Ethan's New Walker

We bought a cooler for our trip, and Ethan decided that he had other uses in mind... he is getting so close to walking I just can't believe it! He isn't my little tiny baby anymore. In other news, we went to Ikea today, Steve and Ethan were being so funny. I was going around looking at their displays and Steve and Ethan would follow behind, Steve putting Ethan on or in anything that he could find, and Ethan screaming as loud as he could out of excitement. There were some beds that had tents over them that he really liked. Steve would also put him on the highest shelves that he could find and Ethan would love it up there! He sure isn't afraid of heights yet, probably because he doesn't know he can fall. He also really liked being on this bunk bed that had a rail all around it, he would hold on to the rail, stand up and start bouncing up and down like he was trying to jump on the bed... so cute.

To the Zoo

So we went to the zoo as one of our "Steve is on break, hang out as much as possible" activities. We also went because they cleaned our carpets and we needed to let them dry, but mostly it was just because we wanted some good family fun. Ethan was much more interested in the zoo this time, last time he just sat in the stroller and stared straight ahead. He really liked the black bear that was pacing in front of the glass. He liked the bunny rabbit and the chicken and the sheep and goat that were at the petting zoo. He liked the huge fish, and the ducks, and the waterfall (he freaks out when he hears running water). He also liked the Orangutan, who was sitting up against the glass soaking up the love. He also enjoyed eating little pieces of the elephant ear that we bought... who doesn't love scones covered in cinnamon and sugar. He defiantly got tired of the zoo at the end, Steve would try to get him to look at the hippo, but Ethan would have none of it. He is definitely an independent thinker... Steve just calls it stubborn, but I have to put a better name to it because he gets it from me. Steve went a little picture crazy towards the end (because Ethan was bored so he had to have something to do), so we have about 20 picture of a bear's behind. Steve's favorite animal was probably the skunk monkeys... I don't know what their real name is, but they look like skunks in trees. Mine was the hippo, it would have been the marmosets, but I couldn't find them. Going to the zoo for me is like a real live game of where's waldo. I like to try and find all the animals that they have posted as being in the exhibit... trust me, it's very exciting. What a great trip to the zoo!

Ethan Loves the Toilet!

The Washing Machine

The Johnny Jumper

Ethan Meets Electric Toothbrush

Grandpa Taylor Progeny

Ethan occasionally wakes up with his ear folded over and suctioned closed. This has long been a favorite trait of mine. We can all thank Ethan's Great Grandpa Taylor for passing on down his ears.

The Wedding and the Sickness...

**Warning, Don't Read if you Don't like to Read about Dirty Diapers**

So we had a fairly adventurous week this past week (from the standpoint of a stay-at-home mom, don't get too excited). My family came into town late on Thursday night and spent the night in our apartment, sleeping on the floor has never been so exciting. Then Friday my two brothers flew into town. We picked them up from the airport and then went and ate lunch. When Steve was done with class we picked him up and finally headed on our way to Seattle for my cousin Becca's wedding. The drive up there went better than I thought, Ethan was a good little boy and slept most of the way, which he never does in the car anymore... this probably should have been a premonition for me, but mostly I was just excited that he was asleep. That night we went to a Barbecue for the families of the bride and groom at the most gorgeous park, it was right on the sound and covered with really huge pine trees (as is most of the NW). Anyway, we got back to the hotel and Ethan had a horrible mess in his diaper, along with a VERY red bottom. The poor boy, he really didn't like that diaper change. Now, of course the mess was Diarrhea, and I really hate the word because I don't ever remember how it's spelled and also, it's disgusting, so I'm going to call it a D diaper. So I thought that this was fairly normal for a baby who is probably getting some teeth in. No big deal. Saturday... the wedding was beautiful, the luncheon had great food. We get back to the hotel and, out of the blue, Steve starts feeling crummy. He has a miserable case of the D diapers and is all achy and weak. So he lies in bed all of the rest of Saturday trying to feel better. Meanwhile, Ethan is continuing with his D Diapers. Sunday Morning Steve starts feeling better and we go to breakfast at my Aunt and Uncle's and then drive back to Portland. Once again, to my astonishment, Ethan sleeps almost the whole way... I, however, am still not catching on. I am really quite dense. That afternoon after we're all settled back in our tiny apartment, we decided to go and check out Multhnoma Falls for those who haven't seen it, and then spent the rest of the day just hanging out. Sunday night, Steve is miserable again, so he lies down. I start getting Ethan ready for bed and then, the vomiting starts... along with D Diapers. I would put Ethan down for bed and he would vomit, so I'd get him out, clean him up, clean up the bed, put him back down, and then there would be a D diaper (the blow out kind)... so I'd clean him up, clean up the bed, put him back down... then the vomit. You get the idea. We were pretty worried about him so we called the doctor and they said to give him pedialyte to keep him hydrated and feed him half strength bottles. If he got dehydrated then we were to take him to the ER. So the night passes, very slowly, but it does, and Ethan seems to be doing better because the vomiting has stopped. Then Monday seemed to be progressively better and so did Tuesday, and by then Steve was feeling better too, but that night the projectile vomiting started (if anyone knows a good way to get vomit smell out of the carpet and couches, please let me know). So we did that for a while, and called the doctor again and they pretty much told us the same thing they did before, which is really very UNhelpful for two inexperienced hydration deciphers. Anyway, this morning I took Ethan to the doctor and he said that he'll be fine, but they sometimes have the D diapers for up to two weeks. There's really nothing as exciting as doing batches of sheets and clothes once or twice a day for two weeks. Ethan is really doing a lot better today though, so we look forward to the end of all these fun problems. I am just really grateful that I didn't get sick through all of this so that there was someone to take care of my boys, and of course, we are very excited that Ethan is finally starting to get better. Now aren't you glad you didn't read this if you didn't like stories about diapers?