So, this Valentine's Day was the most special Valentine's Day yet because of my new, forever 
Valentine, Ethan. Mom and I spent the week prior getting ready for all of the festivities; we put together my school mailbox for all of the lovely valentines that I would be receiving. We did cheat a bit and got a doggy kit to help up get the job done since life around here is a bit busy these days. Then Mom helped me sign all of my valentines for my classmates and family; I did sign each one myself with just a bit of guidance. Lastly, we made goody bags for my bestest 
friends - Tyler, Lucas, Madden, Parker, and Grayson. You gotta spread the love, especially on Valentine's Day. When the day of love finally arrived, I fittingly wore red and took all of my valentines to school. Mom and Ethan came to my preschool party to celebrate with candy, cards, hugs, 
and kisses. I was so incredibly proud to show off my baby brother; as soon as they walked into the room, I jumped up and yelled, “Everyone, come look at me baby brother!” He, of course, was not as thrilled and slept through the whole thing; he must be crazy! Then again, I would probably have slept too if I wasn't allowed to indulge in the massive amount of sugar that epitomizes this scared day of love. 
That being said, Juliet, Lyla, and Ella stayed awake; he'll get there soon enough though. Anyways, I couldn't leave school without showing Ms. Kila and Ms. Cindy some love and handing out my goody bags to my favorite friends; I even presented Mommy with a card that I had made for her and Daddy. My 
favorite boys and I then let our sugar-highs run wild in a fun-filled, crazy photo op; my boys have always made me feel loved, on Valentine's Day
and every other day. When I climbed into my car seat after school, a sweet little owl, Ollie, was waiting for me, and that night, my other Valentine, Daddy, brought home a rose and balloon just for me. Mommy also gave me my own goody bag, which included my favorite movie Beauty and the Beast and lots of candy. Daddy did good because he also got Mommy a dozen roses; I guess I'll have to share my Valentine with her. I hope everyone had a super special day filled with loved ones. That being said, I definitely had the best Valentine, Ethan!When I was first born, Mom and Dad kept me at home for the first two months of my life, but they can't keep Ethan at home, or I will climb the walls, almost literally. Therefore, I've spent the month of
February introducing my new Valentine to some of my favorite places, most of which he didn't find interesting enough to stay awake:
Ethan experienced his first Library Wee Read. I got to enjoy the stories from Mommy's lap while he hung out in the stroller. He missed all of the crazy animal stories and songs, but that's okay because we recorded a bit of the fun for him. I took a shining to the boy next to me during the freeze dance; then I showed another little boy how to use the computers after Wee Read. I don't think he noticed that I don't really know how to use them yet. I think I hid my lack of knowledge pretty well; I just kept saying, "See, you do [this] and then you do [this]"; he was totally convinced that I knew what I was doing. I have never met a stranger, and I befriend everyone I meet; even if, he/she doesn't want to be befriended. I know what is best for everyone...me!
Mommy and I took Ethan to the best place in the whole world, Catch Air, several times this month. I can have fun at Catch Air, especially with all of their new equipment, whether we are joined by some friends, like Lucas, Juliet, Parker, and Grayson, or fly solo to explore with new found friends. Ethan really enjoys all of the lights on the ceiling, at which he stares from the safety of the Baby Bjorn carrier right under Mommy’s chin. He looks from the lights to Mommy to the lights and back. As long as he can see Mom, he is usually pretty content.
Ethan was the last of the second siblings to arrive in my group of friends, and now that he has got a little age on him, playgroups have resumed! We spent a day trashing Ms. Laura's house while Juliet and Ethan attempted, unsuccessfully, to take car seat naps in the middle of the craziness, and then we enjoyed a sunny afternoon picnicking at Ms. Alisha's. Ethan 
turned the tables on Juliet this time and screamed in her ear. Give it a year, and the younger siblings will be going crazy right along with the rest of us, except for Grayson who is already trying his darndest to keep up with us crazy elders. Lyla and Ella, who has recently taken her first steps, are well on their way to joining the chaos as well, but Elize, Juliet, and Ethan are still observing the insanity from the floor.
Ethan made his first visit to one of the most indulgent places on earth when Mommy, Daddy, and I spent a Sunday afternoon at Grandma's house with Aunt Steph, Harper True, Aunt Mal, Mr. Chris, and Aunt Mal’s new addition, Ella, the puppy. Harper and I
had the best time! I love leading her around - she is my little doll, and I entertained everyone with a series of original, musical numbers while perched atop Grandma's coffee table; Grandma lets me get away with 
murder. Harper thoroughly enjoyed smelling Grandma's candles while sitting in the coffee table tray. We are two wild and crazy kids! I also had quite the time riding my horsey, also known as Daddy, around Grandma's living room. Those are the best moments, playing around with Dad, that make me beam from ear to ear. Harper really
came out of her shell and chatted away once I left with Daddy. Harper is kind of quiet when I am around, granted I am pretty loud, but she has got quite the talkative personality when she isn’t busy being entertained by moi. Ethan just wanted to eat, of course, but he got in some good aunt time and a little nap on Grandma's shoulder. Ethan has infiltrated the girls' club, and we are so happy that he did. There is no place like Grandma's house!
sang a few songs; and ran around like wild people. I was the only one to not only paint my canvas but also to paint my forehead and upper lip...talented, I know. Ethan serenaded us all 
with the Ode to Crying until Mommy figured out how to feed him while balancing on top of a bar stool. It was a great art class, and we love Cool Bees' Art Studio. The only downfall for me was when I ran out into the parking lot and go into BIG trouble after the class let out. Lesson learned: Do NOT run in a parking lot; always hold Mommy's hand or have your hand on the car, or you will face the wrath of crazy Mom!
