous. I walk behind my musical scooter every day. And I'm one of the fastest crawlers I've ever seen!
• Last month, I learned to bend down on my knee from the standing position. It's much easier than just plopping down on my tush. I can also bend down to reach toys.
• I can now successfully place shapes in my shape sorter toy. My favorite is the blue circle. I also like to put blocks together. Before, I didn't realize they fit together. Now I can put two pieces together and then take them apart.
• I love books. Always have! Mommy and I read together every morning after my bottle. Some of my favorite books are touch & feel books, pop-ups, or books that have flaps!
  
• I am learning my animals. Every time I turn the page in my book and see the dog, I say "whoo whoo" (my version of woof, woof)! I also know when I see a cow to say "mooooooo."
• I like to hide things. Sometimes I'll take a toy and place it in the drawer, sit back and throw my hands up like "where did it go?" Then I'll open the drawer and act so surprised that I found it!
  
• I can identify my nose, head, and belly when asked where they are.
• Want to see something really cute?? My Grandpa Joe gave me a stuffed animal monkey last Christmas. If you press its belly it plays lullaby music. I am going through a phase where I love my monkey so much and love the music he plays. I cuddle with the monkey and rest my face on his and rock back and forth to the lullaby music.

• One of my favorite games is "Where's Ethan?" I'll play by putting a book in front of my face and playing peek-a-boo, crawling into another room and then poking my head around the corner, or I'll just cover my face with my hands and smile really big when someone asks "where's Ethan?" It makes me so happy!

  

  Where's Ethan?

  

  There he is!

• Can you believe I still don't have any teeth??? Don't be alarmed though. Mommy sees five teeth coming through on the TOP row and a couple of them should poke through any day! Teething hasn't really bothered me at all - I've had a fussy day here or there, but I've taken it like a champ! I'm going to look like a whole different person with teeth!
• I like to imitate people blowing their nose or sneezing. I hold a Kleenex up to my nose and say "shesh" like a sneeze. It makes people laugh!

Achoo!

• No official words yet, but mommy and daddy tell me it sounds like I say "what's that?" all the time! They are so nice and describe what everything is around me.
• I go to sleep at 7-7:15pm every night and sleep until 7:30am the next morning. I also still take a long morning nap and long afternoon nap!
• I love to help my mommy clean. After watching her clean up after every meal, I learned to take a towel and wipe down anything I can. The refrigerator, the floor, my hair, the cat...you name it!

  

  Just being silly!!

  
  

  

  Happy Boy!

As you can see, I've been a busy little bee learning so many new things! The next couple weeks will be so much fun with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. I am going to Tennessee for Thanksgiving and will meet my new baby cousin, Emery. Then over Christmas I will finally get to meet my Uncle Chris, Aunt Jenni, and cousins Kaden, Addie, and Averi visiting from Texas!! I hope you'll keep checking my blog so you can stay up-to-date on how cute I am! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

Look At Him Go!

Make sure your volume is up so you can hear his sweet "coo's"!

Allergy Testing Day!

After Ethan had a bad reaction to a scrambled egg several months ago, Dr. Newby wanted to do further allergy testing to see what else he was allergic to. He was a champ today! He sat in my lap while they drew dots on his back and then did the "prick test." He didn't cry, didn't wiggle, or fuss! The doctor tested him for eggs, peanuts, and kitties =) Little man went 2-3 and tested positive for eggs and peanuts. The doctor prescribed an epipen for us to carry in case of an emergency, but for the most part this shouldn't be a big lifestyle change. We hadn't been feeding him eggs or peanut butter anyway so we will just continue to leave that off the menu. The doctor gave us a couple websites to look at that will help educate us a little more about egg and peanut allergies in babies.

The last couple weekends have been full of family events! A couple weeks ago we headed up to Indianapolis for Jayden's 2nd birthday party which was a lot of fun. Last weekend, Mamaw watched Ethan on Saturday afternoon so mommy and daddy could go tailgate with their friends. Then Ethan spent the night at Papaw and Ginka's and got to have extra play time with Aunt Kristen, Jayden, and Kaleb. This weekend we are so excited that Aunt Laura, Uncle John, Aidan, and Sydney are all coming to visit!

Still no teeth!! We've been eyeing his pearly nubs for a couple weeks now, but they just haven't popped through yet! Ethan is babbling SO much right now and has really picked up on mimicking our behavior. I'll include a couple funny things he's doing now during his 15-month update next week. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!

I like to look out the window!

What's under there??

Still love walking with my scooter!