Reflections on the first year

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Despite the best intentions for this blog, caring for an infant proved more time consuming than originally thought. Now that Ethan is a year old though, we have a little bit of a routine going and I’d like to try again. If for no other reason than to document how truly amazing he is. 

Over the last year, I did manage to take some monthly pictures and document his achievements, likes and dislikes each month. 

Newborn

Born May 27 at 2:08 AM. Ethan was 6 pounds and 11 ounces when he were born and 19.5 inches long. The first thing I said when Ethan came out was “Oh, he’s cute!” I had waited almost nine months to see him. He felt so little and fragile, but he could already hold up his head for a few seconds, and used his legs to push off of me. When we brought him home he just wanted to be held. He didn’t like his arms to be swaddled and enjoyed waving them around exploring the world. He slept with his eyes open sometimes, smiled in his sleep and a few times we heard him giggle. Ethan loved it when we sang to him and didn’t care that we didn’t know the words. He also liked his hair to be brushed and enjoyed soaking in the bath, but hated getting out. He like the snuggli baby carrier. We thought he was a vampire because he slept like a champ during the day and wake up at night. 

One Month

Ethan is 10.5 pounds and 21.75 inches long. He is growing fast and getting chubby little cheeks. He is starting to lose some hair and devloping acid 

reflux. He spends a little bit more time awake, and we love seeing him look at the world. Mommy likes taking walks with Ethan and taking silly pictures of him. 

Two Months

Ethan is 14.2 pounds and 22.25 inches long. He is average height, but a 

little chubster. His reflux is getting better, but he don’t like the medicine he has to take; it’s peppermint flavored. His hair has grown back. He seems to spend about half his days awake now and we’ve established a regular (ish) nap schedule. He holds his chest up a little, and sits supported by a pillow. He loves to ride in the Baby Björn. He likes the silly songs mommy sings to him, including “Baby Likes to Fuss Fuss Fuss” (to the tune of the wheels on the bus), Baby Beluga and the Shabbat songs. He likes to stand on mommy and daddy’s legs and jump up. We call him Mr. E and Myster-y Man. He looks around and looks at peoples faces, and looks at rattles and dangling toys. He grabs on to clothing, but don’t show much interest in grabbing toys yet. If he is calm, he will sit on mommy’s lap quietly while she reads him a book. He smiles when he is AWAKE now which is fun to see. Often after a feeding. And he nuzzles into mommy’s elbow  when he wants to go to sleep. Dad can’t wait until he can make him giggle and laugh. 

Three Months

Ethan is 16.4 pounds. Dad took this month off for his parernity leave and they got to spend a lot more time together. We took a trip to Seattle and Vancouver. Ethan is the most well traveled three month old we know. He smiles and coos and giggles. He says vowel sounds and something that sounds like ma, da, who and arrr. He is not a fan of tummy time, but we’re working on it because we know it will help him roll over one day and crawl. He likes the playmat and enjoys looking at the dangling animals, and playing a game where he kicks various materials (bags, pillows, tissue paper). He likes the jumperoo, but spends half the time trying to figure out if it’s edible or not. He tries to eat everything from mommy and daddy’s hands to blankets. He likes it when we sing to him. We miss the days when he were so little, but we are really enjoying the cooing, smiling, giggling little boy he is becoming. 

Four Months

Ethan is 18 pounds 11 ounces and 24.8 inches long. This month he discovered that his arms are useful. He is reaching and grabbing at toys, our clothes, and everything else he can get his hands on. He is tolerating a little more tummy time and is building up some strength. He can (with help) sit from laying down, and sit to stand. He also likes hopping around in the jumperoo. He has figured out that when he moves, it makes music. We tried a music class with cousin Gavin, which he enjoyed, but we decided he might enjoy it more when he is older.  He likes copying mom when she blows raspberries, and he likes playing superman on mom’s legs. Dad’s face makes him smile. And he decided his toy moose is his favorite toy.  He likes hugging the moose, eating it and looking at it when it sits on the shelf above the changing table. We read lots of books, and sing songs. He likes reading “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?” and “Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?” He also like “Sailor Dog” – not so much the story, but the song at the end.

