I'm Going to Miss that Gummy Smile

FINALLY!!!

Ethan's 1st tooth is coming in. I know hygentically or dentally (however you want to say it), that research shows the later children's teeth do come in, the healthier their teeth are. Supposedly, they are stronger and will have less cavaties. So, I am very thankful for that. But it was seeming like forever compared to all the other children his age. He was the only one without any teeth.

I guess everything is bitter sweet. Because there's a side of me that is sad. I'm going to miss that gummy smile. Just another sign of he's getting older. Yes, I know. They are supposed to get older. I just wish time could slow down just a little bit. I don't feel as though I am capturing every little moment like I had hoped to do.

It's kind of an ironic story as to how I even noticed his first tooth. He was taking a bath Wednesday night (June 24th), and poor thing, as I was getting some more of his bodywash to shampoo his hair, the bottle slipped out of my hand and fell, barely knicking him on the back of his shoulder. It was enough that he cried pretty intensely. I felt really bad, but then the guilt was quickly replaced with joy when I saw that hint of white sticking out of his gum. That's about the only time we get to see his tooth...that is...when he's crying. Therefore, it's extremely hard to get a picture. Hopefully, I'll be able to get one soon so that I can post it.

No Stoppin' Him Now

Ethan is walking. And, he's very good at it. Sajid and I often talk about how crazy it is, that Ethan now walks where he wants to go instead of crawling. I mean he prefers walking...like he's been doing it all his life. It's just funny how babies transition from stage to stage with no sort of amazement or even acknowledgement of their new accomplishements.

I should be ashamed of myself because I can't remember the exact date that Ethan took his first step. I think it was some where around June 4th or 9th. He walked the fartherest (across our living room floor) on June 16th. He's still a little wobbly at times, but he can walk from our living room into our kitchen then to the dining room and back to the living room.

The most amazing thing was last night (Wednesday, June 24th). Immediately after finishing his bottle, he wiggled his way out of Sajid's lap and walked into our bedroom (by way of the bathroom) and went straight to the bed. I put him in our bed, laid down w/ him. He flipped through his "Courdoroy" book a couple times, then laid down. For some reason, though, he ended up crawling on me to finally go to sleep. Most nights he doesn't want to be touched. He just wants me in the bed, but no snuggling. Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool that when he was tired, he walked to the bed and with no hassle at all, went to sleep.

Random "Firsts"

Ethan's had quite a few "firsts" here lately. So many that it is hard to capture all of them...especially on camera or video.

(Oh my! I am about to be really frustrated.) I was about to post a really cute picture of Ethan eating his first blowpop at a softball game (May 30th). BUT...for some reason a nice big gray block has just overtaken the one picture that we have of that "first" moment. Urgh!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will have to keep trying to restore this picture. Hopefully, my mama has a copy on her computer. Keep your fingers crossed.

(July 2, 2009) Look what I came across...on my work computer. YAY!!!

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(June 1) Ethan received his first bite from another child at daycare, 'lil miss Riley. He's so tough though that his teachers didn't even know it. I noticed a mark on his left arm as I was getting him out of his car seat last Monday. I wasn't totally sure what it was. As we were visiting our neighbors house, I had Mrs. Sally look it, and she quickly confirmed that it was a bite mark. This all was a little bit funny to me so please don't think I am complaining about of this.

The next day I told Ethan's teachers that we thought he had been bitten, and they said that they would review the video tapes (Ahh - the benefits of daycare). BUT they really didn't think Ethan had been bit b/c he would have cried. Huh - Ethan cry? My gut instinct was that he probably just smacked the other kid (only b/c he's notorious for smacking people in the face...not sure where you got this from). Anyway. The video tape confirmed that: Riley bit Ethan, he pushed her off of him, and just crawled away.

Well, Ethan made it known the other 2 times last week that he was bit. Yep. You got it. He was bit 3 times in one week. One day I think every child had been bitten.

What's a little humorous now is that Ethan has been caught trying to bite......and he has NO TEETH! I think one day he gave a kid a hicky trying to bite him. I know. I know. It's funny now, but it won't be after his teeth come in.
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Helping "Momma" do the dishes. He climbs up there by himself.

Eating a pickle. This is a "Whatley thang". (June 5)

Climbed in rocking chair all by himself. (June 6)

Ending the Ear Cycle...Hopefully

Unfortunately, Ethan has had quite a few bouts with ear infections. So much, that the last two times, his eyes were oozing 24/7. He was one pitiful baby. I was in great turmoil at that time, not knowing what was the right thing to do. -take him to pedriatrician? -take him to ENT? -just do nothing (as the chiropractor suggests)? -put him on meds? don't put him on meds? Ugh!

I turned to the one person who I knew would provide the best advice, my wonderful friend Lisa Cantrell. She was amazingly helpful and thanks to her, Ethan is now back to his same ole cute sweet happy self. The latest and greatest news (from today's check up w/ Dr. Brar) is that the infections are gone; everything is cleared up. And, we're going to start giving him Zyrtec 1x/day to keep the infections at bay. This is so exciting to me b/c the only other options would have been either a very very painful shot, an IV, or tubes. Please pray that the Zytec will do the trick.

(P.S. the only reason those would have been the only other options is b/c Ethan's Nasal Swab showed that the bacteria he had is resistant to the common antibiotics administered for infections. That explains why they kept coming back (almost 1 week to the day after we stopped the antibiotic). Hopefully, beginning the Zyrtec will stops this cycle.)

