13 months old

A few days ago Ethan turned 13 months old. It's hard to believe that this time last year I was taking care of a one month old.

Ethan can do so many things now. He recently learned to say the word "no" along with his usual mama and dada. He also babbles loudly. I'm sure our neighbors can hear him down the block. If one of us is in another room and he wants us he talks very loudly until we come back to talk to him.

We will know how much he weighs at his next clinic appointment in April, but we're thinking that he's over 23 lbs by now. He loves to play with balls and can throw the ball backwards and forwards. He likes to roll the ball to Daddy. We recently took a toy out from Christmas that has a ball blower and the balls shoot out all over the room. He loves to push the button and see all the balls fly. Last night we turned it off and it was pretty funny to watch him continue to hit the button, although a little sad too. He also loves to play in his own little tunnel from Christmas.

He has picked up on a few baby signs as well. He says "more" in sign language and "all done". Some of the time we have to ask him if he wants more and do the sign, but more and more he's been doing it on his own. He seems to be understanding and watching us do everything.

He loves to read and flip through pages of books on his own. He's a very happy baby, but also a little emotional and sensitive. For a long time he would cry if someone sneezed or yawned or if it got too loud. He is starting to be less emotional, but the sneezing still gets him.

He also has started throwing tantrums. Screaming tantrums. He tends to do this when we go to change him, say no, or when we take something away. It usually ends as quickly as it started, but also begins and ends with a Mariah Carey kind of scream.

He really is a great kid to be around most of the time. I wish other people could experience him during the times that I have him to myself. He constantly amazes me with things that he can do.

We'll see how much more he can do in another month. Maybe he will get up and walk!