The weather is starting to get warmer - Yay! However, Mother Nature has been a bit confused this month with temperatures in the 60s one
day and snow 
flurries the next. Even with the crazy weather that is making everyone sick, we were able to get in a couple of days at Fowler Park, which is one of my favorite parks. Well, anywhere I can run and climb tends to make the list of my favorite parks. One of the days that we decided to try the park was a little bit chillier than we had expected, and Ethan had to stay under a blanket in the carrier while I got out a little bit of energy before nap. I have got a ton of energy! Really, I have enough energy for 10 kids, and Grandma says I get it honestly because Mom never stopped taking and jumping around when she was little. Payback...Unfortunately, along with lots of new places, I also introduced baby Ethan to my preschool
germs, and February included his first ER visit, which was really scary! Mom thought that Ethan felt really hot one morning when he woke up, so she took his temperature, and sure enough, he did 
have a fever, 100.6 degrees. After speaking with a nurse and being told that he would probably need to go down to Scottish Rite's Children's Hospital, Daddy was called home to watch me, and Mommy immediately headed to the pediatrician's office with Ethan. His temperature read 100.4 at the doctor's office, so they decided to send him down to Scottish Rite because of his being only 5 weeks old. It was Mom's first time at Scottish Rite, and they were very good about getting Ethan into a room right away so as to not expose his little system to any germs in the waiting room. It ended up being an incredibly long and 
exhausting day. Because Ethan was younger than 8 weeks old, they had to do a full blood workup to rule out any blood infections, and they put in an IV in case he needed to get fluids. The IV looked
so painful. It was no fun for baby Ethan, but we are just thankful that this all happened a week later than it did, for if he had been one week younger, he would have needed a spinal tap! Apparently, Ethan clots really, really quickly, so it took four nurses, the first two had to call in backup after trying for quite some time, and four sticks to get enough blood. Mom kept asking if they really needed more, for she just wanted it all to be done. The nurses couldn't believe how hard it was to take his blood, and Mommy said that it was so terrible. She just kept holding him and kissing him and talking to him, trying to soothe him in any way possible. The only upside for him was the sugar water; he is addicted! The nurses gave Mom a little vile of sugar 
water so that she could give him a few drops whenever he got really upset; everyone was pretty sure that Ethan was just crying at some points to get the sugar water because he loved it, and they even had to give Mommy a second dose for him. I mean, who doesn't like sugar!? The nurses tried to make the process as easy as
possible by using numbing cream and warming packs, but here we are almost 3 weeks later, and his hand is still bruised from the IV. Poor Ethan! He was really upset, but he was also really brave. He slept in Mommy's arms, totally worn out, for a bit, and after over 6 hours in the ER - it was apparently a really busy day - and no temperature for several of those hours, the doctor diagnosed Ethan with Bronchiolitis and released him with the instructions to use a humidifier, saline drops, and the nasal aspirator when needed. We had a big talk, and I am going to try and not get too close to his face until sick season is over. No more hospital for baby Ethan! We were all so worried.
Some Additional Fun Things We Have Done this Month:
We got to go to a Super Bowl party at the Throwers' house. There were so 
many kids with whom to play, and all of the kiddos had too much fun while the old people bet on the game and socialized. The chicken and green cupcakes definitely did not disappoint either. Grandma even came to spend some time with Ethan and me; I was too busy playing to hang with Grandma, which is a rarity. Ethan, of course, slept the entire time until right before it was time to leave; then he screamed almost the whole way home. I don't think he quite gets the gist of how parties are supposed to work. The countdown is on to the Throwers' new addition who will be arriving in March! We can't wait to meet him!
Ballet class had some fun themes in February, like Wacky Tacky Day, to which I got to wear a crazy ballet outfit that I helped put together. However, only one other parent remembered that it was Wacky Tacky Day, so I looked pretty crazy! February also included PJ Day, and I had a ball prancing around in my pajamas. I am a 
prancer...and a performer in general. I have taken to putting on concerts at home. Every day, I twirl around while singing made-up songs about everyday life at the top of my lungs. I am just getting ready for my American Idol audition in 12 years; I have joined Mom in her American Idol obsession, and she lets me stay up a little later on Wednesdays to watch the performances. My favorites are all country singers, which Mom finds quite interesting since I have never really heard country music before now. I am totally into it, and I even tell her for whom she should vote. Ethan also gets in some great Ms. Joanne and Grayson time while I am in ballet class; Joanne is totally using Ethan to get her baby fix each week, and Mommy is so appreciative that she is. Also, Grayson has named all of his stuffed animals Baby Ethan. He is so sweet; he wants another baby, Ms. Joanne. Back to me though, performance art of some sort is in my future for sure. 
