So my blog hiatus is over, and I have a million things to write about! We all had a great Christmas - twice, actually! :)
(If you look carefully, you can see Ethan's belly hanging over his pants. Maybe we need to stop feeding this kid.)
On Christmas Eve, we traveled to Cincinnati to visit with the Jewett family. Ethan was a super boy in the car, and even fell asleep for just a little bit on the way there. He was delighted to see all of his relatives, some of whom he hasn't seen since last Christmas. Very different baby then!
We had many wonderful meals (that I didn't help prepare AT ALL) and boyo was the recipient of some fantastic gifts. It took him a little while to get interested in them, because he was determined to throw out all of his Aunt Kim's Tupperware, put everything he could find in his mouth, and terrorize any cat that dared to make an appearance.
I apologize for waxing nostalgic and philosophical for a moment, but I realized on this trip that I have kind of grown up. (I'm 37, it's about time.) One of Brian's nephews is 15, and was horrified that all we wanted to do on Christmas day was hang out, take naps, and follow Ethan around. I so remember being that age and still desperately wanting to see what was under the tree! Sometime between then and now I became fairly unconcerned with Christmas as a present-bearing holiday, and became relieved that it's an opportunity for family get-togethers (and really yummy food)!
Anyway, one of Ethan-boy's gifts was this fantastic set of corduroy overalls and a little snowman shirt. (Somehow the 14 month old boy fits perfectly into a 24 month outfit. I really have to stop feeding this kid.) As soon as we got back into town and I washed it, he was geared up for the Jones family celebration this morning, before my sister headed to Chicago to see some friends.
Anda now lives in Santa Fe, and brought a little something special for her favorite nephew.
Unfortunately, he reacted to its placement on his head the same way he reacts to anything being placed on his head. We all wore the hat and agreed that Gramma Judy looked best in it. :)
Brian and I finished this dual celebration very very grateful that our families are 1) into only stocking-stuffer-type presents these days, 2) enjoy having a loud baby at the table who throws food that he loved yesterday all over the floor, and 3) are not too far away to see at the very least once a year. Happy Holidays to all!
This new development just started yesterday, and he is already fairly accomplished. Brian is totally enabling this ridiculous behavior in the video, but Ethan needs no help at all!
The pathetic Ethan face is not an iPhone problem. It may be due in part to the fact that Mr. Boy has at least 2 teeth coming in, or that he is just barely getting over a bug that went into his eyes and ears after 10 days of his nose running like a faucet....or it could be that his Illinois basketball team is not faring well these days. Who knows? Anyway, he has not been the jolly boy that we're used to. :( Poor kid. It's hard being a baby when your parents aren't mind readers.
So now the challenge (besides keeping our floors clean) is to fill this boy with some kind of protein. Lentils (a great suggestion!) worked for one day, and then they were spit out of his mouth, even though they were part of this great dish with apples and cheese. (I ate the leftovers.) The quinoa (another great suggestion!) seems to pass muster as long as I make it like oatmeal and mix it with bananas, squash, and lots of cinnamon. (Actually, I've eaten those leftovers, too. They're pretty darn good.) Some current favorites: cottage cheese pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheesy brown rice...do we see a theme here? Anything cheese-related is generally a huge hit, but I'm looking for more suggestions of ways to be creative with a baby who has decided that meat is unacceptable!
(If you look carefully, you can see Ethan's belly hanging over his pants. Maybe we need to stop feeding this kid.)
We had many wonderful meals (that I didn't help prepare AT ALL) and boyo was the recipient of some fantastic gifts. It took him a little while to get interested in them, because he was determined to throw out all of his Aunt Kim's Tupperware, put everything he could find in his mouth, and terrorize any cat that dared to make an appearance.
Anda now lives in Santa Fe, and brought a little something special for her favorite nephew.
Unfortunately, he reacted to its placement on his head the same way he reacts to anything being placed on his head. We all wore the hat and agreed that Gramma Judy looked best in it. :)
