Finally Spring!

We are absolutely loving the spring weather and being outside. So much that I am really behind with pictures and updates! Well that I keep forgetting to take the camera with me. I guess I should just keep it in the diaper bag. We celebrated Easter today with friends, having a delicious meal, good company and of course, an egg hunt! The older one s ran all over collecting eggs while Ethan kept coming after the camera and picked up two eggs. He is definitely more interested in gadgets!

Audrey on the go for Easter eggs!

Ethan in his Easter best!

"When mom gives you oranges, make orange juice!"

A little lunch time conversation

I cannot believe this is my little guy! He looks so old here and on a misson too!

A bag and missing coffee

One of the favorite places for the kids to play is in the kitchen. They love to be at my feet while I cook and they both love to be around snacks. The other day I had left a laundry bag in the kitchen area, not knowing that it would bring over 30 minutes of pure delight to the kids. I have taken note of this and will plan on leaving it around the house more often! Audrey and Ethan hid in the bag, giggled at each other, knocked each other down and just had the best time. It was fun to watch!

I have also learned that just because our kitchen cabinets now have "child-proof" locks on them does not mean that they are truly child-proof. Ethan can easily slip his little hand into the one inch opening and empty out the cabinets of small items. As seen here he is pulling out my extra k-cups of coffee. After pulling out a handful (one by one) he then brought one over to me, very proud! And then walked back over to pull out more and build with them!

Pulling out k-cups while the cabinet is "locked"!

The evidence scattered over the floor!

Look what I have mom!

Big Boy Haircut!

Ethan had his first haircut today. He looks like such a big boy right now!! He still has his curls and waves on the top but no more over his ears or on his neck. I cannot say he was fond of the process but the end result is so darn cute!!

When I held up my phone to take his picture here, this is Ethan's "cheese" smile! Love it!!

Follow-up

Ethan had his follow-up at Children's yesterday. We happily left without any invasive procedures and a simple diagnosis of "benign Macrocrania", essentially our little guy just has a big head. We are grateful!! They will recheck his measurements at his 15 month appointment to make sure that we are still on a curve and that there has not been a growth spike.

Craziness abounds

Wow, Audrey and Ethan are on the go...constantly! I am exhausted by their bedtime each night lately. And most nights I crash in the couch while attempting to watch tv. They are on the go so much that our camera cannot even keep up. Many of the recent pics that I have taken are blurry or have a slight haze of movement to them. While somewhat cool to look at from an artistic point of view, not sure I will look back in ten years in fondness. However, I am so happy that they love to pose for the camera. We definitely have two very happy kids that love to smile. So much that when Ethan sees the camera lately he gives a big goofy smile and says "eeee", his best attempt at cheese. And as soon as the flash goes off he walks over to the camera to see the picture of himself and just giggles. And Audrey just loves to be in pictures and offers many great poses of herself and Ethan.

A and E charging the camera and ME!!!

Ethan loves to wear Len's hat and "smile" for the camera!

Audrey showing us how to climb a snow bank! Ethan followed almost immediately!

The kids banging on the oven, as if I had not fed them in years and giggling about it!

Rainy day fun

With all this crazy rain the past few days I finally gave in and said lets go play! The kids loved it!! Maybe we should invest in rain boots & a rain coat for Ethan!!

Being One

Ethan had his first birthday a month ago. To us he is an amazing little guy. So smart and funny, he picks up on everything so quickly. He has many words/gestures that he uses to communicate with us. When frustrated with a toy or something he cannot do he asks for help, saying "elp". Of course "up" sounds almost the same! He walks around the house looking for "Ah-da" quite often and misses her greatly when she is at school. When Len comes in from work he ( and Audrey) squeal in delight and call for "da-da-da". Ethan's love of books grows each day and he never tires of his favorites, which have been memorized by all of us, even Audrey. When he disappears into the den we know he is going for a book and he comes back handing it to you saying "baaa"and we happen to have something else in our hands he will gladly remove it and replace it with the book of his choice. He is trying his best to jump, but just cannot get off the ground but does get all excited as he bounces up and down and then claps when he falls on his bum. He loves to use a fork and spoon to eat his meals and even eats off of a plate these days too. Ethan loves Audrey and adores playing in her room. Its so funny to see!


I feel like I could go on and on with all he is learning and teaching us! His smiles and laughter are contagious!

As for his one year stats:
Height 29 inches (25%)
Weight 23.8 pounds (65%) This has gone down due to his constant movement!!
Head >99% - This was our red flag at out last dr. appt. Ethan's pedi. sent us to Children's Hospital to see a neurosurgeon. We were floored, they just told us our little guy was perfect and so smart, then this red flag! After a visit to an amazing facility, we are just watching the growth of E's head and go back in a month to make sure he is staying on his new "big head" curve. The current diagnosis is that E just has a big head.