Dr. Seuss' birthday is on March 2, so during the last weekend in February, 
we attended the Dr. Seuss read at Target, which kind of stunk. The sunglass modeling afterwards was way more fun. However, I did get a Lorax mustache, which made up for the so-so read. Winning! Ethan and I both make pretty cute Loraxes, if you ask me; although, Ethan looked more like a very happy walrus. I can't wait to see the new Lorax movie! I also used my own handprints to make a picture of Thing 1 and Thing 2 in honor of the occasion. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Speaking of birthdays, Parker turned 3 this month, and sh
e had an awesome birthday party at the Lollipop Toy Store! Unfortunately, Mom and Ethan had to miss the party because it was the day after Ethan's trip to the ER, but Daddy and I made sure not to miss it because I love Parker…and Grayson, who I’m pretty sure has a little crush 
on me. The cake was a princess cake, and the venue was a heck of a play center. Plus, all of my best friends were there, so I had a great time! I even got an awesome coloring pad and crayons as a party favor; thank you, Ms. Joanne and Mr. John. I am learning to color within the lines, and I always try and make everything look as realistic as possible. Happy Birthday, Parker Violet!
I have been keeping up with my special dinner attire, and this month, I came to the table as a princess more than once.
We had Vet Day at school this month, and I saved a stuffed pig’s life with band aids and a stethoscope, at least that is what I told Mom. The gloves and mask that I got to bring home have made my life complete. All of my animals are now in tip-top shape.
Speaking of school, Dad and Mom have decided to enroll me in a new school for next year, so I will be attending Vickery Creek Montessori School starting in August. I am excited because Mom said it is a big girl school, and Parker is going to be in my class. Dad went to Montessori school when he was younger, and they just felt like it would be a more academic environment; although, I do love my school now. That being said, I am excited! They have a garden and work mats and a kid-sized kitchen and guitar or piano lessons and snack anytime 
you want and a tricycle track; they learn about the world and continents and cooking and languages and phonics and all kinds of fun things. I am well on my way to showing this school who is boss; I've been working on writing my name for a couple of months, and it took awhile to figure out the whole left to 
right rule, but now, I've got it down pat. I think the shower crayons definitely helped, and yes, I wrote that on the shower wall all by myself. I am the first of my friends to sign my name all by myself, and I am so proud. I'm also super proud of myself for learning Mommy's phone number in just a few, short days; if I ever get lost, I am supposed to go up to another mommy and ask them to call my Mommy. I am such a smart girl, which I am constantly reminding Mom and Dad! I’m so humble too.
We had Vet Day at school this month, and I saved a stuffed pig’s life with band aids and a stethoscope, at least that is what I told Mom. The gloves and mask that I got to bring home have made my life complete. All of my animals are now in tip-top shape.Speaking of school, Dad and Mom have decided to enroll me in a new school for next year, so I will be attending Vickery Creek Montessori School starting in August. I am excited because Mom said it is a big girl school, and Parker is going to be in my class. Dad went to Montessori school when he was younger, and they just felt like it would be a more academic environment; although, I do love my school now. That being said, I am excited! They have a garden and work mats and a kid-sized kitchen and guitar or piano lessons and snack anytime 
you want and a tricycle track; they learn about the world and continents and cooking and languages and phonics and all kinds of fun things. I am well on my way to showing this school who is boss; I've been working on writing my name for a couple of months, and it took awhile to figure out the whole left to 
right rule, but now, I've got it down pat. I think the shower crayons definitely helped, and yes, I wrote that on the shower wall all by myself. I am the first of my friends to sign my name all by myself, and I am so proud. I'm also super proud of myself for learning Mommy's phone number in just a few, short days; if I ever get lost, I am supposed to go up to another mommy and ask them to call my Mommy. I am such a smart girl, which I am constantly reminding Mom and Dad! I’m so humble too.
I've also spent a lot of my time this month just hanging around the house with my baby brother. I love to talk to him in my best baby voice, for babies don't understand big people talk, don't cha know. I always talk about how adorable, cute, handsome, precious, etc. he is, and it must be true because I have very good taste. He is my very best friend now!
Here are some updates on my very best friend: He started smiling at the beginning of the
month, but for a while, he only smiled when he was sleeping and probably dreaming. I was starting to get a little 
bit worried that he found his dream world much more entertaining than the real world, but on February 14th - how fitting - he showed Mom the love and deliberately smiled at her for the first time. Wasn't that sweet of him!? As the month went on, he started smiling more and more; next, he smiled at me, and most recently, 
he smiled at the octopus hanging from his play mat. Poor Daddy, he hasn't really gotten a good smile yet. Ethan is a really happy and smiley baby, especially right after he eats, which is quite often, and in the middle of the night, which keeps Mom up even longer because you 
just can’t ignore a baby smile. He thinks it is really funny when Mommy pretends to sneeze. Other things that he seems to enjoy: his play mat, especially the lights, noises, and octopus; his bouncer, which still seems to be his favorite, as long as someone is sitting there bouncing
him at all times; having the bottom of his feet kissed - he smiles really big whenever Mommy kisses his feet and then kicks them up towards her mouth for her to do it again; leaving his left arm out when swaddled until he totally gave up the whole swaddle thing towards the end of February; and pooping with his diaper off. He is a smart boy, in my opinion; he saves it all up and just lets it go as soon as that diaper is undone. Guessing if he is done and ready for the new diaper has become quite a skill in our house. 
