Obsessed!!

I have never heard of a child being obsessed with as many things as Ethan is! Right now his main obsession seems to be garbage. Yes folks that's right I said garbage. He walks around all day telling me garbage. He likes to throw things in the garbage. Too bad not everything he throws in the garbage is really garbage. He throws his shoes in the garbage, once he threw my phone in the garbage (good thing I saw him & was able to rescue it), toys, books, you name it. He likes to scream "Garbage" as we drive down the street pointing at the garbage cans. He seems to think that garbage is something special. Maybe he will be a garbage man when he grows up.

He second obsession is bikes. Everywhere we go he has to point out people riding their bikes, motercycles, or bikes parked in front of a building. We took him to the park one day & a family rode their bikes in. He is so obsessed with bikes that he did not want to leave their bikes alone. We had to keep chasing him away from the bikes. He loves to ride his tricycle around. He got 2 for his b-day so we keep one in the basement & another outside. He doesn't pedal yet he scoots it around with his feet. He goes around telling us "BiRi" He also likes to look at our bikes & tell us who's bike is who's.

Finally his third obsession is shoes. When we go out he is constantly pointing out to us that people are wearing shoes. One day we were over at his Grammy Marcia's & Aunt Kate put on Matt's shoes so Ethan got upset demanding to her "Dada Shoes". He wanted her to take his dada's shoes off. It was quite funny. He will be running around the house in nothing more than a diaper but he insists that we put his shoes on.

Ethan has other obsessions too, he love Curious George, fish, & bubbles. Well at least those are normal childhood obsessions. Who would have thought that a child could be obsessed with things like garbage or shoes. Bike riding is fairly normal too. He just really loves his bike rides. I just don't get the obsession with garbage. It came out of no where. Garbage is so disgusting I really hope this is a temporary obsession. LOL!! Oh well his cuteness makes up for his weird obsessions. It's a good thing he's cute.

Did anyone catch NICU on Discovery Health last night? I thought it was pretty good. The first episode was about 2 different babies one born @ 36 wks the other born @35 wks. Each baby had it's own struggle. The 2nd episode was about 2 babies one was born to a diabetic mother, the other was born to a morbidly obese mother. Here is a link to one of the babies stories. Baby Ariah went home after 11 days in the NICU. Baby Trey went home after 13 days. I do not have a video on Trey unfortunately. If you can tune in next week it's in Thursday nights at 10 on Discovery Health.


 Baby Ariah

Updates

There have been a few minor changes to Ethan's blog. For one thing Google Adsense is gone if you haven't already noticed. They closed my acct accusing me of clicking on my own ads (I did not). There are new additions in the sidebar that I have added, please check out the picasa slideshow. It's just a slideshow of pictures that I have recently added to Ethan's blog. I'm always hearing about how everyone loves to look at the pictures & would like an easier way to view them. In the past I have not been able to do it b/c it was only an option with Flikr & when I upload pictures on Blogger they automatically go to Picasa. The Picasa was a new addition Blogger has added in the last 6 mons (it's been a while since I have looked at the sidebar gadgets). I have turned off the autoplay on Ethan's playlist. If you want to listen to the music just scroll down to it & click the play button.

I also want to bring up to you about a new show on Discovery Health. It's called NICU & it starts this Thurs at 10PM. Here is a link to preview the show http://health.discovery.com/tv/nicu/. I already have our DVR set to record the series. It is only 10 episodes in the series. Hopefully you will be able to watch it. We are very excited about it.

Ethan hasn't been up to much since my last post. He's just been busy playing outside & running around being cute. Every day is an adventure for him. Yesterday we were playing out in the backyard when this black cat decided to join us. It was very friendly probably about a year old. It let Ethan pet it (I made sure it wasn't vicious first before letting him touch it). Peekaboo was not happy that we were paying attention to a stray cat (I think it's the neighbors cat). She wouldn't let us come anywhere near her when we came in the house. She got over it eventually. Last night Ethan had dinner with Grandpa Frank & us at Bob Evans. He had a good time mooching food off Dada's plate, he is such a little mooch you know. Anyways that's really all there is on the Ethan front for now. Who knows what this week is going to bring.

