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.

Play time

It is happening.

They are playing together.

Yes.

Candid shot.

Two out of three looking.

Dude, you're supposed to look at mommy.

I'm getting tired of smiling...

Success!

Eyebrows

I mean, seriously.

Those eyebrows.

They light up a room.

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!

Ethan!

I mean, can you really ever get enough pictures of a cute baby?

Last week, while Russell was napping, we enjoyed some nice
weather and a wagon ride.

This pic reminds me so much of when Mae & Russell were buddies.
[Not so much these days, she usually wants to throw Russell in the garbage.]

Ethan has graduated from the Bumpo to the kitchen. He likes it!
Etta in the kitchen.
Mae at the big table.
Russell at the big table.

Russell is such a big boy helper. He wants to help all. the. time.
Good thing they get along so well.

These jammies were given to us by some band parents when Etta was born.
Each of the children have worn them but I seem to only have Internet proof of Etta.
They are very special to us and I was quite broken up when he officially moved
up into his next size of clothes. I actually squished him in for one more
night to get the pic and enjoy the moment. (And when I say squished, I
mean squished!) Thank you Peggy & Ralph!

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.