He and I are already a bit alike, for I always had to have my arms left out when swaddled, and I typically waited until my diaper was off to poop. He also started to really notice Opie towards the end of this month; he looks at him like, 'Who in the world is this hairy guy, and why is he constantly trying to lick my face?' Ethan, you will soon establish your own love/hate relationship with the Op-man, just like I have.
month, but for a while, he only smiled when he was sleeping and probably dreaming. I was starting to get a little 
bit worried that he found his dream world much more entertaining than the real world, but on February 14th - how fitting - he showed Mom the love and deliberately smiled at her for the first time. Wasn't that sweet of him!? As the month went on, he started smiling more and more; next, he smiled at me, and most recently, 
he smiled at the octopus hanging from his play mat. Poor Daddy, he hasn't really gotten a good smile yet. Ethan is a really happy and smiley baby, especially right after he eats, which is quite often, and in the middle of the night, which keeps Mom up even longer because you 
just can’t ignore a baby smile. He thinks it is really funny when Mommy pretends to sneeze. Other things that he seems to enjoy: his play mat, especially the lights, noises, and octopus; his bouncer, which still seems to be his favorite, as long as someone is sitting there bouncing
him at all times; having the bottom of his feet kissed - he smiles really big whenever Mommy kisses his feet and then kicks them up towards her mouth for her to do it again; leaving his left arm out when swaddled until he totally gave up the whole swaddle thing towards the end of February; and pooping with his diaper off. He is a smart boy, in my opinion; he saves it all up and just lets it go as soon as that diaper is undone. Guessing if he is done and ready for the new diaper has become quite a skill in our house. 
He and I are already a bit alike, for I always had to have my arms left out when swaddled, and I typically waited until my diaper was off to poop. He also started to really notice Opie towards the end of this month; he looks at him like, 'Who in the world is this hairy guy, and why is he constantly trying to lick my face?' Ethan, you will soon establish your own love/hate relationship with the Op-man, just like I have.More Smiley, Sleepy Fun from March:
Oh, and he likes tummy time for about 2 seconds until he gets really pissed:
Ethan has experienced many firsts this month. He sat up for the first time in the Bumbo since he is getting pretty good at holding up his head; although, Daddy still calls him a bobble head. He tries really hard to lift that big thing during tummy time, but it only takes about a minute until he gets really mad. He viewed the 
world from the Baby Bjorn carrier for the first time; however, it took a few tries before he really started to enjoy it. I loved the carrier from my very first ride. Since Mommy and Daddy are incredibly interested in his sleeping schedule for some reason, it is required that I mention Ethan’s first pretty good night, which was on February 6 when he slept from 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. The next day, on February 7, was the first time that Mommy started to
notice a nice pattern developing with Ethan's eating and sleeping. Mommy likes schedules, so she was excited. Then on February 27, he had his first almost all-nighter when he slept from 8:30 p.m. - 4 a.m., which has pretty much persisted, with a few interruptions, since and is, hopefully, only going to get 
better. The rents are getting this whole bedtime routine down. Mommy is in a much better mood when she gets some sleep, which is why I let her go back to sleep for an hour and a half the other day after she got me some breakfast and juice. I just watched cartoons and got out my crayons and coloring pad and stayed really quiet; I am such a sweet girl. Ethan moved to the bigger boy,
green tub this month, and he also got his first bottle of formula towards the end of February, which he fought with all of his might. He is a boob man, so I don't think that he is going to allow the formula to become a regular part of his diet quite yet. Some not so exciting 
developments in February were the baby acne and receding hairline. My brother currently looks like a 90-year-old man with teenage acne. Hair is not our best baby feature in this family. He is still beautiful though, and that is not a lie! Really, people genuinely tell us all of the time what a pretty baby he is. Plus, his hair is actually growing back very quickly. February has been an exciting month for Mr. Ethan.
To add to the excitement, Ethan celebrated his 1-month birthday! He wasn't quite as thrilled about capturing the event as I was, but a screaming baby is not going to stop me from getting that perfect shot! I am a true professional in front of the camera; it is all business. You'll be getting lots more of these monthly shots, and hopefully, he will start lovin' the camera sooner rather than later. Don't worry, Ethan, birthdays get much better when you hit the year mark, for the celebration includes sugar. By the way, thank you for the cool month decals, Ms. Laura; they are sure to get their fair share of picture usage. 