Once Upon A Time.....

Once Upon A Time there was this little boy named Ethan. Ethan was the cutest little thing. He was so anxious to meet his mommy & daddy that he couldn't wait 10 more weeks so he came early. Ethan was the sweetest little thing his mommy & daddy had ever met. He was full of smiles, filled their days with laughter & snuggles. He had a passion for reading & he loved a good chase. Ethan grew to be 1 & he was the handsomest 1 year old on the block. The ladies fawned over Ethan. Everywhere he went he got Ooo's & aaahh's and "Isn't he adorable's!" Then one day Ethan turned into this screaming, whining, tantrum throwing monster. What caused him to turn? Well my avid readers it's called the Terrible Two's. Yes, that's right. The Terrible Two's moved in. They overtook Ethan. His mommy & daddy didn't even recognize their little boy anymore. They would look at eachother & say "Who is this child? Certainly he doesn't belong to us! Our child is a sweet angel who is full of laughter & smiles. This child is full of tears, wailing, & screeching. This can't possibly be our child." Oh what little they knew it was their child. His mommy & daddy would do everything to make their angel happy but nothing ever worked. He didn't want to be hugged & loved, he didn't want to play with his toys, he didn't want to do anything. He refused to eat the food they would give him, instead he would sit & cry as they would make him sit at the table until he ate his food. His parents were always able to outlast him. He didn't play with his parents he hit them & ran around the house throwing things. When they took him outside all he did was whine. He wanted to ride his bike but he didn't want to ride his bike. He wanted to swim in his pool but he didn't want to swim in his pool. So in the end he would run from one thing to another whining & crying. He decided that he didn't want to take a nap when his mommy would put him down for one. She would read him a story but he didn't want to sit with her while she read he would jump on the bed. So she would abandon the story & lay him back down & sing to him. But he didn't want to listen to her sing he wanted to kick & flail his feet & see if he could hit his mommy. So his mommy would just say "Fine, be that way but you're not leaving this room." She would shut his door behind him hoping that he would eventually just fall asleep. Sometimes he did sleep other times he played with his toys or destroyed his room. His mommy refused to take him out she would just let him do what he wanted in there. His mommy had had enough & just needed a break. When his daddy came home she would tell him what kinds of things his little monster had been up to. So his daddy would go to get Ethan & he would tell him that he heard he hadn't been a good boy. He would try to explain to him that he needed to eat if he wanted to be strong enough to play & that he needed his naps so that he would feel energized to play. Ethan wouldn't hear it. The Terrible Two's had taken over & they were there to stay. To this day the Terrible Two's are still there. His parents have just learned to ignore his tantrums. He doesn't get to do what he wants unless he eatsor takes his naps. He is put in time out for hitting & throwing things. All they can do is hope that someday their sweet angel will be returned to them.

THE END

I hope everyone enjoyed my story. I hope everyone had a good July 4. Ethan had a fun day. We took him over to Uncle Brian's so he could play with his cousin Macey. He had been asking for her all week. He was so excited to see her. After we left there we ran home to pack up our cooler to take to the park with us for the fireworks. When we got there we set up camp close to a tank & cannons on display. Very cool. Unfortunately the owners of the tank & cannons shot them off shortly before the fireworks. We were sitting in an area where there were a lot of little kids & infants. There was no warning they just let 'em rip. Poor Ethan was crying from the noise of them. We managed to keep his ears covered with our hands until they were done. It was cool for us to see the tank but unfortunately he was terrified though. He did OK once we covered his ears. I was really surprised that he stayed awake for them but he did. I took video of the display but sadly it's too big of a file for me to be able to download onto the internet. I do have a few pictures to post at the end of this post

We got the results back from Ethan's last phe test & his levels were 3.4. That's based on a 35g protein diet. Whether he is actually eating a full 35g is debatable. We calculate his meals to 35g but he's become one of those kids who refuses to eat what he is given so he's probably only getting about half of what we give him. As far as I know the Dr wants to keep him on the 35g for now. I don't think we have been told otherwise.

