Mommy's Helper

This is Ethan's favorite new hang-out spot. Nevermind that the cabinet already has stuff in it, he'll just help Mommy and clean it out. In our next house, we will definitely remember to put safety latches in the bathrooms, too!

Not My Baby Anymore

Can you believe this picture??!!! Where did my baby boy go?

Growing Up!

It seems that there was an explosion in Ethan's understanding and interest in learning at 13 months and it continues as we have entered his 14th month. We are so thrilled to hear him as he has a "conversation" with us and is able to answer some of our questions. This is such a glorious time to watch him and he truly is a sponge right now taking it all in!

He understands almost all of what we say. Ben can ask if he wants to ride in his car (Cozy Coupe) and he will run to it, climb in, then wait for Daddy to push him around the house. I can ask if he has a poopy diaper, wants to go to school, or go night-night and I am sure that you will know the answer to all of those...it is, of course, that cute little "Noooo" with a shake of the head and in the sweetest little voice.

Here are the words he is using most often right now:

MaMa
DaDa
MiMi
Ball (Bo-with a short o)
Bath (Ba-with a short a, then running to the stairs, crawling up, and running all the way to his bathroom)
No (with a sweet tilted head and in the most precious voice)
Uh-Oh (Uh, he forgets the Oh)
Yum-Yum (NumNum)
Sit (Zit)
Banana (Nana)
Moo
Duck
Yes (Ya- with a short a and of course not used near as often as No)

This Little Man also gives the sweetest hugs and kisses. He wraps both arms all the way around you and just holds on tight, then starts to pat your back with his little hands. Sometimes he'll even surprise you with an open mouthed kiss right on the lips! With the cutest little grins and giggles and all the love he has to give, we couldn't be more blessed.

Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Ethan!

Seriously...

Don't let this sweet little innocent face fool you!

After I put Ethan down for his nap this morning, I sat down to do a little work for my part-time job. A few minutes later, I check the monitor and saw the black fuzzy screen. Hmmmm...I switched the channel to see if maybe it had accidentally gotten changed, but that didn't work. So I decide to go upstairs and try to sneak in without being seen. This little stinker had reached down behind his crib, unplugged the camera, wrapped the cord through the slats at the back of the crib, then wrapped them again through the side of the crib, and finally threw the plug over the top of the crib so that it could swing back and forth. Really!!!

And I thought the last safe place in the house was his crib.

What do we do now?

How do you get outsmarted by a 1 year old?

Through the first gate...
And the second gate...

We have a long road ahead of us! At least he latched the top gate after he got up there. What in the world do we do now???!!!

Playin' in the Buff

What's a baby to do on a hot day? Play naked in the backyard, of course.

Of course, like any good play time with Daddy, there has to be a chase scene. Grab the rubber ducky from the pool and run!