Ethan's newborn pictures arrived, and Mom 
has spent the month updating the house, like above the fireplace and along the hallway, to include our newest, precious member. Along with the pictures, he also got his own container, with his name on it just like mine, added to the kid-chaos in the bathroom. We even got his birth announcement out to the masses; he is officially announced. Selena Mouledous did a beautiful job; if you have any upcoming, picture-worthy events, you should check out her website: http://www.selenamouledous.com/
With the addition of his newborn pictures and the beautiful painintg made by Ms. Sharon, Ethan's nursery is now complete. Dad is hoping that he gets to move in very soon too!
Speaking of cute pictures just for the 
sake of cute pictures, check out the monkey towel that Ethan got from the Wendy, Elizabeth, and Travis Plage, along with their families. Too cute! It is nice and warm too. I had a bird towel when I was a baby; I made sure to have Mom dig out the pictures of me when I saw the pictures of Ethan.
Speaking of cute gifts, the Fosters came by to meet 
Ethan this month, which meant that I got to play with AK and Owen when AK wasn't doing an excellent job of holding my baby brother. I made sure to get Mrs. Aly to capture the moment on my camera; by the way, just like Mom, I capture every moment with my camera these days. Opie was super excited for the company too; poor guy, he is lucky if we even remember to let him out in the mornings nowadays. The Fosters got Ethan the coolest storage bin to match his room and these awesome Aden and Anais bibs/burp cloth neck wraps. Thank you, Fosters!
Unfortunately, Mom hasn't quite figured out how to grocery shop with both of us. It's not that she can't handle it; it's that she can't figure out how to fit the car seat, the groceries, and me into the cart. Therefore, she has been shopping on Tuesdays when I am at school, and all of my Publix buddies, especially Ms. Suzana, really miss me and ask about me every time. Hurry up and get bigger Ethan so that I can rejoin the weekly shopping trips!
This has been quite a month for me as well. I had my biggest fit to date, which started because I didn't want to put my stickers away and culminated in my kicking Mom in the stomach when I
was frantically throwing my legs around and trying to hit her, not good moves on my part, for it was not a pretty scene. I will not be doing either of those things again. My actions eventually lead to the drafting of a behavioral contract, which lists actions and their immediate 
consequences right on the fridge. Good thing I know how to write my name so that I could sign my contract. It has actually really helped. Dad has also been having a lot of talks with me about lying because I was starting to have a little too much fun with the truth. I’m a natural storyteller, people! I was also having a few unwarranted accidents earlier this month, which Mom thinks is because I am jealous of the attention Ethan gets when she changes his diaper, but we quickly worked out that issue. Some of my cuter actions this month have 
included a random "Me too, girlfriend" response when Mom yawned in the car. I also loudly announced to Dad, and several tables around us at Marlow's Tavern, that I want to marry him. When told that he is already married to Mommy, I nicely consented to share him. I got to chew bubble gum for first time, and then I walked around the rest of the day telling everyone with whom I came into contact to smell my breath; even though, it wasn't the fresh breath kind. My vocabulary and the things I say are out of control these days, and I love to make the parents laugh!
Beyond just my expanding vocabulary, I am growing up so quickly in other ways as well! Now, I 
have been potty-trained for a whole year, but I can't quite get the hang of not going while I am sleeping. Although the doctor told Mom not to worry, that it will just happen on its own, Mom resorted to bribery. Therefore, I went a whole week with no accidents during nap, and I got to go to Chuck E Cheese with the whole fam. Ethan slept, of course, and I had a blast; even though, most of the games and rides are still a little old for me. The singing mouse was not that 
impressive though. To show that I am such a big girl, I have also learned to put my whole head under water in the bath, 
and I hold my breath for quite a long time, by my estimate. I am really, really, really proud of myself! I also pick out my pajamas all by myself and brush my teeth in the mornings by myself and pour my milk into my cereal and use cups with no lids and help around the house and get myself ready for nap all on my own and usually put my shoes on the correct feet without any help and so much more. I am so grown up!
I may have had my fair share of meltdowns this month, but Ethan cries a lot as well. I have been told that he still doesn't cry as much as I did when I wa
s his age, and therefore, Mommy doesn’t think he cries much at all, but in my opinion, I don't think it is possible for anyone to cry more than he does! At Mommy's 6-week, post-op check-up, Ethan cried almost the entire time! At one point, I was sitting in a chair, playing with the iPad, and Mom had to put Ethan down in his car seat to get checked. He was quiet for about 2 seconds before he started to get agitated, and without even looking up from my game, I announced in a disinterested voice, "Here he goes again". Dr. Dawson thought that was pretty funny, and he totally felt sympathetic to my plight. Ethan did go again too; he serenaded the entire office during our entire checkout. Mom didn't even get to ask Dr. Dawson any questions; he just gave her a thumbs-up after he was done as we were quickly packing up. I looked at Ethan while he was screaming the other day and said, "Oh, Ethan, you are going to drive Mommy crazy!" I try to help Mommy when I feel like it or when she begs. I sit and bounce Ethan while Mom makes dinner when Dad is out of town or while she gets us all ready in the mornings so that we don't have to listen to him scream the entire time; although, his mornings are getting much better. For 
example, the other night while Mom was cooking dinner, she
looked up from the kitchen, and I was sitting on the coffee table, bouncing Ethan with one foot while undistractedly watching an evening cartoon. Nothing fazes me when Wild Kratts is on. Thank goodness for the bouncer though! I also help with bath time. I sit on the side of the tub and entertain him while Mom washes him. I did almost drop the baby bottle of soap on his head the other day, so now, I am a little more careful while perched above him. I also help lotion him up so that his skin doesn't get itchy, but he is still peeling. Poor buddy!