I'm having issues with loading pictures onto here so I can't put captions with the pictures :( BOO!! I'm working on getting the issue fixed hopefully it will be fixed soon.

Bike Ride

Oh how Ethan loves his bike rides. This afternoon I took him out for a 6.5 mile bike ride. We went all over. We started with the bike trail then went up & down a bunch of side streets. By the time we got back my legs were worn out! Not to mention I was sweating up a storm even though it was only 72 outside. We pulled into the driveway & boy did he get mad when I tried to get him out of his trailer. He was not happy that his ride was over. It took me an hour to make that 6.5 mile trip. I kept explaining to him that MomMom's legs were tired & needed a little break. Fortunately right as we got back Dada got home from work so he managed to help distract Ethan from the fact that his bike ride was over. As soon as I got in the house I had to crash for a moment on the couch. LOL I couldn't feel my legs.

Later this evening, after dinner, the 3 of us took a walk for some malts & to just enjoy a little outing together. Ethan loves his malts. We walked for about 45min to an hour before getting home. Then Ethan had a blast scooting around the yard on his trike. He still hasn't figured out how to pedal. I tried to show him how to do it for like the millionth time yesterday by holding his ankles & then pushing the pedals that way. But he likes to scoot his trike with his feet. LOL it's so cute. He was not a happy camper when it came time for bed. It meant that he had to stop playing for the day. I think that it still being light outside at his bedtime is throwing him off. It's like this old poem from this children's poetry book from my childhood:

In winter I get up at night & dress by yellow candle light,
In summer it's quite the other way to have to go to bed by day,
I have to go to bed & see the birds still hopping in the trees,
Or hear the grown up people's feet still passing by me in the street,
And does it not seem hard to you when all the sky is clear & blue,
That I would like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day!

Last night Ethan's routine was really thrown off. Dada was called into work about 6:30 & he wasn't home to tell him good night! I started getting him ready for bed about 8:45. He brushed his teeth, had his diaper changed, we read from his book of Favorite Bedtime Stories, I sang him 3 or 4 little lullabies, & then he was insistent that I turn on his stars even though he won't be able to see them. The whole time we were going through this he asked for his Dada. He loves having Dada put him to bed. It kind of makes me sad that he doesn't want MomMom. One day he just decieded that Dada should put him to bed. If MomMom tries to help he pushes me away & tells me no :>( Oh well, I think it comes from the fact that I am home with him all day & he doesn't get to spend all day with his Dada so he wants his bedtime to be their time together. Maybe someday he will say "No, MomMom tuck me in" LOL, till then I guess I'll have to just be happy with out good night hugs & kisses.

Oh, Ethan

Ethan's mommy always said "Oh Ethan!"
"Open up Ethan!" She would say when feeding him
"P.U!" She'd say when he filled his diaper
"Hold still!" He was told when getting his diaper changed
"Go to sleep Ethan!" Mommy said when she put him to bed
"Oh, Ethan I love you!"

That's actually from one of Ethan's little books (Oh David! By David Shannon). I just narrated the pictures & changed the name. It so reminds me of Ethan though which is why I posted it. Tonight Ethan got an "Oh Ethan!" tonight when he threw a ball & knocked over Dada's bottle of beer. Of course Ethan was proud he told us "My Mess!" with a big smile on his face.

Tonight Ethan is perpetual motion. Then again when isn't he? The child never stops moving unless he's sleeping. I would give anything to have an ounce of his energy. It never ceases to amaze me how someone so small can have so much freaking energy! Where does he get it from? He is just a bundle of energy that's for sure.

Last weekend Ethan all of a sudden began saying a few 3 word phrases. We were over at Uncle Brian's for a little swimming. Ethan was playing with a balloon when it went under a car. All of a sudden Ethan just says "Ba-oon under car!" It was so cool to hear him say that. Weds I took him over just to visit with his Grandpa Frank & he went into the kitchen to Uncle Brian & asked him "Bian cacker pees" It's so cool to hear him start putting words together into little phrases.


Don't forget to check out the little videos at the end of this post!!

