Ethan started walking today!

Today, Ethan decided that he was ready to walk. He crossed the playroom several times - pausing and looking around, walking in one direction and then turning around and walking back, and grinning ear-to-ear with excitement and pride! :)

Some videos:

02.10.09 :: Sophia toddling and Ethan with one of his favorite walking toys. This was taken two days ago before Ethan decided to start walking. :)


02.12.09 :: Some of Ethan's first steps


02.12.09 :: Ethan walking and Sophia joining in the fun

14 Months - Walking and talking and getting into EVERYTHING

Sophia and Ethan are taking off - LITERALLY! Walking and talking up a storm and getting into everything. Their favorite things to find and dismantle and distribute are boxes of tissues or wipes, piles of folded laundry, and bins of toys. They are little scientists at work - deconstructing and reconstructing their world.

They've started to take turns doing things with some help. We practice taking turns when we're reading books - Sophia turns a page, then Ethan does. We also do this when they're putting things (like blocks) into a bin, or when they're playing with the stackable rings or cups. They're getting better at taking turns and while we do still have a kerfuffle every so often, we're headed in the right direction...

Ethan Update - Ethan is standing on his own and taking a few steps by himself, but he still prefers to crawl (it's faster - and, trust me, he's very fast!). He also enjoys pushing our wheeled toys around the house. He's pointing at things and saying "DA" (that). He's also saying: Mum-mum, Dad-dad, bottle, hi, hey, num-num (yum-yum), all done, block, and book.

Sophia Update - Sophia is practically running around the house now and is the epitome of a toddler. She bobbles around and is experiencing the great joys of walking. She trips herself up sometimes and after the occasional cry about it, she picks herself up, dusts herself off and keeps on going. :) She isn't pointing to things like Ethan, but she does have a few more words - Mum-mum, Dad-dad, bottle, hi, book, nana (banana), shoe, diaper, no, num-num (yum-yum), cup, ba (sheep), cat, dog, what?, block, that, and doll.

Not much news with Steve and me. I'm completely healed from my surgery and am getting back into the swing of things. We purchased an elliptical machine that arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to use it! :)

Sophia with Daddy...
Mum-mum and Sophia...
Sophia with her walking toy...
Ethan loves books!
Sophia and her walking wheel...
Randi, our fantastic nanny with Sophia... Randi helped us out for two weeks when I was recovering from my surgery. She was absolutely amazing...
Sophia, Randi, and Ethan... We miss you Randi!! :)

Ethan...
Our friends Niels and Finn came for a play date. Niels liked our table...
Finn is almost crawling now! :)
Ethan and Sophia reading to each other...
Sam, Carol, and Ian also came for a visit. Ethan played host and gave Sam a ride on the push-bus.
Ethan and Sophia have fun with the tissues...

I know there are a lot of pics of Ethan here, but they came out so well I thought I might as well share them all!







Gram came for a visit and read to Ethan...

Gram also taught Sophia and Ethan some new games...

Reading with Gram...
Sophia played with Gram's watch...
Fun with pots and pans in the kitchen...
Ethan is pointing at just about everything...
Ethan helps Sophia get ready for a ride on the bike Uncle David gave us for Christmas...

Ethan gives Sophia a ride on the push-bus...
Grandma Chris came for a visit and read some stories to Sophia...

01.02.09 :: Sophia starts to walk!


01.04.09 :: Sophia is walking on her own!


01.08.09 :: Ethan and Sophia with their push toys (part 1)


01.08.09 :: Ethan and Sophia with their push toys (part 2)


01.08.09 :: Ethan and Sophia with their push toys (part 3)


01.12.09 :: Ethan walking with the bus


01.13.09 :: Ethan eating off Sophia's tray


01.14.09 :: Sophia with push toy


01.16.09 :: Ethan pushing Sophia on bus (part 1)


01.16.09 :: Ethan pushing Sophia on bus (part 2)


01.23.09 :: Tissues!


01.24.09 :: Ethan pushing Dressy Bessie


02.04.09 :: Ethan discovers his shadow


02.06.09 :: Sophia walking and Ethan crawling...

A few more Christmas pics and December videos...

We received a wonderful new camera for Christmas from Santa, and quickly forgot about our old camera. Imagine our surprise when we came across our old camera and there were several lovely pictures and videos just waiting to be found! :)

Gram with the grand kids - Ben and Sarah, Ethan and Sophia
Our stockings were hung with care...
Sophia and Ethan enjoying some Cheerios in the Christmas boxes
Sophia wonders if Santa will bring her another box for Christmas next year...Playing with the pots and pans in the kitchen...Steve and Ben play with Steve's new iPhone...Gram and Auntie Lainey...

Auntie Lainey, Sophia, Gram, and Sarah...Steve discovered the no-mess way to bag up our old tree...

12.07.08 :: Sophia with a walking toy (note E crawling on his belly)


12.10.08 :: Sophia pushing Ethan on the bus


12.10.08 :: Ethan and Sophia playing with the piano and dancing


12.19.08 :: Ethan loving the hand-knit teddy bear from Yaya


12.20.08 :: Ethan with drum and instruments

12.25.08 :: Gram playing with Ethan at Christmas


12.25.08 :: Gram playing with Sophia and a hat