Ethan - Two years, 3 months,

A post I wrote for Ethan back in April 2013.

I know as the months go by and we welcome our new baby boy into the world I will wish that I took more time to document all the wonderful things Ethan is doing and learning. A friend of mine made a similar post about her little girl and I should send her a special thank you for reminding me that taking time for making notes about these things is important. We will never get this time back and often the best stories to rub in their faces when they're older can be forgotten. :) So, here's a post just for you, Ethan.

A few of your favorite things:

Building and stacking with blocks - You love to build things really tall and then completely destroy them. But if someone destroys your tower before you have deemed it tall enough stand back and beware of Ethan's wrath. Ha!

Cars with your orange car track, trains with your plastic and wood tracks and planes flying through the sky. When we are out in public you love to point out the buses and when we see one bus you often say "More bus, momma?" Sometimes I drive you through the school bus barn close by our house just to see how excited you get about all the yellow buses. You also get really excited when a plane flys overhead while we are playing outside. You stop everything you're doing to look up and try and find it. You are always talking about the cars driving down the road and in the parking lots we pass while we are driving.

Your favorite shows to watch in the morning are Super Why (you love the letters) and Dinosaur Train (of course, a train show). When we watch TV in the afternoon you often ask for "Bob" (Bob the Builder), "Horse" (Horton Hears a Who) or "Buzz" (Toy Story).

We often watch "Wheel of Fortune" as a family and you love to call out letters and clap with the audience after each round. You get very excited when your letters come up but sometimes get upset when the contestants don't call your letters, even when they have already been called.

You know many of your letters and love to talk about letters. You have started to associate some letters with names - D for Daddy, B for Baby, M for Momma, etc. You haven't started counting on your own but you like counting along with Momma when we read books or count objects. You also know a few colors - your favorite colors are orange "orsh", blue "bu" and yellow "wellow".

You love Daddy's tools and often sneak into his boxes or open tool sets to work on your toys. You love to work along side Daddy when he is working around the house. You have hammered, shimmed doors, screwed in screws and much more. I know you will be a big helper for Daddy as you get older.

Of course, you love to play "owsigh" - outside - and go "dowstay" - downstairs

You enjoy eating on your own. You love to use your own utensils and have even started learning to drink from an open cup (only in the kitchen).

Your favorite things to say:

"Dan du" - Thank you

"Awie" - Sorry

"Es" - Yes

"No" - there is no mistaking when you say no :)

"Twint" - Drink

"Cracker"

"Eat"

"Bye, bye"

You are adding words to your vocabulary daily and I love hearing you try to say new things. I still haven't gotten you to say I love you. One time, and one time only, you have said "wub". In time, I guess.

You say "Hannah" for Grandma when talking about Nathan's mom. We aren't sure where you got that from but at least we know who you are talking about.

You are stubborn - Wonder where you got that from?

Although you like to get your way, you are good listener and most of time I don't have to tell you something more than twice. You understand the consequence of time out and will often change your mind about minding Mommy and Daddy if we talk about time out. If you do go to time out, you sit in your chair and always say you are sorry and give hugs when time out is over.

Bedtime used to go smoothly until about a month ago. Now that you are able to communicate better you are often not interested in going to bed. Instead you say things like, "Eat, momma. Drink, momma. Bus. Book. No, night, night." You love to read the "mice book" - Lullaby Moon and the "bus book" - Wheels on the Bus along with many others. Sometimes in the morning if you haven't tried to call out for us or knock on your door to get our attention, I will check on you and you will be reading to yourself in bed quietly.

A few more fun things about you:

You love your sitter, Mrs. Bobbi and you love all your friends there. You often talk about them by name. In the morning, I only have to ask one time if you are ready to go to see Mrs. Bobbi and you are at the door waiting to leave the house.

When I pick you up from Mrs. Bobbi's you often say "want home." You are a homebody and love to be cuddled up on your couch in our living room or play with your toys. You don't mind going out to eat dinner but you would rather spend your time playing at home.

Since Momma is pregnant and we talk about the baby in her belly a lot, you have decided that every belly button contains a baby. Daddy has a baby, Momma has a baby and Ethan has a baby. I am sure that if anyone else showed you their belly button they would definitely have a baby also.

You are fascinated with "ow, ows". Any scratch, scrap or freckle is an "ow" and needs to be taken care of. You even use "ow" as an excuse to not do things. If it is time to get off the couch, you will sometimes act like you got your foot stuck and then pull it out saying "Ow, Momma." or if you are getting in trouble for something you might hold out your hands and say "ow" several times.

We haven't started seriously potty training yet. We aren't stressing about it since we have the new baby on the way. I figure you will pick it up when you are ready.

My favorite recent story:

The other day you tried to step on a picture frame that was on the floor. I told you not to and you tried it again. I said, "Ethan, look at me." This is my go to phrase lately when I want you to know I am serious. You turned to me and gave me a weird look, then you took a couple steps and stood right in front of me. You put your little hands on my cheeks, puckered up and leaned in to kiss me.

I instantly started laughing and apparently a kiss isn't a kiss unless it is returned so you continued to rub your slobbery lips all over me until I got my laughing under control and kissed you back. Gross!

Your personality:

You are always so concerned about others and your sweet spirit makes me teary eyed sometimes. You often say "oh, no" when watching TV shows and it is normally because someone is hurt or in trouble. You love to give hugs and kisses, especially when you can tell Momma or Daddy don't feel good or they are tired. I don't know how we are so blessed with such a caring and loving child but it is one of the best feelings in the world. Holding your hand as we walk together is one of my favorite things.

You are precious and perfect in so many ways. You make us happy and frustrated and proud all the time. I never knew I could love someone so much.