Ethan & his messes

Ethan is my little mess maker. He loves to make messes. I think it's his favorite thing to do. Thursday morning he was playing in his room while I was getting up & around. I went into get him dressed & changed when all of a sudden he started screaming. I went to pick him up but my hands slipped over him. He found a bottle of baby shampoo that had accidentally been placed in his dresser cubby in place of lotion. He managed to get it opened & get the foil ripped off. He spilled half the bottle on the carpet & had his face & hands covered in it. Good thing it was just the Johnson & Johnsons no tears kind. I got him all cleaned up & then had to tackle the carpet. Boy was that a pain to clean up. I had to use our Bissell Little Green to suck it all up. Instead of filling the vac with soap & water I just used water to help dilute the shampoo. It still took quite a while to clean it up. Of course Ethan stood & watched & kept proudly telling me "My mess". Yea it was a mess that's for sure.

Friday afternoon I was fixing him some lunch & he would not stop climbing the kitchen drawers. He kept squeezing himself between me & the counter. So I pulled him off 3 times & told him that we don't climb the counters. On the 4th time I picked him up to pull him away & right as I did he reached out & grabbed his Frog-O-Sphere. Ethan went with me & the frogs crashed to the floor. I had no chance of being able to even try to catch it. Sadly it did break. Water & rocks all over & the frogs hopped away. One hopped into the dining room & the other hopped under the fridge. I managed to catch the one frog in the dining room. I made the attempt to rescue the one that went under the fridge. I had to call my dad over to help me pull the fridge out. We never found the frog unfortunately. I did check the cabinet later but it was a futile look. I did call Brookstone (the store who sold it) & asked to see what we could do to replace the enclosure. I explained that I was able to rescue the one frog & that I had plenty of food. I was hoping that if they weren't able to exchange the enclosure that maybe I could just purchase the enclosure for less since I didn't have to buy the food, frogs, or tool to change the water. The store told me that the only thing that they guaranteed was the frogs but they decided to help me out & they said they would replace what I brought in & the one frog since I couldn't find it. What they did was just damage out one of theirs & switched the broken one with a new one & they gave me a new frog. The sales guy I talked to had told his manager that he really felt bad for my little boy & that I was so nice that he really wanted to do something to help a frazzled mother out. The manager felt the same way. So to repay them for their generosity to a curious 2 year old & a frustrated mommy I will mention the store here in the blog. Brookstone is the store & it's definitely one of our favorite places to roam when we go to the mall. They have all kinds of cool gadgets. Even if there wasn't much they could do I would still like them b/c I understand how all that stuff works. So if anyone has never heard of them they do have a web site www.brookstone.com check it out they really are a neat store. Sorry I felt I had to do something nice for the store since they did something so nice for me.

I hope everyone had a chance to watch the little video I posted. I put a lot of thought into the music. It only took me a few days to put together. I would have had it done sooner but my computer was in for repairs & I didn't get it back till a few days after Ethan's party. Then I had to load all my pictures from Ethan's birthday & his party, then edit them. I plan to do these little videos of him each year just to show how much he grows through out the year. I hope everyone enjoyed it. It's so hard to put a years worth of pictures into under a half hour video. There are so many cute ones it's hard to decide which ones to use.

Father's Day

Matt had a great father's day yesterday. I managed to convince Ethan that 7 in the morning was just too early to get up that we should let Dada sleep in just this once, then Ethan & I took him out to brunch at Original Pancake House, then we went to visit Petey who will become a father in Oct, then it was home to put Ethan down for a nap while Matt & I enjoyed a House marathon on TV. Finally we went to Grammy Marcia's to celebrate 3 b-days & father's day. Ethan had a ball. We got home put Ethan to bed & continued the House marathon. The day couldn't have been spent any better. Matt said he got what he wanted.

I've been working on another little video for Ethan & I just got it finished last night. I uploaded it onto the internet last night so that I could post it here. It's about 20 mins long & is set to music so make sure you have your speakers turned on. Hope you enjoy. Oh & make sure you turn off Ethan's radio before you watch, to do that just go to the side bar where it is located & click on the pause button.

Ethan's Adventures from Julie Pacholski on Vimeo.