Dear Ethan, year 0, month 9

Posted on Sun 10/01/06 in Fatherhood

(click the above image to enlarge)

Dear Ethan,

Well, this month it started. You are mobile. Within a span of a few days, you went from a frustrated turtle, to a crawling machine. Mom and I were amazed to find you following us from room to room. People have said to us that kids are easy when they are waking up five times a night, crying and unable to successfully communicate. They tell us to enjoy being able to put them down and have them be there when you come back. I now understand completely. As I am writing this, Ethan has crawled across the room, climbed up the chair I’m on, is standing and tugging on my PJ’s and saying “da da dda d aa da dad!” I guess writing this article will have to take a hiatus.

… 3 days later …

This is the time when you’ve become a LOT of fun. You’ve grown so much this month and are seeming less like a baby more and more each day. You want to “stand so big” and try to balance standing up nearly 90% of the time you are awake. You are so proud and just want to keep practicing. You LOOOOOOVE Cheerios! Although you have no teeth, you can gnaw just about anything — sorta like the movie Alien… where their saliva is used to dissolve their prey. It is funny to feed you different foods and watch you cringe or beg for more. One thing that is painful to watch is how you suck the bitterness out of a lemon like it was a free casino buffet. Occasionally, when you decide you don’t want to eat anymore, you start spitting the food out. You make the funniest face, and dad has a hard time holding back giggles. IT’S FUNNY! But, laughing only encourages this unacceptable behavior. I usually have to step behind the wall to avoid being seen. I can tell that the future will include many reprimands from mom for my encouraging behavior. Note to self: Do not encourage bad behavior, no matter how funny I think it is.

After being out of your element for a while and your routine having been completely ruined, your mother has somehow managed to get you back on your schedule. Yes — you put up a good anarchist’s fight, but we’re going to chalk one up for the good guys this time. Mom has also taught me the “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” technique, which puts you in a submissive trance — calming a cranky baby.

You are certainly a chick magnet, even at your young age. You already have a few steady girlfriends (one is in the pictures above – 2nd pic from the right in the top row) who all claim you as their one and only. You did get to meet JJ’s daughter at her one year birthday party, but I think you prefer older women. With your ability playing your Leapfrog tom-tom and your very apparent fascination with guitars, you should do well.

Halloween is just around the corner, and mom’s got some good pictures of you in your costume. You’re going to hate her for showing them to your girlfriends later down the road. I know I would :)

You ARE the best part of my day. I can’t wait to get home and watch you quickly recognize me. You throw me a huge smile and begin to head my way. It’s the best feeling.

Love,
Dad