Just wanted to post some pictures of this week’s activites. Our little boy has become quite the stacker and he’s not particular about what he’s stacking. This particular night it happened to be jelly jars, but really anything will do. He also very much enjoys how his Nana thinks of wonderful ideas like bringing the outdoors in since it’s been so cold. He loves his slide, but it’s been too cold to be in the backyard playing, so Nana cleared out a spot in the dining room for the slide. Ethan thinks it’s hilarious to have his outside toys inside. He loves to slide down and then lay at the bottom of the slide. Where he comes up with these things I’ll never know. And he’s really into hiding and peeking around the corner to see if you’re still there. This works well in the kitchen, his crib, the bathroom, around the dining room chairs, the laundry room door, and of course – the coffee table. He just squeals when he sees someone hiding from him. It really is the simple things in life…

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that Clay, my Dad and I all wear glasses, or if every child is this fascinated with glasses, but Ethan loves them. He wears his sunglasses in the car, he likes to try on other people’s glasses, he likes to try on his goggles, and also sometimes enjoys poking himself in the eye.

He’s doing so many new things right now that I can’t keep up. His favorites right now are: chicken nuggets, sweeping the floor, gobbling like a turkey, having his back scratched, watching his Baby Santa movie, playing with the croquet balls, playing with his singing dog in the car, making rooster sounds, pretending like he’s asleep and then jumping up, leading singing in church, and giving open-mouth kisses.

And he surprises us just about every day with new things. Yesterday he spilled some milk on the floor so Clay got a paper towel to clean it up. Ethan took the paper towel, wiped up the floor, and gave it back to Clay to put in the trash. Yesterday he also fell asleep during a diaper change and then slept for 2 hours (for those of you who really know Ethan, you know he never naps for more than an hour). He also shows us what he wants to eat for most meals. He takes my hand, leads me to the kitchen, opens the pantry and/or has me open the refrigerator, and points to what he wants. This new process led to him having chicken nuggets for most dinners last week, but that’s okay! At least he still likes vegetables!

Ethan and I made our great escape this weekend to the Kennedy farm in Clifton. We met up with Cara, Jack and Josie and had a farmtastic time. Ethan helped feed the chickens, called the cows in for chow time, chased the guineas, got a bath from the dogs, watered the plants, licked some rocks, fell down a lot, wore out the wagon, mastered the sounds of the chicken and rooster, and even ate a hamburger (nothing like farm-raised beef!)! The boys had fun entertaining each other and Cara and I did some great late-night scrapbooking. Thank you, Kennedys, for being such wonderful hosts to us – we may be back every weekend!