All about Ethan

* Ethan's favorite CD right now is "Sesame Street's Platinum All-time Favorites". I am certain that he knows the words to every song and would sing each word if he could only sing that fast. He hits the last word of every phrase and tries his hardest to sing the rest. On the top of his list are, "The Monster in the Mirror" sang by Grover ( "Wubba, Wubba, Wubba, wubba,woo, woo, woo"- I sing it in my sleep) and "Elmo's Song," sang by that sweet red monster himself.

* Ethan has finally given up his morning nap. The week of July 21st we were going back and forth a little bit, but since then he hasn't taken one. He usually sleeps 2 1/2- 3 hours in the afternoon.

* Mommy and Daddy have had to decide lately when Ethan is done with meals. If you ask him if he is done, he says no, but it is very apparent with the way he is playing with his food that he has no intentions of eating it. Green beans get ground in with applesauce, Manwich becomes a masterpiece on his tray, and then he starts to test each food item to see if they will bounce.

* Before Ethan goes to sleep at night he lines up all of his 6 "babies" in his crib, gives each one a kiss, has us give each one a kiss, puts the blanket on top of them, and then lays right on them. He does the same thing every night!

*Ethan really likes to drink ice water!

* He has the sweetest manners. He says "thank you" for everything and "please" like a champ. I have to say however, that "no" is still in his Top 5.

* Ethan is the most regular child I have ever met, just like his father. I can almost bet money that he is going to poop right after lunch before 12:30.

* He enjoys coloring and drawing the most. He can almost draw a perfect circle. He has started to draw snakes lately too! Pretty sure we have a lefty on our hands.

* He likes to eat fresh vegetables. He enjoys lettuce, sugar snap peas, green peppers, tomatoes, and carrots. He likes to dip them in ranch. Everything is better with ranch!

* Favorite books: My Little People lift-the-flap books, Get to Work Trucks by Don Carter, I Spot- Blue's Clues seek-and-find, The Sound of Day, The Sound of Night by Mary O'Neill

* Other favorite things to say: "Cool", "Back Bend"- when daddy is putting on his pants while he is laying down, "Booo, w0rk!", "Deeeeee-lish"- when something is really tasty, "Uh-Oh, Spagetti O's!" Ethan also loves to say the names of people in his family.

* Ethan loves watching Blues Clues and again, loves to sing all of the songs from the show.

* Still loves pasta! Loves hamburgers, chicken with dip, steak, green beans, rice, pancakes and sausage, oatmeal, pizza, and garlic bread. I actually got him to eat part of a sandwich the other day! Still doesn't like cold-cut sandwiches, but he will sometimes eat a part of a sloppy joe or BBQ beef/pork sandwich.

* Ethan loves to play in the sand or dirt. He would be happy if he could just live outdoors. He is in awe of everything and I find it amazing to watch him learn.

* He is sensitive and caring towards his little brother. He has never been harsh with him, always gently touches him and gives him kisses on his head.

All about Bennett

*Bennett is really starting to find his voice and can be very loud at times. He seems so proud of himself after he gives a good squeal.

* He is starting to be able to grasp objects and has found that his hands, not only come together, but he can purposely put them in his mouth. You can tell he is in pure awe of this task!:)

* Bennett likes to have his face covered by a blanket. That is a sure way to calm him down when he is really tired. He likes to sway from side to side, not much for rocking, but for some reason, likes to sway. He is still burying his face when tired too!

* Likes to be patted on the bottom, kind-of fast. This also inevitably assists in releasing gas and poop!:)

* Likes to be swaddled for naps and bedtime. At first he hated being swaddled, but now, if he gets his arm out during a nap he will wake up and fuss. Adam has perfected the tightest swaddle I have ever seen. He says it isn't a good swaddle unless Bennett grunts at the end!

* Likes to have noise while he rests. We play music and have a white noise machine or fan going while he sleeps.

*Doesn't really like to be held much- only when he wants, on his terms. :) Ethan loved to be held even when playing. Bennett likes to play best just laying on a blanket with you.

* Bennett burps fast if you sit him up on your lap. I try to burp him up on my shoulder and it takes so much longer. Another way that Ethan and Bennett are different.

*Bennett gets the hiccups a lot!!! Sometimes they really start to make him mad, especially when they have hung on for a really long time.

* Right now, Bennett will nurse, play, and then take a nap. He is a sleepy-head (more about that in another post), so he usually only stays up for about an hour, including feeding time, and he is ready to rest. When we lay Bennett down for a nap, we swaddle him, put him in his crib, put a blanket up by his face, and give him a kiss. He falls asleep on his own in just a couple of minutes. You can tell when he is tired because of the way that he talks to you. It is a pleading talk! He will cry for only a minute or two if you catch him at the right moment.

* He likes to have the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" sung to him. He loves music and loves watching his brother and mommy dance.

* Loves to have his arms played with. Adam almost ALWAYS can get him to laugh by doing "S00000 BIG" with his arms.

*Bennett has already had 3 "hair-cuts" to Ethan's ZERO...he gets these little balls of hair on the back of his head from when he rubs his head back and forth before falling asleep. It is the funniest thing because all we can do is cut them out.

* I hate to even write this but, because we have a bigger T.V. Bennett really likes it. It is sad when your T.V. is big enough that your 3 month old can watch it!

*Loves watching his big brother...they are going to best pals some day.

Some Things I Don't Want to Ever Forget

*Bennett laughed for the first time at daddy tickling his tummy with his whiskers on July 1st!

*When Bennett gets tired, he will bury his head in your chest or whatever he can bury and rub his face up against. It is nice, because that is an easy way for us to tell if he is tired. You can also see it in his eyes. His eyes get dark around them just like his daddy's do.

*Bennett loves to get his diaper changed. You can almost guarantee a smile anytime you give him a fresh, dry bottom!

*Bennett likes to have his face partially covered while he sleeps. He looks so cute, wrapped up like a mummy with his face covered with a blanket!

*Ethan's new favorite word- "Sorry" (sounds like "ory") You would think I beat the kid or something...he is so sensitive and sweet, but seriously he says it all the time!