12 Month Annibirthery! Ie: 1 Year Old!

Yesterday this Little Man turned one.

At one month old. A wee little tyke.

One year old.

One year ago we received a call that would change our lives. Our baby had been born in Nashville, TN. But you can read all about that adventure here.

The month of July to this point has seen Ethan change dramatically in his gross motor skills. He is "inch-worming" his way all over our house. Late afternoon/pre-dinner time is the worst for him. He mournfully follows me around wanting to be picked up. He works so hard to get to where I am and then suddenly I am off to the next chore. He isn't pulling himself up quite yet. Although, when I am filling the dishwasher he can almost heft himself up onto the open door. And he can support himself on one of the "table toys" that we have. He is a bit behind where the professionals would like to see him, but overall we are not concerned at all.

Everyone was home for the annibirthery picture this month!
It was quite the party.

Trying to get him to lie still and smile and look at  me.
Bob is in the background trying to help out.

One little smirk before taking off.

Freedom!!

He does pop on his knees a bit.

Hi mom!

Ha ha!

Getting ready to get in the car to head to Libby, MT for a weekend of
horseback riding and hiking.

Etta turning one.

Mae turning one.

Russell turning one.

One year stats:
Weight: 19 lbs 10 oz - 22%
Height: 30 inches - 54%
Head Circumference: 44.5 cent - 11%

11 Month Annibirthery

Ethan turned 11 months old yesterday.

12 months ago we did not even know that he existed. Anywhere. We hadn't even been introduced to the situation that we were considering before his situation came to us.

Now I can't imagine life any other way.

Ethan has made huge strides in his gross motor skills over the last month. Even with adjusted age for five weeks of prematurity he was still lagging behind a bit in that department. His fine motor skills have always been out of sight, but he really just lacked interest to go anywhere.

[Having three older siblings dote on you endlessly may have had a little something to do with that.]

Now he rolls, scootches, and "inchworms" his way where ever he wants to be. Look out world - mama's about to get just a little bit more tired.

Russell was on top of it for this photo shoot. No more messing around like last time.
He's all about comfort.

I told Russell if he was going to keep his fingers in his mouth he would have
to get out of the picture. He complied.

By the time I could clear everyone out to get a length pic Ethan was done.
I mean, he has places to go and people to see I guess.

Ah ha! Look at me!

I'm just chillin'.

I can go anywhere I want.

Including coming to get YOU!

Then Mae wanted to take some pictures.
Ethan does not look impressed.

On of his favorite things to do is pinch my nose. Only me though.
He doesn't do it to Bob.

I had to include this one just for the tongue.

Etta at 11 months.

Mae at 11 months.

Russell at 11 months.

10 Month Annibirthery

10 months.

Come and gone.

I was on top of it and took these pictures (or pickers as Russell says) on the 17th. But of course haven't gotten around to posting them yet.

I was starting to be fairly concerned about Ethan's lack of gross motor skills/mobility. He was showing zero interest in pulling up, crawling or even rolling. As in .... he just sits there. But, like every other stage that he has gone through (a bit behind where I am used to), he has suddenly figured out that he can go places. We were playing games at the dining room table last week and I glanced over to where he was sitting in the living room.

And then laying on his back on the Boppy.

And then laying on his side on the Boppy.

And then ...

he was gone.

Like, gone.

Not to be seen.

Wha?!

He had started pushing himself with his arms and had gone clear across the floor. Looking quite proud I must add.

His biggest enticement right now is when he is outside on a blanket. He loves being outside. He loves grass. He loves to .... eat .... grass. So he either pulls the edges of the blanket toward him until he uncovers grass or he gets horizontal and rolls/pseudo-crawls until he gets to the edge. It's pretty unnerving to have him give you a big, open-mouthed grin and to be greeted with a long blade of grass plastered to his tongue.

Ethan likes attention and dislikes being left alone in a room. He's had a few days where I have had to load him into the Ergo and cart him around for awhile. Thankfully Mae is usually ready to give him all the attention he craves.

He is saying "ma-ma" but I don't know if it is in context or not. Sometimes it seems like it. He is making a variety of other sounds too. He and Russell seem to have their own language, much like I would imagine twins have. I love it when they are "communicating". And of course Mae has taught both of her brothers how to screech. Lucky us.

Ethan is also starting to make cute little faces on purpose. He has a sassy grin, a loving look, his angry face and a funny, squinty look when he is eating and doesn't like what I have to offer. Between his giant eyes and incredible eye brows he has one of the most expressive faces I have ever seen. Even his serious faces speak volumes.

This stage is so much fun because every day brings a new surprise!

Doing the photo shoot before church, a birthday party and a graduation party.

Russell says: Just a minute.

Ethan says: What the heck?

Russell says: There, that's better!
The entire time Mae is trying to get him to smile.

I finally banished everyone to try to get a solo pic.
With legs extended.
I wasn't having much luck.

What the heck mom? Why do you keep pulling my legs down?!

Etta at 10 months. (She was SO chubby!!)

Mae at 10 months. (I think she looks just the same!)

Russell at 10 months. Um, apparently I didn't do a ten month post for Russell. Oops? Sorry buddy!

9 Month Annibirthery

I did take the 9 months pictures on the 17th. But then didn't get around to posting them. The pictures are pretty much worth 1,000 words.

