Even more from Ethan

mom - it does not matter that you put on my belt different from me...it matters that we love each other.

yes, ethan, that's what matters. :)

i get to spend a lot more time with ethan now that emily is in kindergarten. he enjoys being "in charge" of elliot during the day, and spending time with just me (when elliot is sleeping). he is enjoying showing elliot the ropes of being a big kid and telling him the way we do things. it's almost like he says, hey - i'm in charge of you now and these are my rules. it's going to be different around here now that emily is away most of the day. get used to talking to me. :)

i think ethan may be even quirkier than emily.

1. EVERY morning, the first thing he does is get dressed - from head to toe, belt and shoes included and sometimes with a hat. he tells me his "work guys" give him a hard time if he's not dressed right. sometimes he fights me to wear a long sleeved button down shirt and church pants. most of the time i just let him wear it. i mean, how can i really say no to a boy wanting to look so sharp?! he will pitch a fit if he can't find his belt. he will not leave the house without it on. he also tucks EVERY shirt he has in; even shirts that really shouldn't be tucked, like a sweatshirt. i can't get him to stop.

2. he sings/talks ALL day long. think i'm exaggerating, well, i sooo wish i were. about 5 o'clock i've just about had enough and i ask him to just stop talking. he looks at me and says - mom, you don't love my singing?? it's so sad. :)

3. he is very particular about where socks hit him on his ankle. if they are not ankle socks, he makes them ankle socks by pushing them down into his shoes. it's an all out fit if i try and make him wear them correctly...so i just give up. at least he wants to wear shoes. :)

4. he blurts out bible verses he's learned. he gets this robot-like voice and says them...i guess that's not so much quirky as weird. :)

5. after he brushes his teeth he makes one of us smell them. we've tried to just tell him we know they are clean, but he is insistent we check it out. then, he giggles when we smell them.

6. he absolutely has to take a bath in the morning. does not matter if he had one the night before. he will also decide he needs another one if he gets bored during the day. i've heard more than once, mom, can i just go take a bath??

my most favorite thing he does is when he just randomly tells me - mom, my heart always loves you. he started telling me that about 6 months or so ago, and it always makes me smile when he says it. he's a sweet boy. i'll be a little more than sad when he goes off to kindergarten next year. at least i'll have elliot with me so i guess i won't be too bored. but elliot needs to learn to TALK!! but we are working on that. :)