Do you remember this post? Back in May, I was amazed by all of Ethan's changes in the span of a little over a week. After the new things I witnessed yesterday, the list of changes from that old post seems like nothing! Here's what our little goober accomplished in one short day:
- Said "banana" to request his favorite food - Said "hi" to me when I entered his room after nap time - Waved "bye bye" every single time he was prompted - Slid down backwards off of the couch instead of nose-diving
Oh, and today he accomplished one more thing... Ethan started to walk. He can WALK! He took three steps in a row tonight. Hurrah!
Ethan is 13 months old, has 16 teeth, weighs 25 pounds, and is 32 inches tall. He can say Dada, Mama, baby, yeah, hi, thank you, nana (or banana, depending on his mood), gege (for doggie), baa (after we ask what sound a sheep makes) and blah (the sound that his dragon toy makes). He crawls at lightning speed, eats as many finger foods as he can get his hands on, and rejects all things baby. He's a big boy now...
... quite possibly the most gorgeous big boy in the world.
I've developed a lot of obsessions over the past year. There are baby products that I couldn't live without. There are tools of convenience that make mommyhood, well, more convenient. There are Ethan's chubby little toes and sweet chipmunk cheeks that beg to be squished, pinched, kissed, and tickled.
And then there's the iPhone 3GS. More specifically, the video function of the iPhone 3GS. I was hooked from the moment I pressed the record button. It's sleek. It's accessible. It's easy. I'm obsessed.
It's become a bit unhealthy, I must admit, as I'm starting to view my life in video clips. Instead of simply enjoying the moment, I frequently think, "Gee, I should really grab my phone and take a video of (insert heartwarming or funny baby behavior here)."
Not wanting to be unproductive, I've decided to make use of my newfound obsession by posting some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure. To make it a bit more interesting, I've also decided to challenge you to come up with a witty title for the last video clip. Leave your best idea in a comment on this post, and the winner* will be chosen and announced for all to admire. *Note - the "prize" for the "winner" of this "contest" is an ego-boosting dose of pride.
Don't be daunted by the amount of videos below... most are only fifteen to thirty seconds long!
Ethan cozies up with his toys
Learning how to walk
Saying "gege" (E's form of "doggie")
Playing in the park with Dada
Learning how to play fetch
Max doesn't want to share
Grass feels super icky
Contest clip - take your best shot!
Well, what are you waiting for? Name! That! Video!
Did you know that 2+2+2 = 1? It's true! When you combine...
~ 2 family visits full of fun
~ 2 yummy birthday cakes
~ and 2 sets of presents to open
You end up with 1 unforgettable experience for a super lucky birthday boy!
Thanks to Pa-Pa, Aunt Mary, Great-Great Aunt Anne, Great-Great Aunt Wanda, Mima, and Poppa (and all other family and friends who were with us in spirit!) for making Ethan's first birthday so memorable!
One year ago, Ethan James Notch was born. 365 days later, my heart has at least tripled in size. 8760 hours have passed since our lives have changed in beautifully complicated ways. 525,600 minutes of incredible memories have been captured both in mind and on film, thanks to my fabulous artist husband. 31,536,000 seconds have been spent thinking about, loving, protecting, relishing, playing with, smelling, feeding, bathing, diapering, snuggling, kissing, teaching, learning from, and being thankful for my beautiful baby boy.
I've been thinking a lot about birthday wishes lately. This is probably due to the hours spent agonizing over the logistics of a party for a one-year-old who could care less about unwrapping presents or blowing out birthday candles. To him, it's just another day, perhaps slightly more overwhelming, but normal nonetheless. To me, it's so much more.
Since Ethan doesn't understand birthday wishes yet, I figured I should make some for him.
I wish you a lifetime of happiness spent with those who love you.
I wish for you the tools to get you where you want to go.
I wish for you to always find joy in the little things.
I wish you a life full of excitement.
And, finally, just in case you get your Mama's sweet tooth, I wish for you to get your Daddy's metabolism!
