First and foremost, I'd like everyone to offer up a praise with me that Ethan's skin, which has for the past 7 months been the bane of his (and my) existence, is finally clearing up. I am still holding my breath and waiting for the red scratchy dryness to return with a vengeance, but even after tempting fate with a milkshake on Monday night (I had sworn off dairy when that seemed to make things worse for him) he seems to be baby soft. I'm sure those of you with babies who've had problems that made them chronically fussy or uncomfortable can take joy in my relief with me.
Secondly, I am addicted to cloth diapering. Yes, it's true. No, I have not gone off the crunchy granola deep end. The idea of cloth diapering first appealed to me when I was pregnant and someone sent me a link to this website. Aren't they just the cutest little pants you've ever seen? Anyway, I was promptly discouraged from trying to cloth diaper, hearing it would just be too much work. Then, last March, I just started looking around again because I had heard of these diapers, and since we are living in base housing all of our utilities are paid so it would definitely be economical for us. I bought a couple of them to try out, and the rest is history. Ethan is now in cloth full time and I am addicted to buying him cute diapers. Steve says that cloth diapers don't save us money unless I stop buying them. I suppose he might be right. However, all of the diapers I buy are one-sized, and therefore will be used on any future children that we are blessed with. The laundry isn't even that much of a problem, and wouldn't you know I just love seeing all of Ethan's diapers folded up and clean in their baskets! So, if you ever want to know about the difference between an all-in-one, prefold, or fitted, I'm your girl!
Number three on my list of updates concerns my hubby's addiction. He is still doing quite a bit of photography these days, and some friends of ours were kind enough to tromp out to the beach and let my husband snap some family photos of them. This was his first session for someone other than his own family. I think they turned out quite well!
Ethan gets the last but not least update. He is almost 9 months old and still has no teeth! No matter, he can gum up some cereal puffs with the best of 'em. He can get around pretty well, even though he doesn't really crawl. His current modes of self-transportation include rolling, lurching, and diving from the sitting position. Some of these methods are more successful than others, and some are downright painful (or so I hear). I called my father tonight to inform him that Ethan had his first taste of meat -- some turkey mixed with some vegetables. My father has been aching to get some Kansas City barbeque into my son since the day he was born, so the addition of meat to his diet is a welcome change. Next week he'll be gnawing (gumming?) ribs right off the bone, right Dad?
Just tonight Steve and I were discussing how painfully cute our son is becoming. Sometimes I just can't stop staring at him because each expression he makes is cuter than the last. His babbling (to include Daaadaaa, maaamaaa, bwaah, bobobob, and aaaaaaahhhhhh) is out-and-out endearing. I'm starting to worry that if his cuteness continues increasing I may never be able to discipline him properly. Just to prove my point, I'd like you to look at these photos and try not to melt. Just try. (that second picture is how he looked while his father was trying to teach him to clap)