My bouncing skills must have won him over because I seem to be his favorite person, besides Mommy, but she has an unfair advantage. He smiles at me all the time and follows me with his eyes wherever I go in the room. He even has started to coo at Mommy and me. I always soothe him with "Don't worry, Ethan, your big sister is here" or "Here I am, Ethan". Then I tell Mommy and Daddy, "He really likes and loves me" or "Look! He is talking to me!" He really, really likes me, and I really like him too.
So, unfortunately, Daddy's travel schedule has picked back up, and we had to endure his first full
week out of town. It was rough...for all of us! Mommy was exhausted, and I missed my evening playmate. 
Aunt Mal helped lessen the load one evening when she came and spent the night with us. I got to play with my sweet Aunt Mal while Mom got Ethan down. We found out that Aunt Mal sleeps like a log, which I guess Mom already knew, when she was just feet away from the bassinet and didn't even move any of the times Ethan woke up that night. The next morning, she shared how super impressed she was that Ethan had slept through the night; Mommy just laughed; although, I think she felt more like crying. With each of Daddy’s trips, we are figuring things out around here a little more, but we definitely miss Daddy when he is gone.
Since Mommy has been manning us on her own a lot lately, Daddy takes over with me on the weekends: We go to the gym and the mall and the fish store and Home Depot and Taco Mac, a lot, and all kinds of fun places. Mom and Ethan usually get to
meet us out for lunch and run and errand or two with us. I love my Daddy time! Dad even sent Mom out with Aunt Mal for Chris' birthday one Saturday night, and Daddy took both of us on, all by himself, for the first time. I don't know if Dad will be sacrificing himself again anytime soon, for Ethan cried almost the entire time Mom was gone, and the only thing that would make him happy was to eat, so Daddy fed him...a lot. He went through twice the amount of milk that he was supposed to, which was everything in the fridge that Mom had stored up. I guess Daddy thinks that food makes everything better; he is such a man. However, Ethan apparently thinks the same thing. Two peas in a pod...at least they will be once Ethan decides to give Daddy a break.
We also got to initiate Grandma to the babysitting of two at once this month when Dad and Mom went out on their first, post-Ethan, date night for Valentine's Day. We got to stay up until 10:00 with Grandma; well, Ethan insisted on staying up until 10:00, and Grandma couldn't figure out how to get me down while he was crying. Thanks, Ethan! We make a good, stay-up-late team. Thank you to Grandma too; she is my best pal!
Dad and I are steadily adding to our aquarium with weekly trips to the fish store; this month's additions include Lemon, the Yellow Tang; Nemo and Nemo's
Dad, our two Clown Fish; Princess Olivia, another 
Damselfish; and many crabs and snails. I love helping Daddy make the saltwater, pick the fish, and keep them fed, as well as reminding Mommy to turn on the lights in the mornings. We are almost ready to add the pretty coral, as soon as our fancy lighting system gets here, and we get to add more big fish in March. My love for my aquarium has just fueled my obsession for the new show Octonauts, which is about an underwater team of creatures who help fellow marine life, and it is a serious obsession. Someday, I am going to be a doctor...under the sea.
It is so wild; it already seems like Ethan has always been a part of our everyday lives. He has made our mornings, days, evenings, and nights complete! Plus, the sexes are now equal in this household, except if you count Opie, who gives the men a very slight advantage.
By the way, my new goal is to be more succinct in these blogs, but alas, I have once again failed miserably! Sorry for the length; I just don't want to forget even one moment of my younger years for when I am old and gray.
Ethan has experienced many firsts this month. He sat up for the first time in the Bumbo since he is getting pretty good at holding up his head; although, Daddy still calls him a bobble head. He tries really hard to lift that big thing during tummy time, but it only takes about a minute until he gets really mad. He viewed the 
world from the Baby Bjorn carrier for the first time; however, it took a few tries before he really started to enjoy it. I loved the carrier from my very first ride. Since Mommy and Daddy are incredibly interested in his sleeping schedule for some reason, it is required that I mention Ethan’s first pretty good night, which was on February 6 when he slept from 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. The next day, on February 7, was the first time that Mommy started to
notice a nice pattern developing with Ethan's eating and sleeping. Mommy likes schedules, so she was excited. Then on February 27, he had his first almost all-nighter when he slept from 8:30 p.m. - 4 a.m., which has pretty much persisted, with a few interruptions, since and is, hopefully, only going to get 
better. The rents are getting this whole bedtime routine down. Mommy is in a much better mood when she gets some sleep, which is why I let her go back to sleep for an hour and a half the other day after she got me some breakfast and juice. I just watched cartoons and got out my crayons and coloring pad and stayed really quiet; I am such a sweet girl. Ethan moved to the bigger boy,
green tub this month, and he also got his first bottle of formula towards the end of February, which he fought with all of his might. He is a boob man, so I don't think that he is going to allow the formula to become a regular part of his diet quite yet. Some not so exciting 
developments in February were the baby acne and receding hairline. My brother currently looks like a 90-year-old man with teenage acne. Hair is not our best baby feature in this family. He is still beautiful though, and that is not a lie! Really, people genuinely tell us all of the time what a pretty baby he is. Plus, his hair is actually growing back very quickly. February has been an exciting month for Mr. Ethan.
