Sunshine, oh how we love you!

We've had some beautiful weather these past few days. The sunshine is awesome, but sometimes the wind makes it a little chilly, so Ethan has to wear his hat. I love how it shows off those chubby cheeks. I thought his facial expression was so cute in this picture and I love seeing those bright blue eyes!

Lions, Monkeys, & Elephants - Oh my...

Here is Ethan playing with his first puzzle. I love that the pieces are slobber-proof and each one does something. His favorite to play with is the lion with a spinning mane, but he also loves to stare at the pink monkey that lets out a squeak.

I love toys that don't require batteries - all those lights and sounds can be annoying (I know... we've just begun)!

No peas, please...

Well, apparently Ethan doesn't like peas. He is normally a very good eater - swallows every bite with very little mess on his face and a perfectly clean bib. Today was definitely the exception. While he was napping, I steamed and blended up a few pounds of green beans and 2 bags of frozen peas. We decided to try out the peas... 90% of it ended up on his clothing. He also decided to use his hands to spread the mess into his eyebrows and on his eyelids. I just had to take pictures of his messy eating.

In the last photo, he's trying out his new sippy cup (the doctor suggested some prune juice, hence the dark purple liquid). He has gotten a few drops of water out of it before, but mostly he just chews on the spout.

Sitting up...

Ethan definitely doesn't like to sit, so I have to distract him with toys or he arches his back in protest. He prefers to lay down or have us help him stand, but that gets tiring for both of us. Here he is hanging out with Mom, sitting up like a big boy!

"B" is for Book!

Ethan is really soaking up his environment now, so we're trying to teach him the importance of books. Some might think we're crazy, but we also do flash cards at least once a day; Ethan usually sits in my lap while Pat shows him the card. He holds them near his face, pronounces the word and points out the photo. Most of the time, Ethan giggles, thinking Pat is playing peek-a-boo with him. Either way, it's a great time for all of us!

We also frequently sound out basic words (Ba... book, ball, baby, etc.). I'll consider both a success if he learns to get some enjoyment out of learning. Education is important to both of us, so we want definitely want to pass that along to our children.

Loving on his puppies...

A friend recently told me that they thought every little boy needs a dog and I 100% agree. Ethan (even at 6 months), just loves Mocha & Maverick. Well... he really loves to grab their ears and "pet" them, watch them play, and smile at them. Here he is cuddling with them after a great night of sleep (which Mom appreciates!).

Ethan is 6.5 months old, 19.3 lbs (85%), and 29" (95") - He is a BIG boy!

Hanging out before Volleyball...

Ethan's goes to see Dad play volleyball every Thursday night. We have to push his bedtime back a little, but he seems to love the action and we practice clapping for the team. Here he is hanging out before the game!