Time Out

(May 20th) I never dreamed that I would hear Ethan's teachers tell me that they had to put him in timeout at 10 months. Now, I know I'm probably being a little dramatic about it, but the point is...he was placed in his crib for a couple minutes b/c he wouldn't leave the other kids alone.

After talking to all the teachers, I learned that he plays extremely rough with the other kids. That doesn't really surprise me. Every since he started crawling, he's always wanted to "wrestle" with the "big" kids. What I mean by that is...anytime another child is around, whether it be 2 year old Hannah or 17 year old Anna, he plays w/ them like he is their age. Which has always been kind of cute. But now that he's doing that w/ the kids in his classroom, and laughing when they cry, I'm a little bothered. I know he means absolutely no harm, but I certainly want and feel the need to start really trying to teach him how to play nice. I don't want my child to already be labeled the "bad kid in the class".

(May 21st) After speaking w/ my mama, the pediatrician, and Kay Kay (owner of daycare), I feel much much better about the situation. All of them pretty much agree w/ my original thought of "Ethan might already be bored in that room." I hope some of my blog readers don't take this the wrong way, but Ethan has been ahead of the game developmentally from the get-go. Believe me, I don't thinks it's mine and Sajid's parenting skills; I think it's just Ethan's personality.

We're going to skim through some of the video footage to see if Ethan's behavior might be due to boredom. If so, Kay Kay said she would consider going ahead and moving him up. I definitely want the best thing for Ethan, but I kind of hope he's able to stay in his current room a little while longer. Those teachers have been so wonderful and instramental at getting him on a great eating and napping routine. Plus, they love my baby, and that by itself means the world to me. I have no doubt though that he could hang with the big kids though!

Something New Everyday

It seems like these days, Ethan is doing something new everyday whether it be trying a new food, going new places, playing, talking, or even sleeping. Things are happening so fast, it's hard to keep up. Let's see...

(April 28) Ethan had is first chiropractic adjustment (for reflux and sinusitis). Definitely has worked for the reflux. Which...in turn cut down on his fussiness.

Ethan can clap his hands. He's been doing this for awhile. He'll do it on cue and just for no reason sometimes.

A couple weeks ago, Ethan taught himself how to crawl on top of our stone hearth (sp?) which is about 12 inches high. I think it took him about 1/2 a day of trying before he finally got it. But once he was successful, he became a master. In order to keep Ethan off of it, we actually rearranged our living room so that our love seat is directly in front of the fireplace.

He knows what a ball is...from as small as a golf ball to as big as a beach ball. And, he LOVES to throw them. When he sees any of the various balls he's acquired, he says, "Baw".

He also knows monkey and duck. No - he cannot say monkey or duck. But if I say, "Ethan, where's your monkey?" He'll crawl straight to this stuffed monkey. Same thing for his little rubber duck.

LOVES to push toys across the floor -mostly his little matchbox car at home and at school, a dump truck. It's so amazing to me how he knows that's how you play w/ those type toys.

Did I mention that Ethan holds everything in his left hand? He even throws his ball w/ his left hand. I've been told that nothing can really be said for that at this age, but....when we put toys in his right hand, he switches it to his left. My mama is a lefty, and there's nothing wrong w/ her :)

He went to his first birthday party on May 2nd (Cousin Lindsey's). It was a Hawaiian Luau.

He had his first 4-wheeler ride on May 9th. He actually rode two 4-wheelers that day. The first was w/ Mr. Billy Brookins, and the second was with his daddy (at Michael's 16th Birthday party).

Ethan also got on an adult horse that very same day (May 9th). My sister's house lent a lot of firsts for Ethan.

At Brinley's 1st Birthday, Ethan slid on the jumbhouse slide.

May 16th - Ethan had his first taste of hotdog.

This will be the first week that Ethan has eaten the daycare lunch every day. And, he's weened himself off of his lunchtime formula this week.

And...Sunday night (May 17th) Ethan decided that he no longer wants me to rock him to sleep. He doesn't want me to lay him down in his bed to fall asleep either. What does he want, you ask? He likes for me and him to lay in our bed, and he drifts off to sleep in a few short minutes. It's kind of sweet. I enjoy it. Once he's good and fast asleep, I move him to his bed.

Ethan has been exceptionally tired here lately as well. Where his bedtime had drifted to about 8:15pm. It's been 7:15/7:30 the past few nights. My baby still has no teeth. So, maybe he's cutting one now. I dont know. That's the only thing I can come up w/ to explain the extra sleepiness.

I really should have typed this in chronological order, but as scattered as my brain is, I'm doing good to even remember all of it. I'm sure I've left something out.

Bear Crawlin'

o, almost as soon as Ethan started crawling, he also started getting onto his feet. This is somewhat are to explain. As he was on his hands and knees, in a crawling position, he would lift his heiny into the air so that he was still on his hands, but on his feet as well. Kind of like a rainbow.

Well, now he's actually started bear crawling. But he only does it on strange surfaces - concrete and grass. Yes, concrete. My mother...and father...and sister witnessed this as they had him Saturday at Anna's softball tournament. "Grandma" had a beach towel for him to sit/play on, but of course he didn't stay on it. And, so that's why he was "bear" crawling on the concrete.

I was able to get some pics of him bear crawling this afternoon when we got home from work/daycare. He's so precious!