Five Months

Ethan is 19.9 pounds. He is sitting unsupported (for a few minutes at a time). He loves this new view of he world. He likes looking up at Daisy and follows her every move. She keeps him entertained during tummy time and kisses his fusses away. We’re pretty sure he likes eating dog hair too! It’s been difficult to get him down for naps this month, but toward the end of the month, he started to self soothe to sleep. We upgraded his catseat to a convertable seat and he is much happier in the car. This gives us freedom to get out an about. We’ve started going to story time at the local library.  He enjoys getting new books to read and likes watching other babies. We went to Daddy’s work (Qualcomm) and we won the Halloween Costume Contest (undoubtably because of Ethan). He has started teething. We don’t see a tooth yet, but he eats everything in sight, including mommy’s knee and daddy’s shoulder. He like swinging in the park, baby hugs, row, row, row your boat (rocking on mommy’s tummy), bouncing like a madman in the jumperoo, and watching Daisy do anything! He likes watching mommy eat sandwiches. We’re excited to feed him real food next month!

Six Months

Ethan is 22 pounds 2 ounces. He sits very well unsupported. He attempts to roll over, and Dave swears he saw him move two inches forward during tummy time. He loves to kick and move. This month we went down to San Diego for Thanksgiving and met Great Grandma Bebe for the first time. The car ride was not so good (still not his favorite place to be), but we survived. He laughs at silly faces and enjoys a good game of peek a boo. He enjoys the unexpected. At the beginning of the month we had a hard time getting down for a nap, but we started a 2-3-4 sleep timing routine and combined that with bedsharing during naps, and you are much better rested. A well rested Ethan is a happy Ethan. We tried letting him suck on honeydew and apples which he promptly heaved ho. However when we tried rice cereal, he seemed to enjoy it and keep it down. 

Seven Months

Ethan has TWO teeth, says Mama, Dada and Daisy (we think he knows what Daisy means), he army crawls in a circle, or about an inch forward and still freaks himself out whenever he rolls over (how did that happen). His favorite thing to eat is avocado…or fingers…or socks…or hair…pretty much whatever he can get into his mouth.

Eight Months

Ethan is eager to explore the world around him. He creeps, crawls a few steps forward and sometimes pulls up on things. He is interested in trying new foods, but does not like to be spoon fed (he prefers to feed himself). This month he made a lot of new sounds. He says mama, dada, daisy, ba, clucks his tongue and claps his hands.

Nine Months

Ethan is on the move! He crawls, pulls up and cruises along furnature edges, and climbs stairs (with supervision of course). He has 5 teeth, weighs about the same as last month but looks taller and maybe leaner? He likes music class, peek-a-boo, Daisy, aquariums, riding in the plane and eating blueberries, avocado and toes.

Ten Months
Ethan loves to couch surf, pet doggies (pull their hair), unravel toilet paper rolls, explore the backyard and eat bark when mommy’s not looking. I can’t take my eyes off him for one second. On other less adventurous days, he thinks the ground is lava and I can’t put him down. He likes mommy and me music class and reading lift-the-flap and touch and feel books. His favorite foods (other than bark) include blueberries, squash, cheerios, yogurt, raw carrots, and avocado. He’s not a fan of bibs, diaper changes or car rides (though this has improved somewhat). He is learning lots of new words including ball, dog, duck and Gavin (his cousin). He is so smart. His favorite game is to point and say “dat” and I tell him what it is.

Eleven Months

I feel like every stage Ethan goes through is the best stage, but I really enjoy how playful he is right now and how much he loves to learn new things. He loves to play with airplanes. He flies them through the air and makes a rumbling engine sound. I guess Dave and I have taught him well. I’ve also seen him play this game with a ball of socks too though. He is learning new words. I enjoy listening to him try and say “cock-a-doodle-do”. He is slowly learning to walk. He loves to practice while holding our hands or pushing boxes, stools, chairs or his walker around on the floor. He can stand for a few seconds unassisted and get up from a squat, but he is not confident and is afraid when he realizes he is on his own. He loves shiny things, balls, blueberries, exploring outside, rubber ducks, dogs, the dishwasher, the toilet, the tupperware cabinet (actually all cabinets that open and close), magnets and mommy’s cellphone. He doesn’t like haircuts, bibs, getting his teeth brushed (he prefers to chew on the brush), getting changed or being tired.

Twelve Months
Ethan loves to play, play, play. He enjoys peekaboo, hide and seek, and making the native american war cry (not sure any tribes ever did this, but you know the sound from movies). He likes swinging, riding on shoulders, sorting shapes, reading books, stacking blocks, knocking blocks over, playing with tupperware, jars and bottles (anything with a lid), taking toys out of the toy basket and sometimes putting them back in. He calls every animal Daisy. He likes to eat from silverware or chopsticks. He likes blueberries, banana, avocado toast, peas, carrots, yogurt and will point out every mandarin orange on our tree. He prefers to hold our hands, but can stand on his own and even walk a few feet forward.

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