not a fluke

I thought he just got lucky when he did this a few days ago....but he keeps doing it! Although he can't sustain repeated attempts just yet, his stamina seems to increase with each day. My hope is to capture him on video and post it as soon as I can get a little tutoring on doing this with the right camera.

He is a little man full of determination and grit. Such perseverance for a baby...it's amazing to watch. I hope you can get a sense of his effort in these photos. He grunts and growls just like he has always done. It must give him gusto to stand all the way up! He does all this while still having the funniest crawl. He either gets his left leg tangled up underneath him and scoots across the floor anyway, or coordinates his lower limbs and jets toward his prize. Today, it was the dogs. He just loves their tails.

"Uh-OH, what did I just do?"

Sunflowers at 6 months

Computer woes and a full Sunday dashed my plans of a momentous 6 mos celebration in pics...it was offically Ethan's 6 month birthday. We found time for a quick stroll to the sunflowers in order to calm a fussy baby on the very bumpy road. It worked like a charm...he was fast asleep shortly after these photos were taken.

The pics dont do the Sunflowers, or Ethan justice. He is a gift to everyone that meets him...there's just something about this boy!

Sweet baby parts

Is there anything sweeter than their hands and feet? Especially when they're covered with cereal goo! The pudge (and the mess) is priceless!

Ethan's first flight!

I love this pic of my niece and her son! He looks like he's not too sure what he's in for...but he's game for the adventure!

3 1/2 weeks ago Tabitha and I flew together with Ethan and Maggie to NC. This is the 'historic' pic of master Ethan's first flight on a Red belly Freedom Fighter! ( GO SWA!!) He did fabulously in spite of having his first solid food the night before and blessin' us with some smelly results to change. Maggie flew like a champ too, tucked "all the way under the seat in front" of us in her little carrier. It was pretty uneventful except for the kindness that came our way that changed it into a memory...

Not only did a neighbor offer to drive us to the airport....at 5am(!!!) but we were suprised when Tabitha was honored as we landed in NC. One of the flight attendants (thx Teresa) who befriended us, announced she was leaving for Afghanistan, thanked her for serving,offering prayers and good wishes on her way... then... the whole plane began clapping. Yep, we were bawling big wet tears after that one!

Food and play

Ethan is figuring out the spoon tastes better than the squash he was eating when you're a teething baby!

Cousin Jake acting as a human playgym for baby Ethan. This baby LOVES to climb and move!

Crawling Ethan!

It is a beginner's effort but what an effort it is!! He gets more adept each day. Two words describe his intentions as he moves about the floor: determination and frustration. In the words of one of my favorite authors, Dr. Seuss ....OH! the places he'll GO!!!

Evening time

Quick..before he wakes up from his catnap.....this was made in San Antonio before we left to come to NC...around June 20th 2009. That's his Momma's neck he 's snuggled into....you sure can tell her feels right at home there!