Such a Big Boy!

Wow, Ethan is growing so fast and learning so many things! I am so sad that summer is almost over-I have really enjoyed getting to hang out with him everyday.

New words this month: night-night, Ernie (he loves Sesame Street), hug, apple, blue, and yellow!

Ethan came with me to start setting up my classroom. I wasn't anticipating getting much done, but he did so good! He played with Mommy's math manipulatives, got on the computer, and played under the desks. I was able to get a lot done today!

Look Mommy!
Uh-oh!

I can eat with a fork now! I still have trouble with spoons....

Storytime and Fire Trucks!

I went with my friend Kelly to toddler time at the library today. It was so much fun-definitely going to keep that up while it's still summer. Then we went next door to the fire station to see the trucks. The firemen were out on a call but they let the boys ring the bell-so cute!

Mugshot!

Aiden and Ethan ringing the bell on the truck!

My turn!

Ethan and Mommy

S is for SUMMER!!

I am definitely enjoying my time off and getting to spend it with my favorite little guy. We've been trying to stay busy with swim lessons, Little Gym, reading books, and going to the park. Ethan has been learning so many new words! It seems like every day he says something new. Some of his favorites include HOT, car, Elmo (his new obsession), juice, and cookie. He has also been using more sign language recently. He can sign "eat", "more", "again", and "chicken".

Here are some recent pics of my handsome boy.


I don't think Elmo appreciates being grabbed by the eyeballs!


Watching cartoons....
Ethan likes to snuggle with the red blanket my aunt made!

Playing with the hose in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard!

Family Trip, Part III

Sunday morning, we left New York and headed to Jamaica, Vermont to stay with my aunt and uncle for the night. We stopped in Stockbridge, Mass. and visited the Norman Rockwell Museum-it was really cool, althought we didn't get to see much since we were trying to keep up with Ethan. But it had lots of hills for him to run around and play. We finally made it to Vermont that evening-my aunt and uncle live in a very rural area in the mountains and Ethan had a blast running around their property and playing with their dog. Ethan slept with us in the bed, which he is not used to, so he woke up about 3 times that night crying. He's also getting another tooth so we didn't get much sleep that night.

The next day was the longest day EVER! We got up very early Monday morning, thanks to Ethan, and went to visit my Grandma in Townshend, Vermont on our way back to the airport in Hartford. On the way, we stopped at the Yankee Candle Factory in Deerfield, Mass. and let Ethan run around for a while. We got to the aiport around 3:00 and our flight didn't leave until 6:00! We only had 3 diapers left and wouldn't you know, Ethan pooped 3 times before we even got on the plane!! This nice girl could tell I was stressed while changing Ethan for the THIRD time in the bathroom, so she gave us a few diapers to get us home-thank goodness!

We got on the plane and Ethan did ok on the way to Cleveland. We had an hour layover, so we had dinner and rested before getting on the 2.5 hour flight back to Houston. That flight was awful!! We were "that couple" with the screaming baby. 2 and a half hours of screaming-he was super exhasuted and couldn't fall asleep. Right before we landed, he finally went to sleep so Jake had to carry him through the aiport to get our luggage and get to the car. We finally walked in the door to our house around midnight. I don't think we've ever been that tired before. So, we are very glad to be back home!!! We had a good time, but Ethan will be staying with grandparents on any future trips we might take!!!

At the Yankee Candle Factory

Playing the piano for the residents where my Grandma lives

The Norman Rockwell Museum

Family Trip, Part II

It was about a 2 hour drive from Massachusetts to New York. The GPS really came in handy! We checked in at the hotel in Poughkeepsie and met up with my parents and brother. We went to dinner that night with my aunt, uncle, Grandma, and parents. The next day was my Grandpa's Memorial Service at the church where he was pastor for 10 years. It was a beautiful service: my brother put together a slideshow, my mom played the piano, and my uncle gave the eulogy. I'm sad that Ethan never got to meet his great-grandpa. After the service, we wll went to dinner at this great restaurant on the Hudson River. That night after we put Ethan down, we stayed up late and hung out in the hotel lobby. Ethan did not sleep well in the crib-it was all metal with no bumper and he was way too big for it!


Reading books in the car on the way to NY


View from the restaurant

Hudson River

Dinner with lots of family!


Crashed out in the hotel crib

Family Trip, Part I

We took our first family trip to New York for my grandpa's Memorial Service last Thursday. Our flight left from Houston at 6:50am-and we never really caught up on sleep the whole time. Taking a toddler on a trip was not the best idea in the world, but we tried to make the most of it and still had fun visiting with relatives and trying to see the sights.

Ethan did very well on the plane-surprised us actually! We had to keep him entertained, but he did really well reading books, playing toys, eating snacks, and watching cartoons on the plane TV. We had a layover in Cleveland and once we got on the next plane, Ethan slept all the way to Hartford-yippee!!! That night, we stayed with some of Jake's family friends from when he lived in Connecticut so we drove to their house in Blanford, Massachusetts. They have a 10-month old baby, Paige, so it was a nice stay. They had a high chair, pack-n-play, and lots of baby toys to play with. Ethan even got to take his first bath with a girl! The next morning, Jake played golf while we let the babies nap. I met him at the golf course and we were then on our way to Poughkeepsie, New York to meet up with my parents and relatives.

At the golf course in Southwick, Mass with Paige and her mommy, Kate

Bath time!

Asleep on the plane

Watching cartoons on the plane

First Beach Trip!

On Friday, we went with Jake's family and took Ethan to the beach---Mommy took the day off for the special outing!!

We went to Galveston for the day. Although not very pretty, Ethan LOVED it! He enjoyed the water and sitting in the sand getting dirty. Surprisingly, he didn't eat as much sand as we thought he might. Ethan isn't afraid of the water at all...he kept putting his face under and tasting the salty water.

Playing with my cousin, Ava

I love to get dirty!
Splashing in the water with Grandpa!

I love it here!!

Me and my Daddy