News from the North: Still Here

So its been way too long since I've last blogged about how things have been going. Like everyone else who has young kids in the house, life gets busy and before you know it, not just months, but YEARS have vanished! The last thing I want is to see Norah or Ethan heading off to their first year of college and realizing I don't remember half the good (and bad) things that happened. So consider this my attempt to get back into regularly blogging about what goes on in our mundane lives.

Since up to this point, most of blog has centered around Norah, I want to take time to talk about Ethan. This little guy has been an absolute blessing to us in so many ways. So many times we flippantly use phrases like "gifts from God" or "mercies from Heaven," but I assure you that when we use those phrases to describe our son it is because they are appropriate and no other description would do.

Please don't misunderstand when I say that Norah was an extremely difficult toddler. We love her to death, and many days, it felt like we might die. I honestly believe that God in His infinite knowledge, and infinite mercy, knew we would not do well if we had another child with the same temperament. So he blessed us with Ethan. In just about every way he is different from his sister. Sure, they have different skin color, but that's literally just scratching the surface. Ethan sleeps through the night, Norah never did until she was almost three. Ethan never took a pacifier, Norah... had one until she was three. Ethan takes one nap a day, Norah took two at his age. Ethan is completely content playing by himself, Norah at that age always had to be entertained. Ethan can be left alone in a room, but if you did that with Norah something would end up damaged or destroyed.

The really amazing thing to see is that even though they are so different, they are so much alike. Mainly because Ethan just absolutely adores his big sister. He mimics everything! That is why I think he talks so well as (an adjusted age) 2 year old. He hears and sees his sister talking and he does everything she does. It is so fun as a parent to see them playing together and loving on each other. He is such a tender soul, he is always giving Norah hugs and kisses, and luckily for us, to mom and dad as well. And he loves his grandparents. Its so fun to see him love on them too. He loves his "Memaw" (Grandma Arlander) and "Gamma" (Grandma Miller), but its even better hearing him call out their names and give them hugs and kisses.

Now that he is walking and talking, we are entering a new fun stage in life. We still need to watch him when we do most things, but now that he can communicate with us, life is getting much easier. For example, this past weekend as I was packing the camper I was constantly coming in and out of the house. Ethan just wanted to be a part of it, so he kept following me in and out. At first I was getting frustrated because it was slowing me down. But as I stood there holding the door for him each time he'd walk in say "Thank you Daddy!" Seriously, how can you be opposed to that?

I will try and make another update here shortly and focus on Norah. But in the meantime, here are some pictures of the little guy.