Dashing Through the Snow

We spent last week on the road, visiting friends and family and proudly showing off our little man.
Our winter vacation began on Friday the 19th, when a huge snow storm provided both Jeremy and I with a snow day from work. We spent the day packing. cleaning, lounging, nibbling on toys, and trying to nibble on electrical cords. Well, some of us did. Ethan and I trekked through a foot of snow to the pharmacy, where we stocked up on children's Tylenol before the big Eastward journey.

On Saturday morning we embarked, Ethan cozy in his backseat den of blankets and toys, mama and papa eagerly listing to their book on tape. Throughout the day, we made multiple pit stops all along the Indiana and Ohio turnpikes to freshen up. Let me tell you - it is exceedingly difficult to change the diaper of a strong-willed and able-bodied young squirmer on a tiny little changing table in a public restroom. Especially when you feel compelled to use the most cumbersome diapers known to man. However green they may be, prefolds are a pain in the tush.

Our first day of driving allowed us to introduce Ethan to his new friend - the binky. It took just a little bit of persuasion to convince Ethan that the binky would be a welcome friend. After chewing on it, and putting it into his mouth in every possible orientation, and swinging it around for a while, he eventually began to suck on it. Oh, sweet binky, how you have changed the family vacation! Where once there was screaming we now find a contented baby, just gazing out the window and binking away. We will continue to reserve the binky only for car trips, but how nice to know that we have this secret weapon to call upon!

Saturday night found us in Sandusky, OH (the buckeye state's answer to the Wisconin Dells), where we checked into a hotel, played with a few toys, watched a little bit of terrible television, and then nurse-napped all night long.

On Sunday we made our way to PA, where we settled in at the Greece's - Jeremy's second family. The Greece women (Mrs. Greece, Julianne and the boisterous shelty Daphne) were smitten with Ethan.

How lucky this wee one is to have yet another loving family!

Monday found us visiting the Lowmasters
(Ethan's great-grandpap and Great-Uncle and Aunt Steve and Diane).

On Tuesday we visited:

The Bondras

Auntie D and the Irwin clan

and Uncle Dan and Aunt Marcelle

Wednesday sent us on the road again. We drove through the foggy hills of West Virginia and Southern Ohio to the booming metropolis of Batavia, OH, where much of Jody's family awaited us. In the comfort of Drew and Jennifer's home, we enjoyed a welcome three days of utter relaxation.

Drew, the chef. Jeremy, the sous chef. Stan, the super.

Napping Nathan

Nanna

Pappy

Road Trip 2008 has been officially declared a success. These happy Holidays (and Epsteins) hope you had happy holidays too!

Seconds

Yesterday the lonesome solitude of Ethan's first tooth came to an end; the neighboring incisor pushed through to keep it company. Fortunately, the appearance of this tooth was not met with nearly as much pain and suffering as the first. Wee Ethan continues to wake up every 1.5 to 2 hours at night (not so jealous anymore, huh?), but he has been able to play and giggle and generally convince us that we will not spend the next two years of teething with a serious case of the crabby pants.

The dual forces of 1) intense curiosity about all things off-limits to babies and 2) complete unwillingness to let me take a peek inside his mouth have prevented me from taking a photo of the twin teeth. Instead, I offer the few pics I could sneak in before he snatched the camera from my hands and began licking it. Enjoy!

Firsts

November has brought a number of exiting changes to our home. Jeremy is jumping rope, Jody has enough quiet time to tackle a few new knitting projects, and Ethan is now scooting around the apartment, nibbling everything in sight. With motor skills rapidly advancing and enough dentition to really do some harm, the babyproofing has begun in earnest. Goodbye household cleaners under the sink. Hello drawers and doors latched so snugly not even adults can open them.

In addition to bodily developments, wee Ethan's personality is also blossoming. Smiles and laughter, joyful screeches, drool-drenched raspberries and remarkable acrobatics (to avoid such cruelties as being buckled in the carseat or having a diaper changed) are daily occurrences here. Our babe also has a fierce determination to touch and taste everything. Today our explorations included mama's hair, the nightlight, papa's amplifier, empty milk bottles, a cellphone, knots in the hardwood floor and our long time favorites: fingers, toes and faces. Needless to say, we are finding ways to pass the time in this chilly winter weather.

First Mohawk
First Crawls

First Book
First Tooth

Please Do Not Feed The Animals

All in the Family

Jeremy's brother Dan made a quick trip to the dairyland this weekend to meet wee Ethan. We successfully avoided Madison's Halloween debauchery and enjoyed a little Holiday family bonding.

A Few New Photos