To add to the excitement, Ethan celebrated his 1-month birthday! He wasn't quite as thrilled about capturing the event as I was, but a screaming baby is not going to stop me from getting that perfect shot! I am a true professional in front of the camera; it is all business. You'll be getting lots more of these monthly shots, and hopefully, he will start lovin' the camera sooner rather than later. Don't worry, Ethan, birthdays get much better when you hit the year mark, for the celebration includes sugar. By the way, thank you for the cool month decals, Ms. Laura; they are sure to get their fair share of picture usage. 
has spent the month updating the house, like above the fireplace and along the hallway, to include our newest, precious member. Along with the pictures, he also got his own container, with his name on it just like mine, added to the kid-chaos in the bathroom. We even got his birth announcement out to the masses; he is officially announced. Selena Mouledous did a beautiful job; if you have any upcoming, picture-worthy events, you should check out her website: http://www.selenamouledous.com/With the addition of his newborn pictures and the beautiful painintg made by Ms. Sharon, Ethan's nursery is now complete. Dad is hoping that he gets to move in very soon too!
Speaking of cute pictures just for the 
sake of cute pictures, check out the monkey towel that Ethan got from the Wendy, Elizabeth, and Travis Plage, along with their families. Too cute! It is nice and warm too. I had a bird towel when I was a baby; I made sure to have Mom dig out the pictures of me when I saw the pictures of Ethan.
Speaking of cute gifts, the Fosters came by to meet 
Ethan this month, which meant that I got to play with AK and Owen when AK wasn't doing an excellent job of holding my baby brother. I made sure to get Mrs. Aly to capture the moment on my camera; by the way, just like Mom, I capture every moment with my camera these days. Opie was super excited for the company too; poor guy, he is lucky if we even remember to let him out in the mornings nowadays. The Fosters got Ethan the coolest storage bin to match his room and these awesome Aden and Anais bibs/burp cloth neck wraps. Thank you, Fosters!
Unfortunately, Mom hasn't quite figured out how to grocery shop with both of us. It's not that she can't handle it; it's that she can't figure out how to fit the car seat, the groceries, and me into the cart. Therefore, she has been shopping on Tuesdays when I am at school, and all of my Publix buddies, especially Ms. Suzana, really miss me and ask about me every time. Hurry up and get bigger Ethan so that I can rejoin the weekly shopping trips!
This has been quite a month for me as well. I had my biggest fit to date, which started because I didn't want to put my stickers away and culminated in my kicking Mom in the stomach when I
was frantically throwing my legs around and trying to hit her, not good moves on my part, for it was not a pretty scene. I will not be doing either of those things again. My actions eventually lead to the drafting of a behavioral contract, which lists actions and their immediate 
consequences right on the fridge. Good thing I know how to write my name so that I could sign my contract. It has actually really helped. Dad has also been having a lot of talks with me about lying because I was starting to have a little too much fun with the truth. I’m a natural storyteller, people! I was also having a few unwarranted accidents earlier this month, which Mom thinks is because I am jealous of the attention Ethan gets when she changes his diaper, but we quickly worked out that issue. Some of my cuter actions this month have 
included a random "Me too, girlfriend" response when Mom yawned in the car. I also loudly announced to Dad, and several tables around us at Marlow's Tavern, that I want to marry him. When told that he is already married to Mommy, I nicely consented to share him. I got to chew bubble gum for first time, and then I walked around the rest of the day telling everyone with whom I came into contact to smell my breath; even though, it wasn't the fresh breath kind. My vocabulary and the things I say are out of control these days, and I love to make the parents laugh!