This time last year, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little boy. I was as big as a house (check out this post for photographic proof of my prodigious pregnant belly). I was uncomfortable, but excited. I was on constant contraction alert, and did the "freeze-count-wait" thing about ten times a day, wondering if I was going into labor. I took naps whenever I wanted whenever I could get comfortable enough, knowing that my sleep patterns were about to drastically change. I obviously knew that I loved my baby, but I had no idea how deep that love would become. I feel like I remember this time last year like it was yesterday.
But recently, I discovered that memories that are oh-so-sweet can be oh-so-fleeting.
Our friends Matt and Laurie recently celebrated the arrival of their second precious baby boy. Holding a floppy, gurgly, cooing, tiny newborn again made me realize how much time has passed since Ethan was born.
There are things I can't remember: ~ how intense my labor was (I read this to remind myself) ~ living in a world of equal parts euphoria and insomnia ~ Ethan's newborn noises, smell, mannerisms, and habits ~ how often Ethan nursed and napped in the first few months ~ putting him down and knowing that he would stay in that spot ~ Ethan weighing under twenty pounds
There are things I hope I never forget: ~ my baby's sweet disposition and joyful laugh ~ watching him figure things out and discover his world ~ the excitement of his "firsts" ~ what his smile looks like with only a few teeth ~ how incredibly grateful I am for this little boy
Luckily, I've got a photographer/filmmaker on permanent retainer, and he's madly documenting each and every phase. Here's Ryan's latest project:
*If video is jumpy, pause it and let it completely load, then restart from the beginning*
We're back, loyal readers! Did you miss us? You'll have to excuse us for our absence - I wanted to write, but one's poetic wax instantaneously melts in the hot Texas sun. We just got back from our summer vacation to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, and have plenty to tell ya'll! Ethan flew through so many developmental milestones that our heads are still spinning. Included on his long list of new tricks is learning how to clap, high-five, wave bye bye, say the word baby, drink from a straw and a "big boy" cup, and starting to cruise (which is taking a few steps while holding on to something for support, for all you non-baby-owning people out there)! We had a lot of fun visiting Mima and Poppa and countless friends-that-are-like-family, including the Wilders, the Fullers, and the Quattrochis!
We also visited the Alamo in San Antonio...
... and the State Capital Building in Austin.
While in Austin, we took Ethan to watch the bats fly from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Though you can't see them in this picture, the sky was peppered with an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats. It was quite a sight to behold.
Being spoiled by the temperate Bay Area climate, we forgot all about what Summer weather really feels like. Ethan beat the heat in a baby pool Mima and Poppa set up for him, and loved splashing around and spraying the spectators with the turtle head fountain.
Here's some post-pool photographic proof that Ethan can clap...
... and may even start juggling one of these days!
Perhaps one of the most special parts of our trip was Ryan's first Father's Day. We kept things low key as Ryan unfortunately developed a case of food poisoning the night before, but made sure to let him know how much he means to us! Ryan humored me and allowed (for one day only) matching Daddy-Baby outfits. He also handed over his camera and allowed me to snap this rare picture, not only of the coordinating wardrobe, but also of Ryan in front of the lens for once. Ethan adores him and thinks that Ryan is the funniest fellow. Just look at that joy on his face! Happy Father's Day, Ryan - we love you!
Playing with my Exersaucer for hours, Banging out tunes on my musical flowers, Toys linked together with colorful rings, These are a few of my favorite things.
From out of her purse snacks that Mama produces, Sippy cups filled up with yummy fruit juices, Stuffing my face when the dinner bell dings, These are a few of my favorite things.
When I fall down, When I'm teething, When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad!
Ethan is 13 months old, has 16 teeth, weighs 25 pounds, and is 32 inches tall. He can say Dada, Mama, baby, yeah, hi, thank you, nana (or banana, depending on his mood), gege (for doggie), baa (after we ask what sound a sheep makes) and blah (the sound that his dragon toy makes). He crawls at lightning speed, eats as many finger foods as he can get his hands on, and rejects all things baby. He's a big boy now... 
... quite possibly the most gorgeous big boy in the world.
