Almost a YEAR old!

Only one month to go and we will be celebrating another 1st birthday! CRAZY!

Ethan turned 11 months on the 12th of this month. I am starting to think he really is an easy baby. He is very predictable and for the most part is very content.

Here are some things are almost 1 year old is doing:

• Loves his Daddy. When Ben comes home from work, he gets all excited and with fuss until Ben picks his up. Or if Ben puts Ethan down and leaves the room, we hear from this little guy.
• He still only has one tooth (you can see it in a few of the photos)
• He is interacting way more (he loves peekaboo and what I call the 'give and take' game)
• He is still only sitting, but just in the last week he has become a lot less content with just sitting. i can tell he wants to move. He just doesn't quiet have the strength and coordination to do it.
• To go along with the former, he is getting a lot more squirmy. He is a pro at reaching something just out of his reach, but reaching and rolling.
• He is a great eater. Ethan loves his food! Sometimes he even eats more then Bella (although a mouse eats more then her at times)
• He goes to bed at 7:00 on the dot. Sleeps all night and usually gets up between 7-8. If he gets up earlier then 7, he will go back to sleep, after a morning bottle.
• He loves to skype. If someone is blocking his view of the computer, he will lean until it is in view (super cute).
• Fits in 12-18 month clothing
• He has started to wave. I have to get this on video, because it is so cute. He sticks his arm/hand way in the air and then turns his little hand out. Love it. And he is so proud of himself too.

What a little cutie. Here are some photos of Ethan with his shrinking bear! It was hard to get a clear photo of him, because he kept rocking the chair back and forth.

Ethy 10 Months Old

Here is our sweet little guy at 10 Months old. Do I dare say that I didn't take his 9 month shrinking bear photo???? I meant to take it before we left to go to Billings for Thanksgiving and I forgot and by the time we came back I only got my act together to take his 10 month picture on time. Ooops. This poor little guy is sure to have second child syndrome. I hear it only gets worse the more kids you have. Yikes!

Here are some things our little man is doing at 10 months old:

• Ethan is perfectly content just sitting there hanging out, I tell you... I sure don't mind a stationary baby!
• He's clapping
• Started drinking from a sippy cup
• in 6-12 month clothing
• size 3 diapers
• He eats, chicken, carrots, sweet potatoes, loves yogurt, squash, pears, apple sauce, banana and turkey, he also has oatmeal every morning for breakfast (with pears),
• He loves to pick a toy up in one hand and the throw it down and pick it up with the other hand
• He has ONE tooth, his bottom right front tooth (but that's it)
• He weighs 18.6 lbs
• He loves watching his sister play and he gets all excited if she dances and jumps around
• He still doesn't like to be left alone in a room
• He loves to reach for things (and usually falls over in the process)

I can't believe that Ethan's 1 year birthday is coming up so fast. It's crazy. He has been such a delightful little boy. His temperament is very different then Bella's was when she was almost one. He is definitely more demanding. Knows what he wants and wants to have it now. It will be so interesting to see if he mellows out a little, as Bella is a little SPITFIRE on steroids these days. But we love her too! I actually have a feeling Ethan is going to have Ben's temperament when he gets older.

Anyway, here is our cute little 10 month old:

New Years Resolutions!!!

Here is a list of my New Years Resolutions for this fine and fabulous year of 2011. Some resolutions are serious, some are just for fun and other are totally vain.

• To blog ONCE a week... or at least post photos (this will also help me take more photos of our adorable kiddos)
• To wish people 'Happy Birthday' on their actual birthdays
• To be conscience of hanging up my keys and purse when I come in the door
• To pack lighter on trips
• To not buy ANYTHING from Gymboree until after the summer (only applies after Gymbuck redemption Jan 13-23)
• To stick to our budget
• To memorize scripture verses each month
• To be as patient with my husband, as I am my children
• To try and feed my children healthier meals
• To start and finish INSANITY (60 days) Before and after photos to come
• To love more deeply, show grace more easily and be thankful more often
• To RSVP (on time and actually read what's on the invitation)
• To get my abs back
• To be more intentional about my faith as a Christian. Live in truth and be myself

Christmas!

We went home to Calgary for Christmas this year. It was a whirlwind 12 days... We spent Christmas Eve with my Mom's Family and as usual it was super festive and fun, especially our rendition of Memba-lasagna (a hungarian song that we sing every year, except my mom, aunt and grandma are the only ones who actually know the words to the song... the rest of us sing words that sound like the hungarian counterparts and then we all kiss each other, twice, once on each cheek and say Merry Christmas)! We had special guests this year. Mr Ethan and his new cousin Rocky are new additions to the family, along with Rocky's Mama, Meredith. I know my parents LOVED having Meredith and Rocky there (who live in Kelowna at the moment), so they could have ALL their grandchildren present. Thanks Meredith for spending the time with our family.

Christmas morning was spent with our immediate family. It began with the picture on the stairs in our pjs. We have a whole photo album full of these pictures through the years. Having little kids around, sure does make it extra fun. Bella was VERY into opening up all the presents, even the one that weren't hers (even at other peoples houses... that weren't hers either).

We headed up to the cabin on the 26th for a few days. Ben and I hit the slopes snowboarding up at Panorama for an afternoon, while the kids and Grandma and Papa relaxed down at base camp.

We didn't have enough time (once again) to see everyone I would have liked. We would have needed another week to accomplish that, but we did manage to fit in a few quick visits during the week.

Claire and Bella sure have come along way.

Here they are in , Dec 2008 & August 2009 & July 2010.

Aren't these two so cute (and so completely opposite)!

They could not be more different... but oh let me tell you, they are very similar in personality! Thank goodness we don't live in Calgary at the moment, or these two would be Trouble (just like Bella's mama and Claire's auntie Sarah)

WE had dinner at Katherine and John's. Katherine and John are expecting baby #2 in about a month. We are super excited to hear if baby will be a boy or a girl!

Thanks for having us over... We miss you.

On our way up to the cabin we stopped in Canmore to visit my good friend Kate, her husband Dean and their new precious baby Anna (along with the rest of Kate's family). Kate and I go all the way back to our high school days at Shawnigan. It was so fun catching up and seeing Kate as a Momma. It fits her well and Anna is adorable!

Christmas Photos!!!

I took Bella and Ethy to a little Christmas Photo shoot!

Aren't they just the cutest??? I thought the candy canes would be a good photo prop... The kids loved them, but they ended up being the biggest disaster. I have never seen Ethan salivate so much ever. He went to town on his candy cane and it was everywhere. It took 4 washes (2 with Bleach) to get out the red stains. Oh well the pics did turn out well.

Christmas around Altus!

We have been busy this Christmas Season... Lots of places to be and things to do.

Cookie Decorating at Tara's House:

We had our 2nd annual cookie decorating party at Tara's house (last year we hosted). Bella was more interested in eating the cookies and licking off all the icing off, then she was in the actual decorating part. We missed Maddie and Julie this year.

Putting up Christmas Lights with Daddy:

Isabella LOVES Christmas lights!!!

Altus City Lights and Santa:

This Santa is the most realistic Santa I have ever seen. He was so great with the kids too. He asked Bella three times what she wanted for Christmas and each time she stated: "Christmas Lights!" She's so cute.

Just like last year... she ran all throughout the park, except this time she was way faster. This girl loves to run!