That's Russell's hand over there. He was trying to figure out how to get in the picture.

He would lay down but then pop up again to see
the picture - before I could actually take any pictures. He
was becoming quite the nuisance so I put him in his crib.
[I like how Ethan is laughing at him.]

Being in the bed resulted in an epic melt down.
[Picture proof for all of you who think he is a happy angel 24/7.]

A short pause to see if I was paying attention and if I was going to
rectify the situation.

Upon realizing that I was not going to get him out he fell back into a
pit of despair.

I got back to the photo shoot.

Again laughing at his trapped and unhappy brother.

Finally a grin for mommy!
[He would not straighten his legs out for me.]

Then I released Russell and the wrestling commenced. It is a favorite for both of them.

This is a new face that Ethan has been making. This was the first time he made it
actually. And I can't get him to make it "on demand". But every once in awhile he
will bless us with ultra-cuteness.

Rawr! The brother-monster!

Brotherly love.

We go in Wednesday for his well-baby check up and stats. I'll edit later.

Etta at nine months.

Mae at nine months.

Russell at nine months.

Ethan is becoming a more confident sitter although he is still showing zero interest in rolling. The other day we were on the floor together and I was trying to entice him to roll. It is almost as if he is afraid of rolling. His eyes get big and he contracts all of his muscles so I can't move him. We think that he was five weeks premature and that does make a difference. But it is a major mental shift for me. Especially since Russell was so mobile so early. But reading about the girls; Etta could crawl but not sit up on her own and Mae could sit up on her own but not crawl. Each child is unique and perfect in just their own way.

Day 26 - St. Patrick's 8 Month Annibirthery

Let's line 'em up!

This has to be one of my favorite things to do. All of the kids enjoy it.

Who? Me?

Who's that?

Ethan is really becoming a stronger sitter. He still likes to throw himself back with some force,
so he needs a little padding.

Brothers being goofy.

It just wouldn't have been a holiday with a couple of beaters of green frosting.
He had a sink bath after this.

Not too much new to report at 8 months. Ethan's hair is really starting to grow in. Except for his "giant bald spot" that Mae points out to every. one. we. see. He is starting to sit more but can't yet get himself into a sitting position. No rolling, but he does this incredible ... inch worm .... move to get situated when he wants a better view. At the daycare at the gym they put him in a jumpy chair one day. He loves it. He loves to bounce in general. Even when you are holding him. Takes a tight grip to keep this kid on your lap. Ethan loves his family. Lights up for mom, dad, sisters and brother. But if you don't live with us it may take a bit more to get a smile. He could win any staring contest out there I think. Seriously, the kid does not blink. (If he's staring at you.) But if you are rewarded with a smile - watch out! Put on your shades because they are a doozy. There are still days when I can't believe we are the ... Wicks 6!

Russell at 8 months. 

Good to see that Mae is still so much the same as a year and a half ago. Silly girl.

Mae at 8 months.

Etta at 8 months.

She still likes to drink the bath water. Yuck!

7th Month Annibirthery

My oh my how fast seven months have flown by!

Yesterday was Ethan's 7 month annibirthery. And today is 2 months since his finalization!

As of 7 months Ethan weighs approximately 18 pounds I would think. Two weeks ago before his surgery he weighed about 17.5 pounds. Much chunkier than his siblings at this point. He has two lower teeth poking through and with the way he gnaws on his hand (and anything else he can reach) I am always surprised when I don't find more teeth when I look.

After we got back from our medical trip to Spokane I decided to start him on solid food. Like the other kids I bought a big jug of single grain rice cereal to ease him in to food. He did not like it at all. Not only did he clamp his mouth closed, even when he was crying from dismay, he discovered if he sucked his lower lip in, the spoon would definitely could not enter.

Not impressed. "You want me to eat what?!"

I then tried green beans. The other three detested green beans and would not allow them, or anything green, to pass their lips for quite some time. This guy? He lapped them right up. Followed by green peas, squash and carrots. I bought some oatmeal and we will see how that goes over at breakfast tomorrow.

Overheard by Mae this morning, "RU-ssell! Ethan's not just YOUR baby, he's everybody's baby!!" That about sums it up around here. 

He still is not rolling. Or sitting. Not too much of a reason to when everyone brings toys to you and pays scads of attention to every peep that you make. He does sckootch around on his back, turning this way and that to see what is going on around him. Today I laid him on his tummy in front of the Little People Sesame Street house and he was quite unhappy. I gave him some Little People to play with and went into the kitchen to make a phone call. A bit later Mae came screaming in, "He rolled over mommy! All by himself! When no one was watching!" So yes, he does roll. 

If you compare pics, Ethan and Russell seem to be about the same length at seven months. It will be fun to watch them grow together.

Hi mom! I see you!!

There's that eyebrow! He has one of the most expressive faces that I have ever seen.

Etta at seven months.

Mae at seven months.

Russell at seven months.

[Are they not all just the fattest babies?! Even though Ethan weighs more they are look a lot plumper. I guess his pounds are in his thighs where as theirs was in their cheeks!]

On a side note (end note?) today is the first day of Lent. Here's to getting a picture, and posting it, every day until Easter.