Trip to the Park

The weather has been so wonderful lately, so I decided it was about time Ethan tried out one of the baby swings at the park. We picked up Rebecca from school (the 10 year old I'm a nanny for), and headed over. E really liked the swing, but mostly because he liked to watch the kid next to him swing past him. He also tried out the slide, which he had pretty much no opinion about. I think his favorite thing about the park was watching all the other kids run and scream. There's a glint in his eye that tells me he just might be a handful once he gets the whole walking thing down. I believe this kid is ready to go, and go fast. We'll see... for now, here's some pictures from the other day:

Becca pushing E. She calls him her "brother from another mother." It's pretty cute.

Intrigued by the kid next to him (I love the sun in this one).

Letting his hair blow in the breeze.

"Hey, I think I like this!"

Ethan Dancing

Check out Ethan's dancing skills!

Just a little bragging

since I can't think of anything else to write about. Mr. Ethan is definitely keeping us on our toes lately. He's everywhere, all the time, ready to play (usually with things that are NOT his toys), and pretty much never sits still.

He has been doing some pretty cute things lately, though, and I thought I'd share. He's really into the dancing lately. Pretty much anytime he hears music, he shakes his little booty. If he's sitting, he shimmys side to side and claps. So adorable, I'll try to get Cory to make a video (I don't have the software on my computer, sorry).

But the thing I really love is that two nights ago we were sitting in his chair reading a few books as usual, and he reached up and turned the page. I thought it was a fluke, but he's done it every time we read. He waits for me to finish the page, and then he reaches up and turns it. So freaking cool, I almost cried. I'm just proud that he's really into the reading thing. In school, I heard how important reading is from the very beginning, so we've always done it. For him to start turning pages showed me that it really is important and he really does get it. So awesome. Okay, I'm done now, you can stop rolling your eyes ;)

Oh, and of course, I'll leave you with a picture. I realized I've been slacking in the photography department, so I've placed the camera in a convenient (but unreachable to 9 month olds) place in hopes of taking more pictures.

Ethan's Goofy Laugh

This is Ethan's hilarious laugh that started about a week ago.

9 months old... oh, and 8 months too

Yep, that's right I'm just now getting around to posting the 9 months photos, only 11 days overdue. At least it's not as bad as one month and 11 days overdue, oh wait the 8 month pics were never posted... oh well.

You see, this whole monthly picture thing is really starting to stink. I used to wake up eager to dress my cutie pie, grab my fancy new camera and a blanket and head out to take pictures. Now? Not so much. The kid just won't sit still. Frankly, I'm surprised no stickers were eaten off his shirt the past few months. Not to mention, it's too freaking cold to go outside, so the lighting is not so great. But you know what? Only three more photo shoots to go, and then I'll be crying about how I miss taking those monthly pictures and watching him change so much. You'll just have to deal with that when we get there, so be prepared. For now, the 9 month post:

We went to the doctor yesterday for his check-up and the little man is 18 lbs 14 oz and 29 and 1/4 inches long. That puts him in the 25th and 75th percentile, respectively. We've got one tall skinny boy. He's gotten really picky about eating, but the doc says the weight drop is normal since he's so active now, so he's not concerned. (I can see my mom chuckling with a "ha ha, you get to deal with a picky eater now, that's what you get for all those years of not touching one single vegetable." Laugh it up Mom, you have to feed him too when you babysit, so there). Anyway, everything else went great, and E showed the doctor how he's a big ham and how he can't sit still. The doc also warned me that it looks like he could be walking any day now, but I'm not sure I believe it just yet.

He is crawling though, and pulling up, and cruising everything in sight. He gets around using walls, shelves, mommy's legs, toilets, you name it. He can also climb the stairs now, and FAST. If he disappears around the corner while I'm washing bottles, he's already halfway up the stairs before I can dry my hands to grab him. Don't worry, ottomans are now in place to stop him until we get a gate.

He can also clap, wave, and he talks up a storm. He had been saying "bye" when he waves goodbye to people, but he hasn't done it lately. He's also started this goofy fake laugh that we have to show you a video of. It's kind of creepy, but cute. Oh, and the dancing. The kid dances all the time. I usually have music going, or there's music on his toys, and he loves to shake his booty. I'll have to get a video of that up too.

So, now for the pictures, perhaps taken a couple of days past his actual 9 month birthday.

I tried to sit him up in the chair, he had other plans of rolling around.

"Hi Mom"

So we tried the floor

But he wanted to go play, so I just followed him around.

Love the hair.

Daddy helped get a smile outta him

Ok Mom, I'm done, gotta go.

And here's the 8 month pictures that I deprived you of for a month:

Is it crazy that I think he looks so much younger here?

Silly boy.

He was already on the go then too. This crazy kid is keeping me constantly moving.

Christmas with the Whitsetts

Please excuse the picture overload, I have trouble choosing which ones to post, and I don't want to leave anyone out.

These are from last weekend when we went to Southlake (DFW area) to celebrate Christmas with Cory's brothers and family, as well as his aunt and uncle from Nacogdoches. Ethan was well behaved on the trip, although he was a little shy the first day. Who knew our little ham could be shy? He warmed up eventually and showed off his silly side. It was great to see everyone, and we had a lot of fun. I'll stop rambling and just show you pictures now.

with Aunt Elecee

Of course the little man found a coffee table to bang on.


The next few are from our "Christmas morning"

Ethan liked his new xylophone from Gary and Elecee

Grayson in his new ninja suit

Madeline and Grayson put on a show for us.

Ethan helping in the kitchen.

Well, sort of...

Playing with his cousins.

A sweet one with Daddy.

Well, I guess this means Christmas is officially over, although my Christmas decorations may still be up. Great to see everyone! Let's make the next one sooner rather than later, mmkay?

Oh, and Happy New Year!

We left for Southlake on New Year's Day, so I completely forgot to post. We're back now, and our bags are unpacked, which is completely out of character for me. I'm usually more of an unpack a month later kind of girl, but I decided this should be one of my "resolutions" for the New Year, even if it is just this one time.

Anyway, I hopped in bed with my Dr. Pepper planning to go through pictures from the weekend, but I thought I'd better go in order. Plus, I'm tired, and going in order means I only have to go through two pictures.

So, New Year's Eve, more importantly Cory's Birthday was a lovely evening. We had Nana come over to spoil Ethan while we enjoyed a great dinner at Houston's with some of our nearest and dearest friends. Afterward, we went out and stayed out until 1 a.m. (gasp!). It was the first time this has happened in, oh, nine months or so. Heck, I don't think I've stayed out past 10 in the last nine months, and probably even longer than that if you count that whole pregnancy thing. It was wonderful to get out, and Cory had a wonderful birthday.

A picture of us from that evening (at the end of the evening actually, that's why we look so tired):


New Year's Day was spent at my grandparents where we had a great lunch with the family before getting on the road. 2009 has been such a great year for us, especially because of the little blessing currently asleep down the hall. We feel so lucky to have our adorable baby boy, great family and friends, and a wonderful place to call home. Hopefully 2010 will be just as great, if not better. Happy New Year!

Happy 9 Months!

E is 9 months today, but we're in the DFW this weekend, so the photo shoot was postponed. We are having a great time celebrating Christmas with the Whitsett side, and will head back tomorrow with our tummies full of great food, our trunk full of presents, and our camera full of photos to share. And hopefully, the 9 month shoot won't take as long to get posted as the 8 month one did (anyone actually notice that I failed to do an 8 month post?). Perhaps you'll get a two-in-one.