Ethan

This is Ethan when you try to make him do what YOU want him to do:

This is Ethan when he is doing what HE wants to do:

I have figured out through several photo sessions, that the only way that you are going to get a nice smiling picture out of him is to catch him doing his own thing and having a good time. In picture number one we were trying to pose him on this bench, in picture number two it was HIS idea to lean against this wall (because that's what brother was doing). This is just an example of his personality.

He is a challenge for me after having a people-pleasing child like Dylan. At this age you would tell Dylan to "SMILE" and he would kindly oblige. That being said he is fun and full of personality and energy. He also is fairly verbal in comparison to Dylan at his age. Everything was "da" to Dylan until he was past two. These are Ethan's words: (17 Months)

Nsssss- Nice (while petting the dog or being nice to his brother)
Dat?- That? (asking what everything is)
Mama-me
Dada- kev
Nana- My mom
Bada- brother
Der is -there he is! (when we are playing "Where's the baby? There he is!!")
Spa-bab- Sponge Bob ( I don't know how he got this one so easily, we don't watch him that much)

He can also show you where his nose, ears, and hair are. Occasionally eyes and mouth. He also knows the sign for "more"; I should definitely teach him more signs because he caught on to that one very quickly.

He is also very mischevious. He goes in the fridge and takes the milk out, turns the spout on on the filtered water jug we have in the fridge, goes in the pantry and brings you what he wants, dumps out the dog water, and once even stuck the hose through the dog door so that water went all over the kitchen. I almost constantly have a towel on the floor somewhere.

It is cute to watch the relationship between Dylan and Ethan develop. They crack eachother up. They like to take baths together, play outside with the hose together, mess around in the back seat of the car, and dance to The Wiggles.

Two funny things Dyl said about or to Ethan recently:

• First one was on our way to Tahoe. It was about 8:30 at night and Dylan was getting tired so he wanted to go to sleep. He put his head on the pillow between the two of them and Ethan started hitting Dylan on the head playfully and after telling him to stop a few times Dylan blurted out: "Ethan, control yourself!!". Kevin and I laughed and laughed.
• The second one was today. They were both trying to get up on my lap but Ethan was being jealous and was trying to push Dylan out of the way. I told Ethan to stop and Dylan told me, "Mom, I was just trying to snuggle with you but Ethan was cranking out and wouldn't let me!". Haha, apparently cranking out is a combination of freaking out and being cranky...this phrase suits Ethan pretty well.

Well, that gets you a little up to date on whats going on with our baby boy. I look forward to seeing how his personality develops.