Time for another installment in the series of time marching forward at an inexorable pace. I don't like it much, but what can you do? This time, the little munchkin that is growing up without my permission is my little baby. If I keep saying that, it will be true, right?
How is it possible this guy is one? Ethan sure keeps us on our toes. I thought that after three other kids I'd mostly know what I was doing. Ha. Ethan has defied every trick I used with the other kids, done everything his own way, and given us fits. But he's so darn cute. So here's some stuff about Ethan:
-He still doesn't do milk. His eczema has gotten better but still flares up pretty often and the poor kid itches until he bleeds sometimes. Hopefully he'll outgrow that soon.
-His sleep continues to be less than ideal, but the last three days he has miraculously started really and truly sleeping through the night. Eleven or twelve hours worth. Hallelujah! I know that now that I've written that down he'll be up every hour, but I've had three straight nights of eight hours and I'm feeling a little giddy and reckless.
-Mobility wise he's very speedy on his knees, and he does not like to sit still. His proficiency at escaping us seems to make him content with crawling. He can stand and take a few steps unaided but he's not thrilled about it and he often picks up his feet so we can't make him stand. Punk. I'm sure he'll get there eventually, but this is the story of Ethan: you will not force him to do anything until he's good and ready.
-The kid likes caves, tents, and other enclosed spaces that he can hide in. Thinks they are hilarious. He can now open the doors to our shower and that's his happy place. Which is fine most the time, not so great when we've just showered and it's a water wonderland.
-He doesn't talk much yet, but he likes to repeat sounds and I'm pretty sure he has a special sound for crackers. He also says mama once in a while, which I like to rub in Jessie's face since he brainwashed our other children.
-Personality wise we're still seeing his quirks unfold. He's an interesting mix of the other kids. (I know I'm not supposed to compare kids, but when they all look like each other, it just happens.) He's quieter and more observant than Spencer or Madeline, but he's got a high pitched scream and a secret diva inside. I'm pretty sure my eardrums are permanently damaged.
Anyway, that's probably about it for now. Four kids has been the adventure of a lifetime, but we've survived the first year, and I know without a doubt Ethan is an invaluable addition to our family. He makes us laugh, and the kids are all enamored with him. If their love doesn't kill him, we'll enjoy his antics for years to come. Happy birthday Etheroo!
