15 months old!

We just returned from San Antonio, where we visited with family and friends this weekend, and Ethan got to play with his second cousins, Olive & Gage!

Ethan stealing toys from someone half his age - Gage!

Olive & Ethan battling it out over a bow.

Ethan had his 15 month doctor appointment today. He is 25 lbs 11.5 oz (86th percentile - his highest yet!), 33.75 inches tall (99th percentile - was off the charts last time) and his head size is the 98th percentile.

Happy baby before shots!

We let him have his paci since the doctor is so traumatizing!

What a view!

This month, we left Ethan in the loving and capable hands of his great Grammie (Austin's paternal grandmother) and Gigi (Austin's mom) while we went to Germany. When we came back, he was saying "bye!" much more clearly, was much better with his sign language, and picking up new words almost daily. I think hanging out with Aunt Kristin and cousin Jackson helped in that area!

Ethan & Jack with Pop-Pop while we were in Germany

Though our vocabulary is expanding, we're frustrated by our inability to communicate. Since he really only says a handful of words clearly, Ethan sometimes just lays on the floor and pouts when he can't tell you what he wants. Sometimes he's hungry, sometimes he's tired, and sometimes you're sitting where he wants to sit (or something silly like that). If he keeps learning new words at the rate that he has this week, I think we will be in better shape by our next appointment! I'm now staying at home full-time, so that is one of my top goals.

We have played with our nativity from the nativity-collecting
Grandma (Strickland) every day this month and last!

For Christmas, we got some awesome gifts from our family - including a new wagon, a new tool bench, a fire truck, Noah's Ark, lots of fun cars and trucks, and a raceway tower. He definitely has enough stuff to keep him distracted! We did purge a few toys to make room for the new ones.

We've already used our awesome new wagon!

Happy New Year, y'all!

xo,