Beyond just my expanding vocabulary, I am growing up so quickly in other ways as well! Now, I 
have been potty-trained for a whole year, but I can't quite get the hang of not going while I am sleeping. Although the doctor told Mom not to worry, that it will just happen on its own, Mom resorted to bribery. Therefore, I went a whole week with no accidents during nap, and I got to go to Chuck E Cheese with the whole fam. Ethan slept, of course, and I had a blast; even though, most of the games and rides are still a little old for me. The singing mouse was not that 
impressive though. To show that I am such a big girl, I have also learned to put my whole head under water in the bath, 
and I hold my breath for quite a long time, by my estimate. I am really, really, really proud of myself! I also pick out my pajamas all by myself and brush my teeth in the mornings by myself and pour my milk into my cereal and use cups with no lids and help around the house and get myself ready for nap all on my own and usually put my shoes on the correct feet without any help and so much more. I am so grown up!I may have had my fair share of meltdowns this month, but Ethan cries a lot as well. I have been told that he still doesn't cry as much as I did when I wa
s his age, and therefore, Mommy doesn’t think he cries much at all, but in my opinion, I don't think it is possible for anyone to cry more than he does! At Mommy's 6-week, post-op check-up, Ethan cried almost the entire time! At one point, I was sitting in a chair, playing with the iPad, and Mom had to put Ethan down in his car seat to get checked. He was quiet for about 2 seconds before he started to get agitated, and without even looking up from my game, I announced in a disinterested voice, "Here he goes again". Dr. Dawson thought that was pretty funny, and he totally felt sympathetic to my plight. Ethan did go again too; he serenaded the entire office during our entire checkout. Mom didn't even get to ask Dr. Dawson any questions; he just gave her a thumbs-up after he was done as we were quickly packing up. I looked at Ethan while he was screaming the other day and said, "Oh, Ethan, you are going to drive Mommy crazy!" I try to help Mommy when I feel like it or when she begs. I sit and bounce Ethan while Mom makes dinner when Dad is out of town or while she gets us all ready in the mornings so that we don't have to listen to him scream the entire time; although, his mornings are getting much better. For 
example, the other night while Mom was cooking dinner, she
looked up from the kitchen, and I was sitting on the coffee table, bouncing Ethan with one foot while undistractedly watching an evening cartoon. Nothing fazes me when Wild Kratts is on. Thank goodness for the bouncer though! I also help with bath time. I sit on the side of the tub and entertain him while Mom washes him. I did almost drop the baby bottle of soap on his head the other day, so now, I am a little more careful while perched above him. I also help lotion him up so that his skin doesn't get itchy, but he is still peeling. Poor buddy!
My bouncing skills must have won him over because I seem to be his favorite person, besides Mommy, but she has an unfair advantage. He smiles at me all the time and follows me with his eyes wherever I go in the room. He even has started to coo at Mommy and me. I always soothe him with "Don't worry, Ethan, your big sister is here" or "Here I am, Ethan". Then I tell Mommy and Daddy, "He really likes and loves me" or "Look! He is talking to me!" He really, really likes me, and I really like him too.
So, unfortunately, Daddy's travel schedule has picked back up, and we had to endure his first full
week out of town. It was rough...for all of us! Mommy was exhausted, and I missed my evening playmate. 
Aunt Mal helped lessen the load one evening when she came and spent the night with us. I got to play with my sweet Aunt Mal while Mom got Ethan down. We found out that Aunt Mal sleeps like a log, which I guess Mom already knew, when she was just feet away from the bassinet and didn't even move any of the times Ethan woke up that night. The next morning, she shared how super impressed she was that Ethan had slept through the night; Mommy just laughed; although, I think she felt more like crying. With each of Daddy’s trips, we are figuring things out around here a little more, but we definitely miss Daddy when he is gone.Since Mommy has been manning us on her own a lot lately, Daddy takes over with me on the weekends: We go to the gym and the mall and the fish store and Home Depot and Taco Mac, a lot, and all kinds of fun places. Mom and Ethan usually get to
meet us out for lunch and run and errand or two with us. I love my Daddy time! Dad even sent Mom out with Aunt Mal for Chris' birthday one Saturday night, and Daddy took both of us on, all by himself, for the first time. I don't know if Dad will be sacrificing himself again anytime soon, for Ethan cried almost the entire time Mom was gone, and the only thing that would make him happy was to eat, so Daddy fed him...a lot. He went through twice the amount of milk that he was supposed to, which was everything in the fridge that Mom had stored up. I guess Daddy thinks that food makes everything better; he is such a man. However, Ethan apparently thinks the same thing. Two peas in a pod...at least they will be once Ethan decides to give Daddy a break.We also got to initiate Grandma to the babysitting of two at once this month when Dad and Mom went out on their first, post-Ethan, date night for Valentine's Day. We got to stay up until 10:00 with Grandma; well, Ethan insisted on staying up until 10:00, and Grandma couldn't figure out how to get me down while he was crying. Thanks, Ethan! We make a good, stay-up-late team. Thank you to Grandma too; she is my best pal!
Dad and I are steadily adding to our aquarium with weekly trips to the fish store; this month's additions include Lemon, the Yellow Tang; Nemo and Nemo's
Dad, our two Clown Fish; Princess Olivia, another 
Damselfish; and many crabs and snails. I love helping Daddy make the saltwater, pick the fish, and keep them fed, as well as reminding Mommy to turn on the lights in the mornings. We are almost ready to add the pretty coral, as soon as our fancy lighting system gets here, and we get to add more big fish in March. My love for my aquarium has just fueled my obsession for the new show Octonauts, which is about an underwater team of creatures who help fellow marine life, and it is a serious obsession. Someday, I am going to be a doctor...under the sea.It is so wild; it already seems like Ethan has always been a part of our everyday lives. He has made our mornings, days, evenings, and nights complete! Plus, the sexes are now equal in this household, except if you count Opie, who gives the men a very slight advantage.
By the way, my new goal is to be more succinct in these blogs, but alas, I have once again failed miserably! Sorry for the length; I just don't want to forget even one moment of my younger years for when I am old and gray.
