One Year

We have officially lived in our home for one year today. We have experienced every season here. We've been snowed in, several times. We've made music here. We've had friends and family stay with us. We've sowed and reaped our garden. We've watched all the flowers bloom and fade. We've cooked and baked here. We've played hard here. We've rested here. We've prayed here. Yup. Feels like home.

20 months

This week, Ethan celebrated 20 months of life, and so full of life he is! Here are some of his most recent discoveries:

- Newfound independence. I recently posted about his ability to leave his crib whenever he pleases. The good thing is that, rarely, does he do it when he knows he's supposed to be in it. He still waits for us to come get him in the mornings and after naps. He has also discovered, this week, that wheels can take him places. His little push bike he now likes to take all over our neighborhood and down to the park. He is completely dismayed when it's time to go inside, and if brought in against his will, he stands pushing on the door, bike in hand, crying desperately for someone to take him out again - until otherwise distracted by something like a snack.

- Newfound playmate. He loves to play with Noah and is quite bored if he's not around. He has yet to consistently call his brother by a name, but words are coming. Noah is also passing down to him a love for dancing, music, and rhythm. The boys love to groove together to a beatful tune.

- New words. On our trip to Virginia beach a few weeks ago allowed our boys to stay up late enough to watch the moon rise. As we drove, and our view of the moon changed, Ethan discovered the "moo", and pointed at it. For the last hour of our car trip, every couple minutes, he would rediscover it.

- New foods. He loves to eat whole things - whole pieces of waffles, pizza, sandwiches, and especially apples. He surprised us again, on the same car trip, as I had little to offer him for snacks except for a whole apple. He dug into it and ate almost all of it - core and all. He has been a pretty picky eater and is finally branching out a bit! He loves to use his fork.

- New ways to show affection. At bedtime, as soon as we finish reading, he hops down, makes a kissing sound and runs off to find Daddy and Noah and gives them each a wet Ethan "peck" on the cheek. He blows the sweetest kisses in the world. When I am holding him, often I'll find him patting my back with his little hand. Precious.

- New helper for Mommy. Ethan seems to appreciate organization. He loves to help put things back where they came from. It amazes me how much he understands in this regard. I have directed him to an object in one room and asked him to take it to another room, and he will often do it! I have also seen him spontaneously put something back before leaving a room. Yesterday, he was leaving the kitchen and paused to close a cabinet door before proceeding. It's the little things...but what a help!

A JMU Day!

Sorry, I meant to post these in reverse order. Why don't you start at the bottom?

We had a lot of fun trying out being a family of six getting to babysit two sweet kids, while our friends, Josh and Michelle Crouse, got to attend a wedding. The kids were really close to Noah and Ethan's ages - they had a blast together.

Klines' Cookies n' Cream - umm good

We had the chance to get a tour the brand new Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. It was incredible! Here is the main concert hall stage.

Saturday was a perfect day to visit our Alma Mater.

AND a LOT of tomatoes! We got another batch this size too! We've made lots of yummy tomato-basil soup the last couple weeks.

...reaping a handful of puny sweet potatoes. (c:

On Friday, Farmer Todd came over and helped us with our final garden harvest...