18 Months

Our little man Ethan is now 18 months old (and one week).  I read up on what a typical 18 month old is like and E fits the description exactly - a predominately happy, energetic little man.

He is a smart, healthy, rambunctious boy.  He is still in the 90-95th percentile in height and has jumped up to the 90th percentile in weight (from 60-70% at previous dr visits).  He's now an average proportioned toddler, just bigger than average.

The last few months Ethan has made huge steps in cognitive and physical development:

He can match shapes, pictures and now letters.  He loves to do puzzles matching pieces to their pair.

He still loves to read and his favorite books are anything with animals, so he can name the animal and we can make the noises to it.  

He knows most animal names and knows their sounds - he is very good at barn yard animals, zoo animals and of course Alaskan animals.  

He loves to color and do art projects - his body and tables being his favorite canvas.  He still switches between his left and right hand so not sure if he's a southpaw like his parents yet.

He has made big jumps in physical abilities - he throws overhand-ish and underhand, runs and jumps like a two year old and has gotten comfortable on his skis.  He has great coordination for his age and no fear - he will give anything a try.

His favorite places to go are gymnastics and the pool.  As soon as we walk into either, he starts smiling, running around and yelling.  In the pool he floats on his back and blows bubbles.  At the gym his favorite is swinging on the bars and jumping on the trampoline.

E is very observant and remembers what he sees - he can tell us how to make coffee and tea and what to do to get ready after a shower (even tries to put on deodorant like Dad!).

He is learning to dress himself and has fully figured out how to undress himself...even unzipping his footy pajamas.  Sometimes you just need to be naked.

Ethan communicates very well - just not with spoken English.  Right now he isn't saying any words (although he has said some in the past) and communicates with sign language and pointing and grunting.   He is very expressive in his facial and body language so we don't have much trouble understanding him.

He understands everything we say to him, even complex instructions like 'first you have to do this and then we can do that'.  We speak to him in the same words we speak to eachother and he understands.

Just because he doesn't speak words yet doesn't mean he's quiet - he chats up a storm in his own little language (this picture above is the face he makes when he talks to us). 

E is starting to find his independence.  He has decided he was ready to explore the world more on his own without needing me by his side.  At gym class he would much rather run around and sit next to his teacher than me and at playdates he wants to play with other mommies.   Turns out other people can be just as fun as Mom and Dad.  

I always thought I would be a little sad when E reached the point of letting me go a bit, but now that it has started to happen I am just proud of the little guy.  I love seeing his confidence and joy as he runs into a gym and starts throwing balls and playing, not caring if Mom followed.

One of my favorite times with my little guy is when we share an afternoon snack at the kitchen stools together - every time he looks up at me with the biggest grin, loving the fact that he is a big boy sitting on the stool sharing with his mommy.  I also really love that he still will come running at me from across the room to give me a big hug and kiss and then run off again to go play.  Sometimes he just needs to tell his mommy he loves her.  

I love how innocent and genuine 18 month olds are.  E is so giving with all of his emotions - he loves to hug and kiss and snuggle...as well as freely share his frustrations and tiredness...

A few more pics from the last few months:

E and his best bud Malley

Entertaining himself in the car

Falling asleep to a good book

Can't get enough of the iPad animal games

Loves the chickens!

Playing in a park before it snowed

36 Weeks - One month (or less) to go!

We are nine months into this pregnancy and everyone is still doing great.  The baby's organs and lungs should be fully developed and she will be spending the last few weeks getting plumper.  I'm growing bigger by the day so I'm pretty sure she's doing her job well!

I'm guessing this little lady will probably arrive a few days early of her due date, which is December 9th.  Ethan was born at 38 weeks and 4 days and we'll find out soon if his sister is on the same schedule.  

This pregnancy has been fantastic for me so far.  I love being pregnant and getting to feel the baby move and grow inside me.  Even though I am more and more tired by the end of each day, I am trying to enjoy  these last few weeks of carrying my baby girl and appreciate the great miracle it is to be pregnant.  

And what a crazy, bizarre miracle it is to grow another human being inside of you.  I know it's a basic fact of how we all were made, but after spending 19 months of my life pregnant I can't get over that another life was created and developed inside me.  Every time she moves and kicks it reminds me of what a special time in our lives this is.  

You've probably noticed that the pregnancy pictures this week are much better than my normal shooting in front of a mirror.  A friend of ours is starting up a photography business in town and came by one morning to take maternity pictures for us.  We think they turned out great.  My favorite of the whole shoot is first picture of this post - I love Ethan's solemn expression as he lays across his sister and I.  

A few more pics from the morning:

For Anchorage friends, these pictures were taken by Franky Lopez of FLS Photography!

E's First Skis

This weekend we woke up to another good dumping of fresh snow, which means there is enough on the trails to make a good base and it is officially cross country ski season!  Now that Ethan is 18 months old, he gets a pair of skis of his own.  We took him out today to try them out and he seemed to like them...as long as Dad was behind him!

First Snow of Winter

Last week we had our first real snowfall of the season and everyone is very excited about it.  Once the colorful leaves of autumn fall off the trees we all get a little anxious for the snow to come.  And now it's here!  It's time to wax the skis and polish the sled and get ready to play outside. 

We took Ethan out the first day of the snow to show him how much fun it is.  Once he figured out that he really could move his feet through the snow, he loved it.  He loved sledding down the driveway with Daddy.

And throwing the snow in the air.  

A short clip on his first snow experience this winter - touching, tasting and playing in the snow.

Before the snow came I was a little worried about Ethan not liking being out in the cold and very worried about Malley.  She was born in the snow last winter and HATED it.  We could barely get her outside to go to the bathroom last year and she was just so cold.  Luckily this year she thinks the snow is great - she has had a great time playing in the backyard all week, running around making the snow fly everywhere.  She is a happy puppy these days.

Later in the week my friends and I took our kiddos sledding, thinking they would love it just as much as E did the first day.  But the wind picked up as we were out there and they were not a fan of the snow hitting their face...the little bit of face not covered by fleece.  Yes, Ethan is screaming in this picture.

I fully admit that I got some entertainment watching E try to move in all his layers.  E might have liked it more if he could move his arms...or see.  He did have a good time as we were going down the hill though!

Now that the snow is here again, I remember how much I love winter in Alaska.  I love how beautiful the mountains and trees look, all covered in white.  I love our yard covered in snow.  I absolutely love playing and sledding in the snow.  And once this baby comes, I'm going to love getting to ski on it again.  A few years ago I would have sworn these words would never come from me, but I think I might  just love the Alaskan winter better than summer!